Mesa Boogie Walkabout Mega-thread Part 10

[morebass!]

The quote below answers part of my question in that using the effects send does not cut the signal to the WA power section. My other concern is whether I can get an appropriate signal level for a power amp from the WA. I should get off my lazy duff and try it but the crest is part of my home studio so it's a project to get everything unhooked, moved, tested, and put back together.

The way the Mesa topology is set, the Master Volume comes before the FX loop, so by plugging amp 1 into the FX Return of amp 2 you are actually bypassing the Master Volume of amp 2 completely and all volume control will come from amp 1.

You could try getting an XLR to 1/4" cable and use the DI output of amp 1 into the FX Return of amp 2. Then you could use the DI Level control of amp 1 to control volume of amp 2. I think the DI of amp 2 will still work with that setup (though I could be wrong).

 

[p k]

So, I haven't had a good chance to give the scout a good tryout until today and, I am pretty sure the speaker is blown. I am getting a fuzz like effect when I play lower notes at higher volumes (regardless of gain settings) that does not happen with a different cab.

Called the GC I bought it from and they are telling me that my only option is to take it into my local GC... An hour and a half away. Oh and they added "sounded great in the store!"

I sent Mesa an email to see if I might have any of the transferable warranty left (I believe that this could have been a store demo as aesthetically it is perfect and still had all the hang tags on it) and it appears to be the latest revision (blackface). In the meantime the head sounds great through my PH 212. Worse case scenario I will have to make the drive to GC but all things considered I am not too bummed. Got the combo for ~770 out the door so I got a good deal regardless.

So, I purchased a replacement speaker from Mesa and dropped it in my cab and the sound/noise that I was getting was worse! Replaced the preamp tubes, no change, disconnected the tweeter, no change - could it be the crossover? The issue seems to be primarily occurring / most prominent when play a b note on my e string (happens with multiple basses).

What should I try now? LOL I am sure that this is not a case of pushing the 112 too hard this starts occurring at levels that would be considered moderate personal practicing levels - a volume that may be adequate to keep up with an acoustic guitar.

 

[sunbeast]

Are you sure there isn't a resonance happening at that note in the room your amp is located? I have my Scout in my bedroom and a D flat makes my desk vibrate at pretty low volume levels- even my computer speaker's subwoofer will cause it to rattle at the right frequency. I've also owned a cab in the past that seemed to resonate itself at a certain frequency and fart out, but haven't noticed that issue with my Walkabout.

 

[monsterthompson]

Are you sure there isn't a resonance happening at that note in the room your amp is located? I have my Scout in my bedroom and a D flat makes my desk vibrate at pretty low volume levels- even my computer speaker's subwoofer will cause it to rattle at the right frequency.

+1 E makes my desk rattle.

 

[p k]

Pretty sure that it is not a resonance issue as a different cabinet in the same room doesn't exhibit the issue (powerhouse 2x12), it also seems that the sound it coming from the cab. I will give it a shot and see what happens...

 

[morebass!]

No expert here, but I've thought of trying that. I just got my WA, and I've got the gear for that experiment. I'll post results if I can get to that later.

Thanks! I'll post too when I've tried it. I'm hopeful that the WA plus Crest can give me a superwalkabout when needed.

 

[monsterthompson]

tested.

Nash PB 63 > pedal board (all off) > Walkabout (XLR DI out)> Crown XLS 1000 Bridge mono mode (600w with +1+2 cable) > Mesa PH115

vs

Nash PB 63 > pedal board (all off) > Walkabout > Mesa PH115

Results:
Crown gave me a darker tone. Cranking the DI and Master settings got me some soft overdrive, but nothing special. Moving them around cleaned up the tone a bit. The big issue: quieter than driving the cab directly with the Walkabout. Going right through the WA gave a better tone and quite a bit more volume. Running the same power amp with a Monique pre also gave me way more volume at lower volume knob settings. Wonder if there is an issue with sensitivity on the Crown (known to need higher settings with the Monique to get all the goods).

