Mesa Boogie Walkabout Mega-thread Part 10

[StayLow]

I'm a bit more than curious.
What we really need of course, is a pic of you wearing it, with the combo on your back.
Perhaps a little video, of you walking up a flight of stairs with it?

I wonder if they did one of these backpacks for the Powerhouse 6x10?Your house sounds like mine.

Many years, projects, cities, countries, studios and repairs ...I only started keeping somewhat careful track a few years ago.

I'll admit I've bought stuff forgetting I already had it, or seen old pics with gear I didn't know I had.

This coming from a sober and fairly fussy guy. Gear though ...whatever's nearby and whatever works is fine.

The WA and Scout work really well, so always worth having around.

Many may have forgotten that competitors at the time commonly had far heavier combos, even over 100lb. I originally got into the WA 12" combo - and the amp - because it was surprisingly small, light and loud with fantastic tone. The undisputed champ at the time if factoring all those points. It may still be.

 

[two fingers]

Many years, projects, cities, countries, studios and repairs ...I only started keeping somewhat careful track a few years ago.

I'll admit I've bought stuff forgetting I already had it, or seen old pics with gear I didn't know I had.

This coming from a sober and fairly fussy guy. Gear though ...whatever's nearby and whatever works is fine.

The WA and Scout work really well, so always worth having around.

Many may have forgotten that competitors at the time commonly had far heavier combos, even over 100lb. I originally got into the WA 12" combo - and the amp - because it was surprisingly small, light and loud with fantastic tone. The undisputed champ at the time if factoring all those points. It may still be.

I think it still is. There are lighter and louder. But none better.

 

[StayLow]

Do you still use the 15? Can it get the same(ish) tone like the 12 but louder?

My 2c is the 12" punches harder, so I prefer it in a live mix. The 15" extension is a richer tone, but lacking the same punch it might be harder to hear in a mix. If FOH support is required I can't get away with 15" extension vs. 12" combo or extension ... FOH is still required so I prefer to just carry the 12", leave the 15" in studio, and if more is required then go with different/bigger cabs with more speakers.

I draw the line at a one-handed carry, and for me the 15" extension can be a one-hander if I really have to but the size makes it too awkward. Two hands despite the single handle? Easy carry, but for no real sonic benefit (for me) and after leaving the skin and blood of my knuckles on many a stage door frame, I'd rather throw a much bigger cab on a cart and just roll on in if that's what's needed.

The 12" extension is a perfect small stand-alone cab IME. If you need more than the 12" or 12" combo for stage monitoring, meaning you have monitors and FOH, you're probably doing heavy rock or louder.

I've done 2000-seat theatres and outdoor main stages at big fests with just the 12" combo for me onstage, not even near a wall, and no problem. Using 5-string too.

For restaurants, taverns & pubs, if you don't need earplugs for stage volume the 12" combo or extension should be fine without PA.

Same combo has totally disappeared, even with the extension cab, in a large rehearsal room (concrete floor, no walls for reinforcement nearby) with a Bonham wannabe and a guitarist torturing a Fender 2x10 combo ... I ended up needing a cranked 4x10 for that "jazzy funk" trio ... so you never know.

 

[sunbeast]

My 2c is the 12" punches harder, so I prefer it in a mix. The 15" is a richer tone, but lacking the same punch it might be harder to hear in a mix. If FOH support is required I can't get away with 15" vs. 12" ...FOH still required so I prefer to carry the 12", leave the 15" in studio, and if more is required then go with different/bigger cabs with more speakers.

The 12" extensuon is perfect small stand-alone cab IMO. If you need more than the 12" or 12" combo for stage monitoring, meaning you have monitors and FOH, you're probably doing heavy rock or louder.

I've done 2000-seat theatres and outdoor main stages at big fests with just the 12" combo for me onstage, not even near a wall, and no problem. Using 5-string too.

For pubs, if you don't need earplugs for stage volume the 12" combo or extension should be fine.

Same combo has totally disappeared, even with the extension cab, in a large rehearsal room with a Bonham wannabe and a guitarist torturing a Fender 2x10 combo ... I ended up needing a cranked 4x10 for that "jazzy funk" trio ... so you never know.

Are you using the 15” combo cab or extension cab? Before trying one I had read on here users calling the 15” cab pretty “tubby” sounding or too fat, but this hasn’t been my experience with the combo version at all- if anything I think it is less tubby than the 12 (but also less “bloomy” as a result). This leads me to believe the 15” Scout extension cab with its larger internal volume and larger passive radiator might well sound significantly different than the Scout 15 combo cab. Also, depending on band volume and desired tone, I’ve found the single 4 ohm 15” combo cab sufficient for even moderately loud rock gigs. Wouldn’t be enough for my main projects, but those are definitely outliers by modern standards

 

[StayLow]

Are you using the 15” combo cab or extension cab? Before trying one I had read on here users calling the 15” cab pretty “tubby” sounding or too fat, but this hasn’t been my experience with the combo version at all- if anything I think it is less tubby than the 12 (but also less “bloomy” as a result). This leads me to believe the 15” Scout extension cab with its larger internal volume and larger passive radiator might well sound significantly different than the Scout 15 combo cab

You may be right. Makes sense. I've never gigged the 15" combo. I was speaking on the 15" extension (edited above to clarify), and yeah I'd agree it gets tubby vs. punchy at higher volumes.

