Mesa Subway Bass DI-Preamp

[nostatic]

I don't see the use in bypass. I do see some utility in a mute button - basically cuts thru and both preamp and DI outputs. But then might want only some of them muted. Probably easier just to keep it the way it is.

 

[agedhorse]

If you are muting to tune, many tuners have the mute function already. If just muting say between sets, just turn the pickup down. If muting to switch instruments an AB switch is a better option IME.

We were trying hard to keep this simple and straight ahead.

 

[John B jr]

If you are muting to tune, many tuners have the mute function already. If just muting say between sets, just turn the pickup down. If muting to switch instruments an AB switch is a better option IME.

We were trying hard to keep this simple and straight ahead.

From the outside, it looks like a top notch piece of gear. Your explanation of the design thought processes and challenges really help. As an instance, I will invest in a one-spot or another DC brick and have no problem with that after reading up on why the DI does not support phantom power. According to the shipper's tracking, my unit is in California where it was born. I can't wait to put it to work.

Thanks for all of your input @agedhorse and also hats off to the TB people for making the forums possible in the first place.

 

[mmbongo]

We were trying hard to keep this simple and straight ahead.

And you did a darn fine job

Just to be clear, I was never one who asked for a bypass or suggested it should have one. I was just explaining how I would use it if it were there.

FWIW I would use a mute switch also if it had one! That would allow me to take my mute pedal off my board and add something else

 

[mmbongo]

So guys, the preamp outputs are LINE level... bypassing would yield instrument level signal which is about 20dB lower. Can't see how useful this would or even could be...??? What could you use this for (or what would any normal application use this for)?

Does that mean I'm kinda justified in my thinking that I shouldn't really run the Subway DI preamp out into my Subway amp?

 

[nostatic]

If you are muting to tune, many tuners have the mute function already. If just muting say between sets, just turn the pickup down. If muting to switch instruments an AB switch is a better option IME.

We were trying hard to keep this simple and straight ahead.

Understood. Just trying to clarify what I think people are requesting. I have a turbo tuner on both my pedal boards so that's how I tune/mute but other guys like a tuner out, others want a mute switch somewhere.

There's no pleasing everyone. And that's...ok

If you're looking at rev2 or a plus version, I think the parametric eq and variable HPF would be the selling points rather than footswitching.

 

[nostatic]

Does that mean I'm kinda justified in my thinking that I shouldn't really run the Subway DI preamp out into my Subway amp?

That puts your bass on double-secret preamplification. I guess Dean Wormer is finally on to you...

 

[agedhorse]

Does that mean I'm kinda justified in my thinking that I shouldn't really run the Subway DI preamp out into my Subway amp?

I wouldn't recommend it.

 

[agedhorse]

Understood. Just trying to clarify what I think people are requesting. I have a turbo tuner on both my pedal boards so that's how I tune/mute but other guys like a tuner out, others want a mute switch somewhere.

There's no pleasing everyone. And that's...ok

If you're looking at rev2 or a plus version, I think the parametric eq and variable HPF would be the selling points rather than footswitching.

Additional features are always a possibility where they make sense.

 

[Al Kraft]

Additional features are always a possibility where they make sense.

Of the features from the 800+, when trying to balance size vs highest utility on a Subway DI V2 design my priorities would be the variable HPF, then the semi-parametric EQ and then the bright switch. A convenient mute switch always has some value, especially in a stage situation, but for me it's a lower priority to the other features I mentioned.

A V2 that has all the studio qualities of the first version with some additional tone shaping/voicing functionality, especially a variable HPF, would be killer. I can see it being a pretty unique offering in the market place in terms of a value sweet spot in quality/functionality/price.

 

[Lowendtech]

Of the features from the 800+, when trying to balance size vs highest utility on a Subway DI V2 design my priorities would be the variable HPF, then the semi-parametric EQ and then the bright switch. A convenient mute switch always has some value, especially in a stage situation, but for me it's a lower priority to the other features I mentioned.

A V2 that has all the studio qualities of the first version with some additional tone shaping/voicing functionality, especially a variable HPF, would be killer. I can see it being a pretty unique offering in the market place in terms of a value sweet spot in quality/functionality/price.

Stop reading my brain.
But if space is an issue, a bright switch and the HPF would be the easiest choices. But I would also add the led for the input gain.

 

[dazmond]

The DI with the addition of the para EQ's and the hpf would make me drool. I'm already trying to think of a way to get custom build like that, but then it wouldn't have that gorgeous Mesa mojo. Or it would be in 2 separate pedals, the mesa and a hpf+eq and cost probably $600~[Canadian]

 

[John B jr]

Beware the feature creep! After evaluating and/or reading up on the usual suspects, it seems that the more focused approach is what convinced me on the Mesa.
* A DI with a tone sculpting EQ with one-each knob/switch for voicing - Check.
* That you can independently set instrument and line levels - Check.
* Pre and post EQ option depending on application - Check.
* Can run on a battery or the standard DC jack - Check.
* An output for your tuner if you want it out of the signal path - Check.
* Right size and connector locations for pedal board or top of amp usage - Check.

