Mesa Boogie WD800, How Do They Do It

[agedhorse]

I have a question for WD800-owners.
Do you use a footswitch to bypass the parametric EQ?

I noticed that with the P-EQ all neutral there is a difference in sound when you switch between P-EQ bypassed and not bypassed.

To me the P-EQ bypassed makes it sound more like a tube preamp and the P-EQ not bypassed it sounds more solid state.

Both are usefull. It just depends on the bass and the music style if you want to bypass the P-EQ.

It is fun to experiment.

And as always read the manual. The factory sample settings show that you can bypass the P-EQ to create a certain sound:

View attachment 7398072

There should be no difference, but in practice there may be a very small difference due to the tolerance of the controls and components not being perfect. A slight adjustment of the eq fain controls is usually enough, it doesn’t take much.

 

[vlad335]

Congratulations! I love the combination of those two cabs. I think you're going to be very happy with that purchase.

Can't wait! We are going to meet up and of course a snow storm is on the way...

The Orange cabs sound good but can't get the Mesa Subways out of my head. Considering the quality of the WD-800 I have got to try them.

 

[Al Kraft]

I have a question for WD800-owners.
Do you use a footswitch to bypass the parametric EQ?

I noticed that with the P-EQ all neutral there is a difference in sound when you switch between P-EQ bypassed and not bypassed.

To me the P-EQ bypassed makes it sound more like a tube preamp and the P-EQ not bypassed it sounds more solid state.

Both are usefull. It just depends on the bass and the music style if you want to bypass the P-EQ.

It is fun to experiment.

And as always read the manual. The factory sample settings show that you can bypass the P-EQ to create a certain sound:

View attachment 7398072

I have never really noticed a difference. Obviously any additional circuitry in a signal path could potentially have some small effect. I would say from a lab measurement perspective "zeroed out controls" would likely register as lightly different than "by-passed circuitry". In actual use I have never experienced what you're hearing.

As I recall from the manual development work (years ago) I think all that was meant by the "NOTE" areas you highlighted was that to get that sample sound, no semi-parametric EQ was used.

@agedhorse may have a better explanation and a better memory.

 

[TonH]

I have never really noticed a difference. Obviously any additional circuitry in a signal path could potentially have some small effect. I would say from a lab measurement perspective "zeroed out controls" would likely register as lightly different than "by-passed circuitry". In actual use I have never experienced what you're hearing.

As I recall from the manual development work (years ago) I think all that was meant by the "NOTE" areas you highlighted was that to get that sample sound, no semi-parametric EQ was used.

@agedhorse may have a better explanation and a better memory.

I could hear it when playing on a Squier Rascal, not on a Fender Jazz.

I had the first P-EQ set around 300Hz and turning it up just a little (past noon) I got the same sound as with the PEQ bypassed.

 

[Al Kraft]

I could hear it when playing on a Squier Rascal, not on a Fender Jazz.

I had the first P-EQ set around 300Hz and turning it up just a little (past noon) I got the same sound as with the PEQ bypassed.

My sense is that it's attributable to normal design tolerances in control hardware and circuitry components not all being "precisely and absolutely at a zero effect" when in a "zero position" as opposed to the "zero effect" you get when electrically removing the circuit from the signal path (i.e., by-pass).

As for hearing it more with different basses that to me is a attributable to the degree of difference in frequency information (signal level) that is coming form each bass to the head's input. Think of it as one bass having a bit more of a signal that corresponds to where the circuit is not 100% zeroed out and the other bass having less of it. When bypassed both basses would sound more alike in that frequency range.

Andy designed the circuitry and may have a better explanation, but that's my general engineering take on it. It's not unusual to see this in all type of equipment. IME, anything in a signal path, even when it is set to a "zero/no effect" position, will likely have some minor effect that is more than if you by-pass that circuitry completely. The difference may be slightly noticeable at certain times by a user or just detectable with high precision lab equipment.

 

[agedhorse]

My sense is that it's attributable to normal design tolerances in control hardware and circuitry components not all being "precisely and absolutely at a zero effect" when in a "zero position" as opposed to the "zero effect" you get when electrically removing the circuit from the signal path (i.e., by-pass).

As for hearing it more with different basses that to me is a attributable to the degree of difference in frequency information (signal level) that is coming form each bass to the head's input. Think of it as one bass having a bit more of a signal that corresponds to where the circuit is not 100% zeroed out and the other bass having less of it. When bypassed both basses would sound more alike in that frequency range.

