Twelve. This is only the third combo I have ever owned. My first was a B15N, my second a B100R. This is the best so far IMO. I even like the smell of it better.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Mesa Boogie Walkabout Mega-thread part Four!
- Thread starter Chef
- Start date
- Status
Twelve. This is only the third combo I have ever owned. My first was a B15N, my second a B100R. This is the best so far IMO. I even like the smell of it better.
Not trying to be trite, but there's not much debate here; the physics is clear and an A/B comparison proves it easily. That's why I groan when I hear about Mesa sales staff propagating popular misconceptions.
Yes...I understand the physics. Thanks!
I understand that. If I just ignore the second half of the master, it's not a big deal. But I'd rather run two cabs at the same ohms if they are essentially the same box and driver. I don't like driving one more than the other. So for me it would have to be a 4 ohm extension cab, if I wanted a matching cab, or buy a new 8 ohm 12 to put in my existing box. If I were to do that, could I use more of the master since each 12 would get a little less power? (Probably wouldn't need it though) I would think yes, but no dealers in my area to try it out.
I use a 4 ohm with a 4 ohm ext. It sounds MUCH bigger. I usually run the master around 10 o'clock, gain at noon. There is a little extra left in the tank, but I try not to push it.
It's not a matter of using more of the master. With 2 8 Ohm cabs you will have enough power to virtually max out both drivers. You might get a tad more volume if they were both 4 Ohm since each 12 MAY be able to use a bit more than 150 watts, but the difference will be negligible and you will be working your head very hard and run a much higher risk of thermal shutdown. This certainly would not be my 1st choice, or that of the engineers who designed the head.
BTW the stack of 4 and 8 Ohm 12" Scouts will be fine with the WA-I have a 4 Ohm that I bought in a pinch because it was in stock and use it with an 8 I ordered. I keep the 4 on top so I'll hear it if it whines under strain, although it never does because I usually cut some bass and barely boost low mids a tad. You might try that before replacing you r 4 Ohm driver. Just another idea.
Twelve. This is only the third combo I have ever owned. My first was a B15N, my second a B100R. This is the best so far IMO. I even like the smell of it better.
That's funny: I had a B15N for years, then gigged regularly with a B100R, and both times I thought I had a pretty damn good amp. Then I got my WAS-15 and it's the end of the road. No more looking for amps.
I had a B15N for years, then gigged regularly with a B100R, and both times I thought I had a pretty damn good amp. Then I got my WAS-15 and it's the end of the road. No more looking for amps.
Same for me. Started with a B18 in the 60s, then an Ampeg 410 combo and various Peavey & Ampeg combos. Most recently a pair of B100Rs, stacked. Now the Walkabout scout replaces all that and sounds like what I was after all along.
I've got two Scout 12 cabs, and have put new 8ohm speakers from Mesa in them. Meanwhile, my Walkabout has been at Mesa for a repair (I stupidly plugged a tube preamp pedal into the passive input to test it for a friend, and messed up the amp). The repaired Walkabout arrives tomorrow, so that's when I'll finally get to hear it for the first time through this pair of 8ohm Scout 12s. Got my fingers crossed...
...got two Walkabout heads now, and one 4-ohm cab! A blackface and a redface. My plan is to pick up an SWR Golight 2x10 for the redface, and a pair of Ampeg 210AV's for the blackface. I figure both setups will push more air than my Scout 12", and even though I suspect I'll lose some of that glorious tone, I generally record via DI anyway, so I don't think it'll bother me too much.
What say the TB? Thoughts on my proposed rigs?
What say the TB? Thoughts on my proposed rigs?
FYI I will NOT part with both, and as of now I've accepted a swap offer on the blackface. I haven't heard back yet with a confirmation though. I'll update the FS thread when I do.
Just to be clear, I wasn't slamming my Ampeg combos at all. Both gave good tone and were reliable, I just like the Mesa better.
I haven't tried a Golight 2x10 but to my ears, my redface plus an AccuGroove Tri210L is tone heaven!
Boy, I think Im missing something here. Maybe you Walkabout-experienced guys can set me straight.
I bought a used Walkabout Scout 12. I love the sound of it. Im playing in a band of boomers covering old R&R -- a screaming geezers kind of thing. Their sound mixes best with a very bassy bass. The heavy bass from the WA12 is perfect. I just want it louder (for the screaming part).
So I bought another used Scout cab. I hooked up the two four ohm cabs and didnt like the sound. Seemed to lose the bassiness without gaining volume. I figured this must be the result of running the amp with a 2ohm load. So I bought 8ohm replacement speakers. The diff in sound between 8ohm and 4ohm isnt much: I still love the sound of the single Scout combo, but add the second speaker and it sounds thin.
Everybody posts about loving the two-cab volume and sound, but Im missing it. What gives?
Maybe I need to buy a second used WA head and run two combos in tandem to get what Im after?
Maybe using a WAScout15? Im really puzzled.
I bought a used Walkabout Scout 12. I love the sound of it. Im playing in a band of boomers covering old R&R -- a screaming geezers kind of thing. Their sound mixes best with a very bassy bass. The heavy bass from the WA12 is perfect. I just want it louder (for the screaming part).
So I bought another used Scout cab. I hooked up the two four ohm cabs and didnt like the sound. Seemed to lose the bassiness without gaining volume. I figured this must be the result of running the amp with a 2ohm load. So I bought 8ohm replacement speakers. The diff in sound between 8ohm and 4ohm isnt much: I still love the sound of the single Scout combo, but add the second speaker and it sounds thin.
Everybody posts about loving the two-cab volume and sound, but Im missing it. What gives?
Maybe I need to buy a second used WA head and run two combos in tandem to get what Im after?
Maybe using a WAScout15? Im really puzzled.
Possible cabs out of phase. Remove the grilles and watch the drivers closely to make sure they move in and out together. If one moves out while the other sucks in, they're out of phase and cancelling eachother-this can be remedied by swapping wires.
When replacing my 4ohm speakers with the 8s, I was very careful in hooking them up so the leads went to the same red/black terminals on the speakers. So probably being out of phase isn't my problem. Still, is there a way to test that and know for sure?
lomo, you're quick. you posted the phase note before I got mine posted!
I'll take the grills off and take a look...
I'll take the grills off and take a look...
And by the way: either of these cabs by itself sounds equally great. So it's not a problem speaker.
Okay, I took off the grilles and couldn't see the diff between the two speaker's motions. So I pulled the speaker from the extension cab and swapped its leads, despite the "black isn't going to the black terminal".
Now we're talking! This sounds great!
I probably didn't need to buy these 8ohm speakers, but I'm happier having them and knowing I've got the amp working at 4 ohms, not 2.
Thanks, lomo.
Now we're talking! This sounds great!
I probably didn't need to buy these 8ohm speakers, but I'm happier having them and knowing I've got the amp working at 4 ohms, not 2.
Thanks, lomo.
- Status
