Mesa Walkabout Megathread!

[SMASH]

Thanks :::BASSIT:::. I've seen ones like that at Home Depot too I believe.

I'd prefer something soft, so as not to ding/damage things when bumping into 'em, but that might do if the corners are rounded. Any other suggestions appreciated.


EDIT : Groberts, thanks. That sounds like what I want. Is there also room inside for pedals and whatnot, or is the amp fitting snug?


I should perhaps say something positive too. I've recently discovered what for me is a superiority of the Walkabout to the LMII. Something in the low end of the Walkabout is both richer yet tighter at the same time. The LMII almost seems ... rubbery? slow? soft? by comparison. For me it's a tactile thing.

I got used to the Scout on one of my gigs, and one week switched to the LMII and that difference threw me off. I thought maybe I imagined it, it was an off night, or maybe it was the cab change.

I then tried both amps through the same cab, also using recorded music via a CD player, and the difference is certainly audible. The Walkabout just has more life to the sound too I think. I've had great results with the LMII in the past, but for small amps I've settled on the Walkabout. It can make a huge amount of sound paired with my Schroeders and as I said the low notes are both richer and better defined which really helps me with the reggae vibes.

 

[SMASH]

Could anyone that has the luggage attachment to the Scout please answer ...

- how far do the brackets protrude?

- how does the cart actually attach to the brackets ... it's quite sturdy is it?

- how easy is it to attach/detach?


Much thanks.

 

[p0k]

Could anyone that has the luggage attachment to the Scout please answer ...

- how far do the brackets protrude?

- how does the cart actually attach to the brackets ... it's quite sturdy is it?

- how easy is it to attach/detach?


Much thanks.

I have one and the brackets protrude maybe an inch or two...not so much that you couldn't put the slip cover on over it...although i did end up cutting 2 holes in my cover so i could attach the handle with the cover on.

It attatches by a spring loaded thing...its hard to explain, but you hook it over the top then press down on the bottom and it snaps in. the attachment thing itself isn't all that sturdy as the brackets and pieces are made of plastic...i already have a crack in mine that i've been meaning to superglue. the wheels are quite small too and you have to be very careful when pulling it when outdoors...the smallest crack or pebble if hit at the right angle can make quite the bump.

its very easy to attach and detach.

hope that helps...

 

[SMASH]

Thanks. Is yours one of the newer ones with the little spray guards on the wheels? I've read those are a better build and travel better (wider spacing and rubber wheels).

If it's possible, I'd really appreciate knowing how far the brackets protrude. I'm thinking of putting one of these on the bottom of a cab, and would like to know if the feet would allow for clearance vs. the brackets once the cab is sat down or if that won't be possible. By doing it this way, I could still use the cab cover

 

[p0k]

hmmm, mine might be one of the older ones then because i definitely don't have rubber wheels...they are like rollerblade wheels.

and i guess i was a bit off in my estimate of how far the brackets protrude...when the handle isn't attached they stick out a tad over 0.5" is that what you wanted to know?

not sure if these measurements would be the same on the newer model...maybe someone else could chime in.

 

[pfschim]

Could anyone that has the luggage attachment to the Scout please answer ...

- how far do the brackets protrude?

- how does the cart actually attach to the brackets ... it's quite sturdy is it?

- how easy is it to attach/detach?


Much thanks.

I have the Mesa luggage rack attachment on my Walkabout 12.

FWIW, I like mine very much. IMO, better than a separate cart because it is attached and you don't have to figure out where to put it while you are working. I gig my WA about 2-3 x month in the slow season (after New Years), and 4-6 x month in the busy season, plus at least one rehearsal a week on top of that. So, mine definitely gets used.

if what you want to know is how far off the side of the amp the brackets protrude, it looks to be a bit less than 1 cm (~7.5mm). The bracket plus the cart/handle looks to be ~5cm off the side of the amp.

the cart handle attaches with a full width spring loaded clip on the bottom bracket. You attach the fixed lip of the top bracket, then you squeeze the bottom bracket in place. Very easy process.

After putting mine on and off for a few months when I first got it, I now just leave it on all the time. When I play, I just retract the handle all the way down and it is no trouble at all, no rattles or buzzing from the rack at all.

Durability - it's a pretty durable rig, but it is just a plastic luggage rack arrangement, so I'm not sure how to answer you on this question. I tend to stack my gig-bag on top of the WA for a one trip load in/out, so that another 10lbs of crap on top of the WA weight. Seems to handle it fine.

The wheels are on the small-ish side, so it won't work great on loose gravel for example. But I've had it on brick pavers, concrete, packed earth/grass, rough asphalt, wooden ties (don't ask!) ... and it stood up to all that just fine.

I have noticed that how you place the brackets on the side of the WA is really key. Most important is to make sure that the bracket placement puts the wheels far enough down the side of the amp that they don't flex back under load and grab the edge of the amp. I saw another player with one attached and he was really unhappy with it because he had placed the brackets a bit to high. On the other extreme, you want to make sure that the wheels are not too FAR down either .. so they don't offset the amp when it is sitting on the floor. That said, it's really easy to get them placed just right, you just have to think about it first.

hope this helps.

 

[pfschim]

just read the latest posts ...

I've had both units .. the older one where the wheels were closer together, and the latest one with the longer axle, better wheels and the little "fenders" to reduce the back-spray when you go though the rain and such.

 

[Chef]

I don't have the Mesa one, I have this:
http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/navigate.do?dest=5&item=370146

It's rated for 150 lbs, folds up small, and is useful for many other chores.

hth;
alan

 

[62bass]

I don't have the Mesa one, I have this:
http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/navigate.do?dest=5&item=370146

It's rated for 150 lbs, folds up small, and is useful for many other chores.

hth;
alan

I have one like that. They're excellent. I used mine a while back to move a washing machine across the basement while installing a new one. It folds up and hangs out of the way on a peg on the wall.

 

[SMASH]

Thanks so much. Very helpful. Much appreciated.

Pfschim, is the wheel base on the newer ones adequate for the 15" Scout as well or does that get too wobbly? Presume the full weight of the combo in this case, not just the extension cab.

I have one of those folding carts already suggested by Chef, but really don't like to use it unless I know it'll be a long carry. Too much cart-folding and other fuss (mine has the goofy folding handle rather than telescoping), and at times a bit awkward/wobbly for larger stuff. For something small and 50 lbs like the Scout I'd rather carry it by hand and struggle if I have to (also carrying gigbag, bass, etc.). Like Pfschim I'd much rather have something attached like this system, perhaps with brackets on various cabs, and then movements around stage during setup and such are much easier too, which you won't use a folding cart for since it'd already be put away at that point.

Thanks again.

 

[Folmeister]

I have the older rolling attachment on my 15 cab and, frankly, I hate it. It may have been poorly mounted (it was there when I bought it). The wheels catch on everything and flex so much they have rubbed through the cab's hide down to bare wood. I WISH I had little splash-guards on mine! I can't recommend it.

 

[pfschim]

Thanks so much. Very helpful. Much appreciated.

Pfschim, is the wheel base on the newer ones adequate for the 15" Scout as well or does that get too wobbly? Presume the full weight of the combo in this case, not just the extension cab.

I have one of those folding carts already suggested by Chef, but really don't like to use it unless I know it'll be a long carry. Too much cart-folding and other fuss (mine has the goofy folding handle rather than telescoping), and at times a bit awkward/wobbly for larger stuff. For something small and 50 lbs like the Scout I'd rather carry it by hand and struggle if I have to (also carrying gigbag, bass, etc.). Like Pfschim I'd much rather have something attached like this system, perhaps with brackets on various cabs, and then movements around stage during setup and such are much easier too, which you won't use a folding cart for since it'd already be put away at that point.

Thanks again.

