Mesa Walkabout Megathread!

[Vic]

Vic, I can't find any fans that are significantly quieter without sacrificing a material percentage reduction in CFM. Better safe than sorry, IMO since I plan to tax it at times, so I'll leave it as-is. It ain't too noisy.

Well, the one I went with is MUCH quieter, and yeah, it moves less air (I think 27CFM). I'm not real concerned, tho, because it seems to do pretty well... I haven't pushed it hard yet, but I will. I'm in between bands right now... should be firing up with the new one in about a month.

HOWEVER, if you get a "tri-cool", the highest setting is 34CFM with is perfectly fine (I think OEM is 36, but Mesa even told me that was not specifically designed in... they just grabbed a fan... they don't even have a cooling spec for the Walkabout at all). Yeah, it's probably only a little quieter at that setting, but you can switch it to the lower setting for studio/practice, which is very nice. Good ball bearing fans and not much money. If I ever go into thermal on mine, that's what I plan to put in. Definitely close enough to OEM specs for safety.

Also FYI Vic, going back to our pre/post EQ DI exchange, note that the M-Pulse 360 and 600 *do* have pre/post switches...

Yeah, except my main complaint is not that it doesn't have a pre/post switch, my main complaint is that they put the DI tap AFTER the master volume. This is just plain bad design. Period. I can live without a pre/post... good production folks can handle it dealing with stage EQ no prob.

 

[Passinwind]

I was curious about variable speed fans. How is the speed altered - one needs to install a switch? Can you link me to a model? I saw some advertised as being capable of different speeds/voumes, but none looked like they had any extra writing for a toggle and they seemed computer-centric as if they had to be controlled via a PC's motherboard. Thanks.

If you want to get a great overview of the subject, go here: Invalid Link Removed

You can get little variable pot controlled fans, wire in diodes or resistors with a switch, build a variable power supply, and so on. Many of the common solutions aren't really computer-centric, and don't require a motherboard controller.

 

[Vic]

I was curious about variable speed fans. How is the speed altered - one needs to install a switch? Can you link me to a model? I saw some advertised as being capable of different speeds/voumes, but none looked like they had any extra writing for a toggle and they seemed computer-centric as if they had to be controlled via a PC's motherboard. Thanks.

The switch is built on and externally accessible. Only the thermally controlled ones need a motherboard. The Tri-Cool is a hard switch.

 

[Vic]

If you want to get a great overview of the subject, go here: Invalid Link Removed

You can get little variable pot controlled fans, wire in diodes or resistors with a switch, build a variable power supply, and so on. Many of the common solutions aren't really computer-centric, and don't require a motherboard controller.

Ehhh, too much work. Just get the Tri-Cool. It's not like during gigs you'll be switching it around, or in the studio... just set it at the beginning of whatever you're doing and forget about it until you do something different.

 

[Passinwind]

What about this device? http://www.xoxide.com/fanmate.html I'm guessing it plugs into the board for power and then the fan plugs into it?

Yeah, that's how it works. I have one in my computer. I leave the fan up in the summer, and back it down for PC recording, or in the wintertime when I can get away with running it that way. Wiring in a heat sensor is a real can o' worms, but you can PM me if you're determined to go that route.

If you follow the link I posted, you'll find many DIY solutions that will work well for what you want. Vic may be right though, could be too much work for many folks, I guess. I live to dweeb, so I'd be on it if I used an amp with a fan in it. The Tri-Cool sounds like a nice ready made solution, so my nature would be to ignore it.

 

[Vic]

Yeah, I thought you mean the fans that have the speed controlled by the thermal input from the motherboard (I think a third wire in the harness). The varistors (the thing that looks like a capacitor) is just there to sense case heat. That'd probably work, but it may take a long time to figure out the proper placement of the varistor to get it to work the way you wanted.

The Tri-Cool switch is on a pigtail, so it can be made externally accessible. That's the idea behind it.

The three settings are

1500rpm, 20 CFM, 18dBA
2000rpm, 26 CFM, 24dBA
2600rpm, 34 CFM, 30dBA

Here's pics:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[JJBluegrasser]

I actually tried a variable speed fan with a varistor on it as well, and it added alot of noise to the signals (EMI, etc). May have just been a low quality fan...

Jason

 

[Vic]

I actually tried a variable speed fan with a varistor on it as well, and it added alot of noise to the signals (EMI, etc). May have just been a low quality fan...

Jason

Either that, or there was a signal riding on the varistor's line and if you got that close enough to the tubes (or maybe some other sensitive part of the amp) it may have induced something. My fan is studio quiet and introduces no noise to the amp whatsoever.

 

[Passinwind]

Thanks. I couldn't get the link to work earlier, but here's what I came up with in my impatience : http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=220804

Nice, I dig it. You might still want to check out silentpcreview.com when you get a chance though; there are some great ideas on shrouds, vibration killers, and stuff like that. If you do any music production on your computer, that's a must-see website, IMHO.

 

[JJBluegrasser]

I just can't let this thread die

Has anyone used their Walkabout Scout with a Powerhouse 2x10 or 4x10? Tom, you haven't run this experiement have you?

