Lowendtech
Happily trending in my own peculiar direction.
Yes. Anything less than 4 ohms has to be on the 2 ohm setting.
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Mesa Subway D-800+
- Thread starter donahue
- Start date
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- Tags
- mesa mesa subway subway
- Feb 12, 2006
- 60,978
- 5
- 220,743
- Disclosures
- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
Yes, any load less than 4 ohms would use the 2 ohm switch on the amp.
I gotta say, the ability to safely run the amp into a 2 ohm load is _absolutely_ a deal-maker. Particularly for folks like me, who run a modular cab setup (meaning, multiple single-driver 8 ohm boxes).
MesaBoogie
Commercial User
- May 14, 2013
- 380
- 669
- Disclosures
- Artist Relations / Product Specialist: Mesa Boogie
That would be our friend and Mesa Artist Cody Wright! Thanks!
I was going to buy a used Tecamp Puma but I decided to order a D800+ and see what the fuss was all about. I have no idea when it will arrive because there are none in Canada at L&M although they have some on order. I figure I won't take too big of a hit if I decide to sell the D800+ and get the Tecamp later. They work out to about the same price. I didn't check to see if I could return the D800+it as its considered a special order. I wonder how different the D800+ will be from my GK MB Fusion 500 tone wise.
IMO the GK and Mesa tones are both great, but nothing alike.
That is good because I am looking for something different not that I am out of love with the MBF.
Well, my D800+ came in today and I had just a few minutes to try it out at the shop, so this first review will be cursory. I played an F Bass Norm Stockton Signature bass through the D800+ into a Bergantino HDN212 cab (the cab I'll be using with the amp most of the time). One thing is clear about the amp right off the bat - it is versatile. I was able to get some nice classic rock tones, rich in low mids and lows, then EQ it into a more modern J bass sound using the high mid control mostly. The Voicing knob helps with that. The EQ controls are very responsive, so this isn't one of those amps you have crank the EQ to 5 o'clock to hear a difference. All the knobs have excellent knob feel (Youtube: "knob feel review"). The HPF, Deep and Bright switches add instant tone modification along with the Voicing knob, which I like at about 9 a.m. The front panel is festooned with switches and knobs, and the back hosts a slew of quarter-inch jacks, more switches and the Neutrik Speakon output jacks. I can see why some might prefer the simpler D800. The D800+ is, however, what I was hoping for tone-wise and feature-wise.
I'll report back after I've had some time to ring it out more thoroughly. I do have a couple observations about the form factor. First, I went to open the box and immediately was confronted by this:
Fortunately, I have a small butane torch that I used to carefully burn off the tape. Another minor niggle I foresaw when I first saw pictures of the amp is that the gain and frequency controls for the semi-parametric mids are not easily differentiated. I plan to put a white dot on each of the frequency knobs so it's easy to see which one I'm futzing with in less than ample lighting. I know real estate is at a premium on an amp like this, so it may not have been possible to elevate the frequency controls on the faceplate a little so they were easy to see.
The endpoint frequencies are marked on each of the mid-pots, but there's no indication of anything in the middle. It would be good to know whether the frequency pots are logarithmic or linear so those of us with slide rule experience can interpolate the frequencies. That, or a couple intermediate markings would be nice.
Bottom line, I'm glad I made the switch. This one will stick around.
I'll report back after I've had some time to ring it out more thoroughly. I do have a couple observations about the form factor. First, I went to open the box and immediately was confronted by this:
Fortunately, I have a small butane torch that I used to carefully burn off the tape. Another minor niggle I foresaw when I first saw pictures of the amp is that the gain and frequency controls for the semi-parametric mids are not easily differentiated. I plan to put a white dot on each of the frequency knobs so it's easy to see which one I'm futzing with in less than ample lighting. I know real estate is at a premium on an amp like this, so it may not have been possible to elevate the frequency controls on the faceplate a little so they were easy to see.
The endpoint frequencies are marked on each of the mid-pots, but there's no indication of anything in the middle. It would be good to know whether the frequency pots are logarithmic or linear so those of us with slide rule experience can interpolate the frequencies. That, or a couple intermediate markings would be nice.
Bottom line, I'm glad I made the switch. This one will stick around.
- Feb 12, 2006
- 60,978
- 5
- 220,743
- Disclosures
- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
Bought the D800+ today. Pairing it with the Audiokinesis 1203 and a MAS 106. The onboard hpf is why I purchased the head. I'm using my Skjold basses, cycling through fretted and fretless basses.
Initial impression:
I'm pleasantly pleased with the tone of the amp. It's a lively head with a great articulate low end and the highs aren't brittle. The mids are flexible and give a greater control situationally. The hpf filter really helps with the smaller cabs. The D800+ is a nice addition to my amp collection, Demeter 800 and Vanderkley Aurora.
I do agree that it's hard to read the controls. I would like a center detent on the knobs. Otherwise I'm happy so far.
Initial impression:
I'm pleasantly pleased with the tone of the amp. It's a lively head with a great articulate low end and the highs aren't brittle. The mids are flexible and give a greater control situationally. The hpf filter really helps with the smaller cabs. The D800+ is a nice addition to my amp collection, Demeter 800 and Vanderkley Aurora.
I do agree that it's hard to read the controls. I would like a center detent on the knobs. Otherwise I'm happy so far.
Let me ask you this: Do you like Jamocha Almond Fudge ice cream? I do.
Another TBer tried out the new 210 today at BSD. Quite impressive.
As usual, Munji and the good folks at Bass San Diego are way ahead of the curve. I stopped by today to pick up my 800+ and Subway 210 cab to complete my rig with my Subway 115.
The early in-home results are impressive and then some. The two cabs blend seamlessly and very well, much like the 115/112 pairing. The signs of superb design and thoughtful execution by Andy Field and his team are everywhere. A full report will follow after Saturday's club gig, but I'm confident this gear will be my go-to rig for the foreseeable future. Thanks to Andy F., Mesa, and BSD for your wonderful work here.
