Monster Subway D-800 Project

[MCF]

I've gotten a lot of questions from other bass groups I'm a part of on this topic, so I figured I'd start a journal of sorts to track my opinions of the Mesa Boogie Subway D-800.

In May of 2022, I joined a local doomcore band that is notorious for their extreme volume levels. They had a few bass amps left by the previous bass player that I tried to use for a bit, but over time I've put together a behemoth of a rig that seems to be filling the bill.

The first thing I did was buy replacements for the borrowed cabs which, over time, consisted of an Ampeg 8x10, a no-name 2x18, and a Woodson 2x15, along with a couple of attempts to incorporate a few standalone single 15" cabs. I finally settled on a Mesa Boogie 2x15 Diesel and two single Yamaha 18s.

The Boogie had the drivers replaced before I purchased it with two Eminence Kappa Pro-15LF-2s.

Throughout the trial and error phase, I was powering all of this through an Ampeg SVT-4 Pro. The most recent configuration was this head running through my Diesel and two 18s. I had the Diesel running off of one of the two power amps in the SVT at 4ohms and the two 18s running off the other SVT power amp at 4 ohms.

The problem, for me, is I felt that they SVT-4 Pro almost had too many options for tone shaping. Traditionally, I shape my tone with the bass I play and through my pedal board. I have been able to get great sound with these on every other amp I own, but through the Ampeg, it just sounded bad. I wanted something that was more simple, more or a pass-through for my pre-amp tones; just basically to take that tone and make it louder.

I considered a few different things, but ultimately went with a Mesa Boogie Subway D-800. It is my first class-D head. I intentionally didn't choose the 800+ or TT models because I wanted something very simple.

View attachment 5038280

I have only had the head a few weeks. I had my doubts about this thing being loud enough and enough power to push my cabinets. But at 2ohms, this thing can hang with the Ampeg levels for sure.

It does run a bit warm, but so far no issues with overheating, etc. I think this will be the thing I'll need to keep my eye on.

Even with the limited tone shaping capabilities of the Subway, I'm still tweaking things a bit. Everything changes at super high volume. The biggest issue I have had so far is keeping this tiny head stationary when playing at high volumes. I'm currently using velcro on the feet, but the adhesive isn't wanting to stay put. Thinking of other solutions now.

I'll post updates as I make more progress with the settings.

View attachment 5038279

I hope you don’t live in avalanche country.

Seriously, join us in the Mesa Club thread.

 

[Stylee Mousse]

Plus a big rack with a tiny head and some flashing light-having rack units to fill it up will look more impressive than that chicklette up there now.

also weight is plainly NOT a problem!

are the Yamahas MI grade subs like SW118s? Do you like the way they sound soloed? I usually find PA subs dull as bass cabs.

 

[MCF]

Why so? isn't it 2 ohms capable?

They are. But if Aged Horse doesn’t recommend it, heed the advice. I’m interested to hear what he has to say.

 

[bdplaid]

Not a mess, but a complicated amp I would say.

I dunno, I have to use one every week at rehearsal, and it's not only tough to get a good sound, it's actually nigh on impossible. It's through a 410HLF, which I think is at least half the problem.

That said, I could see the SVT4 through the 410 HLF being a good amp for the OP. The one thing it does well is low end. Two 410HLFs would kill.

 

[bdplaid]

I'm also wondering, is the PA not giving you enough?

 

[nousersleft]

I bolted my D800 on a shelf in a 4 space rack with a Furman power conditioner. You might want to consider something similar.

Do you have pics of this solution?

 

[nousersleft]

are the Yamahas MI grade subs like SW118s? Do you like the way they sound soloed? I usually find PA subs dull as bass cabs.

They are, exactly those. They sound pretty nice on their own.

 

[roccobass]

A simple non-slip bar mat or tool box liner works well for a lot of players using lightweight heads.

@nousersleft
I use this rubber drum pad. Neither my D800 or plus have fallen off of my cabs yet. At 15.5 inches in diameter, you should well covered if you go this route.

 

[Stylee Mousse]

Good deal! So on the plus those are available everywhere and not expensive if you burn one occasionally.

 

[bdplaid]

I recall Fender using magnets on the Rumble equipment to keep the heads in place.

