Mesa Madness - does it have to be this way?

[B-string]

Yes indeed, I know. What I meant was class D or digital. I don't believe there will be much difference between them either.

I am trying to say the only "digital" amp is in ad copy. There is no true digital amp typology out there. If there was it would sound really bad as there are no transducers (speakers) that would reconstruct an analog signal from digital code.
The lower amplified "hiss" from the class D output might have been built in rejection or a narrower bandwidth design or the class A/B amp had it's own noise level floor added?

Sorry for the geek stuff

 

[Gwardar]

I am trying to say the only "digital" amp is in ad copy. There is no true digital amp typology out there. If there was it would sound really bad as there are no transducers (speakers) that would reconstruct an analog signal from digital code.

By "digital" amplifiers I meant the ones that used PCM input instead of a comparator. Not sure if this is correct taxonomy, probably not . I don't know which ones on the market are D-class and which ones are digital. Some have SPDIF inputs, so the input stages would be digital. But I think we're sufficiently away from the original topic not to venture into the intricacies of a D-class topology

The lower amplified "hiss" from the class D output might have been built in rejection or a narrower bandwidth design or the class A/B amp had it's own noise level floor added?

I didn't really considered this as a tonal difference. Two different D-class amps may also have different noise levels, but they will amplify input signal in the same way.

 

[wateroftyne]

I stand by my 'can't imagine anything worse' comment.

The WA is what it is, and it's unique. Changing it to a switching PS will lose it's charm.

FWIW, I've used a lot of switching heads extensively, and never quite got on with them. That's a whole other thread which has already been done to death, though.

 

[Musicman20]

I think Andy's influence at Mesa may see more 'modern' approaches to bass amps. Who knows.

If they made a Walkabout 600-900 in the same size/weight package, (heck even a little bigger/heavier) then I think they would be on to a winner. Combine it with a few upgrades to the DI (pre/post/control), speakons, maybe a few extras, then we are away.

Obviously voltage selector would be a good inclusion to the design!

 

[Gwardar]

I think Andy's influence at Mesa may see more 'modern' approaches to bass amps. Who knows.

If they made a Walkabout 600-900 in the same size/weight package, (heck even a little bigger/heavier) then I think they would be on to a winner. Combine it with a few upgrades to the DI (pre/post/control), speakons, maybe a few extras, then we are away.

It would have to be lightweight. The M-Pulse was essentially what you described, but way bulkier. Didn't fly.

 

[Red Planet]

I think Andy's influence at Mesa may see more 'modern' approaches to bass amps. Who knows.

If they made a Walkabout 600-900 in the same size/weight package, (heck even a little bigger/heavier) then I think they would be on to a winner. Combine it with a few upgrades to the DI (pre/post/control), speakons, maybe a few extras, then we are away.

Obviously voltage selector would be a good inclusion to the design!

Agreed a 600 watt Walkabout would be a good form factor fro them.

 

[pfschim]

Agreed a 600 watt Walkabout would be a good form factor fro them.

as long as it retained that Walkabout tone/magic. The Mpluse600 had a similar design, but was definitely not a 600w Walkabout.

BTW, Magic Papa the Mesa verbiage on the Walkabout is that it is a Tube Driven mosfet design pretty much says what it is.

It's a 4 stage tube pre where one of tube stages drives the mosfet power section. Many who use it feel that that's where the very tubelike response greatness of the Walkabout happens. It's also why you can't simply patch the WA pre into a bigger power amp by way of the fx loop and get a more powerful WA. You unlink the tube driver from the mosfets.

 

[B-string]

So it is an SVT-3 series in a Mesa box? Interesting.

 

[pfschim]

It would have to be lightweight. The M-Pulse was essentially what you described, but way bulkier. Didn't fly.

Depends on what you mean my lightweight. I don't agree that it absolutely has to be a super lightweight (5lbs say) format, like the GK ultralights.

The Walkabout is 18lbs and is not an issue at all. There are plenty of these kinds of "mid-weight" amps that working players are happy to use, not all of us need 800w in a 5lb package. If there was a 600-900w amp in a 15-20lb package, I don't think the weight would be a major negative .. even with all of these super light amps on the market today.

I would take a bit of weight in order to get real heft in the low end any day.

of course, this is IMO/IME

 

[Mark_70]

One of the main characteristics of musicians is to travel in many places.

I don't understand how pro oriented gear manufacturer (Mesa is one of them, Ampeg is too) can release amps that don't switch automatically toward whatever voltage they are fed.

It makes no sense to me.

No to hijack this thread, but funny you mentioned Ampeg. I bought an SVT-3 PRO in EU many years ago. Moved to the US and played it here for years with a step-up transformer.
When I took it to a local guy to replace a faulty input-jack, he told me he could "flip a couple dip-switches" and it would work on 110V without the transformer. Works like a champ now, without having to haul around the step-up transformer. No "official AMPEG technician" was needed.
Agreed - doing it automatically would be even better, but apparently it doesn't take any new hardware in case of an SVT 3 Pro to switch between 110 and 220.
Not sure if that's the case with Mesa too, but worth calling up your local amp-guru..

Regards
Mark

 

[Red Planet]

as long as it retained that Walkabout tone/magic. The Mpluse600 had a similar design, but was definitely not a 600w Walkabout.

