Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Mesa Boogie Walkabout Mega-thread 8
- Thread starter Chef
- Start date
- Status
Agree. I gotta call MESA and speak with the 'right guy', to have him explain what is happening with the sonic change. Minor reduction in DI out is not an issue.
for me
for me
I'm fairly sure that the DI level point must be right at the end of the chain before the signal goes the the power amp- since the driver of the power amp is a second tube which is fed from the Master Volume control, you would be losing the tonal characteristics of this second tube by moving the DI feed before the Master. Similarly, the FX loop is post-Master but still pre-Driver tube, so taking a signal out from the FX Send to another power amp also loses the effects of that second tube...
My opinion:
unless you're doing some freakishly drastic eq'ing, there's no good reason not to have the DI be post eq.
It sounds -glorious-
I've done hundreds of gigs with the Walkabout, and never had an engineer ask for a dry signal after hearing what comes out of it.
Same thing in the studio.
If you want a dry signal, there are plenty of other ways to get one......
ymmv, of course.
unless you're doing some freakishly drastic eq'ing, there's no good reason not to have the DI be post eq.
It sounds -glorious-
I've done hundreds of gigs with the Walkabout, and never had an engineer ask for a dry signal after hearing what comes out of it.
Same thing in the studio.
If you want a dry signal, there are plenty of other ways to get one......
ymmv, of course.
+1. Considered the DI mod a year or so ago, but ultimately couldn't see losing the full tone of the stock DI signal path as a worthwhile tradeoff.
Just did the mod to make the DI output pre master gain control.
I can confirm 100% that all tone controls and parametric remain in both the DI out and in the original signal path. In no way is the original input to speaker output affected. It remains stock. The tube sound and EQ remains untouched.
The only change is putting the DI just before the master pot. The sound is pristene (as always) and the DI pot works fine. No signal level loss noticed. This mod certainly doesn't give a 'dry' DI out. On the contrary... All EQ tested and outputted to the DI XLR. Mesa's comment to me was that the omission of the second (driver) tube in the DI chain would most likely be un-noticeable.
Unless you are 'bench proficient', don't even think about doing this yourself. All front panel knobs and pots had to be removed from the front panel, the circuit board removed from chassis, and a few other surprises. The cap that needs to be removed and unsoldered can only be accessed from the bottom of the board.
Maybe not for all, but a homerun for me!
I can confirm 100% that all tone controls and parametric remain in both the DI out and in the original signal path. In no way is the original input to speaker output affected. It remains stock. The tube sound and EQ remains untouched.
The only change is putting the DI just before the master pot. The sound is pristene (as always) and the DI pot works fine. No signal level loss noticed. This mod certainly doesn't give a 'dry' DI out. On the contrary... All EQ tested and outputted to the DI XLR. Mesa's comment to me was that the omission of the second (driver) tube in the DI chain would most likely be un-noticeable.
Unless you are 'bench proficient', don't even think about doing this yourself. All front panel knobs and pots had to be removed from the front panel, the circuit board removed from chassis, and a few other surprises. The cap that needs to be removed and unsoldered can only be accessed from the bottom of the board.
Maybe not for all, but a homerun for me!
I could see how that would be useful, but I normally don't change my Master volume, so not necessary for me. Still, could be handy in some cases.
I tried my WalkAbout/SVT210AV-rig on a rehearsal yesterday. It sounds great!
It's a lot louder than the Scout and a bit more old school sounding. I don't know the tech specs, but my impression is that the combo has more top and bottom end, while the Ampegs are punchier and tighter sounding. My guess is you can get quite close to the SVT sound with a bit of EQ-ing.
I've never been a fan of 10's, but I think these cab's just won me over!
It's a lot louder than the Scout and a bit more old school sounding. I don't know the tech specs, but my impression is that the combo has more top and bottom end, while the Ampegs are punchier and tighter sounding. My guess is you can get quite close to the SVT sound with a bit of EQ-ing.
