Mesa Walkabout Megathread!

[Bassman62]

Bassman62 - anytime someone mentions pricing you always pop up with the UK pricing problems.
Your starting to sound like a broken record

And I shall continue to do so; you may be foolish enough to accept the situation and quite happily pay through the nose for over priced instruments and gear but I don't.

I bought a Musicman Stingray 5 in Nashville Tn and saved £500 GBP. You would obviously accept the extra £500 as shipping costs if that is what they told you; I don't!

I can get gear sent over to me from the US by a friend and pay UK duty and shipping yet still make a good saving.

When I hear how much they pay for G&L L2500 Tributes in the US compared to the UK it makes my blood boil, but no doubt you find it acceptable.

 

[Paddy]

My point isn't whether or not I agree or disagree with you.

I'm just not sure what you hope to accomplish by posting the same thing over and over and over and over again in a Talkbass thread. To me it's just getting a little boring now...

End of the day, Mesa (along with every manufacturer) will charge whatever they think the market will stand.

As the consumer you buy or don't buy - it's your choice. If Mesa don't give you satisfactory answers to you pricing queries - go elsewhere. If you can import cheaper and want to do that, do it. Else, buy a product you consider more ethically priced. Pretty simple really.

Anyway - I won't say anymore for fear of being labelled a troll and derailing a great thread. I've said my piece once and that's enough for me

 

[emblymouse]

OK, I'm back. Loving the WA more than ever, but I see I'm not the only one who's wishing for a bit more volume at times. Before I stray into the all-tube jungle out there, is there a way to add a slave amp? I'm in tone heaven, it's strictly a power thing. Didn't I see someone running a stack of WA'S?
I can go M-Pulse 600, I don't need the extra EQ or compressor. I'm really fond of the little guy.

 

[Chef]

The MPulse 600 *does not* sound like a bigger Walkabout. Been there, didn't like it at all.
I don't see why you could take fx send to a poweramp.

Putting an 8 ohm Mesa 115 under my Walkabout is very nice.

Also, the head pops right out in under 30 seconds for use with many other bigger, more efficient cabs.

 

[pfschim]

OK, I'm back. Loving the WA more than ever, but I see I'm not the only one who's wishing for a bit more volume at times. Before I stray into the all-tube jungle out there, is there a way to add a slave amp? I'm in tone heaven, it's strictly a power thing. Didn't I see someone running a stack of WA'S?
I can go M-Pulse 600, I don't need the extra EQ or compressor. I'm really fond of the little guy.

I have used a Walkabout 12 combo for mor than 2 years now and went down a similar "need more power" path myself about a year ago. My experience showed me that:

you can use a power amp to get more juice, BUT, (IMO/IME) the WA tone seems to be very tied up in the coupling of the pre and power sections within the WA head. So, my ears told me that the WA pre into a bigger power section was not a louder WA. It sounded ok, just not the same tonal goodness of the WA. I used a Strategy 500 as well as the slave in of an MPulse600 for my experiments.

The MPulse600 is NOT a louder, 600w Walkabout. Whole different tonal animal. Sounds good, and can do a close approximation of the WA (and vice-verse I suppose), but don't grab a 600 thinking that it'll be just a louder WA.
For reference, I did end up buying a Venture 2x12 combo. (Mpluse600 driving a PH 2x12 cab).

You can run the 4ohm WA into a 4ohm ext cab (I personally use a Scout 15) and you will be squeezing ~500w out of the WA head. Decent additional amount of power, and the addl cab really builds the overall sound level, but by no means does it double or anything.

Ultimately, you can use 2 (or more) Walkabouts and really scale up the volume. I had the oppty to do this on just one gig using the dual outputs of a Radial box. It was very cool, particularly when I got a few moments to adjust the tone from each one slightly differently using the crossover controls and a little bit of EQ tweaking. Very nice! .. but it did not compel me to go out and buy another WA for that purpose.

I think there is a photo out on the web of Ben Kenney of Incubus with a 4 or six way stack of Walkabouts in some wine red tolex with tan grills. Cool photo.

good luck

 

[loonybob123]

I have used a Walkabout 12 combo for mor than 2 years now and went down a similar "need more power" path myself about a year ago. My experience showed me that:

you can use a power amp to get more juice, BUT, (IMO/IME) the WA tone seems to be very tied up in the coupling of the pre and power sections within the WA head. So, my ears told me that the WA pre into a bigger power section was not a louder WA. It sounded ok, just not the same tonal goodness of the WA. I used a Strategy 500 as well as the slave in of an MPulse600 for my experiments.

