Mesa Boogie Walkabout Mega-thread Part 10

[treyandres]

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.

I can second this. All it lacked for me was volume with the full band. I picked up an Aguilar SL212 cab to try out with the WA to replace the Berg NV212t, and can report that it sounds pretty amazing as well. And at a volume that's louder than any other 2x12 I've tried. Very efficient. Looks nice too!

 

[LexD]

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 ...

Dropped one off recently for maintenance, so I can't comment on the shipping charges. But they replaced a couple of missing chassis screws, replaced a fuse holder, cleaned the pots, checked bias and bench tested. Player tested. Ready for pickup 2 days later. At just over a hundred bucks it seemed reasonable to me for peace of mind knowing everything is working as it should.

 

[gillento]

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.

To me, the WA sounds best with my alltime fav Aguilar db112/212 cabs.

 

[lomo]

....after years loving the Walkabout I just started experimenting with a HPF in front of it, which definitely increases its' volume capability....making me love it even more . I had always dialled down the bass knob centered at 30Hz, but that really doesn't compare with the effect of a dedicated hPF in the signal chain.

 

[kringle77]

It makes the od sounds grittier too. My only gripe about the wd800 hp filter is that it is after the tube and therefore wouldnt have that effect. At least that's how it looks on the signal path diagram.

 

[lomo]

It makes the od sounds grittier too. My only gripe about the wd800 hp filter is that it is after the tube and therefore wouldnt have that effect. At least that's how it looks on the signal path diagram.

Cool-I haven't explored its' effect on OD since I play the Walkabout at the edge between clean and "not". HPF made sense to me but I never bothered with one until my D800+ showed me how useful/beneficial a control it really is........that was great for Mesa sales since I liked my D800+ so much I splurged for the Plus preamp to use at the jam space (fed right into the FX return of the supplied Jeff Berlin 15 combo, which I hate).......after messing with that in front of my Walkabout I went ahead and bought a simple Broughton LPF as well....happily, pedals don't take up much space

 

[kringle77]

A hp first in the chain makes the preamp od grittier, less fuzzy. And of course, that will effect the output section od. The WA sure is a great amp. I think that I actually prefer it to the 70's svt that I owned for years.

 

[Al Kraft]

....after years loving the Walkabout I just started experimenting with a LPF in front of it, which definitely increases its' volume capability....making me love it even more . I had always dialled down the bass knob centered at 30Hz, but that really doesn't compare with the effect of a dedicated LPF in the signal chain.

I think you actually meant HPF, and I agree that it makes a huge difference. It is as obvious an improvement as using a HPF with the old SWR (SM series) heads.

 

[lomo]

I think you actually meant HPF, and I agree that it makes a huge difference. It is as obvious an improvement as using a HPF with the old SWR (SM series) heads.

Yes-thx-early am brain cramp . Corrected/edited.

 

[pfschim]

I think you actually meant HPF, and I agree that it makes a huge difference. It is as obvious an improvement as using a HPF with the old SWR (SM series) heads.

I use an fdeck HPF with my Walkabout, and while I can't say that it's a night/day difference, I do seem to be able to get more overall (mostly) clean output out of the WA with the HPF set to cut below ~80hz.

 

[agedhorse]

It makes the od sounds grittier too. My only gripe about the wd800 hp filter is that it is after the tube and therefore wouldnt have that effect. At least that's how it looks on the signal path diagram.

That's not correct, the HPF is before the tube gain stage.

 

[kringle77]

That's not correct, the HPF is before the tube gain stage.

I stand corrected and gladly so! Thanks for the clarification.

 

[sunbeast]

I really need to demo a WD-800!!

 

[MuthaFunk]

I have been using an FDeck HPF in front of my WA for years now. Totally solved my GAS.

The WA is my main gigging amp that’s used at least once a week and up to three in any given week. The HPF is integral to its use live in my opinion. I always adjust it just until it takes some boom out of the room and allows the low end of our drummers kick mic to be cleanly felt. It helps to keep the crowd dancing and yet they can hear the bass itself better.

I was very happy to see an HPF included in the WD-800! Brilliant!

 

[Coolhandjjl]

Yup. Less is more!

 

[slofut]

It may have been asked already but what's the difference in using the F-deck to cut below 80hz and just setting the bass eq on the WA to cut below 80hz?
And that rich, heavy looow bottom is one of the things I love about the WA...

 

[tomydacat]

Oh look at my serial number on my walkabout..

 

[bass4more]

Oh look at my serial number on my walkabout..

That one goes to eleven. It's one louder, innit?

 

[agedhorse]

It may have been asked already but what's the difference in using the F-deck to cut below 80hz and just setting the bass eq on the WA to cut below 80hz?
And that rich, heavy looow bottom is one of the things I love about the WA...

Very different filter types and slopes.

 

[slofut]

AH, do you put it through the effects loop on the back of the WA or between the bass and the input jack? Sorry if these are rudimentary questions. Using the hpf do you lose any of the pants leg shaking bottom from the Scout combo?