That's pretty much it. No use for an effects loop, a vacuum tube, overdrive, mute - A/B switcher, tribal skull graphics, light-up knobs, presets, headphone/ipod jacks, tuner, looper etc. There are apps for that stuff. My final three came down to LeBass, Tone Hammer and this. This won the day by being what it is and nothing else.

It's on the truck after passing through NEW HAVEN, IN > WILTON, IA > STERLING, CO > MOUNTAIN VIEW, WY > FLORISTON, CA > SACRAMENTO, CA and SAN JOSE, CA. I only wish my band could do a small-town tour like that. For now, I'd settle for the Fed Ex truck getting here before 1:30 so I could take the Mesa to rehearsal.

 

[Steve]

Take out the voicing knob, replace it with the HPF.
Pre / Post EQ independence on the balanced outs would be nice...

 

[agedhorse]

Take out the voicing knob, replace it with the HPF.
Pre / Post EQ independence on the balanced outs would be nice...

The balanced DI out already is pre-post selectable. The Preamp outs are post eq because that's one of the basic functions of the preamp for the vast majority of users. The eq is essentially bypassed when set flat anyway.

 

[Steve]

The balanced DI out already is pre-post selectable. The Preamp outs are post eq because that's one of the basic functions of the preamp for the vast majority of users. The eq is essentially bypassed when set flat anyway.

Thanks for getting on that for me. Nice to meet someone finally can get something done around here....

 

[nostatic]

But I would also add the led for the input gain.

+1 while my ears are ok, having a visual c(l)ue is handy

 

[John B jr]

So we'll call today N-DI-D. It was delivered about ten minutes after I left for rehearsal. So I unboxed it this morning and gave it the central location after the tuner and comp but before the distortion, chorus and reverb.

I had trouble with noise right off the bat. Even bypassed, the reverb pedal was making static and high pitched noise that would change as I toggled the different 'verbs. It doesn't normally do this. I changed the inner dip switch from "tails" to true-bypass to no avail. I disconnected the wireless (on the underside of the board) and that seemed to help a bit.

Then the Subway was pulled out and used by itself and got it down to a variable amount hiss whenever the Gain, Master or Treble knobs went beyond noon. It turns out that the preamp is quite hot those knobs straight-up so backing the volumes down to parity allowed me to crank the treble all the way with no noise. The Bass, Lo and Hi Mids never presented any problems nor did the switches. I'm only using the pre-amp out 1/4" connector at this point. Yes, I was mindful of the active/passive switch.

So the next thing was to tetris in a buffer between the reverb and the amps and get the wireless away from the underside of the pre-amp. The real culprit, as I foreshadowed, is the reverb pedal. It was running off of the high current 9VDC port on the brick and it would not quiet down until I plugged it into it's own wall-wart. This would not be a problem except that the orientation of the wart prevents it from plugging into the power conditioner that is also under the board. That dangling wire on the left will be replaced by a more streamlined wart so everything plugs in below deck even if that means no LEDs.



For now, I'm content with the set-up and exploring the utility. I have a switchable mid-freq on that fiver below and one of the toggles is roughly the same band as the hi-mid on the Mesa. So I use the other voice and it sounds fine. All in all, it plays best with the passive option on my other fiver. When that's engaged, there are no tone controls on bass, only pick-up balance which does affect the tone with the split-coil being so much deeper than the humbucker. It turned that piezo bass into a monster with the deep switch!

I'll complete the tone report next week when I can hook it up to my big rig. For now, it's everything you've heard on the YT vids.

 

[agedhorse]

As you have discovered, there is a lot of available gain which may be helpful for folks playing lower level passive instruments, those with a lighter tough, and those with higher than average string/pick-up setups. The hiss that you might hear is for the most part due to the added gain, and when set up for reasonable output has plenty of gain for most players with the reserve on tap for the more unusable applications.

 

[John B jr]

As you have discovered, there is a lot of available gain which may be helpful for folks playing lower level passive instruments, those with a lighter tough, and those with higher than average string/pick-up setups. The hiss that you might hear is for the most part due to the added gain, and when set up for reasonable output has plenty of gain for most players with the reserve on tap for the more unusable applications.

Thanks for validating what I'm hearing with passive signals making better use of the preamp. Will I get in trouble if I say it gave my bass a boob job? 'Cause if it will, I won't post such scandalous things. But it did!