Mesa Boogie Bass 800D

[Beedster]

5 minutes ago, agedhorse said:

....and personally it's something that I would like to do... in part to honor my dad's memory since he started his engineering career during the (all) tube era designing servo amplifiers (which are similar to audio amplifiers). He then went on to handle spacecraft attitude control on the Mariner Mars project which allowed him to step away from strictly hardware design and into the control systems side of servo theory. My dad passed away 2 years ago at the age of 90, this was the last amp that he provided his insight on (he remained interested in engineering and math until his death). It's also why I followed in his engineering footsteps at university.

 

Thanks for that Andy, a really nice story. I'd guess that the success of the Ampeg small format all-tube models from the PF-20 through the 50 and up to the V4B suggests that there is a market for all tube heads below the more usual 300w plus, in part perhaps because for example the post power stage DI on some of the models makes them a far simpler gigging and recording proposition? I have to say I'm currently looking down the back of the sofa to see if I can scrape the cash for the 800D, had it been the all-tube model I initially thought it was, I'd be parked outside Anderton's already    

[Obrienp]

Is the EQ section passive? The way the numbers are arranged on the controls would suggest it is. 

[agedhorse]

1 hour ago, Obrienp said:

Is the EQ section passive? The way the numbers are arranged on the controls would suggest it is. 

Yes, it's based on a modification of the Fender tonestack but it also has make-up gain within the circuit so it behaves a little more predictably, with less interaction.

[Sean]

Well, I've learned a lot. I didn't know the WD-800 is based on the Walkabout.  I've got one (a WA) and it's one of my favourites. It's currently waiting to be picked up from The Amp Hospital after having some TLC. When I pick it up I'll be dropping off my 400+ for investigation. Now, the Amp Hospital is about a mile or so from Andertons and with a following wind they'll probably have an 800D there by the time I go. 

You can see where this is going...

 

A question (or 2) for @agedhorse if I may. BD-800 or 800D? What do the letters stand for? D, BD, TT, WD? 

 

Edited yesterday at 07:39 by Sean

[chris_b]

3 hours ago, Sean said:

. . . .  the Amp Hospital is about a mile or so from Andertons. . . .

 

 

That was a new one on me, but they are also called Surrey Amps.

[Sean]

29 minutes ago, chris_b said:

 

That was a new one on me, but they are also called Surrey Amps.

I think it must be a 'trading as' situation

https://amphospital.co.uk/

 

Anyway, they are authorised repairers of many leading brands, have an excellent reputation with lots of touring bands and since MJW Amplification ceased trading (retired), it's the only place I trust with my Mesa amps. Dennis the Legend is just too far away for me although his reputation is on a par with Stan. 

[ossyrocks]

11 minutes ago, Sean said:

I think it must be a 'trading as' situation

https://amphospital.co.uk/

 

Anyway, they are authorised repairers of many leading brands, have an excellent reputation with lots of touring bands and since MJW Amplification ceased trading (retired), it's the only place I trust with my Mesa amps. Dennis the Legend is just too far away for me although his reputation is on a par with Stan. 

I have an old GK amp which needs looking at. Surrey Amps have been recommended, but they are very far away from me. Who is Dennis the Legend?

[Sean]

28 minutes ago, ossyrocks said:

I have an old GK amp which needs looking at. Surrey Amps have been recommended, but they are very far away from me. Who is Dennis the Legend?

dennismarshall.co.uk 

 

He was the official Mesa service technician in the UK for years and is renowned for his encyclopedic knowledge and ability to fix even the most desperate amps. He's in Dunfermline. 

[ossyrocks]

1 hour ago, Sean said:

dennismarshall.co.uk 

 

He was the official Mesa service technician in the UK for years and is renowned for his encyclopedic knowledge and ability to fix even the most desperate amps. He's in Dunfermline. 

Thanks for the info, unfortunately he's also a very long way away, just in the opposite direction!

 

[agedhorse]

3 hours ago, Sean said:

I think it must be a 'trading as' situation

https://amphospital.co.uk/

 

Anyway, they are authorised repairers of many leading brands, have an excellent reputation with lots of touring bands and since MJW Amplification ceased trading (retired), it's the only place I trust with my Mesa amps. Dennis the Legend is just too far away for me although his reputation is on a par with Stan. 

I have known Stan for years, he’s one of the best service engineers in the UK and maybe all of Europe IME. 

[agedhorse]

7 hours ago, Sean said:

Well, I've learned a lot. I didn't know the WD-800 is based on the Walkabout.  I've got one (a WA) and it's one of my favourites. It's currently waiting to be picked up from The Amp Hospital after having some TLC. When I pick it up I'll be dropping off my 400+ for investigation. Now, the Amp Hospital is about a mile or so from Andertons and with a following wind they'll probably have an 800D there by the time I go. 

You can see where this is going...

 

A question (or 2) for @agedhorse if I may. BD-800 or 800D? What do the letters stand for? D, BD, TT, WD? 

 

D is the original solid state preamp, compact chassis. 350W or 800W

 

WD is Walkabout, class D, 800W

BD is Bass 400, class D, 800W

TT is Tri-Tube Topology, class D, 800W (I wanted to name it TD, but that name is already trademarked by Lab Gruupen, used in class TD) 😥

[Mudpup]

Does the amp use an Icepower module or is it a proprietary design?

