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Mesa Subway Bass DI-Preamp

#82
Still working up the video workflow, but here's a first test of the Subway DI pedal. I ran the thru and preamp out direct into a Zoom H6n, then ran through some knob twiddling on the pedal (with verbal annotation). Direct into the Zoom isn't too bad - it seems to deal well with hi-Z inputs. The preamp pedal flat still does give it more depth - and of course you've got a bunch of tone shaping. The different is much more pronounced when I run it into a mixer. Next I'll do some mic'd tests into a powered PA cab (since that's what I got this mostly to deal with)

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#83
nostatic said:
Still working up the video workflow, but here's a first test of the Subway DI pedal. I ran the thru and preamp out direct into a Zoom H6n, then ran through some knob twiddling on the pedal (with verbal annotation). Direct into the Zoom isn't too bad - it seems to deal well with hi-Z inputs. The preamp pedal flat still does give it more depth - and of course you've got a bunch of tone shaping. The different is much more pronounced when I run it into a mixer. Next I'll do some mic'd tests into a powered PA cab (since that's what I got this mostly to deal with)

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That bass really sounds magnificent.

TBH, I couldn't here much differentiation with the preamp variations. I'm not going to ask if you were using preamp out, because I trust your setup; but it almost sounds like your Zoom was compensating or something.
 
#84
bucephylus said:
That bass really sounds magnificent.

TBH, I couldn't here much differentiation with the preamp variations. I'm not going to ask if you were using preamp out, because I trust your setup; but it almost sounds like your Zoom was compensating or something.
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Yeah, the preamp tones didn't seem to change much, except for the low mid cut, which seemed to drop the bottom out of it, including volume. The flat preamp tone with no other tweaks was my favorite.
 
#85
bucephylus said:
That bass really sounds magnificent.

TBH, I couldn't here much differentiation with the preamp variations. I'm not going to ask if you were using preamp out, because I trust your setup; but it almost sounds like your Zoom was compensating or something.
Click to expand...

I'm going to do a couple of different setups and redo it. I agree it is mostly subtle in that recording for some reason. It definitely was taking preamp out and thru to different channels on the zoom.
 
#90
My Subway DI arrived yesterday, I've only had a few minutes to try it out but so far I'm very impressed with this little box!

And out of curiosity, if you have a Subway amp and a Subway DI pedal, do you use the Thru output or the Preamp output? Seems kinda redundant to use the preamp out if you already have the Subway amp, but like I said I am just curious how others are doing it. A big reason I wanted this pedal was to be able to have the Subway preamp to use with my other non Mesa amps (yes, there ARE other amp companies out there!) in which case I'll of course use the preamp output with those.
 
#92
ok, another test session with another pilot. A few photos, no recordings but some impressions. Steubig brought his headless Fodera 6s over and I had my YYD, Deep 4 and Smith fretless. As you can see we had a few different cabs and also a small mixer and QSC K8 powered cab.

Pertinent to this thread, the Subway preamp pedal pretty much sounds exactly like the D800 head. Running it into the PA and comparing the difference is subtle but very real. Basically any of the basses run direct into the mixer can be a bit harsh with the highs and a tad thin in the lows. Running the Subway pedal cures that. The big advantage is having eq capabilities though. Any mixer channel, especially on smaller/cheaper ones, just doesn't have a lot of tone shaping that is relevant to a bass player. The pedal gives me the ability to tweak away.

Basically a big thumbs up - it does what you expect it to. It also has enough flexibility to work under a variety of conditions - you can pass un affected signal, have a traditional DI out (switchable pre/post eq), and also have balanced xlr preamp out as well as unbalanced 1/4" preamp out.

cabs-1.jpg


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#94
Jeff Bonny said:
My suspicions this is a box that will solve some real world problems is being confirmed pretty convincingly. I ordered one as soon as I read the specs a month ago and it sounds like it's delivering the goods.....hope they're shipping to Canadian stores soon.
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We compared it with his EBS preamp pedal. I briefly had one and it wasn't my thing. Steubig uses it for flyaway or other shows where he's not sure what will be available - there usually is a powered PA cab available. The EBS has more bells and whistles, but to my ear the Subway sounds better and has more usable tone shaping. It certainly fixes my situations where for whatever reason I'm not able to bring my regular rig.
 
#97
Thanks for that very helpful video, Todd. What a great bass! (You don't look anything like Harpo, who for some stupid reason I always assumed you looked and sounded like.)

I picked up one of these about a week ago and it easily drives my power amp (Acoustic Image Focus SA) and sounds great, with the flexibility as shown in Todd's video.
 
#98
Well, the Mesa DI pedal is for real. Today I was finally able to get all my amps together and unleash everything to test it out.

I wanted two main things from this pedal. One was to make my non-Mesa amps sound better, and two was to be able to drive my powered GK cabs.

Firstly, I couldn't believe how much better it makes my Ampeg PF-800 and Carvin BX-500 sound. They are both now thick and meaty like the Mesa D800, so I'm happy with that as the Carvin is my backup/practice amp for when I don't want to take the Mesa out. I'm thrilled.

Second...can it drive my powered GK cabs? Something the Tone Hammer DI nor the GK Plex could do? YES! It has plenty of output and drives them just as much as the GK combo amp. However, these cabs (I have the MB112's) apparently rely heavily on the voicing of the GK combo amps that is designed to drive them. Going straight to the powered cabs, they sound dull and lifeless with no high end and no bottom end. Not even the Mesa EQ can make them sound good. On the other hand, connecting the Mesa DI to the GK combo amp and chaining that to the powered cabs sounds phenomenal. The Mesa really warms them up and kills the cold sound and harshness that the GK's have.

This pedal is a winner.
 
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