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Practical Case for Mesa Subway Amplifiers

Geri O

Geri O

Supporting Member
Sep 6, 2013
11,194
27,338
68
Florence, MS
#1
G'morning. A while back, I bought a few of these Apache cases at Harbor Freight thinking I would find uses for them later.

One of those cases wound up being a good choice for a Mesa Subway WD800. This amp went into semi-retirement when I bought my BD800D. But a couple pf weeks ago, we had a last-minute backline need pop up, so I sent out the WD800 paired with an old EBS Neo 410 cabinet. I had to send the amp in its Mesa carrying bag, which was kinda scary, riding in a 26' truck full of sound gear. Fortunately, the guys looked after the amp very nicely and it came back unscathed and in perfect shape.

So I decided to take one of the Apache cases and make it fit the WD800. This particular case was $40.00. The eye-catching color was the only cases available in that size.....🙄.
Here's the results.....
IMG_4292.jpeg
IMG_4291.jpeg
IMG_4290.jpeg

With the pluck-style foam options, it was crazy easy to fit the foam to the amplifier. And there's (barely) room for an IEC power cable and two NL4 cables for the speaker .cabinet.The foam for the lid needs to be secured with contact glue, easily done with the spray variety (do this part outside!......😁)

I'm sure I'm not the first person to use these cases for such a purpose, but I felt like posting the results anyway.

How dod the WD800 sound paired with this EBS cab? I wasn't at this event and I haven't heard the pair for myself, but the guys said the 4 bassists liked the rig very much and two of them were asked to turn the rig down a bit. I may carry the WD to the shop and check out the pair for myself, but I'm sure my pair of SW115 cabs have nothing to fear.....😁
 
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#6
I did a similar thing with a home-supply store pistol case for my PF500.

(I also note that if you can get one that fits, a rifle case can be good for a bass.)

Other heads get duffel bags and towel-padding - I have a 30+ y.o. US Army duffel bag for mic stands, works well.
 
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#7
Geri O said:
G'morning. A while back, I bought a few of these Apache cases at Harbor Freight thinking I would find uses for them later.

One of those cases wound up being a good choice for a Mesa Subway WD800. This amp went into semi-retirement when I bought my BD800D. But a couple pf weeks ago, we had a last-minute backline need pop up, so I sent out the WD800 paired with an old EBS Neo 410 cabinet. I had to send the amp in its Mesa carrying bag, which was kinda scary, riding in a 26' truck full of sound gear. Fortunately, the guys looked after the amp very nicely and it came back unscathed and in perfect shape.

So I decided to take one of the Apache cases and make it fit the WD800. This particular case was $40.00. The eye-catching color was the only cases available in that size.....🙄.
Here's the results.....
View attachment 7463393View attachment 7463392View attachment 7463391
With the pluck-style foam options, it was crazy easy to fit the foam to the amplifier. And there's (barely) room for an IEC power cable and two NL4 cables for the speaker .cabinet.The foam for the lid needs to be secured with contact glue, easily done with the spray variety (do this part outside!......😁)

I'm sure I'm not the first person to use these cases for such a purpose, but I felt like posting the results anyway.

How dod the WD800 sound paired with this EBS cab? I wasn't at this event and I haven't heard the pair for myself, but the guys said the 4 bassists liked the rig very much and two of them were asked to turn the rig down a bit. I may carry the WD to the shop and check out the pair for myself, but I'm sure my pair of SW115 cabs have nothing to fear.....😁
Click to expand...
I have 4 Apache cases. One has my Mesa 800D. One has a QSC TouchMix 16. I have another one ready for my Mesa 800D backup, and one smaller one not being used. They’re great protection for a great price.
 
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#9
Geri O said:
G'morning. A while back, I bought a few of these Apache cases at Harbor Freight thinking I would find uses for them later.

One of those cases wound up being a good choice for a Mesa Subway WD800. This amp went into semi-retirement when I bought my BD800D. But a couple pf weeks ago, we had a last-minute backline need pop up, so I sent out the WD800 paired with an old EBS Neo 410 cabinet. I had to send the amp in its Mesa carrying bag, which was kinda scary, riding in a 26' truck full of sound gear. Fortunately, the guys looked after the amp very nicely and it came back unscathed and in perfect shape.

So I decided to take one of the Apache cases and make it fit the WD800. This particular case was $40.00. The eye-catching color was the only cases available in that size.....🙄.
Here's the results.....
View attachment 7463393View attachment 7463392View attachment 7463391
With the pluck-style foam options, it was crazy easy to fit the foam to the amplifier. And there's (barely) room for an IEC power cable and two NL4 cables for the speaker .cabinet.The foam for the lid needs to be secured with contact glue, easily done with the spray variety (do this part outside!......😁)

I'm sure I'm not the first person to use these cases for such a purpose, but I felt like posting the results anyway.

