Mesa Boogie Walkabout Mega-thread Part 10

[sunbeast]

The Walkabout made it home from its vacation to Petaluma Ca, The Mesa Boogie Spa. It’s like a brand new amp, best $107.00 I’ve spent in a long time. Everything is fixed and updated. It’s well worth going back to the factory for repairs.

Would you say it sounds better than ever? Or just back to how you first experienced?

 

[Wild_Bill_57]

It is back to being like new, it had developed a “Buzzing, distorted, lower output” problem. They replaced about 15 components and made sure it was up to date. This is one of the black faced models, so it was the last version of the amp. Made in 2011.

 

[agedhorse]

The Walkabout made it home from its vacation to Petaluma Ca, The Mesa Boogie Spa. It’s like a brand new amp, best $107.00 I’ve spent in a long time. Everything is fixed and updated. It’s well worth going back to the factory for repairs.

Whenever practical, factory service is the best option. The factory techs don't have to reinvent the wheel, or try to learn while working on your amp. This is a generalization that applies to most manufacturers that operate an in-house service facility.

 

[two fingers]

The Walkabout made it home from its vacation to Petaluma Ca, The Mesa Boogie Spa. It’s like a brand new amp, best $107.00 I’ve spent in a long time. Everything is fixed and updated. It’s well worth going back to the factory for repairs.

I had the same experience with mine.

 

[jazzyvee]

I wonder how cost effective it would be to send on back to mesa from abroad full service.

 

[agedhorse]

I wonder how cost effective it would be to send on back to mesa from abroad full service.

This depends on how much you have to pay for shipping. Depending on where you live this could be either "not too bad" or "prohibitive".

 

[Luke the Fluke]

I wonder how cost effective it would be to send on back to mesa from abroad full service.

I think the main problem would be avoiding customs and import duty both ways - I guess it could be arranged to sort. When my Walkabout broke Mesa and Westside distribution set me up with a local amp tech who was Mesa approved and could order parts - I imagine that similar with a local approved tech would be cheaper

 

[Leo was right]

I think the main problem would be avoiding customs and import duty both ways - I guess it could be arranged to sort. When my Walkabout broke Mesa and Westside distribution set me up with a local amp tech who was Mesa approved and could order parts - I imagine that similar with a local approved tech would be cheaper

Everytime I see the word Leeds, I have a shake, it is probably a secondary effect from my years of listening to The Who 'LIVE at LEEDS'

 

[Luke the Fluke]

Everytime I see the word Leeds, I have a shake, it is probably a secondary effect from my years of listening to The Who 'LIVE at LEEDS'

Every time is see Montreal I think of the song ‘the ballad of win and reg’ by final fantasy, and through that arcade fire... Leeds is a nice city to visit, esp as a gateway to Hebdon, Haworth, York and the Yorkshire Dales

 

[lomo]

Apologies for derail....when I think Montreal (home) and music.....I get this....regards from the wonderful North

 

[Overdrive777]

A question to Agedhorse (welcome back btw)
I bought a WD800 this summer. It really sounds great. Reminiscing of my beloved Walkabout.
I haven’t noticed it before but when the impedance switch on the back is set to 4/8ohm, the 2 ohm light on the front is lit. When I set the switch to 2 ohm on the back the light is off...
I can honestly not hear any difference in volume whatever the switch is set to. Is there a way to check if the switch is wrong or the light is wrong? IF I need to use the amp in 2 ohm mode, I would hate to have it smoked...
I live in Sweden and the closest distributor is in Finland...

 

[Wild_Bill_57]

Sounds like the switch is either backwards or wired backwards. Not sure if there is a key way to determine position. Definitely sounds like it’s not right. @agedhorse would definitely be the the one to answer your question though.

 

[agedhorse]

Pm me and I will help you get this resolved.

 

[MarkA]

I think the main problem would be avoiding customs and import duty both ways - I guess it could be arranged to sort. When my Walkabout broke Mesa and Westside distribution set me up with a local amp tech who was Mesa approved and could order parts - I imagine that similar with a local approved tech would be cheaper

When I had to ship something cross-border for a warranty repair with another company, I was told to note "For Repair Only," "For Warranty Repair," or something similar on the package to avoid just what you say. I can't say whether or not this would work or apply in your case (or if it has a sound legal basis), but it's worth looking into.

 

[mikeswals]

Ive shipped international with all three (UPS/Fedex/Postal) not only for bass, but for truck parts at work. And all three have options on their documentation to mark it for repair. Of course the easiest and cheapest of the three was Postal.

 

[agedhorse]

Marking the customs forms "for repair" may not be enough. Sometimes customs wants to see that it's being shipped to a manufacturer authorized service depot, and there are harmonized codes that govern this. Customs fees/taxes/duty may apply to the cost of repair.

 

[pfschim]

Just wanted to come back to the Walkabout thread to say that I have found yet another cab that works great with the WA.
I picked up a Berg NV212t just before Bergantino announced that the discontinuation of the NV cabs (they also did a blow out clearance deal on their remaining stock).

Anyway, its old news that the WA sounds pretty great through many different cabs, but I'm here to tell all you WA owners/fans that it certainly sounds great thru the sealed NV212t. Only downside that I can see is due to the NV212t's 8ohm rating, its only going to get about 165ish watts from the WA .... but still, those will be pretty glorious watts

Of course if/when I need to push the cab harder, I always have the WD800 on hand.

 

[pfschim]

I'm also thinking the Jan slow gig season may be a good time to get my 15 year old Walkabout up to Petaluma for a tech once over. It did shut down on me 2x during that period (15 years), and those situations were pretty clearly from running it very hard at 2ohms, so no real fault of the amp. The fan is a bit loud compared to the Subway amps I have, but I don't think Mesa replaces the WA fan with anything quieter than the original.

Anyone have any thoughts about doing maintenance without an overt existing issue ? Should I just leave well enough alone ? I wonder if it would come back sounding any different if any major components get replaced.

hmm ...

 

[NOLA Bass]

I have a few Bergantino cabs: HDN212, HDN112, and HG410. I tend to do my main band gigs with my Bergantino head because of the built in dirt and saved setting. So, my Walkabout has been at the practice room with the HDN212. It is a fantastic match. Plus, the HDN212 is lightweight and 4 ohms.

 

[Al Kraft]

I'm also thinking the Jan slow gig season may be a good time to get my 15 year old Walkabout up to Petaluma for a tech once over. It did shut down on me 2x during that period (15 years), and those situations were pretty clearly from running it very hard at 2ohms, so no real fault of the amp. The fan is a bit loud compared to the Subway amps I have, but I don't think Mesa replaces the WA fan with anything quieter than the original.

Anyone have any thoughts about doing maintenance without an overt existing issue ? Should I just leave well enough alone ? I wonder if it would come back sounding any different if any major components get replaced.

hmm ...

I think after 15 years of serious gigging (including time running hard at 2 Ohms) a factory check-up to be sure all is in good order is a smart move. If needed, they can also bring your WA up to the final latest spec before production was discontinued. Given that theh WA is no longer in production, getting any questionable parts replaced now while there is still spare stock on hand might be a very smart move.

If nothing else there is peace of mind in knowing that factory techs have given your WA a full once over and declared it to be in good health. I see this as no different than getting HVAC systems looked at by a qualified tech periodically to prevent a no heat/no cooling panic call on the worst opiossible day, or having you vehicle checked over occasionally by a certified mechanic to be sure everything is in good order and safe to operate.