[quote name='molan' timestamp='1427377290' post='2729583']
JapanAxe is the man to ask - he tested the Demeter vs The Mesa recently
[/quote]
Indeed I did. I was savings this for a NAD, but what the heck...
I took a trip to Bassgear specifically because I noticed they had a Mesa Prodigy in stock - rare as hen's teeth in the EC, and a nearly-new example so a £400+ saving over new. I had been heavily swayed by Mesa's YouTube video, but in the flesh with my '73 P plugged in, I struggled to get a sound I liked. It was a bit better once I found the sweet spot on the gain control, but in brief the Prodigy was unremittingly aggressive, and made my (usually well behaved) E string uncontrollably boomy. There will doubtless be a rock player who will love it.
I had thought that my sound depended on the preamp being on the edge of breakup, so I hadn't considered the Demeter. Boy did I get a surprise when I plugged in! Difficult as it is to describe sound, this amp lets you hear your bass's voice. I should mention I put the Demeter through my BF Compact, and also compared it with my go-to Streamliner. I love the round warmth of the Streamliner but the the Demeter outdoes it for clarity whilst not lacking warmth. I pick up the Demeter next week, and will furnish a full report once I have tried every combination of bass and cab. In the meantime I am reluctantly selling off some other amps (see below).
Oh yes, I also tried Dave Swift's Monique Dove Cage / Minnie 800 setup - fantastic sounds, incredibly flexible, but not the most convenient form factor, so more of a studio amp really.