Demeter VTBP M 800D @ NAMM

[McFarlin]

The dark setting does seem like a great addition. I never used my 201s in bright mode.
And the 201s middle knob certainly had little effect. I even tried rolling back the bass and treble (with middle cranked) and increased volume to compensate. Kind of worked against the full, "glassy" vibe that is (for me) the amp's strong point.
That was all running through Berg. IP/HT112ER, so definitely not a rig built around strong mids.
Noticed some difference after changing to the HS210 (sounded a heck of a lot sweeter to me). Now I'm playing even more mid-tuned cabs. If this new piece is slightly less scooped vs the 201s then it seems like a winner.
In walbassist's vid, I thought the midrange was slightly more prominent with the dark setting.

Also, when I had the 201s, I never thought of the presence knob as just a variable high mid. Mostly left it alone. Seems pretty useful, esp. for palm mute picking; like that percussive click sits at about 2K.

That is one thing I like about the Demeter rigs. They may not allow for drastic frequency adjustments, but for me (at least for recording) the frequency points are appropriate.

I get a bit carried away with the Walkabout eq at times, thinking I have some great idea, or with an unfamiliar house cab in an unfamiliar room. With no pre-out...eek.

Really excited about this one.

Has anyone seen/found a cover?

 

[greenrositti]

I guess Walbassist and Greenrositti are saying that (for example) the Puma's controls are so powerful that only 10% of its range is useful, as opposed to the Demeters more 'gentle' EQ where the entire range is useful and musical.

This. Don't get me wrong--I love the Puma, Thunderfunk, etc. They are GREAT amps.

If a preamp is in the range of being neutral set on centers, I prefer a less extreme eq. I do the bulk of my tone shaping with my right hand position. I have plenty of basses and plenty of years using them on thousands of gigs, so that's not an issue.

On the other hand, an amp like a streamliner would be unappealing to me without a wide eq to tame the low end.

This new offering from Demeter seems very musical, both on paper and in the wonderful demo above.

 

[walbassist]

Thanks for all the positive comments about the video.

In walbassist's vid, I thought the midrange was slightly more prominent with the dark setting.

I might play around some more and see if this is true. Will report back over the weekend.

Has anyone seen/found a cover?

I had one custom made here in the UK - perfect fit- but probably not a practical option for you guys in the US.

 

[LeonD]

Has anyone seen/found a cover?

I'll be calling Studio Slips once my head come in and have them make me one. I already have two of their covers for different speaker cabs.

Quality product at a reasonable price.

 

[LeonD]

Hey guys, here's a quick video. ......

Cool video. Thanks.

The first thing I thought hearing the amp was I hope you like I the sound of your bass and cab because with this amp, I think you'll truly hear what they sound like.

Assuming everything's up to snuff, there won't be a bad sound in the amp. Subtle tweak with the eq and that's it. I went with this amp specifically to go with my Thunderchild. I think it'll be a good pairing.

About three more weeks to wait. I haven't been this excited for an amp in quite a while.

 

[monsterthompson]

Do we have a sense of how "loud" this amp is? I've not heard complaints about the Minnie, so I'm assuming it has enough horsepower.

 

[Mark Sacchetti]

It gets very very loud! The 800d is powerful.

 

[silky smoove]

Is this an ICE power module based design? How does it compare to other 800'ish watt designs using ICE or similar modules? I currently own a GK MB800, and previously owned a GB STL900, and found them to be very different in terms of output.

 

[nostatic]

yeah. Monique is getting replaced.

Funny, just goes to show that everyone is looking for something different, as the video made me lose interest in checking it out. Treble and mid eq seemed really limited, with only the bass and presence having significant shaping capabilities. Of course droning low A isn't necessarily going to show off the full eq spectrum. Also having no mid boost (if I understood the demo correctly) is a complete fail for me. Certain rooms and certain instruments (e.g. my Rob Allen) I may end up cutting bass and boosting mids at the amp. Also having the input gain inside the unit is a non-starter for me.

It does however have a great form factor, and if you like the inherent eq/sound, likely a great solution. No way it is anywhere near a Monique replacement for me but ymmv. I get why some guys don't dig Monique...

 

[monsterthompson]

Funny, just goes to show that everyone is looking for something different, as the video made me lose interest in checking it out. Treble and mid eq seemed really limited, with only the bass and presence having significant shaping capabilities. Of course droning low A isn't necessarily going to show off the full eq spectrum. Also having no mid boost (if I understood the demo correctly) is a complete fail for me. Certain rooms and certain instruments (e.g. my Rob Allen) I may end up cutting bass and boosting mids at the amp. Also having the input gain inside the unit is a non-starter for me.

