Mesa Boogie Walkabout Mega-thread Part 10

[sunbeast]

Thank you @agedhorse and @two fingers. I appreciate your guys’s time. I’ve ordered a 12ay7 and will start with that in the V2 position.

It’s been many years since I tried this, but I recall different tube types not really impressing me in the Walkabout the same as it did in my 400+ for example. Different tubes in the 12ax7/ECC83 family definitely were worth experimenting with IMO (Honestly can’t recall what tubes ended up in my Walkabout after experimentation though- one day I’ll open it up to verify).

 

[goodformetal]

Hey I’m looking for a little guidance if any Mesa gurus can spare a minute and chime in I’d greatly appreciate it. I recently purchased a walkabout head for what I think was a great deal from my favorite local shop. ($400). The shop was pretty loud that day but I thought I liked what I heard during a quick lunch break test drive so I bought it. Long story short, return/exchange period has ended, and now that I’ve had some time to play with it at home I’ve realized that it doesn’t clean up at all, even at the lowest gain settings. Not normal right? From 0 to noon on the gain knob, it all sounds overdriven, and from there on it sounds like what I think it should, gradually into fuzz territory. It sounds way dirtier at low gain than some samples I’ve heard of it online. Could I have a faulty transformer? I’ve already tried swapping the preamp tubes with no noticeable difference. Any help?

 

[BillyB_from_LZ]

Hey I’m looking for a little guidance if any Mesa gurus can spare a minute and chime in I’d greatly appreciate it. I recently purchased a walkabout head for what I think was a great deal from my favorite local shop. ($400). The shop was pretty loud that day but I thought I liked what I heard during a quick lunch break test drive so I bought it. Long story short, return/exchange period has ended, and now that I’ve had some time to play with it at home I’ve realized that it doesn’t clean up at all, even at the lowest gain settings. Not normal right? From 0 to noon on the gain knob, it all sounds overdriven, and from there on it sounds like what I think it should, gradually into fuzz territory. It sounds way dirtier at low gain than some samples I’ve heard of it online. Could I have a faulty transformer? I’ve already tried swapping the preamp tubes with no noticeable difference. Any help?

Mine can be nicely clean at lower gain settings.

You didn't mention what bass you're playing through it. If it's active, how fresh is the battery?

Have you tried the low gain (active) input (or input setting if your amp has a toggle switch)?

Is the effects loop bypassed or jumpered?

It might be time to send it to Petaluma for a checkup!

 

[agedhorse]

Hey I’m looking for a little guidance if any Mesa gurus can spare a minute and chime in I’d greatly appreciate it. I recently purchased a walkabout head for what I think was a great deal from my favorite local shop. ($400). The shop was pretty loud that day but I thought I liked what I heard during a quick lunch break test drive so I bought it. Long story short, return/exchange period has ended, and now that I’ve had some time to play with it at home I’ve realized that it doesn’t clean up at all, even at the lowest gain settings. Not normal right? From 0 to noon on the gain knob, it all sounds overdriven, and from there on it sounds like what I think it should, gradually into fuzz territory. It sounds way dirtier at low gain than some samples I’ve heard of it online. Could I have a faulty transformer? I’ve already tried swapping the preamp tubes with no noticeable difference. Any help?

Why would it be a faulty transformer?

The amp needs to be properly troubleshot with diagnostics to determine what’s wrong. This is the job of a QUALIFIED service technician.

It may be an option for it to be serviced at the factory, but this might be a good time to discuss with the seller what the next step might be and who pays the cost.

 

[goodformetal]

Mine can be nicely clean at lower gain settings.

You didn't mention what bass you're playing through it. If it's active, how fresh is the battery?

Have you tried the low gain (active) input (or input setting if your amp has a toggle switch)?

Is the effects loop bypassed or jumpered?

It might be time to send it to Petaluma for a checkup!

All of my basses are passive, and I tried the active input as well with same results. I also tried jumping the effects loop. Thanks for your suggestions!

Why would it be a faulty transformer?

The amp needs to be properly troubleshot with diagnostics to determine what’s wrong. This is the job of a QUALIFIED service technician.

It may be an option for it to be serviced at the factory, but this might be a good time to discuss with the seller what the next step might be and who pays the cost.

I have no idea about the transformer, a friend who is much more electronically savvy than I mentioned that as a possible issue.

I agree that I need to take it to a Mesa tech at this point. Might be time for a road trip.

Unfortunately the shop I got it from has a 7 day return period for used gear has lapsed.

thanks for your reply @agedhorse

 

[agedhorse]

Fortunately transformers rarely fail and are the least likely of all parts in the amp to go bad.

