Mesa Subway D-800+

[jnewmark]

Yes, this is another good option, will reduce the power to about 600 watts at 4 ohms.

I'll try it if I hear any signs of the cab getting distressed, but, so far, I haven't heard anything yet. The cab really sounds more open than it did, even with the Shuttle 6.2, especially in the upper midrange - treble areas.

 

[SickAura]

Hi, I'm hoping you fellas (and gals) can offer some insight:

I play a GK 700RB-II and always feel like i'm fighting it to get the tone I want. I'm trying to get a solid low-mid "punch", but usually wind up with a high-mid "growl" instead. I've been playing this amp for a long time and I don't feel it's cutting it anymore for the sound I want. I've tried tons of cabs with it over the years and always have the same experience.

I'm now looking at other amps and am interested in the Mesa D800+, but can't try before buying as no stores in my area have one. Can you guys tell me if it's a good choice to get a more "Ampeg-y" type low-mid punch? I think most Ampegs are closer to the sound I'm looking for, but don't want to buy an Ampeg for reasons I won't discuss here.

I know I am little late in responding but I think the Mesa will get you what you want. I did a mini-review of the D800+ vs an Ampeg 7pro back in December....here it is....

I finally received my D800+ and had a chance to spend some quality practice time with no one in the house

I put it head-to-head with my 7Pro which has been my go to amp for the past couple years. I love the 7Pro and I think its under-appreciated on TB – probably because so many have blown up. I have recently been through GK, Ashdown, Traynor a few other Ampegs and I always reach for the 7Pro.

Enter the D800+

I set the amp the amp flat and right away I knew I could work with this head. It didn’t take me long to dial in a sweet spot and I have to say after following this thread for months - the amp is pretty much exactly as billed.

Switching back and forth between the heads with the same 4 string bass and cabinet and 'my' tone settings (in pic below) - I found that they sounded pretty close to each other. However, the D800 definitely had the edge in the following areas:

• Clarity – very noticeable difference. The D800 made the Ampeg sound a bit like a sheet (not blanket) was over the cab
• Heft or weight to the notes – slight edge here but most noticeable on the D and G strings
• Richness – hard to describe but each note seemed to have a little more harmonic content
• Punch – probably the outcome of all 3 above, but the D800 just seemed to punch a little harder. I played a lot with the overall volume to try and make sure I had parity and I wasn’t being fooled by volume
• Overdriven/Pre-Amp Clipping – cranking the Gain and hitting hard (which I love to do) - no contest. The D800 handled it with grace and beauty and the 7Pro (like every non-Tube Ampeg) turned into robot farts
• Deep and Bright Switches - actually useable on the D800! Maybe the first time ever for me on any amp
• Playing with pedals – my main pedals are an MXR Bass Compressor for a hint of compression to tame my harder hits - and a Darkglass VMTD for a touch of grit, clarity and punch. The nod goes to the 7Pro here. This combination with the 7Pro is just so good and is my tone - however to be fair that combo had a 2 year head start on the D800.

The second test is tonight at band practice through a Mesa Powerhouse 212. We're a 3pc Blues Rock setup so the bass tone is critical

Thanks all for your detailed descriptions and ongoing praise of this amp.

Pics or it didn’t happen:

View attachment 1013877

 

[Eric_Allard]

I know I am little late in responding but I think the Mesa will get you what you want. I did a mini-review of the D800+ vs an Ampeg 7pro back in December....here it is....

Thanks for the reply. After reading up it, I think I'm going to be very happy with the Mesa. They're backordered from the distributor so hopefully I won't have to wait too long.

 

[Oldtimer]

Well, I just pulled the trigger on one of these! One of the few available from a dealer currently. After reading this thread, I am taking a chance on a sight unseen/unheard amp. The 2 ohm and high pass filter features are very intriguing. I haven't bought without trying since I purchased a Genz-Benz Streamliner 900 years ago. That worked out fine, since that what I am currently using. Will be running it into a Bergantino CN212 mostly, but the thought of adding 1 or 2 Genz-Benz NeoX 112T's to the Bergantino is very inspiring!

 

[mesaplayer83]

Well, I just pulled the trigger on one of these! One of the few available from a dealer currently. After reading this thread, I am taking a chance on a site unseen/unheard amp. The 2 ohm and high pass filter features are very intriguing. I haven't bought without trying since I purchased a Genz-Benz Streamliner 900 years ago. That worked out fine, since that what I am currently using. Will be running it into a Bergantino CN212 mostly, but the thought of adding 1 or 2 Genz-Benz NeoX 112T's to the Bergantino is very inspiring!

