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Boogie WD-800 vs Walkabout

#21
Crabby said:
Order placed with Long & Mquade (our Canadian music store chain)! Woo hoo!

I do hope though that it doesn’t arrive just in time for an updated “Plus” version to be announced. I waited 4 months to get my Subway800 and the plus version was announced a few days after I brought it home.
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Murphy strikes again, and again and......
someone, please do away with Mr.Murphy!
 
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#22
Crabby said:
Order placed with Long & Mquade (our Canadian music store chain)! Woo hoo!

I do hope though that it doesn’t arrive just in time for an updated “Plus” version to be announced. I waited 4 months to get my Subway800 and the plus version was announced a few days after I brought it home.
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What’s the date they gave you for availability.
I got Jan 18th +\-
 
#23
I didn’t get a date. They said the head office has 6 on order and I’m the 2nd person to claim one. I hope they arrive soon. It’s silly but the shipment goes from Mesa in California to the Long & Mquade Head office in Ontario. Then the amp will have to be shipped all the way back to the west coast where I live in Vancouver.
 
#25
Crabby said:
I didn’t get a date. They said the head office has 6 on order and I’m the 2nd person to claim one. I hope they arrive soon. It’s silly but the shipment goes from Mesa in California to the Long & Mquade Head office in Ontario. Then the amp will have to be shipped all the way back to the west coast where I live in Vancouver.
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Yep that’s what I got. 6 going to head office.
I’m the first one (ordered one they day they were announced). On Friday, they gave me a Jan 18th arrival date.
 
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#26
SactoBass said:
@agedhorse: I just got through reading the owner's manual for the WD-800 (via the Mesa website).

I don't know who wrote that manual, but whoever did sure does know how to write a manual! It is thorough, well-written, and very easy to understand and follow.

Please pass along "kudos" to the author, because they sure did a great job! :thumbsup:
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Thanks man. I write all of the basic manual drafts and details, they get reviewed by our in-house staff but in this case I talked a couple of our TalkBass test players into reviewing it and massaging it to even better address the needs of players, especially explaining how features work and feel from a player perspective. These two guys, Al Kraft and Chef are both extremely experienced with the Walkabout, so who better to get to beta test and even play out the new amp? With this knowledge and experience, along with very strong writing/editing skills, they both went through the manual in excruciating detail, adding another dimension to what we have done in the past. This was very much a test to see what COULD be done via a collaborative effort, it's the first time we have had such contribution from out of house.

If you guys like the results, (I think the manual is quite thorough and player friendly), would you like to see future manuals addressed in the same manner?
 
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#27
agedhorse said:
Thanks man. I write all of the basic manual drafts and details, they get reviewed by our in-house staff but in this case I talked a couple of our TalkBass test players into reviewing it and massaging it to even better address the needs of players, especially explaining how features work and feel from a player perspective. These two guys, Al Kraft and Chef are both extremely experienced with the Walkabout, so who better to get to beta test and even play out the new amp? With this knowledge and experience, along with very strong writing/editing skills, they both went through the manual in excruciating detail, adding another dimension to what we have done in the past. This was very much a test to see what COULD be done via a collaborative effort, it's the first time we have had such contribution from out of house.

If you guys like the results, (I think the manual is quite thorough and player friendly), would you like to see future manuals addressed in the same manner?
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It's BY FAR the best owner's manual I have ever read (and I have been reading them since I started playing bass in 1972).

IMHO, the WD-800 owner's manual represents a textbook example of *HOW TO DO IT RIGHT!* :thumbsup:

1509437086283.png
 
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#28
agedhorse said:
Thanks man. I write all of the basic manual drafts and details, they get reviewed by our in-house staff but in this case I talked a couple of our TalkBass test players into reviewing it and massaging it to even better address the needs of players, especially explaining how features work and feel from a player perspective. These two guys, Al Kraft and Chef are both extremely experienced with the Walkabout, so who better to get to beta test and even play out the new amp? With this knowledge and experience, along with very strong writing/editing skills, they both went through the manual in excruciating detail, adding another dimension to what we have done in the past. This was very much a test to see what COULD be done via a collaborative effort, it's the first time we have had such contribution from out of house.