Be sure you use a qualified service shop, or give the factory a call to explore that option.

 

[lomo]

Maybe I missed something above, but definitely try new 12ax7 tubes before sending it anywhere. They do go bad and are a cheap fix.

 

[agedhorse]

Maybe I missed something above, but definitely try new 12ax7 tubes before sending it anywhere. They do go bad and are a cheap fix.

He already swapped preamp tubes.

 

[Ahort]

Hey guys, I'm shopping for a cart to move my walkabout around. Do you guys have any recommendations? The smaller the better for me. As far a budget goes, I have no idea how much they go for, but I would not want to spend more than $100-$150. A folding-cart would be the ideal.

Thank you!

 

[Hot Rats]

Hey guys, I'm shopping for a cart to move my walkabout around. Do you guys have any recommendations? The smaller the better for me. As far a budget goes, I have no idea how much they go for, but I would not want to spend more than $100-$150. A folding-cart would be the ideal.

Thank you!

I use one of these. It's sturdy but there are other makes like it...
Magna Cart Personal 150 lb Capacity Aluminum Folding Hand Truck (Black/Red) - - Amazon.com

 

[Ahort]

I use one of these. It's sturdy but there are other makes like it...
Magna Cart Personal 150 lb Capacity Aluminum Folding Hand Truck (Black/Red) - - Amazon.com

I like it!

 

[Wild Rice Chris]

I trashed a Magnacart by hauling too much heavy gear over rough sidewalks. Liked it up to the end.

 

[Al Kraft]

I trashed a Magnacart by hauling too much heavy gear over rough sidewalks. Liked it up to the end.

I only use mine on smooth surfaces and with no more than 2/3 rated a capacity. I think it's a good design for what it is, but it's not one of the heavy duty, "P-handle", 500 to 1000 pound capacity, steel hand-trucks with those big pneumatic tires.

 

[Wild Rice Chris]

I probably had a pair of Bag End S-15D cabs on it. Maybe a racked GK 1001RB-II on top. 125 lbs or so.

 

[Al Kraft]

I probably had a pair of Bag End S-15D cabs on it. Maybe a racked GK 1001RB-II on top. 125 lbs or so.

That shouldn't have been a problem for a 150 pound rated cart IMO.

 

[bumble yeti]

I only use mine on smooth surfaces and with no more than 2/3 rated a capacity. I think it's a good design for what it is, but it's not one of the heavy duty, "P-handle", 500 to 1000 pound capacity, steel hand-trucks with those big pneumatic tires.

 

[Christophe C]

Hi
There's a Wamkabout 12 combo for sale in my area but the driver was replaced by a Deltalite 2 from Eminence. Is it a good replacement part ?
Thank you

 

[MuthaFunk]

Hi
There's a Wamkabout 12 combo for sale in my area but the driver was replaced by a Deltalite 2 from Eminence. Is it a good replacement part ?
Thank you

Mesa did have their own spec'd driver made by Eminence based on the Deltalite 2 however it's no longer stocked at Mesa and you'll be hard pressed to find anything closer to use. It won't be the exact same but it'll be as good as you're likely to get.

I knew this type of thing would come one day and bought two replacement speakers for my Walkabout when Mesa had them in stock. Just in case I blew one up. If I didn't have them I'd replace mine with a stock Deltalite 2.

Perhaps the speaker gurus around here could offer alternatives but that's what I'd do.

 

[Christophe C]

Mesa did have their own spec'd driver made by Eminence based on the Deltalite 2 however it's no longer stocked at Mesa and you'll be hard pressed to find anything closer to use. It won't be the exact same but it'll be as good as you're likely to get.

I knew this type of thing would come one day and bought two replacement speakers for my Walkabout when Mesa had them in stock. Just in case I blew one up. If I didn't have them I'd replace mine with a stock Deltalite 2.

Perhaps the speaker gurus around here could offer alternatives but that's what I'd do.

OK. Good news. The speaker in the combo that is for sale has already been replaced by a Deltalite 2 Eminence, the 8 ohm version. So it should be ok.

 

[MuthaFunk]

OK. Good news. The speaker in the combo that is for sale has already been replaced by a Deltalite 2 Eminence, the 8 ohm version. So it should be ok.

If you can't source an original that's the next best thing. Some even argue it's better as most of the originals were 4 ohms. 8 ohms allows you to run an second 8 ohm extension cab at the recommended minimum impedance of 4 ohms. The volume difference at the combo between 8 and 4 ohm internal speaker is negligible.