New mesa subway amps and cabs!

[agedhorse]

I heard someone on talkbass say that the sansamp didn't play well with the d800. I definitely love that preamp!

Really? Since the Sansamp was one of the pedal pre's that was used during the development of the D-800, I call BS on that statement.

This is an example of the challenges with relying on random internet comments, some are nonsense and some are fictitious.

 

[BassAssHat]

Really? Since the Sansamp was one of the pedal pre's that was used during the development of the D-800, I call BS on that statement.

This is an example of the challenges with relying on random internet comments, some are nonsense and some are fictitious.

This is the thread I was referring to: Why don't I love my sansamp with my Subway D800?

 

[agedhorse]

This is the thread I was referring to: Why don't I love my sansamp with my Subway D800?

Did you read through the entire thread?

The problem was a combination of two things, first he was using one preamp (and it's voicing) into another preamp (with it's own voicing) rather than using the suggestions of bypassing the Subway preamp and using the aux input. The OP insisted that since there was no effects loop,m there was no power amp in which is wrong.

The second part of this is that the OP didn't understand how his pedal worked, and how important the blend control is to achieving a smooth relationship to each signal path. This might have helped, even if he didn't bypass the Subway's preamp.

There are plenty of guys using these pedals with the Subway amps, and it was tested here in the R&D lab during the development stage as well.

I'm going to respectfully make a suggestion... the Subway may not be the right amp for you. It's really designed for a player who is willing to put a little time into learning how their bass rig works, and some effort into the integration of outboard devices should the be interested in doing so, it's a more advanced product. With flexibility and advanced capabilities comes the responsibility on the part of the player to step up their game. I have supported many players who wanted to take this path, but it takes more than reading what might be posted by some random dude on the internet without understanding why they said what they did.

 

[redstrand]

Did you read through the entire thread?

The problem was a combination of two things, first he was using one preamp (and it's voicing) into another preamp (with it's own voicing) rather than using the suggestions of bypassing the Subway preamp and using the aux input. The OP insisted that since there was no effects loop,m there was no power amp in which is wrong.

The second part of this is that the OP didn't understand how his pedal worked, and how important the blend control is to achieving a smooth relationship to each signal path. This might have helped, even if he didn't bypass the Subway's preamp.

There are plenty of guys using these pedals with the Subway amps, and it was tested here in the R&D lab during the development stage as well.

I'm going to respectfully make a suggestion... the Subway may not be the right amp for you. It's really designed for a player who is willing to put a little time into learning how their bass rig works, and some effort into the integration of outboard devices should the be interested in doing so, it's a more advanced product. With flexibility and advanced capabilities comes the responsibility on the part of the player to step up their game. I have supported many players who wanted to take this path, but it takes more than reading what might be posted by some random dude on the internet without understanding why they said what they did.

Here here!
The WD is a great piece of kit, like anything it ain’t going to lease everyone. My quilter is the same way, I’ll get a WD soon enough and will enjoy it. I demo’d it through four different cabs and loved it. The 800 and 800+ not so much. Different strokes.

 

[BassAssHat]

Did you read through the entire thread?

The problem was a combination of two things, first he was using one preamp (and it's voicing) into another preamp (with it's own voicing) rather than using the suggestions of bypassing the Subway preamp and using the aux input. The OP insisted that since there was no effects loop,m there was no power amp in which is wrong.

The second part of this is that the OP didn't understand how his pedal worked, and how important the blend control is to achieving a smooth relationship to each signal path. This might have helped, even if he didn't bypass the Subway's preamp.

There are plenty of guys using these pedals with the Subway amps, and it was tested here in the R&D lab during the development stage as well.

I'm going to respectfully make a suggestion... the Subway may not be the right amp for you. It's really designed for a player who is willing to put a little time into learning how their bass rig works, and some effort into the integration of outboard devices should the be interested in doing so, it's a more advanced product. With flexibility and advanced capabilities comes the responsibility on the part of the player to step up their game. I have supported many players who wanted to take this path, but it takes more than reading what might be posted by some random dude on the internet without understanding why they said what they did.