I'll be interested in your comparison between those 2 amps after you get the 800+, since a Streamliner 900 has been my main amp for quite some time now, but I'm really interested in an 800+..

 

[Oldtimer]

I'll be interested in your comparison between those 2 amps after you get the 800+, since a Streamliner 900 has been my main amp for quite some time now, but I'm really interested in an 800+..

I also got some very nice details from Andy (Agedhorse) via message about tonal comparisons of Streamliner, Shuttle 9.0, and Mesa D800+ and Magellan 800. Since he has intimate knowledge of most of these!

 

[mesaplayer83]

I also got some very nice details from Andy (Agedhorse) via message about tonal comparisons of Streamliner, Shuttle 9.0, and Mesa D800+ and Magellan 800. Since he has intimate knowledge of most of these!

Yeah, Andy is THE MAN when it comes to this stuff(and lots more, lol)... IIRC, the D800 and D800+ are supposed to land somewhere between those great amps by Genz-Benz, tonally speaking... I also have ShuttleMax 12.0 that I gig sometimes - it's a great amp, too..

 

[Oldtimer]

I've had the 800+ for a little less than a week now. I'm still getting used to it and it sounds great! Very focused. Only one live gig so far A quick question about input gain with an old P Bass. I can dime the input gain and can barely get the O/D light to blink when playing way harder than I ever do! I have a fairly light touch normally. I thought it might be the output of the 64P but in plugging in a Classic 50's P, it was the same. Settings for reference are; passive, deep-on, input dimed, high pass=11 o'clock, voicing=1 o'clock, low mid gain & freq=11 o'clock, hi mid gain & freq=1 o'clock, Bass & treble= 12 o'clock. It's not that I need any overdrive as I usually play clean. I can get there if needed with my active basses anyway. Thoughts?

 

[lermgalieu]

I've had the 800+ for a little less than a week now. I'm still getting used to it and it sounds great! Very focused. Only one live gig so far A quick question about input gain with an old P Bass. I can dime the input gain and can barely get the O/D light to blink when playing way harder than I ever do! I have a fairly light touch normally. I thought it might be the output of the 64P but in plugging in a Classic 50's P, it was the same. Settings for reference are; passive, deep-on, input dimed, high pass=11 o'clock, voicing=1 o'clock, low mid gain & freq=11 o'clock, hi mid gain & freq=1 o'clock, Bass & treble= 12 o'clock. It's not that I need any overdrive as I usually play clean. I can get there if needed with my active basses anyway. Thoughts?

I am assuming you don't have the "active" switch on? I have a newer passive P bass and the input OD light flashes before noon....I realize this doesn't help much. I also don't play lightly.

 

[Oldtimer]

I am assuming you don't have the "active" switch on? I have a newer passive P bass and the input OD light flashes before noon....I realize this doesn't help much. I also don't play lightly.

No active is not on. Actually, I didn't need active switch on with my Sadowsky on the one gig I used it on!

 

[lermgalieu]

No active is not on. Actually, I didn't need active switch on with my Sadowsky on the one gig I used it on!

Yeah, I don't use it with my active basses either. Hopefully someone can chime in with some good feedback for you on this.

 

[Frankie Fender]

I've had the 800+ for a little less than a week now. I'm still getting used to it and it sounds great! Very focused. Only one live gig so far A quick question about input gain with an old P Bass. I can dime the input gain and can barely get the O/D light to blink when playing way harder than I ever do! I have a fairly light touch normally. I thought it might be the output of the 64P but in plugging in a Classic 50's P, it was the same. Settings for reference are; passive, deep-on, input dimed, high pass=11 o'clock, voicing=1 o'clock, low mid gain & freq=11 o'clock, hi mid gain & freq=1 o'clock, Bass & treble= 12 o'clock. It's not that I need any overdrive as I usually play clean. I can get there if needed with my active basses anyway. Thoughts?

There may not be any issue here. Does your bass act like that with other amps? (low output) Nothing wrong here you just might have a low-output bass. Those passive basses don't have much output and maybe the O/D light has a high threshold. FWIW I have a Jazz that has twice the output (approx.) of my P bass, both are passive Fenders, and my P Bass barely engages the OD too, but there is a very usable range.

