How's it compare to an Aguilar Tonehammer?
Ha! We shall see. I’m hoping better…..
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Mesa amp…….do it?
- Thread starter NYgiant
- Start date
Ha! We shall see. I’m hoping better…..
My only hesitation is, I have a perfectly good GK MB500. But on the other hand……I have 3 perfectly good bass’s and just bought a 4th last week.
Two simple questions:
1) Can you afford it?
2) Do you actually have a use for it?
If both are true, go for it. If not, spending a fortune on bargains is a good way to thwart social mobility.
it's one of the better choices on the market right now. i'd even say one of the best.
How's it compare to an Aguilar Tonehammer?
"Better" is relative. Between the Tonehammer and the D800+ it's definitely an apples and oranges thing. IMHO the Tonehammer is kind of a loosey goosey woolly thing. The D800+ is fast, articulate and speaks with authority. It will even growl if you let it eat.
The Mesa amp was the right choice for me and as always ymmv.
PS: Remember, small tweaks made noticeable changes. Read the manual and have fun with it.
When I lived in a major music city, I chose gear that I thought sounded great during the shows I attended. Having the opportunity to evaluate different basses and amps in live context is a luxury most of us don’t have. The hype for the Subway series seems to persist, which would give me confidence in the OP’s situation. But I don’t have a mental “sound picture” of any contemporary Mesa gear.
Just Do It Later - the print on a T-shirt worn by a Jamaican woman at a reggae concert I played a few years back. Doesn't apply to the acquisition of a Mesa D-800+ (which should be acquired as soon as possible).
What's the most you would be willing to spend on renting one for a week out to see if it was worth your while? $50? $75? $100? $150?My only hesitation is, I have a perfectly good GK MB500. But on the other hand……I have 3 perfectly good bass’s and just bought a 4th last week.
Whatever that number is,
$750 - X = Y
think you can sell it for $Y? If so, what do you have to lose?
I have one and love it. Specifically the D-800+, which for me really hit the sweet spot.
Of course the cabinets are even more important and you already have the matching 410. I bet you’ll like how the D-800+ sounds through that cabinet. As long as you can be reasonably certain the used amp doesn’t have any defects, I would get it.
Of course the cabinets are even more important and you already have the matching 410. I bet you’ll like how the D-800+ sounds through that cabinet. As long as you can be reasonably certain the used amp doesn’t have any defects, I would get it.
My thoughts on used gear are that if you can sell it for what you paid for it, why not try it? I live in a rural area where it's hard to test things in person. Purchasing gently used and then selling it if it doesn't work is a great way to test gear out. The Mesa stuff is top quality. You won't know until you try it if the sound is for you.
So then you will have a great back-up amp, albeit with less power than the Mesa, should anything happen to your D800+. My main amp is a class D 800-watt amp that I bought even though I had a superb 800-watt class AB amp. Primarily bought it because it was light, I got a great price on it, and both amps were designed by the same guy. Besides that I have another 400-watt backup amp that I actually had to use for 2 months while my class AB amp was in the shop. It was my first real quality amp after returning to gigging after a 20-year absence. And then I have a low-powered amp (225-watts into 4Ω) that I specifically bought for playing a small brewpub where we played on Friday nights over 40-times a year. I use that at all my small venues. I'm not really sure you could ever have "too-many" amps.My only hesitation is, I have a perfectly good GK MB500. But on the other hand……I have 3 perfectly good bass’s and just bought a 4th last week.
Well… I just purchased it sent payment to the seller so they should be shipping out within the next day or two.
I assume it’s in good condition they listed as excellent with just a few light scratches, which I could not care less about. I could not see any in the various angles in the photos they took so they must be really light. Comes with a soft case to carry it in if needed.
I assume it’s in good condition they listed as excellent with just a few light scratches, which I could not care less about. I could not see any in the various angles in the photos they took so they must be really light. Comes with a soft case to carry it in if needed.
$750 is a decent deal. I have been using this amp for several years, literally 200+ shows. It is totally reliable and sounds amazing. I would consider buying a new one if I were you so you get warranty, return if you don't like it etc... . The fact that I like it does not mean you will.
As a 800 owner that would love an 800+, you can guess my vote:
BUY IT!!
BUY IT!!
I have the GK MB500 and still use it. I was curious about the tone I could get from the Subway 800+, and purchased the Subway+ preamp a few years ago and immediately found the tone I was looking for, using it in the return on the GK head. If you’re able to find a Subway+ preamp on the secondary market, that would be a possible alternative at a lower price point. FWIW, I use the Subway 115 and 112 for cabinets. Love the combination and not wanting for anything sound wise.
You likely don’t have a “mental sound” because they are designed to be so versatile.
Were the discussion about anything other than a Mesa Subway head, I would encourage looking into buying new. And recommend buying from Sweetwater because of their added two year warranty.
Howver. It is very like that if it hasn’t failed by now, it won’t. And the designer himself is one of the heaviest contributors on TalkBass. @agedhorse has helped hundreds of of members with issues, whether they be real or operator errors. I encourage the poster to save the at least $350 and buy the one he is looking at.
I bought it. Should have it here in a few days.
