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Mesa Walkabout Megathread!
- Thread starter Vic
- Start date
- Status
- Mar 1, 2005
- 3,101
- 385
- 62
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Crook Custom Guitars
I couldn't agree more.....I've owned a Mesa Boogie 400+ for over 15 years, never a problem. About 3 years ago, I picked up a 15" Walkabout combo. I had a minor electronic problem, called to ask about it, and they said "send it back, we'll take care of it"......and they did. Later, I had a cooling fan fail.......I called to order one...(bought my Walkabout used, I'm out of warranty).......they sent me a fan, N/C. Some time later, after I had completely worn out the carry handle (the threads were all coming out of the seams).........I called to purchase a replacement. Again, very quickly, a new handle was in my mailbox, without a bill. I've got no complaints with MB customer service (or their "attitude") whatsoever!
I've always talked to Michael Taylor at MB, and while I think I may have posted about this before (maybe even earlier in this thread)....it bears repeating......Mesa Boogie rocks!
I worked it out that I could purchase one retail in the US ship it over to the UK and after shipping, duty and Vat it would only cost just over £900 and that includes me paying the US retail price, the price is for shipping a single article and not bulk as the importer would.I wouldn't think it should be more than 900GBP, taking into account international shipping, duty, and European style power supply. I think you're right. Mesa is considered to be pretty costly for us in the states, as it is. For you, they make it cost prohibitive.
I've spoken to several very capable engineers regarding the so called special Mesa power supply and the myth put out by Mesa, I'm not allowed to print the general reply that they gave but it starts with 'Bull' .
I know that if I was head of Mesa I wouldn't be very happy to find that sales in Europe/UK are being lost through vast overpricing.
It will be quite a bit different than any other amp I've tried that uses a tube in the preamp. I haven't tried the B200R. I heard they sound good. Billy B is right about why the difference with the Walkabout. It also seems to be in the way Mesa sets it up for a controlled overdriven sound. Something about their "Simulstate" circuitry. Anyhow, it does work, it sounds very much like a good all tube amp, has a very musical sound, a midrange I can turn up and actually like and sounds much bigger than its 300 watts would suggest. It is nothing like any other solid state amp I've used before.
Be careful with overseas shipping. I have been told by Mesa that their amps won't work overseas as there is no easy way to change the voltage. They said the amps for 230V are made with different parts. They do this as they don't want the customers changing the voltage on their own. I have to disagree as there are many amps on the market that allow the user to switch voltages on their own.
Mesa uses power transformers that have a single winding for the local mains voltage. For us in the US, that means 120 Vac, 60 Hz. For most of the world that means 230 Vac, 50 Hz. In Asia, I suspect 100 Vac, 60 Hz.
Beyond that, there are only a few parts than need to be changed...the fuse (lower current rating for higher mains voltage) and perhaps any surge suppression components. With a detachable power cable with a standard IEC configuration inlet, that's an easy swap too.
By having dedicated US spec models, Mesa doesn't have to worry about any design considerations required for products bearing the CE Marking.
Since the power transformer is specifically designed for the particular amp, finding a replacement is neither easy or cheap.
Rob, I regularly use an 8 string live, and with my Walkabout thru a Bergantino HT2X10 and EX112 I get a great creamy rock tone. When I switch back to my J bass I've got the fat bottom I've been looking for. You'd need a bass rig AND a HiWatt to get this going any other way. This little guy's got you covered. I am in love with my rig!
Due to all the MArk Bass hype, I happened the see a Walkabout 12" at GC and decided to do a back-to-back.. SO I grabbed the most playable bass I found, a low-slung Geddy, and tried the 12" MESA back to back to the 12" Mark Bass. There was another player there, who was all about the "modern" tone.
I can see the MB is solid state, although pretty darn warm and ballzy, but when I went to the MESA, ahhhh buttah... slightly melting and oozing at the sides... I really dig the tubes...just the slightly fuzzy " jazz thru an SVT"-esque sound thats my voice.
Only regret is not going with an 8" driver and a 10" slave cab, also in 8ohm. But MESA informs me the 15" driver ( I own a 15" Scout btw) is only around $140. I could swap to 8ohms and then pick up a good 10" cab for tight punch.
Wondering if I can find a better 15" driver for the Scout cabinet than the MESA oem. ? Wouldnt mind it a bit tighter ( i.e. faster).
