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Mesa Boogie Walkabout Mega-thread Part 10
- Thread starter Chef
- Start date
I know someone has covered this but has anyone used an external power amp with the walkabout while using the walkabout combo?
Thanks and please be kind, I don't need to read through 1000 pages of walkabout stuff.
If you haven't done this or don't have the knowledge then skip me.
Thanks and please be kind, I don't need to read through 1000 pages of walkabout stuff.
If you haven't done this or don't have the knowledge then skip me.
I haven't done exactly this, but I have used the DI from the Walkabout into a poweramp. Since the WA's DI level is tied to the master volume, I had to turn it up pretty high to get a good level into the amp. Higher than I imagine you'd want to run the combo in most cases, but I could be wrong. And then, of course, you're losing the line to FOH, unless you use a splitter.
I wonder if you could use the effects send -- can't remember if I tried that, but it seems I would've. That would give you the DI back. I've missed more obvious things, though! Would depend on how the send is wired. I seem to remember that being discussed and not too long ago and being a no-go, but worth investigating.
I might try this again to see about the effects send and about the necessary levels to the poweramp. I might be misremembering. I do remember that the result was nice but not like using the Walkabout's internal power.
Note: I don't have the combo, but don't see why it would be functionally different than using the WA to power one cab while using a poweramp to power another.
I have done this in 2 different ways.
1. Using the WA FX send into the FX return on an MPulse 600 to see if I could get a "600w WA". Worked and sounded fine, but did not get me a "600w WA"
2. Using the WA FX send into a Mesa 2:90 (all tube power amp). Again, it worked and sounded fine (really like the Mesa 2:90 and 2:100 power amps), but both approaches were kind of impractical for gigging and neither sounded better than the WA on its own .. at least to my ears.
never tried this using the DI
Dude, the effects send worked? Why was I thinking the WA's wouldn't for this? I'm questioning my memory of this event. I know that I tried the D.I.
I thought I had it set pretty high. Gotta go back and check this again. It was awhile ago.
On another Walkabout-related note, and because I recently posted these in another thread, here are two short clips that I made a few months back of the Walkabout, mic'ed, through my MAS 112 cab. This is the 8 Ohm, 18-Sound woofer version of the cab. The Walkabout will NOT push this to its potential at 8 Ohms, but Mike makes a "low-powered tube" version with an Eminence 3012HO that the Walkabout should push nicely. Based on the low-volume tone of the WA through this cab, I'd be interested to try it through its more efficient cousin and see how it matches up.
Anyway, one can never have too many Walkabout clips in a Walkabout thread, right? (I don't think I posted these here before -- and I didn't spot them in a search -- but if I did, forgive me!)
You might notice a comic moment in this clip.
And the EQ settings used:
Clips with the other two amps are here, in the KXB500 thread.
Anyway, one can never have too many Walkabout clips in a Walkabout thread, right? (I don't think I posted these here before -- and I didn't spot them in a search -- but if I did, forgive me!)
You might notice a comic moment in this clip.
And the EQ settings used:
Clips with the other two amps are here, in the KXB500 thread.
did a day in a local studio yesterday. Out of long standing habit, I usually just use the gear that the house provides/suggests, with the rational that they "usually" have the bass tone dialed in for their room and gear. I have never been disappointed by my recorded sound using this approach, has not always sounded "amazing", but just about always worked well in the mix.
I decided to use the WA instead and the engineer was totally cool with that. So, WA 12 close miced in a semi dead iso booth using Sennheiser MD421, and the WA DI into the board.
For this particular band I use my Lull M4V (with Fralins and Aguilar preamp, in passive mode). Just getting a listen to the rough mixes now, sounds sweet, I'll try and figure out how to post some tracks later.
I decided to use the WA instead and the engineer was totally cool with that. So, WA 12 close miced in a semi dead iso booth using Sennheiser MD421, and the WA DI into the board.
For this particular band I use my Lull M4V (with Fralins and Aguilar preamp, in passive mode). Just getting a listen to the rough mixes now, sounds sweet, I'll try and figure out how to post some tracks later.
yep, worked fine. just did not end up with anything that sounded better than the WA stand alone, so really not worth the set up time.
Seems like the value of this would be that you could easily add a power amp and additional cab(s) for bigger gigs. No need to own a higher power head!
well, yes, it does work in the basic sense that you can run the WA tube pre into a big power amp, but unfortunately it does not produce a mega wattage Walkabout. This has been discussed many times on the WA Mega Thread, and no one, to my knowledge, has gotten the full WA sound out of running the pre into a bigger power section. There just must be some magic in the way Mesa linked the pre to the power section in this amp (the whole tube driven mosfet thing I guess).
thought I'd post this here too.
just got a new(used) Mesa headcase for my beloved Walkabout. Should keep it from further harm as I have been gigging it "naked" on top of my various cabs. Somewhat silly in so far as it makes the 13lb WA weigh 32lbs, but what the heck, it does look cool.
Mesa Walkabout in Bronco Headcase on top of a Berg NV610. Nice!
just got a new(used) Mesa headcase for my beloved Walkabout. Should keep it from further harm as I have been gigging it "naked" on top of my various cabs. Somewhat silly in so far as it makes the 13lb WA weigh 32lbs, but what the heck, it does look cool.
Mesa Walkabout in Bronco Headcase on top of a Berg NV610. Nice!
I've got the head case too. I never use the WA head alone without it
And yes, they do look great!
And yes, they do look great!
I get that the WA has some magic to it that doesn't translate to a power amp but was just pointing out that say, if the WA handles 95% of your gigs then you don't need to run out and buy a high-powered head for the other 5%. And it sounds like the power section of the WA still works when the pre is also hooked to a power amp so you still get some of that magic.
I was going to try my idea of slaving my 1001RBII to my Walkabout's DI output this weekend, but unfortunately, my Walkabout's fuse holder isn't staying in. Looks like I'm going to have to give Mesa a call. While I'm at it, I need to ask for new screws for the top case.
For those who have older model WA's, has anyone got a new model cover for their older WA ? I am specifically thinking of the increased venting in the new cases that I have seen. In 8 years of very steady use, I have only had one overheat issue with my WA. That incident was an outdoor gig in 108 degree heat (miserable) with the sun shining right on the amp (stupid of me) .. and after I had replaced the stock fan with a quieter one that had just a bit less CFM rating than the stock fan.
Just wondering.
Just wondering.
all true and I was not trying to disagree with your point about using the WA pre into larger power amps when needed. It can be done, and it will work.
for my gigging situation, if I truly need more power than the WA's 300w, then I usually have pro FOH and just run the WA DI into that. I also have bigger wattage amps to use if needed (PF500 and SVT 6Pro) and, as just a practical matter, I find its better to use the fully integrated features of a single amp, than try and hook up separate units.
but of course, that's just my experience.
