Mesa Boogie WD800

[spiritbass]

I have in the past in the Mesa Mega thread. You just didn't see it

Just not as exciting as @OneTwo’s post.
Kay M-1 with Underwood pickup > straight into WD front end > Subway 115. Sometimes a Zoom multi-effects unit after the bass.

😊

I missed or forgot your posts. The last time I played an upright was in the mid-seventies. Playing my uncle's upright with some of his bluegrass buddies. They're fun, but more work than playing fretted slabs.

 

[One Two]

You're the first player I've seen posting about how well the WD works with upright.

Well, for me and my current setup I'm learning that purity/clarity of signal and a short signal path gives me the best chance for the tone I like.
The fx return on the WD800 is better than most of the other amps I've used in that using a preamp > power amp purpose way.
Very clean and very balanced. And in fact when I first tried WD800 out on a Jazz trio gig without any other preamp...I still actually preferred using the fx return direct, rather than the front main IN. But yes, something like Upright > Grace M101 > WD800 fx return is definitely something I'd recommend trying if you can

 

[Chuck M]

You're the first player I've seen posting about how well the WD works with upright.

My WD works great for upright. As much as possible, I want my amplified upright to sound like the bass does unamplified....only louder. The clean and clear preamp in the WD does a great job. I have used the WD-800 and one SW115 with my upright but usually use the D-350 that works very well too.

Most of my jazz gigs on upright are unamplified and when I do need to use an amp I have settled on using a little Fender Rumble 100 which works surprisingly well but only if it is tilted back. If it is flat on the floor it sounds boomy. The upright I play most is equipped with a Realist Copperhead pickup and I use an old Fishman Model B preamp to buffer the signal. I am aware that the Subway amps have high impedance inputs but the little Fender is marginal and I like having some volume and tone controls on the bass.

The WD-800 is a masterpiece of engineering.

 

[One Two]

Indeed! Today's gig was Latin Jazz and whole experience was improved by having the WD800 on hand to replace the backline head which was provided > slightly dubious cab. I also managed to plug the speaker cable in the right place today hahahaha

 

[One Two]

Will also add that the WD800 has the nicest HPF I've tried that doesn't make my Electric core tone start to sound funny once you starting engaging higher HPF settings to solve problems on stage/in a room. (I've tried a lot apart from FDeck).

For me personally with all the other HPFs I tried, I really didn't like the change in tone, but again WD800 HPF solves problems and sounds good doing so

 

[DJ Bebop]

Will also add that the WD800 has the nicest HPF I've tried that doesn't make my Electric core tone start to sound funny once you starting engaging higher HPF settings to solve problems on stage/in a room. (I've tried a lot apart from FDeck).

For me personally with all the other HPFs I tried, I really didn't like the change in tone, but again WD800 HPF solves problems and sounds good doing so

Me too!
I like the fact it does what it is intended to do. Wall off everything below the point you hit with the knob but leaves alone everything above that

 

[spiritbass]

My WD works great for upright. As much as possible, I want my amplified upright to sound like the bass does unamplified....only louder. The clean and clear preamp in the WD does a great job. I have used the WD-800 and one SW115 with my upright but usually use the D-350 that works very well too.

Most of my jazz gigs on upright are unamplified and when I do need to use an amp I have settled on using a little Fender Rumble 100 which works surprisingly well but only if it is tilted back. If it is flat on the floor it sounds boomy. The upright I play most is equipped with a Realist Copperhead pickup and I use an old Fishman Model B preamp to buffer the signal. I am aware that the Subway amps have high impedance inputs but the little Fender is marginal and I like having some volume and tone controls on the bass.

The WD-800 is a masterpiece of engineering.

Sorry, Chuck. I forgot that you were a doubler on the WD. My memory isn't what it used to be. It's too full of other stuff...

 

[Chuck M]

Sorry, Chuck. I forgot that you were a doubler on the WD. My memory isn't what it used to be. It's too full of other stuff...

Hah! Your memory? As we age it gets worse but there is something I can recommend to help. Exercise your mind. I am booked for a gig to sub for great local bass player Saturday night and am learning a lot of tunes. The most challenging tune I worked on today was Steely Dan's Josie. I've never played it but now I can. Gee, Chuck Rainey is a genius and is a very nice man that I once met.

I think I am the oldest one here. I was born in 1944.

 

[spiritbass]

Hah! Your memory? As we age it gets worse but there is something I can recommend to help. Exercise your mind. I am booked for a gig to sub for great local bass player Saturday night and am learning a lot of tunes. The most challenging tune I worked on today was Steely Dan's Josie. I've never played it but now I can. Gee, Chuck Rainey is a genius and is a very nice man that I once met.

I think I am the oldest one here. I was born in 1944.

I guess my main mind exercise is focusing on the details necessary to perform my job. I'm old enough to retire, but this is one of the reasons I haven't done so. You do have a few years on me. I'm a 1956 vintage. It's cool that you got to meet Chuck Rainey! My closest encounter with a musical legend was with B.B. King. His road manager rented a Peavey amp for B.B. from the music store where I was working. He also rented my brother's drum kit for the show. I got to shake B.B.'s hand after an awesome performance. My co-worker from the music store scored not one, but two of B.B.'s broken strings. I didn't ask, but I wish that he would have shared one with me!