Thanks for the advice. I think you're right. I'll get a super heavy and impractical SBM300 and STFU about the D800.

 

[donahue]

Thanks for the advice. I think you're right. I'll get a super heavy and impractical SBM300 and STFU about the D800.

Might as well get both and AB them. That's all a guy can do if you REALLY want to know.

I've done it a lot. It can be expensive but afterwards you can sell the one that least suits you. Or in my case, keep most because amp buffets are where it's at

 

[scottm]

Perfect timing for this topic to come up. I have a WD800 that I hooked up my preamp and pedals to last night. I went through the front input and used the FxLoop in different configurations and was really impressed.

I have tried the same through all of my Markbass and Aguilar heads and hated it. I almost decided to sell my pedals until I got my Quilter head which they work so great on that I hadn’t really tried them on the Mesa until last night.

I got to say they sound so smooth on the WD800! ——- not that it needs added tone/effects!

I owned a Subway + preamp and returned it because I did not take the time to really explore it. I regret that now after owning the WD800 head, so I’ll be rebuying that preamp again. You really get a lot for your money with Mesa gear, I’m definitely keeping this gear for life!

To add to that, man this thing sounds good on a set of 15’s!!! I plan on getting the 2x15 next time the wife isn’t looking.

-ScottM

 

[agedhorse]

Thanks for the advice. I think you're right. I'll get a super heavy and impractical SBM300 and STFU about the D800.

I think you ought to try the Super Bassman 300, it's a great amp and it may be a better fit for you, bUT it's heavily voiced and it may not a good fit with your Sansamp either. It does have an effects loop, so be sure to try it that way (using the effects return/power amp input) as well.

Buying an amp without trying it, especially with an unusual or specific application or tone in mind is not a good idea.

 

[Janforth]

I'm going to respectfully make a suggestion... the Subway may not be the right amp for you. It's really designed for a player who is willing to put a little time into learning how their bass rig works, and some effort into the integration of outboard devices should the be interested in doing so, it's a more advanced product. With flexibility and advanced capabilities comes the responsibility on the part of the player to step up their game. I have supported many players who wanted to take this path, but it takes more than reading what might be posted by some random dude on the internet without understanding why they said what they did.

I have the D-800+ and it took only a few seconds to dial in a tone that I love, I haven't really explored different set up options (because it sounds great as is), I mainly use an ISP Beta bass preamp EQ pedal which has a blended distortion (on/off), and compression (on/off), I take that and go straight into the input, the D-800+ sounds great with it, and it sounds great with just bass on it's own too. I was thinking about getting a Sans amp VT bass/deluxe, after reading this I just might have to make that leap, Thanks Andy.

 

[agedhorse]

I have the D-800+ and it took only a few seconds to dial in a tone that I love, I haven't really explored different set up options (because it sounds great as is), I mainly use an ISP Beta bass preamp EQ pedal which has a blended distortion (on/off), and compression (on/off), I take that and go straight into the input, the D-800+ sounds great with it, and it sounds great with just bass on it's own too. I was thinking about getting a Sans amp VT bass/deluxe, after reading this I just might have to make that leap, Thanks Andy.

Be sure to let us know how it works out and share what you end up with setting-wise. I doubt it will be terribly difficult coming from the ISP pedal.

 

[Janforth]

Be sure to let us know how it works out and share what you end up with setting-wise. I doubt it will be terribly difficult coming from the ISP pedal.

You're right, and the D-800+ is amazing, the settings below are what I'm going with, all very light shaping, I love the D-800+ and I find the Input stage/knob is incredible, very subtle, but makes the right impact (for me at least). It's been working great in a rock band with 2 guitars and drummer, no problem cutting through the mix.

The ISP Beta Bass preamp signal is - clean preamp eq > exciter w/clean blend > distortion w/clean blend > compression > decimator.

