mesa d-180 question

chriscalas · #1 04-06-2011, 11:08 AM

Not too familiar with d-180s had a 400+ till it got jacked. anyone play one through an 8x10 or big cab? I want to go all tube again. my cab now is a mesa 6x10.

mpdd · #2 04-06-2011, 12:57 PM

i play mine through an orange obc115, several have suggested that adding another would make a "killer rig"

Alex1984 · #3 04-06-2011, 12:57 PM

They're quite rare compared to other Mesa heads (400, 400+, Buster). Less power, and tonally, they seem to be closer to the Buster and are smoother than the 400+.

What's stopping you from going with the 400+ though? There's quite a few in the for sale section.

GaryLC · #4 04-06-2011, 01:05 PM

I had a D-180 with the graphic EQ for years, played it through a Mesa 2-15" cabinet. It was absolutely killer! More than enough power for a loud classic rock band. I think it sound great with a 6-10" or 8-10" cabinet.

Sartori · #5 04-06-2011, 01:26 PM

I play mine through a Sunn 2x15". Colossal sounding.

It excels at sounding really mean.

ledyard · #6 04-06-2011, 01:32 PM

Toured with a D-180 through a Mesa PH1000 RR cab. Killer rig. Played it for alot of years through a new and vintage 810 ampeg also. Cant go wrong with any of those.

Caca de Kick · #7 04-06-2011, 03:19 PM

For many years I too had a D180 plugged into a Boogie 215 and 1516 cabs, yup killer punch. This was the backup head to my Bass 400 head. Either head was overkill-loud indoors.

NecroticImbecil · #8 04-06-2011, 06:42 PM

No 8X10, I have only used mine with a 4X15 or at home with a 2X10 or for a short time, with a 2X12 guitar cab. The 2X12 had 2 200 Watt EVM12Ls, I wouldn't want to use a puny 2X12 with normal guitar speakers with it.

Mine is a bit noisier than I'd like at the moment, but it did recently fall off the shelf in the practice room, onto a cup of coffee that was sitting on the floor. I think at least one of the tubes has gone microphonic, but they were over 25 years old and I've never had the thing serviced. Good thing the amp didn't read all the threads on how fragile and high maintenance tube amps are.

At insane volumes, it's tough to keep it totally clean even if you try. The 400 with 6550s or the 400+ stay clean at higher volumes. I don't know how many people are going to need to push the amp that hard though. If you don't need clean, the D-180 gives you a tremendous array of distortion options at any volume, but getting the most out of its controls takes some time and practice. Well worth the time spent. EQ is pretty flexible as well, good range of clean and dirty tones.

The clean sound is similar to the 400 and 400+, obviously in the same family. I found the 400+ to be just a bit "fuller" sounding with the EQs on the 2 amps set the same. I think the difference is so slight that you will only notice if you are familiar with one or both amps, and are consciously comparing the sound of the 2. In a mix I doubt anyone would notice, and a little EQ adjusting should make up for that in any case. While most of the controls function like on the 400+, the 2 Inputs, their volumes, and Master volume do not. I won't get into it here in case you already know.

Why did I use the guitar cab? EVM12Ls are actually pretty cool for 4 string bass for one thing. For another, the D180 is perhaps the most monstrous guitar amp ever made. Don't tell your guitarist.

chriscalas · #9 04-06-2011, 08:42 PM

really want one now.

ledyard · #10 04-06-2011, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chriscalas

really want one now.

Badass heads bro. Can go from Mesa punch to SVT gritty type sound to cranked Marshall Superbass and everything in between. Plus they are guitar friendly too.
Just watch the pre tubes. One of them is a 12au7 instead of a 12ax7. Once every 18-24mos that tube would get a little microphonic and squealy and I would replace it. Have no idea why. My tech couldnt find anything wrong with it. Not a big enough issue to pass up one of these heads though. The fan in mine was real noisey too but it wasnt an issue as soon as I hit a note.
I always said this head was Mesa's version of a SVT.

Sartori · #11 04-07-2011, 02:52 AM

Also, you can control the fan setting. There's high, low, and off.

ledyard · #12 04-07-2011, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sartori

Also, you can control the fan setting. There's high, low, and off.

In a rack I wouldnt recomend leaving the fan off though. It gets quite warm.

Caca de Kick · #13 04-07-2011, 02:52 PM

The fan in the one I had was loud when set high, but I usually left it on low and it was quiet. But if course on the gig it didn't matter, never heard it.

I wish I never traded off that old D-180. Still remember the day I first met it when an older friend brought it to my high school music theory class back in '89 to do a songwriting demo of him and his drummer. That tone kicked in, and my jaw hit the floor.

Sartori · #14 04-08-2011, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ledyard

In a rack I wouldnt recomend leaving the fan off though. It gets quite warm.

Yeah, but I don't use racks. It's only really loud on "high" anyway.

Also, I keep it on all the time. The off, I assume, is for those times when you absolutely can't have fan noise.

Randall · #15 04-08-2011, 09:44 AM

I have played mine through my various cabs and my berg NV412 seems to handle it the best.
I can turn it up to 5 (clean channel 2) and no issues with the cab so far.
If you wanted a distorted channel 1 sound you could get very loud indeed.

Think Lemmy marshall style sound with a 100 more watts.
I just do not play that style anymore in my band situation.
And if you want to kill someone try cranking a guitar through it.

Sartori · #16 04-08-2011, 10:42 AM

I've played a little guitar through mine. Sounds great for DOOOM.

I don't like channel 1 for bass though, even though I go for a nasty, distorted sound.

Alex1984 · #17 04-08-2011, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ledyard

I always said this head was Mesa's version of a SVT.

They're indeed very sweet amps, but to say they're Mesa's version of an SVT would be discrediting Mesa a bit. They're certainly in the same league although I prefer SVTs. Very different animals, but equally worthy of praise.

ledyard · #18 04-08-2011, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex1984

They're indeed very sweet amps, but to say they're Mesa's version of an SVT would be discrediting Mesa a bit. They're certainly in the same league although I prefer SVTs. Very different animals, but equally worthy of praise.

Mesa doing their own version of a SVT but with mesa flavor and character. Not Mesa trying to copy the SVT in any way. Whats Ampeg's amp that you can say is "the" amp?? The SVT. Thats what most everyone thinks of when you hear the word Ampeg. Comparing it to the SVT is my way of calling the D-180 "the" amp for Mesa. I wasnt meaning that it was similar to it in any way. The D-180 can do SVT, Mesa punch, and cranked Marshall Superbass. Wheras the SVT does SVT.
If you say Mesa then the word bass people think 400+. Its a shame because they should think D-180. If the D-180 were another 100 watts I would still own mine.

The guy I sold mine too was a bit(quite a bit actually) of a Mesa nut. Basically had at least one of everything Mesa "bass" ever made. He said that Cliff Burton recorded Master of Puppets with a D-180.

Calaverasgrande · #19 04-08-2011, 11:59 AM

Also, the Bass 400 can do a passable D180 imitation if you use a boost pedal. From what I understand the preamp circuits in both are essentially the same, however the gain is a bit tamer on the 400 and 400+. I do aspire to own one someday.
Also, I am not entirely sure the Buster isn't rarer. I see those a LOT less on CL and the TB classifieds. Though I DO live within 50 miles of where the D180's were born, so maybe they are just more plentiful around here.