Mesa Subway+ DI vs Broughton Messenger

[Turn Em Loose]

For those keeping score at home I've got a Subway+ Pre incoming next week. (Thanks @jdwinva!) Couldn't resist. I'm weak. So very very weak.

Stay tuned....

 

[scubaduba]

Interested in your report.

 

[Turn Em Loose]

Interested in your report.

Feel free to bug me if you have not heard anything in a week or so!

 

[jblock]

I’ve got the Subway+ preamp. Really happy with it. With the input volume set at 3:00 I get a nice edge of breakup sound.

 

[Turn Em Loose]

I’ve got the Subway+ preamp. Really happy with it. With the input volume set at 3:00 I get a nice edge of breakup sound.

I really love the Messenger. It just kills. Such a solid piece of equipment at a very reasonable price.

But I can't stop thinking about greener grass. Or at the very least different grass.

 

[scubaduba]

That’s probably what you are going to get. A different shade of green.

 

[Turn Em Loose]

That’s probably what you are going to get. A different shade of green.

Prolly. I guess in the back of my mind it’ll take the place of my Messenger/Terraformer combo as I use the TF really conservatively. Who knows....

 

[mmbongo]

I replied earlier in the post, but I recently got another Messenger for my small board. I was running a TC Spectra Drive with a Broughton LP/HP pedal, and a tuner. The idea was that the SpectraDrive would give me a good enough drive and compressor and it would cover all those sounds but I just couldn't find a drive or comp that I liked in it. So, I decided to get the Messenger to replace the Spectra and LP/HP and get separate drive and comp pedals. It's perfect for a small board. My big board still has the Mesa Subway Pre on it which is just incredible. So when I use my small board with the Messenger, I'll always use it with my Subway amp so I still have the pre. Best of both worlds!

 

[SteIIa]

@The Diaper Geni Any updates on this? How's the Subway+ treating you? How's it compare to the Messenger? How's it compare to the Aguilar Tonehammer - I know the TH is well known for doing those tubey vibes; can the Subway+ capture that?

 

[Turn Em Loose]

@The Diaper Geni Any updates on this? How's the Subway+ treating you? How's it compare to the Messenger? How's it compare to the Aguilar Tonehammer - I know the TH is well known for doing those tubey vibes; can the Subway+ capture that?

I just got the SW+ today. Taking it to church rehearsal and a coupla gigs this weekend.

I’ll try to do a recording to A/B the two preamps.

 

[Turn Em Loose]

Here are three tracks. First is my bass flat NOT going through the Messenger or Subway+ and completely flat. Second is the Messenger set flat. Third is the Subway+ set flat.

No other EQing or compression or anything.

I think you should be able to pan left and add more/solo the bass and pan right to add more/solo the drums? Maybe somebody could try for me?

**Edit: Nevermind. Panning left or right didn’t make a diff. And the tracks sound all warbly when I listen to them. Anybody else hear that?

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[SteIIa]

To me, both the Messenger and the Subway+ sound even and great. There's a touch of colour and transparency on the Subway+ (am I hearing you move your fingers on the strings?).

So I feel like it really comes down to tone shaping options for preference.

(Can you tell I'm invested in this thread?! hahahaa)

 

[Turn Em Loose]

To me, both the Messenger and the Subway+ sound even and great. There's a touch of colour and transparency on the Subway+ (am I hearing you move your fingers on the strings?).

So I feel like it really comes down to tone shaping options for preference.

(Can you tell I'm invested in this thread?! hahahaa)

That finger slide noise is there in all the tracks but it seems to stand out more with the Subway+.

Try panning left/right to add more/less of the bass/drums.

 

[SteIIa]

Any thoughts to share after getting the chance to gig with the Subway+?

 

[Turn Em Loose]

Any thoughts to share after getting the chance to gig with the Subway+?

It sounds great! I actually like the Voicing control. Especially combined with the HPF.

Both gigs I used it on I use IEM's. The tone sounded full and crisp in my ears. Out front? Don't know.

I might use it this weekend on a gig where I don't used IEM's. (Depends on how lazy I feel.) At home the HPF and Voicing controls combine to give me a bottom end that seems to sit well in a mix. But how that translates into the Real World.....Not sure. Actually, now that I think about it I'll plan on using it this weekend. It's a 90's pop/rock group. I know the soundguy and he's always spot on with great ears. I'll get his opinion.

 

[contour]

Any updates on this? Have you had a chance to compare the two any more the last month or so?

Thanks,

 

[Turn Em Loose]

Any updates on this? Have you had a chance to compare the two any more the last month or so?

Thanks,

Still having fun with both preamps! My gig schedule has taken a freakin' nose dive this summer. Heck...this year. My "main" weekend group is calling it quits. I did a good paying musical or two every year but now the folks that hired me are going to recorded music. I subbed about once a month at a nice paying contemporary church that held a service on Saturday evenings. But that service went to Sunday morns and I've already got a regular Sunday morn gig. Those are just on the top of my head. What's the point besides a pity party for the ol' Diaper Geni? The point is I've not had a chance to A/B the preamps on gigs like I usually would be able to do.

I AM leaning, and prolly will, keep the Messenger. The Subway+ is killer. Don't get me wrong. But I've got the Bro-tone bug pretty good. The Messenger paired with the SV-Pre or Terraformer is the sh*t. I have not tried the SV-Pre or Terraformer in the fx loop of the Subway+. I need to do that.

Here's a clip I did and posted in the Broughton thread. It's a loop of Aretha's version of The Weight. First pass is Messenger solo, then Messenger/SV-Pre, Messenger/Terraformer and Subway+ solo in that order. I tried to kinda bury the bass a little to make it more like a "real" recording. I EQed everything to my taste and, to my ears, all tracks sound pretty similar.

 

[Turn Em Loose]

For those keeping score at home, I’ve really been digging the SW+. Just tweaked the EQ a little here and there from my previous settings and it’s thick and tight.

My goal has been to sell either the Messenger or SW+ but man...it’s been tough pulling the trigger.

I guess this further proves that either pre would be great? Though....I’d have to add the SV-Pre and or the Terraformer to the Messenger to equal that special sumpin-sumpin the SW+ brings to the fight.

 

[jthisdell]

I've had the Messenger for eight months now and just love the tone, very clear and present. I like to drive it with an OD or two at low gain to push it a tad, a Valve Caster, DG VMT and or Fifth Gear. I like the Boost but have never turned the EQ off, I think if I was using other tone pedals as al alternative, say an Ictineo or SVT Pre I'd use them as additional tone shaping on top of the Messenger.

 

[Turn Em Loose]

I've had the Messenger for eight months now and just love the tone, very clear and present. I like to drive it with an OD or two at low gain to push it a tad, a Valve Caster, DG VMT and or Fifth Gear. I like the Boost but have never turned the EQ off, I think if I was using other tone pedals as al alternative, say an Ictineo or SVT Pre I'd use them as additional tone shaping on top of the Messenger.

I agree: The Messenger is VERY clear and present. I know it's supposed to be "uncolored" but, IMO, it adds a certain heft/thickness/note separation? If that makes sense?

Anyway....I'm keeping the Messenger and flipping the Subway+. LOVE the SW+!! But I can't afford to have a preamp sitting around.