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Has Mesa Walkabout design changed?
- Thread starter jdelemus
- Start date
I'm actually kind of curious. Any walkabout owners want to open up the cover of theirs and take a pic so we can see how many parts are "USA" vs imported?
My admittedly much older Mesa has pretty much all USA made bits and pieces, with the exception of some Japanese caps and a few transistors around the graphic.
There are machine shops and I believe PCB manufacturers not too far from Mesa.
OTOH I think Mesa quality took a hit around 1995 or so, when the Lagunitas brewery moved from it's location across the street.
My admittedly much older Mesa has pretty much all USA made bits and pieces, with the exception of some Japanese caps and a few transistors around the graphic.
There are machine shops and I believe PCB manufacturers not too far from Mesa.
OTOH I think Mesa quality took a hit around 1995 or so, when the Lagunitas brewery moved from it's location across the street.
Chef
In Memoriam
Calaverasgrande said:
You mean lagunitas ruined Mesa? Such a nice brew house with nice staff too...
Chef
In Memoriam
I worked there when we got the silver medal for the Pale. Back then we didnt filter the beer, we just settled it in the tanks. Much better! The IPA was much better then too.
We used to have "tastings" on thursday evenings. Those often degenerated into keg parties. Which a few Mesa guys would attend. Apparently, Mesa started in a small town in Marin which the beer company founders were also from. "Lagunitas". That is where that shack you see pictures of in Mesa lit is located.
Chef
In Memoriam
Its strange...I've always always seen Mesa as very boutique, hence the prices. My friend is a big fan of their Dual/Triple Rectifiers for guitars, and they sure are total gain machines. Nothing sounds or looks like it.
Now more and more brands are accessible all over the world, and Mesa continues to settle as one of the bigger companies, I still can't help but think there must be more to their gear than the normal generic brands.
I haven't even played a Walkbout but I want a 12" combo...one day.
Now more and more brands are accessible all over the world, and Mesa continues to settle as one of the bigger companies, I still can't help but think there must be more to their gear than the normal generic brands.
I haven't even played a Walkbout but I want a 12" combo...one day.
Chef
In Memoriam
Mesa is "kinda boutique," IMO
All their stuff is still "hand built," but they have enough staff to crank out more than a few units.
Their guitar stuff is killin', I think.
Mesa have also done a pretty good job of "niche filling" with their bass products.
There really isn't anything else that "does Walkabout or M9" etc.
If you "want that, and are particular," there aren't substitutions, really.
All their stuff is still "hand built," but they have enough staff to crank out more than a few units.
Their guitar stuff is killin', I think.
Mesa have also done a pretty good job of "niche filling" with their bass products.
There really isn't anything else that "does Walkabout or M9" etc.
If you "want that, and are particular," there aren't substitutions, really.
Interesting... that's about the only thing about the Walkabout that I don't like, and will probably send me in the direction of the Genz Benz Streamliner if/when I have the money to choose between the two.
Don't see what would have been so hard about adding a pre-post selector for the onboard DI like virtually every other manufacturer does in heads at that price point.
Chef
In Memoriam
I don't see this as a big deal. You can put a DI between your bass and the amp.
But really, unless you're using some crazy mega boost or cut eq, there's not reason not to use the post eq DI and be happy with it.
It sounds great; I've never ever had a live sound engineer gripe about it, and the guy at the studio I work most at likes it.
Lastly, if you've played and like the Walkabout, I don't think you'll like the SL. They're very different from each other.
But really, unless you're using some crazy mega boost or cut eq, there's not reason not to use the post eq DI and be happy with it.
It sounds great; I've never ever had a live sound engineer gripe about it, and the guy at the studio I work most at likes it.
Lastly, if you've played and like the Walkabout, I don't think you'll like the SL. They're very different from each other.
Except that the whole point is to get all that tubey MB goodness to the FOH mix... which an in-line DI short-circuits. Might as well run a POS $300 solid state head at that point.
