Mesa Boogie WD800

[LetItGrowTone]

"Good answer... good answer... I'm going to be watching you..." - Professor Terguson to Thornton Melon

 

[Al Kraft]

That makes some sense. I have been raving about the FRFR nature of the WD/SW 115 combination. But before I got the cabinet I had the head and had use it for recording in post mode a lot. When I got my SW 115 it was like huh? This sounds a bit like the amp did on it own. It was like the DI signal out loud through the speaker. Does that make any sense?

I really dig the set up.

The combination here is one of those rare instances where a somewhat FRFR cab works very well. And interestingly enough that cab works well for every head I've tried it with.

 

[Scotty4string]

Well, I got my WD800 a few hours ago. Obviously, I haven't gigged with it. Noodling around for the past few hours, I have to say I'm impressed. I'd have a hard telling that it isn't an all tube head. The preamp drives really nice. I barely have to touch the EQ. So far it is perfect! I have a New Years Eve job. I'll check in after.

 

[KayCee]

I'm very seriously considering buying the WD-800, and was wondering whether the USB is capable of powering a Cali76 Compressor pedal, which is 103ma at 18v, or78ma at 9v. I know that the manual suggests it's possible, but a dealer (not sure how knowledgeable he is) just told me that that he doesn't think "the USB on the amp works that way". TIA for your advice!

 

[Al Kraft]

I'm very seriously considering buying the WD-800, and was wondering whether the USB is capable of powering a Cali76 Compressor pedal, which is 103ma at 18v, or78ma at 9v. I know that the manual suggests it's possible, but a dealer (not sure how knowledgeable he is) just told me that that he doesn't think "the USB on the amp works that way". TIA for your advice!

Andy (agedhorse) can confirm or correct me, but using a voltage converter cable (e.g. BIrdcord) to take you from 5 V to 9 V should safely give you around 200 to 300 mA to work with.

Here is an excerpt from the WD manual regarding the USB port: "This port follows the PC USB 2.0 standard, rated current is 500mA maximum". Remember that when you increase voltage, total amps available go down, so you only get the 500mA at 5 V.

 

[KayCee]

Andy (agedhorse) can confirm or correct me, but using a voltage converter cable (e.g. BIrdcord) to take you from 5 V to 9 V should safely give you around 200 to 300 mA to work with.

Here is an excerpt from the WD manual regarding the USB port: "This port follows the PC USB 2.0 standard, rated current is 500mA maximum". Remember that when you increase voltage, total amps available go down, so you only get the 500mA at 5 V.

Thanks very much for the help. Would this then translate into the compressor not operating as well as it would if it was simply plugged into the wall?

 

[agedhorse]

Andy (agedhorse) can confirm or correct me, but using a voltage converter cable (e.g. BIrdcord) to take you from 5 V to 9 V should safely give you around 200 to 300 mA to work with.

Here is an excerpt from the WD manual regarding the USB port: "This port follows the PC USB 2.0 standard, rated current is 500mA maximum". Remember that when you increase voltage, total amps available go down, so you only get the 500mA at 5 V.

Correct info.

 

[agedhorse]

Thanks very much for the help. Would this then translate into the compressor not operating as well as it would if it was simply plugged into the wall?

It will work exactly the same as it would on a plug in 9V supply. Birdcord makes the appropriate converter cable from USB to 9Vdc. Be sure you order the correct configuration, USB-A to 2.1mm center negative.

Birdcord USB to 9V Converter Cable | Songbird FX

Lets you power your 9-volt devices via USB!

www.songbirdfx.com

 

[shadven]

And some players buy and amp and like use it for awhile.
It then gets sold to buy something new, special, and shiny, only to rebuy the original amp with the question of "what was I thinking"

I did that with the WD800

 

[shadven]

Life is short and on my bucket list is getting a TT800 and a Subway 2x15 cab... I'd have to sell my WD800 and 1x15 cab ... but the bigger problem is explaining it to the wifey for approval. I think it would be easier to get an audience with the pope.

I had the Subway 215 cab. It’s great, but I prefer two 115 cabs. More flexibility and I love the look of the two cabs.

 

[KayCee]

It will work exactly the same as it would on a plug in 9V supply. Birdcord makes the appropriate converter cable from USB to 9Vdc. Be sure you order the correct configuration, USB-A to 2.1mm center negative.

Birdcord USB to 9V Converter Cable | Songbird FX

Lets you power your 9-volt devices via USB!

www.songbirdfx.com

Tha

It will work exactly the same as it would on a plug in 9V supply. Birdcord makes the appropriate converter cable from USB to 9Vdc. Be sure you order the correct configuration, USB-A to 2.1mm center negative.

Birdcord USB to 9V Converter Cable | Songbird FX

Lets you power your 9-volt devices via USB!

www.songbirdfx.com

This pedal can operate at 9v or 18v, apparently with improved performance at 18V. Would a USB to 18Vdc cable work with this input ? Please excuse my ignorance.

