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Mesa Subway Bass DI Preamp

#181
biggredd said:
How's it sound with the Genz? Is it a meatier tone? I am considering buying one for my shuttlemax 9.2 which has 3 effects loops. If I use the master effects return, I lose all amp eq. If I use the FET effects return or the tube channel effects return, I have all eq options on the amp still (bass, treble, and sweepable high and low mids) except gain control. I think I would run the Mesa DI into the tube channel effects return, then a patch cable out of the tube effects send into the fet channel effects return. Therefore I would have two channels with separate eq options being fed by the Mesa DI. Sounds like a winner to me! I know the power modules are different but I'm hoping I could come pretty close to the 800+. Maybe @agedhorse can chime in on this and give me his perspective since he's engineered both models.
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Well the preamp of the Streamliner is bypassed when I'm playing it. Haven't tried it through the front end yet. I will and let you know.
 
#187
I will have to look at the block diagram of the ShuttleMax tomorrow. I can't remember off the top of my head the exact signal routing.
 
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#188
biggredd said:
How's it sound with the Genz? Is it a meatier tone? I am considering buying one for my shuttlemax 9.2 which has 3 effects loops. If I use the master effects return, I lose all amp eq. If I use the FET effects return or the tube channel effects return, I have all eq options on the amp still (bass, treble, and sweepable high and low mids) except gain control. I think I would run the Mesa DI into the tube channel effects return, then a patch cable out of the tube effects send into the fet channel effects return. Therefore I would have two channels with separate eq options being fed by the Mesa DI. Sounds like a winner to me! I know the power modules are different but I'm hoping I could come pretty close to the 800+. Maybe @agedhorse can chime in on this and give me his perspective since he's engineered both models.
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I reviewed the docs, and the channel effects loops are post gain amps but pre channel eq. the master effects loop is of course post all eq and the return feeds the master volume stage.
 
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#190
BassikLee said:
Just used it thru the weekend. Great tone. One observation: with the XLRs mounted the way they are, having this thing attached to a board is a bit of a pain. Are those XLR outs board mounted, or could they be flipped over?
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They can not be flipped, sorry.
 
#192
Question for the Subway DI owners:

How does it handle overdrive/distortion/fuzz while going direct? I currently have a VT Bass DI and find that the cab sim is really helpful in keeping a good grunt and rolling off some of the fizzy highs when using distortion and fuzz. I have loved the sound of my previous Mesa amps (Walkabout, BB750) and am really interested in this pedal. I do worry that it won't tame the highs enough without a cab sim or LPF.
 
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#194
fakeneckplate'65 said:
I'm trying to decide which pedal di between the Mesa, Darkglass B7K & the Aguilar Tone Hammer. The latter options seem to have more overdrive options, which sounds fun, but, isn't something I'd use frequently.
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I've had all three.

If you have a Mesa Subway amp, no need for the Mesa pedal.
If you need a very colored, gritty, scooped modern sound...B7K.
If you want your tone with lots of tone shaping EQ options, Tone Hammer.
If you want optional overdrive with more old school leanings, Tone Hammer.
If you have an amp that could be improved with a better preamp, get the Mesa.
 
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#195
mmbongo said:
I've had all three.

If you have a Mesa Subway amp, no need for the Mesa pedal.
If you need a very colored, gritty, scooped modern sound...B7K.
If you want your tone with lots of tone shaping EQ options, Tone Hammer.
If you want optional overdrive with more old school leanings, Tone Hammer.
If you have an amp that could be improved with a better preamp, get the Mesa.
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The amp in question that I would be using is an SWR Strawberry Blonde that I use for bedroom practice. I'm not currently in a band & only occasionally may record parts for a friend of mine.

It sounds like the Tone Hammer may be what I'm looking for.

Which do you favor, out of curiosity @mmbongo ?
 
#196
fakeneckplate'65 said:
The amp in question that I would be using is an SWR Strawberry Blonde that I use for bedroom practice. I'm not currently in a band & only occasionally may record parts for a friend of mine.

It sounds like the Tone Hammer may be what I'm looking for.

Which do you favor, out of curiosity @mmbongo ?
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That's a tough question, and really having all three would be ideal! They all just do different things.

In my situation, the Mesa is the one I would use simply because it makes my non-Mesa amps sound so much better.
 
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#197
mmbongo said:
That's a tough question, and really having all three would be ideal! They all just do different things.

In my situation, the Mesa is the one I would use simply because it makes my non-Mesa amps sound so much better.
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I own a D-800 and a Tone Hammer pedal and was a big SWR user back in the day. IIRC the Strawberry Blonde was a more compact version of the California Blonde, both of which were marketed primarily to acoustic guitar/instrument players, but certainly usable for electric bass at reasonable volumes. I'm a Mesa fan, so you can guess where I typically would look first.

However, in this case you might find that the TH is worth a good look. To my ear there is some tonal overlap between the Subway and SWR signature sound (clean and occasionally described by some as sterile) with the Subway being more versatile in adding coloration (voicing and EQ). I think the TH may give you tonal options that are the most different from the SWR. On the other hand, that Subway preamp is hard to beat if the Mesa family of bass amps are your thing.
 
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#198
If you are looking at recording, the Subway offers a stand alone line level balanced output that will work directly with recording interfaces that only accept balanced line level inputs. It might be a more convenient solution in this kind of application.
 
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#200
pcake said:
i'm very tempted... does anyone know of any demo or review vids besides the two from mesa?
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There rae at least two I have seen pcake, these aren't links, but should get you in the right YouTube territory to find them:

Mesa Subway preamp pedal DI w/Rob Allen Deep 4
Mesa Boogie Subway Bass DI Preamp - Demo and Sound Clips

I hope they are helpful to you.
 
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