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Mesa Subway D800+ for Doom / Metal

S

Selehpotsihpem

Aug 16, 2017
26
23
#1
Anyone here using a Mesa D800+ for a doom / metal sound by running heavy distortion into it?

My rig is a Peavey T-40 > Darkglass B3K (for overdrive) > Darkglass Alpha Omega (stacked with the B3K for heavy distortion) > amp > Barefaced Six10.

My amp has been a revolving door for a while: Sunn 1200s (the Fender hybrid), Acoustic B1000HD, or Kustom KXB500. I wanted to move to something very modern forcreluability so I snapped up a Mesa D800+.

Any tips from anyone with experience running heavy dirt into one of these?

Thanks in advance. Also, Sunn 1200s for sale in Chicago....
 
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#3
I have a D800+ I run through either an Ampeg SVT-410HE with Basslites or a Barefaced Super Compact (soon to be two Super Compacts). I don't play with any overdrive pedals, but I like the subtle dirt of the onboard preamp.

The only advice I can share is to try comparing the amp's DI both post and pre EQ with the Alpha Omega's DI for your front of house send. Overdriven tones going DI sound different than they do through a voiced cabinet so it's worth comparing your options there. You may even want to try a variable low pass filter pedal (to compliment the D800+'s onboard high pass filter) to fine tune your overdriven sounds to be DI friendly. That said, if you mic your cab live, you're probably fine!. That sounds like a formidable setup you have there!
 
#4
Thanks! Could I trouble you for your base settings on the amp? We’re recordjng in a couple of weeks so I need to fast-track dialing this thing in.


voided3 said:
I have a D800+ I run through either an Ampeg SVT-410HE with Basslites or a Barefaced Super Compact (soon to be two Super Compacts). I don't play with any overdrive pedals, but I like the subtle dirt of the onboard preamp.

The only advice I can share is to try comparing the amp's DI both post and pre EQ with the Alpha Omega's DI for your front of house send. Overdriven tones going DI sound different than they do through a voiced cabinet so it's worth comparing your options there. You may even want to try a variable low pass filter pedal (to compliment the D800+'s onboard high pass filter) to fine tune your overdriven sounds to be DI friendly. That said, if you mic your cab live, you're probably fine!. That sounds like a formidable setup you have there!
Click to expand...
 
#5
Selehpotsihpem said:
Thanks! Could I trouble you for your base settings on the amp? We’re recordjng in a couple of weeks so I need to fast-track dialing this thing in.
Click to expand...
Here's how I usually have mine set. I plug straight in with fairly hot output passive Jazz or P basses and I get a nice bit of preamp growl. The highpass and voicing get tweaked depending on the cabs, but they hover around these settings, for me.

IMG-1999.JPG
 
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#7
NotTylerHendley said:
I think Ron from Bongripper used them before switching to the Darkglass head.

He has one of the gnarliest dirt tones I’ve ever heard (read: Fuzzrocious)
Click to expand...

That’s really funny. I ran into him at my old practice space and he used to run the Sunn 1200s too, and he used to have a Oeavey T-40 w/EGC neck as well. I guess I should skip straight to the Darkglass head?
 
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#8
Selehpotsihpem said:
That’s really funny. I ran into him at my old practice space and he used to run the Sunn 1200s too, and he used to have a Oeavey T-40 w/EGC neck as well. I guess I should skip straight to the Darkglass head?
Click to expand...

He’s running distortion into the Microtubes head. I have the head myself and I LOVE it. But to keep it towards your original question:

FWIW, I don’t play doom - just silly math rock.
 
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#9
NotTylerHendley said:
He’s running distortion into the Microtubes head. I have the head myself and I LOVE it. But to keep it towards your original question:

FWIW, I don’t play doom - just silly math rock.
Click to expand...

Honestly I don’t play doom either. I don’t even really like doom. I love the thick distorted bass of doom, but hate that “blanket-over-the-cab” sound.

I don’t know what the hell we play honestly.
 
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#11
Selehpotsihpem said:
If anyone cares, the Mesa shagging slays. Huge bottom end, that open clarity really comes through.

Best sounding amp I’ve played. It was clipping the whole time, hopefully that’s not an issue down the road...
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I believe the manual says the output Limit LED can blink up to 25% of the time with a 4 ohm load and you'll be just fine. It has a soft clipping overdrive circuit in the power amp designed to handle being pushed gracefully.
 
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#12
voided3 said:
I believe the manual says the output Limit LED can blink up to 25% of the time with a 4 ohm load and you'll be just fine. It has a soft clipping overdrive circuit in the power amp designed to handle being pushed gracefully.
Click to expand...
Correct.
 
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#16
Ok, the amp's not necessarily clipping because there is output tube emulation circuitry operating when this LED is lit, but in general this LED should not be on more than 25% of the time when you are playing. 40% might be ok at 8 ohms, but note that the amp can deliver greater than it's rated power under these conditions so you want to be sure your speakers are (really) rated to handle this.
 
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#17
I have a Barefaced Six10 so I’m not worried about that.

But, shag. I love the way it sounds and really don’t want to give up volume either. Son of a bitch. I really feel like an amp with that much power throug such an efficient cab should be able to keep up no sweat.

I guess I need to re-evaluate my situation. I don’t want to kill my amp but the wa it’s going right now just sounds so great.
 

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