You're never going to hear much of an overdrive even if you do engage the light in the input stage, I've been there. Just enjoy that master knob, it has OD too!

 

[lermgalieu]

There may not be any issue here. Does your bass act like that with other amps? (low output) Nothing wrong here you just might have a low-output bass. Those passive basses don't have much output and maybe the O/D light has a high threshold. FWIW I have a Jazz that has twice the output (approx.) of my P bass, both are passive Fenders, and my P Bass barely engages the OD too, but there is a very usable range.

You're never going to hear much of an overdrive even if you do engage the light in the input stage, I've been there. Just enjoy that master knob, it has OD too!

I agree that might just be how his P basses are, but I do think there is a lot of audible value on the D-800 in hitting OD on the input stage. Not massive breakup, but a pleasing warmth. Might just need a preamp pedal or compressor or something to bump it up a notch if you want to go there.

 

[Oldtimer]

There may not be any issue here. Does your bass act like that with other amps? (low output) Nothing wrong here you just might have a low-output bass. Those passive basses don't have much output and maybe the O/D light has a high threshold. FWIW I have a Jazz that has twice the output (approx.) of my P bass, both are passive Fenders, and my P Bass barely engages the OD too, but there is a very usable range.

You're never going to hear much of an overdrive even if you do engage the light in the input stage, I've been there. Just enjoy that master knob, it has OD too!

It's definitely NOT an issue, at least for me. Thanks.

 

[Frankie Fender]

I agree that might just be how his P basses are, but I do think there is a lot of audible value on the D-800 in hitting OD on the input stage. Not massive breakup, but a pleasing warmth. Might just need a preamp pedal or compressor or something to bump it up a notch if you want to go there.

Agreed. I guess if I had higher output basses I might hear something in that O/D input stage that I am missing. Then again, it's probably what gives the P Bass its characteristic sound. In any event, it certainly works for me.

 

[Frankie Fender]

It's definitely NOT an issue, at least for me. Thanks.

Good to hear that. Enjoy the amp!

 

[agedhorse]

I've had the 800+ for a little less than a week now. I'm still getting used to it and it sounds great! Very focused. Only one live gig so far A quick question about input gain with an old P Bass. I can dime the input gain and can barely get the O/D light to blink when playing way harder than I ever do! I have a fairly light touch normally. I thought it might be the output of the 64P but in plugging in a Classic 50's P, it was the same. Settings for reference are; passive, deep-on, input dimed, high pass=11 o'clock, voicing=1 o'clock, low mid gain & freq=11 o'clock, hi mid gain & freq=1 o'clock, Bass & treble= 12 o'clock. It's not that I need any overdrive as I usually play clean. I can get there if needed with my active basses anyway. Thoughts?

With lower output pickups and a lighter touch, this is entirely normal. The range between low output pickups played lightly and high output pickups played aggressively can be a factor of 10x to 100x greater level.

 

[agedhorse]

I agree that might just be how his P basses are, but I do think there is a lot of audible value on the D-800 in hitting OD on the input stage. Not massive breakup, but a pleasing warmth. Might just need a preamp pedal or compressor or something to bump it up a notch if you want to go there.

There is tube overdrive emulation on the input gain stage, never intended to be a massive break-up or distortion effect but more for guys who are looking for some of the natural harmonics and compression that are inherent (or can be) when overdriving a typical tube front end.

For distortion, I would recommend finding one of the thousands of pedals that suits the player's preferences.

 

[Oldtimer]

With lower output pickups and a lighter touch, this is entirely normal. The range between low output pickups played lightly and high output pickups played aggressively can be a factor of 10x to 100x greater level.

I believe it! I've heard others play my Bass thru my rig before and the difference can be drastic. Actually, even without the o/d light coming on, I can hear a little bit of grit with the Input dimed.

 

[Doug Parent]

Yeah, Andy is THE MAN when it comes to this stuff(and lots more, lol)... IIRC, the D800 and D800+ are supposed to land somewhere between those great amps by Genz-Benz, tonally speaking... I also have ShuttleMax 12.0 that I gig sometimes - it's a great amp, too..

I found that maxing out the voicing control (or damn near) gets me into territory that used to be only found using a GK MB800. But I have not come across any other amp that gives you the kind of starting point when you start with the voicing control off. By itself it ain't pretty but in a loud dense mix onstage it gives you some unique cut-through and shaping control over the low end not found on another amp. It's why I came back to Mesa.