 

[sunbeast]

tested.

Nash PB 63 > pedal board (all off) > Walkabout (XLR DI out)> Crown XLS 1000 Bridge mono mode (600w with +1+2 cable) > Mesa PH115

vs

Nash PB 63 > pedal board (all off) > Walkabout > Mesa PH115

Results:
Crown gave me a darker tone. Cranking the DI and Master settings got me some soft overdrive, but nothing special. Moving them around cleaned up the tone a bit. The big issue: quieter than driving the cab directly with the Walkabout. Going right through the WA gave a better tone and quite a bit more volume. Running the same power amp with a Monique pre also gave me way more volume at lower volume knob settings. Wonder if there is an issue with sensitivity on the Crown (known to need higher settings with the Monique to get all the goods).

I think the issue could be that the DI would be around Mic level vs the line level you ideally want to push a power amp. Most likely the FX Send would give out a more powerful signal, but wouldn't have the driver tube in the signal path so you'd lose some of the WA magic. You might try PM'ing Tom Bowlus as he had a post driver tube Line Out added to his Walkabout for just this function.

 

[speyer]

I think the issue could be that the DI would be around Mic level vs the line level you ideally want to push a power amp. Most likely the FX Send would give out a more powerful signal, but wouldn't have the driver tube in the signal path so you'd lose some of the WA magic.

+1

 

[Jazz4]

P K
If you have the player's control switch try bypassing it. Or the crossover completely. I had one go bad on myself.

 

[vin*tone]

I just got my WA in the mail - the second time I've owned one.

Interesting A/Bing it with The GK Fusion and Mesa M-Pulse 600 thrpough a Berg 410. The MP600 gets little love around here The WA gets a stack......which I find very wierd given that they're really not a whole lot different (cue murmuring. ) . In fact - I can fairly easily mimic the WA tone with the MP600 but not the other way around. The 600 has more going on down low - that medicine ball thump. I'm guessing the high pass filter is a lot more relaxed than in the WA (possibly bc 1- it needs to be more economical with its 300 watts, and 2 - (maybe) it's designed as part of a combo). With the bass para dialled at 10:00 freq at 30hz I can get tone of the WA "nooned". I can hear a bit more up top on the MP600 as well but as a flatwounds guy I can't really comment there.

The overdriven tones do sound quite a bit different - and maybe that's why the WA gets the love - it's not necessarily how it sounds at a particular moment but the way it behaves as you dig in etc. A bit of squish and a bit of grind. The WA overall has a more "vintage" sound as it doesn't extend into sonic territory of modern amps - like the 600 does

I've only fiddled a bit with the Fusion/WA but initial thoughts are that the WA seems to have more mid detail. Setting the Fusion to a "flatter EQ" (as scoped by Bassgear Mag - bass & treble down, mids dialled up) they sound more similar. The GK sounds clearer the WA smoother. The GK still has a bit more punch down low.

NB - all my testing so far has not been at loud levels (where I think these amps start to sound different) - I'm using flats on all my basses so the top end isn't very apparent.

 

[MuthaFunk]

I just got my WA in the mail - the second time I've owned one.

..... I'm guessing the high pass filter is a lot more relaxed than in the WA (possibly bc 1- it needs to be more economical with its 300 watts, and 2 - (maybe) it's designed as part of a combo)...

To my knowledge the Mesa has no HPF at all. You can verify this with yours by pressing on your strings while observing the cone movement on the cab when the volume is raised. No need to pluck a loud note just simply move the strings closer to the pickups slowly in and out.

