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Mesa Boogie, Part 3
- Thread starter Chef
- Start date
I'm far from being a MESA expert, but I had a WA when first released & still have & play a Buster Wedge 210 from... a while back.
They are very different. All-tube gives Buster a very distinct IMO output. I believe my 210 combo has a different output than either the head itself or the 15" combo.
Very strong, mid-range presence, but an absolutely beautiful and thick tone overall, The eq takes a little time to dial-in, even the manual suggests keeping the mids low.
When Buster gets the juice turned up, and the BASS goes north of 12 O'Clock, that's when stuff happens, and that's when the real old-school tube presence comes on strong.
The WA I think might be a little more polite, more of a hybrid-based tone, which of course it is.
And of course, the WA would have different sound characteristics as a combo as compared to paring a head with a 410 cab.
If you're looking for the kind of bloom that only an all-tube rig can get, I think the Buster head would suit you.
As far as OD, not my tonal objective ever, but I can certainly get a fair amount of dirt and grit when the GAIN is pushed up on the Buster, not so much on the WA as I recall.; others may have a different result with theirs.
Just recently had my Buster cleaned & tuned up, sounds supreme!
Curiously, the "mini" rig is bigger than the "big" rig...
Action shot (my amp on a house cab).
Action shot (my amp on a house cab).
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Updated addiction pics:
my trusty old rig,
small rig,
big rig.
my trusty old rig,
small rig,
big rig.
Hey guys. So I have a Mesa D800 and I love it. I'm looking at a used M6 Carbine that went up for sale recently in a city a couple hundred miles from where I live and the guy said he would consider a swap for the D800. I'm considering this as I loved the tone of the M6 when I used one at a gig years ago. My thinking is seeing as the Carbines are discontinued, I could always pick up another D800 in a year or two if I really wanted it back. But what I'm wondering is can the D800 cop a similar tone to the M6? Would getting the M6 be much different? I've always just set my D800 flat as I love that tone. Any particular settings that could get me in the ballpark of the M6 or is it just totally it's own thing?
The D800 is darker and more vintage than the M6; and will not get that wide open treble response of the M6; the D800+ is closer but not same.
The M6 will do a better job of being a D800 then vice versa.
The M6 will do a better job of being a D800 then vice versa.
My rigs:
Mesa Bass Prodigy + Mesa 1x12 Radiator Cab 4 Ohms - "crystal clear"
Mesa M3 mounted in Mesa M-Pulse 600 2x12 Combo Cab (the "M6 Combo") 4 Ohms - "full power"
Mesa M-Pulse 600 + 2 x Fender Rumble 112 2 x 8 Ohms - "punchy, creamy tube"
Love them
Mesa Bass Prodigy + Mesa 1x12 Radiator Cab 4 Ohms - "crystal clear"
Mesa M3 mounted in Mesa M-Pulse 600 2x12 Combo Cab (the "M6 Combo") 4 Ohms - "full power"
Mesa M-Pulse 600 + 2 x Fender Rumble 112 2 x 8 Ohms - "punchy, creamy tube"
Love them
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Ok...I'll play...this is my cave...a fairly new rehearsal studio I built and with mostly Mesa bass equipment on stage....aTitan and 400+ amps as well as a Genzler 800 ...driving Mesa PH410 and PH212 as well as 2 EarCandy Custom 212 cabs(950 watts RMS EACH), and a Genz Benz Uber 410 (GB 410T-UB-4 ) as well as all the other misc stuff including my Alembic bass.
Attachments
Hi, now I can affirm it: I am Boogie man, can I have a number?Leo was right but Randall too...
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Love Mesa Boogie! These days it's all I use. I've been switching between a Walkabout and D800 for some time, and recently acquired a 400+ because tubes are in it. 
I'll post evidence later today.
I'll post evidence later today.
Hi Metron, can you tell me more about the tone of these three models, I am recent in the Boogie family with a MPulse 600 that I love so much the tone that I get very curious about the other models especialy since I read on TB that each model have their own personality. The MPulse is very tubey, I plan to borrow or rent a 800+ and a 400+ for trying to have an idea which direction I should look. My style of playing is finger style / old school funk / warm sounding / blues / blues based rock ect. For sure the 800+ is very sexy at 7 lbs and the preamp is well acclaimed even with no tubes.Love Mesa Boogie! These days it's all I use. I've been switching between a Walkabout and D800 for some time, and recently acquired a 400+ because tubes are in it.
Thanks.
This is exactly the definition of GAS, I have four amps + three preamps and I want a 800+, poopie what I will do...drool ? Unable to decide to sell something...
