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Mesa Walkabout Megathread!

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#481
BillisCool said:
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!
Click to expand...
This is interesting, I was thinking about the 600 too, assuming it was like a more powerful WA!
 
#482
Ya know, I've had mine for a year now. Used it every which way -gig wise. It's light, It's huge sounding, and it's great at low volume and I can haul it around in my Mini with a passenger very comfy like! And my back don't hurt!

Quite simply, It works for me!

But whats all this talk about noisy fans? Either I'm deaf (Not too far a stretch) or I got one of the real quiet ones. My Aggie DB728 with it's duel "Quiet Fans" sounds like a jet getting ready to take off. I don't think I've ever notice fan noise from my Scout. Am I missing something?
 
#485
Yep, it's a solid 300 fershure.
The head works realllly well paired with bigger/efficient cabs.
I've used it with my Henry 8x8, and Schro 410, and both *killed*
 
#487
Finally got one! $999 brand new in the box at GC. This is one stout little combo -- super low end and fat dreamy tube tone. I bought it primarily for small & medium jazz gigs on upright and for electric bass rehearsals and sessions. So far so good. I've got a decent gig schedule in April so I'll put this thing through its paces before my 30 trial period is up.

Chef -- I chatted with you a while back about the Eden Nav preamp (which I still own). My Barbera equipped upright sounds righteous through this thing...and I don't even need an outboard preamp. Tons of volume (more than I'll need) and gobs of BASS.

Just read through this entire megathread and I've got some questions/issues maybe you can help me with:

1. Recalls. Mine's the "black face" head in combo -- so I'm cool right? I noticed there's a bypass switch on the FX loop...but I don't plan on using it. No more known problems to fix?

2. Upgrades. I recall an earlier post where one person sent theirs in for a power upgrade? I checked the Mesa web site...where do I find out about factory upgrades? Not sure if I wanna mess with a good thing...but just want to know my options...

3. Tubes. I checked out those links...man there are a lot of frickin' tubes out there! I had no idea...I thought a 12ax7 was a 12ax7. Can you recommend some specific brands and model numbers...that aren't too expensive??? I'm probably going to buy four tubes for backup. I also need an extra for my Eden Navigator...Chef any updates on your search on this topic?

4. Fan. I do think the fan will present a problem on a select few of my jobs...but probably just fine on most all the others. In any case, I'm going to get a buddy to mod mine for me...as he's an amp repair guy. I'll get shocked or blow something up if I try it. So, for those of you who have made the fan swap -- everything is running cool?

Thanks -- I've wanted one of these for a while, so we'll see how it goes. Plus, it kinda looks like a burly, modern style Polytone...that's what I wanted, a hip, loud "cube" amp!
 
#488
For issues and upgrades, just call mesa with your serial number. Black face is the later model, and the bypass switch indicates newer than mine;)
Yessir, it kicks for upright. I use my K&K pre with everyhting, but I don't need it; mostly everything I have seems friendly to the bassmax's output.
I've never messed with tubes in either the Nav or the Walkabout; no help there.
I think I remember Tombowlus saying he found eden stuff rather unresponsive to tube changes?
I like the way both of mine sound, so I'm not messin' with it!
 
#489
Congratulations Jason. That's a nice deal. I'm still completely satisfied with mine after 3 years and by itself it handles most rooms I play. A few times I've used the head to drive bigger cabinets and it's performed beautifully that way too.

Mine is blackface without the bypass switch, however the serial number is one of the series listed bt Mesa for an upgrade to prevent some problems that could occur under certain extreme EQ settings at high volumes. However, I've never had any problem like the one Mesa describes so I've never bothered with the upgrade. There is a possibility it has already been upgraded by the dealer. I don't know and haven't been worried enough about it to care.

I also haven't messed about with any tube swaps. It works so well and sounds so good with the stock tubes I don't think I'll bother with that either.

Mine is fairly quiet as far as fan noise goes. I've used it a couple times in acoustic piano, drums with brushes, cocktail jazz trio gigs and it hasn't been noticed by me or elicited any complaints from others. So, I don't think I'll bither with a fan swap either. I'm a disgrace as far as being a gear head goes.

