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Mesa Boogie Walkabout Mega-thread Pt. Tres
- Thread starter Chef
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Man, I just got my Walkabout 12 Combo in the night before the gig and played it the next night. I know a lot of people have posted similar things, but the sound dude was super impressed (I ran it DI as well as with a 57 to mic). I mean, maybe this is something that'll pass, but I sold my /13 and ended up with something much smaller, though I feel so much happier that I can take this thing in and fellows playing giant SVT rigs are impressed with it. Although, when I purchase a new amp, I feel the need to retube. What are some good choices for preamp tubes for this bad boy? I know there're a million different choices, and I don't mind to pay, I just don't have any experience with different tubes.
many folks have used the Tung Sol long plates. There are quite a few re-tube posts in the first Walkabout Megathread. Someone will be along to point you to the specific postings for that.
Good luck and enjoy that great Walkabout.
I think we were making reference to the replacement 12ax7 thread 6 posts prior to yours. In addition, like pfschim mentioned, there's a ton of information in the megathreads and on Tom Bowlus' blog.
Ah! Thanks! First thing I did was read the manual! I just missed it.
Regarding the Tung-Sol's, IMO they do clean up the Walkabout a bit. It's not a radical change, and probably more in my head, but I noticed a difference in my quiet room. When used in both slots, I think it made the mids a tad less ragged, tightened the bottom (probably the most noticable change) and softened the highs a little. In a band setting with gain up, I think it overdrives a little creamier than the stock Russian tubes. Keep in mind this is all within the realm of it still sounding like a Walkabout. YMMV.
Gig last night:
AC LG5>Walkabout>UL410....
My Walkaobut is a currnet issue blackface with long plate sovteks...big, fat, rich. Sound guy at the club knew what the UL410 was, but hadn't seen either an AC nor the Walkabout, and quizzed me on both after the show and noted it was "the fattest most articulate tone" he'd heard in months, and wanted to know how that conglomeration of things came together.
I'd recently switched to Jimmy's Turkish Stainless strings, and I like them so far.
AC LG5>Walkabout>UL410....
My Walkaobut is a currnet issue blackface with long plate sovteks...big, fat, rich. Sound guy at the club knew what the UL410 was, but hadn't seen either an AC nor the Walkabout, and quizzed me on both after the show and noted it was "the fattest most articulate tone" he'd heard in months, and wanted to know how that conglomeration of things came together.
I'd recently switched to Jimmy's Turkish Stainless strings, and I like them so far.
Why must you make such GAS inducing posts?
I'm looking to get into a UL410 and use both the WA and M6 with it.
I *highly* recommend it.
The M6 drives that cab like a mo-fo. I totally dig that.
The only problem I occasionally have with that is "too dang big down low."
This seems to be "room driven," and not a result of an otherwise killer pairing.
I've only had it happen once or twice in 18 months or so; but it's really a drag when it does.
No way to selectively trim 30-50hz with the M6 like there is with the WA...and all my basses with on board eq are "boost only:" Sadowsky, Alleva, Valenti (with sadowsky guts).
which has me thinking M9, of course...
The M6 drives that cab like a mo-fo. I totally dig that.
The only problem I occasionally have with that is "too dang big down low."
This seems to be "room driven," and not a result of an otherwise killer pairing.
I've only had it happen once or twice in 18 months or so; but it's really a drag when it does.
No way to selectively trim 30-50hz with the M6 like there is with the WA...and all my basses with on board eq are "boost only:" Sadowsky, Alleva, Valenti (with sadowsky guts).
which has me thinking M9, of course...
(Whispered darkly by a devilish figure hovering next to your left ear) Dooooooo iiiiiiiit
The M9 eq is very potent. I love boosting the low mids and feeling the sternal punch.
Found some limited info here. Plan on calling them back - never received a response from my first call to Mesa.
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showpost.php?p=8590547&postcount=637
Ok, so it turns out the problem with mine wasn't the pre-amp tubes. I've changed those out, as well as patch the effects send and return. It powers up fine, but when I play I get no signal. I've also tried different cords, plugging into both passive and active inputs, and trying both outputs on the back. It's a red face model. Does anyone have any advice?
Hey Guys,
Wanted to let you know I'm going to try the Silex Fan mod for the heck of it. I just got the fan today.
It's weird, on the front it says 28CFM but on the back on the specifications, it says 32CFM. Regardless, I'm going to give it a whirl.
Vic may be getting a PM on some help if I can't get it running properly.
Wanted to let you know I'm going to try the Silex Fan mod for the heck of it. I just got the fan today.
It's weird, on the front it says 28CFM but on the back on the specifications, it says 32CFM. Regardless, I'm going to give it a whirl.
Vic may be getting a PM on some help if I can't get it running properly.
Just stopping in to say I'm LOVING all the sounds I'm getting out of this thing (12" Combo). It rocks.
Poon: do you run at 2 ohms at all?
IIRC, the fan is two wires; the swap ought to be really straight forward.
IIRC, the fan is two wires; the swap ought to be really straight forward.
Hey Alan,
Yeah, I do run at 2-Ohms. Should I not do the mod, then? As far as I can tell it doesn't really get hot right now. If nothing else, I may mod this to be an external fan providing even more circulation.
I'd be concerned if there was much, or any, downgrade in cfm if you run 2 ohms much, or push it hard while doing so.
Mine gets warm when I'm pushing two cabs hard out in club-land, but not so much I'm concerned about it...but I sure wouldn't want less air being thrown at things.
I typically run my input as hot as it will go with the preamp tubes still holding together (~ one oclock), and master at ~50%....in other words, "whippin' her for all she's got, really."
But, the fan has never, ever bothered me. At clubs, I can't hear it over backround conversation (or horrifically loud music being played on breaks, or the band) and at home, I don't hear it once I start playing along with cd's...same thing at rehearsal. I hear it spin up, and then forget about it.
YMMV, your concerns might not mirror mine, etc.
Mine gets warm when I'm pushing two cabs hard out in club-land, but not so much I'm concerned about it...but I sure wouldn't want less air being thrown at things.
I typically run my input as hot as it will go with the preamp tubes still holding together (~ one oclock), and master at ~50%....in other words, "whippin' her for all she's got, really."
But, the fan has never, ever bothered me. At clubs, I can't hear it over backround conversation (or horrifically loud music being played on breaks, or the band) and at home, I don't hear it once I start playing along with cd's...same thing at rehearsal. I hear it spin up, and then forget about it.
YMMV, your concerns might not mirror mine, etc.
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