The MPulse600 is NOT a louder, 600w Walkabout. Whole different tonal animal. Sounds good, and can do a close approximation of the WA (and vice-verse I suppose), but don't grab a 600 thinking that it'll be just a louder WA.
For reference, I did end up buying a Venture 2x12 combo. (Mpluse600 driving a PH 2x12 cab).

You can run the 4ohm WA into a 4ohm ext cab (I personally use a Scout 15) and you will be squeezing ~500w out of the WA head. Decent additional amount of power, and the addl cab really builds the overall sound level, but by no means does it double or anything.

Ultimately, you can use 2 (or more) Walkabouts and really scale up the volume. I had the oppty to do this on just one gig using the dual outputs of a Radial box. It was very cool, particularly when I got a few moments to adjust the tone from each one slightly differently using the crossover controls and a little bit of EQ tweaking. Very nice! .. but it did not compel me to go out and buy another WA for that purpose.

I think there is a photo out on the web of Ben Kenney of Incubus with a 4 or six way stack of Walkabouts in some wine red tolex with tan grills. Cool photo.

good luck

I just got this baby two days ago and I am loving it. In regards to wiring two 4 ohms together(mine is a 4 ohm). Didn't it say in the manual it wasn't safe to run a 2 ohm load for any extensive amount of time? If anyone has any info that would be great because I really want to hook up another cab to my scout.

 

[pfschim]

In regards to wiring two 4 ohms together(mine is a 4 ohm). Didn't it say in the manual it wasn't safe to run a 2 ohm load for any extensive amount of time? If anyone has any info that would be great because I really want to hook up another cab to my scout.

loonybob - greetings fellow happy WA user. There are tons of posts here that talk about other users experiences running the WA @ 2ohms. Generally, experience shows (mine included) it's no problem at all. Do a search for the details here on TB.

When I bought my 4ohm Scout 15 ext cab, Mesa told me that it was basically ok, they just suggested that, when running at 2ohms, you should try not to push the master too far past 12 noon. I think the warning in the manual is just to cover themselves in case of total amp melt down. So far, I have not read one report of this happening, and the WA has been out for quite a while now (3-4 years).

Ultimately, as the owner, you have to decide what you want to try, but the general view here is that the max risk you face is that the amp goes into protective thermal shut down to prevent real damage. You be the judge.

good luck

 

[loonybob123]

loonybob - greetings fellow happy WA user. There are tons of posts here that talk about other users experiences running the WA @ 2ohms. Generally, experience shows (mine included) it's no problem at all. Do a search for the details here on TB.

When I bought my 4ohm Scout 15 ext cab, Mesa told me that it was basically ok, they just suggested that, when running at 2ohms, you should try not to push the master too far past 12 noon. I think the warning in the manual is just to cover themselves in case of total amp melt down. So far, I have not read one report of this happening, and the WA has been out for quite a while now (3-4 years).

Ultimately, as the owner, you have to decide what you want to try, but the general view here is that the max risk you face is that the amp goes into protective thermal shut down to prevent real damage. You be the judge.

good luck

Hmm ok I don't want to sound lazy but searching"walkabout and 2 ohms loads" will be kinda hard considering I can't search 2 and some of the other generic words. Does anyone else in this thread have any experiences running a WA at 2 ohms that they want to share?

 

[bigbajo60]

I've got the WA12 + Radiator Ext. cab, both rated at 4 ohms. I've been running this rig for a good 2 1/2 months now, and can't even begin to come up with enough good things to say about this rig! Lightweight, loud, flexible, tone-to-die-for (did I mention LOUD?)... and no, I haven't experienced any problems with thermal shutdown.

Now, don't get me wrong... it does get warm by the end of the night, but a few minutes' cool-down time, and she's ready for the slipcover and the trip home!

The only concern I have continues to be the fact that I regularly play in places where the crowd is right up against the area where I'm set up, and I'm constantly worrying about the stray droplet of beverage (or even condensation off of a bottle...) that may find its way through one of those upward facing vents and into the electronic guts of the amp!

Call me paranoid, but that scenario gives me the heebie-jeebies!

 

[RickenBoogie]

Another 2 ohm WA user here. I do the Scout 12 plus another 4 ohm 212, and never push the master volume past noon. Never had a problem, over 18 months of doing this a moderate amount of time. (I do have a much larger amp I use for stupid loud). Just be careful, and use your ears. If something starts sounding bad, turn it down. All should be well.

 

[pfschim]

Hmm ok I don't want to sound lazy but ....

dude that is pretty lazy. Look in the Walkabout Megathread (tip: search on "Walkabout Megathread ohms") and you will see much more about the 2ohm topic. And, look there, just above my post, other happy 2ohm WA users have made it even easier for you by posting their experience too. Isn't TB a helpful and friendly place ?

