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Mesa Subway D-350!

If you were going to overdrive the D-350, how would you do it? That clip of Gov't Mule's "Trane" posted above really encapsulates the sound I'm going for. I can do it with a pedal but I want to try dialing it in with the amp. Turning up the gain tends to hit the clip light just as much as the gain. I may also need to use the active pickup setting with these hot passives I have.
That's the entire point of turning the gain up, the input LED is labeled O/D because there is an overdrive circuit that's part of the gain circuit. That's different than the output limit LED. You might re-read the owner's manual as these features are discussed.

As an alternative, the 4 on the Floor or even the Crash Box 4 O/D and distortion pedals would provide the ability to selects a distortion type and then fine tune it with O/D engine HPF, LPF and clean blend.
 
That's the entire point of turning the gain up, the input LED is labeled O/D because there is an overdrive circuit that's part of the gain circuit. That's different than the output limit LED. You might re-read the owner's manual as these features are discussed.

As an alternative, the 4 on the Floor or even the Crash Box 4 O/D and distortion pedals would provide the ability to selects a distortion type and then fine tune it with O/D engine HPF, LPF and clean blend.

Sorry, I should have said that turning up the gain makes the output limit LED light up just as much as the gain circuit LED. I'm trying to get more gain without hitting the limiter.

As for pedals, I have a plethora. Just trying to keep the board small.
 
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Sorry, I should have said that turning up the gain makes the output limit LED light up just as much as the gain circuit LED. I'm trying to get more gain without hitting the limiter.

As for pedals, I have a plethora. Just trying to keep the board small.
Then turn the master volume down.

From the manual:

INPUT GAIN CONTROL & O/D LED
This control determines the input gain (and drive level) of the J-FET gain stage. Overdriving this gain
stage may be a desirable tonal characteristic of your playing style. The amber O/D LED provides a
visual indication of the status of the drive signal level and how much preamp overdrive is occurring.
When using significant overdriven tones, you may find it helpful to back down on the TREBLE EQ
a little bit to reduce harshness and also to reduce the BASS EQ to increase the clarity and impact.
When employing heavier overdrive, it’s generally more pleasing to reduce the tweeter level if your
cabinets have tweeters. Note that the GAIN control operates linearly, an increase in gain continues
linearly throughout the entire rotation of the control. The amount of overdrive is increased by turning
the GAIN CONTROL up beyond the clean area of operation, and the overall volume will be controlled
by turning the MASTER VOLUME down as needed. The MASTER VOLUME control also operates in a
linear fashion, an increase in volume continues linearly throughout the entire rotation of the control.
 
If you were going to overdrive the D-350, how would you do it? That clip of Gov't Mule's "Trane" posted above really encapsulates the sound I'm going for. I can do it with a pedal but I want to try dialing it in with the amp. Turning up the gain tends to hit the clip light just as much as the gain. I may also need to use the active pickup setting with these hot passives I have.
I overdrive my D350 with the input right around 3 o'clock and then depending on the venue that'll put my master at about 10 o'clock. Then I control the overall volume per song with the bass which is usually P bass or sometimes a Gibson SG type instrument.
 
upload_2024-5-14_14-16-27.jpeg


I have a Grizzly Bass incoming, but now you have me wanting to hear the +Gain -Treble -Master on my D-350.

Really liked the Grizzly I tried once into my WD-800, but I know poster's looking for a pedal-less answer.
 
I overdrive my D350 with the input right around 3 o'clock and then depending on the venue that'll put my master at about 10 o'clock. Then I control the overall volume per song with the bass which is usually P bass or sometimes a Gibson SG type instrument.
View attachment 5448193

I have a Grizzly Bass incoming, but now you have me wanting to hear the +Gain -Treble -Master on my D-350.

Really liked the Grizzly I tried once into my WD-800, but I know poster's looking for a pedal-less answer.

I just bought a Guild Starfire II, which is a completely different animal than my Squier Mustang and Reverend Watt. I'm looking to simplify my rig and get more from the amp. Looks like I'll run it more like I run my Allen Encore guitar amp, with some light gain appearing as the instrument volume is turned up.
 
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I have a WD and it does fine doing the O/D thing but I have read here and elsewhere that running the gain up and master down, as needed, the D350 gets a nice useable O/D sound that many enjoy.

:)

I took 5 minutes this afternoon WITH THE MASTER VOLUME DOWN <_< to dial in the gain. It's at about 2 o'clock on the dial. Interestingly, the bass knob is now at noon. Clean, it was around 10 o'clock. Roll down the volume on the bass for clean, up for overdrive.

Now I have to figure out how I'm going to stack drive for our heavier songs.
 
I took 5 minutes this afternoon WITH THE MASTER VOLUME DOWN <_< to dial in the gain. It's at about 2 o'clock on the dial. Interestingly, the bass knob is now at noon. Clean, it was around 10 o'clock. Roll down the volume on the bass for clean, up for overdrive.

Now I have to figure out how I'm going to stack drive for our heavier songs.

upload_2024-5-14_16-47-47.jpeg


:)
 
I used my D-350 with an Eden EX110 last night at a "living room volume level" rehearsal for a fairly large group that will be performing Saturday. That little head and cab worked just as well for that as when I use it at gigs with a 4 Ohm 212 cab or two 8 Ohm cabs.

When I have to go out in the rain (like last night) I really appreciate having the smallest, lightest possible collection of stuff to carry. And it is especially sweet when that "easy, one trip load in" doesn't sacrifice a thing in playing performance.
 
I used my D-350 with an Eden EX110 last night at a "living room volume level" rehearsal for a fairly large group that will be performing Saturday. That little head and cab worked just as well for that as when I use it at gigs with a 4 Ohm 212 cab or two 8 Ohm cabs.

When I have to go out in the rain (like last night) I really appreciate having the smallest, lightest possible collection of stuff to carry. And it is especially sweet when that "easy, one trip load in" doesn't sacrifice a thing in playing performance.
And this is why I've stubbornly kept my Eden CX110.

Waiting on @agedhorse to create the D 350 head. Now Im waiting on me to create the extra money to buy one.

:)
 
The little D-350 continually impresses folks when I'm playing (if only my playing would have impressed them). People are generally amazed at the sound quality and volume that thing can deliver with a good cab. And electric guitar players are particularly baffled by how "really big" can come out of "small and light" especially in a bass rig.

IMO the D-350 ticks all the right mini-head boxes and also includes some very nice extras that while not necessarily essential for me, are nice to have.

IME this is what well thought-out, well-executed design looks like in in real life! :thumbsup:
 
The little D-350 continually impresses folks when I'm playing (if only my playing would have impressed them). People are generally amazed at the sound quality and volume that thing can deliver with a good cab. And electric guitar players are particularly baffled by how "really big" can come out of "small and light" especially in a bass rig.

IMO the D-350 ticks all the right mini-head boxes and also includes some very nice extras that while not necessarily essential for me, are nice to have.

IME this is what well thought-out, well-executed design looks like in in real life! :thumbsup:
Power is one of the most misunderstood things in the audio world. The difference between 350w and 800w is around 3 db. That's a hardly noticeable difference for a lot of people. 350w is no joke on decently sensitive drivers.
I'd like to see a 150w or 200w model, though im not sure it would be worth it to Mesa. A 150w wpukd be roughly half rhe volume of the 800s. I'd love that.
 
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