Mesa Boogie Walkabout Mega-thread Part 10

[BluesyCat]

Buyer beware...I recently picked up a used walkabout head (was originally a combo, 2010 model). I paid top dollar as it was advertised as a newer model. Oh well.....It sounds/performs and looks like new. I gave it a good run in band practice last week. I like it so much that I have thought of selling it back in the classifieds and saving up for a new model! Yikes. talk about GAS!! I contacted Mesa and they said that in October this year the warranty will end. If anyone here wants to twist my arm, I might give in. But not sure. I though I'd let you guys know first though.

 

[pfschim]

We had a gig last night at the new Aubergine in Sebastopol, CA now known as 755 After Dark. The club is AMAZING. Definitely a place to have national acts stop by. The new stage is huge, and plexy glass floor so you can have lights coming up from under you, or whatever. Killer sound system and PA.

Great brick oven pizza, too ! The club owner gave our band pay, two brick oven pizzas, and free drinks. Nice guy and very hospitable.

I took my Mesa Walkabout combo with the ever so helpful clip on dolly for easy transport. I wasn't even turned up to 4. Drew, the sound man, plugged in my D.I. for the house and I was set. I love my Mesa amps so much ! The Mesa Walkabout combo is possibly the best little combo out there. No class D crap, either !!! A REAL iron transformer and the powerful 300w head still weighs only 13 lbs, 50 or so total with the cab.

So when you're talking a gig rig and all the tone and power you need for a total of 50 lbs, well, it doesn't get any better than Mesa.

dude, you're Walkabout lives so close to its place of birth, I wonder if it sounds even better than all of ours because it draws on all the Boogie energy emanating from Ross Street in beautiful Petaluma.

I certainly love my WA too, great amp that has always sounded good with any cab/cabs I have used it with. I do like the WA/Scout cabs too, but not for larger venues w/o FOH support, as I feel they run out of gas too early (particularly the 12's), and don't really do justice to the amp.

 

[cfsporn]

Buyer beware...I recently picked up a used walkabout head (was originally a combo, 2010 model). I paid top dollar as it was advertised as a newer model. Oh well.....It sounds/performs and looks like new. I gave it a good run in band practice last week. I like it so much that I have thought of selling it back in the classifieds and saving up for a new model! Yikes. talk about GAS!! I contacted Mesa and they said that in October this year the warranty will end. If anyone here wants to twist my arm, I might give in. But not sure. I though I'd let you guys know first though.

Save your head. There is no major tonal difference between the original WaB and the most recent.

 

[Bugeyed Earl]

I spotted a fair deal on a Walkabout Scout 12 on craigslist last week, and I was a little bummed when I got to the seller's house and realized it was the 15 (I wanted a more compact cabinet to throw in my car...) Having played around with it for a week, I'm really glad I've got the 15, this thing is outstanding!! I've skipped through much of the megathread, thanks to all for sharing your tips and experience with the WA

 

[pfschim]

I spotted a fair deal on a Walkabout Scout 12 on craigslist last week, and I was a little bummed when I got to the seller's house and realized it was the 15 (I wanted a more compact cabinet to throw in my car...) Having played around with it for a week, I'm really glad I've got the 15, this thing is outstanding!! I've skipped through much of the megathread, thanks to all for sharing your tips and experience with the WA

yeah man! great grab. Having owned and gigged both, I feel as if the 15 handles the WA power better than the 12. You do give up just a bit on the portability factor with the 15, but I think, overall, its the better option for stand alone use.

enjoy!

 

[morebass!]

Could be the common FX Loop jack oxidation issue- if yours is a later one with an FX Loop bypass, you can leave it bypassed. Otherwise try shooting some De-Oxit on a 1/4" jack and pulling in and out a few times to distribute it. It could also be the second Input jack if you have one of the early ones before the Active/Passive switch replaced the second jack- the same technique should work on that jack...

Thanks Sunbeast. That seemed to work! I didn't have much time to put it through paces but it fired right up.

I cleaned both inputs, both speaker outs, and the effects loops at the same time so don't know which was the problem. I used the effects loop and the active input only once or twice. Could the effects loop be the problem even if not in use? And I don't think there is bypass on the loop (is that a switch?).

 

[rodl2005]

Yes. It's the fact that it isn't getting used that makes it get a li'l corrosion and causes the (minor) problems

 

[sunbeast]

Thanks Sunbeast. That seemed to work! I didn't have much time to put it through paces but it fired right up.

I cleaned both inputs, both speaker outs, and the effects loops at the same time so don't know which was the problem. I used the effects loop and the active input only once or twice. Could the effects loop be the problem even if not in use? And I don't think there is bypass on the loop (is that a switch?).

The bypass switch was an update done after a certain point, and is now the stock setup- I'm guessing specifically because of this issue (ditto the active/passive switch vs. having dual jacks)

 

[AndreasK]

Hi Walkabout experts!

Are there any good sound-clips of the Walkabout out there? Cant really find any, especially after various drive/dirty settings.