 

[agedhorse]

Why so? isn't it 2 ohms capable?

Due to multiple vendor changes to the output devices, and specs that varied from production lot to production lot, some amps suffered from reliability at 2ohms (especially at very high output levels).

These devices are no longer available by any of the original manufacturers and are now more or less discontinued There is a die repackaging company that still sells them, but after 3 different vendors, we got tired of dealing with the problems. When the devices were good they were hard to beat, but when they weren’t they were a nightmare.

 

[MCF]

@nousersleft
I use this rubber drum pad. Hasn’t fallen off of my cabs yet. At 15.5 inches in diameter, you should well covered if you go this route.

View attachment 5038928

I like that solution. Very classy look and very practical.

 

[MCF]

Due to multiple vendor changes to the output devices, and specs that varied from production lot to production lot, some amps suffered from reliability at 2ohms (especially at very high output levels).

These devices are no longer available by any of the original manufacturers and are now more or less discontinued There is a die repackaging company that still sells them, but after 3 different vendors, we got tired of dealing with the problems. When the devices were good they were hard to beat, but when they weren’t they were a nightmare.

Thank you Andy. Good to know.

 

[Hoochie Coochie Man]

Due to multiple vendor changes to the output devices, and specs that varied from production lot to production lot, some amps suffered from reliability at 2ohms (especially at very high output levels).

These devices are no longer available by any of the original manufacturers and are now more or less discontinued There is a die repackaging company that still sells them, but after 3 different vendors, we got tired of dealing with the problems. When the devices were good they were hard to beat, but when they weren’t they were a nightmare.

It sounds like you may be talking about MOSFETs. I have had difficulty repairing power amps going way back, (before the internet) because I sometimes could not find replacements back when people used to bring me home, or car stereo amps, and such. At least now with the internet, if you only need a few repair parts, I think that one might be able to keep some older equipment going on a case by case basis. But I tend now to concentrate on keeping just my own vacuum tube stuff working. I find it much easier to work on vintage tube stuff.

 

[agedhorse]

It sounds like you may be talking about MOSFETs. I have had difficulty repairing power amps going way back, (before the internet) because I sometimes could not find replacements back when people used to bring me home, or car stereo amps, and such. At least now with the internet, if you only need a few repair parts, I think that one might be able to keep some older equipment going on a case by case basis. But I tend now to concentrate on keeping just my own vacuum tube stuff working. I find it much easier to work on vintage tube stuff.

Yes, and to complicate things further on the support side, many (or most) of the MOSFETs sold on the internet are counterfeit and are nothing like the part that they are trying to be.

 

[Bonecat]

Just… ouch…

Even earplugs can only do so much. Ears - you only get two…

 

[Bluzeman90]

Since you have mismatched cabs, I would wonder if there's a way to run the Mesa head preamp into the SVT 4 pro power amp and then you can have a dedicated power amp for the 18s. Maybe even better would be to get a crown power amp and run the DI out into the input of the power amp. Then control the 18s and 215 with the Mesa running the 215 at a more comfortable 4 ohms and the crown running into the 2 18s? Just an idea

 

[agedhorse]

Since you have mismatched cabs, I would wonder if there's a way to run the Mesa head preamp into the SVT 4 pro power amp and then you can have a dedicated power amp for the 18s. Maybe even better would be to get a crown power amp and run the DI out into the input of the power amp. Then control the 18s and 215 with the Mesa running the 215 at a more comfortable 4 ohms and the crown running into the 2 18s? Just an idea

Honestly, it seems like more trouble than it’s worth.

 

[nousersleft]

Since you have mismatched cabs, I would wonder if there's a way to run the Mesa head preamp into the SVT 4 pro power amp and then you can have a dedicated power amp for the 18s. Maybe even better would be to get a crown power amp and run the DI out into the input of the power amp. Then control the 18s and 215 with the Mesa running the 215 at a more comfortable 4 ohms and the crown running into the 2 18s? Just an idea

I actually considered just getting a Crown power amp before picking up the Subway. I still may eventually. I use Darkglass pedals / pres before the head, so really all I need is power.

 

[nousersleft]

Honestly, it seems like more trouble than it’s worth.

Yeah, before I did something like this, I'd probably just run the Subway into the Diesel and the SVT into the 18s.