Bass Tube Amps vs Solid State Amps!!!! Featuring the Mesa Subway D-800 and the Mesa Prodigy Four:88

[@rmbryan9863]

Awesome video of comparing the two. Great bass lines as well. I have the WD-800 and absolutely enjoy it! Cheers!

[@Cap683]

I remember hearing a country flavored band in 1977 in the Washington D.C. area and the bass player was somehow able to get enough money together to perchase and Ampeg SVT. They of course were not a very loud band but the bass sounded like it was coming out of a giant stereo. There was a sonic realism to the bass guitar that was amazing and seemed to equally present in every part of the club (The Birchmere) in Alexandria. HIs Precision Bass strung with flat wounds just sounded so present. Many Audiophiles have tube amps for that holographic presentation. I personally use a class D amp for the reasons stated here but tubes have a certain magic.

[@Kraz3e987]

This man really hit us with Sonic baseline and no one is talking about it 😂, Awesome video btw! Not many comparisons of this type

[@marciosouza8656]

Great video Man! Those tubes tone are amazing............

[@ianstrickland5280]

nice video! i love the tube sound, super gritty and growly, i currently have a mesa basis M2000 and picking up a bass 400+ this weekend!

[@mobbinator]

I've always wanted to try the basis. How do you like it?

[@ianstrickland5280]

@@mobbinator love it! ive owned it for about a year now, i mainly only use the tube channel but it complements my warwicks and darkglass pedals very well, plus im a EQ freak, so i really enjoying having the 9 band graphic EQs for each channel. and this thing is LOUD. i highly recommend it.

[@jesuguru2394]

Prodigy sounds so much better it's not even funny. Ain't no substitute for tubez! Appreciate the vid.

[@pacoi6861]

Good job, Martin.

[@evzzs]

Excellent video!! Thanks!!

[@haskellthompson6310]

I like the ultra clean sound of the subway I have a 350 watt but prefer my hartke lh1000 sound more only bass amps with tubes I liked for my style was the superbassman and Marshall VBA 400 mesaboogie quality is great but I use effects to dirty up my signal as I see fit. Great playing keep it up

[@anahowana]

The Prodigy is where it's at.

[@jackbassII]

To my ears, I have to say the Prodigy. It's warmer and fuller.

[@haskellthompson6310]

Dark glass micro tubes is a great choice too

[@666thsense]

i have the 800 plus and i wish i could find a strategy, but would settle for a prodigy

[@briankrueger1142]

Thanks for the comparison. Prodigy all the way!

[@RH-xs8gz]

Mesa amps are so musical!

[@jmsmikey]

Omg those glowing strings~ I'm guessing they are DR Neons~ I think red would look even better!

[@mobbinator]

Yup! I'm going to do the rainbow ones next

[@kensharonyoga]

It's a shame Mesa discontinued Bass Prodigy amps so quickly. I've been trying to get a TT800 since 2019: Mesa aren't sending any to the UK!

[@mobbinator]

I've been tempted to try one of those. Hopefully they can get some to the UK

[@alexdunn8181]

Thanks for posting this. Really enjoyed how thoroughly you contrasted between the two. Gotta say I love the warm grit sound of the tube. The solid state is too clean sounding. But I agree that the Prodigy should stay at home, especially how scarce those heads are now lol. Do you gig with the Powerhouse 2x10? I was interested in Subway cabs and wondered how the Subway cabs would pair with the Prodigy.

[@mobbinator]

Gigging wise I always used whatever cabs they had around. A 2x10 didn't usually cut it for a heavy rock application, but a 4x10 was always more than plenty for me. I haven't tried the subway cabs but I'm sure they would work well with the prodigy. The one I have is the powerhouse traditional 2x10 with the tweeter if that helps

[@mobbinator]

This video might help you. I think they're using the subway 2x10. It's the same video that i referenced when deciding to buy it 😅 kzbin.info/www/bejne/n3uulXprdpWnd9E

[@mwanichi]

I used the Mesa D800 live with a punk rock band. I could tell in the first song that it couldn't keep up. Tube all day.

[@mobbinator]

Really? I'm surprised. It worked fine for me in a metal band. What cabs were you running through?

[@mwanichi]

@@mobbinator Trace Elliot 2 x 15. I used my Fender Bassman 300 (all tube) at the next gig and it was explosive. I am not sold on Class D power sections. My two cents. Great video! That Bass Prodigy sounds INCREDIBLE.

[@mobbinator]

@@mwanichi can't argue with that!

[@rmbryan9863]

Some... not all 15" speakers are not too responsive to certain styles of music. It is all about " moving air". Trace is NOT what they used to be. I have owned Plenty of Trace gear over my music career. The original stuff was awesome. Your speakers may your weakest link. But IMHO the D-800 is not the "best" Mesa Class D out there that Mesa makes at the moment. The D-800 and the D-800+ along with the WD800, also the TT800..... all have different voicings. I use the WD800 at 2 OHMS with a Subway 210,212 and 115 stacked and keep up with the worlds loudest drummer and two double stack guitar players. class D's are where it is at at the moment for me. Good Luck and Cheers!

[@mwanichi]

@@rmbryan9863 My SVT thru my Trace cab (one of the originals) is the Mount Everest of bass tone. So good.

[@Montrealestjazzmanouche]

What strings are you using?

[@mobbinator]

DR Neon Green

[@Montrealestjazzmanouche]

@@mobbinator They sound great. Good demo btw. Thanks

[@LB-ko6qw]

The tube amp sounds better

[@igormahilum8841]

FedEx sponsors MB

[@mobbinator]

😅 I work for FedEx

[@allsic]

There is more tone...

[@lewisyouknow]

Cant see the point in you having the tube amp, at all

[@mobbinator]

@@lewisyouknow because I like it 😅

[@lewisyouknow]

@@mobbinator I like chocolate, I like alcohol, I like naked women......

[@crimsontowerfullmoon8646]

@lewis Good for you. And he likes tubes. So good for him too.