Andy designed the circuitry and may have a better explanation, but that's my general engineering take on it. It's not unusual to see this in all type of equipment. IME, anything in a signal path, even when it is set to a "zero/no effect" position, will likely have some minor effect that is more than if you by-pass that circuitry completely. The difference may be slightly noticeable at certain times by a user or just detectable with high precision lab equipment.

I think this is exactly what’s happening.

 

[vlad335]

Can't wait! We are going to meet up and of course a snow storm is on the way...

The Orange cabs sound good but can't get the Mesa Subways out of my head. Considering the quality of the WD-800 I have got to try them.

The seller graciously agreed to meet up today and I got the rig setup.

What i will say is these are a step up from the Orange but not as much as I thought it would be. The Subways are incredibly clear sounding. Probably more so than any cab I ever owned. Just noodling without a comp it can be off-putting at times.

Now trying a rig in my dining room vs a gig situation, I have been doing this long enough to know that it doesnt mean much.

 

[vlad335]

NEVER MIND. DOH.

The tweeter was all the way up on the 15. I was in such a hurry to hook these up, I didn't check.

EDIT: Wow! The tweeter in these cabs is quite sensitive compared to others I've used. Got both set to 10 o clock and it's great!

 

[agedhorse]

NEVER MIND. DOH.

The tweeter was all the way up on the 15. I was in such a hurry to hook these up, I didn't check.

EDIT: Wow! The tweeter in these cabs is quite sensitive compared to others I've used. Got both set to 10 o clock and it's great!

Different tweeter settings for different tastes, no one setting fits all for sure.

 

[vlad335]

Thats a good thing. I run my bass direct from my pedal board and I can dial in my rig from my amp and get it where I want it.

Actually very happy with these.

Except that there are no gigs coming up

 

[Nebadon2000]

NEVER MIND. DOH.

The tweeter was all the way up on the 15. I was in such a hurry to hook these up, I didn't check.

EDIT: Wow! The tweeter in these cabs is quite sensitive compared to others I've used. Got both set to 10 o clock and it's great!

I use my Tweeter on Subway 1X15 at 10 t0 12 O'clock with Stingray Special and WD

Even with tweeter maxed it is a little bright for my taste but still smooth and Musical with Cab's I had in past having Horn/Tweeter Maxed was unlistenable (harsh and un-Musical

 

[Jim Kernan]

I have a question for WD800-owners.
Do you use a footswitch to bypass the parametric EQ?

I noticed that with the P-EQ all neutral there is a difference in sound when you switch between P-EQ bypassed and not bypassed.

To me the P-EQ bypassed makes it sound more like a tube preamp and the P-EQ not bypassed it sounds more solid state.

Both are usefull. It just depends on the bass and the music style if you want to bypass the P-EQ.

It is fun to experiment.

And as always read the manual. The factory sample settings show that you can bypass the P-EQ to create a certain sound:

View attachment 7398072

I use the footswitch to bypass the P-Eq and turn it on to brighten the sound when it's needed.

 

[fuzzspiral II]

Hi all! Been years since I wrote here...I already read all that I could find about the WD800 but I have a couple of questions, I hope I'm in the right thread, I don't want to open a new one...
I (almost) decided to sell my Ampeg SVT CL and GK 700rb II, time to part ways. I'm getting informations about the WD800 and the D800+, since I cannot try them and I'll take the risk.
In terms of volume, how is compared to the GK? Anyone with this experience, please? I know that the mesa are on 800watts but how they work? As a cab I use an Ampeg SVT410HLF. I use the GK, for example, with volume and boost at noon, woofer at 1, more or less
thank you very much

 

[Al Kraft]

Hi all! Been years since I wrote here...I already read all that I could find about the WD800 but I have a couple of questions, I hope I'm in the right thread, I don't want to open a new one...
I (almost) decided to sell my Ampeg SVT CL and GK 700rb II, time to part ways. I'm getting informations about the WD800 and the D800+, since I cannot try them and I'll take the risk.
In terms of volume, how is compared to the GK? Anyone with this experience, please? I know that the mesa are on 800watts but how they work? As a cab I use an Ampeg SVT410HLF. I use the GK, for example, with volume and boost at noon, woofer at 1, more or less
thank you very much

I can only talk to to the GK 700RB comparison with the two Mesa heads. IMO the 700RB punches above its weight class and is simply an iconic, rock solid design. I think the most relevant comparison between that head and a Mesa SW line product would be the D-800+. The 800+ may not appear as loud or powerful if you just compare control knob positions because it uses linear taper control pots which increase gain/volume throughout every degree of rotation. So in terms of actual usable power on tap with clean headroom to spare, I believe the D-800+ will easily match the GK, and perhaps give you a bit more.