 

[morebass!]

tested.
Nash PB 63 > pedal board (all off) > Walkabout (XLR DI out)> Crown XLS 1000 Bridge mono mode (600w with +1+2 cable) > Mesa PH115
vs
Nash PB 63 > pedal board (all off) > Walkabout > Mesa PH115
Results:
Crown gave me a darker tone. Cranking the DI and Master settings got me some soft overdrive, but nothing special. Moving them around cleaned up the tone a bit. The big issue: quieter than driving the cab directly with the Walkabout. Going right through the WA gave a better tone and quite a bit more volume. Running the same power amp with a Monique pre also gave me way more volume at lower volume knob settings. Wonder if there is an issue with sensitivity on the Crown (known to need higher settings with the Monique to get all the goods).

Thanks for doing that. Very helpful. Sounds like the effects send is the way to go.

 

[morebass!]

To my knowledge the Mesa has no HPF at all. You can verify this with yours by pressing on your strings while observing the cone movement on the cab when the volume is raised. No need to pluck a loud note just simply move the strings closer to the pickups slowly in and out.

As has been noted previously an HPF like Fdeck's cleans up the lows on the WA nicely. Cutting in the 30-50hz range with the low para mid works too but as not as well IMO.

 

[Chef]

concur

 

[EastCoastThump]

Thanks for doing that. Very helpful. Sounds like the effects send is the way to go.

The FX send does not include the power section's tube in its signal, but that part of the amp lays a significant role in the WA's tone. If you want the full WA tone, send the DI out to a flat gain stage (to bring it from mic level to line level), *then* feed your power amp.

 

[morebass!]

The FX send does not include the power section's tube in its signal, but that part of the amp lays a significant role in the WA's tone. If you want the full WA tone, send the DI out to a flat gain stage (to bring it from mic level to line level), *then* feed your power amp.

What is a "flat gain stage"? Another preamp?. I have a Raven Labs PHA-1 and a Yamaha PB-1 but that's getting kind of complicated for a stage rig.

 

[p k]

P K
If you have the player's control switch try bypassing it. Or the crossover completely. I had one go bad on myself.

What did it sound like when the crossover was going bad? It is definitely not a resonance issue with anything in the room (same sound / different room) and it is definitely coming from the cab. I have made sure everything in the cab is tightened down too. It makes the noise with the head in and out of the combo.

This weekend I will try to bypass the crossover and see if the issue persists. Maybe I am dumb, LOL, but this is driving me crazy! Probably because it sounds amazing outside of this issue and kills it with other cabs. Definitely my favorite head I have tried to date.

 

[EastCoastThump]

What is a "flat gain stage"?

Flat in terms of being fairly uncolored. (Otherwise, it defeats the goal of achieving a Walkabout tone at greater SPL.)

Yes, it's getting fairly complicated for a stage rig. The easiest way to get more SPL out of a Walkabout is to add more speakers, ideally in efficient cabs. Alternatively, you could add more Walkabouts.

I've done both; and IME going for a larger cab is the more practical solution, because in its combo form, the cabinet limits the rig's overall volume. (The combo cab is a good performer for its class, but there's only so much volume you can wring out of a 112, passive radiator notwithstanding.) And of course, to use a WA + power amp as your stage rig, you're already committed to driving bigger cabinets with more speaker area.

BTW, if you want to try the slave amp trick and you have an LMII or LMIII around, try racking it with the WA. Those Little Marks can get pretty close to flat. You can feed the Walkabout's DI into the LMIII's front-panel balanced input, feed FOH from the LMIII's DI out, and drive one or two cabinets each from the WA and the LMIII. That combination of amps gives you a fairly convenient set of features, doesn't add much weight (the LMIII is ~ 6.4 lbs), and kicks considerably harder than the stock WA combo.

I've done this with the WA driving a Bergie AE212 and an LMII driving a Schroeder 21012L. I'd like to try it with 3 AE212s (w/ the WA pushing 2, and the LMII pushing the third). Please LMK if anyone wants to send two more Bergs my way—you know, for science.

 

[MuthaFunk]

And with LM II's selling for a song in todays used market, Derrico1's idea wouldn't be too much of an investment for such an experiment. It's nice that the LM II/III has that XLR in and I think they both do Pre EQ DI out... Maybe that's just the LM III.