School Me On Walkabout

[Old Fart]

These have a good reputation and I need a combo. Were there different versions? Was there a "bad" version? I know the fans can be noisy.

Were they all "4 Ohm" heads? Were there early and late models, and do they differ (except cosmetically).

What does the word "Scout" mean? Was this just the model name of the combo....."Walkabout Scout?"

I assume they have good speakers in them, right?

 

[Killed_by_Death]

I'm unable to school anyone, but there's definitely folks here who can educate you.
Word on the street is they're the best damn thing EVER!

Apparently the MOSFET power-amp is the bee's knees.

 

[Old Fart]

Thanks, Lemmy.

 

[oldrocker]

These have a good reputation and I need a combo. Were there different versions? Was there a "bad" version? I know the fans can be noisy.

Were they all "4 Ohm" heads? Were there early and late models, and do they differ (except cosmetically).

What does the word "Scout" mean? Was this just the model name of the combo....."Walkabout Scout?"

I assume they have good speakers in them, right?

This may be a good place to start:

Mesa Boogie Walkabout Mega-thread Part 10

 

[Wasnex]

These have a good reputation and I need a combo. Were there different versions? Was there a "bad" version? I know the fans can be noisy.

Were they all "4 Ohm" heads? Were there early and late models, and do they differ (except cosmetically).

What does the word "Scout" mean? Was this just the model name of the combo....."Walkabout Scout?"

I assume they have good speakers in them, right?

People loved Walkabouts for their tone and tubey feel. They are somewhat limited if you need high volume. The Scout cabs have a passive radiator in the bottom that fires down into the floor. There was a 12" and a 15" version.

I believe the cabs were available in the convertible combo version and also an extension version

Image from post Mesa Walkabout cabinet question.

The current WD-800 is largely modeled to sound and feel a lot like the old Walkabout, but with a lot more headroom. There is no current equivalent of the speaker cabs.

 

[agedhorse]

The Walkabouts are recommended for a minimum load of 4 ohms only. 2 ohm operation is not recommended. There are some parts that are becoming unavailable (or very limited availability) so be sure that if you buy one used you have the opportunity to test it thoroughly.

 

[Old Fart]

Here is my guess. Tell me if I am incorrect:

Sure, a 1" combo amp will have limited volume. It surely would be louder than a B15N, and perhaps it is as loud as a combo of this size could be expected to be. Correct?

And....I could add another 15" (8 Ohm) cab. Right?

 

[Wasnex]

Here is my guess. Tell me if I am incorrect:

Sure, a 1" combo amp will have limited volume. It surely would be louder than a B15N, and perhaps it is as loud as a combo of this size could be expected to be. Correct?

And....I could add another 15" (8 Ohm) cab. Right?

It really depends on your volume needs. I only had the opportunity to try the Walkabout head with the 4 ohm Scout extension cabs so I could not test with two cabs. I liked the sound, but I thought both the 12" and 15" were extremely lacking in volume This is IMHO so YMMV.

Here is a related thread Walkabout Scout + 12" Extension Cab = how much usable output?

Sorry I can't find the specs for either cab. Pretty sure the 15" had a bit more output than the 12", but my recollection is neither cab could take the full output of the amp without bottoming out....or maybe the amp was just starting to clip. I was really surprised after reading how much everyone seemed to love these amps.

I preferred the 15", but it seems most people prefer the sound and portability of the 12". Mesa Boogie Walkabout Scout 12 vs 15

I wound up buying a GK 700RB/112 combo. It was louder, but not really satisfying to use with cover bands without an extension cab. It had plenty of headroom for jazz combo.

 

[RocknRay]

I had an early red face Walkabout, s/n 158. The sound was so good in the store (the late, lamented Larry Morgan Music in Garland,TX) through an 8-ohm Bergantino 1x12 that I bought both on the spot (had only intended to get a speaker on that trip). Added an Aguilar 1x12 and there was my rock ‘n roll rig for a couple years. Not super loud but the sound quality was just superb. Sorry to say, the amp went through several episodes of power supply failure that was becoming a known problem; repairs were short-lived. Traded it for a GK 1001 which was sterile by comparison, but louder, and a workhorse.

 

[Old Fart]

It looks like I have PLENTY-O-LITERATURE on these units to keep me busy all weekend so perhaps I will stop asking you guys stoopid questions but first....one more:

These amps can handle a 4-Ohm load, the combos come with an onboard speaker and there is/was an extension cab available. I have to assume the onboard speaker, and the extension cab, are 8 Ohms each. Otherwise, if the onboard speaker is already 4 Ohms then the extension speaker cannot be used. Am I correct?

 

[Wasnex]

It looks like I have PLENTY-O-LITERATURE on these units to keep me busy all weekend so perhaps I will stop asking you guys stoopid questions but first....one more:

These amps can handle a 4-Ohm load, the combos come with an onboard speaker and there is/was an extension cab available. I have to assume the onboard speaker, and the extension cab, are 8 Ohms each. Otherwise, if the onboard speaker is already 4 Ohms then the extension speaker cannot be used. Am I correct?

The Scout speakers could be ordered in either 4 or 8 ohms, so it depends upon which speakers you get.

8 ohm replacement drivers are available here:
Speaker - 12" Scout Neodymium 300 - 8 ohm
Speaker - 15" Scout Neodymium 300 - 8 ohm

 

[Kukulkan61]

The cabs were either 8 ohm or 4ohm, I love my walkabout because you can take out the head and use it with other cabs as long as you don't go under 4ohm. total load, I sometimes use my head with a Mesa 12 and 15 !!