Its a drag that they're not readily available oerseas. Its a great US product, and deserves the world as its stage.
I can see the MB is solid state, although pretty darn warm and ballzy, but when I went to the MESA, ahhhh buttah... slightly melting and oozing at the sides... I really dig the tubes...just the slightly fuzzy " jazz thru an SVT"-esque sound thats my voice.
Only regret is not going with an 8" driver and a 10" slave cab, also in 8ohm. But MESA informs me the 15" driver ( I own a 15" Scout btw) is only around $140. I could swap to 8ohms and then pick up a good 10" cab for tight punch.
Wondering if I can find a better 15" driver for the Scout cabinet than the MESA oem. ? Wouldnt mind it a bit tighter ( i.e. faster).
Its a drag that they're not readily available oerseas. Its a great US product, and deserves the world as its stage.
I agree, it's a great product. Too bad here in europe it costs twice as it costs in Usa. shame on Mesa policy.
Now I REALLY need to check it out! I am going to put away some $ and in the new year have one ordered locally. Thanks for the feedback!
I would call it financial suicide turning away so many potential sales, my local music store were asking £750 GBP $1507 USD for a second hand 15" Walkabout combo.
Such a good product, such poor marketing.
maybe Mesa thinks to the European market as a market with less sales in quantity and this means to them higher price. I accept this, but the price is really too higher than USA price...
Chef
In Memoriam
I understand what you're saying here, but it's obviously not "really suicide" as Mesa seem to be a fairly successful market without EU sales.
It would mean setting up a string of distributors, and service locations, training lots of people.
Not as simple as just shipping product to do it well.
Doesn't mean it's not doable, just not as simple as it might appear.
It would mean setting up a string of distributors, and service locations, training lots of people.
Not as simple as just shipping product to do it well.
Doesn't mean it's not doable, just not as simple as it might appear.
Chef
In Memoriam
The 15 is substantially bigger in size, a little heavier, and goes a little deeper, sonically.
I much prefer the 12. It doesn't give up much, but it's a better pack and carry.
I much prefer the 12. It doesn't give up much, but it's a better pack and carry.
These are typical of the gobbledygook answers that I got from Mesa!
Mesa already have a UK & EU distributor, Have you seen the size of the EU these days it's much larger than US, Fender Ampeg etc do not have a string of distrbutors in each country, they don't need to specialy train lots of people (unless their products are known to be unreliable of course) a Mesa amp is just an amp with basic compnents; nothing so special that any worthwhile technician couldn't fix.
If you already supply a country how does that affect the price other than ripping people off, lowering the price does not mean having to employ more service engineers.
Chef
In Memoriam
Agree with Chef. the 12" does the " hot jazz bass thru SVT" thing I so like very well. Better than the 15" imho, but MESA advised the 15" for a 5 string, so I followed their advice.
Again, only regret ( and I see the miss spelling in my last post where I confuse inches adn ohms)), is to NOT order the Scout in 8 Ohm, so I could slave an 8 ohm 10" cab along side. That would be mint. Gain back some of the 12" s punch with ALOT higher response and greater speaker area. Yum.
Ran the Scout a 2 ohm at a gig once (and the other cabs were very inefficient), and it got noticeably warm, Not advised by factory, not advised by me ever again.
BTW, being a numbers guy by trade, I hope the recent dollar weakness allows MESA to reprice their international offerings. Crazy not to export that beautiful tube sound.
Again, only regret ( and I see the miss spelling in my last post where I confuse inches adn ohms)), is to NOT order the Scout in 8 Ohm, so I could slave an 8 ohm 10" cab along side. That would be mint. Gain back some of the 12" s punch with ALOT higher response and greater speaker area. Yum.
Ran the Scout a 2 ohm at a gig once (and the other cabs were very inefficient), and it got noticeably warm, Not advised by factory, not advised by me ever again.
BTW, being a numbers guy by trade, I hope the recent dollar weakness allows MESA to reprice their international offerings. Crazy not to export that beautiful tube sound.
What are the prices for the 15" and the 12" Scout extension cabs in the US?
Here in Germany the 12" is at 800 (1150$) and the 15" at 900 (1300$).
Thought about buying one but it's so expensive
do you have prices for the complete combo versions? i mean the head.cabinet.
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