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Mesa Walkabout Megathread!
- Thread starter Vic
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This is a well-documented inaccuaracy in the manual.
I wouldn't worry about the lack of a activa/passage switch and player control network. I'm sure it sounds great as it is..!
Thread revival!
Just wondering about the volume capabilities of the walkabout head. People say its a loud 300w... but in comparison to what?
Is it as loud as a 500w LMII?
Or Eden wt405?
Just wondering about the volume capabilities of the walkabout head. People say its a loud 300w... but in comparison to what?
Is it as loud as a 500w LMII?
Or Eden wt405?
I'm just wondering now that there is a recession will they start charging a realistic price in the UK.
The whole of the UK is feeling the financial pinch; 'Sound Control' the largest UK music retail outlet went to the wall this summer.
Mesa lost my custom recently on a 15" 'Walkabout Combo' through the ridiculous UK prices.
The whole of the UK is feeling the financial pinch; 'Sound Control' the largest UK music retail outlet went to the wall this summer.
Mesa lost my custom recently on a 15" 'Walkabout Combo' through the ridiculous UK prices.
I've always felt the one I had was a loud 300 watts compared to Eden and SWR amps I played around the same time. Don't know if it's the voicing of the preamp ot the power supply of the Walkabout. Maybe a bit of both. I haven't compared it directly with a 500 watt LMII.
I'd say that if you have been able to get by with any other brand of 300 watt head, the Walkabout will for sure be as loud and maybe louder. It also seems to sound louder at 8 ohms than its 180 watt 8 ohm rating would suggest. Easily as much power at 8 ohms as my GK 400RB into 4 ohms. Of course that's only a few watts difference between the two,
The main objection to the Walkabout for some people seems to be the sound. Some don't like such a full bodied tone. A few object to the high prices in Europe. Others complain they can't buy them at a discount new in stores.
Personally, I love the amp.
To me, the important advatage of the Walkabout head is the sound. If you set everything "flat" (controls at 12:00, which is not really flat but who cares) and use a good bass with good strings you get a sound that is rich, warm and still has plenty of definition.
The other bonuses are the ability to dial in a very convincing tube overdriven sound and very versatile eq controls between the 3 band bass, mid, treble and semi parametric eq
The walkabout is wonderful sounding head in my opinion. Yes it is tubey-er than than SS heads like Markbass LMII. In terms of power however, the Walkabout doesn't come anywhere close to the headroom and clean delivery power of the LMII.
Once you hit the useful limit of clean power on the Walkabout, turning up the input gain or Master volume will not make it any louder whatsoever. Just goes into more tubey mild overdrive. Not like a distortion pedal. Just creamier.
I've used my Walkabout head with a Bergantino HT112/EX112 stack. (4 ohm load) for maximum load and it's good to a point. But when my band got to cranking louder dance music, the Walkabout just didn't have the clean headroom I needed.
I still own the Walkabout Scout 112 combo however. It is awesome sounding, works great within it's self imposed limitations and is very, very musical sounding. But for my gigs, I always use the LMII and have done so for the past couple years or so. The Walkabout Scout is my rehearsal rig, and would work great in a singer/songwriter, small jazz combo, restaurant gig, or acoustic band venue.
Once you hit the useful limit of clean power on the Walkabout, turning up the input gain or Master volume will not make it any louder whatsoever. Just goes into more tubey mild overdrive. Not like a distortion pedal. Just creamier.
I've used my Walkabout head with a Bergantino HT112/EX112 stack. (4 ohm load) for maximum load and it's good to a point. But when my band got to cranking louder dance music, the Walkabout just didn't have the clean headroom I needed.
I still own the Walkabout Scout 112 combo however. It is awesome sounding, works great within it's self imposed limitations and is very, very musical sounding. But for my gigs, I always use the LMII and have done so for the past couple years or so. The Walkabout Scout is my rehearsal rig, and would work great in a singer/songwriter, small jazz combo, restaurant gig, or acoustic band venue.
Thanks Gary and 62Bass.
I'm thinking of pairing one up with my soon to arrive 4 ohm schroeder 1515L. I'm sure that rig would be quite loud.
I'm thinking of pairing one up with my soon to arrive 4 ohm schroeder 1515L. I'm sure that rig would be quite loud.
Whoa....it's BACK!!!! COOOOOL 
To me, the WA is a loud 300 watts, but not quite as loud as an LMII if you run both @ 4 ohms. What's cool is that you can run it down to 2.67 or even 2 ohms and it'll keep on a-tickin'. I hear it's 500 watts @ 2 ohms, so if you can run more cabs it'll really kick it out!
Torin, after finding out that you like a real clean tone, this may not be the head for you. Running the gain low, it stays "tube clean" if you know what I'm saying, but NOT clean like a MarkBass.
Hope this helps,
Alan
To me, the WA is a loud 300 watts, but not quite as loud as an LMII if you run both @ 4 ohms. What's cool is that you can run it down to 2.67 or even 2 ohms and it'll keep on a-tickin'. I hear it's 500 watts @ 2 ohms, so if you can run more cabs it'll really kick it out!
