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Mesa Boogie Walkabout Mega-thread Part 10

#3,221
pfschim said:
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.
Click to expand...
Mirrors my experience exactly, not miraculous, but a very noticeable improvement.
 
#3,223
NoFiller said:
Like as in adding a HPF pedal or something internally in the amp?
Click to expand...
In my case I use a a small box prior to the instrument input, but it would also work in the effects loop I think (at least it does with some amps). I've found fdeck's HPF-Pre Series 3 is excellent in this role.
 
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#3,224
pfschim said:
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.
Click to expand...
It also makes the od more gridy than carry. It just kills. Its kind of the od tone most guys want, they just don't know how to get it.
 
#3,226
IF anyone has a set of WA rack ears lying around, PM me... no luck finding them anywhere

also- I have the 4 ohm combo.. I realize that Mesa's official stance is to not run at 2 ohms, but if I were to add a 2nd cab, would it be more beneficial to run an 8 ohm extension or another 4 ohm? Also, also... absent a Scout extension cab, which I also can't find, what is a good 12" ext. cab to run with the WA combo?
 
#3,227
You would be better off calling customer service and replacing the 4 ohm driver with the 8 ohm version, then looking at an 8 ohm extension cabinet. The 8 ohm driver is higher sensitivity and 2 of the 8 ohm cabinets will be louder than 2 of the 4 ohm cabinets while not risking damage to your amp.

If you can't find a WA extension cabinet, the Subway would be a good match (it's a little more efficient than the 8 ohm WA but in the same tone family).

I wouldn't run the WA at 2 ohms.
 
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#3,228
NickFromNY said:
IF anyone has a set of WA rack ears lying around, PM me... no luck finding them anywhere

also- I have the 4 ohm combo.. I realize that Mesa's official stance is to not run at 2 ohms, but if I were to add a 2nd cab, would it be more beneficial to run an 8 ohm extension or another 4 ohm? Also, also... absent a Scout extension cab, which I also can't find, what is a good 12" ext. cab to run with the WA combo?
Click to expand...

Rack ears can be easily fabricated with angle aluminum from a hardware store, a hack/metal saw, and a drill. You can Google for pics of the rack ears, and just measure off your actual Walkabout with respect to it's own mounting holes, and precise rack rail width. (I'm assuming you already have the SKB rack case) You'll need longer screws to mount them to the amp as well.
 
#3,229
The walkabout needs about 3" of faceplate extension on each side.

We are looking into another run of rack ears. How much interest is there, and would black work for everybody that needs them?
 
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#3,237
pfschim said:
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.
Click to expand...

Isn't using the bass parametric EQ knob the same thing? Freq to 30hz, cut it a few db? That's what I've been doing.
 
#3,238
slofut said:
Isn't using the bass parametric EQ knob the same thing? Freq to 30hz, cut it a few db? That's what I've been doing.
Click to expand...
well, it's similar, but the 30-300Hz control on the WA has a wider Q than the one on the fdeck HPF, so you end up cutting a broader set of frequencies, some of which you may not want to cut, along with that super low end rumble stuff below 30-40hz.

I used to do the same thing before employing the fdeck. It does work, but not as well as the HPF in my experience. Also, FWIW, the fdeck has 2 HPF's at work, fdecks "12+12" design. One is fixed and one is adjustable. Here is what he says about this design:

"The "12+12" filter curve is two filters in one. The first filter has a fixed corner frequency of 35 Hz, and 12 dB/octave slope. The second filter is adjustable from 35 to 140 Hz, and also has a 12 dB/oct slope. Thus it always has 24 dB/oct slope below 35 Hz. I designed the Series 1 and 2 filter (same circuit in both) for double bass amplification, to tame the infrasonic "thump" produced by the acoustic instrument, which interacts poorly with the low frequency excursion behavior of ported speakers. Interest in a 24 dB/oct filter came from electric bassists who are experimenting with the latest high-performance speakers, to avoid driving the system at frequencies below the port tuning frequency. I designed the "12+12" filter with the same input conditions and "front panel" as Series 2, so that either could be used for double bass."

I love my Walkabout and the fdeck HPF series 3 is a great addition that helps get the most out of the WA's available power.
 
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#3,240
Dear Mesa friends, my problems with this Walkabout (remember the voltage issues) keep going on.
I took a look at the bottom and it definately looks deformed.
Is it normal that the weight of the transformer may have deformed irregularly the bottom or someone hacked this poor Walkabout ?
We're talking about a 1 cm bulge.

20180411_080924.jpg


20180411_080934.jpg


and someone for sure fiddled with the hex screw

20180411_080957.jpg
 

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