If a wa reboot ever happens and a new one comes out, I'd like to see the feature set of the d-800+. But, get that tube front end and output driver in there.
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 Part 10
- Thread starter Chef
- Start date
That kinda seems like alot of gear to drag around for essentially just using two drivers. How about looking/trying some bigger cabinets....again from seeings that you're willing to move that much gear.
I typically use one PH212 8ohm and for most places it is plenty. For the few venues that it doesnt seem enough, I have a 2nd PH212 and with that many drivers and the head being at 4 ohm it definitely starts killin and plenty of volume. A week ago a usual club we play got a house ampeg 810 cab, so I used my WA on it and it was so definitely killin! That WA didnt break a sweat with more drivers (and I didnt have to have the master vol set as high either). The old adage holds true; multiple drivers wins.
One other thing I had been doing was tube rolling and using the clubs as the test bed rather than at home in the garage. I had some 50's RCA's, 60's GE's, the stock russian Sovteks, and some modern JJ's. I had thought for sure the GE's were going to be best, but nope they were too soft. The RCA's had incredible glassy top end that would sound great in a studio but lacked in low-mid push on stage. In the end for me the JJ's has the best tone and clarity in all lows/mids/highs in the live band mix, very happy how that WA turned out.
Last edited:
I'm not sure how old your WA is but Mesa has been using JJ 12Ax7 for quite a while. Did they previously use Sovtek at one point?
I also tried a bunch of tubes in my WA and the best one for me has been a Tung Sol reissue. I'm not sure if it's because they just had more gain or what, but they just sounded much more colorful and had a fuller range of overtones - much more lively than the others I tried.
Welp, she's all packed up for a trip back to the factory for a good lube and filter change. According to "the guy" at Mesa turnaround should be only a couple weeks. Can't wait to get it back all cleaned up with a clean bill of health.
My current WA is a blackface 2010, and it had mesa labelled Sovteks. My previous redfaced ones also had em, one WA even had one russian and one chinese 12AX7.
My experience too. My WA sported the stock russian 2 tubes. Recorded a whole day different brands of tubes and listening back I noticed the tone was almost identical, with the exception of more or less gain. The only tube wich prayed out of the choir was the contemporary Tung sol, with much more defined lows, clear detailed mids and extended top. No mud at all. Kept this one on. It's quite clean and detailed, if some day I get bored of this perfection, I will mount the stock tubes again, they were still performing flawlessly and were dirty and fuzzy....
Idk, that's only a scout 12 combo and 112 ext. with an 8lb head on it. The 15 is a bear to move around and I'll probably just leave it at home for practice or sell it. As for bigger cabs, I still have 3 vintage SVT rigs and some others. Funny, save for stairs, I can move the 8/10 svt cabs easier than the 15" scout! Those WA12's with the neo drivers are so lightweight... I will try the WA head on one of the svt cabs though, just for kicks.
Yeah, that's a great description. I tried about 5 tubes and there wasn't much difference at all between them but then when I plugged in the Tung Sol, I said "Wow!" It just jumped out like an acoustic instrument instead of an amplified instrument if that makes sense. I guess there was more realism and presence in the room, and with more detail. It sounds very rich.
Al Kraft
Supporting Member
- May 2, 2016
- 10,768
- 40,442
- Disclosures
- Mesa Boogie beta product tester and player support
I've got one of that same vintage that is due for a trip back to the factory for some general cleaning and maintenance.
I'm curious about why you guys send your amps across the country for general cleaning and maintenance. Is this not something that can easily be done by any good tech? Surely there's nothing so state-of-the-art about the Walkabout that requires a trip to Mesa for some basic maintenance. Is it cheaper to have Mesa do it? What do they charge for such a thing?I've got one of that same vintage that is due for a trip back to the factory for some general cleaning and maintenance.
I've got one of that same vintage that is due for a trip back to the factory for some general cleaning and maintenance.
Yeah some scratchy pots and the occasional "noise" here and there. I rode it hard and put it up wet. It's due for a trip to the spa.
I realize I could deoxit the pots but I may as well let a pro go through it.
By the way the quoted turnaround time is only a couple weeks. I'll report back when I get it back.
EdwardofHuncote
I Still Dream of Jeannie
- Aug 21, 2013
- 6,648
- 2
- 16,414
- Disclosures
- I privately own and operate a local musical instument repair shop.
I had mine back in 13 days, from Virginia to California and back. Topnotch service. 
- Feb 12, 2006
- 60,970
- 5
- 220,703
- Disclosures
- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
One advantage is that all of the parts are in stock, another is the guys who work on them at the factory are intimately familiar with them, and their entire production history.