It's just a personal preference thing with me. I rarely if ever change my amp EQ over the course of a show... but if I ever need to (for example, because my lead guitarist's half-stack is 20 db louder by the 2nd set than he was at soundcheck), it would be nice to have that option without changing anything at FOH.
Chef
In Memoriam
Chef
In Memoriam
reddi, summit td100; there's ways to do that.
If your guitar player has turned up 20db, there's plenty else to worry about...for you and FOH
If your guitar player has turned up 20db, there's plenty else to worry about...for you and FOH
I recently got a blackface Walkabout head. Before I purchased I called Mesa, wanted to know if the design had been updated to include Speakon jacks and a pre/post switch for the DI. I was told that the speaker jacks were still 1/4 inch but the newer Walkabouts did have a pre/post switch on the DI. So I placed an order, got my amp - no pre/post switch!
Called yesterday (coincidentally, right after Chef's post about it) and spoke to someone else at MB and was informed that the Walkabout is the only amp in the current MB line that doesn't have a pre/post switch for DI. Evidently the person I spoke with the first time had been mistaken. As it is right now, even changing the master volume on the amp will affect the signal going out the DI.
However, I was told that Mesa can mod these amps to add a pre/post switch which would tap the signal right at the input stage. So essentially, that would net the same results as using an external DI before the input jack, albeit with a level control (the DI level control would still be active). I haven't yet decided if I'm going to opt for the mod...
I'm using my Walkabout to power either a pair of Berg HT112ER's or a pair of Baer ML112's. It kills. I really like this amp and consider it to be the best of what's out there right now in smaller, lighter weight designs.
Called yesterday (coincidentally, right after Chef's post about it) and spoke to someone else at MB and was informed that the Walkabout is the only amp in the current MB line that doesn't have a pre/post switch for DI. Evidently the person I spoke with the first time had been mistaken. As it is right now, even changing the master volume on the amp will affect the signal going out the DI.
However, I was told that Mesa can mod these amps to add a pre/post switch which would tap the signal right at the input stage. So essentially, that would net the same results as using an external DI before the input jack, albeit with a level control (the DI level control would still be active). I haven't yet decided if I'm going to opt for the mod...
I'm using my Walkabout to power either a pair of Berg HT112ER's or a pair of Baer ML112's. It kills. I really like this amp and consider it to be the best of what's out there right now in smaller, lighter weight designs.
Chef
In Memoriam
They've been able to do that mod for some time.
It does something to gain staging (or something) that changes how the amp sounds tough.
I've never cared that it's post everything, I've never played one with the mod done.
If you ask about that in the mega-thread you may find someone who has.
If I have to turn up mid show, it's because everyone else has come up; so, feeding more to the FOH console is probably warranted at that point anyway.
This has never been an issue for me in 10 years or so of Walkabout use.
You can always turn your gain up, and turn the DI send down, if you like.
It does something to gain staging (or something) that changes how the amp sounds tough.
I've never cared that it's post everything, I've never played one with the mod done.
If you ask about that in the mega-thread you may find someone who has.
If I have to turn up mid show, it's because everyone else has come up; so, feeding more to the FOH console is probably warranted at that point anyway.
This has never been an issue for me in 10 years or so of Walkabout use.
You can always turn your gain up, and turn the DI send down, if you like.
I appreciate your perspective on this, Chef. I've only played two gigs with the Walkabout so far, so your ten years worth of experience is helpful!
Rather than having the mod done to the amp, I'm thinking that the most cost effective and practical thing for me to do is to pick up a small, relatively uncolored DI - Countryman or similar - and pack it with my gig accessories, to have available in case the post EQ DI on the Walkabout should prove problematic for some sound persons.
Rather than having the mod done to the amp, I'm thinking that the most cost effective and practical thing for me to do is to pick up a small, relatively uncolored DI - Countryman or similar - and pack it with my gig accessories, to have available in case the post EQ DI on the Walkabout should prove problematic for some sound persons.
