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Mesa Boogie Walkabout Mega-thread Pt. Tres

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#141
That's why I said ''majority,'' and not ''all...''

;)

This is not at all to imply that Scout cab isn't good, and it's own thing; cause it is.
It wasn't "shiny" enough for me, personally. But, that doesn't seem to be what he's after either.

I still think the BE stuff would work well.
 
#142
If I had to choose WA head OR combo I'd choose the head. However the 12 and 15 cabs are among the most pleasing I've played. IMO the passive radiator/port makes them sound deeper, wider than other 12s and 15s, but NOT louder than other quality boxes.
 
#143
I gigged for a long time with a little Ampeg B100R. I set it on a stand and aimed it at the drummer's ears, and ran a DI into the board (we had subs in our PA -- maybe I should mention that, around here, promoters expect you to bring your own PA, lights, and instruments, and then want to pay you in expired grocery coupons and wooden nickels). Anyhow, socioeconomic commentary aside, it worked very well.
 
#144
Chef said:
That's why I said ''majority,'' and not ''all...''

;)

This is not at all to imply that Scout cab isn't good, and it's own thing; cause it is.
It wasn't "shiny" enough for me, personally. But, that doesn't seem to be what he's after either.

I still think the BE stuff would work well.
Click to expand...

I didn't make it to the shop today, I'm going to give it a shot tomorrow. I do like some sparkle on the top end sometimes actually, so going with the head only may be a good way to go. The only problem is that I'd need to bring both cabs all the time for a 4 ohm load.
 
#145
CapnSev said:
I didn't make it to the shop today, I'm going to give it a shot tomorrow. I do like some sparkle on the top end sometimes actually, so going with the head only may be a good way to go. The only problem is that I'd need to bring both cabs all the time for a 4 ohm load.
Click to expand...

IMO/IME they have plenty of sparkle up top IF you get a recent one with the player control on the back.
 
#148
Help Please,
My three year old silver face walkabout started cutting in and out last night. It only did it twice. Tonight it is turning off and on continuously. Sometimes less than a second off some times 2 or 3 seconds off at random intervals of less than 20 seconds.
I plugged a short cable into the effects loop with no change.
I spun all the knobs both ways and they are all clean.
Tried another bass and cable. But no luck.
It sounds like the relay that kicks on shortly after power up is kicking in and out. I also here a slight electrical "snap" through the speaker when it cuts on or off. But it is probably just the relay doing the "snapping".
I suppose it is time to call for service but I though I would try here first.
Any ideas? Tubes? I have some but have not tried any.

Any help would be appreciated.
Lex
 
#150
Lex P. said:
Help Please,
My three year old silver face walkabout started cutting in and out last night. It only did it twice. Tonight it is turning off and on continuously. Sometimes less than a second off some times 2 or 3 seconds off at random intervals of less than 20 seconds.
I plugged a short cable into the effects loop with no change.
I spun all the knobs both ways and they are all clean.
Tried another bass and cable. But no luck.
It sounds like the relay that kicks on shortly after power up is kicking in and out. I also here a slight electrical "snap" through the speaker when it cuts on or off. But it is probably just the relay doing the "snapping".
I suppose it is time to call for service but I though I would try here first.
Any ideas? Tubes? I have some but have not tried any.

Any help would be appreciated.
Lex
Click to expand...

Definitely time to call your tech for service. Is the power actually going on and off or is the audio portion just cutting in and out? Sounds like a fuse/resistor/board problem to me.
 
#151
Chef said:
That's why I said ''majority,'' and not ''all...''

;)

This is not at all to imply that Scout cab isn't good, and it's own thing; cause it is.
It wasn't "shiny" enough for me, personally. But, that doesn't seem to be what he's after either.

I still think the BE stuff would work well.
Click to expand...

wasn't trying to pile on Chef, just slightly modifying your typically clear and experienced reply with my own ears-on experience. peace :cool:

I would agree that the Walkabout does not do the modern shiny top-end thing the way, say, MB or Genz amps/cabs do. But I think that stems more from the low-mid/mid driven punch tradition that has been part of Mesa's bass DNA forever. OTOH, thats why I personally like the Walkabout so much .. I am not a big fan of the modern snappy or sizzly (some would say clacky) top end tone. Ah well, that's the beauty of the modern bass gear market .. something to make just about everyone happy.

enjoy!
 
