Mesa Boogie Bass 800D

[Merton]

This looks very very cool

 

https://www.gibson.com/en-gb/blogs/gibson-gazette/how-the-mesa-boogie-bass-800d-channels-50-years-of-bass-amp-innovation

[Beedster]

Oooh, lovely Boogie retro 👍

[ProjeKtWEREWOLF]

Oh, I like the look of that.....and switchable impedance down to 2 ohms. 

[chris_b]

I wonder if this is the work of @agedhorse ?

[Beedster]

3 minutes ago, chris_b said:

I wonder if this is the work of @agedhorse ?

I’m hoping he’ll be along to confirm, either way nice to see a small amp that doesn’t look the same as all the other small amps…

[Pow_22]

valve pre-amp and class D power?  Looks nice but hasnt this already been done to death?

[Musicman20]

42 minutes ago, Pow_22 said:

valve pre-amp and class D power?  Looks nice but hasnt this already been done to death?

It has, but Mesa are a different breed and these are all built in the USA (not that it is a big deal really as any country can make a great amp).

 

For 999, I think that is reasonable. I expected more. 

 

I am interested in this.

[thodrik]

I do like the tone controls, simple layout and overall retro look.

 

£999 is good for a Mesa bass amp. My Walkabout combo cost me about £1500 quid in 2008, and the Big Block 750 I really wanted at the time was £1800 which is more expensive than any of the current heads in 2025. 

 

This is very much the Mesa amp I would be looking at if I was going to get another one, unless they release a class D Big Block...
 

[agedhorse]

8 hours ago, chris_b said:

I wonder if this is the work of @agedhorse ?

 

8 hours ago, Beedster said:

I’m hoping he’ll be along to confirm, either way nice to see a small amp that doesn’t look the same as all the other small amps…

Correct, this is my work.

 

8 hours ago, Pow_22 said:

valve pre-amp and class D power?  Looks nice but hasnt this already been done to death?

Good question and I agree (in general) somewhat, but we now have 3 different hybrid models, and all 3 are very different from each other in tone, texture and feel. The WD-800 is modeled after the Walkabout, with the updates that many players asked for, this amp is modeled after the Bass 400+ with significant player driven updates as well.

 

I spend most of my time over at TalkBass, there were over 300 players over there that provided input on what they would like to see if we were to do an amp like this, and a LOT of the suggestions made it into the final version. 

 

Here's a link to the thread, there are informative comments and a couple of our test players have contributed to the thread, including some gig videos. For a (refreshing to me) change, we deemphesized the obligatory bass slap w**ker videos because that's not representative of real life, and instead are focusing on gig and studio demos. I would expect  there to be more of these in the next week or two, once players receive their amps.

 

I also begged for better EU access to these amps (we all share your frustration), and it looks like making a fool of myself groveling may have produced results! Thomann says they will have them available within the week on their website.

 

Here's a link to the thread:

(sorry, link won't embed)

 

Here's a link to the owner's manual:

https://www.gibson.com/cdn/shop/files/MESA_Boogie_Bass-800D_Product_Manual.pdf?v=14438764719515208578

 

 

 

 

Edited 15 hours ago by agedhorse

[Beedster]

8 hours ago, agedhorse said:

Correct, this is my work

 

Thanks Andy, nice work 👍

[Steve Browning]

Excellent stuff, @agedhorse Andy. I'd like to look at that, if only Rebecca (UK office) would actually get back to me as promised!!!

[ossyrocks]

Andertons and Peach are both offering this at a cheaper price than Thomann.

 

Another one to add to the "must try one of these" list!

 

Rob

[thodrik]

Great manual as well. Mesa generally do very good manuals which deliver technical information in a really player-friendly manner. 

I normally expect to see selectable mid frequencies on modern amps, so it is nearly refreshing to see an amp with simple pre-set bass, middle and treble controls like an old school valve amp. 

Yepp, definitely on my list.