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Mesa Boogie Walkabout Mega-thread 8

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Hey guys,
About a year ago I started looking for a new amp, my ear was tired of my old amp's tone and my back was tired of carrying it!

I was looking for something more portable and a better tone. I tried a ton of amps then spotted a used silver face Walkabout. As soon as I heard those first few notes I was blown away!

Been in tone heaven ever since! Recently started running it through a GK 410 Neo... couldn't be happier!

Welcome Honorac !
I have the EXACT same set up ! I also use my Mesa M6 Carbine.

The Mesa Walkabout is one of those amps I'll never sell. It's probably one of the BEST sounding bass amps ever made ...
 
Thanks for the welcome!
The killer for me was discovering how good the DI on it is! Best recording tone I've ever had, not to mention the live punch it provides.... now if only we could get a 900W version!
 
Thanks for the welcome!
The killer for me was discovering how good the DI on it is! Best recording tone I've ever had, not to mention the live punch it provides.... now if only we could get a 900W version!

You hit it on the head !! The Walkabout DI is amazing !! I've used many DI's to record with and now I only use the WA. The sound is so thick...
 
Yeah, I realized pretty quick how powerful the WA eq is. Took quite a bit of exploring to get the hang of using the parametric eq, but well worth the time.

And I don't know what is up with that mid knob, but it's gotta be my favourite one to mess with!
 
Looking to buy a WA 112. Head only, cab only or combo, I'll take it. If any of you has a lead on a sale, please let me know. There's a head on ebay right now, but I suspect it will go for more than market value.
 
Silver w/ red markings- 1st -2 inputs for active/passive.
Silver w/ black marking - 2nd
Silver w/ black & 1 input - toggle switch (passive & active) 3rd
Black w/ white - 4th
Black w/white & extra breathe holes in chassis - current
All afaik.

I may buy a 1st generation WA Saturday. The above are changes that can be used to identify the generation.

What other changes inside the box have occurred? Anything significant enough to cause one to prefer one generation over another?

Thanks.
 
Yes, the design has changed over the years.
Some inconsequential ways, some significant ways.
First gen units were red silkscreen on aluminum
Second gen were black on aluminum
Third gen changed to one input and an active/passive switch (versus two input jacks) and incorporated an fx bypass switch. These mods fixed problems of oxidation on early jacks and simplfied use some.
Fourth gen was the blackout model.
Current blackout models models have more top cover venting (to meet UL requirements), and-IIRC-different brand of mosfets, laid out a little different.

I've had all of them, and they all sound very much the same to me, with the qualification that Mesa have changed what tubes they use from time to time.
To me, different gen units, with same/same tubes, sound and perform very similarly.

hth;
alan
____
 
I may buy a 1st generation WA Saturday. The above are changes that can be used to identify the generation.

What other changes inside the box have occurred? Anything significant enough to cause one to prefer one generation over another?

Thanks.

I don't know what has evolved inside the box, but I have also owned many generations of WA and i wouldn't hesitate to buy an old one in good shape. I would try it out, and if you fall in love, then I'd consider sending it to Mesa for a full set of mods to bring it to current spec if you have the scratch.
 
OK;
my GK Neo410 is 8ohm.
I'm pretty sure that even at 185 watts, it's a giggable combination.
However, I find the 410 to be a bit bottom-heavy compared to the 212's; and ends up feeling a bit scooped because of it.

It's workable, but, it's not my personal preference.
 
Yeah, I realized pretty quick how powerful the WA eq is. Took quite a bit of exploring to get the hang of using the parametric eq, but well worth the time.

And I don't know what is up with that mid knob, but it's gotta be my favourite one to mess with!

The passive MID knob is a bit of a mystery, but it is a great knob indeed. Sometimes, it's the only one I tweak, leaving all the rest at noon.
 
OK;
my GK Neo410 is 8ohm.
I'm pretty sure that even at 185 watts, it's a giggable combination.
However, I find the 410 to be a bit bottom-heavy compared to the 212's; and ends up feeling a bit scooped because of it.

It's workable, but, it's not my personal preference.

Hi Chef (and fellow GK NEO's)
As I said, I gig every Sunday night or so, and the last few times I have been experimenting ;

- Mesa Walkabout head w/ GK NEO 212 8 ohm cab = Articulate, musical reproduction, and good match. The 212 will match up with any amp nicely.

- Mesa Walkabout head w/ GK NEO 410 8 ohm cab = Good tone, but underpowered to got out of the "mud zone" . A little too much distortion and not enough headroom for a 2 guitars, drums, keys. Although random audience members said the tone was great, I was going with my gut that I needed more headroom.

- Mesa M6 Carbine head w/ GK NEO 410 8 ohm cab = Spectacular. Plenty of headroom, out of the "mud zone" and into the "crystal clear" zone. Perfect overall sound. Nice lows and sizzling highs.
 
I haven't tried the M9 with either the GK Neo 212, nor Neo 410
I suppose I should...

I will say that when trying the M9 with 2xGK Neo112, that stack "felt fragile."
The M9 has a ton of low end, and it felt to me as if that was going to be too much for the 112's. That's a 4 ohm rig,
and therefore
more power than either an 8 ohm 212 or 410 would be receiving
so
they might not feel overwhelmed by that head.

I haven't tried that. I can though.
 
I've been reading WalkAbout posts 'til my eyes hurt. I'm a noob who plans to buy the WA this Saturday.

The idea of using the WA as a preamp comes up from time to time and opinions are mixed but the consensus is that the sound through a power amp is not as good.

Has anyone tried running 2 8ohm cabs you love but which lack lower end with the WA amp section and using the DI to effectively bi amp to a power amp running a sub in the 41 - 1xx range? Seems to me that this would preserve the character of the WA while greatly increasing the volume.
 
It is useless to reinvent the wheel here, IMO.
If you need Pure Walkabout Tone, with Big SPL
get the 15" combo and a 15 extension and call it done.
 
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