The wheels on the newer model luggage rack thing are just about at the very corners (maybe .5 inch set back) of the WA 12 (which is 15" deep), and just set back about 2.5 inches from the edges of the 15 (which is ~17" deep).

I use mine with the full WA 12 combo, plus my gig bag on top, and the weight does not seem to be an issue. I have even set the Scout 15 on top of the WA 12 for some load-ins. Its not the greatest way to do it, but it works ok. I really like teh convenience of a one trip load-in/out

I originally bought the old version when I got my Walkabout 12 combo. After I had some problems with it (tipping mostly), I called Mesa customer relations, and they sent me (for free) the newer, wider wheelbase model, which I use now. I took the mounting brackets that came with the new one, and attached them to my Scout 15 cab, so I could attach the wheel/handle to either the WA 12 combo, or the Scout 15. Works for me.

I have to agree with Folmeisters post. The original cart design had much too short of a wheel base and the amp tended to tip a lot. the new one does not have this problem at all, and the "fenders" protect the cab from splash back and the scuffing he mentioned.

 

[p0k]

I have the older rolling attachment on my 15 cab and, frankly, I hate it. It may have been poorly mounted (it was there when I bought it). The wheels catch on everything and flex so much they have rubbed through the cab's hide down to bare wood. I WISH I had little splash-guards on mine! I can't recommend it.

+1 this is basically my thoughts on the old version (never tried the newer one). my canvas is worn down to the wood as well.

 

[blmeier7]

Can anyone provide me with more info on the fan noise of the Walkabout head? I have read that these can be relatively noisey. I am looking at this head for smaller gigs and at home practice.

Also, does anyone know what the going price is for just the head? I don't have a Mesa dealer anywhere near me to check this out.

 

[BillyB_from_LZ]

Can anyone provide me with more info on the fan noise of the Walkabout head? ....

The original fan on mine was obnoxiously noisy. I replaced it with the very quiet fan that Vic suggests much earlier in this thread. A very simple swap, four screws and two quick solder joints (well, if you aren't comfortable soldering, it might not be simple, but it is straightforward). It's very quiet now!

I don't know why instrument amplifier manufacturers use noisy fans (maybe to reassure their partially deaf customers that it's working). The amp won't be blasting all the time, for goodness sake. The fan in the '73 SVT I had and the one in the nearly new SVT-CL that I'm looking at as I type this are noisier still.

But the task of changing out the noisy fan is a small price to pay for the sonic sweetness of the Walkabout.

Since Guitar Center stopped carrying Mesa Bass gear, I don't even know where to buy one around me. They're $500ish on the used market.

 

[blmeier7]

Thanks BillyB!

I would probably go with a used one if I was planning on swapping the fan. My guess is that the warranty would be void if the fan is not factory??

I will have to do some more checking into that fan as it might be a little quieter than what I have on my B1500 head too.

 

[BillyB_from_LZ]

Thanks BillyB!

I would probably go with a used one if I was planning on swapping the fan. My guess is that the warranty would be void if the fan is not factory??

I will have to do some more checking into that fan as it might be a little quieter than what I have on my B1500 head too.

If one gently peels back the adhesive label on the original fan and unsolders it there (rather than cutting wires, etc.), the original can be reinstalled without leaving a trace should warranty work be required.

I owned a B1500 for a few days and don't recall the fan being anywhere as loud as the original Walkabout fan.

 

[wateroftyne]

FWIW I have a newer-style Scout and the fan is barely noticeable.

 

[BillyB_from_LZ]

FWIW I have a newer-style Scout and the fan is barely noticeable.

That's encouraging! Have you used the amp outside of the combo? I wonder if the cabinet attenuates the fan noise.

 

[wateroftyne]

That's encouraging! Have you used the amp outside of the combo? I wonder if the cabinet attenuates the fan noise.

I have, and again it's no problem. The fan is never an issue, even at quiet acoustic gigs where the audience are almost silent.

The only time I can think it would be an issue is mic'ing the cab in the studio.. it might be noticeable then.