Agreed! I just wish SWR had made them legible inlow light conditions. Now there’s an idea – luminescent panel writing?
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Pondering Some New Ideas, Need Some Input
- Thread starter agedhorse
- Start date
- Mar 19, 2013
- 1,612
- 2,694
- Disclosures
- If only I were that good....
My personal wish list is never gonna happen, but since I’m already on my phone if I need to adjust my IEM mix from the XR18….
I’d love an amp that could operate like the digital amps with an app that could perform basic preamp control instead of turning around to change knobs. Digital preamp processing with Mesa power sections. Would be cool if we ever went down that road
I’d love an amp that could operate like the digital amps with an app that could perform basic preamp control instead of turning around to change knobs. Digital preamp processing with Mesa power sections. Would be cool if we ever went down that road
Jazzdogg
Less barking, more wagging!
Hey, being a retired professor of furniture and cabinetmaking I resemble this remark!
/\/\3phiso says xxx ===>[Ideas Filter]>=== directly to junk folder.I've got a pretty good "ideas filter" onboard
The DI would certainly be simpler because there's no need for a post DI that also tracks channel switching if there's no channel switching.
Or how about including a fluorescent black light tube that takes up a whole rack space?
I'm showing my age... All my amp references are from the early 90s
Jazzdogg
Less barking, more wagging!
Awww
No love for the D350 2x8 combo idea?
Shucks.
I'll show myself out...sorry
I love the idea of a D350 to push my 2x8 and 1x8, but the D350 isn't 2-Ohm capable, and lacks a variable HPF.
Loved the Trace Elliot look and sound!Or how about including a fluorescent black light tube that takes up a whole rack space?
View attachment 5413215
Another vote for the 400+ being my favorite. Gigged mine 15 years ago. Still have it but haven't played it in forever due to expense of re-tubing. Other than the expense of maintenance and weight, loved everything about it. I'll be watching closely.
It’s been quite a while since I’ve stood in front of a 400 or 400+, but it does make me nostalgic for the 90s…
Today, I’d probably be more interested in a preamp pedal than an amp. Wish list-
High voltage preamp tube that’s easy for the user to swap. I like being able to switch between two voicings - typically clean-ish and not so clean-ish with a little boost, or two different eq curves. Variable HPF. DI with independent level control and on/off 2x15 cab sim
. Effects loop. Loop out that is selectable between pre-everything or post-everything except the cab sim.
If it were to be an amp, everything above except - ditch the effects loop, the cab sim on the DI and the loop out. Add the power amp damping from the WD800. 2ohm stable. 800w is plenty of power. Keep the USB power port.
Today, I’d probably be more interested in a preamp pedal than an amp. Wish list-
High voltage preamp tube that’s easy for the user to swap. I like being able to switch between two voicings - typically clean-ish and not so clean-ish with a little boost, or two different eq curves. Variable HPF. DI with independent level control and on/off 2x15 cab sim
. Effects loop. Loop out that is selectable between pre-everything or post-everything except the cab sim.If it were to be an amp, everything above except - ditch the effects loop, the cab sim on the DI and the loop out. Add the power amp damping from the WD800. 2ohm stable. 800w is plenty of power. Keep the USB power port.
I don’t have any experience with a bass 400 other than its my favorite amp in helix native. So my request would be that if this new amp were to have a tube power section I’d hope that it’d operate similarly to the fender bassman 100t and the DI come off the transformer so even direct you’re using the full amp and not just the preamp like with the strategy and prodigy.
Let's dream of something else, just for fun…
You could design a 800W class D power amp that could house small preamp modules inspired for the current Subway range - same kind of modular concepts like the Synergy guitar amps. There would be a 400+ preamp module as well as a Subway and a Subway+ preamp modules, and we could buy the main amp with as many preamp modules we want to cover different styles. While we're at it, the preamp modules could also be used as standalone preamps for silent recording or IEM gigs.
You could design a 800W class D power amp that could house small preamp modules inspired for the current Subway range - same kind of modular concepts like the Synergy guitar amps. There would be a 400+ preamp module as well as a Subway and a Subway+ preamp modules, and we could buy the main amp with as many preamp modules we want to cover different styles. While we're at it, the preamp modules could also be used as standalone preamps for silent recording or IEM gigs.
@agedhorse here's my dream 
Preamp on top of of a power amp, 2u height and 1/2u wide. Looks like regular bass head.
Can be rack mounted with bracket, sold separately.
I can mount my guitar transmitter and my IEM receiver on the side.
+-----------------------+
| IEM Rcvr | Mesa |
| Gtr Tmtr | DR400 | 2U space
+-----------------------+
Can be separated and rackmounted in 1u space with bracket, sold separately.
+----------------------+
| Mesa DR400 | 1U space
+----------------------+
The preamp controls can be moved from front mounted (for use as a regular head) to top mounted (for use on a pedalboard). Since preamp and power amp can be separated, the preamp can be mounted alone on a pedalboard, the power amp can be placed on top a of cab, and link by an XLR cable.
Since more and more players are using modelers, option to have the eq as a 400 mode (guitar input) or as an FRFR mode (line input).
I would like to have a control where I can get the sound of a tube driver power amp, but at very low level.
Preamp on top of of a power amp, 2u height and 1/2u wide. Looks like regular bass head.
Can be rack mounted with bracket, sold separately.