I've never been a fan of 10's, but I think these cab's just won me over!
the 210AV is a sealed cab, with no horn or tweeter.
in fact, it's just as if it were 1/4 of an older ampeg 810.
the scout of course sounds both brighter and deeper, because it does have a horn, and it's passive radiator tuning.
the 210AV does work very well with the Walkabout!
in fact, it's just as if it were 1/4 of an older ampeg 810.
the scout of course sounds both brighter and deeper, because it does have a horn, and it's passive radiator tuning.
the 210AV does work very well with the Walkabout!
- Apr 3, 2003
- 35,516
- 19,950
- Disclosures
- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
I finally got an 8ohm scout extention 12' cab to go with my 4 ohm scout combo. At first tryout at very low volume it didn't seem significantly louder than the single combo, but when the volume knob was inched up then I felt the volume, power and punch that was hiding in that amp starting to come out. I've been reading for months about all the different cabs that could be used, but I decided to stick with the scout cabs for now as they are voiced specifically for the walkabout.
I agree with a previous poster who said that the 8ohm cab sounded just a hair more scooped than the 4ohm cab - which sounded a bit more mid forward. They combine nicely.
I agree with a previous poster who said that the 8ohm cab sounded just a hair more scooped than the 4ohm cab - which sounded a bit more mid forward. They combine nicely.
Can anyone one of you WA players who has used both the WA Scout cabinet(s) and a Berg AE212, or I suppose even 2 AE112's, talk to me about how the two cabs compare ?
I am currently using either 1 or 2 Scout 1x12's with my WA.
I love the tone of the WA, but as I have mentioned several times before, I feel as if the WA has a tendency to run out of gas at the upper end of my volume needs (when I do not have FOH support .. its never an issue with FOH of course).
I have been considering a number of options, but keep coming back to the Berg cabs for some reason.
so, any input ? Will the WA deliver more whump through a Berg 212 than it can through 2 Scout 1x12's? I know the best way to figure this out is to go ahead and just buy one and try it out, but the AE212's are not always exactly easy to find, and are not cheap (although cost is not the ultimate decision point).
Thanks
I am currently using either 1 or 2 Scout 1x12's with my WA.
I love the tone of the WA, but as I have mentioned several times before, I feel as if the WA has a tendency to run out of gas at the upper end of my volume needs (when I do not have FOH support .. its never an issue with FOH of course).
I have been considering a number of options, but keep coming back to the Berg cabs for some reason.
so, any input ? Will the WA deliver more whump through a Berg 212 than it can through 2 Scout 1x12's? I know the best way to figure this out is to go ahead and just buy one and try it out, but the AE212's are not always exactly easy to find, and are not cheap (although cost is not the ultimate decision point).
Thanks
Never tried the Bergs with a walkabout but it sounds like your experience is similar to mine in terms of volume needs and the Walkabout being marginal in that regard. I did have a GB Neox 212/112 stack at one point, and that was perfect with the WA in terms of volume/headroom. I suspect the Bergs are similar to the Neox in terms of sensitivity and my extrapolation is you'll need 3 Berg 12's to be grinnin' all the time. BTW I ditched the stack 'cause I didn't wanna carry 90 lbs of cabs with my WA. Do you find 1 Berg 12 to be louder than 1 Scout 12?
yeah lomo, I can't imagine hauling 3 12's to a gig any more. that's just not the idea at all. In fact, I would almost head in the direction of a fEARful or fEARless 15 cab (15/6, or Bassic) and use a high powered hybrid like a Hartke LH1000 to drive it before I would go to a 2x12 + 1x12 rig with the WA. Heck I might even go way back to an Alembic F-1X into a honking poweramp into a fEARful/fEARless type 15 cab.
OTOH, I sure do love the sound of the WA amp. Each time I have tried out another amp in the last 5-6 years, I just keep coming back to the WA.
dang
any other WA users have experience with the Berg 2x12 that can comment on the differences between it and the Mesa Scout cabs ?
