I recently purchased a Mesa Boogie subway wd 800 head. I've been using a Fender pro bassman 610 cabinet with it and everyone thinks it sounds great. The cabinet is close enough to ear level so I don't have to worry about being able to hear myself. Would the Subway cabinets really be bringing anything to the table that I don't already have? I've had luck with 410's in the past. 212s I'm unsure of. My concern with 212's would be that they may not be all that different than 210s. The 215 subway cab is only a little bit shorter than my bassman 610 cabinet. Would the only true advantage for me be the lighter weight with the subway cabinets? I will say I like the metal grilles on the subway cabs.
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Mesa Boogie subway cabinets
- Thread starter Cory rich40
- Start date
Only you can answer these questions, but it sounds to me like you have what works for you. I'm not familiar with any 610 cabs so I can't compare. My assumption is that they're heavy and big. Personally, I'd stack my Subway 212 against anything, but that's a chunk of money to spend on an experiment that might not work for you. I guess if it were me, I'd just hold out until I got a chance to play more with Subway cabs, unless I suddenly saw the light that lighter and smaller is better.
Good luck!
The 610 is light for what it is surprisingly.Only you can answer these questions, but it sounds to me like you have what works for you. I'm not familiar with any 610 cabs so I can't compare. My assumption is that they're heavy and big. Personally, I'd stack my Subway 212 against anything, but that's a chunk of money to spend on an experiment that might not work for you. I guess if it were me, I'd just hold out until I got a chance to play more with Subway cabs, unless I suddenly saw the light that lighter and smaller is better.
Good luck!
- Feb 12, 2006
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- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
If your Bassman pro is the Neo version, there are similarities since those drivers were based on work we did after Fender acquired Genz Benz.
That said, the Subway 212 is different than the 210, and you might also give the Genzler cabinets a listen too. They will all be lighter, especially if you have the non-Neo version.
Complicated answer to a seemingly simple question!
That said, the Subway 212 is different than the 210, and you might also give the Genzler cabinets a listen too. They will all be lighter, especially if you have the non-Neo version.
Complicated answer to a seemingly simple question!
I heard a subway cabinet hooked up to an ampeg SVT vr head about 3 years ago. Seems like it may have been the 212 or 215. The thing could get loud and it could definitely handle that head.
Al Kraft
Supporting Member
- May 2, 2016
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- Mesa Boogie beta product tester and player support
You have a fine cab now and seem to like the voicing. The WD works well with most any cab due to its significant voicing versatility and I'll bet your rig does sound great. Don't feel that you are missing something because your rig is not all Mesa. Many of us play all Mesa rigs and also mix and match cabs and heads with excellent results.
Mesa SW cabs are top tier, each has its own voicing, and all can be mixed and matched with any of the other SW cabs regardless of speaker size. This gives you a lot of flexibility. For example some of us like the SW 112 and 115 cabs played as a stack. Others use the 115 and 210 either individually or together. They are all designed to be compatible with each other in any combination.
My only advice would be to not assume anything about the Mesa cabs (or any other brands for that matter) based on speaker diameter and/or your past experience with similar configuration cabs. I think the 212 or 215 will surprise you with how big they sound. Both are very nice sounding with no obvious peaks or valleys in their voicing across the frequency range. Both can get seriously loud without losing their focus or sounding stressed.
Mesa SW cabs are top tier, each has its own voicing, and all can be mixed and matched with any of the other SW cabs regardless of speaker size. This gives you a lot of flexibility. For example some of us like the SW 112 and 115 cabs played as a stack. Others use the 115 and 210 either individually or together. They are all designed to be compatible with each other in any combination.
My only advice would be to not assume anything about the Mesa cabs (or any other brands for that matter) based on speaker diameter and/or your past experience with similar configuration cabs. I think the 212 or 215 will surprise you with how big they sound. Both are very nice sounding with no obvious peaks or valleys in their voicing across the frequency range. Both can get seriously loud without losing their focus or sounding stressed.
If everything sounds good to you and the band and you can move it around, stay happy and stick with it. Until you're not happy.
Doesn't sound like you're seeking a specific improvement, which is the dangerous kind of money sucking GAS.
But also this is TalkBass so buy one of each Subway cab, they're all great.
Doesn't sound like you're seeking a specific improvement, which is the dangerous kind of money sucking GAS.
But also this is TalkBass so buy one of each Subway cab, they're all great.
Don't forget many rave about the Subway 410 as their preferred cab in the Subway line 
Where do you live? Maybe a TBer near by would let you try their Subway 2-12 cab. We played outside last weekend and my 800+ with the 2-12 cab had no problems and sounded great.
I was in the same dilemma last year, really wanted the matching subway cabs. Moved on my bergantino HDN212 which combined with the WD800 sounded amazing. Had to sell it to fund the mesas. The mesas were great cabs but realised the berg was the tone I was after, so it was not ideal loosing a few hundred dollars selling and buying twice. My thoughts are if you're happy with the sound of the fender cab, to stick with it and as tempting as the uniformed rig is try and play through some subway cabs before committing, not to discredit them at all, every bit as good as the bergantino stuff, just a different flavour, where for my tonal goals and ears the berg had the edge.
@agedhorse I would imagine this applies to the Neo 115 as well? (if memory serves, I think you said that cab would pair really well with a TT-800).
- Feb 12, 2006
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- 5
- 221,214
- Disclosures
- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
If you don't need to sell the Fender 610, try the Mesa Subway 212. If you don't like it, send it back.
I'm beginning to think I need a TT 800 or D800 plus to go with the WD800 instead of a subway cabinet. I was very impressed with the WD800.
Sounds like "overkill" to me. If you have FOH support there're no need for any of that. The bass player for My Morning Jacket, Tom Blankenship, uses a WD800 and a 410 Emperor cabinet on tour. He's used the WD800 for a couple of years and loves it. If it's good enough for a high energy touring band, then it's definitely enough for me, and probably you.
Agreed. I like My Morning Jacket.
Al Kraft
Supporting Member
- May 2, 2016
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- Mesa Boogie beta product tester and player support
Funny you mentioned the Bergantino cab because my CN212 sounds killer with my WD (and every head I pair with it). And for those of us who are long time Walkabout users, the Bergantino CN212 is an absolute perfect cab for that head IMO.
I'm admittedly a bit of a Mesa SW head and cab fan, but the SW heads sound terrific with cabs from other brands and there is story after story on TB to attest to that. While I've never played the Bergantino HDN212, I have no doubt that it sounds great with any of the Mesa SW heads. My GK Neo 112 II's also sound great with the SW heads and for a lightweight Walkabout Scout combo replacement my AudioKinesis C112T and the WD are excellent.
If you like what you're getting from your rig, don't worry about matching nameplates...it's your sound that people hear, not the brand(s) of your equipment.
I bet the 610 is great. I think I read it's 77 lbs. for me that's too much. Getting it out of the van and back into the house would make it a deal breaker for me. Also lifting it up onto stages is not fun.
But I'm old so 77 lbs for a younger healthy person would not the issue it is for me.
The SW15 is a good weight so lifting two cabs under 40 lbs each is doable.
I just carried the SW15 from the driveway to my front door and was thinking that's hard enough for me.
But I'm old so 77 lbs for a younger healthy person would not the issue it is for me.
The SW15 is a good weight so lifting two cabs under 40 lbs each is doable.
I just carried the SW15 from the driveway to my front door and was thinking that's hard enough for me.