[Russ]

Just saw this. As someone who owned a Bass 400+ back in the day (probably the best-sounding bass head I ever owned), I love the look of it and I'm looking forward to trying one out. 

 

Now, how can I persuade Mesa to make a lightweight version of the old 1516 cab?  

@agedhorse How about a downsized version, with 1x12”, 1x8”, 2x5” and a tweeter, with lightweight neo speakers? With the proper Mesa/Boogie badges, not the Mesa Engineering ones.  

Edited 16 hours ago by Russ

[agedhorse]

2 hours ago, Mudpup said:

Does the amp use an Icepower module or is it a proprietary design?

The same ICEPower module used in all of the other Subway 800 watt models, but they all use different control algorithms for managing overdrive, therefore they all feel differently.

[chris_b]

As an ex-400+ owner I'm going to have to check this out!!

[agedhorse]

7 hours ago, Russ said:

Just saw this. As someone who owned a Bass 400+ back in the day (probably the best-sounding bass head I ever owned), I love the look of it and I'm looking forward to trying one out. 

 

Now, how can I persuade Mesa to make a lightweight version of the old 1516 cab?  

@agedhorse How about a downsized version, with 1x12”, 1x8”, 2x5” and a tweeter, with lightweight neo speakers? With the proper Mesa/Boogie badges, not the Mesa Engineering ones.  

I have actually designed some Subway multi-driver cabinets but there wasn't much interest even though a couple of the designs were really quite good (articulate while retaining some flavor). Oh well, the customers drive this ship, not enough customer interest equals "pull the plug". 

 

It's unlikely to see the old Boogie badge on the bass cabinets, The Mesa Engineering was selected starting about 25 years ago. We do have some Boogie badges on our factory store website so that you could customize your own cabinets however.

[agedhorse]

There are now some player produced videos and audio clips of the amp, some really good ones actually. They are on TalkBass  (amps & cabs, new boogie release thread, pages 17-19-ish), I can't link them here unfortunately.

 

I would like to hear what you can do here once they start getting into your hands, please post your videos and clips.

[Chimike]

Deposit Paid, off to Andersons today , Just in case they manage to get these amps in as listed on time.

I have to mention, this is NOT normal for me . I seldom buy new ('cos I love old valve amps ),

But the confidence inspired by "Agedhorse's " helpful and informative attitude, and the design remit , that so reflects my requirements,

Simply too hard to resist ! I have every confidence it will sound Fabulous.

PLUS What a Looker !  Classic !

 

[Russ]

7 hours ago, agedhorse said:

I have actually designed some Subway multi-driver cabinets but there wasn't much interest even though a couple of the designs were really quite good (articulate while retaining some flavor). Oh well, the customers drive this ship, not enough customer interest equals "pull the plug". 

 

It's unlikely to see the old Boogie badge on the bass cabinets, The Mesa Engineering was selected starting about 25 years ago. We do have some Boogie badges on our factory store website so that you could customize your own cabinets however.

Mesa has a custom shop, does it not?  Might it be worth having a word with them as an interested party? 

 

Personally, I just love the idea of a complete, downsized version of my late-90s/early-2000s rig that’d be a bit easier on my pentagenarian back! And Ampeg have made a mint out of downsized SVTs for years… just saying. 

[Beedster]

16 hours ago, Russ said:

Now, how can I persuade Mesa to make a lightweight version of the old 1516 cab? 

 

Wouldn't work, part of the tone was the direct result of the gravitational field that was itself the result of the mass of the cab 

[Beedster]

5 hours ago, Chimike said:

Deposit Paid, off to Andersons today , Just in case they manage to get these amps in as listed on time.

I have to mention, this is NOT normal for me . I seldom buy new ('cos I love old valve amps ),

But the confidence inspired by "Agedhorse's " helpful and informative attitude, and the design remit , that so reflects my requirements,

Simply too hard to resist ! I have every confidence it will sound Fabulous.

PLUS What a Looker !  Classic !

 

Now then, when a man who holds more Mesa stock than do Mesa buys a new Mesa unit we should all sit up and take notice 👍

[thodrik]

1 hour ago, Beedster said:

 

Wouldn't work, part of the tone was the direct result of the gravitational field that was itself the result of the mass of the cab 

This is also the case with my Powerhouse 6x10. 

[Russ]

1 hour ago, Beedster said:

 

Wouldn't work, part of the tone was the direct result of the gravitational field that was itself the result of the mass of the cab 

From my experience, they do have a noticeable seismic impact on the surrounding area. My neighbours hated me when I had the 400+ and the 1516! 

 

I just think that this head deserves a matching cab, complete with the Mesa/Boogie logo, the grid plate grille and so on, but in the Subway style - ie, lightweight and portable for people who don't have a big car and who value the integrity of their vertebrae.  

[Beedster]

32 minutes ago, Russ said:

From my experience, they do have a noticeable seismic impact on the surrounding area. My neighbours hated me when I had the 400+ and the 1516! 

I must dig out my two 1516 stories, one in which it broke the singer’s car, the other in which it created its own horizon rendering it apparently invisible to the human eye 👍

[Beedster]

35 minutes ago, Russ said:

I just think that this head deserves a matching cab, complete with the Mesa/Boogie logo, the grid plate grille and so on, but in the Subway style - ie, lightweight and portable for people who don't have a big car and who value the integrity of their vertebrae.  

I agree entirely 👍