• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

New mesa subway amps and cabs!

#1,222
Jeff Scott said:
This is the most important statement from any of you folks regarding the mid control (and any other, really).
Click to expand...

True statement!! As much as it’s goid / helpful to understand what controls & knobs do. With dialing in amps / pedals / mixing sound in general, my best results are consistently when I stop thinking too much & just turn the knobs till it sounds good !
 
  • Like
Reactions: BOOG, ObsessiveArcher, mmbass21 and 2 others
#1,223
Well, I'm incredibly happy with my new D-800+. But I am curious about those new 2x15 and 2x12 cabs. Now that I've acclimated to the tonal balance of the Subway 1x15 and 1x12, I'm finding I like them more than my Aggie GS212. I'm going to keep my BB750 for now, and thinking of selling the Aggies and getting that Subway 2x12, to drive with it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BadExample, EitherOr, 73_Blazer and 3 others
#1,224
pfschim said:
hey @CaptainWally, so after a few days with the WD800 do you think you will be keeping the Demeter around ?

I am interested in this because I am a big original Walkabout fan who had the same issue many of us had with it not quite delivering enough clean headroom for medium/loud gigs (standalone ... no issues when FOH is consistent). As a result I went searching for tube goodness with more clean power and ended up with a Demeter VTBP (and a quite tube-y character, but no actual tube D800+).

The WA is still my favorite sounding amp, but unless I push it through bigger/multi-driver cabs (like a Berg NV610) .. these days the gigs usually go to the Subway D800+ or the Demeter. The D800+ definitely works well, but is also much more Carbine like to my ears. Teh Demeter does a very nice thing too, but its not an 800w Walkabout.

So, anyway, cool that you have the WD800 and let me/us know if you think it will cause you to sell the Demeter.

thanks
Click to expand...

I won't sell the Demeter anytime soon, but it is still in audition mode. It really sounds sublime. The form factor is just ok...and the features are lacking, e.g. gain, mute.

I only have limited experience with it live, but so far it's not great. One quickly understands that Demeter really means it when he says flat is mid all the way up, and bass/treble down. Even on that setting, it falls well.short of.my GK MBF800 in cut and my ability to hear it.

The Mesa purchase was a whim purchase, but a good one. Really nice unit, and we"ll see how it sits live. I am guessing it will cut well. Doesnt have that rich Demeter sound, but that sound just might not translate live for me.

I will keep you posted if you like.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BOOG, wave rider, kobass and 4 others
#1,226
CaptainWally said:
I won't sell the Demeter anytime soon, but it is still in audition mode. It really sounds sublime. The form factor is just ok...and the features are lacking, e.g. gain, mute.

I only have limited experience with it live, but so far it's not great. One quickly understands that Demeter really means it when he says flat is mid all the way up, and bass/treble down. Even on that setting, it falls well.short of.my GK MBF800 in cut and my ability to hear it.

The Mesa purchase was a whim purchase, but a good one. Really nice unit, and we"ll see how it sits live. I am guessing it will cut well. Doesnt have that rich Demeter sound, but that sound just might not translate live for me.

I will keep you posted if you like.
Click to expand...
yes please do.

for me, it's not that the VTBP-M-800DJ is a bad amp in any meaningful way, as much as it's NOT an 800w Walkabout (which of course, it was never advertised to be). I work with a few BL's that prefer the sound of the Demeter, but I have a definite like/un-like (less like ?, never hate) relationship with mine and as a huge WA fan, I'm feeling like the WD-800 would likely be more my cuppa.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DrThumpenstein and agedhorse
#1,228
redstrand said:
Hopefully not too far off base, which bass have you enjoyed with the WD800? P, Jazz, Ric? Active or passive? I’m taking my Nash P to test one out, but debating on bringing something else or using something there just to hear a range.
Click to expand...
I like everything I've thrown at the WD so far. My favorite tone has come from my Kiesel ZB5 that has active single coils and flats on it. I'm able to get some sweet mids out of it but also get the flats to thump. The passive P bass with nickelwounds on sounds rich and full with a nice edgy bite that I like with pushing the input and passive mid control.
 
