I'm looking into a new amp rig and love mesa stuff. I'm deciding if the walkabout has enough power for me, or if the M6 or M9 is what I want. But I would get the M9 due to the graphic eq it has
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Mesa Boogie Walkabout Part 5!!!
- Thread starter Chef
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Yeah. But I love them both. The walkabout was easliy the best combo I've ever played. Especially compared to my twice as big ampeg ba-115 that's only 100 watts.
Yeah...it might feel a little dirty.
Which would be perfect
All kidding aside, the SL fits the WA bag better than the WA itself in that there's just enough wiggle room for comfort. I got a gigskinz bag for the SL though.....couldn't bring myself to keep it in the Mesa bag....call me a Puritan
In spending more quality time with both of these, the main difference (tonally) to my ear is that when both are set flat, the WA is mid-forward and the SL a bit scooped (at least relative to eachother). The eq points on the SL are well chosen IMHO but the WA has more eq flexibility-best front end I've ever had in a head. The SL obviously has far more headroom and more flexibility WRT clean vs overdrive due to the added pre volume control in addition to the usual gain and master vol, and wins further points for having speakon, phones out and aux in. I'm gonna bring both to my gig on 3/19 and play at least 1 full set with each through the TB153.
I ordered the SL900 cause I'm tired of waiting for a Walkabout 900.
I don't expect "they'll sound the same," and yessir, the Walkabout eq is absolutely the cat's meow.
I hope to be flipping the SL for a two ohm ready Walkabout 900 this fall, but, that's just cause I'm a dreamer, and not "cause I know something you don't."
I mean, seriously Mesa:
take the time to mate the Walkabout front end with the M9 powerplant, and tweak the power section's mosfet response...
do it already...
my credit card is ready to enable me being an early adopter.
thanks
I don't expect "they'll sound the same," and yessir, the Walkabout eq is absolutely the cat's meow.
I hope to be flipping the SL for a two ohm ready Walkabout 900 this fall, but, that's just cause I'm a dreamer, and not "cause I know something you don't."
I mean, seriously Mesa:
take the time to mate the Walkabout front end with the M9 powerplant, and tweak the power section's mosfet response...
do it already...
my credit card is ready to enable me being an early adopter.
thanks
After years of no problems with my WA Scout I finally had an issue at a gig last night. My amp light turned on but no sound came out. Luckily my keyboard player lived nearby and he let me use one of his old amps.
But today my amp seems to work fine. Any idea what could have happened? Can bad power cause the WA Scout to not work properly? I've played at this same place before with my Scout with no problems.
But today my amp seems to work fine. Any idea what could have happened? Can bad power cause the WA Scout to not work properly? I've played at this same place before with my Scout with no problems.
Wow; another tempted by the fruit...
Anxiously await both your gig tests
The WA EQ capability is not such a huge isssue for me in that I leave it mostly flat, assuming I can get a very similar tonality with the SL
The whole deal for me is the 3-D, wide, clear, deep, soundstage with quality cabinets; if the SL has that (and I sell some gear) I'm done with this thread.
My only interest in staying with Mesa is the obvious build quality and made in the USA; clearly their interests lie in the guitar market; not a lot of brand loyalty for bassist unless you're an M6/9 user as the cabs are just too heavy, expensive, and not on par with the botique builders or GB (IMO)
Then again GB and the botique bass cabinet builders don't make tube guitar amps which often leads to the statement that "you can't be great at everything".
