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Mesa d800 and passive basses causing distortion/overdrive

#41
DJ Bebop said:
Yup!

I have two P basses now that I have to work the Active/Passive switch back and forth, depending on what I'm going for.

One has a Dimarzio DP 122, a high output pickup. It can overdrive the front end when I dig in on the Passive setting.

The other has a 62 CS P pick up. It was fine until I switched string to La Bella 1954 flats 110-52. Those suckers drive that pickup into overdrive. Think James Jamerson isolated bass tracks. It's that sound! :)

So depending on if I want that sound or not, is what determines if I go passive or active.

:)
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Maybe someone can explain this to me; Hear is what I think I know

The Mesa Amps use typical Gain and Master Volume
lets say they are 0-10

Typically for Clean tone you set gain according to playing style and EQ used for OD light to just flash
when hitting hardest on E string[ slap/pop] when playing;

And it could be gain setting at 1 or 10 depending on Bass and EQ setting and then turn up Master Volume to needed level of output

So are you and Jack saying even with gain at 1 it is overloading input?

I have had basses fall between 4 and 6 mostly in my years playing with multiple Amps
 
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#43
Love that a Mesa engineer is around here and helping troubleshoot. Talkbass rules! Ultimately - follow the Agedhorse posts

Personally never had any such issues with my passive bass in my D-800 (its LOVELY), and I have pretty hot pups in it. Basic steps would be... Ensure you don't have the input cranked too much... set the input fairly low and put the master at 1o'clock and increase the input until it becomes the right amount of gain. If not loud enough, adjust the master. But again... Agedhorse posts are very well articulated.
 
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#45
Nebadon2000 said:
PS; DJ are you maybe using Active/Passive switch to go from Clean to Dirt easier on fly than readjusting? I
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I use it to make a clean signal off a hot bass. So I'll switch to active to tamp it down.

I kinda set up what I want the evening to sound like early on and stick to it.

I guess when I do switch back and forth between active and passive, there is some gain adjustment too. Not just the switch.
 
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#47
Jack Torrance said:
Hey guys we will definitely get to the bottom of this. The seller backed out on a refund so I sent out the amp for repair. I’ll keep you all posted. I appreciate everyone’s input, this community is awesome and the fact that @agedhorse is helping out is something you don’t really see anymore! Stay tuned…
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Hate you are having that trouble but once it's right you will love the amp. Makes me wonder if the seller broke it and knowingly sold a broken amp. Did you buy it here on TB?
 
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#51
Jack Torrance said:
...Two days later I realized I should probably just get a refund and he denied it, claiming his return policy is only two days. May as well have been two hours
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"Two days"?!?

Yeesh, you're right...may as well have been two hours. Hopefully the amp can get serviced and restored to its proper glory. Subbing to this thread, interested to see what the issue with this amp ends up being.
 
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#52
I have received the amp back after repairs from @agedhorse. He was correct that damage occurred during shipping causing high levels of distortion. One of the pots had to be replaced and the housing had to be straightened. The amp operates as it should with both passive and active basses and sounds absolutely amazing! I can’t thank this community enough, I appreciate everyone who gave suggestions. I also can’t thank @agedhorse enough for providing the repair service at an extremely reasonable price and quick turnaround! I could not be more pleased!
 
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#53
Jack Torrance said:
I have received the amp back after repairs from @agedhorse. He was correct that damage occurred during shipping causing high levels of distortion. One of the pots had to be replaced and the housing had to be straightened. The amp operates as it should with both passive and active basses and sounds absolutely amazing! I can’t thank this community enough, I appreciate everyone who gave suggestions. I also can’t thank @agedhorse enough for providing the repair service at an extremely reasonable price and quick turnaround! I could not be more pleased!
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Great news! Glad this had a happy ending.

Your agedhorse has quite an extradordinary talent Mr. Torrance. I don't think you realise how extraordinary it is.
 
Last edited:
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#55
Jack Torrance said:
I have received the amp back after repairs from @agedhorse. He was correct that damage occurred during shipping causing high levels of distortion. One of the pots had to be replaced and the housing had to be straightened. The amp operates as it should with both passive and active basses and sounds absolutely amazing! I can’t thank this community enough, I appreciate everyone who gave suggestions. I also can’t thank @agedhorse enough for providing the repair service at an extremely reasonable price and quick turnaround! I could not be more pleased!
Click to expand...

Parzival said:
Great news! Glad this had a happy ending.

Your agedhorse has quite an extradordinary talent Mr. Torrance. I don't think you realise how extraordinary it is.
Click to expand...

tumblr_158720a743a71caf3471396ee141c874_a1080d50_640.gif
 
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#57
Raf Seibert said:
We are blessed, here on Talkbass, in that many very knowledgeable people from the industry show up and lend a hand. Of these, Agedhorse is by far the most constant presence. It seems he is always here and always ready to help.
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I wish there were more here to contribute with their perspectives and support rather than focusing only on "discussions" of their own product. IMO, it's important to both give and take to remain balanced.
 
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#58
agedhorse said:
I wish there were more here to contribute with their perspectives and support rather than focusing only on "discussions" of their own product. IMO, it's important to both give and take to remain balanced.
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Hi.
I have the same issue with my D-800+.
The amp worked great until a gig last night. The sound is unpleasantly distorted now, no matter where I set the controls. Checked my set-up with a GK MB 500 and the bass sounded fine.
Is this something a local amp tech could fix or do I have to send the amp to Mesa?
Thank you.
 
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#59
jay loren said:
Hi.
I have the same issue with my D-800+.
The amp worked great until a gig last night. The sound is unpleasantly distorted now, no matter where I set the controls. Checked my set-up with a GK MB 500 and the bass sounded fine.
Is this something a local amp tech could fix or do I have to send the amp to Mesa?
Thank you.
Click to expand...
Send a DM to @agedhorse. He’ll let you know how to proceed.
 

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