- Feb 12, 2006
- 61,047
- 5
- 221,002
- Disclosures
- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
This is in fact true, and to build the Scout cab today would be stupid expensive.
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Mesa Boogie Walkabout Mega-thread Part 10
- Thread starter Chef
- Start date
I play one time on a WA cab, I was really impress of the low end this cab could produce, great tone. This concept could only be better with the Subway head that weight nothing compare. I figure.
Warning, long story coming.
Many many years ago, when I was a young lad, I was wanting to play an instrument. My dad played guitar but I just couldn't get the hang of it. after multiple attempts, I got frustrated and gave up. at the music store I stumbled upon a guitar with a longer neck and these huge strings. Immediately I was drawn to it. I picked it up and played it without plugging in... weird, I couldn't hear it at all... why is that? is there something wrong with it?
a man came up to me and said, hey do you want to plug that thing in?
a little worried because I knew nothing on bass but also curious on how it sounded I said "sure!"
So he plugged it in to this little combo, and I plucked a low E. wow! It was the fullest thickest sound I had ever heard. I just kept ringing out individual notes and was in awe of the sound and how it felt in my chest. I couldn't believe an instrument could have so much power. I was addicted!
I ended up buying a cheap fender bronco and a tiny squier amp. As soon as I got home to play I was so dissapointed... no thick full sound. just a bunch of honky bops... WHAT IS WRONG?!
I understood that the amp would be my limitation as it was tiny, so I continued to learn and get better. When i went back to the music store I recognized that little combo I was plugged into... It was a walkabout scout. holy cow $1200?! for a little combo?! Outrageous!
Still I grabbed a P bass with a few more riffs in my pocket and wow!! the amazing sound was back! I knew then and there, such a magical amp would be worth the price... I continued on with that sound now captured in my mind... one day I would recreate that sound... I had to!
Fast forward about 20 years. I had played bass in bands with all sorts of equipment, rickenbackers, gibsons, fenders... mesa, ampeg, aguilar, fender amps and cabs... many great sounds, especially with more speakers and more power.
well, my musical career had slowed a bit. no more gigging, 3 kids... no space for big amps, and no money for expensive boutique combos... I sold my aguilar SL setup to fund other purchases. was a great setup but it didnt fit in my now tiny office, and since covid, I hadnt really played in a live setting requiring such a setup.
so for the moment, I was ampless...
A quick classifieds search, and there it is! an old beat up Mesa Walkabout scout!, the amp that made me try bass and love it. The guy selling it didnt know what it was. he listed it as Mesa 25 watt amp... but I knew!
called him and grabbed it the next day, $440 CDN... what a deal Unfortunately this guy was a hoarder. This amp survived but it smelt like it had been pissed by a cat and used as ash tray.
It stunk up my car the whole drive home but I Knew i would rip it apart and give it the cleaning it deserved before I finally got to hear the sound the I remember from my childhood.
Took it apart, the guts of the head were actually awesome. replaced the preamp tubes, cleaned the tolex and unfortunately had to dump the grill cloth for some new cloth.
But here it is! Finally reunited, and the sound was exactly how I remember.
Many many years ago, when I was a young lad, I was wanting to play an instrument. My dad played guitar but I just couldn't get the hang of it. after multiple attempts, I got frustrated and gave up. at the music store I stumbled upon a guitar with a longer neck and these huge strings. Immediately I was drawn to it. I picked it up and played it without plugging in... weird, I couldn't hear it at all... why is that? is there something wrong with it?
a man came up to me and said, hey do you want to plug that thing in?
a little worried because I knew nothing on bass but also curious on how it sounded I said "sure!"
So he plugged it in to this little combo, and I plucked a low E. wow! It was the fullest thickest sound I had ever heard. I just kept ringing out individual notes and was in awe of the sound and how it felt in my chest. I couldn't believe an instrument could have so much power. I was addicted!
I ended up buying a cheap fender bronco and a tiny squier amp. As soon as I got home to play I was so dissapointed... no thick full sound. just a bunch of honky bops... WHAT IS WRONG?!
I understood that the amp would be my limitation as it was tiny, so I continued to learn and get better. When i went back to the music store I recognized that little combo I was plugged into... It was a walkabout scout. holy cow $1200?! for a little combo?! Outrageous!
Still I grabbed a P bass with a few more riffs in my pocket and wow!! the amazing sound was back! I knew then and there, such a magical amp would be worth the price... I continued on with that sound now captured in my mind... one day I would recreate that sound... I had to!
