Mesa Prodigy vs 400/400+

[_Some Dude]

Not all tube amps are the same. But, to me the tube sound is thicker and has more weight or heft to the sound. There is also a bit of compression to it. As I stated earlier, I found that the Mesa 800+ sounds almost like the 400+, but the 400+ has more of a meaty or heavier feel to it. For me the trade off for the better tone was not worth it. I love tube amps. But they are heavy and I am getting old. I love a light weight rig.

This is my experience with the Strategy and the D800.

The D800 is a great amp. I agree with others that it sounds reasonably "tubey". Non-linear feel, slight compression, and it has some harmonic "thing" (magic?) going on even when you're not overdriving it.

That said, it's relatively polite next to the Strategy. The way the Strategy unloads on my cab it's like I'm playing a sledgehammer. A really big sledgehammer.

To me, the D800 is a quick and accurate amp. I wouldn't call it clinical due to the things I mentioned above... it feels very good to play through and sounds great, but it responds like a solid state amp; fast and tight.

The Strategy has a totally different transient response and attack envelope. It plays looser and hits harder. There's a "weight" to the sound, like it's constantly trying to overcome inertia and takes a moment to blossom. I can manipulate the way the amp responds based on how I attack it with my fingers so the amp itself becomes an instrument I can play. I don't really get that with solid state because the notes happen so quickly there's not a whole lot I can do to manipulate them.

I really like the D800. I'd recommend it to anyone and due to it's form factor I use it more than I use the Strategy... but it's a totally different animal. I wouldn't buy one thinking it'll perform like the other.

 

[_Some Dude]

You may be right in some cases, but not with me. Although I love Ampeg I've gigged Mesa amps more in my playing career. The Prodigy was the only Mesa I didn't like.

I don't doubt you, I'm just presenting my opinion. Which like all opinions, people would be wise to take mine with a grain of salt.

 

[Dave W]

I don't doubt you, I'm just presenting my opinion. Which like all opinions, people would be wise to take mine with a grain of salt.

I think you're right in some cases

 

[CRich0205]

I use an Ampeg svt 2 pro and the tunes have never worried me. I’m running sovtek 6550s which are current production. Maybe not as awesome as nos from the 60s but super reliable so far. Mine weighs 75 pounds without a rack case. My 75 V4B weighed just under 60. Headroom and time were a lot better from the svt though. If the price is good I would go for that personally.

 

[eff-clef]

Fender Super Bassman. 65 lbs. Most versatile powerful tube amp out there.

 

[mikeswals]

The Strategy is flat out deadly.
I love my trusty old Bass 400 (also equipped with KT88's) but my Strategy dwarfs it in power and low end.

 

[coreyfyfe]

Fender Super Bassman. 65 lbs. Most versatile powerful tube amp out there.

Yup, the hybrid channel gives you ampeg type EQ range and it has the vintage bassman channel if you want that scooped fender EQ.

 

[MoWBass]

Hi! Do you know if the size of the SVT 2 pro (with out rear rubber feet) and the Strategy are the same?

 

[BogeyBass]

Just get another V4
run 2 heads 2 cabs

 

[tombowlus]

Great question from the OP! I own a Bass 400, and a Prodigy (plus a few other amps...) and I made some comparisons in Invalid Link Removed.

 

[nomaj]

The Fender Super Bassman 300 does does both clean and grind exceptionally well, and the tones are thick and heavy. Definitely my favorite production tube bass amp.

 

[tombowlus]

Super Bassman 300 is amazing, for sure!

 

[torinodeathride]

I think it depends on what you're looking for. I have the Strategy and I have to dial back it's mids to keep it from drowning out the rest of the band. I A/B'd it side by side against an SVT/410 and chose the Mesa because I felt it had a more aggressive sounding midrange compared to the SVT, which was of course very classic (and good) sounding.

I don't use the Strategy's graphic EQ except to cut some low end at home so I don't shake sh*t off my shelves... never needed it live. Can't see why one would be necessary with a Prodigy unless you're trying to make it sound like something it isn't.

IMO, the problem with the Prodigy/Strategy isn't that they lack mids or that they don't sound "tubey"... it's that they don't sound like an Ampeg, and lets face it... when people think "tube" they typically think SVT.

Also IMO, you should get a Mesa if you like the sound of a Mesa, not because you think it's some sort of lightweight Ampeg.

 

[torinodeathride]

I recently got the mesa bass prodigy and love it so far. I really hoping the reliability issues that I am seeing don't sideline it! I heard it was about issues with Mesa supplied KT88s. I took the plunge I got new Gold Lion KT88s in mine and it sounds wonderful. The sweet spot so far is voice 4 (which focuses on lows and highs, punk/indie rock pick tone) and the bright switch (not the normal/default setting). This is the best articulate pick tone I've had next to my Verellen Meatsmoke. I use the bass prodigy for my postpunk/shoegazey band and the Verellen for my posthardcore/noise rock band. I usually move all my gear for my postpunk band; why the prodigy has been great! I also have an Orange AD 200B, which is great too. But I am trying to save my back with the prodigy at 30 lbs vs 57 lbs for the Orange. Hopefully the Prodigy keeps sounding great and I won't be crying over blown KT88s. I played a show recently with Upper Wilds from NYC (check them out, they freaking rip), and their bass player loved playing my Prodigy. So that's another positive review. Like others have said the Prodigy and Mesa's in general aren't SVTs. I love the SVT, I had one for 15 years. I've discovered that Mesa's have their own sound and it's a killer in its own right.