• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Mesa Boogie Walkabout Mega-thread Part 10

#5,064
Like many of us, I had some extra time on my hands this past year, so I "rescued" an old Avatar 112 cube . . . now back in service as an extension cab for my Walkabout Scout.

The cab was actually a Craigslist freebie - unloaded, dirty, but otherwise not in terrible condition. Took it home, cleaned it, re-glued the tolex, and painted the corner protectors. The original wheat grill cloth had seen better days, so I ordered a new metal grill from Reliable Hardware. Loaded it with an Eminence Beta 12a-2.

I was so happy how it turned out that I ordered a matching metal grill for the Scout. [original grill packed away for safe keeping]

This rig sure has that full, deep, warm, rich WA sound - and much louder, too !!

1 the stack.jpg
2 avatar 112 cube with new grill.jpg
3 WA grill detail.jpg
4 AV112 ext detail.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: 73_Blazer, SJLee, AccessAllAreas and 10 others
#5,065
donhank said:
Like many of us, I had some extra time on my hands this past year, so I "rescued" an old Avatar 112 cube . . . now back in service as an extension cab for my Walkabout Scout.

The cab was actually a Craigslist freebie - unloaded, dirty, but otherwise not in terrible condition. Took it home, cleaned it, re-glued the tolex, and painted the corner protectors. The original wheat grill cloth had seen better days, so I ordered a new metal grill from Reliable Hardware. Loaded it with an Eminence Beta 12a-2.

I was so happy how it turned out that I ordered a matching metal grill for the Scout. [original grill packed away for safe keeping]

This rig sure has that full, deep, warm, rich WA sound - and much louder, too !!

View attachment 4278732 View attachment 4278734 View attachment 4278735 View attachment 4278736
Click to expand...

Cool! Is the Avatar a closed back cabinet, or is there a port back there?
 
#5,067
That’s a guitar cabinet, no bass cabinet would use that kind of porting. It may as well be an open back cabinet, the beta 12 is probably good for ~75 watts in that cabinet mechanically.
 
  • Like
Reactions: chupacerveza
#5,068
agedhorse said:
. . . the beta 12 is probably good for ~75 watts in that cabinet mechanically.
Click to expand...

Others require more volume, but with both the input gain and master volume at 12:00 this Scout (eight ohm) is already louder than I need. The extension cab project was just something I did for cheap fun. If it will truly handle 75 watts mechanically than I think my $125 investment was money well spent.
 
  • Like
Reactions: chupacerveza and agedhorse
#5,069
donhank said:
View attachment 4278763

It is a partial closed back - was probably a guitar cab originally. I ordered an extra piece of the grill material and put it across the opening. The material is about 53% open. This in my "poor man's Bag End" style port. :)
Click to expand...

Yes, that's a G112. Wayback Machine

The original B112 had a Foster tweeter and a pair of 4 in. (approx) diameter ports in the back. The plastic ducts were perhaps 1 in. long. Wayback Machine
 
  • Like
Reactions: chupacerveza and donhank
#5,070
donhank said:
Like many of us, I had some extra time on my hands this past year, so I "rescued" an old Avatar 112 cube . . . now back in service as an extension cab for my Walkabout Scout.

The cab was actually a Craigslist freebie - unloaded, dirty, but otherwise not in terrible condition. Took it home, cleaned it, re-glued the tolex, and painted the corner protectors. The original wheat grill cloth had seen better days, so I ordered a new metal grill from Reliable Hardware. Loaded it with an Eminence Beta 12a-2.

I was so happy how it turned out that I ordered a matching metal grill for the Scout. [original grill packed away for safe keeping]

This rig sure has that full, deep, warm, rich WA sound - and much louder, too !!

View attachment 4278732 View attachment 4278734 View attachment 4278735 View attachment 4278736
Click to expand...
Rad. How much did the metal grill for the scout set you back?
 
#5,074
morebass! said:
FYY- Just saw that Chef, a valued contributor to this thread and many others, has passed. I didn’t know him but learned a lot from his posts. See: RIP Chef.......
Click to expand...
Oh no! What horrible news. He was such an amazing and thoughtful person. So helpful to this community. What a tragic loss. He will be missed. Thank you for sharing the thread.
 
  • Like
Reactions: treyandres and agedhorse
#5,075
bobcruz said:
You'd almost think this thread was about the early 1900's Thomas Flyabout:

View attachment 2997848

But here's a serious question for fellow WalkAbout owners--has anyone experienced a repeated cutout of the power amp that is accompanied by the same "click" that the warmup relay makes when it brings the amp out of standby at startup? The amp is not running hot so it's not a thermal issue. It started happening during home practice at low volume into either 4 or 8 ohm loads. It would happen only once in a while for a few seconds, but has lately been more "off" than "on." During cutout the preamp continues to function without interruption (verified through the effects send to another amp). It really does sound like the standby relay clicking in and out. I could pop the cover off to localize the click if I need to. I contacted Mesa customer service but they didn't suggest that this is a known problem; they just said to bring it in and they'll fix it at $100/hour. Nothing wrong with that; I'm just looking for any similar experience from other users. BTW, my WalkAbout has a serial number indicating it was about the 4th one sold to the public so it's had a good long run. Bob
Click to expand...
I'm experiencing the exact same issue with my WalkAbout. Did you solve it? What was the problem? Thanks!
 
#5,078
@agedhorse My WA, the final revision I believe, shut down last night mid song after a bit over an hour and half of playing. Made low pitched almost preamp tube noises, no real volume coming through. Does that sound like the thermal protection kicking in? Less than an hour later I tried it at home and everything was back to working normally. I believe the fan sounded full bore than like it was waining. I know you can't diagnose it via TB, but does it seem like I have the right idea? Thanks in advance!
 
#5,079
dponbass said:
@agedhorse My WA, the final revision I believe, shut down last night mid song after a bit over an hour and half of playing. Made low pitched almost preamp tube noises, no real volume coming through. Does that sound like the thermal protection kicking in? Less than an hour later I tried it at home and everything was back to working normally. I believe the fan sounded full bore than like it was waining. I know you can't diagnose it via TB, but does it seem like I have the right idea? Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...

I don't know amps like agedhorse does but I do know what the WA sounds like when it goes into thermal protection! :)

The preamp keeps on going through the DI and the power amp is shut down completely so you shouldn't hear any noises through the cab if it hit thermal shutdown.

If the fan was waining after the sound cut out it screams of a power supply issue. The fan should run full bore the entire time during a thermal shut down. Could be simple like a soldier joint or connector. When things heat up in an amp a loose connecter can become more of a problem than when its cool.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Willicious and AverageWhiteBassist
#5,080
I noticed the fan dipping after I restarted it at home. What you said makes total sense. I think I hit thermal shutdown years back with my Fathom, the DI wasn't plugged in so I can't say but I agree your scenario is equally as likely. First time I get a gig in years, now I am panicked the amp won't make it through the show! Maybe a WD800 is the way of the future for me.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back