There are others who run WA's at 2ohms too, but I'm not going to give you any more web search tips

enjoy your Walkabout ... it's a pretty cool tool

 

[62bass]

Hmm ok I don't want to sound lazy but searching"walkabout and 2 ohms loads" will be kinda hard considering I can't search 2 and some of the other generic words. Does anyone else in this thread have any experiences running a WA at 2 ohms that they want to share?

You really don't have to do a search to read all the reports of users operating at 2 ohms. Just read all the posts in the Walkabout threads. Of course, there are so many that you could devote an afternoon to it.

I myself have run the Walkabout at 2 ohms using a 4 ohm extension cab and at 2.67 ohms using an 8 ohms extension cab on gigs for 4 hour stretches. Obviously, adding an extra cab gives a much bigger bottom end and since the little 12 in the Scout doesn't have to work as hard, playing at the same volume can clean up speaker distortion as well, if you've been pushing the Scout cab to its limits. I've never had the amp shut down due to overheating although I didn't have everything cranked. With two cabinets and about 500 watts available it got way louder than I ever needed. Earsplitting actually. If you still need more than that then you really should get a much bigger amp, say around 1000 watts or more.

A Walkabout Scout combo with an additional Scout cabinet can get pretty darn loud and handle some pretty big rooms. But, if you're playing big rooms and outdoor venues you'll be going through the PA for the front of house sound and the Walkabout will be just for stage monitoring. That's assuming you're playing places that are equipped with a professional PA and a competent operator. The Walkabout and an extension cab can fill some big stages unless you're competing with guitarists who just don't know how to control the sound they produce. Usually that's the case with less than professional bands.

 

[loonybob123]

Stupid question but where do I find the serial number on my walkabout combo. Is it on the head(do I have to take it out of the combo?). Was just filling out the warranty and looked at it and couldn't find it.

 

[Chef]

I think it's on the rear panel, where the speaker outputs are...I think.

 

[jimmyfamous]

I just purchased 2 Vintage Powerhouse 2x10's.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Tried them out with the boys last weekend.
SWEEEET!!

 

[Bassman62]

End of the day, Mesa (along with every manufacturer) will charge whatever they think the market will stand.

Well then somedodys got there summs wrong.

And that is why you see very few Messa Walkabouts in Europe compared to what they could sell.
I know several Bassists who thought the one that I borrowed was top class until they heard the price.
I'm a regular gigging (not a rehearsal room) bassist and yet I've only seen two being gigged in my region.

 

[Bassman62]

A Walkabout Scout combo with an additional Scout cabinet can get pretty darn loud and handle some pretty big rooms. But, if you're playing big rooms and outdoor venues you'll be going through the PA for the front of house sound and the Walkabout will be just for stage monitoring. That's assuming you're playing places that are equipped with a professional PA and a competent operator. The Walkabout and an extension cab can fill some big stages unless you're competing with guitarists who just don't know how to control the sound they produce. Usually that's the case with less than professional bands.

Don't know what it is like in the US but in the UK most of the venues don't provide PA or sound man, out of my four recent bands only one had full PA the rest relied on backline with PA just for vocals.

 

[SMASH]

Are any of you carting your Walkabout in a laptop bag or something similar? If so, which model? Links please?

I have the Mesa backpack, but I find it's too tight a fit to futz with, and the handle is poorly stitched, plus the sharp back corners of the amp end up shredding/catching on the inside making it even more frustrating. Not a good design by Mesa on that backpak, IMO. Fooey.

 

[::::BASSIST::::]

Hey Smash, I bought an "aluminum" looking briefcase at walmart for $20 that fits my WT400 very well (which is about the same size as the walkabout). Its designed for tools and you can rip the stuff out and still have room for a mic, tuner, cables etc. It has some foam on the inside and it also has locking latches. Its not super well built by any means but it seems to do the job okay.

 

[GRoberts]

I got a Gig Skinz Bag from Guitar center that is fur lined, and has a velcro strap to wrap around the Walkabout. The head just slides right in the bag. ANd there are a couple handy zippered pockets outside the bag as well. I think they called it a mixer bag or something. Very nice, and great fit for the Walkabout.

Are any of you carting your Walkabout in a laptop bag or something similar? If so, which model? Links please?

I have the Mesa backpack, but I find it's too tight a fit to futz with, and the handle is poorly stitched, plus the sharp back corners of the amp end up shredding/catching on the inside making it even more frustrating. Not a good design by Mesa on that backpak, IMO. Fooey.