ISP Gain @ 1:00, EQ lightly boosted @ 1kHz to 3kHz,
Exciter (off)
Distortion and mix/blend @ 8:00 or less (counterclockwise is off), so that's a very light setting,
Compression @ 10:30,
Decimator 12:30 (depending on the noise factor) >
>to input of >
D-800+ Input between 11:00 and 1:00,
Highpass Filter off to 8:30, Voicing 9:30,
Bass flat 12:00,
Low Gain 12:30, Low Mid Freq 6:30 (150 Hz),
High Mid Gain 1:00, High Mid Freq around 10:00 (1.5 kHz?),
Treble flat 12:00

 

[/\/\3phist0]

Thanks for the advice. I think you're right. I'll get a super heavy and impractical SBM300 and STFU about the D800.

Hmm, methinks handle has deeper meaning.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

You're right, and the D-800+ is amazing, the settings below are what I'm going with, all very light shaping, I love the D-800+ and I find the Input stage/knob is incredible, very subtle, but makes the right impact (for me at least). It's been working great in a rock band with 2 guitars and drummer, no problem cutting through the mix.

The ISP Beta Bass preamp signal is - clean preamp eq > exciter w/clean blend > distortion w/clean blend > compression > decimator.

ISP Gain @ 1:00, EQ lightly boosted @ 1kHz to 3kHz,
Exciter (off)
Distortion and mix/blend @ 8:00 or less (counterclockwise is off), so that's a very light setting,
Compression @ 10:30,
Decimator 12:30 (depending on the noise factor) >
>to input of >
D-800+ Input between 11:00 and 1:00,
Highpass Filter off to 8:30, Voicing 9:30,
Bass flat 12:00,
Low Gain 12:30, Low Mid Freq 6:30 (150 Hz),
High Mid Gain 1:00, High Mid Freq around 10:00 (1.5 kHz?),
Treble flat 12:00

I was using an SA Aftershock to great effect in front of my D800 for quite a while, and a Whirlwind OC comp, the WD800 achieves what I was after with those pedals outta the gate (except distortion and Fuzz which I don't have much call for) the Aftershock is great as a tone shaper, and I'm going to play around with it a bit and see how it can be leveraged with the WD800... But I love the amp as is, but the Aftershock gets well into the Darkglass / angry SVT territory , that flavor would be nice on tap.....

Dammit just when I got back to amp only y'all get me thinking......


Curse you TB !!! Lol.

 

[Janforth]

I was using an SA Aftershock to great effect in front of my D800 for quite a while, and a Whirlwind OC comp, the WD800 achieves what I was after with those pedals outta the gate (except distortion and Fuzz Wich I don't have much call for) the Aftershock is great as a tone shaper, and I'm going to play around with it a bit and see how it can be leveraged with the WD800... But I love the amp as is, but the Aftershock gets well into the Darkglass / angry SVT territory , that flavor would be nice on tap.....

Dammit just when I got back to amp only y'all get me thinking......


Curse you TB !!! Lol.

I have a Whirlwind OC comp too and was looking for a light analog distortion preferably with clean blend as a option pedalboard (or always on sitting on top of my amp) perhap the MXR M85, also thinking of the VT bass deluxe for presets, but I think it doesn't have a clean. The Aftershock looks interesting, is it digital or analog?

And I'd be lying if I said I don't want the WD800, but it has to wait, I have way more than I need as it is, plus my D-800+ is amazing.

 

[Al Kraft]

This is the thread I was referring to: Why don't I love my sansamp with my Subway D800?

I own the prior version of the BDDI, the new BDDI V2 version, the prior PDDI and a number of other similar pre-amp pedals including Tech 21, Aguilar, MXR and Xotic products. IME over in the effects forum many, many people are learning every day about the potential issues of feeding a preamp/cab sim into a pre-amp and that bass amps are not simply a wire with gain. Now they can come real close, if you do it right, but stacking pre-amps and feeding emulation/simulation things into the types of things being emulated/simulated and getting a good result is not a plug and play deal IMO.

In fact I think the Tech 21 folks often get a bad rap when people use their products in ways that they were not originally designed to be used (but can be) and end up with frustrating results. I think the SansAmp line can be very successfully interfaced with most any bass amp, but only if you understand the devices you're wiring together and how to get the sound you want. Most of what I read and respond to in the effects forum that solves problems is aimed at helping the user understand the tools they have and how to use them effectively.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

I have a Whirlwind OC comp too and was looking for a light analog distortion preferably with clean blend as a option pedalboard (or always on sitting on top of my amp) perhap the MXR M85, also thinking of the VT bass deluxe for presets, but I think it doesn't have a clean. The Aftershock looks interesting, is it digital or analog?

