Class D Head With Parametric or Semi-Parametric Mids

[Jeff Scott]

I just bought a TH500 a few months ago and I love it. I demo'd a D800+ at the store and it's a great amp. I preferred the way the Aggie colored the overall tone of my bass. You can't go wrong with either amp.

I ended my gigging days shortly before Andy & Co. introduced the Subway amps, and have never had the opportunity to try and of the breed, unfortunately, so I can't opine on those amps. Although, that has never stopped a lot of TBers from expressing their own opinions on things they've never had first-hand experience with.

 

[J-Mags]

OP, do you have any additional parameters that are important to you? Any references to other amps or artists to decribe your tone goals?

As of now, everyone is just going to name their favorite amp, as long as it has semi parametric mid controls. Keep this thread going long enough, and every available model will be mentioned and recommended.

I come from the guitar side, where amps may have parameters, but they're more or less intuitive, and they mostly lack features. I will never care about a mute switch, etc. With the exception of mids control, I want to plug and play. I'll be using a GK Neo 212 which is not yet I'm my possession.

What I can tell you about is my playing style. I mostly use flats. I play with a pick about 2/3s of the time. I never slap. My gigging band plays punk, but I also like thumpier old school sounds, McCartney murk, rock grind, Reggae, and whatever else. Play PJ, Mustang and P. I'm trying to get more control over my mids than on my Rumble 200.

I just bought a TH500 a few months ago and I love it. I demo'd a D800+ at the store and it's a great amp. I preferred the way the Aggie colored the overall tone of my bass. You can't go wrong with either amp.

What do you like about the tone color of the TH500?

 

[Jeff Hughes]

The D800 is quickly replacing or supplanting my Walkabout. I have never used the plus version, but I am sure it is the same if not better.

 

[jnewmark]

Yours is similar to my GB+Schroeder rig - and the EQing abilities of the Shuttle are excellent. A while back I played first gig with this gear and realized my practice space room acoustics were drastically different from the pub - but it only took a few minutes to quickly dial in the right sound with the Shuttle 3.0 - it certainly made things a lot easier that night!
View attachment 4396842

Ver

y similar to my rig, which is a Shuttlemax 12.2 on top of two Schroeder PL15 cabs.

 

[Nebadon2000]

MarkBass Vintage D2

Second that. With a shout out to GRbass ONE800 [more power] has 3 position switch for low and high mids.
Staying Italian

PS; If your feeling more Patriotic Genzler Mag 800 [or the Gibson 800+]

 

[SJan3]

Second that. With a shout out to GRbass ONE800 [more power] has 3 position switch for low and high mids.
Staying Italian

PS; If your feeling more Patriotic Genzler Mag 800 [or the Gibson 800+]

Genzler is very nice! I have the Magellan 350
Highly recommended.

 

[MuthaFunk]

Lots of good comments already but one last outstanding amp that may be found cheap in the used market is the SWR Headlite. 3 bands of semi-para eq plus two different defeat able aural enhancer curves.

 

[frankie5string]

Lots of good comments already but one last outstanding amp that may be found cheap in the used market is the SWR Headlite. 3 bands of semi-para eq plus two different defeat able aural enhancer curves.

Are they that common on the used market? I haven't seen one in years...
There couldn't have been that many made, they weren't good sellers when they were out because people scoffed at the light weight, class-D (everyone called it "digital") and the switching power supply. It was a great amp but got a bad rep.

I had the head and the auxiliary amp for a while. I liked it but it wasn't mine to keep.

 

[MuthaFunk]

Are they that common on the used market? I haven't seen one in years...
There couldn't have been that many made, they weren't good sellers when they were out because people scoffed at the light weight, class-D (everyone called it "digital") and the switching power supply. It was a great amp but got a bad rep.

I had the head and the auxiliary amp for a while. I liked it but it wasn't mine to keep.

They're around. Here's two. One in Canada and another in USA.

SWR Headlite 400 watt Bass amplifier head with SWR Tube preamp and Class D power amp | Rod's Gear Bazaar | Reverb

SWR Headlite | James' Resale Outlet | Reverb

 

[Jeff Scott]

Are they that common on the used market?

IIRC, they weren't even very common on the new market, back in the day! I've only ever seen one, and that was at the 2010 NAMM Show.

 

[Nighttrain1127]

Peavey Mini Mega Para Mids and a ton of other features plus 1k watts and A very good sounding Comp.

 

[J-Mags]

MarkBass Vintage D2

Second that. With a shout out to GRbass ONE800 [more power] has 3 position switch for low and high mids.
Staying Italian

PS; If your feeling more Patriotic Genzler Mag 800 [or the Gibson 800+]

Tell me about this. Musicians Friend has them on sale. Demos look promising. Do you/have you owned one? Are you satisfied with it?

