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Mesa Boogie Walkabout Mega-thread Pt. Tres

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#621
naturalkinds said:
Just chiming in that I am still loving the Walkabout. After seeing how well it translates in a recorded mix, it makes me realize that there is definitely something left to be desired by the Scout cabinet itself.

The cab definitely does a lot of stuff well. It sounds thick, and the treble extension with adjustable crossover is really nice for finding a grindy rock tone. But I do miss that girthy, thick, tubeyness that comes across really, really well through the DI.

It just, I think doesn't make any sense to ditch the cab when it's so convenient to haul around. The weight isn't terrible, and, for a small box, it's pretty sweet. Plus, as I said, I find the grind out of this cab great.

Anyway, first rehearsal with it tomorrow night, so I'm looking forward to seeing how it carries over. It's a hip hop thing.
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I replaced the stock speakers with Emminece 3012 HO and it sounds a LOT better to me and is able to handle every single watt dumped into it
 
#623
naturalkinds said:
Thanks, friends. I'll get the chance to try it out in a rehearsal again this week, so we'll see how this goes.

I've been playing with the DI. Nice! Unlike with virtually every other amp I've tried, this DI really translates the character of the unit well. In my estimation, it outdoes the REDDI for tubeyness by far. (But, again, perhaps this isn't surprising given the all-purpose utility of that high-end DI.) You want a really tubey DI? Get one of these. About the same price, and you get an amp for free!

:p

How does the DI level work? Is it an attenuator? I can't really hear the signal-to-noise ratio on these crappy studio monitors, so I'm not sure if good gain-staging should be diming the DI, and setting the level by adjusting the master when the speaker is unplugged for recording. I see the function of the DI level for live performances, but, for recording, should it always be dimed?
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Have you used the REDDI a lot? I have GASed for one for quite some time (currently I have an Aguilar DB900), but if what you are saying is true, then I'll save my coin and just use my Walkabout. In all honesty, I've used my Walkabout's DI in the studio before and loved it, I just haven't had the pleasure of trying a REDDI yet and hopefully what you say will cure my GAS for one.
 
#624
stingray56funk said:
Have you used the REDDI a lot? I have GASed for one for quite some time (currently I have an Aguilar DB900), but if what you are saying is true, then I'll save my coin and just use my Walkabout. In all honesty, I've used my Walkabout's DI in the studio before and loved it, I just haven't had the pleasure of trying a REDDI yet and hopefully what you say will cure my GAS for one.
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I owned a REDDI for a couple of weeks -- basically picked one up as a gift for an engineer who did some good work for me -- and I can tell you that it's a pretty different beast from the Walkabout. The REDDI is much, much cleaner. With the gain on the DI dimed, you don't get near the tubey feel of the Walkabout with it's gain at even 10 or 11 o'clock. The Walkabout is much grittier, and, in my opinion, sounds better for copping an old-school feel on bass better. The REDDI is more in the line of a Manley tube pre or DI; some minor colouration, but ultimately nothing crazy, since it's supposed to be a multi-purpose studio tool.

(I own a DB900, too, but never A/B'd them.)

The REDDI is definitely more versatile, in my opinion, for studio stuff. My Rhodes, Wurlitzer and synths sound killer through the REDDI, but a little off on the Walkabout. Again, if you have a DB900, you know how subtle the effect of the tube there is, and the REDDI, while a little more drastic, is WAY closer to the DB than the Walkabout.
 
#625
naturalkinds said:
I owned a REDDI for a couple of weeks -- basically picked one up as a gift for an engineer who did some good work for me -- and I can tell you that it's a pretty different beast from the Walkabout. The REDDI is much, much cleaner. With the gain on the DI dimed, you don't get near the tubey feel of the Walkabout with it's gain at even 10 or 11 o'clock. The Walkabout is much grittier, and, in my opinion, sounds better for copping an old-school feel on bass better. The REDDI is more in the line of a Manley tube pre or DI; some minor colouration, but ultimately nothing crazy, since it's supposed to be a multi-purpose studio tool.

(I own a DB900, too, but never A/B'd them.)

The REDDI is definitely more versatile, in my opinion, for studio stuff. My Rhodes, Wurlitzer and synths sound killer through the REDDI, but a little off on the Walkabout. Again, if you have a DB900, you know how subtle the effect of the tube there is, and the REDDI, while a little more drastic, is WAY closer to the DB than the Walkabout.
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Cool! Thanks for the details. I have used my DB900 for synth parts, acoustic guitar, and of course my bass. Sounds like I'll be just fine sticking with my DB900 and my Walkabout for two different DI flavors! You have really helped me out here!
 
#626
No problem. If you wanted the best of both worlds, I'd recommend ditching the DB900 and putting the cash toward a REDDI, for, among other things, the extra versatility you get in the gain knob. But that is a bigger chunk of coin, only really justifiable, IMO, if you have the cash to burn or you do a lot of recording.

For the record, I really like the DB900 for synths, too, though the REDDI just takes the cake for these multi-purpose studio colouring tasks. Unfortunately, it's a LOT more expensive and a LOT more cumbersome to have on your studio desk.

: )
 
#627
naturalkinds said:
No problem. If you wanted the best of both worlds, I'd recommend ditching the DB900 and putting the cash toward a REDDI, for, among other things, the extra versatility you get in the gain knob. But that is a bigger chunk of coin, only really justifiable, IMO, if you have the cash to burn or you do a lot of recording.

For the record, I really like the DB900 for synths, too, though the REDDI just takes the cake for these multi-purpose studio colouring tasks. Unfortunately, it's a LOT more expensive and a LOT more cumbersome to have on your studio desk.

: )
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No no no...don't give me ideas. :D

I really dig the DB900 live and I have a nice old RCA 12ax7 in there now that gives it a little more flavor. I'd love to have a REDDI, and I do quite a bit of studio work, but I don't know if I can justify the coin. Maybe with some upcoming gigs...I can save some $$$ and keep the DB900 for live, use the REDDI in the studio, and use my Walkabout to decimate everywhere with TONE!
 
#628
sneha1965 said:
My Walkabout arrived two days ago. I would have posted sooner but have been playing the hell out of it. I will try and get some picks up this evening. Bronco Cream with black corners grill and amp face.

Still haven't told the wife yet. :hiding:
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looking forward to pics, sounds nice. what's the upcharge for colored tolex? and would it have been more for colored grill?
 
#631
BillyB_from_LZ said:
My bride (of nearly 28 years) can generally sense when a new cabinet enters the house and she does a "case count" from time to time.
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My wife of 20 yrs calls this, "The Beautiful One"......it lives in my living room with no complaints :-)
 

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#635
There should be a thread about how to break the news to your significant other of a newly acquired bass or amp after you've already purchased it. Maybe there already is?
 
#636
sneha1965 said:
There should be a thread about how to break the news of a newly acquired bass or amp after you've already purchased it. Maybe there already is?
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I find that the best bet is just to say nothing, and in case she ever actually notices and asks about it, just say, "Oh that? I've had that for a while, now." :ninja: :D :cool:
 
#640
stingray56funk said:
Tom...that might work for you because you could hide a live elephant behind all of your gear! :D
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Yes, I had to duck and cover a lot while amassing the ridiculous collection of gear, but you are right, once you get so much crap, then it really isn't very obvious when you add more to the collection. :D
 
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