Sure I'll give it shot, but I'm not the best at explaining this stuff. For a little context, I've had the Walkabout and D800 for 3-4 years each. I sold and purchased a second WA after a while because I missed the sound. Still not quite loud enough for all things though, hence the 400+, which is new to me. I just got back from my first band rehearsal with it an hour ago. It's a honeymoon period
but I think I can qualify a few things about it. Also, I'm all about the midrange. I don't need massive lows and usually do not appreciate "glassy" highs.The D800 has plenty of lows and mids, but it's not overly bright. Good rock tone but maybe more of a natural "old school" sounding amp. Warm might be the right word? The EQ is capable, but at times I find it lacking. Obviously the + version should alleviate that. Diming the treble isn't a crazy thing like it can be with some amps. The mid controls are potent and sound great, if the EQ points work with your bass, cabs, and band mix. It also can do pleasant light OD/grind if you turn the input or master up high. I usually turn the bass down a bit from noon and never use the voice control. It's ok, I just haven't found a use for it yet. It's the most practical of the three by a long shot, but I like it's tone the least.
The Walkabout is naturally big, fat, and warm. Capable of very nice high end, but it's easy to dial back. Way too much bass with everything at noon. Ultra flexible EQ controls to the point where I need to keep it simple or I can wander off messing with the parametric.
Great sort of 3D tone - there is character in the attack of each note, especially with a little higher input gain, which is how I run it. Sometimes high enough for almost full on distortion at the input, but it can compress a lot at the expense of dynamics. Crank up the mids and it can get honky, which I also like, especially with a P bass.The 400+ is possibly the brightest tube amp I've heard, but in a good way so far. Sounds like a beast!
The EQ is not super intuitive, but I'm getting the hang of it. Combined with the graphic, I think it's pretty flexible. Some have described this amp as low end shy, which I do not understand at all. 
I had it running with input one set pretty high, maybe 8. The subtle OD I was getting was pretty amazing. It will take at least another 6 months to really get a feel for what it can do. It's the least practical of the three by a long shot, but I might like it's tone the best.Good luck! I hope that was helpful.
View attachment 3142531 Hi, now I can affirm it: I am Boogie man, can I have a number?
Leo was right but Randall too...
It's a start - I'm also a Fender fan, but IME Mesa's cabs are quite a bit better than Fender's cabs...
I don't know if this helps, but my main gigging amp for around 6 years was an M-pulse 600 - along with a Streamliner 900... When I got my Mesa 400, the M-pulse 600 became the odd man out - I still have both, and added a D800... IMO, the D800 sits somewhat between the M-pulse 600 and Mesa's Carbine series, tonally speaking... The Streamliner 900 does the tube thing at least as well as the M-pulse 600, if not better - in a much more convenient package... There is nothing like an all tube amp, and a 400 or 400+ scratch that itch well, but aren't always practical for all situations - hence, the Streamliner 900 or D800 - depending on the sound I'm going for that night...
For sure it is helping, your comment are so detailed, it is exatcly what I want to know.Sure I'll give it shot, but I'm not the best at explaining this stuff. For a little context, I've had the Walkabout and D800 for 3-4 years each. I sold and purchased a second WA after a while because I missed the sound. Still not quite loud enough for all things though, hence the 400+, which is new to me. I just got back from my first band rehearsal with it an hour ago. It's a honeymoon period
The D800 has plenty of lows and mids, but it's not overly bright. Good rock tone but maybe more of a natural "old school" sounding amp. Warm might be the right word? The EQ is capable, but at times I find it lacking. Obviously the + version should alleviate that. Diming the treble isn't a crazy thing like it can be with some amps. The mid controls are potent and sound great, if the EQ points work with your bass, cabs, and band mix. It also can do pleasant light OD/grind if you turn the input or master up high. I usually turn the bass down a bit from noon and never use the voice control. It's ok, I just haven't found a use for it yet. It's the most practical of the three by a long shot, but I like it's tone the least.
The Walkabout is naturally big, fat, and warm. Capable of very nice high end, but it's easy to dial back. Way too much bass with everything at noon. Ultra flexible EQ controls to the point where I need to keep it simple or I can wander off messing with the parametric.
The 400+ is possibly the brightest tube amp I've heard, but in a good way so far. Sounds like a beast!
Good luck! I hope that was helpful.
The only problem is that it wake my GAS a step more but...
With the Pbass, a warm midrange presence is very important, the Jbass and MusicMan is a different beast on this point.
Thanks for taking the time to write all this and have a good playing time.