 

[two fingers]

These have a good reputation and I need a combo. Were there different versions? Was there a "bad" version? I know the fans can be noisy.

Were they all "4 Ohm" heads? Were there early and late models, and do they differ (except cosmetically).

What does the word "Scout" mean? Was this just the model name of the combo....."Walkabout Scout?"

I assume they have good speakers in them, right?

OK, I own, and love, A Mesa Walkabout Scout combo (15") with matching extension cab. They are wine colored with tan grills. Super sharp looking rig that sounds ridiculously good.

Scouts are the cabs. Walkabout is the head.

They came in 12" and 15" versions.

2ohm vs 4ohm? Get ready. I'm about to open a can of worms.

Both my cabs are 4 ohms. So, of course, my total ohm load is 2 ohms. I have literally done hundreds of gigs with this setup running at two ohms. The first version that came out had manuals that read they are capable of handling 2 ohm loads.

Sometime early on, though, they changed the wording of the manual.... and nothing else. They didn't change the amp. They changed the manual. The manual now reads 4 ohms minimum.

A couple of years ago I had my head serviced my Mesa. (Nothing wrong with it. Just getting a good cleaning and update.) They didn't mention anything showing signs of being run too hard or improperly. I still run my stack at 2 ohms to this day. And it sounds GLORIOUS with both 15s kicking. Oh my does that rig move some air!!!!

The secret sauce of this rig? Two things.

1) Turn up the gain until it breaks up a little at normal playing levels. Then back it down a tiny bit so that it breaks up a tad when you hit harder but otherwise just has a little fur on it.

2) The para mids. Spend a LOT of time with that section of the EQ when you first get it. Grt to know that part of the EQ and any band/song/genre/bass/stage/room is at your command.

It's just an awesome head with great cabs. Fire away with any specific questions. I could talk about that rig all day.

 

[agedhorse]

Please don't run the amp at 2 ohms, there was a good reason why we changed the manual. Some units were fine at 2 ohms but some were not. It depends on how lucky you are as to reliably under those conditions.

 

[lomo]

Superb head. My all time fave. If you need loud, I advise getting just the head with a flexible stack....like a 4 Ohm 410 or 212 when you want big, and a 112 for when you want low. It will run below 4 Ohms, but best to heed the manufacturers recommendations and not go below 4. Best. Tone. Ever!

 

[burgerdj]

If you can get a good deal on a head or combo, go for (gopher) it. The combo is sometimes affectionately referred to as the “dragabout” because it is not exactly the lightest 12 or 15 combo out there. I have been playing a 4 ohm 12” combo for several years with a giant smile on my face. It gets me through small and medium gigs without a problem. Untethered from the combo, the head is a beast and can drive a variety of cabinets very well despite its 300 W rating. I am reluctantly in the market for a smaller/lighter combo, but the walkabout will not be leaving my ownership. It’s just a great piece of gear.

 

[Old Fart]

Thank you, everyone. You have been very helpful.

 

[StayLow]

Absolutely fantastic amp. Maybe unequaled, "all things equal".

I have several. The 15" is great but for practical gig volume I prefer the 12". Reason being it just seems to stay tighter and punch harder at higher volumes, so the net results is that I feel I get more out of it. Thanks to the passive radiator, I'm still not boosting the Bass eq ... more likely to roll it off a bit, even with a B string. Pop, funk, etc. A bit of bass boost to make it bloom for reggae.

Unless it's metal or loud distorted rock you're playing, and as long a you have PA support for larger rooms, it's all you need.

Even I'm still amazed at the size of venues I play with just the combo or a the amp on top of the single extension cab (no PA, but we're talking pubs and such and funk/soul not metal) or as a my stage monitor in very large venues with full PA and stage monitors of course.

Actually the single 12" extension is an all-time fave of mine, which I use on a lot of gigs with other amps.

I don't think I've even bothered to ever stack the combo and extension for gigs, I'm that lazy and it's never been necessary. Very easy to move the combo and 1x12 extension if wanting to bring both though. The 15's get unwieldy especially with just the one handle that's prone to fraying stitching (like all leather handles of that type it seems).

By default the combos were all 4 Ohm, but people could order 8 Ohm.

 

[57pbass]

I purchased a 4 Ohm 12” Scout the moment they became available and have used it on countless shows for many years.
For me it was the perfect bar amp ..where I did most of my playing. I did have to crank it up at times and it always delivered.
I was always able to dial in a great sound without too much tweaking and it was basically maintenance free.
The downward firing passive radiator was very innovative...it enhanced the low end.
We would all love to see a new MESA combo with their latest offerings..
I have the new Wd800 and can get real close the original Walkabout...
There’s so much information here on Talkbass

 

[kosmicwizard]

I have an obscure Ampeg SVR215 cab from the late 80s, it has a tweeter, front facing 15 that covers below the tweeter and above 100 Hz and a rear facing 15 that covers everything below 100 Hz (there is a built in 3 way cross over, of course). I was always on the hunt for an SVT lll non-pro to fit in the top mounted rack, but was never able to find one. When I pair that cab with a Walkabout it is absolute bliss! Both the lll non-pro and the Walkabout use a Mosfet power section and I am very happy with how warm and tube like it sounds.