How dod the WD800 sound paired with this EBS cab? I wasn't at this event and I haven't heard the pair for myself, but the guys said the 4 bassists liked the rig very much and two of them were asked to turn the rig down a bit. I may carry the WD to the shop and check out the pair for myself, but I'm sure my pair of SW115 cabs have nothing to fear.....😁
Click to expand...
You’ll never be able to sneak in the door late at night with that case! 😂
 
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#10
Nuisance said:
Yep. Use them all of the time and was getting ready to pick up another for my new amp. Great cases for cheap!
Click to expand...
I have and use a few of the HF cases myself. But note: they are heavier and MUCH smellier than Pelican/SKB. Also their foam can be a little janky and simply does not last. I'v had cheap foam break-down and kind of stick to / stain what it was supposed to protect.

While new Pelican is probably 2-3x the cost of HF, check e-Bay. I have scored .gov surplus used but excellent condition for only a few bucks more. The difference is worth it. (SKB is good also, same for Seahorse, but given the choice it's Pelican hands down)

Seriously, I have been to hell and back twice (Military). Awful / extreme conditions and rough treatment to say the least... Lots of very expensive / important / delicate stuff kept in Pelican cases and it survived. Pelican cases are the standard. used pelican cases on e-bay
 
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#12
Geri O said:
G'morning. A while back, I bought a few of these Apache cases at Harbor Freight thinking I would find uses for them later.

One of those cases wound up being a good choice for a Mesa Subway WD800. This amp went into semi-retirement when I bought my BD800D. But a couple pf weeks ago, we had a last-minute backline need pop up, so I sent out the WD800 paired with an old EBS Neo 410 cabinet. I had to send the amp in its Mesa carrying bag, which was kinda scary, riding in a 26' truck full of sound gear. Fortunately, the guys looked after the amp very nicely and it came back unscathed and in perfect shape.

So I decided to take one of the Apache cases and make it fit the WD800. This particular case was $40.00. The eye-catching color was the only cases available in that size.....🙄.
Here's the results.....
View attachment 7463393View attachment 7463392View attachment 7463391
With the pluck-style foam options, it was crazy easy to fit the foam to the amplifier. And there's (barely) room for an IEC power cable and two NL4 cables for the speaker .cabinet.The foam for the lid needs to be secured with contact glue, easily done with the spray variety (do this part outside!......😁)

I'm sure I'm not the first person to use these cases for such a purpose, but I felt like posting the results anyway.

How dod the WD800 sound paired with this EBS cab? I wasn't at this event and I haven't heard the pair for myself, but the guys said the 4 bassists liked the rig very much and two of them were asked to turn the rig down a bit. I may carry the WD to the shop and check out the pair for myself, but I'm sure my pair of SW115 cabs have nothing to fear.....😁
Click to expand...
I tried the same thing with a Pelican equipment case.. worked great but the case was heaver than the amp... thereby negating the purpose of buying the amp to begin with. (to save my back)
 
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#13
dbase said:
I tried the same thing with a Pelican equipment case.. worked great but the case was heaver than the amp... thereby negating the purpose of buying the amp to begin with. (to save my back)
Click to expand...
It's like spending a lot of money on a 16 pound bicycle, and then having to carry around a ten pound lock to prevent it from being stolen. ;)
 
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#14
dbase said:
I tried the same thing with a Pelican equipment case.. worked great but the case was heaver than the amp... thereby negating the purpose of buying the amp to begin with. (to save my back)
Click to expand...
Yeah, like an 8-lb WD800 into a 16-lb SKB rack WITH a Furman fancy power switch and outlet center call a “power conditioner “….😁.

Well, I travel with it, so it is what it is…:
 
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#17
Hoochie Coochie Man said:
It's like spending a lot of money on a 16 pound bicycle, and then having to carry around a ten pound lock to prevent it from being stolen. ;)
Click to expand...

…or just carrying two 24oz water bottles on your bike ride: “A pint’s a pound the whole world round!” Great, now my 16lb bike is 19lbs, and I haven’t even stuck my fat ass on the saddle!

==========
Back on topic:
I used to own an Anvil Forge-series foam-lined hardshell road case that was the *perfect* size for my Acoustic Image Focus 1 bass head …but unless I was flying to a gig it was COMPLETE overkill, because that case (empty) weighed 3X what the amp weighed!
 
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#18
definitely off-topic... but years ago i was in a band with a guy who had a mint-condition '57 B3 organ ... in an anvil road case. we played a place once that was down 15 stairs. it took six guys to get the thing down (and then back up) the stairs. those were the days.

back on topic: if i were touring, i'd have some armored cases. since i only play out a couple of times a month, the padded backpack works great. YMMV
 
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