Classic Bass 400+ Tones, Elevated with Subway Series Upgrades
Combining a tube-driven preamp with an 800-watt Class D power section, the Mesa/Boogie Bass 800D provides you with all the punch of the legendary Bass 400+ in a far more compact and road-ready package. In essence, the Bass 800D represents a melding of the Bass 400+’s (Mesa’s flagship bass head of the ’80s and ’90s) tube preamp architecture with the stage-ready appointments of Mesa/Boogie’s Subway series of amplifiers — foremost of which is a Class D amplifier section with warm, rich tube emulation circuitry. In lieu of the Bass 400+’s complex graphic EQ, the Bass 800D boasts a set of switches (Low/High gain, Deep, and Bright) to quickly tweak your tone, enhanced further by a robust 3-band EQ. Moreover, the Bass 800D also comes equipped with a rotary Highpass control to trim out unwanted sub-bass mud. Flip the amp around, and you’ll be greeted by top-of-the-line speakON outputs, a balanced DI output, an effects loop, and a 3-way Impedance switch to connect to the cab of your choice with ease. It all adds up to a high-performance powerhouse of low-end amplification that’s ready to rock any arena, supplying you with the best of both tube-driven warmth and crisp Class D clarity.
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A modern update of the Mesa/Boogie Bass 400+
The Bass 800D continues the legacy of Mesa/Boogie’s lauded Bass 400+ amp head, with a much-welcome collection of mods and tweaks to deliver the beloved tone of the original with a more modernized setup. Ample proof of that heritage is found in the Bass 800D’s tube preamp section, which follows the same architecture as the Bass 400+.
However, the Bass 800D’s 800-watt roar draws from a high-performance Class D amplifier pulled from Mesa/Boogie’s superb Subway lineup instead of mirroring the Bass 400+'s massive 12 x 6L6 power section. Not only does this change dramatically reduce the Bass 800D’s weight and dimensions, but it also supplies sharpened clarity and power — all without compromising on the Bass 400+’s dynamic and musical low-end character, thanks to its tube-emulated circuitry.
Streamlined and stage-ready EQ section
Compared to the full-scale graphic equalizer of the original Bass 400+, the Mesa/Boogie Bass 800D streamlines your tone shaping with a trio of switches. These comprise a preamp gain Low/High switch, a Deep switch, and a Bright switch, all positioned directly above the tone controls for easy access. Moreover, the Bass 800D also ups the ante with a Highpass rotary control that allows you to eliminate muddy sub-lows with ease. It all comes together to form a robust EQ section that grants you all the potential of the Bass 400+’s graphic EQ, only with far more stage-friendly adjustability.
Rock-solid speakON outputs
A heavy-duty set of speakON outputs further bolsters the Mesa/Boogie Bass 800D’s road-ready formula with rock-solid, locking connections. Further upgrades include a 3-way Impedance switch — a favorite feature of Sweetwater’s tone tweakers, as it allows you to effortlessly audition your Bass 800D with a variety of speaker cab configurations. It’s all finished off with a handy headphone output, a switch to remotely trigger the head’s mute function, an aux input, a tuner out, and a convenient USB device power jack.
Mesa/Boogie Bass 800D Features:
- A tour-ready amplifier head that builds upon the classic Mesa/Boogie Bass 400+ with updates from the road-proven Subway lineup
- Harmonic-rich tube preamp inspired by the preamp architecture of the Bass 400+
- 800W Class D power section delivers a thunderous level of low-end firepower and a clear, crisp definition
- Power section features tube emulation circuitry to capture the tone of the original Bass 400+
- Powerful 3-band EQ to shape your sound, further enhanced by a Low/High gain switch, a Deep switch, and a Bright switch
- Rotary Highpass control trims unwanted mud from your signal
- FX loop to cleanly integrate your favorite stompboxes
- Stereo speaker outputs with rock-solid speakON jacks
- Phantom-power-protected balanced DI out makes it a breeze to go direct
- 3-way Impedance switch offers 2-, 4-, and 8-ohm options to connect to just about any bass cab
- Versatile I/O section includes an aux input, a tuner output, a headphone jack, and a footswitchable mute function
- Built-in ground lift, Line/Mic switch, and Post-/Pre-EQ switch
- Onboard fan cooling to ensure optimal performance
- Heavy-duty metal enclosure is ready to meet the rigors of the road
