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Mesa Boogie Walkabout Part 5!!!

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#461
Thanks guys!

I don't think it's a matter of boosting some freqs or bad tube - it was tested by two independent techs. I will try to play this amp myself before buying it, I'm not sure if I will be able to do it though.
 
#462
More great gig feedback on the Walkabout... last night was the second night of my band's month-long monday residency at a local club. One of the opening bands are pretty good friends with us and had asked if they could use my rig. It was great to hear how it sounded from the audience! He was using what looked like a regular ol' Fender Precision and it sounded pretty good... I felt a little bad, he didn't want to mess up my settings so he left the knobs where they are... which only sucked because I play pickstyle and he played fingerstyle. Lets just say... he sounded HUGE. Probably too huge. The room had some resonant frequency vibrations going on during certain notes, but overall it still sounded really good. Definitely some seriously beefy, pillowy, all-consuming bass going on... and this was in a small-to-medium sized club (capacity about 300).

When it was my time to take the stage a couple hours later I fiddled with the knobs just a hair, I wanted to make sure I wasn't gonna suffer the same boominess, so I trimmed the 50hz back another db or two. I also used my Precision last night. The set went great, sounded good on stage, crowd was into it, etc. But afterwards people just kept coming up and talking about the bass tone... fellow musicians, random concert-goers, all sorts of folks. Usually we get feedback on the set itself, but last night it was all about the bass (and I'm not complaining)! The sound guy even said, "Wow, I didn't even know Mesa made bass gear... but it sounded great." Which is kinda scary, in hindsight, but I'll still take the compliment.
 
#463
ishouldbeking said:
....Usually we get feedback on the set itself, but last night it was all about the bass (and I'm not complaining)! The sound guy even said, "Wow, I didn't even know Mesa made bass gear... but it sounded great." Which is kinda scary, in hindsight, but I'll still take the compliment.
Click to expand...

Excellent. You know it sounds good if people actually notice the bass and feel inclined to compliment it. If you guys have any shows in the Bay drop me a line, I would really like to come check it out. Listened to the recordings a few days ago and thought they were great.
 
#464
ishouldbeking said:
More great gig feedback on the Walkabout... last night was the second night of my band's month-long monday residency at a local club. One of the opening bands are pretty good friends with us and had asked if they could use my rig. It was great to hear how it sounded from the audience! He was using what looked like a regular ol' Fender Precision and it sounded pretty good... I felt a little bad, he didn't want to mess up my settings so he left the knobs where they are... which only sucked because I play pickstyle and he played fingerstyle. Lets just say... he sounded HUGE. Probably too huge. The room had some resonant frequency vibrations going on during certain notes, but overall it still sounded really good. Definitely some seriously beefy, pillowy, all-consuming bass going on... and this was in a small-to-medium sized club (capacity about 300).

When it was my time to take the stage a couple hours later I fiddled with the knobs just a hair, I wanted to make sure I wasn't gonna suffer the same boominess, so I trimmed the 50hz back another db or two. I also used my Precision last night. The set went great, sounded good on stage, crowd was into it, etc. But afterwards people just kept coming up and talking about the bass tone... fellow musicians, random concert-goers, all sorts of folks. Usually we get feedback on the set itself, but last night it was all about the bass (and I'm not complaining)! The sound guy even said, "Wow, I didn't even know Mesa made bass gear... but it sounded great." Which is kinda scary, in hindsight, but I'll still take the compliment.
Click to expand...

Very cool man! Killer to get some bass tone props!
 
#465
Some rough pics of my new to me rig (grainy Blackberry pic);

Mesa Walkabout
Bergantino EX112EX
Aguilar GS112

BergAguilarWalkaboutStack.gif
 
#467
My new favorite cab for my Walkabout is the Thunderchild 12.
I am blown away by it's volume, flexibility and tone. Very serious lows from this 30 lb box:hyper:

I have decided to give in and have a largish and a small rig.
M9 with LDS 15-6, and WA and TC12. The Walkabout and Avatar TB 153 was loud enough for small bars, but I'd still wanna have my private dragon (M9) for bigger or outdoor stuff.

This weekend I'm gonna roll some tubes in the WA and hope to mod the fan. I'm an electronics doofus, though, and my replacement fan has 3 leads and there are only 2 in the Walkabout-any wisdom out there?
 
#468
third one might be for a thermistor, depending on what fan you bought.
you have some homework to do, and then decide if you want "speed variable, dependent on sensed temp," would be my guess.
 
#469
I'll check. I've had the fan for a few months now, so I don't recall. I cannot seem to find the previous entries describing the mod. Did anyone provide a reasonably detailed account?
 
