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Mesa Boogie Walkabout Mega-thread 8
- Thread starter Chef
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Hey Alan,
I've only had the TH500 a few days (and don't have a WA for a direct comparison) but it can get really close to what I want in a WA (clean, 3D, full range, ability to have an adjustable mid bump without a squeaky, too tight a Q, tonality)..
I wanted a lightweight SVT with more power; the WA (with a Telefunken) got really close to the tone. I have a selector switch and use an SVT for my reference standard. My WA reasonably flat and clean was able to get close to my SVT-CL setting (clean, treble rolled off, mids pushed). The obvious problem with small / single driver cabs, is that neither could get clean and loud.
Have had 1 rehearsal and a few hours with the A/B switch and so far the TH500 can get really close to my old WA, trying to sound like the SVT, but it is really loud and clean if you wnat it to.
Thought I was done until Speyer and Rod started saying all this good stuff about the Orange Terror which I only thought played dirty due to some reports here.
Maybe time to turn the SVP pre/power rig into a Terror.
BTW, Mesa will only bump the WA power until all of us buy more amps because they are evil...
So I just got back from a gig trying out my walkabout combo for the first time at a show. It was a small room that I thought would be perfect to try it out on. Sounded amazing and I wasn't even close to pushing the volume, and we're a loud band!
But then, after the 5th song or so, suddenly no sound came out, light stayed on, but nothing else. I tried a direct connection as I use a couple pedals and then bailed and let the next band hook me up with their rig, which was very nice of their bass player.
When I got home, I plugged it in and it's fine! So I'm wondering, is this the effects loop issue I've read about, or does the walkabout have protection from over heating? It did not seem hot or anything when it konked out on me. Nervous to bring it out again until I understand what may of happened, thoughts?
But then, after the 5th song or so, suddenly no sound came out, light stayed on, but nothing else. I tried a direct connection as I use a couple pedals and then bailed and let the next band hook me up with their rig, which was very nice of their bass player.
When I got home, I plugged it in and it's fine! So I'm wondering, is this the effects loop issue I've read about, or does the walkabout have protection from over heating? It did not seem hot or anything when it konked out on me. Nervous to bring it out again until I understand what may of happened, thoughts?
The same thing happened again! This time I'm sure the effects loop switch was in the bypass position. I flipped it a few times and put a cable between the send and return jacks. No difference.
To me it sounds like the amp needs to heat up properly before use. Any ideas?
was the head left in the cold for any period of time,like in your car\van\truck??...
I'm not a WA owner but,I own the BB750 and I've had some(one actually)issues with extreme cold...it needed more than usual warm up time after leaving it in my car's trunk overnight when the temperature was in the single digits and below zero(Fahrenheit)..and noticed that you live in a cold climate.
I'm not a WA owner but,I own the BB750 and I've had some(one actually)issues with extreme cold...it needed more than usual warm up time after leaving it in my car's trunk overnight when the temperature was in the single digits and below zero(Fahrenheit)..and noticed that you live in a cold climate.
Yes, it had been in the boot of my car for a couple of hours and it was a few degrees below freezing. I wouldn't call it extreme cold, but then again, I'm not an amp...
I do have a bypass switch, but I did not have it switched to that. I will from now on!
I have not gigged with my Walkabout, but the thing I noticed when changing the fan and cleaning the effects return jack was that Mesa uses little plastic connectors (often referred to as Molex connectors) on the wiring harnesses that interconnect the circuit boards. Mesa puts a bead of silicone (or similar goop) on them to try to hold them in place (although they're supposed to lock in place too). When wiggled, I've had them cause drop outs in the signal.
I would consider those things suspect if you're having intermittent problems with signal drop outs.
I also own an Ampeg VL series tube guitar amp, designed by Lee Jackson. In Lee's video on servicing the amp, he recommends getting rid of those connectors and soldering the wiring harnesses directly to the circuit boards to avoid problems. And I've owned a number of Acoustic 370 heads where the push-on connectors (a different style that slides on the edge of the circuit board) had been removed and the wiring soldered directly to the traces on the circuit board.
They aid in speeding up assembly and probably help a service tech tear an amp down for service, but, to me, they seem like a real weak spot, especially for a piece of electronic gear that sees a good deal of vibration and temperature/humidity extremes over the course of its life.
This sounds like a loose interconnect inside or possibly a poor tube receptacle. You can open it up unplugged and try to reseat all the connection pin between the preamp and the power transistor board. Pull the tubes out and reseat them.
The problem could lay in a whole bunch of different places but those are easy to check and could be heat related.
I opened it up and checked all the connections. Two of them, right by the transformer, were slightly loose. I reseated them firmly in their sockets and checked the tubes too. Now I'll have to wait 'til wednesday before I can try it out. Fingers crossed!
Thanks for pointing this out guys!
Thanks for pointing this out guys!
I played my newly used Walkabout this morning, for the first time and it was flat out AWESOME. I have played through a ton of different amps; just look at my "additional information" list, but this amp through my Baer ML112, with my CallowHill, was THE BEST I have ever heard. I don't think this setup will ever be sold.
Walkabout Megathreaders!
I've got GAS for an Aguilar AG500 after I used one at a hang today. it sounded great through my Bergs. Nice and smooth.
Are any of you familiar with the AG500 who could talk me out of it, and persuade me to stick with the WA?
I've got GAS for an Aguilar AG500 after I used one at a hang today. it sounded great through my Bergs. Nice and smooth.
Are any of you familiar with the AG500 who could talk me out of it, and persuade me to stick with the WA?
Follow your ears. My only advice is to hold onto the WA until you have lived with any alternative for a while, to be sure.
I found the AG500 sterile. I am a tube guy and the Walkabout is the only hybrid or transistor amp I enjoy.
At least two people here have raved about the AG500 with the HS210. "Incredibly fast and punchy" is what I remember reading. I think it was KJung and Wooly Sock. Should be easy to find with the right keywords.
I spend way too much time reading about gear.
You already have a fantastic sounding rig. At least that's what I tell myself while cruising the classifieds.
I spend way too much time reading about gear.
You already have a fantastic sounding rig. At least that's what I tell myself while cruising the classifieds.
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