Here’s a first gig report with the Subway preamp DI 2. Pristine signal to FOH. No noise of any kind other than what you want to hear. The voicing knob is very handy for quick alterations to tone. I went from old school scoop sound to more modern (stronger mids) all night. This is a country gig so the higher voicing setting sounded great on Haggard and Waylon songs but let me dial it back for more 90/2000’s country stuff with more of a rock feel. I didn’t play with any of the switches mid gig. I set the HPF at about 9 o’clock and it made my subwoofers very punchy. I always high pass everthing on the board at 100hz or so for everything but bass and kick and set those around 40hz. I don’t know how well my mixing station EQ is working but there was a noticeable difference with the pedal HPF on. It could also just be the extra punch I’m getting from the pedal alone. Didn’t really have time to isolate and test in the moment. I was ampless on my side of the stage and the pedal performed perfectly.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
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.
Subway+ Bass DI-Preamp II
- Thread starter gtirard
- Start date
Thanks for this — the answer to my question led off the ‘uses’ section.
I'm late to the party, it's all been said. I didn't read the whole thread.
I like when a product feels like there was a defined goal, and then engineers sorted out the implementation. This has that feel.
This thing is quiet. User adjustable HPF. TWO adjustable mid freqs. Deep and bright toggles do their thing. Boost is perfect, doesn't lose the character of the bass being played. Unit feels sturdy. Mute button. Headphones out for hotel time.
At the surprisingly low price point this is by far Best In Class, and probably the next few classes as well.
To be fair, some cons (though very minor) -
For this to be a basic one-piece travel gig tool I'd want a compressor and a tuner. I know - adding those would drive it up another $100, and compression is something people can be really picky about. So, maybe a basic tuner?
I dislike some of the wording on the Gibson site. For example when discussing its many uses it says it can serve "as a micro-sized backup amp to carry in the gig bag for emergencies." I think that's really misleading, especially for less experienced players, given the existence of actual micro-sized amps. Marketing people doing their thing.
I hope we in the TB community never take for granted the completely unparalleled level of interaction we have with guys like agedhorse. He knows who we are, what we do, and what we need. He constantly shares his decades of engineering knowledge, regardless of brand loyalty. I don't know of another place where that happens.
To help keep the lights on until the next great product might I suggest a limited edition re-issue in the future?
I like when a product feels like there was a defined goal, and then engineers sorted out the implementation. This has that feel.
This thing is quiet. User adjustable HPF. TWO adjustable mid freqs. Deep and bright toggles do their thing. Boost is perfect, doesn't lose the character of the bass being played. Unit feels sturdy. Mute button. Headphones out for hotel time.
At the surprisingly low price point this is by far Best In Class, and probably the next few classes as well.
To be fair, some cons (though very minor) -
For this to be a basic one-piece travel gig tool I'd want a compressor and a tuner. I know - adding those would drive it up another $100, and compression is something people can be really picky about. So, maybe a basic tuner?
I dislike some of the wording on the Gibson site. For example when discussing its many uses it says it can serve "as a micro-sized backup amp to carry in the gig bag for emergencies." I think that's really misleading, especially for less experienced players, given the existence of actual micro-sized amps. Marketing people doing their thing.
I hope we in the TB community never take for granted the completely unparalleled level of interaction we have with guys like agedhorse. He knows who we are, what we do, and what we need. He constantly shares his decades of engineering knowledge, regardless of brand loyalty. I don't know of another place where that happens.
To help keep the lights on until the next great product might I suggest a limited edition re-issue in the future?
Al Kraft
Supporting Member
- May 2, 2016
- 10,779
- 40,469
- Disclosures
- Mesa Boogie beta product tester and player support
I agree that the marketing crowd occasionally misinterprets things they hear.
Some of the discussion during development of the manual was how great this would be as a gig bag sized "gig-saver" if your amp goes down and you need to go through the main system. For years the Tech21 BDDI V1 and then V2 have been that for me. I think my new choice for that role is likely obvious.
In any event I suspect someone picked up on that narrative and without fully understanding what was meant assumed a preamp could somehow fill in for an amp in a pinch...Ooops!
That said, this really is a great gig saver option when a strong FOH is available or a backline rig is less than optimal, but does have an aux in or effects return jack that works.
Last edited:
Last edited:
Just ordered mine on Thomann. Can't wait for it to get here 
I’m really enjoying switching between the internal WD preamp,and the Subway+2 preamp. Then being able to blend the two together at the same time. You kids really need to try that!
“Just sayin’”
“Just sayin’”
Stacking preamps is something I love doing so I most certainly will be trying this!
Although with a B800D and a TT-800 rather than the WD 
Mine arrived yesterday and sounds amazing!
I do want to try it through the effects loop of my amp.
Right now I’m going straight into the front end.
