Mesa Walkabout volume at 8ohm

[ale29]

Walkabout head is rated at around 180W at 8ohms. This sounds like it wouldn't be enough for a gig or even a loud rehearsal, but still...
How would this head work with a single Orange OBC 115? (both volume and tone-wise)
At the moment, having a Fusion 550 running @ 350W, I have a lot of headroom still left (heck, it was enough even through a single Behringer 1x15 8ohm cab, which I suppose isn't the most efficient cab in the world).
Also, is the Mesa capable of a pleasing overdrive suitable for rock when pushed? I'm not looking for tons of clean headroom anyway

 

[RickenBoogie]

Yes on pushing it into a mild overdrive, and maybe on the volume issue. But, it's not the 185 watts that will limit the volume, but rather the single 15" speaker. Add a 2nd spkr, and get loud.

 

[mikeswals]

I dislike using a single 15" speaker left trying to compete against everyone in a rock band setting. Two 15's is awesome. The Walkabout is a great head and will keep up just fine. Yup, your speaker is the limiting factor.

 

[ale29]

I know that a single 1x15 stand alone cab may sound limiting, but it served me just fine for now (not playing really loud, the only time I had to play outdoor i didn't even need to bring my amplification because i went right to the PA). Problem is, going from a Fusion 550 on a single 1x15 to a Walkabout on the same cab would lead to a noticeable drop in volume?

Why did I post that in the bass section, can I move the thread myself in the correct section?

 

[Colonel Monk]

Howdy:

+1 on the other feedback. It's almost a blessing you posted it somewhere else - you might get a more direct answer instead of pages of blahblah.

I have two walkabout head and play them with all manner of cabs.

Honestly, no you shouldn't notice much if any difference, understanding that with a single 15 you can't really pump more than 180W at 8 ohms into it anyway and get a resulting increase in volume.

Just last night at one of our rehearsal locations, I was using my walkabout into an Eden 15 and it's PLENTY loud at half volume to keep up with a drummer and loud guitar player. That particular rig I usually also have a 210 eden that I wasn't using - and with that you can shake the foundation without trying.

Love the walkabout with walkabout cabs which are at another location. I have been working on replacing the drivers in the scout cabs with 8 ohm - I have recently decided to believe others here that having a single 4 ohm speaker is pure marketing ******** and doesn't result in louder rig. It just magically creates more heat or something, dunno exactly.

But it dawned on me that if the cabs were 8 ohms I could run up to 4 of them with a single head - that would be a mighty wall of walkabout scout - and it's now a goal of mine.

Anyway, it's friday morning, I'm recently unemployed, and rambling...

Suffice it to say that a walkabout head can punish a single 15 just as well as your other amp.

rock on,

Monk

 

[ale29]

Thanks alot.
Now, another question: if I buy the head from the USA, will it be 110V only? (I live in Europe, 220v here)