Torin, after finding out that you like a real clean tone, this may not be the head for you. Running the gain low, it stays "tube clean" if you know what I'm saying, but NOT clean like a MarkBass.
Hope this helps,
Alan
Thanks Alan. That reminder probably just saved me a bunch of hassle. I was just an email from buying a walkabout, but I think I'll hold off til I can rent or borrow one. From my experience with my old shuttle if I have to keep the gain down to keep it clean I lose a good deal of volume.
thanks again!
thanks again!
I have both, Walkabout and LMII. Also have a Shuttle 6.0.
As much as I love the tone of my Walkabout, I have never found it to have enough power for my band gigs. We are a typical dance/cover/variety band and the LMII power and headroom just blows the Walkabout out of the water. Even moreso than the LMII outperforming the Shuttle volume and headroom. The walkabout usable volume is less than the Shuttle. If the Shuttle 6.0 wasn't enough for you, or if you preferred the LMII to the Shuttle for reasons of clean, useable power, I think the Walkabout power section will leave you wanting.
This from someone who LOVES the tone of the Walkabout. It just needs twice the power!
I love my Scout and it's plenty powerful for the type of live gigs I'm doing with a jazz band (rooms of 200 or less) where it really kicked ass recently was in the studio. Isolated with a mic and running a DI into the board and some nice preamps. When we listened back everybody loved the sound of the WS. It may be pricey but it's solid, has great tone and fits in the trunk of my coupe...
Okay... I've just done my first few gigs with my new Walkabout Scout + Scout Radiator rig and I love... I mean LOVE the full, round sound I've gotten so far! The band is amazed at the output of this little rig!
But now, I have a few questions that maybe the more experienced users among you might be able to help me with.
It seems to me that I was experiencing a kind of "compression" from the rig when I'd dig in on the bass. Both my pre and Master vols were set to around 12 o'clock. I also noticed the "warmth" coming from the amp by the end of the gigs (both my combo and the extension are 4 ohm cabs).
~ First... have any of you tried setting this amp up to run with the Master vol full up and the gain dialed in lower? Does that open up the headroom?
~ Second... does the heat get generated by the tube preamp section, the SS power section, or a combination of everything that's going on inside of the amps' chassis? In other words... would running the Master vol wide open exacerbate the heat issue, or help alleviate it?
~ And thirdly... have any of you ever had to warn people holding cold drinks in their hands to not "hover" over the Walkabout front/top panel? It's unfortunate, but one of the bars I play in has me set up in a spot where people tend to congregate, and there is no barrier to keep them from standing right by (and in some cases, leaning on...) the back of my amp. :scowl:
In my minds' eye, I keep seeing this slow motion image of a drop of condensation from off of a beer bottle just fall right into one of the vent slots and take my amp out in a flash/puff/pop!!!
I know... I'm paranoid that way.
Anyways... feel free to share any other "issues" that may have cropped up during your own personal Walkabout experiences as well.
But now, I have a few questions that maybe the more experienced users among you might be able to help me with.
It seems to me that I was experiencing a kind of "compression" from the rig when I'd dig in on the bass. Both my pre and Master vols were set to around 12 o'clock. I also noticed the "warmth" coming from the amp by the end of the gigs (both my combo and the extension are 4 ohm cabs).
~ First... have any of you tried setting this amp up to run with the Master vol full up and the gain dialed in lower? Does that open up the headroom?
~ Second... does the heat get generated by the tube preamp section, the SS power section, or a combination of everything that's going on inside of the amps' chassis? In other words... would running the Master vol wide open exacerbate the heat issue, or help alleviate it?
~ And thirdly... have any of you ever had to warn people holding cold drinks in their hands to not "hover" over the Walkabout front/top panel? It's unfortunate, but one of the bars I play in has me set up in a spot where people tend to congregate, and there is no barrier to keep them from standing right by (and in some cases, leaning on...) the back of my amp. :scowl:
In my minds' eye, I keep seeing this slow motion image of a drop of condensation from off of a beer bottle just fall right into one of the vent slots and take my amp out in a flash/puff/pop!!!
I know... I'm paranoid that way.Anyways... feel free to share any other "issues" that may have cropped up during your own personal Walkabout experiences as well.
- Mar 1, 2005
- 3,101
- 385
- 62
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Crook Custom Guitars
4 ohms at the amp and the extension.........you're running at 2 ohms.........not recommended by MB, and it's going to be a bit hot, but people do it all the time, and the Walkabout just keeps on pumping!
I do have better luck with gain settings slightly lower than "12 o'clock", and then crank the master as necessary. I don't know if any particular combination will affect the amount of heat produced.....even when run at "recommended" loads, it's gonna be a bit warm.
I remember a gig a few years back.......my Walkabout shut down on the last song of the first set.
