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New mesa subway amps and cabs!

#961
nostatic said:
And in another surprise, I'm finding the Subway+ preamp a bit more articulate than the Forte preamp - comparing plugging the bass into the Forte input vs into the Subway+ then into the fx return.
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When I played the Forte a few months back I thought the pre-amp section provided very subtle and almost surgical tone shaping in a narrow range around a pretty neutral tone. There was a smoothness that I liked, but it didn't seem as crystal clear/quick as the D-800/800+. That "quickness/distinctness of the notes" characteristic is part of what I refer to as the Carbine DNA Andy transplanted into the Subway.

Both the Subway and Forte offer a lot to like, but the Subway felt quicker to me and offered a much greater/broader range of tone shaping. Additionally, I wouldn't be fair if I didn't mention that the Forte's one knob compressor seemed to work very nicely, and I rarely like compressors included with heads.
 
#962
agedhorse said:
I have a mint all stock restored Dual Showman sitting in my lab that served as one of the models for range of tone purposes, so it's no surprise that it can get quite close. The Dual Showman is now available if anybody is looking for one.
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Oh dear. The Dual Showman was the model for the Trace Elliot V-Type preamp, as well, and having owned two V-Type heads and one V-Type rackmount preamp, you could say I like that sound. :D
 
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#963
amper said:
Oh dear. The Dual Showman was the model for the Trace Elliot V-Type preamp, as well, and having owned two V-Type heads and one V-Type rackmount preamp, you could say I like that sound. :D
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Sounds like all your holiday shopping may not be quite done yet...:)
 
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#965
agedhorse said:
All of this really comes down to personal taste, there's nothing that substitutes for playing it to see how it works for your playing style and taste.
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That's my dilemma. I prefer tube amps, regularly use an Ampeg SVT-CL so I'm a big fan of the SL 900 as my "go-to" when I need a micro head. And the WA Scout is the amp I use for rehearsal, recording, and small venues and I've always loved its tone. So the WD 800 seems like a no-brainer for a guy (like me) who owns and uses lots of gear and I'm "sure" I'll dig it. But I still want to play it first. Just like with the aforementioned three above.
 
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#966
Self-restraint is a terrible thing... Promised myself that I will not move on the WD-800 until my Shuttle sells. And it seems to be a slow time for it...
Ah well. Patience is supposed to be a virtue...
 
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#969
Got some more play time in today. This thing has a singularly unique approach to dialing in tone that is simple and intuitive. I owned a prodigy 4:88 and a carbine M6 aka the suitcase nuke, in the past. Really enjoying the sharp quickness of notes, the just enough sizzle that can be dialed in, the dampening effect that lends itself to a tubish sag, and the mid control. I keep scratching my head about how light it is and it should cost more. Went through some different basses and different styles and the tone recipe seems to bring out a clarity that seems to produce sharp accuracy. Neat. Build quality is better than my prodigy, which was lacking. Long term is obviously still in the air.

I recently picked up the new orange bass terror, which I also really love as a close as possible tube sounding hybrid mini head. Both this and WD800 seem to have sliced that compromise with an all tube head down to a minuscule amount. Well done, very happy.

I too love me some tube amps over everything. Orange ad200 is my jam. But..........I don’t work on amps (retuned a head once-had a nightmare situation matching tubes and ordering replacements) some load ins are pains (stairs, far away parking, etc). Micros are conceptually ideal-but you always felt you were compromising tone. Until now.

Is that all that is settled, needs a nickname. I guess I’ll throw out the first suggestion.......THE POCKET NUKE
 
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#971
Not bad at all.

IMG_20181216_081424542.jpg
 

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#972
Al Kraft said:
Both the Subway and Forte offer a lot to like, but the Subway felt quicker to me and offered a much greater/broader range of tone shaping.
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True for me as well although I had the B-Amp not the Forte. The Berg is a beautiful thing for sure but the Mesa product gets me where I need to go faster and easier.
 
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#975
Ler said:
The 215 and WD800 sounded and felt thunderous, and almost 3D sounding if that makes sense. I got to open it up a bit for an outdoor show and it was very impressive. The depth, heft, definition, and clarity from this rig had me grinning all evening.
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Damn that's a nice rig. Holy smokes I want one. I wonder how a Bass 400 sized head will fit in that 215 dimension-wise?
 
#976
chris lykins said:
I love my Mesa amps and that bass player has chops (in other vids) but the tone is not for me yet! Looking forward to some more demos as I love my walkabout and Titan
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Same here. They did this with the original amp demos. Buzzy, farty sound about as far away from a desired bass sound as possible. I want the 2-15 so much but not if it sounds like a $5 am radio.
 
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#977
Doug Parent said:
I could gladly ignore this whole thread and be happy with my D800+ for the rest of my life. But "New Gear Release acquisition syndrome" has struck. Of course my 800+ is on the block. I freely admit I am a weak man. Darn you Andy.
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Or as my Texas relatives would say.
Bless his little heart!
:woot:
 
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#980
Mastermold said:
That's my dilemma. I prefer tube amps, regularly use an Ampeg SVT-CL so I'm a big fan of the SL 900 as my "go-to" when I need a micro head. And the WA Scout is the amp I use for rehearsal, recording, and small venues and I've always loved its tone. So the WD 800 seems like a no-brainer for a guy (like me) who owns and uses lots of gear and I'm "sure" I'll dig it. But I still want to play it first. Just like with the aforementioned three above.
Click to expand...
I'll bring mine if I come down for NAMM.
 

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