Al Kraft
Supporting Member
- May 2, 2016
- 10,768
- 40,442
- Disclosures
- Mesa Boogie beta product tester and player support
In life there is always an obvious cheaper, easier way to do things, but when all is said and done, it's rarely cheaper or easier than just doing it the best way. Agedhorse nailed it in my opinion. No one is more qualified than the factory techs to know all the intricacies, potential latent issues, typical wear areas etc. by serial number. The few extra dollars and extra time up front is well worth the piece of mind to know the repairs were done right with genuine OEM and/or approved, updated parts with factory engineers available to techs for consultation if required.
I'm relatively sure there are highly skilled and fully qualified techs in the Washington DC area that could probably do the job, however, based on past experience with Mesa factory service, I absolutely know they will do a first class job.
Sure, I can definitely see why one might want to spend the extra bread sending it back to Mesa but from my own experience, I think it's also really valuable to establish a relationship with a good local repairman with a good reputation.
Anyway, sorry to disrupt the flow. Carry on...
Anyway, sorry to disrupt the flow. Carry on...
Hey man. You're allowed to ask. It's not as though you berated anybody. You asked and got our opinions. Nobody got hurt.
I agree with their assessments though. I'm sending it back to Mesa because they made it. They know it. The bench tech who will open up my amp has seen 500 just like it. He'll know exactly where to look for potential problems. He'll know all the differences between one as old as mine and a brand new one. He/she know what to test for and listen for once he/she is done.
Al Kraft
Supporting Member
- May 2, 2016
- 10,768
- 40,442
- Disclosures
- Mesa Boogie beta product tester and player support
I feel the same way and agree 100%. Years ago it's how I handled everything - I sought out the best techs and made sure they knew how much I appreciated and valued their unique skills. But these days, I'm having a harder and harder time finding true master techs and when I do find one, they're slammed with work.
Maybe it's because almost everything these days is considered disposable, or technologies change so quickly, but the days of the skilled artisan who knows as much or more about a piece of equipment as the person who designed it seems to have gone the way of the rotary dial telephone.
Last edited:
I'm not here to complain but I feel the need to show another side of the story. My experiences with Mesa service were less than stellar, to say the least.
I bought my first Walkabout used from Mesa Hollywood, advertised as "tech'd and spec'd" by the factory. It showed up with an intermittent noise problem. Swapping tubes didn't help so I sent it back to the factory at my expense. They refused to pay for shipping. After weeks and weeks went by, I called to check in and the customer service rep told me they had basically forgot about my amp and thanked me for checking in. Another few weeks went by and I called back and they were unable to diagnose the problem and offered to either send it back un-repaired or upgrade me to a new one for $200. The rep was insulting, condescending, and clearly irritated. I agreed to do the upgrade and waited and waited for it. Several promised deadlines went by, still no amp. I kept checking in and checking in only to hear about more delays and more promised deadlines. Finally, I got my brand new amp and it shut down at random on my first few gigs. I took it to my local tech who replaced a bad fuse holder and my amp has been flawless ever since.
To make a long story short, I have no ill will regarding Mesa and most people seem to be happy with their service but I will be taking my amp to my repairman for any further service. Having someone local who does good work is indispensable. They will save the day when you least expect it. And any repairman who can't adequately perform a basic cleaning shouldn't call themselves a repairman, in my opinion.
I bought my first Walkabout used from Mesa Hollywood, advertised as "tech'd and spec'd" by the factory. It showed up with an intermittent noise problem. Swapping tubes didn't help so I sent it back to the factory at my expense. They refused to pay for shipping. After weeks and weeks went by, I called to check in and the customer service rep told me they had basically forgot about my amp and thanked me for checking in. Another few weeks went by and I called back and they were unable to diagnose the problem and offered to either send it back un-repaired or upgrade me to a new one for $200. The rep was insulting, condescending, and clearly irritated. I agreed to do the upgrade and waited and waited for it. Several promised deadlines went by, still no amp. I kept checking in and checking in only to hear about more delays and more promised deadlines. Finally, I got my brand new amp and it shut down at random on my first few gigs. I took it to my local tech who replaced a bad fuse holder and my amp has been flawless ever since.
To make a long story short, I have no ill will regarding Mesa and most people seem to be happy with their service but I will be taking my amp to my repairman for any further service. Having someone local who does good work is indispensable. They will save the day when you least expect it. And any repairman who can't adequately perform a basic cleaning shouldn't call themselves a repairman, in my opinion.
