Mesa Boogie Walkabout Mega-thread Part 10

[agedhorse]

Hey fellas, quick question...

On my older silver-face model, with two separate inputs for active and passive... can I use both inputs simultaneously? As in a separate bass plugged into each? I gotta' double on upright for a couple songs at a concert tonight, and don't want to be fiddling around trying to switch cables. Obviously, I would have the volume off on the bass not in use.

Thanks in advance.

Yes, they will work together, BUT the active input will not have the lower gain (or at least not by the same amount) because of the way the internal switching works. The other issue may be loading. While there is some isolation, it's not very high.

This is a case of try it and see if it does what you need it to.

 

[Kukulkan61]

Polar White, although I ordered Bronco and just went with the Polar White after receiving it. Didn't want to wait send it back as I had waited long enough for it to show up, and frankly, I like the Polar White.

Looks nice mine is Bronco, just gotta Subway 15 to pair it up with if ever needed!!

 

[SJLee]

Yes, the Bronco beautiful. It would have been my first choice.

How do you like the subway 15?

 

[Kukulkan61]

Yes, the Bronco beautiful. It would have been my first choice.

How do you like the subway 15?

I havnt had a chance to try it, had rotator cuff surgery 4 weeks ago and im still slinged up, from what I hear its a good combination with the Scout or alone with the Head...

 

[SJLee]

Hope you heal up soon, so you can enjoy that cab.

 

[woodyng2]

Former walkabout/scout 1-12" owner here with a question for you current owners.
Anyone know if the amp compartment of the combo would allow a fit with a Markbass little mark head? I also have a new VT 500 head that is virtually the same size as the markbass. I remember really loving the sound of the Scout cab,but wan't really a big fan of the Walkabout head.....i sold my Mesa combo,and have been using a Markbass cmd121p combo since then,but i miss the big bam boom of the Scout.

 

[gillento]

MarkBass LM3:

• WIDTH: 10.87 in. / 27.6 cm
• DEPTH: 9.84 in. / 2.5 cm
• HEIGHT: 3.27 in. / 8.3 cm

Mesa WA:
W: 12 1/8"
D: 13 2/3"
H: 3 1/2"

 

[woodyng2]

MarkBass LM3:

• WIDTH: 10.87 in. / 27.6 cm
• DEPTH: 9.84 in. / 2.5 cm
• HEIGHT: 3.27 in. / 8.3 cm

Mesa WA:
W: 12 1/8"
D: 13 2/3"
H: 3 1/2"

You're a prince,Sir! Thanks!

 

[MuthaFunk]

The Mesa WA and the Eden WT550/400/330 are all the exact same dimensions as well. I mounted my WT400+ in my combo for a while when my Blackface Mesa was out getting a new faceplate. Even the new ones letters are stating to flake off again. I don't know why.

 

[Red Planet]

View attachment 809420 View attachment 809404 Fixed... just toggle the on/off switch on my upright, and run it through a 10-band EQ.

Looks like all your basses are piezo? I don't think you would have any loading problems then. BTW like the Goody's, never leave home without em.

 

[Red Planet]

The Mesa WA and the Eden WT550/400/330 are all the exact same dimensions as well. I mounted my WT400+ in my combo for a while when my Blackface Mesa was out getting a new faceplate. Even the new ones letters are stating to flake off again. I don't know why.

That is unfortunate your letters come off. You might try a Laser Etching company next go round. They can permanently put those marks burned into the face-plate in an color you can imagine. I wonder why Mesa hasn't yet moved to Laser Etching in it's production, though it is about 20-30 grand.

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

Looks like all your basses are piezo? I don't think you would have any loading problems then. BTW like the Goody's, never leave home without em.

Oh yeah man, I haven't played a gig without a pack of Dentyne & Goody's in 25 years. Wasn't about to jinx that yesterday.

Those three are piezo-equipped... technically the upright has a mic and piezo, with an onboard blender preamp. I ran it through a 10-band EQ to trim out a couple wonky frequencies, (plus gave me a separate gain control) and ran it into the active input, keeping the onboard preamp toggled off until needed. Ran the Turner into the passive input, as usual. It worked just fine but was way more than I wanted to do just for a couple tunes.

The issue for me has always been, the the Walkabout's EQ settings are radically different for upright bass vs. bass guitar. I mean... duh, but it's not a big deal until you have to use both, and don't necessarily have time to twiddle the parametric equalizer in between songs.

Bottom line - this solution, while not ideal, beats the hooey outta' carrying two rigs to one gig.

Thanks fellas!

 

[Red Planet]

It is my fave amp of all time.. The only thing i don't like is that the DI out is POST Everything.. But it sounds incredible

First time I used the WA I had a ground loop I couldn't get rid of. I have seemed to have my share of that crap lately. Had to swap to the DI on my pedal board. Thinking of installing a transformer in the DI section, had the same problem at a different venue with my GK1001RB.

