Mesa Walkabout Megathread!

[Chef]

Hey Vic, here's a quote from Benjamin Strange that used to work at Mesa about the Scout's 2 ohm capability:

"First of all, I think the Walkabout Scout 12 is just about loud enough for ANY gig. It's crazy loud, and is only 49 pounds. I love mine, though my downstairs neighbors don't care for it much. Technically it's rated at 300 watts into 4 ohms, which should be plenty for most people. However, we've been torture testing a Walkabout at a 2 ohm load at the factory for a while, and have yet to get it to even get hot. I think it's safe to say that you could add another 4 ohm extension and run it at 600 watts for when crazy loud just isn't enough, and you need to push it into stupid loud."

From this post:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showpost.php?p=1577087&postcount=4

 

[Vic]

Hey Vic, here's a quote from Benjamin Strange that used to work at Mesa about the Scout's 2 ohm capability:

"First of all, I think the Walkabout Scout 12 is just about loud enough for ANY gig. It's crazy loud, and is only 49 pounds. I love mine, though my downstairs neighbors don't care for it much. Technically it's rated at 300 watts into 4 ohms, which should be plenty for most people. However, we've been torture testing a Walkabout at a 2 ohm load at the factory for a while, and have yet to get it to even get hot. I think it's safe to say that you could add another 4 ohm extension and run it at 600 watts for when crazy loud just isn't enough, and you need to push it into stupid loud."

From this post:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showpost.php?p=1577087&postcount=4

Yeah, I know, I read that post. That's why I was clear about it being what the manual stated, because it's really more of a warranty issue than it apparently is a functionality issue.

I spoke directly to Mesa on this, and I got the answer "it probably works fine, but if the amp were damaged while being used with a 2 ohm load, it would void the warranty". Well, call me a wimp, but I don't feel comfy with the "at your own risk" disclaimers like that.

That said, if I still had mine, and it was out of warranty, reading these real-world posts, would I run mine below 4 ohms? Probably. I'd have the fan set to high just in case, tho.

 

[Chef]

The fan only runs at one speed as far as I can tell, and it's not thermostatically activated...just on, full speed, all the time.

Really Vic, I've run mine, hard, at rehearsal for two hours and better, and it never even got warm. It sounds fabulous working an LDS 2x8+5 underneath it.

 

[Vic]

The fan only runs at one speed as far as I can tell, and it's not thermostatically activated...just on, full speed, all the time.

Oh, sorry, my bad... I forgot to mention... yeah, you're right, but I had a 3-speed (tri-cool) fan installed in mine before I sold it. Loved it. Quiet when I wanted, and plenty of air flow when I felt I needed it.

Really Vic, I've run mine, hard, at rehearsal for two hours and better, and it never even got warm. It sounds fabulous working an LDS 2x8+5 underneath it.

SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP! There's one forsale... *sigh*... no money right now...

 

[Chef]

Thread swerve: all the LDS stuff I've had just flat out kicked butt. The 2x8+5 in particular is just flat out magic. The long throw 8's are fabulous, and that 5" mid driver has me convinced there is no need for a horn or tweeter, for me at least.
But I'm not KJung, playing super modern high end jazz basses with stainless rounds either, so, YMMV there

 

[tombowlus]

No. The manual states 4 ohms minimum.

My Walkabout manual states:

"Minimum load rating is 2 Ohms and while the Walkabout will handle this lower load condition - and in fact produce more than its rated power, it is not recommended." It goes on to state that 4 ohm is the recommended minimum load, as well as the 'optimal' load.

That said, they do state the 2 ohm is the 'minimum load rating.' This is all rather contradictory and confusing, to be honest.

And again, my experience is that my Walkabout has been stable and relatively cool under 2 or 2.67 ohm load conditions. YMMV, of course.

Tom.

 

[tombowlus]

I spoke directly to Mesa on this, and I got the answer "it probably works fine, but if the amp were damaged while being used with a 2 ohm load, it would void the warranty".

I think that their manual is worded in such a way as to present a good argument that running a 2 ohm load would not void the warranty.

 

[Chef]

Tom, that's what my manual says too...mine's about 3.5 years old. Perhaps they changed that verbage in later models "to eliminate that confusion."
Really, mine shows no temperature change to the touch running two ohms...pretty dang cool to the touch, not what I would call warm like the Thunderfunk or WT800B get...

