Mesa Subway D-350!

[agedhorse]

I wonder if we're not past that now, given the space consideration and Quilter is doing it?

Then, because it affects the width only, which features would yo eliminate from the front to reduce the width say 1"?

 

[Downunderwonder]

Replace tone knobs with a touch screen parametric EQ? Select Q, touch and drag.

 

[bdplaid]

Then, because it affects the width only, which features would yo eliminate from the front to reduce the width say 1"?

I'd make it like the elf, but add the hpf. Meaning, condense the midrange control to one knob, perhaps with a frequency selection switch if it doesn't add too much room. I don't know if it's possible to eliminate the input gain knob in favor of a range switch, but that occurred to me.

 

[bdplaid]

Replace tone knobs with a touch screen parametric EQ? Select Q, touch and drag.

No.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Then, because it affects the width only, which features would yo eliminate from the front to reduce the width say 1"?

Replace both mids with the passive mid from the WD? Not sure if that's possible.

 

[Jim C]

I can't get with you guys on the the size thing.
These amps are already plenty small enough for me.
Wonder what the 350 would cost as pictured as that seems like a good feature set.

 

[alaskaleftybass]

I'm embarrassed to admit, but living on an island in Alaska, I've never had the pleasure of trying the D800. I've read the specs at Sweetwater and that amp is a lot more compact than I realized! And light too! I was just thinking-- if the D-350 was 25% smaller and 350 watts, it would be a very nice match with some of the Mesa bass cabinets. I know they would go with my cabs. I don't need insane volume anymore, but would love a toneful creature like a Mesa Boogie amp at the D-350's specs. I'm at the age in life where I appreciate light gear. We have an incredible soundman in town and he does a great job at making me sound very massive through his Mackie system.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I can't get with you guys on the the size thing.
These amps are already plenty small enough for me.
Wonder what the 350 would cost as pictured as that seems like a good feature set.

Agreed. I think the current size is fine, but we do seem to be on a micro size trend in the bass world. The ELF is probably the lower limit of size for an amp. Honestly I think we’re quickly moving towards powered cabs and the preamp in a separate enclosure or on the pedal board. Maybe even optional, the cab might have two or three baked in sound profiles.

 

[Downunderwonder]

I can't get with you guys on the the size thing.
These amps are already plenty small enough for me.
Wonder what the 350 would cost as pictured as that seems like a good feature set.

Not a lot of difference in the cost of power modules. Save some on no fan maybe. Cost most of an 800. No cigar.

 

[Jim C]

Not a lot of difference in the cost of power modules. Save some on no fan maybe. Cost most of an 800. No cigar.

Maybe, but I'd like to know what the manufacturer says.
Perhaps the market will allow for greater sales volume to help lower the cost too.
Just checked MF; looks like the GK MB500 is $579 and the MB200 is $369 which is a healthy drop in price.
Also looks like the MB800 is NLA.

Curious as to what the Mesa marketing department and cost estimators think.
Also curious if the Subway series met or exceed Mesa's estimated sale volume.
It must be really hard to predict yearly sales to back into volume pricing.

 

[agedhorse]

Replace tone knobs with a touch screen parametric EQ? Select Q, touch and drag.

At least you get high marks in creativity.

 

[agedhorse]

Maybe, but I'd like to know what the manufacturer says.
Perhaps the market will allow for greater sales volume to help lower the cost too.
Just checked MF; looks like the GK MB500 is $579 and the MB200 is $369 which is a healthy drop in price.
Also looks like the MB800 is NLA.

Curious as to what the Mesa marketing department and cost estimators think.
Also curious if the Subway series met or exceed Mesa's estimated sale volume.
It must be really hard to predict yearly sales to back into volume pricing.

It's never any one thing but the combination of all aspects of a product's design that gets it into the sweet spot. The challenge is defining the sweet spot.

 

[FatStringer52]

Then, because it affects the width only, which features would yo eliminate from the front to reduce the width say 1"?

Based on the D-800 Front Panel, I'd stack the Mute/Play over the Input, stack the Active/Passive over the On/Deep, combine the Mids (as previously stated) and (not knowing how much flexibility you have with the guts) rotate the Power/Protect/Limit 90-degrees. In theory, that would shrink the width and height quite a bit. But then would you have room to badge it?

 

[lomo]

I would lose all the toggles except mute. Keep input gain, master, bass, mid/mid freq and high, aux in/phones, 1 speakon connector, and make it small enough to hide under my hat.......

 

[Downunderwonder]

Is it the knobs or the circuits behind that dictate width?

 

[DJ Bebop]

Then, because it affects the width only, which features would yo eliminate from the front to reduce the width say 1"?

Replace the voice control with a HPF. But I guess that doesn't help eliminate anything

 

[alaskaleftybass]

Agreed. I think the current size is fine, but we do seem to be on a micro size trend in the bass world. The ELF is probably the lower limit of size for an amp. Honestly I think we’re quickly moving towards powered cabs and the preamp in a separate enclosure or on the pedal board. Maybe even optional, the cab might have two or three baked in sound profiles.

Agreed about the ELF. I can't see how that can get any smaller--even now, I'll bet if you pulled your guitar cable (if you still use one) too hard the dang thing would jump off the cabinet!

As far as powered bass cabs, I'm old fashioned and like the ability to choose heads and cabs separately. I tried powered PA cabs and I couldn't find an all-in-one unpowered mixer that sent out two signals, both with built in equalizers. This is beside the point I know, but I switched back to a Mackie powered mixer and passive speakers. Now I have two equalized power amps to go to mains/monitors. Will it do a gymnasium? Prolly not. Backing up here-- to each their own but for me powered heads and passive cabs.

 

[Heavy Blue]

I realize that this isn't the question but I'd love to see a WD Preamp/DI but it would seem more folks would prefer a D-350 amp

A WD preamp/DI would be so nice. I’d be down with that pretty quickly.

 

[tombowlus]

Yes, according to his list of gear:
Bowlus Bass Blog: Bowlus Bass Borg (gear in the 'collective')

Thanks, DJ Bebop!
Don't mention it, DJ Bebop!


Maybe tombowlus will show up and tell us something about it.

Sorry for the tardy reply, but yes, I do have one of the D-350 prototypes. It sounds very similar to the D-800, as you might expect, and with 350w into 4 ohms, it's plenty loud for most settings, but not quite loud enough for big gigs with the loudest drummers I play with.

 

[Downunderwonder]

Sorry for the tardy reply, but yes, I do have one of the D-350 prototypes. It sounds very similar to the D-800, as you might expect, and with 350w into 4 ohms, it's plenty loud for most settings, but not quite loud enough for big gigs with the loudest drummers I play with.

How about 250w of Trace Elliot?