  • Like
Reactions: redstrand
#1,231
Hey @agedhorse, I’m sure you tried many 12AT7 tubes in the WD during testing? What 12AT/U7 tube(s) would you recommend to get closest to the tubey feel of the original WA preamp? Sitting here on vacation thinking about ordering a JAN Phillips 12AT7 to try in it when I get back. The 12AX7 version of this tube was always my favorite in my Trace SMX back in the day, but has grown too prohibitively expensive in that variety for me to want to try it in the WA. Thanks!
 
#1,233
I have no doubt about that. I have Mesa branded tubes in my Walkabouts currently, because they just sounded the best of the dozen or so non-US/UK made 12AX7s I have on hand lose and in various tube guitar preamps that I rolled through them in both positions. Was there a 12AT7 you ran in it that stood out as being less bright/more warm that might be a start to trying an alternate, darker coloration?
 
#1,234
pfschim said:
yes please do.

for me, it's not that the VTBP-M-800DJ is a bad amp in any meaningful way, as much as it's NOT an 800w Walkabout (which of course, it was never advertised to be). I work with a few BL's that prefer the sound of the Demeter, but I have a definite like/un-like (less like ?, never hate) relationship with mine and as a huge WA fan, I'm feeling like the WD-800 would likely be more my cuppa.
Click to expand...
A Demeter VTBP-201s pre- was my main squeeze from about 2006 to 2012.

In 2012 I finally tried a Walkabout. Not long after that I sold the Demeter. I remember then thinking the Walkabout gave a lot of what I liked about the Demeter, but in addition I finally got some of the mids I was trying to coax from the Demeter (with external eq). I told my bandmates, "It's like the Demeter, but meaner."

Trying to find a higher powered replacement for the Walkabout led me to an Ashdown ABM500. It wasn't the same, of course, but it worked at the time. I actually liked it better for a few reasons.

Of course, always wanting to go lighter and try new things made me buy the VTBP-M-800D(J). I kept it for about a year. It sounded great, of course, and that is probably the best sounding amp d.i. I have used (haven't yet tried the WD-800 d.i.). But the e.q. never sat right with my gear or preferences. And nice and familiar as it sounded, I kept going back to the Ashdown.

Then 11/28/2018 happened.
 
  • Like
Reactions: treyandres, /\/\3phist0 and BadExample
#1,236
redstrand said:
Hopefully not too far off base, which bass have you enjoyed with the WD800? P, Jazz, Ric? Active or passive? I’m taking my Nash P to test one out, but debating on bringing something else or using something there just to hear a range.
Click to expand...

I've used passive P (Fender), active EMG PJ/Pope (Fodera, fretted and fretless), active Aguilar Super Double - all sounded great. Take whatever you like playing the best.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mpike
#1,239
bassman74 said:
Tough decision!

I can afford only one!

1) a WD800, but it has everything I wanted and my d-800 had not.
2) a stingray 5, I always wanted one and I have a great deal on a brand new one.
3) a dingwall combustion, my dealer has one reserved in the next batch!!!!

Really tough decision!
Happy holidays!
Click to expand...
well.....imo not the ray, the other two are harder to pick between :/
 
  • Like
Reactions: bassman74
#1,240
staccatogrowl said:
Still trying to grasp the concept of the WD800 passive mid control according to these phrases from the manual text:

1) Cut only. Check

2) Amount of cut is roughly proportional to the counter-clockwise rotation of the control. Does this mean that full clockwise inactivates the passive mid control, and full counter clockwise fully activates extent of cut?

3) 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. This part is most confusing to me. If full clockwise inactivates the passive mid control, wouldn't full clockwise be considered to be flat? Or, is this "true amp flat," with "typical bass player perception of flat" being at the 10:00 to 2:00 position? What am I missing?

4) This might give the appearance of boost as the control is rotated farther clockwise (from the 10:00 to 2:00 position). This makes sense, as mids are added back with clockwise turn from the 10:00 to 2:00 position.

Please advise.
Click to expand...
Three words. Fletcher Munson Curve.

By no means am I an expert on the matter, but my understanding is that the human ear hears the mid frequencies louder than the other ends of the musical spectrum. So if you set the graph to be completely flat across you would hear the mids louder than the rest. To compensate you turn down the mids (10:00-2:00) and that sounds more "flat" to your hearing.

Fletcher Munson Curve: A Must-Know for Audio Recording
 
Last edited:

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back