Odd Mesa Walkabout incident.

[Doodaddy]

I set up my rig at church as usual. Mesa Walkabout head into a Bill Fitzmaurice Jack 210. The soundcheck went fine. There were no issues.

I turn off the amp, unplug my bass and leave for break. We come back an hour later, turn my amp on, and no sound to my cab. Signal passed through the XLR, but no sound to my cab at all. I check cables, I check power. The soundman informed me "all the lights on stage went crazy. Different colors flashing, motion lights going mad. I don't know what happened." At this point my heart sank at the assumption of some sort of power surge. I sprint next door and grab a GB 6.0 and make it through the service.

I get home, set up my rig, same problem. I change to some back up tubes. No immediate change. In frustration, I max out the gain knob while plucking an open note, there was a loud "POP" and sound was back. I switch back to my original tubes, and everything seems normal.

What happened? Did it go into some sort of protection mode? Were the lights an unrelated incident?

Just a bit concerned.

[babebambi]

sounds to me like bad cap(s)

[Jc575]

Hey,

I had the same problem with mine about a year ago. For a temporary fix you can try taking a jumper cable and put one end in the fx send and the other in the return. I remember hearing about a flaw with the fx loop circuit. I ended up sending it back to Boogie and they repaired it at no cost (i just had to pay for shipping).

I hope this helps....

JC

[RickenBoogie]

Yes, try a short jumper cable between the fx loop. might be it.

[Doodaddy]

Well it functions normally now, so does the jumper need to be in place anyway?

I guess it's bittersweet to find out that this isn't an isolated incident and that isn't any likely power surge damage.

[Jc575]

I would keep the jumper cable in (as a precaution).

[Doodaddy]

Much appreciated to all you guys.

[Jim C]

The soundman informed me "all the lights on stage went crazy. Different colors flashing, motion lights going mad. I don't know what happened."

This suggests that there might have been a power line issue that caused the amp to go into either a standby / protect mode (assuming it has one) or more likely kept the tube warm up delay relay from closing. On some WA's, there is a noticeable click after this warm up stage.

[Doodaddy]

Originally Posted by Jim C

The soundman informed me "all the lights on stage went crazy. Different colors flashing, motion lights going mad. I don't know what happened."

This suggests that there might have been a power line issue that caused the amp to go into either a standby / protect mode (assuming it has one) or more likely kept the tube warm up delay relay from closing. On some WA's, there is a noticeable click after this warm up stage.

There is a noticeable click with mine not long after initially turning it on. The board inside the amp does mention 2001. I don't know if that is related to production date or copyrights in general.

[emblymouse]

I get 2 distinct little clicks after powering up, always wondered what that might be.

[Doodaddy]

So should I worry about there being any damage?

[michaeln]

I think that's a pretty premium piece of gear and you oughta ask Mesa about it.

[RCCollins]

Originally Posted by michaeln

I think that's a pretty premium piece of gear and you oughta ask Mesa about it.

yep. and they'll probably be very helpful

[Doodaddy]

Originally Posted by Jc575

I would keep the jumper cable in (as a precaution).

As I was about to make my jumper cable, I noticed there is a bypass switch, so wouldn't the jumper be fairly useless?

[Limeman]

If you have the bypass switch on your effects in/out, then yes... you won't need to insert the jumper cable. Just leave it in bypass mode.

[Doodaddy]

Originally Posted by Limeman

If you have the bypass switch on your effects in/out, then yes... you won't need to insert the jumper cable. Just leave it in bypass mode.

That's what I thought lol. I'll just leave as is.