 

[Red Planet]

Oh yeah man, I haven't played a gig without a pack of Dentyne & Goody's in 25 years. Wasn't about to jinx that yesterday.

Those three are piezo-equipped... technically the upright has a mic and piezo, with an onboard blender preamp. I ran it through a 10-band EQ to trim out a couple wonky frequencies, (plus gave me a separate gain control) and ran it into the active input, keeping the onboard preamp toggled off until needed. Ran the Turner into the passive input, as usual. It worked just fine but was way more than I wanted to do just for a couple tunes.

The issue for me has always been, the the Walkabout's EQ settings are radically different for upright bass vs. bass guitar. I mean... duh, but it's not a big deal until you have to use both, and don't necessarily have time to twiddle the parametric equalizer in between songs.

Bottom line - this solution, while not ideal, beats the hooey outta' carrying two rigs to one gig.

Thanks fellas!

Yeah life would be a lot easier if you could find a solution. I used a Realist on my Carved Top Upright (when I still had it) and only had a minimal EQ tweak from EB to UR though I rarely would use both. I would have to cut a little low mid and low low plus I used the FDECK series 1 (cant beat that little dude). I mostly played Piaz on Jazzy, Blusy, Boojie Woojie type gigs so your application may require the complexity.

Just asked my wife to pick me up some Goody's PM, had spinal surgery last week and for some reason I cant go to sleep. Its about to drive me batty, hope the PM's help tonight.

 

[NOLA Bass]

I think yours and mine may have been separated at birth.

View attachment 799199

Love the white.

 

[jnewmark]

I will be getting a Walkabout head soon. Sorry if this has been asked before but how does the Mid control interact with the para EQ ?

 

[lomo]

I will be getting a Walkabout head soon. Sorry if this has been asked before but how does the Mid control interact with the para EQ ?

So YOU got that sweet one for 400 + shipping before me Good for you, I tried to snag it as a 2nd Walkabout. Did you grab a cab as well? The WA passive mid control is a bit of complex magic and has been addressed somewhere before in this interminable thread. Basically, the mids start out with a baked in boost and the non-parametric mid control is close to flat at 10:00. I'm pretty sure it is independent of the para eq. Enjoy.....and if the WA turns out not to be our thing, pm me for quick sale.

 

[jnewmark]

So YOU got that sweet one for 400 + shipping before me Good for you, I tried to snag it as a 2nd Walkabout. Did you grab a cab as well? The WA passive mid control is a bit of complex magic and has been addressed somewhere before in this interminable thread. Basically, the mids start out with a baked in boost and the non-parametric mid control is close to flat at 10:00. I'm pretty sure it is independent of the para eq. Enjoy.....and if the WA turns out not to be our thing, pm me for quick sale.

Thanks, Lomo. Always wanted to try this head, and when this one popped up at that great price, well, it was a no brainer. So, do you guys actually use the mid control in conjunction with the para mids ? I thought I read where the passive control is cutting before 12 o'clock, and then boosting past that, but the center freq is at 600 hz ? I'm sort of a 150 t0 250 hz guy myself, usually give a little nudge in that area. I'm thinking I may just leave that mid control alone, unless that's where all the magic is. I'll be trying it out with a Bassic 15, 4 ohm with the Faital.

 

[lomo]

Thanks, Lomo. Always wanted to try this head, and when this one popped up at that great price, well, it was a no brainer. So, do you guys actually use the mid control in conjunction with the para mids ? I thought I read where the passive control is cutting before 12 o'clock, and then boosting past that, but the center freq is at 600 hz ? I'm sort of a 150 t0 250 hz guy myself, usually give a little nudge in that area. I'm thinking I may just leave that mid control alone, unless that's where all the magic is. I'll be trying it out with a Bassic 15, 4 ohm with the Faital.

I have used a WA with that exact cab-VERY sweet. The box is pretty efficient and with flattish eq can handle most of what the WA delivers so you can get the head sweatin a bit....where it shines most IMO. For me it really depends on the bass, but I usually leave my "regular" mid control at noon and like you, boost a tad somewhere between 150 and 250 with the semi-para. I also cut a bit of the lowest bass (around 50). I love the gain stage and entire front end of this head-best ever IMHO.

 

[mikeswals]

I had a red face one years ago, and used it with a 4ohm 215 Boogie cab and it was great. But I just picked up an old red face to use in all these casinos I now play that my Strategy 8:88 is clearly overkill. The only worry I had was it's supposed to be 165w @ 8ohm since I'm only using one PH212, and the Walkabout worked perfect and I only have both the gain and master set at 9 o'clock. Obviously still room for plenty of volume in it.