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Finally decided on Mesa

T

theleveebreaks

Sep 14, 2005
221
2
37
Olympia, WA
www.myspace.com
#1
I'm stoked, I finally figured out what I'm going to save for.

How does this rig sound? I play all different styles of music but it'll hopefully cover the indie, blues, alt-country bases.

Mesa Boogie Walkabout Scout 1x12 Combo
Mesa Boogie Scout Radiator 1x12 Extension Cabinet

Running with a Nashguitars P-Bass.

I think it'll be pretty rad. Any thoughts/opinions? Should I go for the 15's instead of 12's? I've never heard the Walkabout Scout 1x15 combo.
 
#2
I had a scout 12" combo... and that thing killed for how tiny it was. Great low B response and versatile tone. The only reason I let it go was for a straight trade for a Mesa 400+ and a powerhouse 212 cab! I didn't have the cash for the extension cab at the time, and just needed a little more. That being said... sounds like a great rig! I wish I could have afforded to keep my scout around for practice...
 
#3
alembic5 said:
I had a scout 12" combo... and that thing killed for how tiny it was. Great low B response and versatile tone. The only reason I let it go was for a straight trade for a Mesa 400+ and a powerhouse 212 cab! I didn't have the cash for the extension cab at the time, and just needed a little more. That being said... sounds like a great rig! I wish I could have afforded to keep my scout around for practice...
Click to expand...

That's a good trade! See, right now I have an Acoustic 360 going into an Ampeg 8x10, and I think for the coffeehouse kind of gigs I might run into, it's a little "intrusive", ha.

I would definitely dig the Mesa 400+ with the Powerhouse 212 but it's still probably too big of a rig for a blues or alt-country band for local gigs.

I'm pretty excited, this rig sounds like it'll be a nice lightweight stack.
 
#4
I've been playing a Mesa Walkabout 12" combo for a month now, and it's incredible. PLENTY powerful to fill a room of a few hundred people in my opinion, and gorgeous sound. I just played a show on Saturday night at a venue with probably 200 people...gain was at 50%, master was at 25%, and it sounded great. I had the Direct Out going into the PA, but they didn't need to put me in the mix. For sound check I had the master closer to 50%, and it was overwhelmingly loud out in the crowd. They made me turn it down...

BTW, my current band has been playing a similar mix of music...rock/indie/bluegrass/bluesy stuff. Works perfect. Be sure to try one out if you can before buying, though, just to make sure it's your sound. The first time I played it, I knew it was mine. :D Good luck!
 
#5
I felt the same way... just knew it was my sound! The funny thing for me though... I could never really seem to get my Alembic to sound right with it. My Peavey USA millenium 5 and Ibanez BTB prestige 6 sounded fantastic... but there was just something about the Alembic I couldn't dial out. Very odd indeed. I think part of it though is that my taste in tone has changed alot... so it may be coming time to put the Alembic up for sale. We'll see how it goes! But yeah... it is a potent little rig for sure. HUGE tone for such a tiny package!
 
#7
If you're looking at running the extension radiator cab. make sure the scout combo you buy is an 8 ohm... that is a special order, they are 4 ohm from the factory usually.
 
#8
The Walkabout Scout will push 2 ohms all day.
See the Mega thread for details.
I run mine with a 4 ohm LDS 2x8 extention cab, sometimes, but mostly by itslef it's plenty.
Works great for DB too.
 
#10
I tried the 15 in the store but not on a gig. The 15 for sure sounds bigger than the 12 in the bottom end. But the 12 is no slouch. I'm normally a 15 fan, but in this case I went with the 12 because of the smaller size and have no regrets. A pair of the 12s would be wonderful. The 15 didn't sound muddy, like the stereotypical sound attributed to 15s as long as you used the bass boost with taste.

If you can get a chance, try out both side by side in a store and see if it's worthwhile to go with the 15s. They are heavier and bigger and that is a big factor for me. But I could live with either if it was a case of sound only.

That'll be quite a rig.
 
#11
Hey TheLevyBreaks,

First, welcome to the Walkabout users zone ... what a great amp.

I have been using my Walkabout 12 combo with a Powerhouse 1x12 for a year now (weekly rehearsals and maybe 20 gigs) and have been very happy with both in different situations.

To your specific question about adding a 15. I recently got the Scout Radiator 15 extension (4 ohm) and used it in 2 rehearsals and then 2 gigs last weekend. I had really liked the Walkabout 12 + the Powerhouse 12 combination but I have to say that the Radiator 15 just kills as far as adding some major depth and low/low-mid grunt to the Walkabout 12. And that's really saying something when you consider how ballsy the Walkabout can get already .. just by itself.

Also, the 2 Ohm thing is no problem at all so far. Mesa told me directly that it would be ok. Their only caveat was to maybe not push the Walkabout master V over 50%. But that is not a problem with this rig. If you need to be louder than 50% master on this set-up, then you should probably look at another piece of gear anyway IMO. Mesa also said that the 2 ohm set up would be pushing the Walkabout head into the 500w zone FWIW.

For reference: I'm a pretty old school 4 string Fender Jazz player (so I can't offer any insight on 5ers). I also play a Turner Ren 4 fretless. The band is a blues/jazz/world music/fusion mix in a moderately loud 5 piece (sometimes 6) to crowds of 100-500, both inside and outdoor, with only the larger gigs offering FOH sound support so far.

Good luck with your new gear
 
#12
pfschim said:
Hey TheLevyBreaks,

First, welcome to the Walkabout users zone ... what a great amp.

I have been using my Walkabout 12 combo with a Powerhouse 1x12 for a year now (weekly rehearsals and maybe 20 gigs) and have been very happy with both in different situations.

To your specific question about adding a 15. I recently got the Scout Radiator 15 extension (4 ohm) and used it in 2 rehearsals and then 2 gigs last weekend. I had really liked the Walkabout 12 + the Powerhouse 12 combination but I have to say that the Radiator 15 just kills as far as adding some major depth and low/low-mid grunt to the Walkabout 12. And that's really saying something when you consider how ballsy the Walkabout can get already .. just by itself.

Also, the 2 Ohm thing is no problem at all so far. Mesa told me directly that it would be ok. Their only caveat was to maybe not push the Walkabout master V over 50%. But that is not a problem with this rig. If you need to be louder than 50% master on this set-up, then you should probably look at another piece of gear anyway IMO. Mesa also said that the 2 ohm set up would be pushing the Walkabout head into the 500w zone FWIW.

For reference: I'm a pretty old school 4 string Fender Jazz player (so I can't offer any insight on 5ers). I also play a Turner Ren 4 fretless. The band is a blues/jazz/world music/fusion mix in a moderately loud 5 piece (sometimes 6) to crowds of 100-500, both inside and outdoor, with only the larger gigs offering FOH sound support so far.

Good luck with your new gear
Click to expand...

I do the 4 string thing too, ha, so no 5er for me either. I'm pretty excited for it, I have to say.

Now it's just a matter of deciding whether or not I'm going with a classic black look or getting a custom finish.
 

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