The combo vs. extension, in both sizes, certainly sound audibly different even at low volumes. Doesn't matter if the rig is getting too "bloomy" (another often-used descriptor of the Scout cabs/combos) or effectively inaudible in a mix.

 

[sunbeast]

Thanks. I no longer have a walkabout but I have the scout 12 8ohm extension that I use with a d800 preamp and a Duncan Powerstage 170 for low(ish) volume gigs. Thinking of getting a used scout 15 or the new subway 15 as the 12 is often just at it's limit - like the sound though.

Assuming you can still find a Scout 15, my comments only apply to the combo cab version- it has a smaller internal volume and smaller passive radiator than the extension cab, so apparently a different character!

 

[bumble yeti]

I just sold my WA.

Don't come crying to us after the regret sets in.
We warned you!

 

[bumble yeti]

WOW!!! Yinz guys have been busy today!
The passion never dies.
Andy, How's that OD pedal coming along?

 

[svtb15]

I know .. Right! I will get another one some day.
I had a two Mpulse 600s at separate times hoping they would be a louder WA. I tried twice. They weren't.
I've tried the D800 too... It isn't a WA.

I still need a hybrid so Im picking up an Ashdown abm600. Those amps hold their bottom well even under duress, They go deep and sound full.. It isn't a WA either But it sort of checks off some of the boxes that i like.
Common thread with the WA and the ABM 600 is Ya just plugin... and there it is... That full sound...

Don't come crying to us after the regret sets in.
We warned you!

 

[Al Kraft]

I had a two Mpulse 600s at separate times hoping they would be a louder WA. I tried twice. They weren't.

...and that was a similarly disappointing discovery for many of us.

 

[svtb15]

I didn't learn the 1st time.. Im slow like that ,, i wanted to believe the websites hype so much.. That i fell for it twice

...and that was a similarly disappointing discovery for many of us.

 

[bumble yeti]

I know .. Right! I will get another one some day.
I had a two Mpulse 600s at separate times hoping they would be a louder WA. I tried twice. They weren't. I've tried the D800 it too isn't a WA.

I still need a hybrid so Im picking up an Ashdown abm600. Those amps hold their bottom well even under duress, They go deep and sound full.. It isn't a WA either But it sort of checks off some of the boxes that i like.
Common thread with the WA and the ABM 600 is Ya just plugin... and there it is... That full sound...

Truth be told… you may wanna sit down for this… I had an English-made ABM-500 EVO II combo and sold it to get the WA. I haven't really wanted any amp since. I know… deep breaths, my friend.

 

[Al Kraft]

I didn't learn the 1st time.. Im slow like that ,, i wanted to believe the websites hype so much.. That i fell for it twice

To your credit though, the first one could have been a fluke and you simply weren't willing to just give up without without trying one more time...that shows commitment, persistence, and character...or you can go with your version of the story!

 

[svtb15]

NOTHING like the walkabout..Nothing. It is magic.. I had a Blackface combo..
I originally heard the Silver Red face years ago when it first came out .. .. I plugged in and played it thru either a bag end or Berg cab.. It was that sound you have in your head. No one has been able to come close to that since. Its magic.

Just BMT controls alone can get you there.. The treble knob was voiced in the right spot . Not too high like many amps these days that just give you AIR when you want treble. .Best amp ever. A true classic that should go in history

Truth be told… you may wanna sit down for this… I had an English-made ABM-500 EVO II combo and sold it to get the WA. I haven't really wanted any amp since. I know… deep breaths, my friend.

 

[svtb15]

You're kind.. But I know me and I never BS. I always come clean.. I'll have to stay with my story on this one. Im slow and fell for the hype.

To your credit though, the first one could have been a fluke and you simply weren't willing to just give up without without trying one more time...that shows commitment, persistence, and character...or you can go with your version of the story!

 

[bumble yeti]

To your credit though, the first one could have been a fluke and you simply weren't willing to just give up without without trying one more time...that shows commitment, persistence, and character...or you can go with your version of the story!

He'll be back. They always come back. They miss it. That thing… that certain something… that… je ne sais quoi.

 

[svtb15]

You know it

He'll be back. They always come back. They miss it. That thing… that certain something… that… je ne sais quoi.

 

[svtb15]

Here it is at rehearsal.. It was an off broadway show... Its all i needed. Pit band situation. Very cool

And running at 4Ω on a outdoor gig with two 115s,,, Sounded huge

[QUOT
E="Phyzzbin, post: 22432315, member: 61160"]He'll be back. They always come back. They miss it. That thing… that certain something… that… je ne sais quoi.[/QUOTE]

 

[Mark Desmo]

.
You guys have convinced me overnight that I most definitely made the right decision when I chose the 8ohm WA plus extension cab.

Thanks.
.

 

[Mark Desmo]

Here it is at rehearsal.. It was an off broadway show... Its all i needed. Pit band situation. Very cool


View attachment 3354155

And running at 4Ω on a outdoor gig with two 115s,,, Sounded huge
View attachment 3354161

What’s that pale blue bass? I can’t figure out what it is. Headstock looks a bit Lakland, but it doesn’t look like it has Lakland written on it.
Also the other bass headstock doesn’t quite look Fender and it doesn’t quite look Sandberg either.
Plus, why are you awake in NY at this hour?