Help get me into a Mesa/Boogie Subway WD-800 !!!

[DJ Bebop]

Don't worry this isn't a GoFundMe deal, however, if you wish to help you can PM me

Anyway, I am looking for two things here:

1) Anyone coming from another non-Mesa amp to the Subway WD-800.
What was it and, how does this compare to that ie: This amp is more/less scooped,
more/less middy, fatter/thinner than my last amp.

I am coming from Ampeg B15N, Carvin BX1500, Gallien-Krueger 1001RB I

2) The big ask (other than monetary help ) Is there anyone in the Portland Oregon area that has one that wouldn't mind me making arrangements to audition the amp?

Any help on this matter will be greatly appreciated!

Thank You All

 

[scottm]

Don't worry this isn't a GoFundMe deal, however, if you wish to help you can PM me

Anyway, I am looking for two things here:

1) Anyone coming from another non-Mesa amp to the Subway WD-800.
What was it and, how does this compare to that ie: This amp is more/less scooped,
more/less middy, fatter/thinner than my last amp.

I am coming from Ampeg B15N, Carvin BX1500, Gallien-Krueger 1001RB I

2) The big ask (other than monetary help ) Is there anyone in the Portland Oregon area that has one that wouldn't mind me making arrangements to audition the amp?

Any help on this matter will be greatly appreciated!

Thank You All

Sent you a DM, hope it helps.

-ScottM

 

[redstrand]

Much less scooped than a GK. Way less boomy and bloomy than the Rumbles. The EQ really does allow you to dial pretty much anything you want. Flat is killer, start boosting and cutting and certain basses will really shine. It really loves 12’s imho too. All the heft and volume is there.

 

[Amajew]

Go try one out.
That's the best method to see if it's for you!

 

[DJ Bebop]

Go try one out.
That's the best method to see if it's for you!

That was number 2 on the about list.

I was hoping for that someone in the Portland Oregon had one so, I could do that very thing

Other than have one mail ordered to the house, I could just see one locally

Thanks for the help though

 

[DJ Bebop]

Much less scooped than a GK. Way less boomy and bloomy than the Rumbles. The EQ really does allow you to dial pretty much anything you want. Flat is killer, start boosting and cutting and certain basses will really shine. It really loves 12’s imho too. All the heft and volume is there.

That was very helpful, that's what I am looking for here, other than someone From the Portland Oregon area
chiming in and letting me come by and check out theirs.
Thanks!

 

[socialleper]

Don't worry this isn't a GoFundMe deal, however, if you wish to help you can PM me

Anyway, I am looking for two things here:

1) Anyone coming from another non-Mesa amp to the Subway WD-800.
What was it and, how does this compare to that ie: This amp is more/less scooped,
more/less middy, fatter/thinner than my last amp.

I am coming from Ampeg B15N, Carvin BX1500, Gallien-Krueger 1001RB I

2) The big ask (other than monetary help ) Is there anyone in the Portland Oregon area that has one that wouldn't mind me making arrangements to audition the amp?

Any help on this matter will be greatly appreciated!

Thank You All

I have a D800 and tried a WD800 at the Mesa store in Hollywood. It is a nice amp with some cool eq features. I didn't hear enough of a difference to make me want to upgrade.
Tube pre amps can do different things depending on the design. The wd800 is designed to be warm and woolly, so it is modern sounding, but not too far off from your Ampeg. You will not get the aggressive bite that your GK gets. It just isn't that kind of amp. It is a pretty comfortable middle ground between the two you already have.
As far as trying one out, buy used, and flip it if you don't like it. That's how things work these days.

 

[DJ Bebop]

I have a D800 and tried a WD800 at the Mesa store in Hollywood. It is a nice amp with some cool eq features. I didn't hear enough of a difference to make me want to upgrade.
Tube pre amps can do different things depending on the design. The wd800 is designed to be warm and woolly, so it is modern sounding, but not too far off from your Ampeg. You will not get the aggressive bite that your GK gets. It just isn't that kind of amp. It is a pretty comfortable middle ground between the two you already have.
As far as trying one out, buy used, and flip it if you don't like it. That's how things work these days.