The WD800 is a great head and offers the most user adjustability over tone shaping and voicing of all the SW line heads. It was heavily influenced and inspired by the Mesa Walkabout. It is a reimagined version of the Walkabout with some of the quirkiness removed and built with modern features and technologies. In a blind listening test I'm not sure anyone would ever mistake a GK 700RB for a Mesa Walkabout. The Mesa has a more tube-like harmonically rich fullness to the notes.

Either the 800+ or WD are good choices and will get you plenty of volume with head room to spare. However, if the GK kind of sound/feel is what you're after, I think the 800+ will get you more in that ballpark with some nice additional features and capabilities.

I hope that's helpful...and one last thought, I wouldn't sell that 700RB unless you have to, it's a classic!!

 

[fuzzspiral II]

Yep, you've been helpful, thanks!
The fact is that I'm a more "tubes oriented dude" (dirty, stoner rock vibes). I agree about the GK, I never sold it 'cause is a beast on its own territory, I love it but I was keeping it as a backup for the SVT that failed on me a couple of times.
Once I find what I look for I tend to use only one thing at a time, for me leaving amps, basses, ecc (that are meant to be played) in a corner collecting dust it's a psychological torture!
For the time being it'll stay, as you said, it's a classic, just too good to let it go! I'll focuse on selling the SVT first to cover the price of the Mesa if I'll decide to make this jump in the dark (from all tubes to class D...scary!)
thanks!

 

[Al Kraft]

The fact is that I'm a more "tubes oriented dude" (dirty, stoner rock vibes).

In this case I think the WD is worth a strong look. It can give you a wide range of tube feeling tones and even allows you to select the power amp damping factor to have a little looser speaker control in the low end (like a tube amp) or be tighter (like a typical solid state head).

You might also want to reach out to @Wicked G who has experience with both the WD and 800+ (plus other heads) and I think might also play similar genre music.

 

[DJ Bebop]

In this case I think the WD is worth a strong look. It can give you a wide range of tube feeling tones and even allows you to select the power amp damping factor to have a little looser speaker control in the low end (like a tube amp) or be tighter (like a typical solid state head).

You might also want to reach out to @Wicked G who has experience with both the WD and 800+ (plus other heads) and I think might also play similar genre music.

Not to clutter up the issue but that new B800D might be worth a look as well for rock tube goodness

 

[Goatrope]

Yep, you've been helpful, thanks!
The fact is that I'm a more "tubes oriented dude" (dirty, stoner rock vibes). I agree about the GK, I never sold it 'cause is a beast on its own territory, I love it but I was keeping it as a backup for the SVT that failed on me a couple of times.
Once I find what I look for I tend to use only one thing at a time, for me leaving amps, basses, ecc (that are meant to be played) in a corner collecting dust it's a psychological torture!
For the time being it'll stay, as you said, it's a classic, just too good to let it go! I'll focuse on selling the SVT first to cover the price of the Mesa if I'll decide to make this jump in the dark (from all tubes to class D...scary!)
thanks!

When I gave up my Fender Super Bassman 300, that was scary, too. All those warm tubes producing such a thick sound, I was worried I'd miss it. I had already been through some D Class amps (GK, Mesa) prior to the SBM, so I figured I was going to be carrying that 68 pound monster the rest of my playing life.

Enter the WD800. What put it over the finish line for me was the damping control. I had tried to get a tube feel from D class amps plus compression, and it was close, but this damping control gives me what I had missed about the big tube amp.

By all means, if youre looking to emulate a Mesa Bass 400, then the 800D is that (hard-hitting) thing, but if it's that warm, fat tube feel, the WD800 is the one.

Just my opinion, of course, but I know I'm right.

 

[DJ Bebop]

By all means, if youre looking to emulate a Mesa Bass 400, then the 800D is that (hard-hitting) thing, but if it's that warm, fat tube feel, the WD800 is the one.

Just my opinion, of course, but I know I'm right.

I do like mines…

 

[fuzzspiral II]

Thank you all for your feedbacks. At the moment the WD800 caught my interest...not available in any shops here in Italy at the moment (classic...). I was looking also into Genzler and Orange Bass Terror after @Wicked G gave me this advice some years ago, before I decided to go "all in" with the SVT but the Mesa seems more appropriate for my tastes.
I'm not trying to copy the SVT obviously, it would be impossibile and I know it would only be frustrating...
I'm looking something on his own way, I hope to find a WD800 soon, thanks!