The Mesa Boogie Subway D-800 is a Mesa Boogie amplifier. Close alternatives include the Airis Effects SPEC-Defier and the Mooer Micro Preamp 008 Cali 3. It pairs well with the ProCo RAT 2 and the Carl Martin Crunch Drive.
Mesa Boogie Subway D-800
Mesa Boogie · amplifier
The Mesa Boogie Subway D-800 is an ultra-compact, 800-watt Class D bass amp head weighing 5.5 pounds, roughly double the output of the smaller D-350 in a still remarkably lightweight package a little over 3 inches tall and 10 inches wide. It shares the D-350's solid-state preamp and lightweight Class D power amp architecture with switch-mode power supply, but adds an active cooling fan to handle its higher sustained output, along with a Deep switch (versus the D-350's Bright switch) for low-end tonal shaping.
- headroom
- bright
- stage
- bass
- preamp
- cut
- clear
- massive
Good for
- Live
Genres the Mesa Boogie Subway D-800 is commonly used in
- Surf Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Pedals that stack with the Mesa Boogie Subway D-800
ProCo RAT 2
Proco
33% matchPush the Subway D-800's bright, cutting preamp with the RAT's low-gain drive for aggressive, stage-ready bass grit.
Carl Martin Crunch Drive
Carl Martin
30% matchThe Subway D-800's bright, cutting headroom gives the Crunch Drive's British valve crunch a clear amp voice to push into.
Carl Martin PlexiTone
Carl Martin
30% matchPush the D-800's clear, high-headroom low end with the PlexiTone's British high-gain breakup for a rock-voiced drive at big venues.
Boss CE-2 Chorus
Boss
20% matchThe Subway D-800's clear low end leaves plenty of headroom for the CE-2's liquid chorus to shimmer without getting swallowed.
Vox Valvenergy Silk Drive
Vox
16% matchThe Silk Drive's tube-style compression smooths out pick attack before the D-800's headroom-forward preamp ever sees the signal.
Maxon AD10 Analog Delay
Maxon
12% matchRun the AD10's warm, real-feeling delay in the Subway D-800's loop so its repeats sit after the amp's own headroom-forward EQ, not before it. — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Binson Echorec Delay
Binson
12% matchLoop the Echorec into the D-800's effects path and its echoes stay clear of that massive low end till after the preamp. — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Boss OD-3 Overdrive
Boss
tonal matchInto Mesa Boogie Subway D-800, Boss OD-3 Overdrive is right at home: it's built around a clean amp's front end
Alternativessee all similar tone character →
Airis Effects SPEC-Defier
Airis Effects
72% similarityAiris Effects SPEC-Defier recreates this amp's tone in pedal form
Mooer Micro Preamp 008 Cali 3
Mooer
72% similarityMooer Micro Preamp 008 Cali 3 recreates this amp's tone in pedal form
Universal Audio knuckles
Universal Audio
72% similarityUniversal Audio knuckles recreates this amp's tone in pedal form
TC Electronic Dual Wreck Preamp
TC Electronic
72% similarityTC Electronic Dual Wreck Preamp recreates this amp's tone in pedal form
Mesa Boogie Subway D-350
Mesa Boogie
70% similarity“As the smaller sibling to the D-800, it's the choice for players not needing that model's higher headroom”
Peavey Max 300
Peavey
93% similaritysimilar tone character
Trace Elliot TE-1200
Trace Elliot
93% similaritysimilar tone character
Hiwatt Bulldog 440SH 400W Bass Head
Hiwatt
93% similaritysimilar tone character
Blackstar Unity Bass U500
Blackstar
92% similaritysimilar tone character
Hiwatt Bulldog 440 Head
Hiwatt
92% similaritysimilar tone character
Blackstar Unity 500
Blackstar
92% similaritysimilar tone character
Peavey MAX 250 250W 1x15 Bass Combo
Peavey
92% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Mesa Boogie Subway D-800 (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Mesa Boogie Subway D-800?+
The closest matches in character are the Airis Effects SPEC-Defier, the Mooer Micro Preamp 008 Cali 3, the Universal Audio knuckles.
What pairs well with the Mesa Boogie Subway D-800?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: ProCo RAT 2, Carl Martin Crunch Drive, Carl Martin PlexiTone — Push the Subway D-800's bright, cutting preamp with the RAT's low-gain drive for aggressive, stage-ready bass grit..