Have not read about this or have had it happen but assume that low voltage might not allow the output relay to click much like the SVT-VR's. A $15 Volt/ohm meter is worth having in the trunk for moments like this
run a patch cord across fx send and return.
if those jacks oxidize, sometimes they can interrupt the signal path and do just what you describe.
later models have an fx bypass switch to remedy this.
if those jacks oxidize, sometimes they can interrupt the signal path and do just what you describe.
later models have an fx bypass switch to remedy this.
it'll obviously depend on your specific volume needs and which tone you prefer, but assuming you like both equally, it probably depends what size/kind of cabs you'll be using. If you wanted to use smaller cabs to make maximum volume, you might want the extra volume of the M6/M9. But if you're not afraid of bringing more-bigger speakers to the party, the Walkabout actually gets much louder than you might assume if you're just looking at the numbers. I have yet to really push mine with my two 12" scout cabs (nor have I needed to, and we're talking about gig volume w/ loud drummer), but I've heard others say its 300 watts put out roughly what an SVT does. Given you probably wouldn't know it unless you throw it on top of an 810 and go nuts.
But if you need 500 watts to power an 8 ohm 12/6/1 type of rig the Walkabout probably wouldn't cut it.
I mean, seriously Mesa:
take the time to mate the Walkabout front end with the M9 powerplant, and tweak the power section's mosfet response...
do it already...
thanks
....and while you're at it, allow yourselves to be dragged into the 21st century and spec a speakon out with a mute button
I mean, seriously Mesa:
take the time to mate the Walkabout front end with the M9 powerplant, and tweak the power section's mosfet response...
do it already...
my credit card is ready to enable me being an early adopter.
BIG-Giant +1 to this quote by Chef, (who I believe has the same first name I do, Alan)
take the time to mate the Walkabout front end with the M9 powerplant, and tweak the power section's mosfet response...
do it already...
my credit card is ready to enable me being an early adopter.
BIG-Giant +1 to this quote by Chef, (who I believe has the same first name I do, Alan)
@lomo:
On the current chassis, I don't believe there's room for two side by side speakons, or, at least, this is what I was told when I asked "why no speakons,"
and;
at 300 watts, they're "not necessary."
And quite frankly, if they were to do the mute ala M6/9, I'm ok with just cranking the volume shut...
On the current chassis, I don't believe there's room for two side by side speakons, or, at least, this is what I was told when I asked "why no speakons,"
and;
at 300 watts, they're "not necessary."
And quite frankly, if they were to do the mute ala M6/9, I'm ok with just cranking the volume shut...
They're not necessary.....and neither are power windows in a car, but those little cranks have gone the way of the dodo 'cause most humans prefer the 'lectric type 
Now they are "necessary" to serve the customers, many of whom already have speakon cables but not the "old" kind. I can get around the mute as well, but would rather not have to use a pedal to get a feature that is available on virtually every current production bass head anywhere near the Walkabout's price. IMHO, it's simply dumb and inexcusable not to tend to these basics. My guess is they will feel it in the bottom (line) eventually. YMMV.
Now they are "necessary" to serve the customers, many of whom already have speakon cables but not the "old" kind. I can get around the mute as well, but would rather not have to use a pedal to get a feature that is available on virtually every current production bass head anywhere near the Walkabout's price. IMHO, it's simply dumb and inexcusable not to tend to these basics. My guess is they will feel it in the bottom (line) eventually. YMMV.
While I concur with all your points, the Walkabout is still a singular amp.
As I said, I'm poised and ready to be a front line adopter of a bigger, badder Walkabout, but, so far, nothing I've played has knocked the current one out of my two amp lineup.
As I said, I'm poised and ready to be a front line adopter of a bigger, badder Walkabout, but, so far, nothing I've played has knocked the current one out of my two amp lineup.
My M-9 was a pleasure to use last night along with my Bergie HT-322.. I have a HT-112ER arriving midweek to check out with the Walkabout.. If it works out, this will be the rig for most of my gigs...
I understand, and totally agree that it's a unique beast and would also buy a turbo version in a heartbeat, but it seems to me there should be room, although it would require some reengineering. There are heads half its' size with speakons. Besides, any decent, modern 8 Ohm cab worth its' salt has in/out jacks and can be daisy chained, so they really only need a single speakon (combo?) jack.
.....as Adrian Belew sang with King Crimson : "I repeat myself when under stress. I repeat myself when under stress".
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