 

[agedhorse]

Hah! Your memory? As we age it gets worse but there is something I can recommend to help. Exercise your mind. I am booked for a gig to sub for great local bass player Saturday night and am learning a lot of tunes. The most challenging tune I worked on today was Steely Dan's Josie. I've never played it but now I can. Gee, Chuck Rainey is a genius and is a very nice man that I once met.

I think I am the oldest one here. I was born in 1944.

Chuck Rainey is a great player and you are correct... he's a very nice guy. He was also one of our endorsers back in my Genz Benz days, so I got to see and hear a lot of great bass when he was around (he also did some clinics and would stop by at trade shows). Jeff and he are longtime friends and now Chuck endorses Jeff's now amps/cabinets. He played and recorded with so many acts, many of my favorite acts actually.

 

[One Two]

Another report in, have done a few more gigs and rehearsals with WD800. Tonight was a slightly bigger club playing a selection of African music.
Used WD800 for post-EQ DI > FOH, and to power backline Mark Bass 410. Everything was sounding decent and fat in soundcheck....and then I remembered to re-read manual again on my phone....saw the part about the engineer in a live solution probably preferring pre-EQ. So we quickly rechecked Bass with the DI set to pre. Cue very happy soundman!
Bass sounded great all night, and I even managed to restrain myself from plugging in the 2nd 410 cab that was there and creating real mayhem on stage haha

 

[One Two]

First time using the USB power supply on the back as well....charged my phone quickly, another thumbs up!

 

[One Two]

Also, below is a little audio clip from a recent rehearsal of me messing about with the drummer. There's something about this DI which I just really like, more than all my other gear for DI-related doings, but can't quite work out what the magic sauce is - maybe that's why it's magic hahahah..
On the following day's rehearsal I was able to dial in a sound I preferred even more, but unfortunately those are all yet to be recorded original tracks, so won't post yet. Super looking forward to recording with WD800 though!
@agedhorse yet again, bravo Sir!

 

[One Two]

One month and many gigs with the WD800 later, I'm still very impressed.

One thing I've found over that time is that as I've been knob fiddling on the gigs I've started to add more input gain, and cut the passive mids more and more.

When I first got the amp, I would never set the gain past 10 o'clock, and usually had the passive mid cut around 2 o'clock.
The last few gigs I've had the passive mid control around 10 o'clock and the gain at 12 o'clock. Tonight I bumped the gain and reduced the passive mids even a little bit more.

This is kind of interesting to me, because it's probably a tone I wouldn't naturally dial in if it was just me in a studio by myself, but with a band these settings really make it feel like the Bass is sitting in the mix - especially with the drums.

Just wondering what other's experiences have been? Do you all still vary your WD800 settings, or have you found your sweet spot/s?

 

[One Two]

Also a quick question for @agedhorse ..

I will bring my WD800 to the studio to record an album for someone soon. I'd like to use the WD800's DI.

I'm just wondering, if I was after the very best quality sound and the engineer is happy with either setting, would you go for the mic or line setting on the WD800 DI? Or, is there no difference apart from the change in signal level?

 

[agedhorse]

Also a quick question for @agedhorse ..

I will bring my WD800 to the studio to record an album for someone soon. I'd like to use the WD800's DI.

I'm just wondering, if I was after the very best quality sound and the engineer is happy with either setting, would you go for the mic or line setting on the WD800 DI? Or, is there no difference apart from the change in signal level?

No difference other than level, but if their interface will accept pro line level then that will give you the lowest noise floor (by a dB or two)

 

[gustobassman]

Just wondering what other's experiences have been? Do you all still vary your WD800 settings, or have you found your sweet spot/s?

I got mine right after they debuted. I've been through so many "this is the ideal setting" to "ill never use that sound" moments with the WD than I can count. I call it the Angry Chameleon for a good reason.

It's actually growing on me more and more though (only took how many years?? ). Currently I'm in a real "love" phase with it.

For some it may take a little work to find the tone you want, but don't be afraid to twist the knobs. Cool stuff happens.

 

[One Two]

No difference other than level, but if their interface will accept pro line level then that will give you the lowest noise floor (by a dB or two)

Great! Thank you @agedhorse !! Good to know!

 

[One Two]

I got mine right after they debuted. I've been through so many "this is the ideal setting" to "ill never use that sound" moments with the WD than I can count. I call it the Angry Chameleon for a good reason.

It's actually growing on me more and more though (only took how many years?? ). Currently I'm in a real "love" phase with it.

For some it may take a little work to find the tone you want, but don't be afraid to twist the knobs. Cool stuff happens.

"Angry Chameleon" is too funny hahahaha

Just running to a gig now with the trusty WD800. I was a bit pushed for time between gigs, so instead of knocking up a quick mini board for tonight's backline setup...figured it was easier to just keep the Mesa head in my Bass case. It's very nice to leave out knowing bad tone isn't going to be an issue tonight. (Sightreading, soloing, timing etc maybe more problematic hahaha)

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Chuck Rainey is a great player and you are correct... he's a very nice guy. He was also one of our endorsers back in my Genz Benz days, so I got to see and hear a lot of great bass when he was around (he also did some clinics and would stop by at trade shows). Jeff and he are longtime friends and now Chuck endorses Jeff's now amps/cabinets. He played and recorded with so many acts, many of my favorite acts actually.