Fast forward about 20 years. I had played bass in bands with all sorts of equipment, rickenbackers, gibsons, fenders... mesa, ampeg, aguilar, fender amps and cabs... many great sounds, especially with more speakers and more power.
well, my musical career had slowed a bit. no more gigging, 3 kids... no space for big amps, and no money for expensive boutique combos... I sold my aguilar SL setup to fund other purchases. was a great setup but it didnt fit in my now tiny office, and since covid, I hadnt really played in a live setting requiring such a setup.
so for the moment, I was ampless...
A quick classifieds search, and there it is! an old beat up Mesa Walkabout scout!, the amp that made me try bass and love it. The guy selling it didnt know what it was. he listed it as Mesa 25 watt amp... but I knew!
called him and grabbed it the next day, $440 CDN... what a deal Unfortunately this guy was a hoarder. This amp survived but it smelt like it had been pissed by a cat and used as ash tray.
It stunk up my car the whole drive home but I Knew i would rip it apart and give it the cleaning it deserved before I finally got to hear the sound the I remember from my childhood.
Took it apart, the guts of the head were actually awesome. replaced the preamp tubes, cleaned the tolex and unfortunately had to dump the grill cloth for some new cloth.
But here it is! Finally reunited, and the sound was exactly how I remember.
Had my first experience with a Walkabout Scout tonight. I picked up a later model 12” version off of Reverb and received it today. I’ve been skeptical a 12” combo could sound this good after trying a few and being disappointed. I tried the Scout tonight at practice with a P and was blown away at how full sounding it was. Sure it’s a little awkward to carry but the payoff is how great it sounds. I couldn’t be happier and am so thrilled I pulled the trigger on one.
This popped up on my local FB Marketplace at such a good price, I had to go take a look. 2.5 hr drive later, it was on its way home with me.
In almost new condition and I really like Mesa’s “gold” (basket & black weave) grill cover and the brown handle.
Appears to be working like it should.
I need to get an HPF to run in front, definitely a bit rumbly for me with paras set flat. Cutting para at 40hz makes things better, might as well get an external and get the para back so as to be available for something else if needed.
Mine has the 4 ohm speaker, I don’t see any need to replace with an 8 ohm, if I need it to be louder I’d probably just pull the head and run a different 4 ohm 2x12 cab.
This is my first “real” amp (I have a Fender Studio 40 as my practice amp and love it for what it is), but am looking forward to learning how to work with a tube preamp and the controls on the Walkabout to find “my” sound.
Thx for looking, any advice/thoughts are always appreciated.
Shawn G
In almost new condition and I really like Mesa’s “gold” (basket & black weave) grill cover and the brown handle.
Appears to be working like it should.
I need to get an HPF to run in front, definitely a bit rumbly for me with paras set flat. Cutting para at 40hz makes things better, might as well get an external and get the para back so as to be available for something else if needed.
Mine has the 4 ohm speaker, I don’t see any need to replace with an 8 ohm, if I need it to be louder I’d probably just pull the head and run a different 4 ohm 2x12 cab.
This is my first “real” amp (I have a Fender Studio 40 as my practice amp and love it for what it is), but am looking forward to learning how to work with a tube preamp and the controls on the Walkabout to find “my” sound.
Thx for looking, any advice/thoughts are always appreciated.
Shawn G
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Nice!! I always used an FDeck HPF with mine. It really helped tame a room. The sweepable frequency feature was great so as to not take out more than I needed.
So after many years of use, I managed to tear the grill cloth of my Mesa Scout 15. I’ve been perusing different woven replacement fabrics to glue onto the original frame, but also considering a metal grill instead, specifically looking at this option with custom folded edges to raise it up from the speaker similar to the stock grill (they also make metal speaker grills with different hole sizes that will also mean less open pore space): Custom Speaker Grills
I love the look of the classy Mesa grill cloth options, but also love the idea of never having to worry about tearing a grill cloth again!
Anyone else replace their own Scout grill cloth? Anyone do a metal grill? Anyone have a source for the stock Mesa cloth materials?
Any considerations I should consider @agedhorse ? Curious about the sonic effects of metal grilles (including potential sensitivity to vibration noise or other noise)
I love the look of the classy Mesa grill cloth options, but also love the idea of never having to worry about tearing a grill cloth again!
Anyone else replace their own Scout grill cloth? Anyone do a metal grill? Anyone have a source for the stock Mesa cloth materials?
Any considerations I should consider @agedhorse ? Curious about the sonic effects of metal grilles (including potential sensitivity to vibration noise or other noise)
I have experimented with covering over the grill with tight T-shirts, textured pillow cases, but just recently ordered the original black jute from Speakerbuildersupply.com This link also carries black jute: Mesa boogie 24x36 inch black small cane weave speaker grill cloth | Reverb Canada and Mojotone.com has a variety including Ampeg grill cloth.
Both my Walkabout Scout 12 and "rescue" Avatar cube extension cab have custom metal grills from Reliable Hardware. I was restoring the Avatar and liked the new grill so much that I had one made for the WA Scout. Both are absolutely solid, although I did add a fifth mounting screw on the Scout. ( 12:00 below the Mesa logo )
- Feb 12, 2006
- 61,047
- 5
- 221,002
- Disclosures
- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
I've not replaced the grille cloth on my previously owned Walkabout, but have had grille cloth covered speakers since the 70s, and I've never had any problems with anything damaging em.
Mostly they're in either vinyl or padded covers anyway.
Obviously the metal is gonna be tougher, but even tho my cabs have been in vans with PAs and dogs and kids.......
and even drummers,
I've never had anything stick thru.
I think you'd have to be pretty dang careless.
Good luck with whatever you choose.
I’ll be getting an FDeck ordered soon. New FDeck mini looks like it will fill the bill! Thx!!
I've never played through the Scout cab/combos, but ran a Walkabout head through a 4 Ohm 2x12 for awhile, with an fDeck HPF3.
I suggest trying the HPF both in front of the amp and in the effects loop. You might notice a subtle difference in dynamic response and the character and clarity of the lows. Anyway, see which way you like better (or if they're a wash for you).
The Mid control is passive and, if I recall rightly (it's been awhile), rather broadly voiced. I believe that all the other EQ controls are active. I'm not sure how the WA's baked-in/knobs-at-noon voicing would plot out on a frequency response graph, but you might find it instructive to start with the semi-parametric section and the Bass and Treble knobs at noon and the Mid knob dimed, then back it off slowly from there and observe how it reacts.
The Gain control might be the most important knob on that amp -- lots of variation in feel and harmonic content therein.
Good luck -- enjoy getting to know your new amp!
Thx for info and advice.
Twisting the Gain knob has been a revelation to say the least (compared to the one on the Fender). With Gain below 9:00 on the WA, you need A LOT of Master to get even bedroom volume. Gain above 1:00 and the Master is just out of the off detent for the same volume.
Lots to learn regarding the interaction of those two knobs!
The way the (again, I might not be remembering this exactly right) last tube stage drives the MOSFET power section in the Walkabout is pretty cool, if you ever get the chance to crank the amp (not just the Gain control) and wanna channel some Jack Bruce. I haven't played another amp with a solid-state power section that behaved quite like it.
Some Gain controls don't do much beyond help optimize your signal-to-noise ratio and make sure that you're not hard-clipping the front end of your amp. The Walkabout's has a real effect on the tone and the note-envelope.
I recall dialing in the sound and feel I wanted with the Gain control, then adjusting the Master for volume. If you get to the point where you're pushing the power section hard, though, the interaction between Gain and Master (and the character of the overdrive) perhaps gets more interesting.
The DI level is affected by the Master and Gain, both, in addition to its dedicated control. This might sound finicky, but I didn't find it to be a problem in practice.
The Walkabout is one of those amps I think periodically about trying again (though there are a few of those and I've got too many amps and preamps as it is).
I figured with a tube dedicated to the power section there would be some pretty cool tones when both gain and master are pushed. Mine will be mostly for at home use to start, but I will look for an opportunity when my wife is at work to check it out. Looking forward to the day when I can put this amp to use as intended, but really enjoying it so far, even at reasonable volumes.
Thanks!
Thanks for that! For some reason that wasn’t popping up in my Google searches, though lots of other cool options were- I have a sample patch pack on the way with a bunch of possible woven replacements but really am fond of the stock material as well
Oh awesome, that looks great! Do you happen to know which metal grating you selected? The link I added to my original post was one of three metal materials I saw, could get material with 1/4”, 5/32”, and 3/8” holes. The 5/32” I posted one has the largest “open area”, and I would guess also slightly less rigidity as a result. I am curious how flexible the material is, obviously on a 15” Scout like mine there would be more surface area to flex.
Did you get the folded edges on your Walkabout? If so, what depth?
Thanks, looks great and verifies my top choice at the moment!