It does however have a great form factor, and if you like the inherent eq/sound, likely a great solution. No way it is anywhere near a Monique replacement for me but ymmv. I get why some guys don't dig Monique...

my ears and goals put Monique's EQ in the same ballpark as the mids here; very subtle. I could take Monique's Sensitivity and no EQ knobs on it and be just as happy with it. For me, the mids on the Demeter is less than ideal, but I can pedal in what I need, and i don't feel like i'd be loosing ground from where i am with Monique. it doesn't hurt that i've got a Mesa Buster and Walkabout for midrange tones.

for me, the "Dark" and 120 Bass adjustments are going to be key, along with the form factor. i've got a rackmount Mo and i'd likethe smaller/lighter rig, considering i'd put them in the same tonal ballpark.

MMMV


edit - i do run a Darkglass B7K and pairing it with the Demeter doesn't sound like the best idea because of the EQ points. i very much like my Pork Loin with my Walkabout, and i think that a Demeter Dark setting with some bass boosted and the highs at moderate levels will be simialr enough to play nicely with the Loin (despite the mids thing)... of course, i could always get some Schoeder cabs

 

[nostatic]

For me the dove cage and Minnie are a perfect form-factor but that's just my situation. I don't have other amps other than a GK for backup as I typically want to have a single solution but everyone has different wants/needs. The VTBP is a cool head, just not voiced the way I like, at least given the video demo. Then again, I haven't found a Mesa head that I like, so just goes to show - there's a butt for every seat.

 

[walbassist]

If anyone wants me to do a follow up video, with more specific settings, just let me know.

 

[monsterthompson]

For me the dove cage and Minnie are a perfect form-factor but that's just my situation. I don't have other amps other than a GK for backup as I typically want to have a single solution but everyone has different wants/needs. The VTBP is a cool head, just not voiced the way I like, at least given the video demo. Then again, I haven't found a Mesa head that I like, so just goes to show - there's a butt for every seat.

not sure how i should feel about that choice of analogy

 

[Moonbass Alpha]

#19.

For anyone interested, delivery time is now running at +/- 6-8 weeks, according to Diane at Demeter.

 

[Mark Sacchetti]

The DeMonique Tardis is the gold standard for me! I love the way it sounds. I bought the M800D because of its diminutive footprint and its 800 watts of power. The Demeter power section IMO is one of the best on the market today. It will fit nicely on Duke's 1231. The M800D does work well with my MAS46 cab.

 

[JEDBass]

Mark, Since you have both how would you rate their pros and cons against each other? I'm assuming just different flavors of awesome but am curious why you consider the DeMonique over the Demeter as the gold standard.

 

[walbassist]

I've just been experimenting with the tone knobs at different settings. While still fairly subtle, there is definitely a wide range of tones in this amp. For example, sweeping the mid knob with the bass and treble both at 3 o'clock produced a much more noticable sweep than with them at noon.

I think the mistake in my video, as nostatic noted, was using a droning "a" while sweeping each knob: there's much more going on with the eq I should have just played a little line at each setting. My bad

 

[Mark Sacchetti]

The voicing of the Monique is a little more to my likening . There is something special going on in the purity and simplicity of the signal flow from bass>preamp>power section. It has a fatness, clarity, and focus that is rolled up in a sweet rich tone.

The M800D is a great sounding amp too!It's voicing works well in the mix. It is a high quality product at a great price point. Frankly I didn't want to spend the extra money on the separates from Jule. I'm glad I bought it and will use it often.

I specifically bought the M800D to pair it with the Audiokinesis 1231 8 ohm cab. It's top surface area is 14" square. The Demeter will fit there nicely. I had a chance to use it with a 1203 and loved the way it sounded with it.


They're both excellent products ! It's just a personal preference thing after all. You'll buy what speaks to you.

 

[nostatic]

not sure how i should feel about that choice of analogy

It is a saying from the auto industry. Don't take it personally - I'm not interested in anyone's butt. Well, except my wife's. And maybe the co-host on Stylish Man the Chef...

 

[nostatic]

I specifically bought the M800D to pair it with the Audiokinesis 1231 8 ohm cab. It's top surface area is 14" square. The Demeter will fit there nicely. I had a chance to use it with a 1203 and loved the way it sounded with it.
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They're both excellent products ! It's just a personal preference thing after all. You'll buy what speaks to you.

I have both H1203 and TC112 (8 ohm) in the hopper from Duke. I have run Monique through my old 4 ohm TC112 and it is pretty sweet. I prefer a bit more bit in the upper mids, and the H1203 is supposed to get that.

Seems to me that in general Monique is a bit more warm and fat which you can get edgy with the sensitivity knob while the Demeter is more on the neutral to edgy side, and you probably can fatten it up. I'm betting it depends a lot on the bass and the technique though, as good tube amps tend to be a bit more like an instrument than a volume knob.