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Mesa Boogie Walkabout Mega-thread Pt. Tres

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#121
I barely hear the fan in the living room. When I first get to a gig and turn it on, I hear it and think "so that's what everybody's talking about" and then it disappears into the ambient noise.

Love that amp. Love my AV '57 plugged into it. What a sound!:D
 
#122
Tru-dat:
50sPcu.jpg
 
#123
Hey Chef,

Very valid concern and I'm definitely debating on whether or not I'm going to do it. The stock sunon fan is spek'd at 33CFM I don't think there's a huge difference between 32CFM and 33CFM. I think if there's a problem or if I notice it getting hot, I'll switch the fan back.

I think people's gain/volume settings are different or maybe my volume requirements are different. When I run my walkabout at 2 ohms, i don't ever run it beyond 11am on the master and around 10am on the gain. I don't really do much to the EQ either.

The fan has never really bothered me, especially in the live setting. But I do notice it and think that it could be quieter.

Might be kind of cool since this one has an LED built into it as well. I'm a sucker for blue lights.

Chef said:
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.
Click to expand...
 
#124
32 v 33 wouldn't bother me
The diff b/t 28 and 33 is more substantive.

It's curious that the box shows both; the silenx website makes no mention of the 28 number in the specs...

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 
#125
Chef said:
32 v 33 wouldn't bother me
The diff b/t 28 and 33 is more substantive.

It's curious that the box shows both; the silenx website makes no mention of the 28 number in the specs...

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Click to expand...

Could be a typo on their part? If it were intentional, I would assume manufacturers would put the higher number on the front of the box and make it lower in the specs on the back? Definitely curious as to what's the deal. I might call them to find out.

Kind of cheesy looking, but might be nice to be able to see what i'm doing in the back.

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#132
I'm sure this has been asked several times of you guys before, but how well does the WA12 combo handle the low B at high volume?

I am seriously contemplating selling my current rig and getting the new blackface Walkabout combo that a local shop has here. I am seriously amazed at the tone and portability of this thing. I've been playing P bass almost exclusively, and I really like that extra fatness that the WA gives me that my LMII doesn't.
 
#133
"Define high volume"

It holds up well, doing what it does with what it has.
It's a 1-12 300 watt combo, not some freakish miracle machine;)

With the guys I play with, the 1-12 was good for small to medium venues, at "respectful volumes" using a Bose Stick PA, and the WA12 providing bass w/o PA support.

For bigger venues, louder bands, I added a diesel 115 under.

It's a nice, fat 112, but, it's a 112.
 
#134
Chef said:
"Define high volume"

It holds up well, doing what it does with what it has.
It's a 1-12 300 watt combo, not some freakish miracle machine;)

With the guys I play with, the 1-12 was good for small to medium venues, at "respectful volumes" using a Bose Stick PA, and the WA12 providing bass w/o PA support.

For bigger venues, louder bands, I added a diesel 115 under.

It's a nice, fat 112, but, it's a 112.
Click to expand...

I hear you on the 112 thing.

I guess by high volume I mean anything up to a medium (200-300 people room) venue, or smaller outdoor gig. I play in an 8 piece soul/R&B revue on a Fender P5 with flats (still undecided on the strings).

I'm playing most gigs with a LMII and a Bag End S15X, and for bigger gigs, add an S15L. When I play with a single cab, I can really send a lot of juice to the Bag End, and I've never heard it even struggle even with the lows juiced. The single BE does have a subtle roll off of the lowest lows though. With both cabs it can get deafening.

I guess what I want to know is: Can I get by with the combo alone for most gigs (which are medium sized) without the addition of an extra cab and still get that nice fatness on the lows? I'll add an extra cab as soon as I get the means to do so.

I guess I've just heard some complaints about the B on the combo.
 
#136
Chef said:
For me, it was good for smaller stuff...YMMV
Had you given any thought to just buying the head and keeping your bag end stuff?
Click to expand...

It's crossed my mind. I'm afraid of losing some of that tone though. I'll have to find a head somewhere to try it out, or see if I can pull the head from the combo at the store to give it a shot. I think they'd let me do that.
 
#137
The majority of the Walkabout magic is in the head, IMO.
So much so that I don't own the Scout cab anymore.

And again with the YMMV;)

If the store would let you do that (and you don't have to pull the head to try it!) I think that's a great option. I bet the BE stuff would work well.
 
#138
Chef said:
If the store would let you do that (and you don't have to pull the head to try it!) I think that's a great option. I bet the BE stuff would work well.
Click to expand...

I'm a BE junkie for sure, but my only concern is the lack of a tweeter control on the S15X cab, and if the WA head can tame it as well as the LMII's VLE control can. Maybe I should wander over to the BE megathread and see if anyone there is running the Walkabout.
 
#140
Chef said:
The majority of the Walkabout magic is in the head, IMO.
So much so that I don't own the Scout cab anymore.

And again with the YMMV;)
Click to expand...

I don't know Chef, majority maybe, but by no means all of the goodness. I have used my Walkabout with separate cabs with good results, but the combination of the Walkabout amp and the PR equipped WA 1x12 cab is just killer to my ears. So much thick, warm low end from such a small cab. IMO, the only thing better sounding than a WA 12 by itself, is a WA 12 on top of a Scout 12 or 15.

Of course, I completely agree with the rest of what you said in reply to CapnSev's question about high volume support for a 5er. The Walkabout, while an absolutely great amp, is still just a 300w 1x12 (or 1x15), so it does have real limits all by itself.

My experience is that my WA 12 covers 90% of my gig needs. BUT, I typically play in pretty polite volume situations for the most part. When I need more, I expect a PA these days. I have also used a 5er thru my WA 12 on occasion, but mine is strung high C, so I can't comment on how well it handles the low B, or any other down tuning (well, except for a rare detuned D, which it handles fine).

good luck
 
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