I think the AE 12" s do handle a li'l more power than the Scout cab 12". I've not done a direct comparison, so I'm only estimating.
I have used the WA Scout 12" 8 ohm combo with a single AE112 (8 ohm) a few times & I quite like that pairing.
The AE112 is a li'l more mid-fwd than the Scout & together (I think) they compliment each other.
I've used the WA head into a Berg AE212 a few times too. It's good too.
I can't comment on 2 Scout cabs etc tho.
I sure did notice a massive increase in headroom using 3x12"s (1x AE112 & 1xAE212) so 2.67 ohm
-The WA head Master vol was on about 9 or 10 o'clock (gain about 11-12 o'clock) & even in our loud 8 piece, it was killin'.
Last time I used the WA head with 2 AE112's & no PA support, I, like you, was running outta room then.
I have used the WA Scout 12" 8 ohm combo with a single AE112 (8 ohm) a few times & I quite like that pairing.
The AE112 is a li'l more mid-fwd than the Scout & together (I think) they compliment each other.
I've used the WA head into a Berg AE212 a few times too. It's good too.
I can't comment on 2 Scout cabs etc tho.
I sure did notice a massive increase in headroom using 3x12"s (1x AE112 & 1xAE212) so 2.67 ohm
-The WA head Master vol was on about 9 or 10 o'clock (gain about 11-12 o'clock) & even in our loud 8 piece, it was killin'.
Last time I used the WA head with 2 AE112's & no PA support, I, like you, was running outta room then.
....problem isn't power handling of the cabs, it's output capability of the WA head. IME to date, a sensitive 15 makes a lot of sense with the WA. The 3015LF in fEARfuls and my LDS 15/6 isn't overly sensitive. However, the 4 Ohm Faital 15 in my Bassic is more so, similar to a Scout 15 but less boomy. I'm gonna pair it with an 8 Ohm Bassic 12 that has a tweet. The cabs are pricey but the 15 is about 22 lbs and the 12 will feel like an empty paper bag. I'm certain that setup will get me where I want with my WA. It will probably make me sell my burgundy gator leather Scout 12 cab as well.
Quote "It will probably make me sell my burgundy gator leather Scout 12 cab as well."
Now that I would stand in line for.
Now that I would stand in line for.
Quote "It will probably make me sell my burgundy gator leather Scout 12 cab as well."
Now that I would stand in line for.
I did wait in line for several months for that combo cab while the Mesa CS hatched it, and in addition to all those dead presidents I sacrificed my spleen, a kidney and 3 or 4 other significant organs--they also wanted my virginity but it was too late for that, so in lieu we settled on my innocence
........but now I no longer have a combo in the living room so I do not need an esthetically perfect cab to keep the Mrs happy, and the WA head is sitting on the Bassic cab. I hate to part with it, but I never let gear sit for long, hence my inflated number of transactions
Attachments
Hey guys. I briefly played a Walkabout Scout 1x12 combo today at my local GC. Ran a J Bass straight it and REALLY liked what I heard.
I use quite a bit of active 5 string basses. How do the 1x12 Scouts handle the low B's? Does it get better with the Scout 1x12 extension cab?
I use quite a bit of active 5 string basses. How do the 1x12 Scouts handle the low B's? Does it get better with the Scout 1x12 extension cab?
It's a 112.
It's 112 that's tuned rather deeply, so, it does pretty well with the low B; as long as you respect it's volume limits.
Adding a second cab increases those limits.
When I was still using Mesa cabs, I liked the Scout 12 best with a Mesa 15 under it.
Fatter, louder, all that stuff.
It's 112 that's tuned rather deeply, so, it does pretty well with the low B; as long as you respect it's volume limits.
Adding a second cab increases those limits.
When I was still using Mesa cabs, I liked the Scout 12 best with a Mesa 15 under it.
Fatter, louder, all that stuff.
- Status