When I bought mine I needed a small setup right away for a series of gigs I had scheduled and went into the dealer intending to get a GK400RB and small cabinet, but they were out of stock on the GK and I couldn't wait. I saw 4 of these little Walkabouts sitting in the store, tried a couple out and was blown away and bought one on the spot. I haven't regretted it and I don't think you will either.

Enjoy your new amp.
 
#493
Jason Hollar said:
Never mind...

I just found it on the Mesa website under hardware...

$59 plus you have to install brackets on the side of the cabinet. Doesn't look like you can use the amp cover then?

I'll stick with the dolly from Home Depot (cost: $12)
Click to expand...

Jason -

Simple attachment and I just cut two slits right wear the mounts are on the cover and just folded back the flaps and CA (Super glue or model airplane glue) glued them back. took all of 15 minutes and it's held up for more then a year now with fairly heavy use. The stand may not seem too heavy duty but I put my gig bag (small duffle) and mic stand on top of the amp and use it to carry all that stuff in. like I said, it been working out great and it folds up small and can be tuck behind the cab at shows.
 
#495
Jason Hollar said:
Do the Scout extension cabinets all have the "cut out" for a head to be dropped in...or are they solid in the back...like a conventional cab?
Click to expand...
They're straight-up cabs... you can't put the head in there. For that, you'd need one of the combo cabs, and I don't know if they sell those separately.
 
#497
Jason Hollar said:
Do the Scout extension cabinets all have the "cut out" for a head to be dropped in...or are they solid in the back...like a conventional cab?
Click to expand...

The combo cab is different than the extension cab........here is a pic of my 15" combo cab without the amp installed. By the way, this cab is currently FS/FT.......see the link in my sig!

100_3077.jpg
100_3078.jpg

100_3075.jpg
 
#498
So I might be converting to a Mesa Walkabout soon...:smug:

Played one at my local music store today. WOW. Just, WOW. First I tried picking it up. No problem with one hand. Sweet. Next, turned the sucker on, plugged in my Jazz bass(brought along for the sole reason of testing it out). Waited for the tubes to warm up, set everything flat, gain and master to about 9 o clock. A lot louder then I expected, and about as smooth as water. :D Only got to play around with it for 5 minutes, but I am absolutely hooked. Considering Mark Bass as well, but MB is going to have to put out a miracle in order to change my mind at this rate. :D
 
#499
SundanceChile said:
So I might be converting to a Mesa Walkabout soon...:smug:

Played one at my local music store today. WOW. Just, WOW. First I tried picking it up. No problem with one hand. Sweet. Next, turned the sucker on, plugged in my Jazz bass(brought along for the sole reason of testing it out). Waited for the tubes to warm up, set everything flat, gain and master to about 9 o clock. A lot louder then I expected, and about as smooth as water. :D Only got to play around with it for 5 minutes, but I am absolutely hooked. Considering Mark Bass as well, but MB is going to have to put out a miracle in order to change my mind at this rate. :D
Click to expand...

I own a Mesa Walkabout Scout 112. I've been using it for the past year or two for all my gigs. When I need a a bigger rig, I stack the Scout on top of a Bergantino EX112 cab. This rig has been performing week, after week without a hiccup. I get a great sound.

That said, I just picked up a MarkBass LM II Head. I connected it to a Bergantino HT112/EX112. Then I naturally had to compare to the Mesa Scout. The Mesa definitely has something extra special going on. But after dialing in the LMII head with the little Bergie 112's, the sound is equally great. The LMII/ Bergie HT/EX stack definitely has more headroom and clean power than the Scout. But the Scout get's pretty damn loud before needing more power. Both are great, but I would have give the sonic edge to the Mesa. But the Headroom, portability and versatility of the LMII makes it equally awesome.

I'm keeping them both! No clear winner here. Just two great flavors to choose from.
 
#500
So...
Been using my Scout fairly exclusively since I got it, for venues ranging from small, to 250-300 seats.
For the largest ones, over the last three times I've been there, I've alternated using three 4 ohm extention cabs:
LDS 2x8+5, Dr Bass 1260, and Schroeder 1210.
The results have been fabulous all three times, the amp head has never even gotten warm, and moving small modular bits as opposed to a larger 80+lb cab has also been nice.

At least for me, 2 ohms seems to be a non-issue...except for that it works great, and kicks butt.
 
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