• 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.

Boogie WD-800 vs Walkabout

#81
UPDATE:

I am beyond happy with my D-800 and two 115 Powerhouse cabinets! The Fender Rumble 500 Combo is nice but the Mesa Boogie simply is another level of sound. The clarity, punch, and tonal details are amazing on the Mesa Boogie. It is as if I have a new bass. And better technique.

A 6-string bass really shows off the attributes. I look forward to trying the rest of my basses.

Thank you to all (especially Al, Chef, and Agedhorse) for helping me decide on Mesa Engineering!

It is very happy next to my H & K guitar amp:

mesa.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: skier 913, jeff7bass, guy2506 and 3 others
#83
I've owed a WD800 for about two months now. I use it in three different bands and it is just PERFECT. I love the way the parametric mid controls allow you to get just the right tone to suit each venue so quickly. I have my prefered settings and then within about one minute its doing exactly what I want from it. I could not be more happy. I'ts not cheap, but its also very good value for money IMHO.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DJ Bebop, jeff7bass, Al Kraft and 1 other person
#86
agedhorse said:
One challenge players regularly reported was the inherent and difficult to control woolly, overly bloody, and loose nature of the WA. This contributed to a perceived lack of articulation, especially under higher drive conditions.

The WD-800 addresses this specific set of complaints.
Click to expand...
that characteristic is what eventually led to me selling my walk about.
 
#88
agedhorse said:
And for those who were as startled by the auto-correct typo as I was, that should have been overly "bloomy". ;)
Click to expand...
Bloody may now enter the TB lexicon with meanings as diverse as the TB membership. Seriously, going back to the manual writing discussion last year, following the manual in Mesa products is important. I was having trouble getting the sound I was looking for out of my Prodigy...until I followed the manual's suggestions. I am about to spring for a WD-800 to replace (or augment) my Walkabout Scout 12. The Scout has given me problems at two gigs and I took it for service at Mesa, but they couldn't make it repeat the distorted sound. I couldn't either after running it for more than 3 hours at home. I wonder if it might be heat-related. It was in my truck before the two gigs in question at 100F or so. Anyway, I am resigned to carrying a cabinet (either the Subway 1x15 or the Barefaced 2x12 depending on the venue) plus the WD-800 head for the foreseeable future.
 
  • Like
Reactions: VernRumseyIsGod and agedhorse
#89
Starting out with the manual, especially for newer products that contain unique or more advanced, sophisticated features is probably a valuable investment of time.

Both Al Kraft and Chef, longtime TalBass members, put a lot of real world player time and effort into making the WD-800 manual probably the most player friendly and complete manual I have ever put together. Both come from solid technical and technical writing backgrounds plus being players. The manual is available on the website for downloading, I encourage those looking at the amp as a possible purchase to go through the manual to see how it may (or may not) be the best choice for your situation. It's far more complete and comprehensive than anything available in the marketing world, and perhaps more accurate as well.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Indiedog, guy2506, jwindham and 3 others
#90
agedhorse said:
One challenge players regularly reported was the inherent and difficult to control woolly, overly bloody, and loose nature of the WA. This contributed to a perceived lack of articulation, especially under higher drive conditions.

The WD-800 addresses this specific set of complaints.
Click to expand...

A less bloomy, less woolly WA could be a good thing. Without me having to go online and read through the manual, or read though the thousands of posts on these amps could you give an overview of how the WD800 accomplishes this.

Is it in the EQ section, the damping selection or do you get it just from the overall design of the WD800?

Thanks
 
#95
barroso said:
Will a WD800 fit in a scout 12 combo instead of the WA300?
Click to expand...
The WD-800 is the same width and height, it is shallower front to back. It should fit but may need a spacer to position correctly.

That said, if you have the 8 ohm Scout you need to be very careful as the WD-800 is more power than the cabinet can handle. With the 4 ohm Scout, the WD is WAY too much power for safe operation.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Al Kraft
#96
I'm very interested in buying the older Fathom but not sure what it sounds like? I prefer a clean but punchy tone. Wish it had a compressor built in. Any Mesa amps that have a built in compressor?

How would you describe the Fathom by the way?

It does look heavy and have looked at other amps like the Bass Block 800/802 or a Tone Hammer.
 
#97
Rnr..........4 said:
I'm very interested in buying the older Fathom but not sure what it sounds like? I prefer a clean but punchy tone. Wish it had a compressor built in. Any Mesa amps that have a built in compressor?

How would you describe the Fathom by the way?

It does look heavy and have looked at other amps like the Bass Block 800/802 or a Tone Hammer.
Click to expand...
I would skip the Fathom which is essentially a first production run of the Carbines. As I understand it Mesa ran into problems using the Fathom name and changed it to the Carbine early in production.

As the Carbine line matured/evolved, there were some (IMO critical) reliability enhancing mods (including cooling) that were incorporated. I would either go for a later model (M6 would be the Fathom equivalent) or be sure that the version you do buy, if it's older, has the mods incorporated.

If an onboard compressor is what you're looking for, the one on the Carbine M9 is exceptional IMO. Once again go for a later version M9 or be sure the one you buy went back to the factory for updates.

All the Carbines are are tight, quick playing heads that produce hard hitting notes. I would describe the voicing as bordering on aggressive and unapologetic - I own all three Carbine models so I'm not criticizing. There is an abundance of power and notes feel more like an "in your face" attention getting punch than a polite/subtle invitation to listen to the bassline being played. The low end is enormous and the top end can be overly bright if you're not careful.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Indiedog, Rocknroller4 and s_wood
#98
As a former Carbine owner, I would say that Al’s description of the Carbine’s tone is about the best I’ve seen. If you are looking for a noticeably warmer tone from a Mesa Boogie amp with a compressor I would suggest the checking out the mPulse 600. It’s an amazing amp, but it’s probably near other end of the tone spectrum from the Fathom/Carbine.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Rocknroller4 and Al Kraft
#99
s_wood said:
As a former Carbine owner, I would say that Al’s description of the Carbine’s tone is about the best I’ve seen. If you are looking for a noticeably warmer tone from a Mesa Boogie amp with a compressor I would suggest the checking out the mPulse 600. It’s an amazing amp, but it’s probably near other end of the tone spectrum from the Fathom/Carbine.
Click to expand...
I'm not 100% certain, but I suspect the compressor on the M9 and M-Pulse 600 are pretty close if not the same. I recall playing the 600 a few times and agree completely that the M-Pulse heads (like my two Walkabouts) are a vastly different voicing and a bit more tube smooth/warm and harmonically rich sounding. One thing I will say about the Carbines is that if you have poor playing technique, there is nothing like the Carbine's instant attack and tight, accurate notes to remind you of that. To me the M-Pulse line is a bit more forgiving.
 
  • Like
Reactions: s_wood
#100
Interesting points. Thanks. I've been searching for a bass amp that is portable but also beefy. I like the old style amps where they look mean too on stage (due to size) compared to a lot of these more recent, smaller class D amps. I have looked at the 400+ but no one shipping that. Has to be local pickup due to the tubes. Looking at the Gallien-Krueger Fusion 550 as well. Most of these older amps don't have speakon connectors tho.

I guess a good compromise might be the Subway WD-800. I do like the clean tones of the Quilter BB800/802 but would prefer a pre-tube or tube.

I mostly play hard rock (Ac/Dc) and metal.

Tried the Orange Terror but wasn't a fan to be honest.
 
Last edited:

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back