 

[GregC]

Thread swerve: all the LDS stuff I've had just flat out kicked butt. The 2x8+5 in particular is just flat out magic. The long throw 8's are fabulous, and that 5" mid driver has me convinced there is no need for a horn or tweeter, for me at least.
But I'm not KJung, playing super modern high end jazz basses with stainless rounds either, so, YMMV there

Dang, I keep hearing such great things about LDS. A Fender-tweed cab from them would look really good with my '57 RI. Thanks for the GAS, Chef. (Bad pun intended.)

 

[Vic]

I think that their manual is worded in such a way as to present a good argument that running a 2 ohm load would not void the warranty.

You're right. I forgot about the confusing wording. Dang! What are you, some kind of lawyer or something?

 

[Chef]

Bwahahaha...thud


tag, yer it Tom.

You're right. I forgot about the confusing wording. Dang! What are you, some kind of lawyer or something?

 

[Vic]

Bwahahaha...thud


tag, yer it Tom.

Dayum, must be a cage match! Don't make me start swingin' amps around! I pull a Thunderfunk on yo hay-yed...

LOL!

 

[tombowlus]

Dayum, must be a cage match! Don't make me start swingin' amps around! I pull a Thunderfunk on yo hay-yed...

LOL!

I think that just merely dropping the V8 on you would pretty much do it.

 

[Vic]

I think that just merely dropping the V8 on you would pretty much do it.

Oh man, I hear a really tacky drink commercial coming on...

 

[::::BASSIST::::]

Re: volume output...

I've read numerous times that the walkabout head is quite loud. Some have said that part of the percieved loudness is because the travel on the volume dial is so instant. Thoughts?

I have experience with Eden WT405 (405 w @4ohms) and Focus SA (600w @4ohms) rated "loudness".

How does it compare to those two in terms of volume output?

 

[Vic]

Re: volume output...

I've read numerous times that the walkabout head is quite loud. Some have said that part of the percieved loudness is because the travel on the volume dial is so instant. Thoughts?

I have experience with Eden WT405 (405 w @4ohms) and Focus SA (600w @4ohms) rated "loudness".

How does it compare to those two in terms of volume output?

I don't know about the Focus, but I have a 405, and if memory serves, the Walkabout seemed "louder". It's definitely the "loudest" 300W I've ever heard. I'd gig with it.

 

[62bass]

It sounds louder than any 300 watt amp I've ever tried too. It's got nothing to do with the instantaneous volume control (I've never noticed anything like that with mine). It's just an honestly rated 300 watts.

 

[chiplexic]

I think that their manual is worded in such a way as to present a good argument that running a 2 ohm load would not void the warranty.

My thoughts exactly. Once the manufacturer starts explaining how the amps is capable of certain operation practices, in the owners manual no less, I can't help but think they are inviting strong arguements for it being covered by the warranty if it damages the product using it like that. The first time I read that in the manual I couldn't believe they even dared to mention it. How the hell couldn't they cover it.... how could they prove a given part didn't burn out through being defective as opposed to being caused by running at 2 ohms, even if that is what caused the burn out ?

 

[tallboybass]

Hey Vic, what do you think about this fan?

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

32cfm @ 14dBA sounds pretty good to me.

Thanks, Alan

Finally got this fan installed...it drops the fan noise to an "acceptable" level and still puts out "near factory" cfm. I haven't gigged it yet, but this will enable me to use it on my quiet piano trio gig. The old fan was way too loud.

PS - Sorry to drag this thread out again, but thought you guys might want to know.

 

[BillisCool]

1.) Does the M-Pulse 600 sound almost exactly the same? I'd probably go with this over the Scout head just in case I needed that extra power.

Nope...

The Walkabout sounds WAAAAAY more like a vintage tube amp. The 600 is much cleaner.

I ended up getting a BB750 because I needed a tad more power for things like outdoor shows... and while some people may have suggested that it has the walkabout sound, it's not nearly the same thing either.

Now that I've sold my Scout I totally miss it... nothing beat that slighty overdriven sound that came from it. But, the BB750 has it's own sound that I'm now totally in love with. In fact, the overdrive channel can kind of be made to sound like a cranked Scout... but it's still like trying to get an SVT stack sound out of a POD... it's just not the same.

Mesa makes some cool stuff... and I while I say now that my BB750 will be with me forever... they'll come out with some new cool thing that I can't live without... and the cycle will continue!