Double Bass Loud Rigs

[Slaphound]

The other night I had the chance to play through a Mesa Boogie Subway D800 and an Ampeg 4x10. This sucker was LOUD!! I finally was able to keep up in the studio with my band. I usually play through a Fender Rumble500 Combo in another studio. Its tough keeping up with these guys but I get close. With the Mesa, I was told to turn down. I was so happy. It's usually me complaining for them to turn down and its because I'm having a hard time keeping the volume up without sounding like garbage. I did have a difficult time getting a good slap sound but maybe I didn't really. know the head well. I probably could have gotten it if I wasn't ignorant to the head.
Has anyone else have a loud rig to speak of. I'm seriously considering picking up this head but of course I'd love some opinions.

 

[MrLenny1]

My buddy uses one with a 2x15 cab in a loud rock trio.
Sounds great, currently one of the hottest selling amps.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Plenty of people over on the BG side sing praises about the new Mesa. Hop over there and ask.

 

[james condino]

I regularly use an ACME 4x10 with a 900 watt head for my upright- soooooooo much fun and low end! Switching to a magnetic KRIVO pickup was a gamechanger at those volumes. Even though I don't like them, now I always win the volume wars.

 

[BobDeRosa]

It would be great to hear from @agedhorse about the suitability of Mesa for upright. He's one of the geniuses -- maybe the primary genius -- behind that fabulous brand.

 

[two fingers]

The other night I had the chance to play through a Mesa Boogie Subway D800 and an Ampeg 4x10. This sucker was LOUD!! I finally was able to keep up in the studio with my band. I usually play through a Fender Rumble500 Combo in another studio. Its tough keeping up with these guys but I get close. With the Mesa, I was told to turn down. I was so happy. It's usually me complaining for them to turn down and its because I'm having a hard time keeping the volume up without sounding like garbage. I did have a difficult time getting a good slap sound but maybe I didn't really. know the head well. I probably could have gotten it if I wasn't ignorant to the head.
Has anyone else have a loud rig to speak of. I'm seriously considering picking up this head but of course I'd love some opinions.

I have rarely been as impressed by ANY purchase I have ever made as I am with the Mesa Subway rig I acquired a while back. I have the TT800 and 115 cab.

Yes, it's on the BG side, but there is a lot of great information here.
Official Mesa Boogie Subway Series Club | TalkBass.com

 

[agedhorse]

It would be great to hear from @agedhorse about the suitability of Mesa for upright. He's one of the geniuses -- maybe the primary genius -- behind that fabulous brand.

We do have quite a few players using the Subway cabinets for bass, the 112 seems to be the most popular, possibly because of its size as much as anything.

 

[BobDeRosa]

We do have quite a few players using the Subway cabinets for bass, the 112 seems to be the most popular, possibly because of its size as much as anything.

Thank you.

 

[Richard Blair]

I have the D800+ with the Mesa subway 1x15. Love it.

 

[Sam Reese]

@Slaphound that's awesome! What pickup were you using? When I use a bass amp instead of PA, I either use the Fender Rumble Stage 800 w/ 210 extension cab or my Euphonic Audio Doubler w/ it's NL210 cab. Using piezo and/or microphone it's the EA, but for rockin' I enjoy the Fender rig w/ Krivo magnetic pickup.

 

[Slaphound]

@Slaphound that's awesome! What pickup were you using? When I use a bass amp instead of PA, I either use the Fender Rumble Stage 800 w/ 210 extension cab or my Euphonic Audio Doubler w/ it's NL210 cab. Using piezo and/or microphone it's the EA, but for rockin' I enjoy the Fender rig w/ Krivo magnetic pickup.

I'm using the Krivo mag pickup as well. I couldn't control the feedback at the volume these cats play at.

 

[Sam Reese]

@Slaphound what is the resistance of the Ampeg 410 - 4 ohm or 8 ohm?

 

[bigshiny]

I use a Demeter, AI and a Mesa head. They can get as loud as I want or need. And that’s pretty loud. To me it’s more about having enough cabinet, and EQ to solve problems. They all pretty much work. It’s just that some products work a whole lot better than others. Just my .02

 

[neddyrow]

I am lucky to have 2 Acoustic Image heads that were made back when they still were 900 watts. I also can get a decent sound out of my Genz Benz Shuttle 9.0 - HPF helps.

As for Cabs - I have a Revsound 48VT that I use for BG and DB which can get really loud without sacrificing tone. I am also impressed with my MAS 18/28 cab system I bought. LOUD! I normally just need the 28 alone and have never needed to run FOH for bar gigs.

 

[bigshiny]

I will agree with you on the MAS cabs. I own several. My big stage rig is a 46 on top of a 110 sub. Usually with my Demeter head with my custom Broughton 2 channel pre and my Aluminum Pfretzschner. I also own one the older 900 watt AI heads. They have so much headroom.

 

[Slaphound]

@Slaphound what is the resistance of the Ampeg 410 - 4 ohm or 8 ohm?

I don't know. I haven't been back to look.

 

[mlwarriner]

I'm running the Mesa Subway 800 (whatever the basic model is) into a fEarless F212 and it's a frickin' monster. So much more than I'll ever need, even for outdoor gigs with no PA support.