Mesa Boogie Walkabout Mega-thread Pt. Tres

[tombowlus]

I was curious about the Mesa quick detach system.

I gigged with a Diesel 410 as my main cab for years and I used the wheels all the time (and took them off each time I set up my stack on stage). They are very heavy duty, and never gave me a spot of trouble.

 

[Chef]

the quick detach casters are top flight, yessir.

he was asking about the detachable dolly though, i think...

 

[tombowlus]

the quick detach casters are top flight, yessir.

he was asking about the detachable dolly though, i think...

Ah, well then, I have no experience with that particular system.

 

[Poon]

I use one of these (below).
I got it at Walmart for $19, and use it with a lot more than the Scout.
It's rated for ~130lbs, and easily carries my UL410 and Mesa M6 rack.

http://www.handtrucks.com/hand-truc...cfm?source=googleaw&kwid=magna cart&tid=Exact

Costco sell them too. So if it ever breaks, you can take it back. I love Costco's return policy.

 

[pfschim]

Anyone have any experience with the detachable wheels/handle?
http://www.mesaboogie.com/Product_Info/Bass_Cabs/ScoutCABS/QkDetachSystem.htm

yep, I have that system on my Walkabout 12 and it's a pretty good system for urban/suburban environments. I have used the Mesa "tone luggage rack" for the past 3 years and never take it off the amp. It is decently sturdy and light, and will roll easily over pavement/sidewalks/carpets etc, but if you often have to haul gear over very rough surfaces (gravel, cobblestones, pavers, grass etc ) the little wheels just don't cut it too well.

The original version also had a tendency to bite into the tolex covering of the amp if you hit too much of a sidewalk crack, but the current version has little fenders on the backs of the wheels to keep this from happening.

It sure makes for an easy one-handed load in/out. Amp luggage handle in one hand, gear bag on top of the amp, bass gigbag over my shoulder, couldn't be easier.

 

[Dan55]

Thanks! Does installing this on the cab prevent use of the cover?

 

[62bass]

I use one of these (below).
I got it at Walmart for $19, and use it with a lot more than the Scout.
It's rated for ~130lbs, and easily carries my UL410 and Mesa M6 rack.

http://www.handtrucks.com/hand-truc...cfm?source=googleaw&kwid=magna cart&tid=Exact

These hand trucks show up all over the place really cheap these days, but $19 is the lowest I've heard of so far. I got one that looks very close to that about 6 years ago but I paid $130 Canadian at Lee Valley Tools for it and Club Bass in Toronto had the identical model for about $110. Lee Valley still carries it for $130. It's a nicely made unit and all high quality materials. Stands up to a lot of abuse and I've even used it to move a huge washing machine out of my basement one time. What's the difference with the low priced ones (which I haven't seen in person yet) ? Different materials and fit and finish?

 

[62bass]

I understand that, and thought I'd throw out an alternative option that would work for more that one item.

While I've not used the Mesa unit, I've heard that it has been problematic for some users in terms of wheel life, and rattles.

In my opinion the folding hand truck is the way to go and it's faster to use and will handle other amps and cabinets. I managed to load mine routinely with a Yorkville 1x15"cabinet, a GK 2000RB head in a rack case, a large leather accessory bag holding cables, tuner, D.I., tools, etc and a gig bag with my Fender P on top and had no trouble rolling it easily over broken pavement and sidewalks 2 or more blocks from parking to clubs. The only problem was when you hit stairs. But it sure saved a lot of wear on my back.

 

[pfschim]

Thanks! Does installing this on the cab prevent use of the cover?

the Mesa specific cover is a bit of a tight fit with the luggage thing attached, but it's doable. Thats what I do, and I have probably stretched out the cover a bit doing that for the past few years. The handle of the rack comes right off with a push of a release tab, and it's no problem to put the cover on over the brackets that are attached to the amp.

I have also seen two different mods to the cover related to the Mesa luggage rack. One guy had had his girlfriend cut and hem oval holes that matched up with the brackets attached to the amp, and then he could just attach the handle over the cover. The other mod I saw was where the cover was cut all the way up on the bracket side, then what looked like a piece of elastic material had been sewn into both sides of the cut so it flexed to make it easier to put the cover on over the amp and the handle.

good luck

 

[pfschim]

While I've not used the Mesa unit, I've heard that it has been problematic for some users in terms of wheel life, and rattles.

