• 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 Part 10

#2,341
A good point that deserves repeating is that with an efficient speaker choice, the WA as is might be adequate for those who like the amp without any changes. This is an easy way to get more out of the amp without changing the amp.
 
  • Like
Reactions: adam montminy, Al Kraft, markmck79 and 1 other person
#2,342
agedhorse said:
A good point that deserves repeating is that with an efficient speaker choice, the WA as is might be adequate for those who like the amp without any changes. This is an easy way to get more out of the amp without changing the amp.
Click to expand...
I haven't had the opportunity to try them but is the Subway Ultra-Lite 12 comparable to the Scout 12? Are they more efficient? If so, ever think of designing a stacked 2x12… with a passive radiator on the bottom? I really like how it makes the little Scout cab sound so big. It's like the "Little Train That Could" - almost! 2x12's. Yessir, I think it could.
 
  • Like
Reactions: GregC, rodl2005 and Al Kraft
#2,343
bumble yeti said:
I haven't had the opportunity to try them but is the Subway Ultra-Lite 12 comparable to the Scout 12? Are they more efficient? If so, ever think of designing a stacked 2x12… with a passive radiator on the bottom? I really like how it makes the little Scout cab sound so big. It's like the "Little Train That Could" - almost! 2x12's. Yessir, I think it could.
Click to expand...
Maybe a Mesa 212 super cab type design that allows the WA to give 110% might be the ultimate product idea here. Mesa would have an all purpose cab that may appeal to lots of different folks, but has a special value for WA owners.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jnewmark, adam montminy, rodl2005 and 1 other person
#2,344
Al Kraft said:
Maybe a Mesa 212 super cab type design that allows the WA to give 110% might be the ultimate product idea here. Mesa would have an all purpose cab that may appeal to lots of different folks, but has a special value for WA owners.
Click to expand...
Yessir! And, agedhorse, you could place a Subway on top of it and everyone would think, "Light weight amp, light weight cab. Awesome!!!" And it would weigh around 60 lbs. and it would have casters on the back and a handle and that little passive radiator that makes it sound like a 4x12. Okay, maybe a 3x12. And a high freq. driver. You get the idea.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Al Kraft
#2,346
There are two clear camps. People who want more clean output and those who are good as is. Perfect. Those who are good, keep using it. For the others, build a WA with a lot more clean output. And if you tell people to give other ideas, of course they are going to ask for everything possible. To me, that is the only thing muddying the point.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jnewmark
#2,347
Actually, the proposal of using the classic WA frontend with a dual 300 watts poweramp was really good, at least with the possibility to bridge the backend. 600 watts or more obtained using mosfets should be plenty, especially if that power is at 4 ohms or less. The cost, instead, would be a nono for many. In my country the WA is 1300-1400 euros, a little fortune if you ask me. Going towards 2000 would compete with some major products, even all tube ones. Myself, if I had that kind of cash I would think about it a lot. An improved powerful WA would slaughter a certain niche market if proposed with a very slight price increase. Aggressively marketed to appeal for the kind of buyer not interested in micros or class D stuff and not willing to spend two grands in an amp. The weight is not a problem, till it is less than 24-26 pounds. Dimentions would not be a problem either. A bulkier shape? Ok, if the tone is there and the cost is attractive, better than hauling around a big tube beast.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Al Kraft
#2,348
kringle77 said:
There are two clear camps. People who want more clean output and those who are good as is. Perfect. Those who are good, keep using it. For the others, build a WA with a lot more clean output. And if you tell people to give other ideas, of course they are going to ask for everything possible. To me, that is the only thing muddying the point.
Click to expand...

In my case I just wanted something that would hold its shape around what I consider to be the WA's 'sweet spot' a little more (which - as we all know - is a different thing to the MPULSE 600, for example). And it was also important that it didn't break the bank - Mesa stuff is an absolute premium in Europe. Thankfully Handbox have already built one - the R-400 ticked all the boxes for me.
 
  • Like
Reactions: svtb15
#2,349
agedhorse said:
Certainly true, but the number using 2 at a time is very small.

This scenario would share the same (operated in dual, not bridge mode) because everything scales one to one. In bridge mode however, it would not scale one to one because the amp sections would be in series, so damping factor (which is already kind of low) would get even lower, and any feedback would be applied less equally (there may be some solutions to this). Also, the heat would be doubled, power transformer and filter caps increase, so the size of the chassis would need to widen to a fill 17 inches like the Carbines.

I'm not convinced that enough folks would feel comfortable paying another $500-$700 plus the increased size & weight to get this additional performance... any thoughts on this scenario?
Click to expand...
I would like to try such an amp. Just don't stop making the original WA because you'll have a lot of unhappy bass TBers!
 
  • Like
Reactions: rodl2005 and Al Kraft
#2,350
I really like the idea of a high-sensitivity Walkabout "loud" cab. I tried the Subway cabs and while I really loved the low end (very punchy and powerful), I found the tweeter to be pretty hard on the ears when I used them with my WA and especially my Prodigy. Not surprisingly, they were a much better match with the D-800 with that amp's softer highs. A two-woofer Scout cab voiced like the originals with a couple really efficient neo drivers would be fantastic.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Phyzzbin, GregC, markmck79 and 2 others
#2,354
It about 28-29lbs, about the same as my eden wt800. No problem unless you start to fill the rack with other stuff. I keep all that on a pedal board these days. I'm adapting! Husky, how did you like the titan compared to the wa? It definitely has to be more Tibet than the eden. I really love the wt800 but, prefer the feel of the mesa.
 
#2,357
I use a Fdeck HPF with my walkabout on every gig at various settings depending on the room and the p.a. sub placement. It's really only to clean up the sound and make room for the Kick Drum in the P.A. and recordings. I can't say I've noticed any extra headroom by using it.

For an updated Walkabout my wish list would be:

1. More light weight power through class D amp. ICE 800W does me fine. (I love the D.I. sound of the Walkabout in my p.a. and recorded in the studio so if that can be ran right into a class D output amp I'd be happy)
2. Small knob defeatable variable HPF. Many times I have a regular setting that works for me with my p.a. and don't typically adjust it much. (I was a little disappointed that the D800+ gained so much chassis size for this feature)
3. Independent Master volume adjustment from the D.I. out.
4. Pre/Post EQ selection to the DI out.
5. Smaller or the same chassis size if possible. Certainly not larger.

I am a typical weekend warrior semi-pro musician who uses my WA as much as possible. With P.A. support it's a fine amp, but in loud jams I often wish for that warm fat tone with more clean headroom. I use the squash and mild dirt gain settings the WA provides in certain projects and really enjoy that aspect of it as well although mostly I lean towards pedals for those sounds on command as opposed to dialing in more pre gain and messing up my mix in the room.

I think most users who use and love the WA try to run it clean or on the edge of breakup. If one was to try to engineer a newer better version I'd suggest they concentrate on obtaining that sound at a variety of volumes.
 
#2,359
kringle77 said:
It about 28-29lbs, about the same as my eden wt800. No problem unless you start to fill the rack with other stuff. I keep all that on a pedal board these days. I'm adapting! Husky, how did you like the titan compared to the wa? It definitely has to be more Tibet than the eden. I really love the wt800 but, prefer the feel of the mesa.
Click to expand...

Personally, I got "my tones" to sound remarkably similar between the Titan and the WA. The Titan was absolutely beastly with headroom but I could get a similar WA grit/grind by blending it just a little OD. The Titan had such a solid, tight tone all the way through. I, too, love my HPF but never felt a need to use it on the Titan. I have a video of the tone I took from the DI for an outdoor gig if you're interested in hearing it...just let me know.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back