I totally snoozed and lost as a WD800 was listed and sold in the classifieds.

 

[SJan3]

Tell me about this. Musicians Friend has them on sale. Demos look promising. Do you/have you owned one? Are you satisfied with it?

I totally snoozed and lost as a WD800 was listed and sold in the classifieds.

I have not used one but the demos look very promising and the MarkBass amps I owned were/are warm by nature. I'll bet that 12AX7 preamp tube adds more vintage vibe and should allow you to overdrive the preamp with pleasing results, if that's something you enjoy. Other owners are speaking high praise of this amp. The SALE price makes it gravy! IMHO

 

[J-Mags]

I have not used one but the demos look very promising and the MarkBass amps I owned were/are warm by nature. I'll bet that 12AX7 preamp tube adds more vintage vibe and should allow you to overdrive the preamp with pleasing results, if that's something you enjoy. Other owners are speaking high praise of this amp. The SALE price makes it gravy! IMHO

What's the low end like on the Markbass amps? I'm trying to get away from the murkiness/boominess of my Fender Rumbles, but I have no problem with the dense mids I sometimes hear in MB demos.

 

[SJan3]

What's the low end like on the Markbass amps? I'm trying to get away from the murkiness/boominess of my Fender Rumbles, but I have no problem with the dense mids I sometimes hear in MB demos.

Tight/punchy, and the mids are easily controlled, especially on the D2 with the parametric mid adjustments.

 

[J-Mags]

Tight/punchy, and the mids are easily controlled, especially on the D2 with the parametric mid adjustments.

I'm just deciding whether to go with the D2, or just forget about the para mids and get peer pressured into a D800, which at least has EQ knobs where I want them, and is bone-simple. It's my nature to buck trends on gear and then regret it.

 

[SJan3]

I'm just deciding whether to go with the D2, or just forget about the para mids and get peer pressured into a D800, which at least has EQ knobs where I want them, and is bone-simple. It's my nature to buck trends on gear and then regret it.

I'll not criticize the D800. It's a great amp.
These are personal choices. Both products are excellent. There is no bad choice here.
But the D2 gives that added control that you seemed to want. I like what Markbass offers and see value $$$ in their products.
The D2 is on sale at MF for $649. I don't think you can touch a D800 NEW for that price, although there are some used ones for $699 if you're willing to go that route.

 

[J-Mags]

I'll not criticize the D800. It's a great amp.
These are personal choices. Both products are excellent. There is no bad choice here.
But the D2 gives that added control that you seemed to want. I like what Markbass offers and see value $$$ in their products.
The D2 is on sale at MF for $649. I don't think you can touch a D800 NEW for that price, although there are some used ones for $699 if you're willing to go that route.

The other thing is that I'm not playing 4-hour cover gigs every weekend. I play 35 minute punk rock shows every month or so, virus permitting, and the rest of the time I'm doing whatever I want with my sound.

 

[J-Mags]

I'll not criticize the D800. It's a great amp.
These are personal choices. Both products are excellent. There is no bad choice here.
But the D2 gives that added control that you seemed to want. I like what Markbass offers and see value $$$ in their products.
The D2 is on sale at MF for $649. I don't think you can touch a D800 NEW for that price, although there are some used ones for $699 if you're willing to go that route.

I just ordered the D2. It seemed like it had a vibe I liked and it was $200 off, so I'm excited to try it. We'll see. I got my Rumble rig 3 years ago. Loved it for 2 1/2 years and then hated it for a few months. If I can do as well with this, I'll be happy.

 

[cassanova]

Looking for something small myself. What made you go with the Mesa over the Tonehammer? I'm not stuck on one or the other, just the most bang for my buck!! Thanks,
Bill

There were a few reasons. The tone being the primary one. I liked it better than the Tonehammer's. It to me was warmer, and the grit it puts out more natural sounding than the TH. It also came closer to getting the tone I was hearing inside my head. The 2 separate low and high mid semi-parametric is another. The Tonehammer only has one sweepable mid control. The HPF of the D800 + played a factor, as did the voicing control. Though it only played a very minimal role, I also wound up liking that the Mesa is located, and made here in the U.S. Overall, and this is just my opinion, you get more bang for the buck out of the Mesa's than you do with the Tonehammer.

I can't speak for the Tonehammers DI, but the one on the D800+ is top notch and definitely studio grade quality. Didn't know that though until after I got it home, and put it to work tracking. Her pre-eq DI signal is crystal clear, very well balanced.