I can mount my guitar transmitter and my IEM receiver on the side.
+-----------------------+
| IEM Rcvr | Mesa |
| Gtr Tmtr | DR400 | 2U space
+-----------------------+
Can be separated and rackmounted in 1u space with bracket, sold separately.
+----------------------+
| Mesa DR400 | 1U space
+----------------------+
The preamp controls can be moved from front mounted (for use as a regular head) to top mounted (for use on a pedalboard). Since preamp and power amp can be separated, the preamp can be mounted alone on a pedalboard, the power amp can be placed on top a of cab, and link by an XLR cable.
Since more and more players are using modelers, option to have the eq as a 400 mode (guitar input) or as an FRFR mode (line input).
I would like to have a control where I can get the sound of a tube driver power amp, but at very low level.
IMHO the 400 and 400+ can be reduced to
1. Features
2. Characteristics of preamp and tone stack
3. Characteristics of Graphic EQ
4. Characteristics of output section
1. Both amps have pretty much the same features. There is some degree of variation in th other categories.
2. I haven't directly compared the characteristics of the preamp and tone stacks. Per the schematics there are changes in component values throughout the preamp. I run Treble 1/2 notch higher on the 400+. I run Bass one notch higher on the 400 and Mids one notch higher on the 400+. I run the preamp gain the same on both amps. For the same volume, the Master on the 400 must be set about 3.5 notches higher.
The tonal differences could be due to the preamp tubes. My notes say both amps are running Mesa 12AX7s, but Mesa has sold quite a variety of 12AX7 variants.
3. The final version of the 400+ had an additional frequency band added to the graphic EQ. There is minor variation in where I have the sliders on each amp. Probably the most notable difference is I have more of a dip on the two highest sliders of the 400+. This is offset by having the treble rotary slightly higher on the 400+. This is an attempt to get the 400+ highs to sound more like the 400. To my ears the 400+ naturally produces more gank in the high mids and the treble seems to roll off sooner. The 400 high-mids are smoother and the treble has more air and glass.
4. The 400+ seems significantly more powerful and the low end speaks with considerably more authority and force. To me the way the lows speak is cool, but perhaps also somewhat over the top or exxagerated. I suspect most of the extra heft and slam produced by the 400+ is due to differences in the output sections, but it's possible it is also partly due to changes in the preamp voicing.
1. Features
2. Characteristics of preamp and tone stack
3. Characteristics of Graphic EQ
4. Characteristics of output section
1. Both amps have pretty much the same features. There is some degree of variation in th other categories.
2. I haven't directly compared the characteristics of the preamp and tone stacks. Per the schematics there are changes in component values throughout the preamp. I run Treble 1/2 notch higher on the 400+. I run Bass one notch higher on the 400 and Mids one notch higher on the 400+. I run the preamp gain the same on both amps. For the same volume, the Master on the 400 must be set about 3.5 notches higher.
The tonal differences could be due to the preamp tubes. My notes say both amps are running Mesa 12AX7s, but Mesa has sold quite a variety of 12AX7 variants.
3. The final version of the 400+ had an additional frequency band added to the graphic EQ. There is minor variation in where I have the sliders on each amp. Probably the most notable difference is I have more of a dip on the two highest sliders of the 400+. This is offset by having the treble rotary slightly higher on the 400+. This is an attempt to get the 400+ highs to sound more like the 400. To my ears the 400+ naturally produces more gank in the high mids and the treble seems to roll off sooner. The 400 high-mids are smoother and the treble has more air and glass.
4. The 400+ seems significantly more powerful and the low end speaks with considerably more authority and force. To me the way the lows speak is cool, but perhaps also somewhat over the top or exxagerated. I suspect most of the extra heft and slam produced by the 400+ is due to differences in the output sections, but it's possible it is also partly due to changes in the preamp voicing.
Loved the 400+ I played through the few times I was able to. Previous owner of WD800, D800, and D800+ they were all fantastic with extreme capability. The small micro heads have come a long way to match the power and features of the full size heads.
I though mesa in the guitar world made an amp that could create most sounds of their legendary amps. So point being, a rack head bass version that could cop 400/400+ m9, titan, m pulse, wd, tt, d800/+ ect… would be on my must have list.
This is probably not even slightly something that you would be interested in but I am throwing it out there just in case there could be a product fit here for MB. I know some players that are migrating to a clean 1000 watt power amp only and putting their favorite preamps ahead of the power amp.
They just run a Noble or Capo or whatever pre into the power amp. Probably not a thing but throwing in the pile just in case lol...
They just run a Noble or Capo or whatever pre into the power amp. Probably not a thing but throwing in the pile just in case lol...
As far as the Mesa Boogie stuff...I toured with 2 400+ Mesa Boogie heads into 3 SWR 8x10 Megaliath cabs and loved what I was getting out of them!
That said...I am more interested in the creation of elegantly designed new bass amplification that maximizes the application of our current knowledge bass in an effort to create future legends than I am at looking back at the past and recycling vintage tones...
That said...I am more interested in the creation of elegantly designed new bass amplification that maximizes the application of our current knowledge bass in an effort to create future legends than I am at looking back at the past and recycling vintage tones...
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I’m unlikely to buy an amp head at this time but I’m curious about this thread’s direction.
Any thoughts on a similar Buster influenced design?
Any thoughts on a similar Buster influenced design?
