New mesa subway amps and cabs!

[RudyTardy]

The bark and bite are part of what endears me to the WD800/Subway 115 pair. Just got it, I've about settled on some settings. Two gigs so far.

I run the tweeter between 12:00 and 3:00. Plenty of tweet for me. Start there.

I've settled on boosting, believe it or not, just a little at when I believe is 3.5K, according to the control. Boost just a little.

I cut around 1.5K. Again, just a little cut, enough to loose some honk right there, but not enough to lose the hi-mid port of the tone.

I'm still playing with the lows and the high-pass filter. At last check, the high-pass was just off the bottom stop, the bass control was 12:00 (or flat, no boost or cut). And the low parametric filter was at at 80hZ and just a little boost.

I was using both 115s stacked at a low volume (restaurant volume, argh..). The two gigs I've done so far haven't been conducive to really opening the rig up. So I'm still yet to settle on low settings.

Bass is a Mike Lull M5V Jazz-style bass with Nordstrand single-coil 70s wind pups and Nord preamp. Both pups 100%, onboard preamp EQ set at the flat detents. Yeah, I like a fine point between warm and bright.

Hope this helps...

Thanks a lot man I will try this! The boosting of 80hz and 3.5k does make sense actually because you’re essentially creating a scoop of the frequencies between the two. I’ll try cutting 1.5! Where do you keep your passive mid? I find that I don’t like to roll it off as much as the manual suggests because I lose too much 250

 

[Geri O]

Thanks a lot man I will try this! The boosting of 80hz and 3.5k does make sense actually because you’re essentially creating a scoop of the frequencies between the two. I’ll try cutting 1.5! Where do you keep your passive mid? I find that I don’t like to roll it off as much as the manual suggests because I lose too much 250

I've kept the passive mid at 12:00 so far, if only because I haven't gotten around to playing with it yet. As with the damping control, and that's because I haven't had the rig loud enough for that setting to make much difference, I believe. The two gigs I first used the cabs on last week were low-volume restaurant-type gigs. I've had the WD800 for several months, pairing it with a few different 410 cabs that I didn't care for at all. I just now feel like I'm figuring out what the WD800 will do. Can't wait to get it on a Big Gig coming up in a couple of weeks.

Also note that you'll probably need to vary the low tone controls a bit to account for the difference in using just one cab or two cabs (ASSuming you have more than one!). I've played with going between two cabs and a single cab only at the house. The cabinets will "couple" somewhat in the lower frequencies, a natural phenomenon. (That's PA stuff that I understand, but don't explain very well at all).

 

[RudyTardy]

I've kept the passive mid at 12:00 so far, if only because I haven't gotten around to playing with it yet. As with the damping control, and that's because I haven't had the rig loud enough for that setting to make much difference, I believe. The two gigs I first used the cabs on last week were low-volume restaurant-type gigs. I've had the WD800 for several months, pairing it with a few different 410 cabs that I didn't care for at all. I just now feel like I'm figuring out what the WD800 will do. Can't wait to get it on a Big Gig coming up in a couple of weeks.

Also note that you'll probably need to vary the low tone controls a bit to account for the difference in using just one cab or two cabs. I've played with going between two cabs and a single cab only at the house. The cabinets will "couple" somewhat in the lower frequencies, a natural phenomenon. (That's PA stuff that I understand, but don't explain very well at all).

Thanks man, I'm thinking about adding a 2x10 or another 15 to let the rig breathe. FYI, the passive mid knob is cut only, so technically flat is fully clockwise. I know Andy recommends 1-2:00 for a neutral tone, but I find the dip is too great for me in my studio. Perhaps there are many live venues where that setting would be appropriate.

 

[Wild Rice Chris]

Thanks man, I'm thinking about adding a 2x10 or another 15 to let the rig breathe. FYI, the passive mid knob is cut only, so technically flat is fully clockwise. I know Andy recommends 1-2:00 for a neutral tone, but I find the dip is too great for me in my studio. Perhaps there are many live venues where that setting would be appropriate.

You've misunderstood the passive mid control. The make-up gain puts flat in the 10:00 to 2:00 range of the control.

From the manual:
Due to the specific way this filter is implemented by the use of make-up gain, most users will find that their flat or neutral tone will be from the 10:00 to 2:00 position, and this might give the appearance of boost as the control is rotated farther clockwise.

 

[agedhorse]

The passive mid control has the somewhat deceiving property of appearing to boost midrange voicing when above the 12:00-2:00 position. That's why we suggest experimenting to see how your perception fits with the control.

 

[RudyTardy]

You've misunderstood the passive mid control. The make-up gain puts flat in the 10:00 to 2:00 range of the control.

From the manual:
Due to the specific way this filter is implemented by the use of make-up gain, most users will find that their flat or neutral tone will be from the 10:00 to 2:00 position, and this might give the appearance of boost as the control is rotated farther clockwise.