And I'd be lying if I said I don't want the WD800, but it has to wait, I have way more than I need as it is, plus my D-800+ is amazing.

The Whirlwind was by far my favorite compressor-- i had quite a few. Im no @bongomania but i did my share of testing :/ $$

The Aftershock is Digital, --- a deep rich modeller. very dynamic and touch sensitive.
EAASY to program, get ready to get lost in Tweakland!
NPD: SA Aftershock
0 Tube Drive 1 Smooth Tube 2 Power Stage 3 Crunch Tube 4 TS9000 5 Big Pi 6 El Raton 7 Fuzz Façade 8 Bender 9 Metal 10 Octave Fuzz 11 Gated Fuzz 12 Bass Tube Drive 13 Bass Smooth Tube 14 Bass Power Stage 15 Bass Crunch Tube 16 Bass TS9000 17 Bass Big Pi 18 Bass El Raton 19 Bass Fuzz Façade 20 Bass Bender 21 Bass Metal 22 Bass Octave Fuzz 23 Bass Gated Fuzz 24 Gated Fuzz II 25 Gated Fuzz III 26 TS 9001 27 Maestro FZ-1A 28 Bigger Pi 29 Foldover 30 OhSeeDee 31 Fuzz Face II 32 DS-1 33 Rat II 34 Bender II 35 Metal II 36 Octave II 37 Smoked Glass C4L 38 38 Special 39 Smooth Tube II 40 Power Stage II 41 Crunch Tube II 42 Grated Bass 43 Clean Boost 44 Smoked Glass D5M

 

[BassAssHat]

Hmm, methinks handle has deeper meaning.

Haha! Yes, I'll own it.

 

[Janforth]

The Whirlwind was by far my favorite compressor-- i had quite a few. Im no @bongomania but i did my share of testing :/ $$

The Aftershock is Digital, --- a deep rich modeller. very dynamic and touch sensitive.
EAASY to program, get ready to get lost in Tweakland!
NPD: SA Aftershock
0 Tube Drive 1 Smooth Tube 2 Power Stage 3 Crunch Tube 4 TS9000 5 Big Pi 6 El Raton 7 Fuzz Façade 8 Bender 9 Metal 10 Octave Fuzz 11 Gated Fuzz 12 Bass Tube Drive 13 Bass Smooth Tube 14 Bass Power Stage 15 Bass Crunch Tube 16 Bass TS9000 17 Bass Big Pi 18 Bass El Raton 19 Bass Fuzz Façade 20 Bass Bender 21 Bass Metal 22 Bass Octave Fuzz 23 Bass Gated Fuzz 24 Gated Fuzz II 25 Gated Fuzz III 26 TS 9001 27 Maestro FZ-1A 28 Bigger Pi 29 Foldover 30 OhSeeDee 31 Fuzz Face II 32 DS-1 33 Rat II 34 Bender II 35 Metal II 36 Octave II 37 Smoked Glass C4L 38 38 Special 39 Smooth Tube II 40 Power Stage II 41 Crunch Tube II 42 Grated Bass 43 Clean Boost 44 Smoked Glass D5M

Apologies for the digress. I just looked up the Aftershock, awesome pedal, and it has 3 presets (which is what I'd want) but correct me if I'm wrong, the only way to change the presets would be to toggle by hand? If so, I wouldn't dig that

 

[/\/\3phist0]

Apologies for the digress. I just looked up the Aftershock, awesome pedal, and it has 3 presets (which is what I'd want) but correct me if I'm wrong, the only way to change the presets would be to toggle by hand? If so, I wouldn't dig that

True to a point, 3 bulit in, and 3 user programmable . The toggle on top of the pedal , and hold the footswitch momentarily down to go back and forth between built in and user mode . It is midi controllable also.
The thread I linked goes deeper into use cases.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

Haha! Yes, I'll own it.

Meant as jovial ribbing, glad it was taken as such