#471
ataunton said:
Excellent. You know it sounds good if people actually notice the bass and feel inclined to compliment it. If you guys have any shows in the Bay drop me a line, I would really like to come check it out. Listened to the recordings a few days ago and thought they were great.
Click to expand...

We're hoping to do some west coast touring soon, depends if we get picked up for a short tour with a major label band we know... here's hoping. And glad you like the recordings! We're mixing the third EP as we speak...
 
#472
lomo said:
My new favorite cab for my Walkabout is the Thunderchild 12.
I am blown away by it's volume, flexibility and tone. Very serious lows from this 30 lb box:hyper:

This weekend I'm gonna roll some tubes in the WA
Click to expand...

Don't know whether to be jealous of your cabinet buying habits or thanful that you share the info!

So as a recap:
If you use a WA in a rock band setting with "normal EQ" and bass tonality, at reasonable stage volume, one might expect that -
* A true fEarful cab at 8 ohms will be low on effeciency for decent stage volume for many gigs
* The Avatar TB153 is more effecient and will be OK for most gigs
* An effecient 4x10 will offer a reasonable amount of headroom and get the job done nicely

The Thunderchild with a single 12 and horn has deep low end, clear hi-fi tone, and is loud? Wow
Have you had a chance to try at rehearsal or gig situation?
Want to believe but the small size and lightweight with full low freq extension sounds to good to be true. Wonder how this compares to a say a Bergie AE112?

If Dukes 1x12 with horn is this amazing, wonder what his 1x15 version will be like?

I posted about tube rolling a while back; generaly what I found was:
* V1 slot is more important for tone than the mosfet driver tube but the latter does make a difference
* Found that used Teleuinken 12AX7s were the best for me, Amperex was 2nd followed by Mullard - I have no experience with the reissues
* A long plate National brand tube sounded very good; I have read here that the QC of this off brand may not be top notch but the few I have sound very good
* Was surprised the JAN NOS tube I bought (for $40) was not as good as the above (for me)
* Stock Mesa tubes were OK but the European tubes did sound better on every swap out
* Also tried standard Sovtec, Groove Tube, Westinghouse, and GE; just OK
Suggest that you use the same bass and cabinet and play the same bass line over and over; I just rolled down the master volume and swapped out tubes with the amp on; tried not to look at the labels so as not to confuse hearing with pre-conceived expectations
 
#473
Thanks for the tube sharing. I've answered embedded in your post. Hope it helps.
Jim C said:
Don't know whether to be jealous of your cabinet buying habits or thanful that you share the info!

So as a recap:
If you use a WA in a rock band setting with "normal EQ" and bass tonality, at reasonable stage volume, one might expect that -
* A true fEarful cab at 8 ohms will be low on effeciency for decent stage volume for many gigs

True

* The Avatar TB153 is more effecient and will be OK for most gigs

True

* An effecient 4x10 will offer a reasonable amount of headroom and get the job done nicely

True, but it won't be louder than the TB153 IME. We are a loud band and I seldom use our PA in our local bar.

The Thunderchild with a single 12 and horn has deep low end, clear hi-fi tone, and is loud? Wow

True-easily louder than a good 210, not as loud as a 212, but I'm not sure I'd describe it as hi-fi. Not quite like any other cab I've played. Big and clear down low, unique above about 250Hz. Love it.


Have you had a chance to try at rehearsal or gig situation?

Not yet. Don't expect to use this with our band but will eventually try it.

Want to believe but the small size and lightweight with full low freq extension sounds to good to be true. Wonder how this compares to a say a Bergie AE112?

It will crush even an excellent but "normal" 12, including the Berg. That is not a "nrmal" 12 in the TC112.
Click to expand...
 
#474
Thanks
Suprised that the TB153 is louder than a 4x10 just based on number of drivers but don't doubt your experience
Can you compare the TB153 vs. the Thunderchild in regards to tone and volume?
Lastly, have you spent much time with the WA and 2x12 cabs?
TIA; appreciate all your advice
 
#475
Jim C said:
Thanks
Suprised that the TB153 is louder than a 4x10 just based on number of drivers but don't doubt your experience
Can you compare the TB153 vs. the Thunderchild in regards to tone and volume?
Lastly, have you spent much time with the WA and 2x12 cabs?
TIA; appreciate all your advice
Click to expand...

The TB153 isn't louder than a good 410; it's pretty much the same. I have had several pairs of 12s (a config I have always dug), but have not done a direct A/B between those and the TB153. I believe the TB153 is at least as loud as any of those pairs (Scout 12s, Epi UL2-112s, EA Wizzy 12s, Mesa PH 12s). Of those stacks, the EA was my favorite (perfect thick cutting mids), and the Scouts the deepest sounding. I have never owned or played a single 212 cab.
 
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