Mesa bass amps

[Ljorges]

Hello,
So after many responses to my previous post, I think I've narrowed my choices down to Mesa Boogie. A used D800 is about 699$, D800+ about 750$ and a TT800 at about 800$

I haven't decided on a cab yet and I realize the cab has a lot of impact on the sound. With that said, for motown (James jamerson), Beatles, classic rock...which of those 3 would be best to replicate the 60s and 70s sounds.

 

[agedhorse]

A Bass 800D would be a better choice followed by the D-800 (or D-350 if you don’t need that much power).

 

[shadven]

Hello,
So after many responses to my previous post, I think I've narrowed my choices down to Mesa Boogie. A used D800 is about 699$, D800+ about 750$ and a TT800 at about 800$

I haven't decided on a cab yet and I realize the cab has a lot of impact on the sound. With that said, for motown (James jamerson), Beatles, classic rock...which of those 3 would be best to replicate the 60s and 70s sounds.

With my D800 I have a pair of Subway 115 cabs. I play mostly P-basses with old flats. Fender/ Ampeg tube thump for days.

 

[57pbass]

If you can also check out the WD800 you might as well… it grinds pretty hard.

With regards to the speaker just get a SUBWAY 15 and you will be good to go.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

If you can also check out the WD800 you might as well… it grinds pretty hard.

With regards to the speaker just get a SUBWAY 15 and you will be good to go.

I think the WD-800 is the most versatile amp I’ve ever owned. Great tonal controls. Might not be best in class for certain genres, but over all it’s never going to disappoint.

 

[roccobass]

A Bass 800D would be a better choice followed by the D-800 (or D-350 if you don’t need that much power).

LOL...I have both the D8 and the 8D and I love them both!!

 

[plumberstrummer]

I’ve got a TT 800 and Mesa subway 215 that I absolutely love, but I tend to voice it modern. I am sure that the “boogie” channel with a P bass can be dialed in to get that thumpy, old mid rangey sound, but I haven’t tried it yet... I would trust @agedhorse on this one for sure.

That said; I settled on my TT800 and 215 cab after a lot of searching, and I’m in love with it! Mesa amps are transparent, tweakable, and powerful. I had a bit of a learning curve, so I would say be sure to read the manual for whatever you end up getting. (It is priceless!)

Good luck in your choices - Keep us posted!

 

[agedhorse]

Part of the reason for my recommendation is that the learning curve will be shorter, and the native voicing is consistent with those genres.

There's nothing wrong with the other amps, they will be able to get you there, but you will need to work more to do so. They are also more expensive (if that's an issue).

 

[Jazzdogg]

The Mesa Subway manuals are VERY user-centric, well written, results oriented, informative, and surprisingly superior to the manuals written for most bass gear.

They were written by a highly regarded electrical engineer and product designer who is smart enough to surround himself with players who communicate well and know bass gear.

TLDR: These manuals are great. Highly recommended. Well worth reading.

 

[Chris Wilke]

Hello,
So after many responses to my previous post, I think I've narrowed my choices down to Mesa Boogie. A used D800 is about 699$, D800+ about 750$ and a TT800 at about 800$

I haven't decided on a cab yet and I realize the cab has a lot of impact on the sound. With that said, for motown (James jamerson), Beatles, classic rock...which of those 3 would be best to replicate the 60s and 70s sounds.

You did not mention the WD800

When I tried it against the D800 and the D800+ it was the clear winner. I wasn't in the market for an amp at the time but I knew I'd own one someday and I was right.

I've never tried a TT800 though.

 

[gtirard]

The Mesa Subway manuals are VERY user-centric, well written, results oriented, informative, and surprisingly superior to the manuals written for most bass gear.

Yes, the manuals are very well written indeed. I wonder who wrote them?

So good that in fact I've found myself reading them with interest, despite the fact that I don't currently own a Mesa amp. The EQ templates at the end are interesting.

 

[Nebadon2000]

I would take Andy's advise on Amp

The Subway 1X15 is very balanced/neutral: if you set up Bass and Amp for your tone it won't add baked in tone to sabbatoge it

But saying that a Subway 2X10 although slightly bigger and heavier is well worth a listen and a 1X 12 is smaller and lighter if extended low Bass is less important than low mid and upper bass (my opinion on Music you play)

I liked all 3 but 15 was my slight preference and with tweeter somewhere below 12 O'clock it can work great for R&B and certain classic rock

 

[murphy]

A Bass 800D would be a better choice followed by the D-800 (or D-350 if you don’t need that much power).

Exactly the two Mesa amps I own......and love (800D and D-800)

 

[Bluesrock]

Hello,
So after many responses to my previous post, I think I've narrowed my choices down to Mesa Boogie. A used D800 is about 699$, D800+ about 750$ and a TT800 at about 800$

I haven't decided on a cab yet and I realize the cab has a lot of impact on the sound. With that said, for motown (James jamerson), Beatles, classic rock...which of those 3 would be best to replicate the 60s and 70s sounds.

I'm playing similar material through a D800+ with a Subway 115 and Subway 210. If I were to limit my cabinets to one, it would probably be the 115. Any of the Mesa Boogie heads you’re considering should work out.

 

[bigdaddybass12]

I know you are looking at the D800. I bought an open box D350 with warranty. Great sound. Still working with settings to get my sound. I play it thru a Recsound 112. I do play small gigs only.

 

[logdrum]

Mesa Boogie always had good manuals and I use to own a Mark IIB as well as Bass 400 non plus. I think those were either mimeographed or photocopied from typed manuals, but even then they took time and very different from all other manuals if you even got one,

The current style came about I think during the Rectifier era and that's also when they started the hybrid MOSFET amps for bass. They all follow a common style and in the case of tube amps there was always the Randy Smith white paper on tubes that was an addendum to the main amp.

 

[Al Kraft]

I'll second Andy's recommendation for the D800 as perhaps the simplest and least expensive amp (of the OP options mentioned) to cover 60s/70s rock. IMO a SW115 will be the perfect cab.

My second place amp choice would be the Boogie channel of the TT800. In terms of broadest voicing versatility of the models mentioned in the OP, the 800+ would be hard to beat...and I'd still go with the SW115 for any head choice.

 

[agedhorse]

I'll second Andy's recommendation for the D800 as perhaps the simplest and least expensive amp (of the OP options mentioned) to cover 60s/70s rock. IMO a SW115 will be the perfect cab.

My second place amp choice would be the Boogie channel of the TT800. In terms of broadest voicing versatility of the models mentioned in the OP, the 800+ would be hard to beat...and I'd still go with the SW115 for any head choice.

I think I would recommend the BD-800 over the boogie channel of the TT, for simplicity and it happens to be lower cost too.

 

[Al Kraft]

I think I would recommend the BD-800 over the boogie channel of the TT, for simplicity and it happens to be lower cost too.

Great points and I agree 100%. I was just trying to stay with the 3 options originally listed which I assume he had available since he included prices.

 

[dannylectro]

I have owned and gigged the D800, WD800, TT800, and, presently the 800D.

Every one of these amps are just amazing in their own way, but the 800D just absolutely ticks every box for my needs: country, modern alt, classic cover, what have you. I literally have every control on 5, maybe occasionally adjust the HPF slightly, and engage or disengage the Deep switch. It just works for my pretty diverse collection of basses, from Sadowsky 5 to Jerry Jones 4 and every FSO in between.
But you really just can’t go wrong with any of them…