+1 Pretty much my point. all are pretty decent amps; but player prefs definitely depend on knowing what kind of sound you are going for and what the rest of the signal chain is. Simple, but really it isn't.
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What's your favourite Mesa Subway Head?
- Thread starter esoxhntr
- Start date
Myself as well. What a great working persons Bass head. Mine has been a workhorse for electric and upright bass, and I constantly get compliments on my tone by folks who know nothing about bass, just what sounds musical to their ears.
It should distort less if you want that, even (especially) with bigger inputs. It was used in a lot of very famous equipment that was intended to stay clean.
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For me the wd800 is what I've been missing for a long time I started out using a svt4pro and moved on to a Eden navigator preamp I feel the wd800 was like a best of both worlds of those two setups but way lighter in weight.
This raises a question in my mind -- does an amp work harder taking a level 2 input and pushing it out at level 8 (just grabbing numbers here for illustration) or taking a level 5 input and pushing it out at level 9?
- Feb 12, 2006
- 61,086
- 5
- 221,199
- Disclosures
- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
I have both the WD-800 and the TT-800, and literally the day before I was about to add a D-350 my band broke up. 
Now I have a hole in my musical heart, and a hole in the rack that I was planning to use for the 350
As to your question, both the TT and the WD have been insanely easy for me to dial in. They each have highpass filters which helps out a lot as well.
Now I have a hole in my musical heart, and a hole in the rack that I was planning to use for the 350
As to your question, both the TT and the WD have been insanely easy for me to dial in. They each have highpass filters which helps out a lot as well.
In my experience, one should always have a backup amp. Therefore I don't don't think there's an excuse for not owning both, a WD800 and TT800.
Interestingly, I think my D800 has become the backup to my D350.
- Feb 12, 2006
- 61,086
- 5
- 221,199
- Disclosures
- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
I hope it is okay to just love all the Subway heads. I have yet to try the D-350 or the TT-800 but the other three are fantastic. My D-800 has been in my practice room for quite a while and just this morning I put my D-800+ in its place. My WD-800 has become my main gigging head. All of these heads make me happy.
It isn't that surprising to me that lots of people find that the D-350 has more than enough power, as it offers roughly 3.5dB lower maximum volume compared with an 800W camp (assuming both are properly rated and the cabinet can handle it). While that extra power might come in useful for louder gigs and driving inefficient cabinets, I imagine that most don't actually need a full 800W, perhaps not even 350W; so, adding more power when you already have enough isn't much benefit. However, if driving a pair of modern 2x15"s at a twin-detuned-guitar death metal gig, 800W may be required, if insufficient....
It could also be that the D-350W punches above its ratings. Would love to see some proper testing of the whole Subway line and get some accurate output figures/distortion/EQ plots/etc....
From what I've heard, the WD-800 sounds best to me. I've tried the D-800/+ and TT-800 and the two D-800s sounded a bit bland to me, while the TT-800 sounded pretty nice using the Boogie channel, though I found it unintuitive to dial-in.
Yes, I absolutely want that... at least I think I do. I have a couple of decent 12AU7 tubes kicking around here somewhere. If I decide to keep the WD-800 I'll definitely try one.
It depends on your state laws, I imagine...
Gig #2 last night... Stuck with the WD-800 for the whole gig. Here's how it went:
Set1: Alleva Coppolo LG5/WD-800
I have had a great deal of trouble making this bass work in this particular band, particlularly trying to run the bass passive. Not last night. Dialled the bridge pickup back a bit, fiddled a little with mid EQ, and all was well. An important challenge completed.
Set 2: FBass BN5/WD-800
I was able to dial in both a good passive and active sound pretty quickly. It seems like I've found the critical EQ points and a little cut or boost makes a lot of difference. This is by far the most comfortable I've felt with this type of EQ arrangement. Bravo, Mesa. Again, I can confirm that the WD-800 is a lot quieter than most amps when using unequal pickup volume settings on a jazz style bass. Approved.
Set 3: PBass/WD-800
This likely would have been a great pairing for the second night in a row, but after the first tune the guitar player/vocalist and I had a tremendous row over playing volume. He said, and I quote... "In what world do you think my little guitar amp can keep up with your playing volume?" My response... "You mean the little guitar amp that just about tore my head in half in the last song?" And so on.
Needless to say, I wasn't in much of a mood afterwards to listen very critically. I'm sure it sounded fine, but was WAY too pissed off to care. I plan on playing the PBass for the whole gig tonight - which should now be a pretty interesting affair, considering. I'll report back if I don't end up in jail for manslaughter.
With two rounds down and one to go, the WD-800 is up 2-0.
Set1: Alleva Coppolo LG5/WD-800
I have had a great deal of trouble making this bass work in this particular band, particlularly trying to run the bass passive. Not last night. Dialled the bridge pickup back a bit, fiddled a little with mid EQ, and all was well. An important challenge completed.
Set 2: FBass BN5/WD-800
I was able to dial in both a good passive and active sound pretty quickly. It seems like I've found the critical EQ points and a little cut or boost makes a lot of difference. This is by far the most comfortable I've felt with this type of EQ arrangement. Bravo, Mesa. Again, I can confirm that the WD-800 is a lot quieter than most amps when using unequal pickup volume settings on a jazz style bass. Approved.
Set 3: PBass/WD-800
This likely would have been a great pairing for the second night in a row, but after the first tune the guitar player/vocalist and I had a tremendous row over playing volume. He said, and I quote... "In what world do you think my little guitar amp can keep up with your playing volume?" My response... "You mean the little guitar amp that just about tore my head in half in the last song?" And so on.
Needless to say, I wasn't in much of a mood afterwards to listen very critically. I'm sure it sounded fine, but was WAY too pissed off to care. I plan on playing the PBass for the whole gig tonight - which should now be a pretty interesting affair, considering. I'll report back if I don't end up in jail for manslaughter. With two rounds down and one to go, the WD-800 is up 2-0.
It is impossible to make good music when this sort of thing happens. I am so blessed to play almost all my gigs in an acoustic band where the only player that gets a bit loud is the alto sax player. I play unamplified upright. Nobody complains about my playing except me. I am the least skilled player in the band but playing with wonderful players is pulling me to a level that I have not reached before. The only negative is that I am an electric bassist first and don't get to use my Mesa gear and great electric basses although my upright is a great bass too. You know what I mean.
I suggest that perhaps some sort of action is called for. Ideal would be a calm discussion of the volume issue and a meeting of the minds as to how to deal with it. Sometimes just moving amps around can be a solution. I wish you luck and hope you have peaceful and enjoyable gigs in the future.
Well, apparently the "action" from last night was all that was necessary. Great effort was made by all to keep in their lanes volume wise. Honestly, we had a great gig, and it seems like lessons were learned and taken to heart.
Oh, almost forgot... all three sets with the PBass and WD-800. It was awesome. Clearly I need this amp. Consider the Kool-Aid being as having been drank... or drunk... as the case may be...