#152
No offense taken, just sayin'...;)

Also, by way of further calrification, IME, the Walkabout doesn't deliver shiny top end with *any cab*; not just the older Scout cabs I used to have.

I typically use either LDS cabs with a really aggressive compression driver, or an Epi UL410. Both the MB F1 and Mesa M6 has more top end sheen.

That's fine though, because I like the Walkabout's personality very much.
 
#153
Well, I just got back from the Guitar Czar and spent some quality time with the Walkabout.

I demoed both the head with the Bag End S15X and the 12" Scout combo. I have to say that the combo wins. It's not as shimmery or mid-oriented as the BE, but the combo is way fatter and more full range. It easily had more volume and beef than my BE/LMII combination that I usually gig with.

Even though the top end wasn't "glassy" on the combo, I really can't see how anyone but the most modern-style players could complain. The switchable crossover points on the cab were extremely handy, and really change the entire voice of the cabinet. My personal favorite was the 4k "sheen" crossover point, I thought it gave me plenty of bite on the top end for slap etc.

I also thought the WA captured the dynamics of my playing much better than my LMII. The LMII gives me that straight-to-the-board kind of sound, but the WA has the muscle and punch of a fat sounding bass amp.

I though it was plenty of volume for most of the gigs that I would do, and handled the low B string admirably. The only time the cab really farted on the B was at the extreme end on the gain/master controls. If I were playing that loud, I would add a 2nd cab and go 2 ohms with the thing and turn the volume settings down, or I would roll off the extreme lows some. My Bag End doesn't come close to the lows on this thing, so I would have no issues taking the bass down a little.

My only complaints were that the fan was a little loud, but nothing that I couldn't live with. I can't imagine a situation where it would bug me, and I certainly want a fan that puts out some air if I ever go 2 ohms with the WA. The only other complaint is the mid control. It's a little weird to work with, but after some tweeking, I think I figured it out. The lack of a pre-EQ setting on the DI kind of sucks too, but I don't think it would matter a ton because I don't use a lot of EQ. The only time I could see it being an issue would be at a big outdoor gig when I would use a bunch of EQ.


Gentlemen- I have GAS.
 
#154
CapnSev said:
The only other complaint is the mid control. It's a little weird to work with, but after some tweeking, I think I figured it out.
Click to expand...

yeah, Mesa's use of active Bass and Treble, and then a PASSIVE Mid control does need some tweaking, but once you get it in your head, you should be good to go. FWIW, most folks here run the Bass/Treb knobs about straight up (or tweaked a bit for taste), and run the passive mid control between 9-10am on the dial. Then use the 3 band EQ to tweak for the room, or leave it flat/0dB.

great amp, hope you fix your gas soon!

you won't regret it
 
#157
CapnSev said:
Well, I just got back from the Guitar Czar and spent some quality time with the Walkabout.

but the combo is way fatter and more full range. It easily had more volume and beef than my BE/LMII combination that I usually gig with.

Gentlemen- I have GAS.
Click to expand...

....and another one gone and another one gone and another one bites the dust:bassist:;):hyper:
 
#159
From a pure tone perspective...i prefer the walkabout to just about anything else out there. I love it. I liked it more than the Titan V12 tonally. I liked it more than the Aguilar DB750 tonally. There's things to nitpick about the features of the amp, but I'm in tone heaven whenever I play it.
 
#160
Another new convert. Welcome. Yeah, that little walkabout is a life changer, in some ways. 13lbs of pure awesome- and more character than ANY amp in it's class. In fact, it's in a class of it's own, because tonally, you'd need a big heavy all-tube monster to compete with it. I own a Mesa Buster, (200 watts, all tube, and no slouch), and the Walkabout sounds better than that, and "tubier" too. I tell ya, it's magic.
 
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