Mesa Subway D-350!

[DJ Bebop]

The voicing between the two amps is different, has nothing to do with the tube, it’s the basic architecture.

My mistake.

I have used the tube vs solid state as the tone/response difference between the WD, TT vs the Ds.

As I've heard the new Mesa tube variants are more "squishy," "midrangey," or exhibited some kind of "latency" in comparison with the Ds, 350, 800, and 800+ being "quicker" or less "squishy". And some attribute that to the tube in the mix.

I don't know as I only have the WD.

 

[agedhorse]

Just different, though the TT is a little more load interactive.

 

[BlueTalon]

From having a D-800 and a D-350, I got the distinct impression that the D-350 is the D-800's little brother. The voicings are very similar to me. To put it another way, my ears aren't good enough to tell any difference in the voicings.

 

[agedhorse]

From having a D-800 and a D-350, I got the distinct impression that the D-350 is the D-800's little brother. The voicings are very similar to me. To put it another way, my ears aren't good enough to tell any difference in the voicings.

Yes, they are very similar. The primary difference is the bright switch and an overall slightly more open top end tone. The difference is small in practice except with the bright switch on.

 

[ImTheOnlyOne]

That load interaction, or DJ's "squishy", or just plain feel, makes playing EB through some amps a more pleasing experience. Now, this is no interview, but as a designer, when might you choose to apply the less interactive designs?

My rough guess is that electric players often enjoy squish, while acoustic players prefer dryer tone with a faster response. That would make the WD and TT boogie channel more for electric players, D-xxx an upright player's preference, with the D-800+ the sweet middle ground.

 

[agedhorse]

It really depends, it’s more about a player’s desired voicing and feel than about upright versus electric. Both the voicing and feel are different from model to model.

 

[Moonskunk]

My Mesa D-350 really pushs these little 10" cabs.

 

[SJan3]

My Mesa D-350 really pushs these little 10" cabs.
View attachment 5144228

Nice portable rig!!

 

[Moonskunk]

The D-350 kicked this cab pretty well too.

 

[DJ Bebop]

That load interaction, or DJ's "squishy", or just plain feel, makes playing EB through some amps a more pleasing experience. Now, this is no interview, but as a designer, when might you choose to apply the less interactive designs?

My rough guess is that electric players often enjoy squish, while acoustic players prefer dryer tone with a faster response. That would make the WD and TT boogie channel more for electric players, D-xxx an upright player's preference, with the D-800+ the sweet middle ground.

I use my WD for my upright, Kay M-1 with Underwood pickup.

In my description of the tube front end amps being "squishy". That is more from what I have read here by some saying that was their experience. I have the WD and lately have leaned into exploring the possibilities of that. A little higher gain setting, low damping, 2 ohms with 8 ohm load.

But I find I can get a tighter, quicker sound by setting the amp the opposite of that.
It still may not be enough for some. I have not as of yet tried any of the Ds.

I think Chuck M enjoys running his upright with his D amps

 

[Chuck M]

I usually use my D-350 and one SW 115 for upright. My bass has a Realist pickup and I use an old Fishman Model B preamp so I have some tone/volume controls on the bass. The upright I play most is a Thompson hybrid. I usually play unamplified but use my Subway gear when amplification is needed.

 

[ImTheOnlyOne]

I use my WD for my upright, Kay M-1 with Underwood pickup.

In my description of the tube front end amps being "squishy". That is more from what I have read here by some saying that was their experience. I have the WD and lately have leaned into exploring the possibilities of that. A little higher gain setting, low damping, 2 ohms with 8 ohm load.

Setting loose some of my tube pres as I figure out better how to dial in the WD-800's preamp with a compressor and saturator.

My D-350 performs well with an <250W/8ohm tweeterless cab, scaling tone well with volume. That Genzler 10" stack a few posts up though

 

[hbarcat]

For the past decade, I've almost always used a preamp pedal (usually a Tech21 VT Bass, or YYZ, or similar) to get some more character out of whatever amp I was using at the time. Mostly an Ampeg SVTx Pro, a Mesa hybrid, or a GK or Hartke something or other.

I tried the same thing with the D-350 and discovered that having a preamp pedal isn't at all useful. The tone I get from the D-350 all by itself is awfully close to the ideal bass tone that I hear in my head.

Purely subjective, of course, but it's just one more reason for me to love this amp. After nearly 40 years of bringing amps, preamps, pedals, processors, and other tone shaping equipment to gigs, it's so nice to just plug this little tiny class D amp into a single 15" neo cab and get my ideal tone.

 

[MCF]

It depends on what you are looking for.
The WD had a tube front end while the D-350 doesn't. That difference will add to them not being similar. A tube preamp pedal or something approximating that could get you close on the D.

Something like a Genzler 4 on the Floor perhaps?

 

[DJ Bebop]

Something like a Genzler 4 on the Floor perhaps?

 

[Chuck M]

I've been using my D-350 with one SW 115 for upright bass. It sounds great. Last night I played upright in a room with a small stage so I used my Phil Jones C4 cabinet with the D-350. It sounded lovely.

 

[KPJ]

I use my D350 with either a SW115 or a Trace Elliot 2x8 ELF. Both sound great. I'll bring the 2x8 if a "small" set up is expected but it sounds almost as huge as with the SW115. I have had other bassists rave about the sound of the D350/2x8 pairing as well as marveling at the size.

 

[marchone]

I’m gassing for a SW112 for my D-350. Together it’s a perfect mini rig.

 

[Hot Rats]

got the D350 today and put it through the Genzler 210 for some fabulous sounds. Not very different from the D800 I love but the bright switch just might be the kick I was looking for on some gigs where I felt I could use some higher top end. I'll be using it Friday with the backline Ampeg 6x10 at the blues bar in S.F. That'll be the real test I think it's a dark cabinet with the D800.

 

[KPJ]

Here some examples of the D350 in action. This is from a monthly jam I host. The speaker is a Subway 115. First clip is me playing a 2003 MusicMan SUB 4. Second clip is my friend Blaine playing a Lakland DJ5. He referred to the amp pairing as "a beast".