Mesa Boogie Walkabout Mega-thread Part 10

[starjag]

Yes, thank you for the clarification. I was curious if the manuals were edited to capture the changes. The Mesa website appears to have the first iteration only.

The EQ sweeps of the semi-parametric EQ controls had a few different frequency ranges over the years. IIRC there might have actually been 3 different versions in that regard.

 

[MuthaFunk]

The EQ sweeps of the semi-parametric EQ controls had a few different frequency ranges over the years. IIRC there might have actually been 3 different versions in that regard.

I didn’t realize this. Are you basing it on the screen printing on the knobs or was there a thread somewhere on it?

I don’t believe I read about it in any of the Walkabout Megathreads.

 

[sunbeast]

I didn’t realize this. Are you basing it on the screen printing on the knobs or was there a thread somewhere on it?

I don’t believe I read about it in any of the Walkabout Megathreads.

IIRC I’ve had two different versions (both silver with black screen printing models), based on the screen printed numbers, but to be fair I never really compared the frequency ranges on them by ear. Mine were both made around the same general era based on serial numbers so must have been around the time they changed them. I know they sounded basically identical the way I set them up when they had the same tubes in them (one originally came with Chinese Mesa tubes and one Russian so they actually did sound a bit different with “flat EQ” before tube swapping). I rarely use much of that semi-parametric EQ on my Walkabout so it didn’t matter much to me. It has been brought up occasionally (I know I brought it up a few times on here over the years), but is a relatively under the radar change.

@agedhorse may be able to verify when this changed and how many versions there were

 

[MuthaFunk]

I know they had a redesign on the power amp evidenced by the change in output devices and heat sinks.

Agedhorse wasn’t with Mesa back in the Walkabout early days but I’m sure he’d have access to the schematics and be able to note if there was ever a change in the preamp. I didn’t think there was.

 

[Al Kraft]

IIRC I’ve had two different versions (both silver with black screen printing models), based on the screen printed numbers, but to be fair I never really compared the frequency ranges on them by ear. Mine were both made around the same general era based on serial numbers so must have been around the time they changed them. I know they sounded basically identical the way I set them up when they had the same tubes in them (one originally came with Chinese Mesa tubes and one Russian so they actually did sound a bit different with “flat EQ” before tube swapping). I rarely use much of that semi-parametric EQ on my Walkabout so it didn’t matter much to me. It has been brought up occasionally (I know I brought it up a few times on here over the years), but is a relatively under the radar change.

@agedhorse may be able to verify when this changed and how many versions there were

I noticed this with my Silver and Black faced WAs - the semiparametric mid control frequencies are labelled differently. IIRC (and I'm not 100% sure) the explanation was that there was a mistake in silkscreen/labeling. Supposedly whatever the manual showed was correct. I too set controls more by ear and haven't noticed a huge difference between the silver and black faced models.

There was something that caused a voicing change during the WA's lengthy production run. As a minimum it has been observed that some versions of the WA were a little brighter sounding. Whether this was a design intent or the result of needing to change parts due to availability from suppliers or something else I have no insight or answer to offer.

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

I vaguely remember that coming up. Golly... like years ago, before the Subway line was even out. We were all still begging for a high-powered WalkAbout back then. I think I tried to figure out if my two Silverface models were correctly marked, then at some point figured out that I mostly used the parametric equalizer only when necessary and it mattered less. Usually I cut some extreme lows off and sometimes boosted some mid. Just depending on how loud the joint was we were playing.

*Since then, I've sold the newer of the two, kept the older one after the Mesa Shop serviced it, and it lives in my Scout 15 permanently these days. I just can't let it go. Greatest combo ever. Heavy as dad-gummit. Sonic bliss though. I'm mostly gigging an old Diesel 15 with a power-amp, but that WalkAbout can still cover my guys up any night.

 

[agedhorse]

I don’t know about the different frequencies on the WA, I show that they remained the same on the schematics. There were several different voicing changes, mostly in the high frequency area over the many years. Some were intentional and some were due to parts being discontinued. Parts being discontinued is one drawback to a long production lifecycle.

 

[StayLow]

The EQ sweeps of the semi-parametric EQ controls had a few different frequency ranges over the years. IIRC there might have actually been 3 different versions in that regard.

Thanks. His post seems to state that the way the EQ works also changed.

I think I have one of each version (color-wise) and can’t say I ever noticed any differences.

Now I know why, as I don’t think I have the outlier here…

A quick image search suggests:

Red face silver chassis was 60, 340, 2k.
Black face silver chassis was also 60, 340, 2k,
then switched to 160, 1.2, 6.8 (when active/passive switch was added), and
black on black went back to 60, 340, 2k.
WD800 is 500, 1.3, 2.6

 

[starjag]

Indeed, maybe no differences. I have the silver face version with active/passive switch. And only recently noticed the different labels on the para EQ knobs, thus the curiosity.

Thanks. His post seems to state that the way the EQ works also changed.

I think I have one of each version (color-wise) and can’t say I ever noticed any differences.

Now I know why, as I don’t think I have the outlier here…

A quick image search suggests

Red face was 60, 340, 2k.
Black face was also 60, 340, 2k,
then switched to 160, 1.2, 6.8 (when active/passive switch was added), and
black on black went back to 60, 340, 2k.
WD800 is 500, 1.3, 2.6

 

[agedhorse]

Note that the sweep range (min to max) of the frequencies are important to consider when comparing parametric eq's.