 

[Al Kraft]

This pedal can operate at 9v or 18v, apparently with improved performance at 18V. Would a USB to 18Vdc cable work with this input ? Please excuse my ignorance.

As always I would go with Andy's advice here, but you can buy a 5 Volt USB to 18 Volt Birdcord. With a 103 mA requirement at 18 Volt pedal I would say you are at the limit I would be comfortable operating with. On paper, you'll have a little extra capacity, but I would not want to push it past that.

Once again I'd get agedhorse's input before proceeding.

 

[KayCee]

It could be that using the pedal on 9 V would be satisfactory, but I’ve only used it on 18 V , so it seemed like a good starting place.
Of course, I don’t want to fry the pedal or the amp head trying to get a little extra headroom.
Thanks again for your help!

 

[agedhorse]

Tha

This pedal can operate at 9v or 18v, apparently with improved performance at 18V. Would a USB to 18Vdc cable work with this input ? Please excuse my ignorance.

Try it with a 9V supply and see if there is a meaningful difference. There may not be.

 

[Al Kraft]

It could be that using the pedal on 9 V would be satisfactory, but I’ve only used it on 18 V , so it seemed like a good starting place.
Of course, I don’t want to fry the pedal or the amp head trying to get a little extra headroom.
Thanks again for your help!

I'd try it at 9 Volts first, but my sense is that the 18 Volt option would work with a little extra margin left over.

IIRC the Birdcord folks also make 12 and 15 Volt cables so that could be an option as well unless the Cali only does 9 or 18 Volts.

 

[Al Kraft]

Try it with a 9V supply and see if there is a meaningful difference. There may not be.

We were obviously typing at the same time!

 

[KayCee]

I'd try it at 9 Volts first, but my sense is that the 18 Volt option would work with a little extra margin left over.

IIRC the Birdcord folks also make 12 and 15 Volt cables so that could be an option as well unless the Cali only does 9 or 18 Volts.

I just tried out the Cali76 with a 9V supply and I can't say that I can hear a difference from the 18V. My settings on the pedal are prettle subtle, so it's possible that someone that's pushing it harder might notice the change.
The compressor is something that I leave on all the time, so the goal here would be to sit the comp on top of the amp head, using the USB power and effects loop to keep the setup as simple as possible.

 

[Al Kraft]

I just tried out the Cali76 with a 9V supply and I can't say that I can hear a difference from the 18V. My settings on the pedal are prettle subtle, so it's possible that someone that's pushing it harder might notice the change.
The compressor is something that I leave on all the time, so the goal here would be to sit the comp on top of the amp head, using the USB power and effects loop to keep the setup as simple as possible.

This is not a huge surprise IMO. Quite often pedals that are used with very high input gain instruments and/or effects pedals prior to it with high output gain can sometimes benefit from the added headroom. IME though, unless specifically designed for only 18 V operation, most pedals are fine in the 9 V range.

You mentioned the effects loop and I wanted to follow-up quickly on that. Most (not all) effects pedals including compressors (not sure on the Cali) have an output and input expectation that is better suited to instrument level signals than the line level signals you will find used in most effects loops. That said, you can still make your compact set-up work. Just run the bass instrument cable into the Cali, get an appropriate Birdcord to power it, and then run the Cali output into the input jack for the bass signal on the front of the amp using a short patch or instrument cable.

 

[KayCee]

This is not a huge surprise IMO. Quite often pedals that are used with very high input gain instruments and/or effects pedals prior to it with high output gain can sometimes benefit from the added headroom. IME though, unless specifically designed for only 18 V operation, most pedals are fine in the 9 V range.

You mentioned the effects loop and I wanted to follow-up quickly on that. Most (not all) effects pedals including compressors (not sure on the Cali) have an output and input expectation that is better suited to instrument level signals than the line level signals you will find used in most effects loops. That said, you can still make your compact set-up work. Just run the bass instrument cable into the Cali, get an appropriate Birdcord to power it, and then run the Cali output into the input jack for the bass signal on the front of the amp using a short patch or instrument cable.

My understanding is that the Cali76 is well suited to handling line level signals. Experimenting with the effect loop on my EA combo amp with the loop gain wide open, I was forced to lower the input gain on the pedal to about 8-9 o’clock. It will be interesting to see how it works with the WD – 800 loop.
The set up that you describe makes perfect sense, and is one that I’ve been using with a Fender amp head. I’ll look forward to comparing the two approaches. What I like best about your suggestion is the ability to boost or cut EQ without having to re-adjust the input sensitivity on the compressor.

Again, thanks for taking the time to offer your in-depth expertise!

 

[Nebadon2000]

Just run the bass instrument cable into the Cali, get an appropriate Birdcord to power it, and then run the Cali output into the input jack for the bass signal on the front of the amp using a short patch or instrument cable.

If he is going to put Cali on top of Amp and plug Bass into it would make me nervous in live situation unless it was stapled to head