Mesa Madness - does it have to be this way?

[Red Planet]

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).

Not sure what the difference is but they are not the same. The Walkabout has this special tone going that the Impulse does not.

 

[vin*tone]

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

The difference is the 300 watt ceiling of the WA. It doesn't have the headroom of the 600 watt M Pulse so starts to sound like a pushed tube amp at high vols - more distortion in the mids. The 600 just gets louder.

At lower volumes I personally don't find them them that much different. The M Pulse has more low end extension.

 

[Gwardar]

The difference is the 300 watt ceiling of the WA. It doesn't have the headroom of the 600 watt M Pulse so starts to sound like a pushed tube amp at high vols - more distortion in the mids. The 600 just gets louder.

At lower volumes I personally don't find them them that much different. The M Pulse has more low end extension.

Fair enough. So it's essentially the same amp apart from the differences in some parameters and features (which are anyway obvious from a brochure or manual).

Interestingly I've heard people reporting that it was "entirely different animal" and the two were "nothing alike". Had a suspicion this was a bit of a bull

 

[vin*tone]

That power difference does make them behave differently at high (read "gigging" in many peoples cases) volumes....so yeah - to many they would be very different amps.

I'm curious though too. Other's describe a world of difference - I don't really hear it.

 

[Bass4LifeRS]

So MESA hit the "jackpot of sweet bass tone" with the Walkabout?

 

[maui-san]

Called Mesa to ask about getting a Walkabout converted to 220volts for European work for an extended period. "It can be done but you have to take it to the dealer in the country that you are going to", was the response.

Not what I was looking for as:

a) There is no MESA dealer on their site listed in the country I am playing in;
b) The turnaround time would be prohibitive from a neighboring country;
c) The cost is likely to be extortionate;
d) I want to hit the ground running and gig from Day 1.

I will be exhorted to use a converter - sorry I have too many bad experiences.

How does Mesa assist international artists or are they only interested in preserving margins for dealers for their gear overseas?

I am aware of EU regs on gear.

Look forward to your thoughts.

I just had a tech convert my US WA to 230v. For the past 3 years I've been using it with a power converter. It worked fine actually, but a good quality converter like mine weighs about the same as the WA itself. So it was always like carrying two amps with me.

About 4 weeks ago I finally took it to a tech. He measured the voltages from the original transformer and came to the conclusion that there's no 'off the shelf' transformer that would work in the WA. So he ended up ordering an original from the Mesa distributor. It cost me 190 euro for the transformer + 60 euro labour. A lot of cash, but totally worth it as I really love this amp.

 

[SamJ]

I agree though FMIC AND Loud are bad comparisons to Mesa I think. Loud is a small company that has all it's products contract manufactured in Asia except for the small amount of items that are being custom assembled here out of Asian parts and is owned by a group of investment bankers. FMIC is a fairly big company that is really top heavy with debt right now to the tune of 200 million and wobbling. Mesa is a small family owned manufacturer of US made goods. Ampeg is mostly a name that all the kiddies love but nothing at all representative of what it used to be. Loud is surely in deep debt right too I would guess. I bet Mesa owes no one money.

One of the absolute best posts I've read on TB in a long time.. VERY true. And I'm a Fender fanboy..

As to the OP... Dude, I recently bought Hope Mountain Bike disc brakes for LESS here in the US than they sell for in England.. Face it, EVERYTHING costs more there.. even stuff made there. Something is badly broken with your economy, so don't Blame Mesa for those prices..

 

[SamJ]

So MESA hit the "jackpot of sweet bass tone" with the Walkabout?

For what it is... a portable light weight amp/cabinet it's the Rolls Royce... but in terms of absolute bass tone... it's not a Eight 88 ... not even close.

 

[hsech]

You already have your answer. Just use a converter and move on. With all the couda, shoulda, woulda going on the problem could be solved with the converter and save the other expense.

 

[Jim Carr]

...and then finding out Mesa had reduced its output power to half without bothering to inform anyone about it...

Wasn't that the M9? Just wondering...

 

[hsech]

IMO the Walkabouts tone goodness is all in the cabinet design. With its down firing radiator driver the sound is to die for. It's not designed to compete with higher power amps. It is what it is. When I owned my Walkabout I found Mesa to have the best customer support around. I bought mine used. When changing the preamp tube I stripped some of the small screws on the case of the head. I contacted Mesa and talked directly to a tech. He sent me a bag of replacement screws at no cost. I had issues with the effects loop, called tech support and they told me to send the head in. I sent it in, they fixed it and upgraded it to the latest revision all at no cost above postage even though it was used and out of warranty. That was a nice surprise. Getting rid of the Walkabout was a big mistake.

 

[SamJ]

The only reason for me to get rid of the Walkabout is to get the Eight 88.. So far my experience with Mesa has been stellar and they're always ready to help. They stand by their products and will support you by phone even without asking for proof of ownership.

When you buy a smallish company "Bootique" product you're going to get less customer service "presence" than many of the big companies, due to their lack of overhead capacity. Especially if you're in a foreign country to the place of it's manufacture. I know people who also had issues with CS for Ashdown and Orange (early days) brands when they were new to the US.. until there is a larger support base for it in the country, you're always better off to get on Skype and contact them at their main head quarters is what I have found.