I play the D-800 and love it. It's never let me down, and it's easy to dial in a good tone. Having said that, if I had it to do over again I might get the D-800+ because it has an adjustable HPF (I have a Broughton HPF on my "pedal" board), or even the TT-800. Mesa Boogie is good stuff!
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Best Mesa-Boogie Bass heads
- Thread starter direwolfvt
- Start date
4+ year TT-800 user. Come and try to take it. 
I play all kinds of rock, 50's to now, blues, a bit of country, and occasional show tunes. Probably the most versatile head I've had in almost 50 years. It's small and light, too!
I play all kinds of rock, 50's to now, blues, a bit of country, and occasional show tunes. Probably the most versatile head I've had in almost 50 years. It's small and light, too!
After trying both the D-800+ and WD800 I kept the WD800 for one main reason. Since it has a tube in the pre, you can jack up the input to drive it harder and then use the master to control volume. I feel like it does a nice job of adding a bit of tube grit and warmth, want a cleaner sounds, back the input down and use the master control more for volume. I'm not a fan of a ton of eq controls, but after some playing around I found a setting that works for me and just leave it like that. Both are great though.
- Feb 12, 2006
- 61,042
- 5
- 220,984
- Disclosures
- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
You can do this with the D-800/800+ also, but a little different texture of O/D.
Mesa 400, 400+. Titan V12. Big Block 750. Strategy 8.88. I use all of these for different events. All great Mesa amps!
I have to say the the Prodigy was the one I really liked and regretting I sold it. The 400 with 6550s was like a like a Fender Showman on Channel 1 and more like a Marshall bass head on Channel 2 with the underlying 6550 tonality of the power section when cranked. The Prodigy had a 5 position voicing control and that was it's superpower. If you want nasty the D-180 was awesome for that. The Carbines were certainly powerhouses and I think were their answer to the GK RBs/ I think they had tube preamps - I am not entirely sure but they had that Mosfet kick. As a Mesa Boogie guitar amp fanboi, I really should have Subways by now but Andy's Genz Benz's Streamliner design stopped my desire. My plan is to get the cabs first. Maybe when my EA Whizzy's croak
Agreed. I have the shuttlemax 6.0. 2 channel amp. Incredible. Great reliable heads. Can't go wrong with the shuttle, shuttlemax or the streamliner. Pick your flavor
In the abstract, I would say the M6 or M9, although they use some MOSFET transistors that are no longer made.
So for me that leaves either the D800+ or WD800 depending on your tonal preferences.
So for me that leaves either the D800+ or WD800 depending on your tonal preferences.
I really want to try one of the various 800’s, but I got a Shuttle 9.2 and honestly am completely content with it. Incredible value
I'd get a D-800+ for general use. It's a great amp. I'd probably be okay with just a D-800 if I had purchased it instead. I tried the TT-800 but didn't really bond with it and traded for a WD-800 which I love. I think the TT-800 would make a good rock grinding amp. Actually, that would probably work out great for me now. So if I tried the TT-800 at a different time, I'd probably be singing its praises. The D-350 is a great choice if 350W will be enough for what you do. No fan on it, so dead silent on stage or in a studio. The good news is that you can't go wrong.
TT800 for me right now… started with the D800, then the WD800. I like the TT because I frequently play with two very different basses during shows, each needing quite different settings.
It probably depends upon what you want to do really. They are all highly regarded, but each has a bit different sound and feature set. I'm more of a clean player who dabbles in a lot of different styles and the D800+ is great for me. All the controls are really responsive -- I never need to twist the knobs very far to get what I'm looking for.
Longtime Mesa user. My favorites are the 400+ and Walkabout. I also loved the D800.
They all have their strengths and weaknesses and there is a lot of info on this site to refer to as you start to narrow down your choice.
They all have their strengths and weaknesses and there is a lot of info on this site to refer to as you start to narrow down your choice.
I’m pretty fond of my WD-800. It’s versatile and will work well with most genres. Plenty of power and useful features. My experience is I wouldn’t exactly call it a “plug and play” amp as there is a ton of tonal control at hand. Which is great for me as I tend to play a lot of different types of music and patient enough to work out the process.
It very well designed and made of quality components, and you have the guy that designed it here on TB in the unlikely event you get in the weeds with it.
Love my TT800. Haven’t been able to get anything approaching a “bad” sound out of it. There is just so much in the way of tonal variability available via the well-thought out control options that, honestly, I think I’ve only begun to scratch the surface of what I can get out of this jewel. Like many, I immediately gravitated to the Boogie channel…it’s where I usually find myself staying. That said, as I have used the amp with more and more different basses, I have come to appreciate and respect all the nuances that the Subway channel interjects into the mix. My EUB has demonstrated that the Subway channel is its happy place.
I would love to have one of each in the Subway series…it’s not going to happen
. But if I were to get another one, for me, it would be the 800+. I came awfully close to pulling the trigger on one along with a SW215 cabinet that was available here locally. My GAS-enabling wife was all in, but the reality is I already have too much gear that I like, yet don’t get around to using it all, so I passed…this time!
I feel as though there is absolutely no “wrong choice” when it comes to any of the Subway line, be it amps or cabinets…pick one—or more…and enjoy!
Kim
I would love to have one of each in the Subway series…it’s not going to happen
. But if I were to get another one, for me, it would be the 800+. I came awfully close to pulling the trigger on one along with a SW215 cabinet that was available here locally. My GAS-enabling wife was all in, but the reality is I already have too much gear that I like, yet don’t get around to using it all, so I passed…this time!I feel as though there is absolutely no “wrong choice” when it comes to any of the Subway line, be it amps or cabinets…pick one—or more…and enjoy!
Kim
One thing about Mesa is there is not "one sound" through the company's line, like with some other brands. They seem to let each design speak a certain way, which is really interesting to me. It's perhaps more like a bass guitar or speaker cabinet line in that way. But I imagine it could be frustrating if you found you liked the sound of one model, but then bought another because of the feature set, expecting it to be more or less the same. My advice is trust your ears, not your eyes! And then buy the one you like and not substitute another one with similar control layouts.
I'll just chime in, I'm really digging the TT-800. I got hooked on the Boogie channel, and then just today I was into the fretless and totally finding what I was after, and it was the Subway channel. Surprise...
I'm getting used to thinking about this amp as a toolbox. Not even really breaking the surface yet... I see a lot of good stuff getting brought into my musical life here.
I'm getting used to thinking about this amp as a toolbox. Not even really breaking the surface yet... I see a lot of good stuff getting brought into my musical life here.
