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Mesa Walkabout in Europe

pfschim

pfschim

Just a Skeleton with a Jazz bass
Supporting Member
Apr 26, 2006
9,345
10,940
SF Bay Area
#1
I may be relocating to Europe in Jan, and I want to bring some of my gear so I can at least keep in practice, and possibly even hook up with the local scene and keep playing while I'm away.

This will be a fixed assignment kind of deal, so I'm expecting to be away for 2 years, unless I totally fall in live with the place and decide to stay longer.

I currently use a US market Mesa Walkabout 12 combo. I already know from searching that the US Walkabout is not wired for 240v/50hz. At least I think this is true.

One option is to use a step down power converter with the Walkabout. The Walkabout is a 300w amp and the power specs on the back say 120v/60hz/6A. Power inverters seem to come rated in watts. What would be the best choice to run the Walkabout reliably ?

Another option would be to convert the Walkabouts transformer , but I have read that this option can be pricey and then I'd have to reconvert it once I returned.

Another option would be to leave the Walkabout at home (:hmm:) and look for available European gear that has a similar vibe. Any obvious choices ?

so, what does the collective wisdom of TB have to offer on this question ?
 
#2
I'd use a voltage converter. Heavy duty for continuous use.

Something like this: http://www.voltageconverters.com/itemdesc.asp?ic=VC500W

I know some amp manufacturers put in switchable transformers in their export models (from US to Europe) including Mesa.

To be sure what to do I'd contact customer support.

Also, there are official Mesa dealers in Europe. So if you end up leaving the amp home, you could just buy a new one :p
 
#3
Hagelslag said:
I'd use a voltage converter. Heavy duty for continuous use.

Something like this: http://www.voltageconverters.com/itemdesc.asp?ic=VC500W

I know some amp manufacturers put in switchable transformers in their export models (from US to Europe) including Mesa.

To be sure what to do I'd contact customer support.

Also, there are official Mesa dealers in Europe. So if you end up leaving the amp home, you could just buy a new one :p
Click to expand...

yeah, I'll probably call Mesa about this just to see what they say, but I'm pretty sure that the Walkabout transformer does not have multiple taps. Definitely worth looking into though.

As far as buying a "Euro version" of the Walkabout, I would consider that. Money is not the major factor here, particularly in the Walkabout price range (even at the unfortunately inflated prices over there). I could just sell it when I get ready to come back to the states.

hey, Hagelslag, on a totally unrelated note, I see that you are in the Netherlands. I just sent my daughter over to Leiden for a semester at the University. She is really enjoying it so far, although as a California girl, I'm not sure she is ready for the Fall and Winter :D.
 
#8
I'd bring something that's apt to be in demand in Europe and much cheaper in the US with an eye towards selling it there. The WA may fit that bill, I dunno. I'd definitely bring a USA Fender (or 2) and flip that.
 
#9
You know I love the WA; but, I'd just get an LMII or F1 and call it good.
No, it won't sound exactly the same, but they're good, they're relatively cheap, and, you might even like it.
 
#10
You can really get everything you want here, but you may be a little bit shocked by the prices, it's true. Mesa gear is one of most expensive, but there are other options. EBS, Orange, Marshall, Trace Elliot...
 
#12
thanks to all for the replies.

Chef: You know I love the WA; but, I'd just get an LMII or F1 and call it good.
No, it won't sound exactly the same, but they're good, they're relatively cheap, and, you might even like it.
Click to expand...
Chef, I love the Walkabout tone too, but its not religion to me, just sounds really good for my tone goals. I've used the LM II a few times and while I did not hate it, it did not do anything for me. Does the F1 have more of a tube character than the LM series stuff ? and, is the LM gear automatically good with European 230v/240v somehow, like laptops are ?

jetofuj: You can really get everything you want here, but you may be a little bit shocked by the prices, it's true. Mesa gear is one of most expensive, but there are other options. EBS, Orange, Marshall, Trace Elliot...
Click to expand...
Jetofuj, well that certainly one option, to look at more Euro-centric gear and use that while I'm over there. As I mentioned, I am prepared for the price shock, but money is not the key issue, I'm fairly set there. :cool:

Vin*tone: No multitaps in the WA. Massive bummer. They are ridiculously expensive.
Click to expand...
.
vin*tone, I hear ya on that. I have heard that you can get the WA converted with a multi-tap tranny, but I'd be concerned about messing with the sound of it, and then I'd have to re-tap it when I return. Just sounds like too much of a hassle .. even for the Walkabout tone (which I do love).

lomo: I'd bring something that's apt to be in demand in Europe and much cheaper in the US with an eye towards selling it there. The WA may fit that bill, I dunno. I'd definitely bring a USA Fender (or 2) and flip that.
Click to expand...
lomo, I am not really thinking of bringing any gear to sell, just trying to figure out how to cover my amp needs. heck, I don't even know if I could even find a gig over there, so I may be perfectly all right with one of my Fenders and my Laptop/Guitar Rig 3 practice setup. I'd really like to play while I'm away though, its hard for me to imagine 2 years without any gig or rehearsal thing at all. :atoz:
 
#14
As far as the lightweight options go.... Genz Shuttles are user switchable but they may not give the tone yr after. Eden WT series might be better - they need an internal jumper change- a 10 minute job for a competent tech.

This may sound stoopid but.... I would seriously consider stashing a US made Ampeg SVT2 or 4 in your luggage - which are fairly easily switched, then selling/swapping for a WA or any amp at a healthy profit (we're talkin many hundreds) once in Europe. The 2 or 4 are too big for USPS so seem to go for much more than the 3 on the used market.

I was doing this for a while with 3 Pro's. Buy in the US for $450US, Sell in Aus for $1500Au. Made enough to fund a rather tasty bass collection. SVT 4's would sell nearer $2000, SVT2 over 2K in Australia. I imagine Europe would be similar.
 
#15
vin*tone said:
As far as the lightweight options go.... Genz Shuttles are user switchable but they may not give the tone yr after. Eden WT series might be better - they need an internal jumper change- a 10 minute job for a competent tech.

This may sound stoopid but.... I would seriously consider stashing a US made Ampeg SVT2 or 4 in your luggage - which are fairly easily switched, then selling/swapping for a WA or any amp at a healthy profit (we're talkin many hundreds) once in Europe. The 2 or 4 are too big for USPS so seem to go for much more than the 3 on the used market.

I was doing this for a while with 3 Pro's. Buy in the US for $450US, Sell in Aus for $1500Au. Made enough to fund a rather tasty bass collection. SVT 4's would sell nearer $2000, SVT2 over 2K in Australia. I imagine Europe would be similar.
Click to expand...

I could maybe live with a Shuttle 6.0. Compared to the Walkabout it is not even in the same zone tube-tone wise, but it is a very nice (and light) piece of gear. perhaps with a tube pre on the front end ?? Have to experiment a bit.

As far as the SVT 2 or 4 suggestion; well, my company will be shipping me over with any of my US household goods that I just can't live without. Maybe I'll think about that, but I am going over for a pretty serious day-gig and won't have a lot of time to get into the buy/sell thing. The day-gig is why money for gear is not a huge issue :p

Besides, despite (or perhaps because of) my long time professional involvement in sales (!), I've always tried to keep my day-job role out of my personal and musical life.
 

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