Seriously. Given how light they are, just get a D350 and a Subway 115. I would rather Andy spend his time doing a modern M6 Carbine head.
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Mesa Subway D-350!
- Thread starter mmbongo
- Start date
Going to back off my opinion of the MG800 having more tonal options than the D-350. The D-350's Bright and Voice combined with Low and High Mid dials enable a wealth of clean tones. MG800 has a drive channel, but a 4-on-the-floor would more than cover that.In my opinion, the MG-800 has a wider range of tonal options than the D-350, and that's coming from somebody who really likes the D-350 he uses almost daily
In response to: "I'm after a small, quiet (like the genzler) amp", the D-350 fits the bill perfectly, even a little better than an MG350 or 800 could.
I feel a Subway 800 series amp could command a stage more confidently than a D-350 given the two 350w/8Ohm cabs proposed and have capacity to add a third cab later if ever necessary. I believe the D800+ is making lots of people happy.
My solution has been a stack of two D-350, but OP mentioned import pricing being a constraint.
Maybe, with Boeing flagging, Mesa can move out of the Subway and on up to an Airway
...modular combo.
I love the thought of a Walkabout 2.0, but as much as I loved my Walkabout, I sold it. I really don’t remember why. Maybe I’m just thinking about the Walkabout with rose-colored memory vision. A lot has changed between then and now in the bass world.
- Feb 12, 2006
- 60,963
- 5
- 220,651
- Disclosures
- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
The WD is the Walkabout 2.0. Can’t build with the MOSFET output stage because the parts are no longer available.
Sorry, I meant the Scout combo. My bad.
Agree on all points. I am playing my Legacy amp less and less as well. Part of the reason why I don't want to bother with the Legacy combo.
Aha! Cool beans!
I know you didn't ask me, but I'll weigh in here anyway, haha! I wish the knobs were on the front, facing forward. That's my biggest annoyance with my Ampeg RB combo.
I went with the D-350 over the D-800, GK Legacy 500, Quilter BB802 and the Magellan 350. I play in a loud post-punk trio and through a GK Neo 115. We typically play bars and house parties with minimal sound reinforcement. The clubs we do get a good PA at take the DI out from the head. The reason I went with the 350 over the 800 was I knew it would be plenty loud for my application. I picked it over the others because I liked the tone better and also got a better deal on it. And I'm glad I did. It's the right amp for me.
I'm not sure I would buy a Subway combo. Sure, it would be convenient. But like with the GK Legacy combo, I just don't have that kinda coin. And Mesa isn't going to make a budget combo that competes with the Ampeg Rocket and Fender Rumble lines. That's not their bag.
Yes the members here were the “they.”
In my humorous way that was the point. Most everything that had come from your time at Mesa seems to have incorporated the opinions and suggestions from the hive mind, like your current suggestion box post.
I find that to be a privilege to have input and insight into the sausage making.
Sorry for churning up that combo talk again…
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A grab'n'go combo still has a place, although lighter heads and cabs make the choice less obvious.Sorry for churning up that combo talk again…
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Ah, this is interesting (because I'm not fully understanding it): that 8 ohm driver will need twice the power to reach the max. sensitivity than the 4 ohm? Or the fact that they have different impedance make'em completely different speakers?
- Feb 12, 2006
- 60,963
- 5
- 220,651
- Disclosures
- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
If the 8 ohm speaker is 3dB more sensitive than the 4 ohm speaker, it takes 1/2 the power to achieve the same volume. An 8 ohm speaker connected to a solid state power amp will receive 1/2 the power that the 4 ohm speaker will receive yet have the same volume. This is why often (not always, but usually) a 4 ohm speaker has no practical advantage and several disadvantages.
It's interesting to me how many people want a combo. To me it just means one less cable to plug in and a lot less flexibility.
You kind of took the words right out of my mind. I love the fact that I can use my D-350 with various cabs and do just that. I find it about perfect for upright bass when plugged into my PJ C4 and perfect for electric bass when plugged into SW115.
Still, each of us has different needs and preferences so perhaps a combo would sell well.
I've forgotten that one cable before. Fortunately it was close by, but for situations where I don't need a lot of volume, I'd prefer a combo. And today's combos have far more horsepower.
I definitely was dogging the little amp. I think I have a bit better understanding of how amplification works than some here. Instrument Amps differ a bit from reproduction amps, but ohms law is still ohms law and perceived output isn't linear.
The jump from clean 350w to 800w on a capable driver is only about a 3db or so gain in perceived output. I know we get most of output from the first 100w or so. I also know Mesa doesn't make toys. It's price point just seemed a little high to me in comparison. Not crazy high, just a little high. If it's based off user feedback here I understand.
Someone mentioned the ability to drive older less power hungry cabs. They know the larger Amps have volume knobs correct? That remark may seem a little snide (and I truly don't mean it to be rude) , but it's true. We always have the ability to regulate an amps output. A volume knob is the one thing all our amps share.
The 350 is an appealing little amp. It's still on my list. 350w is quite a bit of power for even 2 15s in a lot of situations.
You're not only buying power in an amp, you're buying the features that are also in the amp. If they made a one-watt amp you wouldn't expect it to cost 1/800 the price of a D-800.
Because sometimes I want to put stuff on top of the amp - sweat rag, sometimes a pedal or two (practice situations where I'm not bringing a full pedal board and space is super limited) and ... to be honest... sometimes I'll sit on the thing in practice, haha!
But what if you already have all the flexibility you need with separates for any size gig, with options from running direct with IEM to carrying the bass alone in a big outdoor gig (I do) but the thing you REALLY want is one high-quality box that will cover 90% of your weekend gigs and all of your practice sessions?
I've got a TH500 which I love. I also have a Legacy 800 and TT800, and 1 and 2 driver neo cabs of almost every configuration from GK, Trace Elliott, and Mesa. I have the flexibility (and have) taken the TH500 and 1x GK or Mesa Neo cab to a number of gigs and practices and it works fine. But I enjoy the simplicity of the RB110 in both the schlep and setup. It's not a huge difference, I know. But it's a difference. I'm at the stage of life where I'm annoyed with little extra steps and carrying more stuff, and can afford to pay for gear that will get me around some of that. I know the market and what's out there now, and there isn't a single one that has just quite the right mix of features and performance I'm looking for just yet.
For a combo, going to back to grill cloth would be really sweet. I prefer the switches up top like the walkabout combo.
Well, you're asking me what if I want something I just said I don't want. I can carry my D350 and my BareFaced One10 or with a single Subway 12 or 15. I see zero advantage in a combo for the purposes you describe. That's literally my entire point. You obviously have a different opinion, which is fine.