I used mine for 2 years without any issues at all. I leave it on the amp all the time and, although I was worried that it would at first, I never heard it rattle at all. And while it comes off very quickly and simply, it's easier to just leave it on IMO/IME.

Wheels seem fine on mine after 2 years worth of dragging around all over the place. Admittedly, the wheels on this unit are not very big, so they will not help much if you have to haul your Walkabout in/out of a lot of gravel lots or muddy grass, but luckily for me, that is not a regular part of my playing life

The Mesa tone luggage (funny name) does not seem very rugged at first, but I have used it to haul my Walkabout 12 with a Scout 15 on top of it (so the rack was handling both - not super comfortable, but good enough), and it stood up to that with ease. IMO/IME, it's a very handy set-up, made even handier because it adds no additional bulk to your load in/out like some of the other bigger racks I have seen folks use on gigs, and I am all about the easy load in/out.

 

[LeonD]

I'm currently using a GB Shuttle 3.0 and Mesa M9 thru either an Epifani 1x12 or 4x10. My initial plan was to use the M9 for gigs and the GB for practice. What's happening is that I'm using the GB for gigs also because it's so easy to transport.

I just sold my M9 and I was going to get a GB 9.0 in an effort to downsize. Before going down that road, I thought I'd try a Walkabout to see if it was my tone. I started reading the first megathread to find out all I could about the Walkabout but I may have an opportunity to pick one up before I can make it thru the 150+ pages so hopefully I can get a few questions answered.

1. I notice there are heads with two input jacks or one input jack. I've also heard about different factory mods that can be done to the head. Is there one style preferred over the other? And, are there any MUST DO mods that would be a deal breaker if they were not done?

2. I know the Walkabout won't have the output of the M9 but is it sufficient to keep up with a loud drummer (using either a 4x10 or 4x10 and 1x12 combined)? How does it compare to a GB Shuttle 3.0?

3. Will the Walkabout play well with either (or both) an Epifani UL 1x12 or 4x10?

Thanks,
LeonD

 

[pfschim]

I'm currently using a GB Shuttle 3.0 and Mesa M9 thru either an Epifani 1x12 or 4x10. My initial plan was to use the M9 for gigs and the GB for practice. What's happening is that I'm using the GB for gigs also because it's so easy to transport.

I just sold my M9 and I was going to get a GB 9.0 in an effort to downsize. Before going down that road, I thought I'd try a Walkabout to see if it was my tone. I started reading the first megathread to find out all I could about the Walkabout but I may have an opportunity to pick one up before I can make it thru the 150+ pages so hopefully I can get a few questions answered.

1. I notice there are heads with two input jacks or one input jack. I've also heard about different factory mods that can be done to the head. Is there one style preferred over the other? And, are there any MUST DO mods that would be a deal breaker if they were not done?

2. I know the Walkabout won't have the output of the M9 but is it sufficient to keep up with a loud drummer (using either a 4x10 or 4x10 and 1x12 combined)? How does it compare to a GB Shuttle 3.0?

3. Will the Walkabout play well with either (or both) an Epifani UL 1x12 or 4x10?

Thanks,
LeonD

the oldest version had two inputs for passive and active basses. The second and third (current) versions had a single input and an active passive switch. First version also did not have a hard bypass for the FX in/out setup, and the 2 latest versions do. The rest is just aesthetics (different color on the faceplates). IMO, If you get the 1st version, you probably want to get the FX bypass switch mod done.

The Walkabout is a very honest 300w amp that will drive big cabs really well. Considering that the classic SVT is 300w (don't want to re-ignite the tube vs ss watts debate here ), 300w should be plenty of power into a sufficient number of drivers with the right ohm rating. Keep in mind that the Walkabout will do 2ohms with ease, and will put out ~500w at 2ohms, so that's a thought too.

I have tried both the Shuttle 3.0 and 6.0. The Walkabout was clearly louder than the 3.0, and even seemed louder than the 6.0 to my ears as well as others who have reasonable ears. Not knocking the GB gear at all, but I think the WA will deliver a very honest 300w into 4ohms.

Can't offer any opinions on the WA through the Epi cabs you mentioned, but I believe there is someone here who has used those with the WA. Generally speaking, I have not heard any one say bad things about the WA through any cab arrangement that I can remember.

good luck.

