sPiKi

Hi Geoff. Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. Delighted to receive such positive feedback and glad you are happy with the bass. I hope you have many, many hours of enjoyment playing it. It just screams rock n roll! It was a pleasure doing business with you. All the best with the band. Brian

Oh no...one of your tuners has gone missing..(Pic 3) 😁

Looking to buy a new bass and have been intrigued by the Mercalli 4. Have seen the All About the Bass review and a few others, but just interested to see if anyone here on BC has one or experience of playing them? I currently have a US standard J and Mike Dirnt RW P bass. Both are great basses in their own right, but I want something a little different. There is a lengthy thread on TB and they seem to be well regarded and good value for money. Be keen to hear though from people on here. Thanks. https://www.andertons.co.uk/reverend-mercalli-4-mrc-4-bass-in-metallic-copper-fire https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3bysP9GknE

I've only recently brought the Jazz out again as my Precision, seen in the second photo, is my usual go-to bass. The jazz is a 2010 American Standard with just a couple of cosmetic changes. I find describing tone a bit like describing a colour but if it helps, I would say the J sounds big/wide/thick with every note ringing out. I tend to open up both pickups fully and have the Voicing around 4 o'clock (depending on the room). I set the input on the VT pedal and the D800 just so I have a wee bit of hair on my sound and the OD light is flickering occasionally. Clear as a bell but you can really FEEL the bass.

I have the D800 and Subway 112 and 115. It's a fantastic rig and always makes me smile when I'm gigging. That reassuring feeling that I bought the right gear. I play in a covers/wedding band and it is suitable for the wide range of rock and pop we play. In the past I have had three Ampeg heads and at various times, 410, 610 and 810 cabs. To my ears, the Mesa is leagues ahead in terms of tone. Not to mention portability and ease of dialling in a tone. Voicing knob is very useful and using the instant gratification directions in the manual make it very straightforward to get your sound Stage and room of course, add lots of other factors to getting your sound but I have found the D800 very versatile in that regard. I've recently added my ageing VT Bass pedal to my extensive pedal chain i.e. to my Boss Tuner! The VT enables me to add a bit more sparkle and a bit more 'dig' which gives me a nice punch in the guts. I have no other experience of Mesa to compare things to, but I am very happy with my Subway rig. I was fortunate to have bought it back in May 2016 before prices became almost prohibitive. Would I buy it again? Yes, by finding some way to finance it. I would also like to try a 2 x 115 set up and the 800+, in an ideal world but as it stands, this rig meets my needs. I haven't once felt I made the wrong choice.

I still have the Road Worn Dirnt and use it for most of my gigs; just curious as to what you found disappointing about it. Hoping not to detail the Op thread. Thanks for posting, very interesting.

Thanks for sharing that link. Looks and sounds great...now the mind starts to do the sums...

Was just about to order one too as it seems to be a great bit of kit, very well priced but build issues would concern me and I do move around when playing, although not exactly swinging the bass round me head! Might wait for another while and will continue to watch this thread with interest.

Yes, it is designed with this in mind and sounds v good through phones.

I find the tone from the D800 is first class and really meets my needs. The other big attraction for me is it's simplicity...almost idiot proof....too many knobs on that new one!

Had my Subway D800 and matching 112 and 115 cabs since May. Great sounding, versatile & well built rig. Expensive, yes, overpriced? Well that's subjective. I ordered my cabs through GAK, who priced matched on the 112, I think it was £539. Any regrets? None (yet but don't really expect any). Sounds better for my purposes than my old Ampeg V4BH/610, much more portable and seems to fit our band's sound better. Agree, that on the face of it, UK vs USA prices seem ridiculous but that's not going to change any time soon in our favour. Customer service (via Talkbass, Aged Horse/Andy) is first class. Just my experience... [URL=http://s207.photobucket.com/user/spiki1969/media/2016-09-10%2021.40.26%202.jpg.html][IMG]http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb176/spiki1969/2016-09-10%2021.40.26%202.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s207.photobucket.com/user/spiki1969/media/2016-06-24%2020.39.13.jpg.html][IMG]http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb176/spiki1969/2016-06-24%2020.39.13.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s207.photobucket.com/user/spiki1969/media/2016-06-07%2012.08.40.jpg.html][IMG]http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb176/spiki1969/2016-06-07%2012.08.40.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s207.photobucket.com/user/spiki1969/media/P1110788.jpg.html][IMG]http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb176/spiki1969/P1110788.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s207.photobucket.com/user/spiki1969/media/2016-05-20%2012.59.14.jpg.html][IMG]http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb176/spiki1969/2016-05-20%2012.59.14.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

