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WD800 vs Bass-800D

#101
Goatrope said:
Nice. That's what I really love about my WD. It really can flex and adapt to a wide variety of tones. I agree with your observations with the settings you described.

I was lugging around a 68 pound Fender Super Bassman 300 before the WD. And with the WD's damping control, It really gets that big tube amp vibe too. Probably wasn't the intended use, but it works for me.

I've got 4 different settings marked with different colored paint pens so I can remember them. So much fun!😁

Now if only I could save those presets and switch them via MIDI. Maybe I'll build myself a "Whizzer". 🤣
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Yes I agree big time. With the Damping set to low and the ohms switch set to 2 ohms on 4 ohms cabs, it really gives me a great tube amp vibe. Much more so than the TT800 I use to have or the Streamliner which I still have. The WD800 is very impressive :cool:.
 
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#102
Wicked G said:
Yes I agree big time. With the Damping set to low and the ohms switch set to 2 ohms on 4 ohms cabs, it really gives me a great tube amp vibe. Much more so than the TT800 I use to have or the Streamliner which I still have. The WD800 is very impressive :cool:.
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The TT voicing is quite different (both channels) than the WD
 
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#104
Jeff Scott said:
This could make for an interesting poll, say, a year from now:

Did you sell off your other Subway amps after acquiring your Bass 800D?
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I sold my WD800… even though I think the WD800 is a rock star. I really only need one “Modern” amp, and my collection of old Ampeg tube amps (SB12, B15, B18, V4B).
 
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#105
I found this comparison video on YouTube. I tried listening to it with my eyes shut, and honestly I couldn't hear any differences. And I'm saying that as a "good" thing. I would say that was the goal over at Mesa, then again, with all the compression in these videos, I'm not quite sure.

 
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#107
4stringmf said:
I found this comparison video on YouTube. I tried listening to it with my eyes shut, and honestly I couldn't hear any differences. And I'm saying that as a "good" thing. I would say that was the goal over at Mesa, then again, with all the compression in these videos, I'm not quite sure.

Click to expand...

For someone familiar with the Bass 400 just wanting to know if the 800D is in the same ballpark I think this vid is a reasonable comparison. I liked that he used different basses saying what they were strung with. As with all demo vids though it would be good to know exactly how it was recorded and mixed.

A more versatile player (an endorser?) pulling out some different genres on just the 800D would be interesting. Slamming out overdriven rock with a P Bass doesn’t tell much about how it could sound playing R&B on a short scale hollow body or jazz fusion on something boutiquey. Not a hack on the rock guys, god bless ‘em for taking the time. But the 800D is already proving to be popular with a lot of different players that might have thought the Bass 400 was a killer amp but weren’t willing to haul it.
 
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#108
4stringmf said:
I found this comparison video on YouTube. I tried listening to it with my eyes shut, and honestly I couldn't hear any differences. And I'm saying that as a "good" thing. I would say that was the goal over at Mesa, then again, with all the compression in these videos, I'm not quite sure.

Click to expand...

The low end of the 800D seemed to be more pronounced to me through my Sennheiser headphones.
 
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#109
Pep said:
The perception of the 800D is that it’s louder than the others and I have to agree. I would call the WD800 somewhat tame compared to the 800D. It sounds BIG!

That’s not technical at all, but it’s the best I can do to describe it. I’m sure others will be able to give you a better description.
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Just when I thought the WD800 might be my next option (when or if i ever get tired of my Streamliner 900), @Pep comes along and bursts my bubble! Thanks Pep! :roflmao: :roflmao: :laugh:
 
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#110
While waiting for my pre ordered B800D to arrive, I was researching Mesa amps' on many to threads here.
The features I kept reading about of the WD 800 that I liked alot caused me to order it.
A couple weeks into learning how to dial in my WD; the B800D arrived at my home. Major distraction from working with the WD.

I used both amps at two different gigs w same cab, BF Big Baby ll. It just seemed quite a bit easier to quickly dial in a useable tone on the B800D; for me.
I still need more use of each amp to see/hear some of the qualities others here speak of. But I have enjoyed both so far, with no complaints on either.
I do feel the B800D is something very special. Peace, e.
 

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#111
Jens Telemark said:
For someone familiar with the Bass 400 just wanting to know if the 800D is in the same ballpark I think this vid is a reasonable comparison. I liked that he used different basses saying what they were strung with. As with all demo vids though it would be good to know exactly how it was recorded and mixed.

A more versatile player (an endorser?) pulling out some different genres on just the 800D would be interesting. Slamming out overdriven rock with a P Bass doesn’t tell much about how it could sound playing R&B on a short scale hollow body or jazz fusion on something boutiquey. Not a hack on the rock guys, god bless ‘em for taking the time. But the 800D is already proving to be popular with a lot of different players that might have thought the Bass 400 was a killer amp but weren’t willing to haul it.
Click to expand...
Well if Mesa sends me a B800D I would be happy to make a video doing all that stuff. I will share my signal path and basses and strings too 👍
😊
 
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#120
Pep said:
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Serial number is ???
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#00214

The 800D is a great amp - and like others have said, you have to really try to get a bad sound out of it.
It's another great design from Andy and the team at Mesa.

I've owned the 800+, WD-800, and now 800D - they have all functioned perfectly, with intuitive well-laid-out controls.

The 800D is my favorite of the bunch - it's direct and raw sounding.
Since it's also one of the lowest-priced Subway amps, IMO it's the best deal in the Subway line.
**************************************************
Regarding comparisons to the Bass 400+, I can't reliably comment.
It's been over 20 years since I last owned a 400+ and almost 30 years since I last gigged a 400+
Added to that, I only have one of the basses - and none of the cabinets - that I owned back then, so I have no direct basis for comparison.

With those caveats out of the way...

My feeling is that the 800D shares the fundamental "organic" quality of the 400+.
But the 800D EQ seems more precise and the power section definitely seems cleaner, with less sag and compression.

When I had the 400+ running in the "sweet spot" it was glorious.
But it was the mid 90s and things often got LOUD on stage.
When things got too loud, the 400+ would compress and overdrive rather than punching hard.

The 800D seems more linear and capable of much higher clean volume.
IMO that would make it an easier amp to get consistent results on a gig.
 
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