Thanks, I understand it has built in make-up gain. The cut is centered at 250Hz, which is a frequency I normally do not remove from my signal when recording. I appreciate the voicing changes that occur at 12:00-2:00, but what I am saying is the low mids take too much of a hit to my ears and I end up having to compensate with the bass control.

 

[Killens84]

I’ve found that I like to keep my three mid EQ controls set, and use the passive mid control to make slight changes for different rooms/environments.

 

[Leo was right]

Hi buddies, it could be interesting that you give a small description of you style or your type of sound when you comment a piece of gear, we can have a better idea of what you talk about. Jaco, Paul, Chris or Marcus are totaly différents beasts.

 

[lermgalieu]

Most of us play covers

? Is that an objectively known thing? Just curious, not at all trying to be snarky. I for one play some covers, but my main band is mostly originals.

 

[Rodslinger]

Yeah I’m super digging the WD800 so far. It’s doing exactly what i want it to do. Took my time to dial in a pre-band mix sound and my rack case and ears should be here next week. Now I wish my band mates would get back in town so I can smash em with this thing lol.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Yeah I’m super digging the WD800 so far. It’s doing exactly what i want it to do. Took my time to dial in a pre-band mix sound and my rack case and ears should be here next week. Now I wish my band mates would get back in town so I can smash em with this thing lol.

Very nice! The original walkabout was one of my all time faves. I probably should buy a WD sometime soon. A buddy meant me his WD to try but I didn’t have much free time and didn’t want to keep it forever.

 

[lermgalieu]

I don't think many on this board have a distinctive style that will help define what the cabs/amps can do.

I just don't think that can be stated with any degree of certainty. I think it's more accurate to say that if ppl on this board do have a distinctive style that can be stated with certainty, the only way to helpfully do so would be to reference other players or post a sound clip. I also don't think assuming a "distinctive style" gets at what an amp needs to do, original or cover. Some of us want meat and potatoes tones, regardless of whether we are playing an amazing composition of our own creation or some well-tread cover.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I just don't think that can be stated with any degree of certainty. I think it's more accurate to say that if ppl on this board do have a distinctive style that can be stated with certainty, the only way to helpfully do so would be to reference other players or post a sound clip. I also don't think assuming a "distinctive style" gets at what an amp needs to do, original or cover. Some of us want meat and potatoes tones, regardless of whether we are playing an amazing composition of our own creation or some well-tread cover.

Ok, I'll delete my post.

 

[lermgalieu]

Ok, I'll delete my post.

Sigh.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Sigh.

What's wrong? I could argue instead?

 

[lermgalieu]

What's wrong? I could argue instead?

You said you would delete your post (and looks like you did) not "I don't want to argue." If you don't want to reply, don't reply. But I would call it a conversation not an argument. I didn't *agree* with you. BFD. No need to be deleting posts.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

You said you would delete your post (and looks like you did) not "I don't want to argue." If you don't want to reply, don't reply. But I would call it a conversation not an argument. I didn't *agree* with you. BFD. No need to be deleting posts.

You appeared confrontational, at least the way I read your post and I'm just not doing that anymore online. I apologize and admit to you correctness. You are right and I'm wrong.

 

[lermgalieu]

You appeared confrontational, at least the way I read your post and I'm just not doing that anymore online. I apologize and admit to you correctness. You are right and I'm wrong.

I don't know what to say since my first response expressly said I wasn't trying to be snarky. I found the comment interesting and was just trying to state how I saw things. Certainly wasn't trying to press your buttons since I don't even know ye. I would prefer to have you delete your posts than be disingenuous (which, I admit, reads as sarcasm). I'm good, have a good day.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I don't know what to say since my first response expressly said I wasn't trying to be snarky. I found the comment interesting and was just trying to state how I saw things. Certainly wasn't trying to press your buttons since I don't even know ye. I would prefer to have you delete your posts than be disingenuous (which, I admit, reads as sarcasm). I'm good, have a good day.

You too.

 

[DrThumpenstein]

Thanks a lot man I will try this! The boosting of 80hz and 3.5k does make sense actually because you’re essentially creating a scoop of the frequencies between the two. I’ll try cutting 1.5! Where do you keep your passive mid? I find that I don’t like to roll it off as much as the manual suggests because I lose too much 250

I've found the Passive Mid to be a good "cut through" knob for me. I usually leave it ~ Noon to 2 when practicing on my own, and start at ~2 when I'm in a mix, for rock and fusion, anyway. I don't think I've ever needed it past 3:00.

For reggae, I leave it at noon and boost as needed at ~120-150 to cut through. Guitars and keys not down there too much and the WD allows me to be heard just fine. HPF adjusted to cab and room. (Tweeter off.) I haven't used the Passive Mid in that context.