Cheers Mark. It was actually in the Burrendale Hotel. My old Ampeg sounded awful in that room but the Mesa is so much easier to EQ & sounded great.

[color=#141414][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,]I thought I would post my thoughts on my experiences with the complete Subway rig having had it a few weeks now and in the last two weeks, been able to try it out in three different environments.[/font][/color] [color=#141414][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,]The bottom line is that the amp and cabs sound fantastic and it is easy to dial in a great tone with a little experimentation.[/font][/color] [color=#141414][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,]I was initially concerned about being able to deliver loud and clear without distorting and the height of the cabs (without angling them up) but I can honestly say I don't miss my 610 cab at all, given the thump out of the 112 + 115. I haven't had to push the master beyond 1 o'clock (and I do like to feel the bass) and little tweaks on the controls yield great results.[/font][/color] [color=#141414][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,]In the first set of photos taken from a local pub, with lots of tiled flooring, wooden panelling and high ceilings, I kept the tweeter at noon and as I had the cabs raised on a seat, rolled back the high mid and treble. The sound was great and the other guys all remarked at how much clearer and distinctive it sounded in comparison to my old Ampeg rig.[/font][/color] [color=#141414][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,][url="http://s207.photobucket.com/user/spiki1969/media/P1110667_1.jpg.html"][/url][/font][/color] [color=#141414][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,][url="http://s207.photobucket.com/user/spiki1969/media/P1110666.jpg.html"][/url][/font][/color] [color=#141414][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,]Last weekend we had two weddings back to back in the same hotel. On the first night we were set up just on the floor and on the second on a raised stage. To compensate for playing in a 'dead room' I turned the tweeters up full and had the Voicing control around 3 o'clock - what a sound! Was really impressed and all the time I was playing, was chuffed that I knew I had made a fantastic purchase. [/font][/color] [color=#141414][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,]Some of the photos here will give an impression of how high the rig sits. Great to feel the cabs pushing air and moving the hairs on your arms![/font][/color] [color=#141414][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,][url="http://s207.photobucket.com/user/spiki1969/media/P1110688.jpg.html"][/url][/font][/color] [color=#141414][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,][url="http://s207.photobucket.com/user/spiki1969/media/P1110713.jpg.html"][/url][/font][/color] [color=#141414][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,][url="http://s207.photobucket.com/user/spiki1969/media/P1110788.jpg.html"][/url][/font][/color] [color=#141414][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,][url="http://s207.photobucket.com/user/spiki1969/media/P1110804.jpg.html"][/url][/font][/color] [color=#141414][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,]To finish, I received my cab covers yesterday from Roqsolid with which I'm very happy. Both fit like a glove and give a decent amount of protection. I opted for the foam guard option and I will be a lot more confident setting these in the back of our Merc van. Only wish I had Mesa logos/patches for them! Great service too from Bryn.[/font][/color] [color=#141414][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,][url="http://s207.photobucket.com/user/spiki1969/media/2016-06-07%2012.07.29.jpg.html"][/url][/font][/color] [color=#141414][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,][url="http://s207.photobucket.com/user/spiki1969/media/2016-06-07%2012.07.45.jpg.html"][/url][/font][/color] [color=#141414][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,][url="http://s207.photobucket.com/user/spiki1969/media/2016-06-07%2012.08.17.jpg.html"][/url][/font][/color] [color=#141414][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,][url="http://s207.photobucket.com/user/spiki1969/media/2016-06-07%2012.08.40.jpg.html"][/url][/font][/color]

I'm trying to avoid using the most overused adjective in recent online bass discussion threads !

