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Mesa Boogie Walkabout Megathread; Part Two

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#223
I have a quick (perhaps very stupid) question.
I got an scout (8ohms) extension to put under my scout combo.. do I just plug it into the second speaker jack or do I need to connect differently?
I sounds GREAT but I want to make sure I did it right and make sure it will read the impedance correctly.
 
#226
Alright so I think this would be the right place to ask:

I've been able to snag a walkabout head for a real good price. The guy is even willing to drive 40 minutes to my house to let me try it out before I buy it.

I'm upgrading from a GK Backline 600. I was wondering what kinds of things I should look out for. Are their any known defects that I should keep a watch for? Anything I should look into other than if it works or not? I've read all about the fan volume problems, but I don't think that will bother me too much. The two cabs that I'll be running it to right now would be a Mesa Diesel 4x10 at practice and an Ampeg 2x12 at home.

He claims it's in excellent condition, and has been the only owner since he bought it 5 years ago.


Just want to be extra careful.

Thanks in advance! :D
 
#228
models that don't have an active/passive input switch (instead, having two inputs), and that have no fx bypass mini-switch in the back sometimes have issues with the jacks themselves oxidizing/corroding.
this will manifest itself as intermittent gunky noise until the jacks quit passing signal altogether. simply cleaning fixes things, but any authorised factory service center can update them to current single input with switch/fx bypass switch specs.
 
#229
Chef said:
but any authorised factory service center can update them to current single input with switch/fx bypass switch specs.
Click to expand...

What kind of cost would you be lookin' at for that service? I'm not sure if the store he bought it from was a certified dealer. It closed down a couple years ago, so there is a chance it might be but I'm not sure.
 
#230
you'd have to call mesa or look at their site to see if they have an authorised service center in KC. I think Gravity Strings in St Louis is.
I called and asked once when one of mine was working out. IIRC it was something silly like $50. Rather than pay another $50 for two directions of shipping, I simply cleaned things when mine acted up.
 
#232
Just gotta get in on this thread. I've had my Walkabout for a while.I use the combo for practice, but plug it into a Goliath 4-10 @ 4 ohms for gigs and it sounds incredible!! It sounds like an all tube head, very dynamic and plenty of pant-flap. Still have the stock tubes, and they sound fine to me. BTW, I'm running a passive Warwick and a Stingry 5
 
#233
Anyone wanna help out? I have LM3, but ive been offered a used Walkabout 112 Combo. Should I get the awesome Berg cabs to go with my LM3 and thus have 2x12s which means a pretty damn loud rig, or go for the Mesa WA?

I must add, that as much as the walkabout attracts me, the volume it is capable of through its 1x12 worries me. I cant afford to get its extension cab in the UK....its VERY expensive.

Thanks
 
#234
IMO if you have even the slightest concerns about volume, do NOT get only the WA112 combo unless you CAN get an ext cab. 300 watts through a 12 is still a 12, albeit a loud one. There is no way the 12 alone would suffice for my rock gigs, even in smaller venues (YMMV). The WA 15 is another story, however, perhaps that's an option (but quite heavy and a tad pricier).If the choice comes down to an LM3 with a pair of Berg 12s or a WA 112 combo with NO ext cab I would choose the former in a heartbeat.



Musicman20 said:
Anyone wanna help out? I have LM3, but ive been offered a used Walkabout 112 Combo. Should I get the awesome Berg cabs to go with my LM3 and thus have 2x12s which means a pretty damn loud rig, or go for the Mesa WA?

I must add, that as much as the walkabout attracts me, the volume it is capable of through its 1x12 worries me. I cant afford to get its extension cab in the UK....its VERY expensive.

Thanks
Click to expand...
 
#235
Musicman20 said:
Anyone wanna help out? I have LM3, but ive been offered a used Walkabout 112 Combo. Should I get the awesome Berg cabs to go with my LM3 and thus have 2x12s which means a pretty damn loud rig, or go for the Mesa WA?

...
Click to expand...

Can you get both? The LM III and the Walkabout are very different amps (to my ears). The Walkabout oozes creamy musical goodness and the LM III is punchier and more modern sounding. I like both tonalities and am happy (and fortunate) to own both amps.

I don't have a Walkabout combo though (although I have tried the cabinet but preferred my AccuGroove Tri210L), just the head.
 
#236
Chef said:
you'd have to call mesa or look at their site to see if they have an authorised service center in KC. I think Gravity Strings in St Louis is.
I called and asked once when one of mine was working out. IIRC it was something silly like $50. Rather than pay another $50 for two directions of shipping, I simply cleaned things when mine acted up.
Click to expand...

FWIW, I talked to Mesa technical support last week about updating my early model Walkabout and they quoted me $100 to bring it up top current specs. I already installed my own effects loop bypass and installed a new quieter fan, so I'll skip the $100 plus shipping. If the input jack acts up it'll be an easy fix too.

Now that I think of it, I did say I'd report on the Noctua NF-R8 fan that I used. I found that at full speed it was definitely quieter than the stock fan, but not as quiet as I'd like for low volume work. It comes with a "Low Noise Adapter" which appears to just be a diode in series with the power lead and it drops the noise to a rated 10db. It quieted the noise enough that I wanted to be able to switch between the two speeds as needed. I knew I'd probably never use the DI out, so I tied it to ground and used the ground lift switch for fan speed instead. While I was at it I installed a jumper wire across the effects send and receive jacks because I'll only be using the receive jack as an occasional input for external practice recordings.
 
#238
Chef said:
My personal experience is sound guys love the DI. I woulda kept that, but, that's just me and YMMV, etc....
Click to expand...

I absolutely agree that if you're in a situation where you may use the DI then don't change it, but in my case that doesn't apply so I sacrificed the ground lift. I can always restore the ground lift circuit and add a fan switch if it's needed.
 
#239
OK, I tried to mind my own business. I even searched. Can anyone share about the WA and either a Berg HS410 or Sadowsky SA410? I've narrowed my choices down, and the Mesa is at the top of the list. Thoughts? Links to a post I may have missed?
 
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