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Mesa Boogie Walkabout Mega-thread Part 10
- Thread starter Chef
- Start date
Same here. If the drums aren't in the PA and you're not playing hard rock or metal, it's plenty.
With a single 12? I’m frankly amazed. I only used my Scout 12 combo once live with a drummer of any sort, playing light in a small bar and was audibly pushing both amp and speaker to the edge the entire gig.
I did use it successfully accompanying acoustic instruments on multiple occasions, and even as a Jazz(ish) guitar amp a few times though.
Yes, more so with the internally larger 12" extension (no cut-out in back for the amp) rather than the 12" combo, but both have served me very capably for funk/pop/soul/reggae in noisy pubs and for stage monitoring (if I'm in the PA and monitors of course) even in huge venues indoors and out. Placing it smartly using walls or corners for reinforcement helps if need be.
4 Ohms in my case, often with a low B being put to good use, and sometimes I've felt I was pushing it but not in a bad way. I've also had it be virtually inaudible, even with an extra 12", if having to place it in the middle of a large room with very loud guitar and drums playing hard/funk rock.
I actually prefer the 12" for live use, as it punches harder than the 15" and is a much easier carry. The 15" can go deeper, and I guess louder, but I don't feel it's effectively louder in the sense that it's a wider and woolier sound so the 12" is better or more easily heard.
Not particularly. I had the Pulse 360 (similar power spec) briefly and compared it to my WA.
Although I REALLY like the idea of 5 band semi-parametric EQ, Compressor, etc , the WA won tone wise (more dynamic, warmer mids, etc.
Both had a TungSol Gold 12AX7 in V1.
Attachments
...because....cross-generational Mesa Tower of Tone.......I'm looking forward to my Walkabout on SW 12/15 stack.....but the 112 is in the US and it's looking more and more like I won't be able to swoop down to my buddy's place in VT and grab it for quite a while.......it's my ongoing Mesa long-distance relationship.........
Wow! nice picture!
That was my next question: Is somebody compare the WA and the 360 (the 360 and the 600 are identical except for the power supply). Still the mystery of the Caramilk.
There is a definitive consensus about the WA being the Holy Grail. I played all the evening on my 600 without being able to imagine better, I don't know what will happen the day I will try the WA, do I will be thunderstruck.( maybe it is the time to revise my life insurrance, just in case)
Less confuse but still mystified
by your testimony, big thanks to all Boogie tasters!
The wa, for me is the most overall toneful bass amp. Especially with a hi pass filter and compressor. I still haven't got to try a wd800 for comparison but, would like to.
Wow! nice picture!
That was my next question: Is somebody compare the WA and the 360 (the 360 and the 600 are identical except for the power supply). Still the mystery of the Caramilk.
There is a definitive consensus about the WA being the Holy Grail. I played all the evening on my 600 without being able to imagine better, I don't know what will happen the day I will try the WA, do I will be thunderstruck.( maybe it is the time to revise my life insurrance, just in case)
Less confuse but still mystified
Yes you are right: the Pulse360 sounds great. But as soon as you are firing up the WA .......
Thanks! Never had a chance to compare the WA with the son of the WA, the WD-800?
Its interesting- I have the 4ohm 15" Scout combo now (and have had it for the last 6 years or so), and though always reading in the past how wooly they could be I haven't found that to be my experience at all. For me it is quite clear, especially in comparison to the 12" combo. I liked the 12, but the 15 has served me far better tonally and output-wise for my tastes! Definitely a taste thing I think. I do always ask whether people that have issues with the tone of the Scout 15 have the combo or extension version, as the extension has more internal cab volume (and maybe even a larger radiator speaker? I could be pulling that one out of a hat though).
If anyone has any interest I just listed a mint Black Face Walkabout Scout 12 Combo in the classifieds
I suspect that an HPF and compression run in series before the 15 combo would have an even more beneficial effect than when placed in front of the 12.
Radiators are same between combos and extension cabs. The 15" does have a larger radiator than the 12".
I should've clarified "wooly" when pushed, as otherwise the 15" can be crystal clear. Thinking about it, I guess both can get wooly when pushed hard but if pressed I'd say the 12" goes from "sounds good" to "sounds like it's in pain" whereas the 15" has some middle ground where it's flubby but not yet sounding like it's in trouble.
Haven't tried an HPF with any of mine, or compression in front. Maybe someday.
If you find its' bottom tight and defined enough to please and you're not having to push it to its' limits, these "enhancements" may be totally unnecessary in your universe. That said, I enjoy my Walkabout head significantly more with those 2 doo-dads in front of it , even when playing at low volume, without drums, through a single 12 with a pair of guitars in a livin' room jam
pretty sure the WA 12 combo has a 10" passive radiator and the WA 15 had a 12" passive radiator, and the same was true of the Scout extension cabs.
