Mesa Boogie Walkabout Mega-thread Pt. Tres

[lomo]

I have both and the Titan does do the WB tone.
The BB750 also sounds like the WB too.

I knew the 750 did it for me 'cause I tried it, but it wasn't significantly louder than my WA, so I ended up with an M9 for when I want to be too loud......I love it but am frankly afraid of A/Bing it with a Titan since my amp GAS is dead and that feels good and I don't want to get reinfected.

 

[KJung]

I knew the 750 did it for me 'cause I tried it, but it wasn't significantly louder than my WA, so I ended up with an M9 for when I want to be too loud......I love it but am frankly afraid of A/Bing it with a Titan since my amp GAS is dead and that feels good and I don't want to get reinfected.

The 750 only puts out its full wattage rating at 2 ohms. I hate when companies name amps for their 2ohm wattage, since most will run them at 8 or 4. The Walkabout will actually spank the 750 at 8ohms, and will be about the same volume at 4ohms. The Titan is basically two 750's in the same box. If you dug the tone of the 750 (mid snarly and growly), and just wanted it louder into 8 or 4ohms, the Titan is for you!

I don't hear a lot of similarity between the 750 and the Walkabout though.... the BB750 is much tighter and much more aggressive to me. I loved my Walkabout. I bought a BB750 when they first came out, and took it back that same day for a refund.

 

[lomo]

The 750 only puts out its full wattage rating at 2 ohms. I hate when companies name amps for their 2ohm wattage, since most will run them at 8 or 4. The Walkabout will actually spank the 750 at 8ohms, and will be about the same volume at 4ohms. The Titan is basically two 750's in the same box. If you dug the tone of the 750 (mid snarly and growly), and just wanted it louder into 8 or 4ohms, the Titan is for you!

I don't hear a lot of similarity between the 750 and the Walkabout though.... the BB750 is much tighter and much more aggressive to me. I loved my Walkabout. I bought a BB750 when they first came out, and took it back that same day for a refund.

FWIW I only dug the clean channel on the 750, and was able to get my cleanish WA tone from it. I believe the Titan weighs more than the M9 (40ish vs 30is lbs)-zat right?

 

[KJung]

FWIW I only dug the clean channel on the 750, and was able to get my cleanish WA tone from it. I believe the Titan weighs more than the M9 (40ish vs 30is lbs)-zat right?

Interesting... that head just sounded so different to me (I owned that and the Walkabout at the same time), even without the 'distortion' knob cranked. I could never get it 'fat and clean'... it was always mega mid punchy and crunchy. Who knows... I had one of the first ones, and Mesa is always messing with the specs of these things. I was totally underwhelmed with the 4ohm performance of the BB750, although when you cranked it up, it did snarl really nicely if that's what you are into.

I have never picked up a Titan, but understand it is quite lightweight. That's just based on TB posts by those who own it. I can't remember exact weight though.

 

[DAcat]

I have both and the Titan does do the WB tone.
The BB750 also sounds like the WB too.

I am very happy to hear that!! Now if Mesa will just hurry up and get that Titan V12 here......Peace ...DAcat

 

[lomo]

Just an FYI that I'd like to go back to a separate headcase and Walkabout 12 cab, so my Mesa CS blue'n'black 8 Ohm WA12 combo cab (without the head) is available FS or to trade for a separate 12 cab and headcase. If interested check my ad in the TB classifieds. Apology for the shameless pitch/ derail.

 

[MikeWfromNJ]

Walkabout on wheels?

Somebody posted a Walkabout (or Scout) cabinet with a permanent base with 4 casters beneath.

Does this, in anyway, degrade the sound? I have a 15" that I was considering doing this too but wanted to check for thoughts. At present, I have a WA head sitting on top of a 15" Scout radiator in my home studio (has low pile burber carpet beneath). Would a 3/4" flatform on wheels be better or worse?

Thanks.

 

[pfschim]

Walkabout on wheels?

Somebody posted a Walkabout (or Scout) cabinet with a permanent base with 4 casters beneath.

Does this, in anyway, degrade the sound? I have a 15" that I was considering doing this too but wanted to check for thoughts. At present, I have a WA head sitting on top of a 15" Scout radiator in my home studio (has low pile burber carpet beneath). Would a 3/4" flatform on wheels be better or worse?

Thanks.

I think as long as you space it like Mesa does with the very modest rubber/plastic feet, so the PR has just a bit of "breathing" room, you would be fine. I'm not sure that the downfiring passive radiator would work as designed if it was positioned flat against a solid surface.