 

[RickenBoogie]

Yeah, I used to use my Walkabout with an Epi UL 2x12 with great results. In the end, I wound up using a GB Uber 212 instead, and the GB is a little more old schooled voiced, which I like. But the Epi cabs pair well with the WA.

 

[Chef]

I like the Walkabout with the Epi UL410.
It's plenty to keep up with the guys I'm working with.

 

[Freddels]

I'm currently using a GB Shuttle 3.0 and Mesa M9 thru either an Epifani 1x12 or 4x10. My initial plan was to use the M9 for gigs and the GB for practice. What's happening is that I'm using the GB for gigs also because it's so easy to transport.

I just sold my M9 and I was going to get a GB 9.0 in an effort to downsize. Before going down that road, I thought I'd try a Walkabout to see if it was my tone. I started reading the first megathread to find out all I could about the Walkabout but I may have an opportunity to pick one up before I can make it thru the 150+ pages so hopefully I can get a few questions answered.

1. I notice there are heads with two input jacks or one input jack. I've also heard about different factory mods that can be done to the head. Is there one style preferred over the other? And, are there any MUST DO mods that would be a deal breaker if they were not done?

2. I know the Walkabout won't have the output of the M9 but is it sufficient to keep up with a loud drummer (using either a 4x10 or 4x10 and 1x12 combined)? How does it compare to a GB Shuttle 3.0?

3. Will the Walkabout play well with either (or both) an Epifani UL 1x12 or 4x10?

Thanks,
LeonD

I can bring my Walkabout Scout over one of these days for you to try out. I thought I brought it over before but maybe that was another amp.

 

[stingray56funk]

I'm stoked!!! I am back in the Walkabout gang! I saw a great deal local and I jumped on it. I'm gigging my old Ampeg B-15N mostly, but when I need a little more fire power, I will pull the Walkabout out with two Trace Elliot 1153 cabs. I'm so happy!

 

[LeonD]

I can bring my Walkabout Scout over one of these days for you to try out. I thought I brought it over before but maybe that was another amp.

Hey Fred,

Sounds like with all your other amps, you still have the Walkabout.

Thanks for the offer. I might take you up on it.

You are correct, you did bring it over once. But I think you also brought over a couple of other amps and I had just gotten my M9 so I don't remember it very well. I'm curious to hear the amp in either a loud practice or on a gig.

Thanks again for the offer.

 

[lpdeluxe]

I regularly play bass with a rhythm guitarist/singer (I'm going over there this afternoon, in fact) who also sings in a local honky tonk band, which arose from the ashes of a band I had been in. I've been leaving the Mesa/Boogie there, and apparently the last time the h-t-b practiced their bassist plugged into it. This is a guy who reduces every song he learns to three chords with the same walking bass line (when he joined the other band, not long before we broke up, he showed us one of the songs he wanted to sing. "I'm going to leave the hard part out at first," he said. What's the hard part? "Well in the chorus, instead of going C-F-G, it goes to Am." He was unfazed by our laughter. Another time, he said to me, in all seriousness, "You can't play that walking bass, can you?"). In short, he has spent all 50+ of his years playing the same songs in the same VFWs and thinking he was the local Jaco.

So I pulled the cover off the Mesa/Boogie, plugged in, and turned it on. The loudest, harshest, WORST sound I've ever heard came out of the speaker. I turned the gain all the way down and looked at where the controls were set: everything was "dimed:" tone controls, parametric EQ knobs, everything turned all the way clockwise.

I'll bet he didn't like the sound he "dialed in."

It's off limits from now on -- I thought it was before, but some guys just don't understand unless you spell it out to them.

So it's possible to make a Walkabout Scout sound bad. Anyone who wants to know how, I'll send you the guy's phone number.

 

[Chef]

time for my second frank zappa quote for this week:
"dumb all over, a little ugly on the side"

i try to use amp eq only to cut bad spots; though there are exceptions to this...but, everything dimed? ouch....

 

[lpdeluxe]

time for my second frank zappa quote for this week:
"dumb all over, a little ugly on the side"

i try to use amp eq only to cut bad spots; though there are exceptions to this...but, everything dimed? ouch....

Very appropriate quote.

I find myself barely touching any of the EQ controls on the WAS. Amazingly enough, I left them the same for my '51. Of course, I bought the Mesa/B due to the fact that it sounded amazing with everything flat.

Some guys just love to tinker. Ask any computer repair shop....