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

Yes. It's the fact that it isn't getting used that makes it get a li'l corrosion and causes the (minor) problems

I keep a short patch cable plugged into both send and return, and keep some pipe cleaners and De-Oxit in my gig bag.

There is also an upgrade where MB will install a bypass switch.

 

[bassie12]

Yesterday, I walked into my buddy's shop, and what should I spy sitting under a Puma 900 but a silver panel Walkabout head? Took it the gig, a rock four piece.. Lots of grindy bass stuff. Guess what I'm buying tomorrow? After trying a pile of recent a Class D stuff, and quite a few others(love my EA800, but it's to clean & civilized fir this band) the Walkabout gives me the booty and grind I like. Woohoo!

 

[mb94952]

dude, you're Walkabout lives so close to its place of birth, I wonder if it sounds even better than all of ours because it draws on all the Boogie energy emanating from Ross Street in beautiful Petaluma.

I certainly love my WA too, great amp that has always sounded good with any cab/cabs I have used it with. I do like the WA/Scout cabs too, but not for larger venues w/o FOH support, as I feel they run out of gas too early (particularly the 12's), and don't really do justice to the amp.

Yeah man ! I draw power from Ross Street ! I also live in Petaluma, AND Lagunitas Brewing Company is a block from Mesa, as well. So, here in Petaluma we have the best bass amps and best beer made less than a block from each other !

I go to Mesa once in a while to buy parts for my Walkabout or M6 Carbine like extra power indicator lights in all colors, or rack ears, etc. Debbie at the front desk is always so nice and knows me by name now. I love that place.

Also, did you know that the last Talkbass get together I went to was at Mesa ? Yup ! This was about 6 months to a year before they officially unveiled the new Mesa Prodigy and Strategy all tube bass amps to the world. We got to play them as long and as loud as we wanted to, through all different Mesa cabs, and then Randy the Founder gave us all a tour of the place and got us lunch. Then, we all went to Lagunitas across the street (which I couldn't attend).

 

[pfschim]

Yeah man ! I draw power from Ross Street ! I also live in Petaluma, AND Lagunitas Brewing Company is a block from Mesa, as well. So, here in Petaluma we have the best bass amps and best beer made less than a block from each other !

I go to Mesa once in a while to buy parts for my Walkabout or M6 Carbine like extra power indicator lights in all colors, or rack ears, etc. Debbie at the front desk is always so nice and knows me by name now. I love that place.

Also, did you know that the last Talkbass get together I went to was at Mesa ? Yup ! This was about 6 months to a year before they officially unveiled the new Mesa Prodigy and Strategy all tube bass amps to the world. We got to play them as long and as loud as we wanted to, through all different Mesa cabs, and then Randy the Founder gave us all a tour of the place and got us lunch. Then, we all went to Lagunitas across the street (which I couldn't attend).

cool.
I know about the GTG last year. I missed it, but did get over to Ross St myself a few weeks later and got to try out the Strategy and Prodigy too.

 

[cfsporn]

dude, you're Walkabout lives so close to its place of birth, I wonder if it sounds even better than all of ours because it draws on all the Boogie energy emanating from Ross Street in beautiful Petaluma.

I certainly love my WA too, great amp that has always sounded good with any cab/cabs I have used it with. I do like the WA/Scout cabs too, but not for larger venues w/o FOH support, as I feel they run out of gas too early (particularly the 12's), and don't really do justice to the amp.

I have often hypothesized that the reason my Alembic sounds so amazing through my Mesa is that they were born twenty minutes (and about 15 years!) from each other.

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

Three stops on my mental list of must visits if I'm ever in northern California... Mesa in Petaluma, Alembic in Santa Rosa, and Rick Turner's shop near Santa Cruz. Come to think of it, that's an awful lotta' regional awesomeness to be so centralized... clearly one of the three should move 3000 miles east, or at least open up a branch office in Virginia.

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

My California Dreamin' picture, from another thread:

 

[cfsporn]

Three stops on my mental list of must visits if I'm ever in northern California... Mesa in Petaluma, Alembic in Santa Rosa, and Rick Turner's shop near Santa Cruz. Come to think of it, that's an awful lotta' regional awesomeness to be so centralized... clearly one of the three should move 3000 miles east, or at least open up a branch office in Virginia.

I live within an hour's distance (by foot or public transportation) from Aguilar, Carl Thompson, D'addario, DiMarzio, DR Strings, Epifani, EHX, Fodera, Sadowsky, Spector, Tech21, Valenti, and several more that escape me, but I am still jealous of the awesomeness that comes from NoCal.

 

[midichlorine]

Those wheat grills are the shizz!!

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

Those wheat grills are the shizz!!

You should know Bro!

 

[pfschim]

View attachment 591545 My California Dreamin' picture, from another thread:

EofH, or anyone else who has a Mesa headcase for their WA, how do you like it ? I almost always use my WA as a stand alone head these days and have been thinking of getting a headcase for mine. They do look good, and would provide some added protection for the WA, but is there any downside, like added weight (how much weight does the headcase actually add?) or compromised cooling ? Does anyone rack their WA in a road case ? if so, what case brand/model do you use ?