Mesa Walkabout Megathread!

[GRoberts]

well, I'll chime in here to report that, some months ago, I decided to try my Walkabout on its side in a rehearsal.

Comments above about the function of the passive radiator not withstanding, it did change the sound of the cab.
To my ear it made the deep full low end that the Walkabout is known fo drop out to a noticeable degree, made it a thinner sounding cab.

Because of all the smart/technical types here on TB, I was prompted to read up on passive radiators and how they function. I do understand that the bottom loaded radiator does not produce sound itself, and really just operates in lieu of a port for the purposes of tuning the cab, thus allowing it to deliver more lows than the simple box size would suggest. But, setting a Walkabout on its side changes the tonal character of the amp. The same is true of the passive radiator design Scout cabs too (I have a Scout 15 that I tried it on).

No idea what the explanation is, but there you go.

+1 ! I tried my Walkabout Scout on it's side, and also elevated on a stand and my perception was that of less fullness when it was off the floor, or on its side. It was easily noticeable. Especially at louder volumes. I ALWAYS prefer my Walkabout Scout vertical, on the floor.

 

[lomo]

+1 ! I tried my Walkabout Scout on it's side, and also elevated on a stand and my perception was that of less fullness when it was off the floor, or on its side. It was easily noticeable. Especially at louder volumes. I ALWAYS prefer my Walkabout Scout vertical and on the floor.

Thanks. I guess theory is theory, but there's nothing like empirical evidence.

 

[GRoberts]

Thanks. I guess theory is theory, but there's nothing like empirical evidence.

Keep in mind that my perception of less bass and less fullness when my Walkabout Scout was elevated may have NOTHING to do with the passive radiator being further from the floor.

When you elevate any small 1x12 cabinet, or any other other cabinet for that matter, you get less coupling. When I elevated my Walkabout Scout, the lesser bass, punch and fullness may have everything to do with the sonic result that occurs when you elevate "ANY" cabinet. Buehler?

 

[pfschim]

apropos of nothing much at all .....

Just noticed that this Walkabout Megathread has the second highest post/reply count in the TB Amp section (after the more general Aguilar thread).

cool, nice to see such active, informative and long lived thread for the well respected Walkabout.

 

[RickenBoogie]

Amen to that. Plus, we've moved away from some of the hate, (jealousy) from a few pages back.

 

[Chef]

Here's what to do when your fx loop jacks make your walkabout sound like arse, cut in and out, etc. In fact, if you W.A. is sounding symptomatic, try this first.

Get some fine grit wet/dry sandpaper. I use ~320 grit.
Roll a small piece up tightly, insert deeply into your jacks, and twist; pulling in and out a little as you do.
(spare me the jokes, I'm trying to help y'all!)
When you pull out the sandpaper, I bet it's gonna have smudge/filth/ick on it. This can be from bar smoke, oxidation, dirt, dust...I bought a 1980 G&L that had been sitting idle so long that jack had corroded over on the inside where you couldn't see it to the point where it would pass no signal at all!!!!

Next, I take a q-tip liberally coated with Corrosion-X and swab the inside of the jack. This removes more schmuck and sandpaper remnants, and coats the inside with a protective and conductive cleaner/lubricant. I do this to amp input and output jacks occasionally, bass output jacks, and cable ends too, every once and awhile...

I discovered Corrosion-X in the marine service world, where they use it to clean and lube saltwater corroded electrical connections. Info:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[stingray56funk]

Here's what to do when your fx loop jacks make your walkabout sound like arse, cut in and out, etc. In fact, if you W.A. is sounding symptomatic, try this first.

Get some fine grit wet/dry sandpaper. I use ~320 grit.
Roll a small piece up tightly, insert deeply into your jacks, and twist; pulling in and out a little as you do.
(spare me the jokes, I'm trying to help y'all!)
When you pull out the sandpaper, I bet it's gonna have smudge/filth/ick on it. This can be from bar smoke, oxidation, dirt, dust...I bought a 1980 G&L that had been sitting idle so long that jack had corroded over on the inside where you couldn't see it to the point where it would pass no signal at all!!!!

Next, I take a q-tip liberally coated with Corrosion-X and swab the inside of the jack. This removes more schmuck and sandpaper remnants, and coats the inside with a protective and conductive cleaner/lubricant. I do this to amp input and output jacks occasionally, bass output jacks, and cable ends too, every once and awhile...

I discovered Corrosion-X in the marine service world, where they use it to clean and lube saltwater corroded electrical connections. Info:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Thanks so much for this Chef! Great information here!

 

[Chef]

sure thing.
i always have a couple of short patch cables in my gear box...i typically use them to go from DB>lil preamp box>amplifier...so, I have spares, and can use one to patch across the WA if it starts gankin' on the job. I'd recommend carrying one with this head...

 

[lomo]

Here's what to do when your fx loop jacks make your walkabout sound like arse, cut in and out, etc. In fact, if you W.A. is sounding symptomatic, try this first.

Get some fine grit wet/dry sandpaper. I use ~320 grit.
Roll a small piece up tightly, insert deeply into your jacks, and twist; pulling in and out a little as you do.
(spare me the jokes, I'm trying to help y'all!)
When you pull out the sandpaper, I bet it's gonna have smudge/filth/ick on it. This can be from bar smoke, oxidation, dirt, dust...I bought a 1980 G&L that had been sitting idle so long that jack had corroded over on the inside where you couldn't see it to the point where it would pass no signal at all!!!!




Next, I take a q-tip liberally coated with Corrosion-X and swab the inside of the jack. This removes more schmuck and sandpaper remnants, and coats the inside with a protective and conductive cleaner/lubricant. I do this to amp input and output jacks occasionally, bass output jacks, and cable ends too, every once and awhile...

I discovered Corrosion-X in the marine service world, where they use it to clean and lube saltwater corroded electrical connections. Info:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

One might call it a quarter inch enema....badaboom

 

[stingray56funk]

sure thing.
i always have a couple of short patch cables in my gear box...i typically use them to go from DB>lil preamp box>amplifier...so, I have spares, and can use one to patch across the WA if it starts gankin' on the job. I'd recommend carrying one with this head...

Done and done. I've got a super nice Livewires Elite cable shoved in there right now.

 

[pfschim]

This removes more schmuck and ....

eerrrrrmmmm .... schmuck would refer to the actual male member... somewhat alluded to in the using of the rolled up sand paper to schtup the jack.

Perhaps you really meant schmutz here Herr Schef ...

 

[Chef]

uhhh...ok...whatever you choose to call the gunk is fine by me.

nothing at all implied on my end.

 

[pfschim]

only 8 more posts to 1k !

 

[pfschim]

uhhh...ok...whatever you choose to call the gunk is fine by me.

nothing at all implied on my end.

totally understood good sir .. just kibbitzing on a long weekend Friday .. yer such a mentsh

 

[stingray56funk]

995!!! Can we do it tonight?!!!

 

[emblymouse]

Hey- I'm going to plug 2 new Schroeder 15+L's into my Walkabout soon, I just put in my order with Jorg.
In mit der woof-out vit der schmutz.

 

[pfschim]

sure can ...

all joking aside I picked up an Accugroove Tri15 from a fellow TBer to run with my Walkabout. I already run the 12" combo with a Scout 15 for more cone-age when needed. I will be trying the Tri115 out by itself and with the 12" combo this weekend and will report back on anything of significance.

The Tri115 already sounds great driven by the Walkabout head. I have to set it up with the combo and try it out before a gig on Sunday.

stay tuned

 

[pfschim]

In mit der woof-out vit der schmutz.

excellent .. thats the spirit ! almost there .. who will get the coveted post 1000 ?

 

[stingray56funk]

sure can ...

all joking aside I picked up an Accugroove Tri15 from a fellow TBer to run with my Walkabout. I already run the 12" combo with a Scout 15 for more cone-age when needed. I will be trying the Tri115 out by itself and with the 12" combo this weekend and will report back on anything of significance.

The Tri115 already sounds great driven by the Walkabout head. I have to set it up with the combo and try it out before a gig on Sunday.

stay tuned

Wow...I bet your Tri115 sounds awesome with the Walkabout. Seems like it would be a fantastic combination. I have not tried an Accugroove cabinet but I sure would want to give the Tri115 a go one day if I were to play an Accugroove.

 

[stingray56funk]

Hey- I'm going to plug 2 new Schroeder 15+L's into my Walkabout soon, I just put in my order with Jorg.
In mit der woof-out vit der schmutz.

That will be huge! I'm a big fan of 15s and two of those Schroeders will move some air. Sound versatile. We will certainly need a review!