Searching for the most grindy Mesa Boogie SS amp and cab combination

[agedhorse]

There’s no problem servicing any Subway product. Nothing has changed.

 

[TUEP]

Most of AIC's Mike Starr / Mike Inez bass tone is the result of the Spector an Ampeg SVT2 Pro and a Tech 21 BDDI.
Justin Chancellor couldn't be further from that tone as he is primarily using GK 2001 RB heads and a variety of Rat style OD's.

I'd suggest a versatile OD pedal such as the SA Aftershock or perhaps a Darkglass B3K.

Starr used a Spector NS-1 through a non-pro Ampeg SVT-2 , an Art nightbass digital effects unit in the studio. Sometimes a Kramer Ferrington AEB bass with a chorus effect.

 

[4stringmf]

There’s no problem servicing any Subway product. Nothing has changed.

Hi @agedhorse , I'm sorry I wasn't clear, but I was referring to the MPulse line. Thanks!

 

[jairasj]

I'm a metal player. I have been using my M-pulse 360 for almost 20 years and I still love it to death. For me I have a couple of pedals for fuzz and distortion to dirty up my sound. These head really take dirt pedals well.
I've been on the fence for years now on whether to get my hands on the 600W version or go the route of the WD-800 (tested it one time and loved it). I also have newer walkabout as well. I really really love the compressor on my amp.
Now my dilemma gets more sketchy, hearing that spare parts for amps like mine are going "extinct"? And the fact it seems things may be changing at Mesa with the recent news earlier this week. For what the WD is, I hope I can at least get into MP 360/600 territory. I may perhaps just by both.

The M-Pulse 600 and the WD-800 definitely sound in the the same ballpark from what I've tested. I love the sound of the MP600 and his compressor, but I think I like more the more simpler EQ on the WD-800 and the newer features as the HPF and the Damp control.

When my M-pulse returns from the repair, I will try to trade it into a Big Block 750 to compare with the WD-800 and decide which one I'll keep. It is so hard to find decent clips demoing the BB750, but I am very curious to hear how it sounds in my setup, and paired with the SW115. Oh, and I am still very curious about the TT-800, I really think that it would be the GOAT for my needs, but it is not available here .

 

[4stringmf]

@jairasj
Well thanks to @Dan Robbins I pulled the trigger and bought a WD-800 from him today. You were absolutely right, I was able to get into the ballpark of the M-Pulse very easily. Awesome amp. And you absolutely nailed it in regards to the break up of the preamp tube being at the same as the M-Pulse , which I am really happy about. He showed me a trick to get extra grit that you may be looking for..... My pickups are active, and when I switch the the toggle from active to passive , the sound gets VERY gritty. Try that if you haven't discovered that yet.
What's missing from this amp is the jewel power light and the very nice compressor the MP had.

 

[agedhorse]

@jairasj
Well thanks to @Dan Robbins I pulled the trigger and bought a WD-800 from him today. You were absolutely right, I was able to get into the ballpark of the M-Pulse very easily. Awesome amp. And you absolutely nailed it in regards to the break up of the preamp tube being at the same as the M-Pulse , which I am really happy about. He showed me a trick to get extra grit that you may be looking for..... My pickups are active, and when I switch the the toggle from active to passive , the sound gets VERY gritty. Try that if you haven't discovered that yet.
What's missing from this amp is the jewel power light and the very nice compressor the MP had.

What’s also missing is about 15 lbs.

 

[4stringmf]

The jewel light is key ...but you did a hell of a job on this masterpiece @agedhorse

 

[jairasj]

@jairasj
Well thanks to @Dan Robbins I pulled the trigger and bought a WD-800 from him today. You were absolutely right, I was able to get into the ballpark of the M-Pulse very easily. Awesome amp. And you absolutely nailed it in regards to the break up of the preamp tube being at the same as the M-Pulse , which I am really happy about. He showed me a trick to get extra grit that you may be looking for..... My pickups are active, and when I switch the the toggle from active to passive , the sound gets VERY gritty. Try that if you haven't discovered that yet.
What's missing from this amp is the jewel power light and the very nice compressor the MP had.

Glad that my posts were useful!
I am aware and using the active/passive toggle trick depending on the bass that I am using. I never was a fan of these ""-15db pads"" in general, but in the WD-800 case it is really magical how it does not suck nothing from the tone. I am loving how many features of this amp can be "hacked" to extend the possibilities to people who want more fine tuning.

 

[DJ Bebop]

Glad that my posts were useful!
I am aware and using the active/passive toggle trick depending on the bass that I am using. I never was a fan of these -15db pads in general, but in the WD-800 case it is really magical how it does not suck nothing from the tone. I am loving how many features of this amp can be "hacked" to extend the possibilities to people who want more fine tuning.

“A tweaker’s dream if I ever did see one.
Lord lord who, lordy lordy whoo!”

 

[agedhorse]

Glad that my posts were useful!
I am aware and using the active/passive toggle trick depending on the bass that I am using. I never was a fan of these -15db pads in general, but in the WD-800 case it is really magical how it does not suck nothing from the tone. I am loving how many features of this amp can be "hacked" to extend the possibilities to people who want more fine tuning.

The “pad” circuit on the Subway amps are not the typical pad circuit used on many other amps. It directly reduces the gain of the circuit rather than attenuate the input signal (which loads the pickup and impacts tone).

It’s also not 15sB, which is an awful lot of reduction.

 

[jairasj]

The “pad” circuit on the Subway amps are not the typical pad circuit used on many other amps. It directly reduces the gain of the circuit rather than attenuate the input signal (which loads the pickup and impacts tone).

It’s also not 15sB, which is an awful lot of reduction.

I missed the quotes on the "-15dB" part, because it looks like what the majority of the amps do when them sucks all of the tone.. Sorry!

 

[agedhorse]

I missed the quotes on the "-15dB" part, because it looks like what the majority of the amps do when them sucks all of the tone.. Sorry!

Some amps use 15dB, the Subway amps are between 9 & 12dB iirc.