On the WD, not only the range of sweep changed but the 12:00 center frequency also changed to make the control feel more linear throughout the sweep range.

The ranges were also condensed a little, 30Hz-60Hz on the low end wasn't very useful because it was well within the range of the bass control, and because we added the HPF this range was not needed for cutting extreme low end either. It's now a true low mid control. The same can be said about the high mid control, sweeping to 12kHz was not very useful and duplicated what was going on in the treble control.

These were changes that were suggested by quite a few players when we were looking at what players liked and didn't like while developing the WD and we adopted these suggestions.

 

[Al Kraft]

Note that the sweep range (min to max) of the frequencies are important to consider when comparing parametric eq's.

On the WD, not only the range of sweep changed but the 12:00 center frequency also changed to make the control feel more linear throughout the sweep range.

The ranges were also condensed a little, 30Hz-60Hz on the low end wasn't very useful because it was well within the range of the bass control, and because we added the HPF this range was not needed for cutting extreme low end either. It's now a true low mid control. The same can be said about the high mid control, sweeping to 12kHz was not very useful and duplicated what was going on in the treble control.

These were changes that were suggested by quite a few players when we were looking at what players liked and didn't like while developing the WD and we adopted these suggestions.

This was just just one of many original WA quirks you addressed that make the WD a nice evolution in the spirit of the WA sound/voicing. Your design approach to the WD is clearly WA inspired but provides a much more versatile head and one that is more capable in the area of fine tuning for challenging live performance venues.

 

[agedhorse]

The others are a smoother taper of the eq level controls off of flat, and locating the frequency controls above the level controls.

 

[Al Kraft]

Since we're talking about tone shaping, I think adding the variable HPF into that mix and a very musical sounding integration of a revised mid control circuit are worth a mention as well...but hey, that's just my opinion.

 

[starjag]

Corrected

This was just just one of many original WA quirks you addressed that make the WD a nice REvolution in the spirit of the WA sound/voicing.

 

[MuthaFunk]

I have the WD and Walkabout and I have to say now that I’ve gigged primarily with the WD800 for a while, I miss the redundancy that the wider sweep parametric EQ’s on the Walkabout offer.

At times with some bases or perhaps poor strings, thin sounding cabs, or whatever I’ve wanted more low end or even more highs on a cab without a tweeter.

In my opinion there’s no benefit to be gained by reducing the range of each band. With the wider range walkabout controls not only do you capture the same range as the WD800s controls but you have the extensions at either end and potential doubling on either end of the mid band.

What was the down side?

 

[sunbeast]

Thanks. His post seems to state that the way the EQ works also changed.

I think I have one of each version (color-wise) and can’t say I ever noticed any differences.

Now I know why, as I don’t think I have the outlier here…

A quick image search suggests:

Red face silver chassis was 60, 340, 2k.
Black face silver chassis was also 60, 340, 2k,
then switched to 160, 1.2, 6.8 (when active/passive switch was added), and
black on black went back to 60, 340, 2k.
WD800 is 500, 1.3, 2.6

Sounds about right- I had one of each version of the blackface/silver ones at the same time maybe 12 years ago, both of mine had the active/passive switch but I bought them both used so the older one may have been updated later

 

[agedhorse]

I have the WD and Walkabout and I have to say now that I’ve gigged primarily with the WD800 for a while, I miss the redundancy that the wider sweep parametric EQ’s on the Walkabout offer.

At times with some bases or perhaps poor strings, thin sounding cabs, or whatever I’ve wanted more low end or even more highs on a cab without a tweeter.

In my opinion there’s no benefit to be gained by reducing the range of each band. With the wider range walkabout controls not only do you capture the same range as the WD800s controls but you have the extensions at either end and potential doubling on either end of the mid band.

What was the down side?

The wider sweep was too touchy for some players, especially with the taper used. We also had players who had so much low frequency boost with the low mic that they damaged speakers not fully understanding what they were doing.

Way more players preferred the feel of the reduced sweep range, it was easier for then to hone in on what they were looking to do. Nothing is going to be perfect for every player, I just addressed what the majority of players comments about.

 

[Al Kraft]

Corrected

I can live with that!

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

First (major) gig of 2022 last night... a Wild Game cook-off dinner. My regular gig-rig is still packed up from Winter break, so the old WalkAbout Scout 15 got the call... this heavy old cube always delivers on the stage for my ears. Mr. Soundguy was mighty impressed with the DI too up in his booth.

 

[MarkA]

First (major) gig of 2022 last night... a Wild Game cook-off dinner. My regular gig-rig is still packed up from Winter break, so the old WalkAbout Scout 15 got the call... this heavy old cube always delivers on the stage for my ears. Mr. Soundguy was mighty impressed with the DI too up in his booth.

View attachment 4626898 View attachment 4626907

Neat basses -- what's the fretless? -- and a surreal setup.

The first pic led me to believe you were in a large cabin/dining hall some place. The second... combines a lot of disparate elements. Even with a little context, I find it slightly disorienting -- but that's me. Hope the food was good, the music better, the evening successful, and that you all had fun!