Thanks, man!

 

[DJ Bebop]

More info on me.
I am not into the desires of youth
I am not worried about any amp providing grind or grit. That's not my thing.
If I want that, I'll use some kind of external thing

I like my GK 1001RB but I rarely drive it hard enough to get that GK grind, and I'll dial out some of the scoop.
I use my GK with an Aguilar GS 112. So, that set up can be kinda buttery
That setup is kinda my grab and go right now unless I need smaller, then the Aggie is replaced with
a David Eden CX110.

The other amp I use is a Carvin BX1500: http://carvinimages.com/manuals/76-42501C-BX1500-letter.pdf
I use it bi-amped into a David Eden coaxial CX 110 for highs and the Aguilar GS 112 for the low with its tweeter off. And sometimes an 18 with the Aggie on the low side.

I bring out the Ampeg B15n when I want to get my Steampunk on

I guess the sound I am trying to go for is more of a studio monitor sound. More Anthony Jackson than
Cliff Burton or Steve Harris.

I play bass, fretted and fretless, various string counts. I don't care

I hope this helps

Keep it comin'

 

[redstrand]

More info on me.
I am not into the desires of youth
I am not worried about any amp providing grind or grit. That's not my thing.
If I want that, I'll use some kind of external thing

I like my GK 1001RB but I rarely drive it hard enough to get that GK grind, and I'll dial out some of the scoop.
I use my GK with an Aguilar GS 112. So, that set up can be kinda buttery
That setup is kinda my grab and go right now unless I need smaller, then the Aggie is replaced with
a David Eden CX110.

The other amp I use is a Carvin BX1500: http://carvinimages.com/manuals/76-42501C-BX1500-letter.pdf
I use it bi-amped into a David Eden coaxial CX 110 for highs and the Aguilar GS 112 for the low with its tweeter off. And sometimes an 18 with the Aggie on the low side.

I guess the sound I am trying to go for is more of a studio monitor sound. More Anthony Jackson than
Cliff Burton or Steve Harris.

I play bass, fretted and fretless, various string counts. I don't care

I hope this helps

Keep it comin'

View attachment 3542223

It'll do clean and then some. It can be chimy, it can be clanky. I enjoy it at low volume and full(er) volume. The EQ will get you everywhere.

 

[redstrand]

It sounds like a Mesa, just a more refined one. The EQ is really the difference, it really enables you to dial in the tone you want. I hope someone close to you has one so you can hear it through your cab(s). The HPF is the unsung hero too, a little dab a do ya. On a couple of basses I put it up about 10-15% and wow do things get dialed in, phat bass and no boominess. Stellar!

 

[DJ Bebop]

It sounds like a Mesa, just a more refined one. The EQ is really the difference, it really enables you to dial in the tone you want. I hope someone close to you has one so you can hear it through your cab(s). The HPF is the unsung hero too, a little dab a do ya. On a couple of basses I put it up about 10-15% and wow do things get dialed in, phat bass and no boominess. Stellar!

So, how would you describe the 'Mesa' Sound?

I like a HPF. I've inserted my 31 band EQ that has both an HPF and an LPF.
I found I could get a similar thing just by using the 9 band graphic EQ on the Carvin
and dialing back at 50, 80 hertz but yeah that HPF on the Mesa as well as the damping control intrigues me

 

[redstrand]

The Mesa sound in the D, D+, and WD is cleaner than an Ampeg but still has the heft. It’s far less scooped then a GK, for lack of a better term the controls are organic. The sweep of each pot isn’t drastic and makes it easy to dial in things, it’s not all or nothing which I rather like.

 

[Jim Carr]

The D800 I have is the most flexible micro head I've had. Use mine a lot for gospel, Jazz, reggae, blues, psychobilly, and rock oldies. Electric 4 & 5, fretless, upright—all good. Love the deep switch for most applications.