After checking it out, I realized that the vent fan had failed. I ended up removing the cover that holds the amp head in the cabinet, and using an ordinary house fan that I found in the back of the club......blowing on the back of the amp the rest of the night, and everything worked fine! 
I don't set drinks on any of my amps, but a different problem I've experienced is when the slip cover is on the amp, I've had to ask folks not to sit on it......"Hey, there's knobs under your butt!"
Glad you're enjoying it!
The only 'issue' I have with mine is an ongoing noise/rattle/flutter that I have around the G when the volume on my Scout is pushed.
I've been going nuts trying to work out where it's coming from. One minute it seems to be from within the amp itself, the next minute it sounds like air leaking around the speaker at the front, other times it seems to be back panel...
In any event, it's inaudible at a gig, but I like to stick a mic on the cab for recording.
I'll get to the bottom of it eventually!
The only 'issue' I have with mine is an ongoing noise/rattle/flutter that I have around the G when the volume on my Scout is pushed.
I've been going nuts trying to work out where it's coming from. One minute it seems to be from within the amp itself, the next minute it sounds like air leaking around the speaker at the front, other times it seems to be back panel...
In any event, it's inaudible at a gig, but I like to stick a mic on the cab for recording.
I'll get to the bottom of it eventually!
Chef
In Memoriam
Bigbajo60: at 12 and 12, you're about out of headroom, really. Truning up from there is only gonna add harmonic content, and then overdrive; IME, IMO.
As far as heat: pusing the Walkabout that hard at 2 ohms is just gonna generate heat. Earlier owners manuals listed 2 ohms as ok. Later ones don't. When I run 2 ohms, I don't push it as hard as you're pusing yours...In fact, I never run mine harder than about 1 o'clock on the master, and 10-11 o'clock on input. If I need more sound than that, I bring a bigger rig.
As far as drinks and amps...I don't like drinks anywhere near my geear, ever. Vents up down or sideways.
Wateroftyne: for your rattle...check and make sure the foam strips on the back panel the secures the head to the combo are still "foamy," and have lots of compression left to make a good seal there. If they're old and dried out and permenantly compressed, the back panel can rattle.
As far as heat: pusing the Walkabout that hard at 2 ohms is just gonna generate heat. Earlier owners manuals listed 2 ohms as ok. Later ones don't. When I run 2 ohms, I don't push it as hard as you're pusing yours...In fact, I never run mine harder than about 1 o'clock on the master, and 10-11 o'clock on input. If I need more sound than that, I bring a bigger rig.
As far as drinks and amps...I don't like drinks anywhere near my geear, ever. Vents up down or sideways.
Wateroftyne: for your rattle...check and make sure the foam strips on the back panel the secures the head to the combo are still "foamy," and have lots of compression left to make a good seal there. If they're old and dried out and permenantly compressed, the back panel can rattle.
So you do run your master a little higher and your input a little lower with good results... alrighty!
Make that two of us! We're not talking about my drinks! We're talking about people who couldn't care less whether or not they inadvertantly 'blow something up'!
Chef
In Memoriam
Yessir.
I'm more or less a "clean and punchy" kinda guy.
So, input lower, master higher.
If you're a grittier svt kinda guy, reverse that.
I'm more or less a "clean and punchy" kinda guy.
So, input lower, master higher.
If you're a grittier svt kinda guy, reverse that.
Question for you guys.
I love my current rig, but as I get closer to the end of undergrad and come closer to the onset of graduate programs, I realize that I'm never going to have as much time for playing bass as I will now. Also, making big moves across the country for schooling really makes the big rig a hassle.
I've pretty much come to terms with myself that if/when my current project stops working out (and it is going fine, should get a few more years out of it) then I'll sell off the big rig and get a scout combo and an extension cab. I'd probably get the 4 ohm combo and 4 ohm cab so I could run it at 2 ohms if I needed it. Will I be happy with this? God knows I don't even come close to using the 1200 watts of the titan (I bought it primarily for the flexibility of having two channels, not the uberwatts). I think that the aproximate 500 watts it puts out at 2 ohms would be more than enough for anything I will be playing while I'm busting my a** at law school and beyond... and will be easier to fit into the Caddy I'm hoping to pick up after undergrad, haha.
I love my current rig, but as I get closer to the end of undergrad and come closer to the onset of graduate programs, I realize that I'm never going to have as much time for playing bass as I will now. Also, making big moves across the country for schooling really makes the big rig a hassle.
I've pretty much come to terms with myself that if/when my current project stops working out (and it is going fine, should get a few more years out of it) then I'll sell off the big rig and get a scout combo and an extension cab. I'd probably get the 4 ohm combo and 4 ohm cab so I could run it at 2 ohms if I needed it. Will I be happy with this? God knows I don't even come close to using the 1200 watts of the titan (I bought it primarily for the flexibility of having two channels, not the uberwatts). I think that the aproximate 500 watts it puts out at 2 ohms would be more than enough for anything I will be playing while I'm busting my a** at law school and beyond... and will be easier to fit into the Caddy I'm hoping to pick up after undergrad, haha.
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