Finally got to play my 800c “out” last night! Heavy-handed drummer, Mesa Boogie guitarist, and me playing a 4-hour bar gig. Had a good time and made a little spending money!
As for the Rumble… I thought it did great! It was nice being able to easily match the volume of my bandmates. I was surprised how high I needed to crank it — gain and master at probably 1 or 2 o’clock — but it still sounded clear and had room to spare. (This was on full power, btw.) I ended up not using any of the voicings and running the EQ at noon. Typically, I set the EQ “flat” (10,2,2,10) and use the bright switch with or without the vintage engaged, as well. I honestly don’t like a bass-heavy tone. I know that sounds like sacrilege, and maybe I’m not explaining myself well, but I want to cut through and sound melodic in addition to simply shaking the room, if that makes sense. I think, especially in a 3-piece, it’s important to help shape the song, and it just gets too muddy, imo, when it’s nothing but rumble. Every room (or outdoor venue) is different, and this was my first experience with the 800, so… Idk… Anyway, I certainly didn’t hear the fan!
I also got use my Poly Blue Octave more last night than usual. Again, it can get muddy with all four guys (we’re usually a 4-piece), but with just us 3, there was plenty of sonic space for throwing in the octaver on numbers like “Superstitious” and “Uptown Funk.”
The 800c is, for me, a definite keeper. Hopefully, I can use it for a long time to come. (Oh, I might mention… I decided not to carry my 40w, but next time I probably will stack it on top just for a little extra sound, almost like a monitor, and because it will look sort of bad ass.
As for the Rumble… I thought it did great! It was nice being able to easily match the volume of my bandmates. I was surprised how high I needed to crank it — gain and master at probably 1 or 2 o’clock — but it still sounded clear and had room to spare. (This was on full power, btw.) I ended up not using any of the voicings and running the EQ at noon. Typically, I set the EQ “flat” (10,2,2,10) and use the bright switch with or without the vintage engaged, as well. I honestly don’t like a bass-heavy tone. I know that sounds like sacrilege, and maybe I’m not explaining myself well, but I want to cut through and sound melodic in addition to simply shaking the room, if that makes sense. I think, especially in a 3-piece, it’s important to help shape the song, and it just gets too muddy, imo, when it’s nothing but rumble. Every room (or outdoor venue) is different, and this was my first experience with the 800, so… Idk… Anyway, I certainly didn’t hear the fan!
I also got use my Poly Blue Octave more last night than usual. Again, it can get muddy with all four guys (we’re usually a 4-piece), but with just us 3, there was plenty of sonic space for throwing in the octaver on numbers like “Superstitious” and “Uptown Funk.”
The 800c is, for me, a definite keeper. Hopefully, I can use it for a long time to come. (Oh, I might mention… I decided not to carry my 40w, but next time I probably will stack it on top just for a little extra sound, almost like a monitor, and because it will look sort of bad ass.