Warm and clean. Great EQ. Light and small enough. Like the carry bag. The DI is good. Lots of power, though more would be good for me. No issues with breakdowns, yet. Mine was purchased used by me from TB classified. 5 year warranty is transferable. Great amp.

 

[Amajew]

I also own a d800 and tried the wd. The wd has this really

More info on me.
I am not into the desires of youth
I am not worried about any amp providing grind or grit. That's not my thing.
If I want that, I'll use some kind of external thing

I like my GK 1001RB but I rarely drive it hard enough to get that GK grind, and I'll dial out some of the scoop.
I use my GK with an Aguilar GS 112. So, that set up can be kinda buttery
That setup is kinda my grab and go right now unless I need smaller, then the Aggie is replaced with
a David Eden CX110.

The other amp I use is a Carvin BX1500: http://carvinimages.com/manuals/76-42501C-BX1500-letter.pdf
I use it bi-amped into a David Eden coaxial CX 110 for highs and the Aguilar GS 112 for the low with its tweeter off. And sometimes an 18 with the Aggie on the low side.

I bring out the Ampeg B15n when I want to get my Steampunk on

I guess the sound I am trying to go for is more of a studio monitor sound. More Anthony Jackson than
Cliff Burton or Steve Harris.

I play bass, fretted and fretless, various string counts. I don't care

I hope this helps

Keep it comin'

View attachment 3542223

Studio monitor. I think you might want to look into Eich, Tecamp or trickfish for that type of tone. And some barefaced 12's.
That comment is based solely on my reading of hundreds of posts over the past few years.
I did hear a Tecamp black jag and their 212 cab when I saw a clinic with Bobby Vega a few years back. That rig sounded glorious and clean.

 

[DJ Bebop]

I also own a d800 and tried the wd. The wd has this really

Studio monitor. I think you might want to look into Eich, Tecamp or trickfish for that type of tone. And some barefaced 12's.
That comment is based solely on my reading of hundreds of posts over the past few years.
I did hear a revamp black jag and their 212 cab when I saw a clinic with Bobby Vega a few years back. That rig sounded glorious and clean.

revamp black jag and their 212 cab?
Links?

 

[cxcxcx]

It takes some patience and varying degrees of a “flat” setting and the voicing knob to find it, but the Mesa D-800 is one of the most AJ sounding amps I’ve encountered. It’s unfashionably clean, smooth, and representative of most frequencies - there is a HPF baked in for higher volume use but it’s not obvious or artificial sounding.

 

[S-Bigbottom]

I was hoping for that someone in the Portland Oregon had one so, I could do that very thing

Other than have one mail ordered to the house, I could just see one locally

Five Star Guitar is the Mesa dealer in the area, give them a call and see if they currently have one on the floor. They are just off highway 26.
(503) 439-9500
17305 NW Corridor Ct. Suite 100, Beaverton, OR 97006

If you would like to try the Genzler Magellan 800 message me.

​

 

[redstrand]

I also own a d800 and tried the wd. The wd has this really

Studio monitor. I think you might want to look into Eich, Tecamp or trickfish for that type of tone. And some barefaced 12's.
That comment is based solely on my reading of hundreds of posts over the past few years.
I did hear a Tecamp black jag and their 212 cab when I saw a clinic with Bobby Vega a few years back. That rig sounded glorious and clean.

I had the black jag and it loved my 2x12 but it was too clean for me...it was still killer

 

[Amajew]

revamp black jag and their 212 cab?
Links?

My bad, Tecamp not revamp.
I'm unsure if they're still in production or not but you can find them in the classifieds from time to time.
The puma 900 is another tecamp amp that people talk about.
Eich-1000 seems brutal as well as the trickfish bullhead 1000 is another clean amp.

When I saw Bobby Vega he was playing through an MTD 5 string. That combo with the techno rig was just so tonally clean, powerful, harmonics just sang and having a stellar player as Bobby was a killer experience.

My d800 is also pretty clean as mentioned above. It sounds very different depending on the cabinet used.