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Mesa WD800 The Ultimate Loud Portable Practice Amp!

#82
4stringmf said:
I was in such a big tug of war between getting the WD or WB. I finally decided on the WB....... but your enthusiasm has me wondering if I made the wrong decision! LOL . I'm playing it through a PH 4x12. Curious to hear what you have to say about playing the WD through your 4x12.
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Well that is this weekends project for sure! So hard to say because in my experience, Mesa's sound different from model to model. I wouldn't really say that about most Ampegs.

I read your comparison thread and I see that we're a lot alike when it comes to researching.

My best advice is to buy both and decide side by side. I know that might not be practical, but if you love bass gear and accept that you're going to keep buying it until you die, then it really doesn't make any sense to cut corners. At best, you're prolonging the agony.
 
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#83
armyadarkness said:
Well that is this weekends project for sure! So hard to say because in my experience, Mesa's sound different from model to model. I wouldn't really say that about most Ampegs.

I read your comparison thread and I see that we're a lot alike when it comes to researching.

My best advice is to buy both and decide side by side. I know that might not be practical, but if you love bass gear and accept that you're going to keep buying it until you die, then it really doesn't make any sense to cut corners. At best, you're prolonging the agony.
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It was in the Mesa headcase with 3 years left on the warranty...... that tipped the scale. Nonetheless, If I feel I need more power....I know the WD is a great option:thumbsup:
 
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#84
Just a over a year after the HELP!! How to Navigate the Ampeg vs Mesa and Boutique Amp Market thread, I've completely replaced all my amps (except for my Ampeg BA-115 which we use as a monitor in the studio) with low wattage tube amps (Ampeg PF-20T, 1967 Fender Bassman and PRS Sonzera 50) and gotten rid of all my big iron, except my 610HLF, which I'll likely end up throwing a couple of axles & wheels on and using as a tow behind trailer on my truck to carry livestock :roflmao:
 
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#85
armyadarkness said:
Well that is this weekends project for sure! So hard to say because in my experience, Mesa's sound different from model to model. I wouldn't really say that about most Ampegs.

I read your comparison thread and I see that we're a lot alike when it comes to researching.

My best advice is to buy both and decide side by side. I know that might not be practical, but if you love bass gear and accept that you're going to keep buying it until you die, then it really doesn't make any sense to cut corners. At best, you're prolonging the agony.
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Never let responsibility stand in the way of good gear!
 
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#86
CryingBass said:
Never let responsibility stand in the way of good gear!
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I couldn't have said it better! And if I'm not mistaken, you and I have agreed on this before.

A year ago I was faced with the Mesa vs. Ampeg dilemma, and I analyzed it to death, researched the Hell out of it, went to war on TB over it... Then I finally just bought both. Problem solved.

They're not the same, and they really don't need to be.

When I want to play Sex Pistols and smash a guitar through a window, I use the Ampeg stuff, and when Smithers is serving my cognac on the veranda, I use the Mesa.
 
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#87
Kriegs said:
Just a over a year after the HELP!! How to Navigate the Ampeg vs Mesa and Boutique Amp Market thread, I've completely replaced all my amps (except for my Ampeg BA-115 which we use as a monitor in the studio) with low wattage tube amps (Ampeg PF-20T, 1967 Fender Bassman and PRS Sonzera 50) and gotten rid of all my big iron, except my 610HLF, which I'll likely end up throwing a couple of axles & wheels on and using as a tow behind trailer on my truck to carry livestock :roflmao:
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Lol... I was just referencing that thread!
 
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#88
Kriegs said:
Just a over a year after the HELP!! How to Navigate the Ampeg vs Mesa and Boutique Amp Market thread, I've completely replaced all my amps (except for my Ampeg BA-115 which we use as a monitor in the studio) with low wattage tube amps (Ampeg PF-20T, 1967 Fender Bassman and PRS Sonzera 50) and gotten rid of all my big iron, except my 610HLF, which I'll likely end up throwing a couple of axles & wheels on and using as a tow behind trailer on my truck to carry livestock :roflmao:
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My sole remaining big cab is the PH412, and it's so well built, versatile, and compact, that I have no problem holding onto it.

As for the Heritage SVT, I actually prefer it through a single SVT 212 over the 810's.
 
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#91
XXL said:
I really want a Subway 15 to pair with my Mesa tOOb head.
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I can’t recommend the Subway 2x15 enough. I needed a cab that can fill a big stage at volume, it that guy does it all day long. I often play with an 8x10 cab, and Subway covers that gig. Plus, less than 60 lbs!
 
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#98
I gotta say I haven't been a fan of class D heads having two of them and selling them within a month. I took a chance and bought a new Mesa WD800. I read lots of reports on Mesa gear and although their not cheap, they seemed to be a quality amplifier. My first use of it came when I had a gig the same day I received my Mesa. I hadn't planned on using it that night because I needed time to read up on the EQ and other controls. I used the amp that I always use and it was DOA at the gig. Luckily I bought the Mesa along with me to test out before the gig. I just set the dials any which way I could to get the best results and it sounded great. There were four other bands that night using my rig and I let them have at it. I played it thru 2 Hartke Hydrive 1x12's and it kicked big time. So now I'm quite impressed and I'm hoping to get the Mesa Subway 2x15 to pair with this little amp. Meanwhile, at our practice studio they have a Hartke 8x10 cab with an Ampeg B2R 250/300 watt head. It always sounded fuzzy and farting on certain notes which led me to believe that one of the speakers was failing. I plugged my Mesa into it and I was duly impressed. The cab was super loud, clear and punchy. I cant get over it. Seems no matter what bass cab I plug this amp into, it makes everything sound great, 2,4,8, ohm doesn't matter. and all at 7 lbs. (off my soapbox now) ;)
 
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#99
armyadarkness said:
I am ultra impressed!!

Super light, 40lbs with cables, 19" tall, 15″ wide, deep, punchy tone for days, 400 watts as it sits, 800 with more cabs (the ability to add 3 more cabs), the head happily pulls double duty for large gigs on top of my Mesa PH412’s, and it’s made in America!

I started out wanting the best sounding practice amp, in a very small light package.
  • All-tube sound.
  • Solid State for low maint/ high reliability.
  • A head that could also be used for large gigs.
I can’t believe how good it sounds and how loud it is. As a player who normally runs all tubes (V4B, Heritage SVT, Strategy 88) through two Mesa PH412’s, my expectations for a practice/ coffee house amp were very low.

This has got to be as close as an Earthling could possibly get to the tone that I’m used to, while staying well within my parameters for weight and size.

This rig easily sounds better than a few full stacks that I've owned, and compared to a 30 watt combo of the same size... It's like comparing a Lamborghini to a Pontiac Fiero.

At 8 ohms, the Subway 112 is rated for 400 watts, which is what the WD800 puts out at 8ohms as well... It uses those 400 watts efficiently and extremely far beyond what I perceived to be possible.

It's loud! And to say that, I mean that it sounds good loud. Very good. I pushed it hard, and it remained tight and lush the entire time. I play punk and metal, and using a G&L LB100 (pbass type) I couldn't' turn the gain over 45% or the master over 70% without passing stage volume.

Yes... It costs 3 times what a Peavey combo costs, but when you consider that you could ditch all your other rigs, and that this will carry Mesa quality and resale, the value is a no brainer.

Nice job Mesa! [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
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If I were going to buy a new Amp and cab rig, that would be would be ir, but with two cabs. Great rig, and best new amp on the market.
 
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