I would hope by now Mesa would understand this point. The Magic of the Walkabout is still being talked about and hardly a mention of the Impulse.

 

[Red Planet]

Some of the ultra lightweight amps are really cool for sure. My Shuttle 9.0 is a marvel of science and alien technology. That being said I believe most of us are fairly happy to carry a 20 pound amp. Its when they weigh in at 65-90 pounds is when we have some difficulty.

 

[pfschim]

Some of the ultra lightweight amps are really cool for sure. My Shuttle 9.0 is a marvel of science and alien technology. That being said I believe most of us are fairly happy to carry a 20 pound amp. Its when they weigh in at 65-90 pounds is when we have some difficulty.

ha, I am still (occasionally) hauling around a 60lb Fender Studio amp, and plenty happy to do it when I want that kind of tone/sound. Of course this goes back to the old school/big iron tranny comments from earlier in the thread and elsewhere on TB. There are those, myself included, that feel as if some of the newer designs, particularly when you get into the flyweight size (5-6lbs) SMPS designs, you really start to lose some grunt/heft/whump (pick your expression), even when these new amps are rated at serious (800-1k) wattages.

 

[Red Planet]

ha, I am still (occasionally) hauling around a 60lb Fender Studio amp, and plenty happy to do it when I want that kind of tone/sound. Of course this goes back to the old school/big iron tranny comments from earlier in the thread and elsewhere on TB. There are those, myself included, that feel as if some of the newer designs, particularly when you get into the flyweight size (5-6lbs) SMPS designs, you really start to lose some grunt/heft/whump (pick your expression), even when these new amps are rated at serious (800-1k) wattages.

I agree for the most part, though a couple of the little micros will kick some serious butt. Most of them are wimpy where it counts. Oh don't get me wrong there is nothing and I mean absolutely nothing wrong with a big ol greasy tube amp. I used to own a Fender Studio good amp. Mine was a 1x15 Combo with an EV15L in it I believe.

 

[Gwardar]

It's a 4 stage tube pre where one of tube stages drives the mosfet power section. Many who use it feel that that's where the very tubelike response greatness of the Walkabout happens. It's also why you can't simply patch the WA pre into a bigger power amp by way of the fx loop and get a more powerful WA. You unlink the tube driver from the mosfets.

I doubt the impact this would have on the overall sound. But anyway - I'm not trying to convince you, if you believe you can hear magic or impact of the individual components in the amp - that's totally your prerogative.

I used to be magic-driven which led me to some stupid purchases. These days I try to stay rational and my comments are addressed to similar people. Somebody will read them and think twice before blowing their hard-earned cash. I just want people to know what they are getting. You say magic and I say nothing.

 

[pfschim]

I doubt the impact this would have on the overall sound. But anyway - I'm not trying to convince you, if you believe you can hear magic or impact of the individual components in the amp - that's totally your prerogative.

I used to be magic-driven which led me to some stupid purchases. These days I try to stay rational and my comments are addressed to similar people. Somebody will read them and think twice before blowing their hard-earned cash. I just want people to know what they are getting. You say magic and I say nothing.

I'm guessing some of the stupid stubbornly remains.

There are plenty, VERY rational fellow TB members, who feel and hear the "magic" in their Walkabout. Heck, even the OP liked it so much he wanted to get it converted for overseas use and was very disappointed when he could not.

Enjoy the cheap gear mate.

I already made my apologies to the OP

I'm out.

 

[jdwhitak]

To be fair, 20% VAT in included in the €uro price, while taxes are excluded from the US price.

Adding a 20% VAT to $2399 yields $2878.

 

[Gwardar]

I would hope by now Mesa would understand this point. The Magic of the Walkabout is still being talked about and hardly a mention of the Impulse.

What would the difference be? I've heard people saying these were 2 completely different amps. Did they use different preamp design? The features look similar (WA being subset of MP).

 

[vin*tone]

I doubt the impact this would have on the overall sound. But anyway - I'm not trying to convince you, if you believe you can hear magic or impact of the individual components in the amp - that's totally your prerogative.

I used to be magic-driven which led me to some stupid purchases. These days I try to stay rational and my comments are addressed to similar people. Somebody will read them and think twice before blowing their hard-earned cash. I just want people to know what they are getting. You say magic and I say nothing.

The tube driver as part of the power stage is why the DI is effected by the master volume. It's integral to the sound of the WA. Nothing mystical about that - I think it even explains it in the manual. To me the distinctive WA "tubiness" only seems to kick in at higher volumes when it starts saturating. Nothing magical about that either. I own both a Walkabout and M-Pulse and it's at higher volumes that the 2 start to feel different. At lower levels I can EQ the Mpulse to match the WA pretty easily. The MPulse has a fatter low end.

 

[Gwardar]

The tube driver as part of the power stage is why the DI is effected by the master volume. It's integral to the sound of the WA. Nothing mystical about that - I think it even explains it in the manual. To me the distinctive WA "tubiness" only seems to kick in at higher volumes when it starts saturating. Nothing magical about that either. I own both a Walkabout and M-Pulse and it's at higher volumes that the 2 start to feel different. At lower levels I can EQ the Mpulse to match the WA pretty easily. The MPulse has a fatter low end.

Are they different in that matter? Mesa says "tube driven MOSFETS" for MPluse too, so what's different?