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Mesa Subway D-350!

#1,902
Ok, so I am trying to figure something out, maybe I have gremlins. The other night I was using my D-350 at rehearsal and brought my 2004 Stingray, which I haven't used in a while. I did not check the battery, but I know what that bass sounds like when the battery is going, so I don't think that was the issue (I plan to switch it anyway, because it's been a minute). It sounded wonderful. However, when I first turned on the amp, I was surprised that the output was lower than my passive basses, and turned the active/passive switch to "passive," and still needed to crank the input to about 2:00 before the clip light was coming on (then backed off a bit). We played a tune and by the end of the tune the sound was massive and the lead guitarist was like "you need to turn down." He was right (for once). It was incredibly loud, and I switched to "active," re-adjusted the input (around noon now, with the buffer), and everything was great. I am guessing the D350 doesn't need to "warm up" - there are no tubes, etc. But how could the Stingray need to "warm up" either? I'm somewhat confounded.
 
#1,910
agedhorse said:
Yup, intermittent problems can occur in the digital world too.
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As I said, I get it but my point stands. While I will check that, it’s a pretty unlikely suspect IMO. Same rig for almost a year and played it with a bass I hadn’t used in a couple years. All I am saying is my bet is on the bass, not that it *couldn’t* be something else. I am aware that anything can fail.
 
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#1,911
It could very well be the bass, but structured troubleshooting does not dismiss out of hand other possible causes without further investigation.

Most intermittent problems in equipment starts out with the equipment that originally functioned properly. This includes digital equipment.
 
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#1,912
In IT the hardest part of tech support is asking customers to check whether the computer is plugged in, switched on, cables are connected, etc. It often makes the customers frustrated and angry. The techs aren't asking this because they think customers are idiots but to spare their customers the expense of sending a tech out on a field call, because the tech will to start their own diagnostics by checking whether the computer is plugged in, switched on, cables connected, etc...
 
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#1,913
The other difficult thing for many people to understand is why methodical troubleshooting doesn't automatically assume that a brand new/recently replaced part couldn't possibly be the problem. I have also seen just as many inadvertent maintenance induced problems as those that were genuine out-of-the-blue failures.
 
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#1,914
Al Kraft said:
The other difficult thing for many people to understand is why methodical troubleshooting doesn't automatically assume that a brand new/recently replaced part couldn't possibly be the problem. I have also seen just as many inadvertent maintenance induced problems as those that were genuine out-of-the-blue failures.
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Which is why maintenance logs are so incredibly important. On big boy industrial controls stuff that I worked on (past life), the first thing that I would do is review the maintenance logs to see if this is a reoccurring problem, or if it might be related to a previous repair of defective replacement part/assembly.
 
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#1,915
agedhorse said:
It could very well be the bass, but structured troubleshooting does not dismiss out of hand other possible causes without further investigation.

Most intermittent problems in equipment starts out with the equipment that originally functioned properly. This includes digital equipment.
Click to expand...
Ok, but for the very last time, I said I would look at everything in the chain and I am aware it could be anything. I literally agree with you. All I am talking about is what I think it might be, not how I am going to troubleshoot. But that should have been clear since I said it three times.
 
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#1,916
I had problem with crackling and noise earlier, and occasionally the volume drop. After going in circles, kinda pin it down to the instrument’s fault.

But I have since adopt the practice to turn on the amp first (to warm up), keep it in silent mode while I spend time plugging in everything and tuning the bass. It’s now a ritual for me and have not experience any issues.
 
#1,917
D-350 in the wild....played by me! Last weekend! The hat didn't last long, those lights were hot AF.

me.jpg
 
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#1,920
Question about the D-350 headphone output. I know I can run the head without a speaker load if I have headphones plugged in.

When I plug the ‘phones in, should it mute the speaker output? Because it doesn’t, but my other amps do - both bass and guitar amps.

I’m trying to figure out if this is a design feature or a problem.
 

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