 

[lpdeluxe]

I bought my Walkabout Scout 1x15 in February, and immediately loved it.

Tonight a long-term playing partner (Christmas after next will be 30 years) visited from the East Coast, where his job moved him.

He's the guy I picked up bass from, and one of those people who always have really killer gear: not necessarily the biggest or most expensive, but stuff with THE SOUND. Our roles have rotated over the years -- originally he played bass and I played lead, but these days, when we can get together, I play bass and he plays lead.

Anyway, I took my AV '57 P and my trusty Walkabout, along with a Fender Deluxe Reverb reissue for him to plug his '69 Gibson ES-340 (I told you he had neat stuff) into. We had a rhythm player/singer and a drummer/singer, and a great time was had by all.

Eventually the realities of a morning flight out of Houston demanded that we stop. We said our goodbyes, and we drove off, him to where he is staying and me back to my crib.

About half an hour after I got home, the phone rang. It was my pal, and he said, "I forgot to tell you: that's the best-sounding bass rig I've ever heard!"

Thank you, Randall Smith.

 

[peterwsmith]

So I have a bit of a problem with my WA head, and was hoping somebody could help me. At a gig saturday night, I was a all set up, everything worked fine at soundcheck, and I was throroughly pumped to play my first gig with my new (to me) Walkabout. Anyway, we take the stage after the first two bands, and I play a note to check my levels, and notice I was severly lacking in volume as compared to earlier. I keep playing, and my volume keeps dropping until it went out completely. Now I get no sound whatsoever.

I'm guessing this is a shot tube, correct? My question is, how do I determine which tube it is?

Thanks!

 

[Chef]

Get you two replacement 12ax7 tubes.
Open the walkabout.
replace one tube.
test it.
if it's still not behaving, swap things back, and try the other one.

don't forget that the fx send and return jacks and oxidize and jacks things up similarly.
it's good to patch across those as a first step.

 

[peterwsmith]

Get you two replacement 12ax7 tubes.
Open the walkabout.
replace one tube.
test it.
if it's still not behaving, swap things back, and try the other one.

don't forget that the fx send and return jacks and oxidize and jacks things up similarly.
it's good to patch across those as a first step.

That was quick. Thanks Chef!

I tried the patch the fx send and return already, and that wasn't the problem, so it looks like it's new tubes for me! I'll be grabbing some extras as well, so this sort of thing can be avoided in the future!

 

[Chef]

preamp tubes will generally outlast you, so, if that's the problem, the fix should last a looooong time.

 

[Poon]

Last Monday I got done with a gig and the sound guy asked me "What kind of amp is that?" I said it's a Mesa Walkabout Scout. He said, I've never heard so much volume and low end from cabs that small. I was worried it sounded too boomy, because it was pretty bassy sounding on this stage, but he assured me that it sounded incredible out in the audience. So, anyone worried about if the walkabout is 2-ohm stable and can handle competing against two guitarist and a loud drummer, worry not...

The tone delivers in spades.

I'll have to snap some photos.

On a side note: I may try and do more tube swapping to see if I can get some cool tube combos to split the difference.

 

[Chef]

recent posts in the walkabout tube rolling thread said the tong sol reissues were good for tighter, cleaner, shinier, IIRC.
you might try searching that thread...

 

[Poon]

recent posts in the walkabout tube rolling thread said the tong sol reissues were good for tighter, cleaner, shinier, IIRC.
you might try searching that thread...

Are you talking about the comments, I made about the Tung-Sol in that thread? If so, this is definitely true. Here's a link to some of our findings.

 

[Chef]

Well, I thought that was you, but I wasn't sure...
So, I reckon you've tried those then

 

[D.A.R.K.]

back on the walkabout head, goodbye m6.
the walkabout just does it for me...
gotta be the most unique amp i've ever had.
this, 6x 12's at 2 ohms, volume at about 9 am and i'm happy.
got the 2nd generation this time (silver with black screening)
and it runs cooler than the last...
will probably mod the fan to something quieter this time,
for recording sessions.
tung sols here too....

 

[Poon]

will probably mod the fan to something quieter this time,
for recording sessions.
tung sols here too....

Do you like the tone of the Tung-Sol's? You didn't feel like it changed the character of the walkabout too much?

And which fan are you going to put in?

 

[finalrequiem]

Guys, quick question. As a first time WA Scout owner as of last week, I'm slowly making my way through the first two MegaThreads but it's understandably slow going lol. I have a question and if I get to the answer before you guys answer it, I'll delete the post:

Is the DI still post master volume? I haven't had a chance to test that yet and may not for another few weeks.

Thanks!