A favorite of mine is, "You either have it right, or you can have it right now, but you can't have both.
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Mesa Boogie Walkabout Mega-thread Part 10
- Thread starter Chef
- Start date
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I was considering the new Ampeg V4B as a 3rd bass amp, but if Mesa actually comes through with even a 600 watt Walkabout, I'm totally on board. But, they (Mesa) have claimed the MPulse 600 to be exactly that, and we all know that's not true. Color me cautiously excited.
Very pleased to report that the new speaker arrived from Mesa today and my issue is now resolved.
I'll be shipping the old speaker back later this week.I paid shipping both ways but the speaker was covered under warranty. I really love this combo and a big thumbs up to Mesa support. I couldn't be happier.
During the Mesa new tube amps threads, I mentioned this hoping the factory rep would comment; he did not.
I'm still glad I sold mine as the 300 watts just didn't give the headroom I wanted.
While the 7 Pro is a different amp, it does offer warm and round tone with a minor baked in Ampeg voice; I love the headroom and how stiff the bass response is but would prefer a kilowatt of WA action.
I can't imagine the R&D would be that much to scale up the existing power amp, could it?
the funny thing is-the WA is very popular here on TB but locally in my little town of 2 million people, hardly anyone uses mesa bass gear and certainly not a WA. you hardly ever see it pop up used here in Vancouver.
maybe retooling for a higher powered WA is expensive vs. actual units sold.
I would buy a high powered WA head in a heartbeat.
Mesa stuff isn't uber-present in my market either.
I know one other Walkabout user here; who, I think bought his rig from me.
I know two guys with old 400+; one a player, one a club who keep it for back line.
This is to be expected, I think.
Mesa don't build as many units as say, GK or Ampeg.
I know one other Walkabout user here; who, I think bought his rig from me.
I know two guys with old 400+; one a player, one a club who keep it for back line.
This is to be expected, I think.
Mesa don't build as many units as say, GK or Ampeg.
In Montreal I see mainly the usual suspects: Ampeg, Hartke, GK, but I've also seen Mesa, and we have a local dealer. I've also seen all kinds of boutique gear, in small numbers, at all sorts of venues.
Frankly, I have my doubts that a 900 watt head sounding EXACTLY like the original is possible, but I'd even be happy with a Carbine power section, Walkabout front end, speakons and 2 Ohm stability. Once I am dreaming, I'll add an aux in feature so that in addition to a head that will cover all my gigs, I can use it to practice as well.
My credit card is ready.............
Frankly, I have my doubts that a 900 watt head sounding EXACTLY like the original is possible, but I'd even be happy with a Carbine power section, Walkabout front end, speakons and 2 Ohm stability. Once I am dreaming, I'll add an aux in feature so that in addition to a head that will cover all my gigs, I can use it to practice as well.
My credit card is ready.............
WA9 spec sheet:
totally concur.
I'd add one thing: a bright switch, so I could get a more modern sheen thing going, if/when I want that. It could be a "pull" feature, on the shelving treble knob, and take up no room.
No need for a deep switch, IMO, but, one could add a "pull deep" to the shelving bass, if everyone wanted one.
totally concur.
I'd add one thing: a bright switch, so I could get a more modern sheen thing going, if/when I want that. It could be a "pull" feature, on the shelving treble knob, and take up no room.
No need for a deep switch, IMO, but, one could add a "pull deep" to the shelving bass, if everyone wanted one.
Frankly, I have my doubts that a 900 watt head sounding EXACTLY like the original is possible, but I'd even be happy with a Carbine power section, Walkabout front end, speakons and 2 Ohm stability. Once I am dreaming, I'll add an aux in feature so that in addition to a head that will cover all my gigs, I can use it to practice as well.
My credit card is ready.............
Not side by side and I know the TH500 gets a lot of love, but I tried one this weekend and really didn't like it. I kept it flat EQ, but it sounded thin and lifeless compared to the Walkabout. The TH500 was playing through a Bergatino 12 cab so it's really a complete apples to oranges comparison. Maybe if I had some more time and tweaked the EQ I could get the TH500 to sound more to my liking.
WA completely spoils me.
I a/b'd the two at home and in rehearsal, each through a Berg HS210. The TH500 was quick(er), clear, very mid-present, but it lacked the thick low-end and the mid-complexity I enjoy with the Walkabout. Those bandmates weren't impressed with the TH500, I think because it just didn't work in that context. I might use it as a back-up but not as a substitute. It did get louder than the Walkabout, but to me it never sounded near as full (just more clear/articulate, loud, and quick responding). I wasn't satisfied with the lows through my low-attenuated HS210, but I probably didn't spend enough time getting to know the interactive eq/gain/drive controls. I imagine it might sound great through a cab tuned for bigger lows and less present midrange (Berg HT112ER?, Audiokinesis?).