I'm a huge fan of the WA, it's still my favorite amp of all time. I also have a WD800 as my main gigging amp and have owned/gigged a D800+ along with an assortment of other high quality all tube (Fender Studio Bass) and hybrid amps (Demeter VTPB-M-800D and MPulse 600). I ran a WA12 with the Scout 12 ext cab, also ran the WA12 with the Scout 15 ext cab at different time ... and ran the WA standalone into the Scout 15, before moving away from the WA cabs entirely because, ultimately, I could just not get the clean volume I wanted/needed from the WA/Scout. When the WA Master goes over 12-1:00, it just gets too wooly/mushy for me (and clearly for others as well). Also, while I never had a problem with 2ohm operation, I did feel like the WA would get mushier sooner under that lower ohm load.
I kept the WA of course (and also have the combo 12 cab around here somewhere), but have used the amp, along with an fdeck HPF, with a variety of other multi-driver cabs that are more efficient than the WA/Scout cabs, and I remain a very happy WA user to this day ... up to a point. And when I reach that point, I take out the WD800 and it does give me a very WA like experience, particularly at and above the volume level where the WA could just not deliver all of its fantastic warm and clean tone. It's at that volume level point where the WD really shines IMO/IME.
I'm a huge fan of the WA, it's still my favorite amp of all time. I also have a WD800 as my main gigging amp and have owned/gigged a D800+ along with an assortment of other high quality all tube (Fender Studio Bass) and hybrid amps (Demeter VTPB-M-800D and MPulse 600). I ran a WA12 with the Scout 12 ext cab, also ran the WA12 with the Scout 15 ext cab at different time ... and ran the WA standalone into the Scout 15, before moving away from the WA cabs entirely because, ultimately, I could just not get the clean volume I wanted/needed from the WA/Scout. When the WA Master goes over 12-1:00, it just gets too wooly/mushy for me (and clearly for others as well). Also, while I never had a problem with 2ohm operation, I did feel like the WA would get mushier sooner under that lower ohm load.
I kept the WA of course (and also have the combo 12 cab around here somewhere), but have used the amp, along with an fdeck HPF, with a variety of other multi-driver cabs that are more efficient than the WA/Scout cabs, and I remain a very happy WA user to this day ... up to a point. And when I reach that point, I take out the WD800 and it does give me a very WA like experience, particularly at and above the volume level where the WA could just not deliver all of its fantastic warm and clean tone. It's at that volume level point where the WD really shines IMO/IME.
Last edited:
Al Kraft
Supporting Member
- May 2, 2016
- 10,769
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- Mesa Boogie beta product tester and player support
Well said, and based on my experience a very fair and accurate representation of the WA/Scout product line pros and cons, as well where the new WD fits in the WA story.
I made a couple of small changes to my Walkabout Scout combo. I changed the old busted handle to a new cream colored one, I swapped out the leather corner caps for some chrome metal corners, and I had the grill cloth changed to a turquoise/silver/white.
Why? Because I wanted it to match better with the new head case I got for my Ampeg B-15S. Now, when I use the head with the cab, they look pretty cool together. Sounds great, and I never have to worry about using a 50 year old tube head since there is always an amazing Walkabout head right there as a backup!
Why? Because I wanted it to match better with the new head case I got for my Ampeg B-15S. Now, when I use the head with the cab, they look pretty cool together. Sounds great, and I never have to worry about using a 50 year old tube head since there is always an amazing Walkabout head right there as a backup!
If you find its' bottom tight and defined enough to please and you're not having to push it to its' limits, these "enhancements" may be totally unnecessary in your universe. That said, I enjoy my Walkabout head significantly more with those 2 doo-dads in front of it , even when playing at low volume, without drums, through a single 12 with a pair of guitars in a livin' room jam
Whoa! Never entered my mind to try it at lower volumes, or that there'd be any benefit.
I've read a lot about running a HPF before these - so many effusive anecdotes by experienced fans of this amp such as yourself that if it provides even the slightest bit of noticeable extra effective headroom - we've all wanted just a liiiiitle more "OOOMPH!" around 12:00-1:00 as pfschim posted just after you - then it's worth at least trying it.
Hot, hot, hot, hot, HOT that is gorgeous! All of it.
Cheers to you, sir!
How does one go about having the grill cloth changed?
There's nothing like the periodic changing of the fraying Scout handle, is there? I went to a house party once where band were playing, and on arrival of course walked into the kitchen to wedge my bottles into the fridge and there at the dining table is a kid swapping to a new WalkAbout combo handle. Not sure if I was more surprised at this, or if he was when I empathized with what he was doing.
