Mesa Boogie Walkabout Mega-thread Part 10

[ialma]

Hey folks, I've just received my Walkabout and I'm eager to give it a go but before connecting it to power I have a question. It says 120v on the back but here in good ol' Europe we have 220 and there is no switch on the back.
I'm afraid I could fry it powering it.
Any mod required or it has an internal voltage switch like the 800+ ?
Thanks !

 

[sunbeast]

Hey folks, I've just received my Walkabout and I'm eager to give it a go but before connecting it to power I have a question. It says 120v on the back but here in good ol' Europe we have 220 and there is no switch on the back.
I'm afraid I could fry it powering it.
Any mod required or it has an internal voltage switch like the 800+ ?
Thanks !

Unfortunately my understanding is that the Walkabout is not safe to use at 220V. There have been a few folks on here in the past who have had custom power transformers made for their Walkabouts for use in Europe, but I don't believe the factory ever made a Walkabout intended for 110V and 220V both...

 

[kpc]

at last night's rehearsal.... played both but kept coming back to the WA
BUT, the 360 is definitely louder!

View attachment 2974899

It should be about twice the volume. Both great heads but I prefer the walkabout.

 

[gillento]

It should be about twice the volume. Both great heads but I prefer the walkabout.

Me too

 

[BassVibes]

Hey folks, I've just received my Walkabout and I'm eager to give it a go but before connecting it to power I have a question. It says 120v on the back but here in good ol' Europe we have 220 and there is no switch on the back.
I'm afraid I could fry it powering it.
Any mod required or it has an internal voltage switch like the 800+ ?
Thanks !

Bit of a coincidence but i have just bought a Walkabout in the UK. It also states 120v on the back. However, I was told by the seller that it was made by Mesa for the French market. To back this up,the inspection label had 230v on it and also had Walkaboutx on it which I think suggests it is for the export market. Not sure of your exact circumstances, but if you are unsure of its intended country of export send a mail to Mesa support.

 

[ialma]

Mine comes from USA, so it's 120v for sure.
I guess we could summon @agedhorse now.

 

[agedhorse]

If the amp is specified on the back as 120V, it can not be switched to 230V without changing the power transformer (and possible a couple of other parts, I've not done it on this model) or use a ~230V to 120V step-down transformer with at least 500VA capacity.

 

[rodl2005]

Unfortunately my understanding is that the Walkabout is not safe to use at 220V. There have been a few folks on here in the past who have had custom power transformers made for their Walkabouts for use in Europe, but I don't believe the factory ever made a Walkabout intended for 220V...

Mesa surely made a 240v capable Walkabout. .. I had one here in Aus. But as @agedhorse stated. . If it's got 110v on it. . It'll need a different power transformer etc. I've heard of a few ppl doing this here in Australia, but have no experience myself.

 

[Luke the Fluke]

Unfortunately my understanding is that the Walkabout is not safe to use at 220V. There have been a few folks on here in the past who have had custom power transformers made for their Walkabouts for use in Europe, but I don't believe the factory ever made a Walkabout intended for 220V...

don't be daft - most the rest of the west is 220-240v - of course they made them!

 

[Red Planet]

don't be daft - most the rest of the west is 220-240v - of course they made them!

So oh many great WA users can anyone compare the tones of the WA to the M-Pulse 600 head?

I was so in love with my WA but foolishly sold it and have been looking for another.
I just traded a fellow for the 600 and it is in transit to me shortly.

How would one compare these two and what are the differences.
Good Bad and Ugly!

Hope this is not too much a thread derail as I couldn't find much info on these.
It seems the WA was the darling.

 

[sunbeast]

Mesa surely made a 240v capable Walkabout. .. I had one here in Aus. But as @agedhorse stated. . If it's got 110v on it. . It'll need a different power transformer etc. I've heard of a few ppl doing this here in Australia, but have no experience myself.

Ah sorry- misunderstanding of some past posts about people converting US models!

 

[sunbeast]

don't be daft - most the rest of the west is 220-240v - of course they made them!

Sorry- just misunderstood past posts related to swapping in custom transformers. I was fairly certain there was no switchable model for US + Euro voltage but clearly assumed too broadly (probably something to do with the much higher relative cost of Mesa outside the US, so many fewer visible users).

 

[pfschim]

So oh many great WA users can anyone compare the tones of the WA to the M-Pulse 600 head?

I was so in love with my WA but foolishly sold it and have been looking for another.
I just traded a fellow for the 600 and it is in transit to me shortly.

How would one compare these two and what are the differences.
Good Bad and Ugly!

Hope this is not too much a thread derail as I couldn't find much info on these.
It seems the WA was the darling.

Had them both, but have only kept the Walkabout.
When I got the MPulse600 I was hoping that it would sound like a 600w Walkabout.
Short answer ... it did not. It's in the Mesa MPulse family for sure tonewise .. and has some cool features the WA does not (pre/post EQ DI, Solo setting, wider EQ section, very nice compressor) .. but sadly it is not a higher powered Walkabout. More EQ, more tubes driving more mosfets seem to make it sound different. There is just something very special in the WA design.

 

[Red Planet]

Had them both, but have only kept the Walkabout.
When I got the MPulse600 I was hoping that it would sound like a 600w Walkabout.
Short answer ... it did not. It's in the Mesa MPulse family for sure tonewise .. and has some cool features the WA does not (pre/post EQ DI, Solo setting, wider EQ section, very nice compressor) .. but sadly it is not a higher powered Walkabout. More EQ, more tubes driving more mosfets seem to make it sound different. There is just something very special in the WA design.

But is it a good amp? Im looking for a more powerful amp with a little more clean headrom over my GKMB500 Fusion and my Trace Elliot Elf.

I started playing in a new band and this band is loud. So I want something in the vein but more juice. Im also thinking about getting a much bigger cab for it too.

 

[sunbeast]

But is it a good amp? Im looking for a more powerful amp with a little more clean headrom over my GKMB500 Fusion and my Trace Elliot Elf.

I started playing in a new band and this band is loud. So I want something in the vein but more juice. Im also thinking about getting a much bigger cab for it too.

The MPulse 600 has a much smoother feel and fatter tone than the WA, but lacks the organic response and sweet midrange of the WA IMO- it has much more of a scooped tone and flat response in comparison (in my recollection).

 

[Aladinsane1969]

But is it a good amp? Im looking for a more powerful amp with a little more clean headrom over my GKMB500 Fusion and my Trace Elliot Elf.

I started playing in a new band and this band is loud. So I want something in the vein but more juice. Im also thinking about getting a much bigger cab for it too.

All Boogies are good amps, but only a Walkabout is a Walkabout. In the seven years I've had mine and the thousands of posts I've read on the subject, TB users have tried everything under the sun to boost the power of their WA while still retaining its unique tone, and nothing ever works. The MPulse600 is a good amp, but unfortunately, if you're looking for a higher powered WA, it just doesn't exist.

 

[pfschim]

the MPulse 600 is a very good amp, is very honestly rated at 600w @ 4ohms, great features, and it will hit hard for sure.
As always, more drivers, and more efficient drivers, will be your friend when it comes to getting the most out of any amp.
Raw power only gets you so far. More drivers with more power is the ticket.
good luck

 

[Coolhandjjl]

Like a 4 ohm 810?

 

[Red Planet]

Like a 4 ohm 810?

Like a 4 ohm 6x10.

 

[pfschim]

FWIW, I have also been finding that adding an HPF helps to get more clean power out of the Walkabout.
Its not a miracle or anything, but it does keep some deep lows (35-40hz and below) out of the signal chain so the amps available power is focused on meaningful frequencies.