That's my take from a "can it cop a Walkabout vibe" perspective.
It's a cool amp that I might use with the right ensemble and cabinet
That's my take from a "can it cop a Walkabout vibe" perspective.
It's a cool amp that I might use with the right ensemble and cabinet
Probably more than we think. The preamp could stay the same (with Chef's added features), the driver circuit might have to change because there would probably be big changes in both power amp and power supply (as both voltage and current capabilities would have to increase).
"changes to power amp and power supply"
one big change would be adding the driver tube to this. whether it's a lot more complicated than adding that to an M9 section, I'm sure I don't know.
Personally, I would think "high power Walkabout users wouldn't mind a little more slam, and a little less squish." that's one of the things *I* don't like about the current Walkabout: crank it up and the low end squishes.
caveat: there are probably folks that *like* that. I'm not one of them...I'm willing to trade off the squisy part of the Walkbout "organic/tubey" thing for a healthy does of M9 slam.
one big change would be adding the driver tube to this. whether it's a lot more complicated than adding that to an M9 section, I'm sure I don't know.
Personally, I would think "high power Walkabout users wouldn't mind a little more slam, and a little less squish." that's one of the things *I* don't like about the current Walkabout: crank it up and the low end squishes.
caveat: there are probably folks that *like* that. I'm not one of them...I'm willing to trade off the squisy part of the Walkbout "organic/tubey" thing for a healthy does of M9 slam.
I haven't tried a TH. I recalled all the initial banter about the Streamliner being able to cop the Walkabout vibe, and my subsequent complete, total and utter disappointment when it didn't even come close, so I never bit on a TH. For me, the Walkabout magic sauce requires thick, highly adjustable mids, very sensitive, flexible gain stage, and that big "magic carpet" bottom.
I agree with most of your review of the TH500, especially the " quickness ". I've had to alter my " attack " somewhat, to a less agressive approach with this amp, playing through a Greenboy Bassic. With this cab, though, I'm finding the low end sounding very deep with just a little nudge on the Bass knob. High end is very attenuated. Just wondering if the Walkabout would make the low end more " chunky " sounding, and maybe a little more " sparkly " sounding in the treble area. I really like the other attributes of the TH500. To me, it sounds like a B15 with more power, in a single 15 cab.
Not sure how to interpret "chunky", but the WA definitely has a bit more of what I consider pillowy lows (sounds much bigger with palm-muted picking) and very controllable - easy to eliminate the big or boomy lows with so much eq and different gain settings. More sparkly top end? Definitely. The TH top-end is more rolled-off sounding, which is what I liked most about it. For me the WA is sparkly without being too clanky(?). Close to what I experienced with my old Demeter pre. Again, easy to tame with a great EQ.
Gosh, if you can't the Walkabout deep enough for you with the shelving bass, and semi para bass...maybe the GB Basic isn't tuned all that low. I dunno.
I had a TH350 at the same time and chose the WA. The WA had a slightly better overall tone, way easier to set, but what sold me was that it had that playing FEEL of a full tube amp where the TH350 was very solid state feeling. With the WA you get the sag feel, and touch sensitive drive from the WA. In contrast TH350 provides a static amount of drive. The output volume increases/decreases with your playing, but like a typical solid state distortion fx pedal the gain is always static and doesn't respond to input signal.
The TH350 did have the same general ballpark sound of a vintage voiced warm amp, they did a pretty good job with the overall tone. And it was extremely (amazingly!) tiny and light.
I thought the WA had more output power and volume than the Th350. Class D power sections always feel kind of compressed to me. Not in a compressor effect way, but just narrow in dynamics or something. Never can put my finger on it, they're just very linear / static feeling to me. Actually, maybe that is it. I've only had smaller wattage Class D, so maybe I'm always running against an internal limiter or something, and that's where a 1,000 watt Class D would be better as you'd have the headroom to have dynamics smack through? Beats me.
That's exactly what I found too and went back to a Walkabout after a month or so with the TH350. With the TH350 I was constantly tweaking the tone and drive controls and never quite getting the sound to where I wanted it. With the Walkabout it sounds just right to me with all the tone controls at noon, then it's just a slight tweak occasionally depending on what bass I'm playing.