If you guys like the results, (I think the manual is quite thorough and player friendly), would you like to see future manuals addressed in the same manner?
Click to expand...
I read the manual online and thought it was very well laid out, quite informative and a pleasure to read.
The plot and story line was full of suspense, action and just enough drama to keep the reader engaged at all times.
The character development was a treat to see unfold.
The denouement led to the thrilling, cliff hanger of an ending, leaving the reader wanting more.
I can’t wait for the next volume in the series.
:D
 
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#29
4stringmf said:
Thanks for your reply and input Al. I'm really happy that Mesa didn't lose touch with the Walkabout/M-pulse DNA. I liked the Carbine, but that DNA has a sound that I love and just resonates with me. Can't say anything about the D-800/+ though..... As I never tried them out.
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Next time you’re at Showcase, you can try out both the D-800 and D-800+ … I promise I will get out of your way eventually, haha!
 
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#31
burgerdj said:
Stop. Just STOP. I love (love!) my blackface WA. I don’t want to feel like I’m going to be late to the revolution. Besides, it’s the holiday season...a terrible time for GAS.

Cheers, Mesa. Well done!
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I still like my silver and black faced WA's too! The great thing about all the latest Mesa heads is that they don't really make what you have obsolete (or sound any different than the day you decided you liked it enough to buy it), they just keep increasing the options and choices. For many future gigs I can see my original WA continuing to be a perfect choice - like a gig I played just last weekend! :)
 
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#35
Andy wanted to be sure the manual was given the same level of attention to detail as any other part of the product. I especially liked the approach that emphasized helping users genuinely understand and appreciate the capabilities designed into the product rather than simply focusing on what knobs did. The belief was that if folks understood what something was designed to do and how/why it was designed that way, the user would be able to get a lot more out of the product.

I'm an engineer, as well as musician and I learned some things going through the manual review. Andy's early draft was exceptionally well done and set a new benchmark for what I would want to see in every product manual. To me this follows in lockstep with Andy's and Mesa's willingness to be transparent with their customers and give us information that makes their products more valuable in our hands.
 
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#36
Al Kraft said:
Andy wanted to be sure the manual was given the same level of attention to detail as any other part of the product. I especially liked the approach that emphasized helping users genuinely understand and appreciate the capabilities designed onto the product rather than simply focusing on what knobs did. The belief was that if folks understood what something was designed to do and how/why it was designed that way, the user would be able to get a lot more out of the product.

I'm an engineer, as well as musician and I learned some things going through the manual review. Andy's early draft was exceptionally well done and set a new benchmark for what I would want to see in every product manual. To me this follows in lockstep with Andy's and Mesa's willingness to be transparent with their customers and give us information that makes their products more valuable in our hands.
Click to expand...
The end result shows that this approach is a very good one.

Totally dependent on the characters involved, of course.
 
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#37
74hc said:
Guitar Showcase has a WD-800 in stock? I'm going there tomorrow to check it out.
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The one I played is their floor model and is not for sale. But like I said in my first post, they are expecting 4 more this week, and are taking deposits of 25%.

Also I was told by them that Mesa closes down for two weeks around around Christmas time...... So there will be a little delay in production and shipment going into the new year.
 
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#39
agedhorse said:
Thanks man. I write all of the basic manual drafts and details, they get reviewed by our in-house staff but in this case I talked a couple of our TalkBass test players into reviewing it and massaging it to even better address the needs of players, especially explaining how features work and feel from a player perspective. These two guys, Al Kraft and Chef are both extremely experienced with the Walkabout, so who better to get to beta test and even play out the new amp? With this knowledge and experience, along with very strong writing/editing skills, they both went through the manual in excruciating detail, adding another dimension to what we have done in the past. This was very much a test to see what COULD be done via a collaborative effort, it's the first time we have had such contribution from out of house.

If you guys like the results, (I think the manual is quite thorough and player friendly), would you like to see future manuals addressed in the same manner?
Click to expand...
Crabby said:
I just said goodby to my Mesa 400 head. I sold it on Craigslist this morning so I can pull the trigger on a WD800. I will miss the 400 but I was not going to be hefting it to gigs and now that Mesa is ruling the ultra light bass gear universe, there is no going back to the big monster Powerhouse cabs and full size heads for me.

I still own two silver face Walkabouts and neither will be going anywhere. I have been using Scout extension cabs lately for gigs as they still sound great to me but are a little dark and woolly. My new Subway 115/112 setup is just blowing my mind tone wise with my Subway 800 head, so this new version of the Walkabout is kind of a “must have” for me. Order going in this afternoon!
Click to expand...

I've been admiring that Craigslist ad of yours for some time now.
 

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