But Andy was super helpful about giving me info running into the power amp and trying the return of the effects loop.
But I’m really curious about running it fully through the effects loop.
My basic settings right now.
Love the punch and clarity.
Tons of tones in this thing.
I do want to try it through the effects loop of my amp.
Right now I’m going straight into the front end.
But Andy was super helpful about giving me info running into the power amp and trying the return of the effects loop.
But I’m really curious about running it fully through the effects loop.
My basic settings right now.
Love the punch and clarity.
Tons of tones in this thing.
Only thing is, the way I’m doing it is not stacking in the sence of running one preamp into the other. This method I am using is more like a parallel insert into the power amp, or like using a Y cord to get both preamps into the power ampStacking preamps is something I love doing so I most certainly will be trying this!
My method is:
Plugging my bass into the amp’s Instrument Input, in my case it is the WD.
Taking the Tuner Out from amp, into the Subway+ preamp’s Instrument Input.
Take the Subway+ Preamp Output back into the Amp’s Aux In to the power amp.
Then using the Mute Switch on either one to turn each one off or on.
Turn the Subway+ mute on to hear just the amps internal preamp.
Turn the amps mute on and the Subway+’s mute off to just hear the Subway+ only.
Turn both mutes on to hear nothing.
Leave both mutes off to hear both at the same time and use the Master Volume on the Subway+ and the Gain Control on the amp to balance between the two to blend the two to your liking
The Master Volume on the amp is the overall master volume for the whole Sugarree
Last edited:
I think running through the effects loop will be almost like running the preamp straight into the front end only in reverse. The internal preamp is now running through the Subway+ preamp and back into the power amp. Still stacking preamps I think
I see your point.I think running through the effects loop will be almost like running the preamp straight into the front end only in reverse. The internal preamp is now running through the Subway+ preamp and back into the power amp. Still stacking preamps I think
I’m also into stacking preamps.
But It does seem like straight in, or effects loop probably achieves the same goal.
No matter what, love this preamp.
You might be onto something. Does the Effects Loop or the Aux Input bypass the internal preamp?I think running through the effects loop will be almost like running the preamp straight into the front end only in reverse. The internal preamp is now running through the Subway+ preamp and back into the power amp. Still stacking preamps I think
And I love experimenting.
I have other preamps that I like, but they don’t do quite what the Mesa does.
But having the Empress in the chain makes for some fine tuning.
It’ll be a day of mix and match.
I have other preamps that I like, but they don’t do quite what the Mesa does.
But having the Empress in the chain makes for some fine tuning.
It’ll be a day of mix and match.
Right! I re-edited my explanation.
It is running the Subway+ back into the Aux In not the effects return.
That way the amp’s preamp is still accessible.
Thanks for the catch
Last edited:
Only thing is, the way I’m doing it is not stacking in the sence of running one preamp into the other. This method I am using is more like a parallel insert into the power amp, or like using a Y cord to get both preamps into the power amp
My method is:
Plugging my bass into the amp’s Instrument Input, in my case it is the WD.
Taking the Tuner Out from amp, into the Subway+ preamp’s Instrument Input.
Take the Subway+ Preamp Output back into the Amp’s Aux In to the power amp.
Then using the Mute Switch on either one to turn each one off or on.
Turn the Subway+ mute on to hear just the amps internal preamp.
Turn the amps mute on and the Subway+’s mute off to just hear the Subway+ only.
Turn both mutes on to hear nothing.
Leave both mutes off to hear both at the same time and use the Master Volume on the Subway+ and the Gain Control on the amp to balance between the two to blend the two to your liking
The Master Volume on the amp is the overall master volume for the whole Sugarree
This is a great idea and setup! I'll try this when it arrives, thanks!
After a bunch of experimenting with my various other pre’s.
I find no need for them at all.
Not even the Empress para eq.
And I’m now running the Mesa through the effects loop.
Balance has been restored to my world of electric bass.
I find no need for them at all.
Not even the Empress para eq.
And I’m now running the Mesa through the effects loop.
Balance has been restored to my world of electric bass.
This totally belongs in the Unexplained Poetry thread.
Had to run into my local bass store to pick up pot… errmm I mean a tone pot. Had to. I’ll report back shortly. I’ve been running Darkglass and/ot Quad Cortex for a while. Going back to analog will be a trip.
The Effects Return bypasses the internal preamp. When the external preamp is plugged into the Effect Return, the internal preamp is not heard.
With the external preamp is inserted between the Effects Send and the Effects Return, the amp's internal preamp is now running through the external preamp, the Subway+. They will be “stacked” and both will be heard.
If the external preamp is going into the Aux Input of the amp. It will not bypass the internal preamp, the internal preamp would also be available and active, unless you used the amp’s mute switch to disengage the amp’s internal preamp. Likewise if you use the external preamp’s mute switch.
Last edited:
