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Mesa Boogie Walkabout Mega-thread Part 10

I didn't know him personally, but I did work with him a few times when he was playing with Bill Scholer's blues band and also from the art community since the father of my riding partner's (from our touring equine performance theatre group) was also an art professor in Sacramento. This goes back many years.
The more people I meet and the more of their stories I hear, the smaller the world seems to be for all of us. :)
 
Hey, y’all.

I did a search but didn’t really find anything and what I did find confused me more re: the design and effects of passive radiators.

Here’s my issue:

I prefer playing with my amp/speaker elevated off the floor. I hear it better and like having easier access to the controls. Waist high is plenty. Let’s say getting it off the floor by 12-18”.

I expect that due to the Scout cab’s (mine is 12”) downward-firing passive radiator, it is designed to have something relatively close underneath it, so one of the usual-suspect cab stands wouldn’t be the best option for this type of cab.

Stacking the combo on an extension cab would probably be the best option in this case, but I don’t need the extra volume and it makes for an expensive “stand.”

Anybody out there elevating their Walkabout Scout with a solution that works well that would be easier than my building an sound-insulated box? Anything that breaks down and allows for easy storage would be much preferred.

Thx.
 
So are you saying I’m overthinking it and it won’t really matter if the Scout cab is elevated in space vs. over a solid object?

thx.

For the most part, yes. If it sounds better to you elevated, go with it.
 
Hey, y’all.

I did a search but didn’t really find anything and what I did find confused me more re: the design and effects of passive radiators.

Here’s my issue:

I prefer playing with my amp/speaker elevated off the floor. I hear it better and like having easier access to the controls. Waist high is plenty. Let’s say getting it off the floor by 12-18”.

I expect that due to the Scout cab’s (mine is 12”) downward-firing passive radiator, it is designed to have something relatively close underneath it, so one of the usual-suspect cab stands wouldn’t be the best option for this type of cab.

Stacking the combo on an extension cab would probably be the best option in this case, but I don’t need the extra volume and it makes for an expensive “stand.”

Anybody out there elevating their Walkabout Scout with a solution that works well that would be easier than my building an sound-insulated box? Anything that breaks down and allows for easy storage would be much preferred.

Thx.
I’ve used my Scout 15 in all sorts of applications, including raised up off the floor, and haven’t noticed it affecting the overall sound any more extremely than doing the same with any other speaker. You will always lose some apparent bass response with any typical bass speaker when you decouple it from the floor and/or walls though, at least in close proximity to the cab
 
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I’ve used my Scout 15 in all sorts of applications, including raised up off the floor, and haven’t noticed it affecting the overall sound any more extremely than doing the same with any other speaker. You will always lose some apparent bass response with any typical bass speaker when you decouple it from the floor and/or walls though, at least in close proximity to the cab
Yes, my practice combo sounds boomy on the floor but tightens up nicely when I set it on the edge of my desk.
I’ve added an HPF in the FX loop on the WA Scout and am happy with the result on the floor. It’s a little too big set on the desk, but I’ll try a milk crate now that I know clearance underneath isn’t critical.
 
Yes, my practice combo sounds boomy on the floor but tightens up nicely when I set it on the edge of my desk.
I’ve added an HPF in the FX loop on the WA Scout and am happy with the result on the floor. It’s a little too big set on the desk, but I’ll try a milk crate now that I know clearance underneath isn’t critical.
Yeah it couldn’t harm anything, so as @agedhorse says- if it sounds good then go for it!
 
My 4 Ohm Scout cabinet driven by a Genzler MG350 head (set at 2.67 Ohms) performs far better than I'd wagered. I see no reference to it being tried so far in this thread.

Cautioned off from using my Mesa D-350 for risk of too easily overpowering the Scout, and with an 800W head out of the question, I figured, "why not try the MG350 I just picked up?"

Well, I'm sure the MG350, when cranked, would also blow up the Scout, but I figure its 2.67 setting reduces that chance. I was preparing to install an 8 Ohm Deltalite in the Scout, or even trade it, but now the Genzler may have made it into a handsome <40 lb. combo.

If you have the gear on hand, give it a listen :smug:
 
That’s a better match, especially set to 2.67 ohms.

I recently purchased a 4ohm scout cabinet and I was thinking about pairing it with a Subway D350, but after reading this post I am a little concerned the head might be too powerful for the cab. Can you please explain to me why the Magellan 350 set to 2.67 would be a better match than a 350W head set to 4 ohms? I don’t understand why different impedances would make a difference if the head puts out the same amount of power (350W) at 4 and 2.67 ohms. I appreciate your help.

On another note, I’m not familiar with the MG350 head but I was looking at the EQ details and I really like the 3 band eq with a sweepable parametric. I also prefer the bass frequency at 75Hz than 40Hz. The Magellan looks like a great option.
 
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I recently purchased a 4ohm scout cabinet and I was thinking about pairing it with a Subway D350, but after reading this post I am a little concerned the head might be too powerful for the cab. Can you please explain to me why the Magellan 350 set to 2.67 would be a better match than a 350W head set to 4 ohms? I don’t understand why different impedances would a difference if the head puts out the same amount of power (350W) at 4 and 2.67 ohms. I appreciate your help.

On another note, I’m not familiar with the MG350 head but I was looking at the EQ details and I really like the 3 band eq with a sweepable parametric. I also prefer the bass frequency at 75Hz than 40Hz. The Magellan looks like a great option.
The Magellan 350, set to 2.67 Ohms and run into a 2.67 Ohm load, puts out 350 Watts. Set to 2.67 Ohms and run into a 4 Ohm load, it puts out less.
 
I run a D-350 through a Scout cab, but I have a Mesa 8-ohm speaker in that cab. I use this for low-volume rehearsals, and it’s great for that. I don’t use it for a gig that would require much volume though.

I think the D-350’s bright switch is a good thing with the Scout cab, which is a pretty bassy cab to begin with.
 
I run a D-350 through a Scout cab, but I have a Mesa 8-ohm speaker in that cab. I use this for low-volume rehearsals, and it’s great for that. I don’t use it for a gig that would require much volume though.

I think the D-350’s bright switch is a good thing with the Scout cab, which is a pretty bassy cab to begin with.

Replacing the og speaker of my scout cab with an 8ohm speaker is also a great option! From what I remember reading here on tbass, I believe the replacement 8ohm speaker is more sensitive than the 4ohm, and the volume difference wouldn’t be too significant.
 
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I run a D-350 through a Scout cab, but I have a Mesa 8-ohm speaker in that cab. I use this for low-volume rehearsals, and it’s great for that. I don’t use it for a gig that would require much volume though.

I think the D-350’s bright switch is a good thing with the Scout cab, which is a pretty bassy cab to begin with.
At first I thought I'd slip my WD-800 right into my 4-Ohm Scout where the Walkabout head fits, but that's not a smart power match. So, I considered a D-350 next, but that's also a touch risky at volume. Put it in the back of my mind to install a DeltaLite 8-Ohm.

The MG350 though sounds really good, can put out less power, and can even allow addition of an 8 Ohm cab. The Mesa Scout's PCN tweeter w/crossover lets me get a variety of voicings too. It may be the best easy solution.

The Scout with a small D amp is handy and looks really nice.