Couple more photos... [URL=http://s207.photobucket.com/user/spiki1969/media/2016-05-20%2012.59.14.jpg.html][IMG]http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb176/spiki1969/2016-05-20%2012.59.14.jpg[/IMG][/URL] The cabs are quite deep [URL=http://s207.photobucket.com/user/spiki1969/media/2016-05-20%2012.58.58.jpg.html][IMG]http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb176/spiki1969/2016-05-20%2012.58.58.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s207.photobucket.com/user/spiki1969/media/2016-05-20%2012.58.29.jpg.html][IMG]http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb176/spiki1969/2016-05-20%2012.58.29.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

Not loud at all. Tbh I haven't noticed it at the gig (obviously) or practicising at home. Had the 112 at practice tonight and it coped very well. Delivers a surprising amount of low end although granted it wasn't overly loud. No deep switch engaged either. But a very solid tone. First impressions are very good but eager to get out into a normal venue which won't be for another fortnight to crank both speakers.

Cheers Frank. I can't wait to get out again and put it to the test in a more forgiving environment.

[color=#141414][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,] So, I had my first gig last night with my new Subway rig. I was looking forward to this since Wednesday when it arrived and was keen to see how it performed in a band setting.[/font][/color] [color=#141414][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,] The venue itself was quirky to say the least. A converted barge from, it seems, the earlier part of the 20th. This consists of a small reception area, restaurant/bar, and below deck, a small museum and live venue, accommodating a max of 100 people. Yesterday was a very mild day and down below, it was uncomfortably warm, with the metal side of the boat warm to the touch.[/font][/color] [color=#141414][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,] [url="http://s207.photobucket.com/user/spiki1969/media/belfast%20barge.jpg.html"][/url][/font][/color] [color=#141414][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,] [url="http://s207.photobucket.com/user/spiki1969/media/belfast-barge-1.jpeg.html"][/url][/font][/color] [color=#141414][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,] The lift in was fine and the weight of the Subway cabs were a real bous, walking over a gang plank, down two flights of stairs and across the venue. Took me a couple of minutes to set up and get a tone I was happy with.[/font][/color] [color=#141414][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,] [url="http://s207.photobucket.com/user/spiki1969/media/P1110599.jpg.html"][/url][/font][/color] [color=#141414][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,] Playing in a metal box though, does produce some audio problems and after about two songs one of the staff appeared and requested if I could turn down the bass a bit as diners upstairs were complaining - result!! So, yes the deep switch rocks the boat![/font][/color] [color=#141414][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,] Gig went well, a small intimate wedding of about 80 guests. However, over the course of our set, about two and a half hours, I was tweaking the low mid and bass settings regularly to try to reduce the reverb from the tin can. No doubt in a bricks n mortar venue things may be easier. I brought the stack - how could I not - and had plenty of volume/headroom if needed.[/font][/color] [color=#141414][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,] [url="http://s207.photobucket.com/user/spiki1969/media/P1110618.jpg.html"][/url][/font][/color] [color=#141414][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,] I was impressed by the rig and how it performed but look forward to our next gig to get a more representative impression. Today, I stuck my VT Bass pedal in front of it and really liked the scooped tone I dialled in but feel for the money I have spent, about £2000 Sterling, I don't want to have to use a £100 pedal to get my tone. All in all, I'm happy but with more familiarity with the controls and these cabs (quite a difference from my old Ampeg 610) I am expecting to get the best out of it. Hope you've enjoyed this mini review.[/font][/color]

[quote name='FuNkShUi' timestamp='1463122999' post='3048719'] I've never played through a Mesa amp or cab, but that is a cracking looking rig Nice [/quote] Neither had I!! No decent shops over here to try out top end gear, so bought based on Talkbass recommendations and Youtube videos, which I'll never sound like, ha ha. The head is great for the tone I was after. It just makes every string sound thick, rings out clearly and balanced...feels a bit like stringing your bass with suspension cables!

Thanks Muzz. Don't know if I will use it vertically. Sitting horizontally it comes to about waist height and is only about 4 or 5 inches short than my 610. But nice to have the choice.