Right now I run the Scout by itself most of the time, but when I feel like it, I have 2 EA Cxl 1x12s (2 ohm total) that I run with it. I'd like to try out a 2x10 or 4x10 instead, because that just seems like it would really kick. I like a gut punching, mid rangy type of sound (I run the Scout EQ completely flat).

Jason

 

[tombowlus]

I just can't let this thread die

Has anyone used their Walkabout Scout with a Powerhouse 2x10 or 4x10? Tom, you haven't run this experiement have you?

No, but I have used my Walkabout to power my Diesel 4x10 and Diesel Powerhouse, Jr., and it had both of those cabs moving plenty of air.

 

[Vic]

I just can't let this thread die

Good man.

Has anyone used their Walkabout Scout with a Powerhouse 2x10 or 4x10? Tom, you haven't run this experiement have you?

Right now I run the Scout by itself most of the time, but when I feel like it, I have 2 EA Cxl 1x12s (2 ohm total) that I run with it. I'd like to try out a 2x10 or 4x10 instead, because that just seems like it would really kick. I like a gut punching, mid rangy type of sound (I run the Scout EQ completely flat).

Jason

I've used my Walkabout (head only) with an Avatar NEO 210 4ohm and it completely rox. Very nice matchup... very musical and deep. I'll be using it tonight with the blues band, in fact. I wanted to try it with my new EA NL-210, but it's an 8ohm and I'm not sure it'd have quite enough mojo for the room. We're real limited on space, so I can only take one modest cab.

 

[Vic]

No, but I have used my Walkabout to power my Diesel 4x10 and Diesel Powerhouse, Jr. ...

That stack looks awesome.

 

[Vic]

BTW, I'll be putting my Walkabout thru the paces tonight on a 4ohm load with my new quiet fan installed. I'll prolly push it fairly hard, as well, so we'll see if I can get it as hot as the babes in the front row or not...

 

[jvtwin]

I tried the walkabout scout 12" and loved it! And before I could buy one, my lovely wife bought it for me for Christmas! I want to try it with my Aggie GS210 and GS410 just to see what it'll do. But for right now, for my small gigs, this is a major slice of "Fat sound in a little tote" Heaven for me!

Rest easy my aching back!

 

[Jthebassman]

What a great thread! I have a very early Walkabout(S/N 00113) that I've used for years. Except for the recall stuff, I've never had a problem. I run it into a 4 ohm SWR Triad cab. It's kinda bulky, but serves all my needs. From rock, to blues, to the theatre, The Walkabout does it all.
I think I'm going to do the fan mod. In a club, the noise never bothered me, but in a theatre stage play, the fan is way too loud.
I did switch tubes a couple years ago. I purchased 2 matched vintage GE 12at7's off of ebay for like $15 shipped. What a difference!!! My gain knob could finally turned up past 10:00!
I did lose a very little bit of power (bench tested at 294 watts vs. 307 with the 12ax7's), but I have found the preamp to be more musical for my needs.

 

[Vic]

Just used mine tonight with the Avatar NEO 210 4ohm, along with a Geddy J, Peavey JB (USA) Millennium, and Cirrus 5. In a word, awesome. Incredibly loud and punchy. I had no issues whatsoever keeping up.

Mine's also an earlier model, with none of the updates applied yet, but it's still under warranty, so I plan to have it done soon.

 

[JJBluegrasser]

Just used mine tonight with the Avatar NEO 210 4ohm, along with a Geddy J, Peavey JB (USA) Millennium, and Cirrus 5. In a word, awesome. Incredibly loud and punchy. I had no issues whatsoever keeping up.

Sounds like a good combination, Vic.

So, has anyone actually stacked the Walkabout Scout on top of a 2x10 like I'm suggesting? With good results?

Jason

 

[JJBluegrasser]

Actually, Tom, if you've got a few minutes, could you hook up the Walkabout with your EA VL2x10 and tell me how you think it sounds. I've got a line on one locally from a fellow TB-er and I'd love your opinion. I'm going to try my setup out with it soon too, but your pallette is much more...er...exercised than mine, I'd appreciate your opinion

Jason

 

[Vic]

Actually, Tom, if you've got a few minutes, could you hook up the Walkabout with your EA VL2x10 and tell me how you think it sounds. I've got a line on one locally from a fellow TB-er and I'd love your opinion. I'm going to try my setup out with it soon too, but your pallette is much more...er...exercised than mine, I'd appreciate your opinion

Jason

If it helps, I've been talking to EA about the VL vs the NL 210's, since I have one NL and want to know about what to combine it with.

The comment they made that I think is significant here, is the VL is more power hungry for the same SPL, so if you're talking about a single cabinet rig, you may want to go 4ohm to get all the umph you need.

on a side note...

They also mentioned it's not quite as modern sounding as the NL (which would probably be a little too dark for me.) I only mention this in case you've never played through one. I've read rave reviews on them, and I know they're fantastic cabs, but the NL is definitely the one for me.