Mesa Boogie Bass-800D Bass Amp Head

The MESA/Boogie® Bass 400+, the apex model of MESA’s long-running and storied valve bass amplifier line, reigned supreme throughout the 1980s and 1990s among players seeking to elevate their tone with a boutique-class valve head. Featuring a supremely musical valve preamp, a powerful 7-band graphic EQ, a mighty bank of twelve 6L6 output valves, and a power supply designed to deliver instantaneous pitch, punch, and power on demand, exceptional bass tone was guaranteed. Top artists across genres—from jazz, R&B, funk, and blues to stadium rock, including Sir Paul McCartney—chose the 400+ for its tone both on stage and in the studio, praising its defined attack, clear pitch, and dynamic, lead-the-band character.

Now, the classic receives a modern update, keeping pace with contemporary needs while preserving the nuanced tone of the original, all without the cumbersome size and weight. Introducing the MESA/Boogie Bass-800D, a Class D-powered reimagining of the Bass 400+, combining its sound and attributes with highlights from the successful Subway line of bass products. The valve preamp follows the architecture and sonic cues of the 400+, along with Boogie® Channel topography from the popular Subway TT-800. Additional gain and refined tweaks have been incorporated to achieve an even warmer, valve-enhanced character and expanded capability for subtle, musically relevant overdrive.

The 400’s graphic EQ has been retired in favour of more relevant, simplicity-focused switches offering voicing options proven ideal and preferred by players in the Subway range. These include Preamp Gain – LOW and HIGH – along with DEEP and BRIGHT switches, each with bypass functionality, all conveniently located on the front panel. These controls are tailored to deliver exactly what is needed quickly and effectively, without the intricate adjustments graphic EQs often require. These intuitive features are complemented by the addition of the popular HIGH PASS rotary control, which allows users to dial out sub-lows that can clutter a mix or reduce cohesion in overdrive, all while maintaining musical integrity.

Further welcome upgrades from the original include speakON®-style locking speaker outputs, a comprehensive impedance switch offering 2, 4, and 8 Ohm operation to suit various cabinet configurations, a headphone output, a mute remote-triggering jack, AUX IN and TUNER OUT jacks, and a convenient USB device power jack.

Now, bassists can enjoy the iconic valve tone and warm, musical character of the Bass 400+ with enhanced overdrive potential, paired with the stunning power, clarity, and time-domain accuracy of the Subway line’s top Class D models. All these benefits are packed into a compact, travel-ready head that’s easy to transport and gentle on gear. The MESA/Boogie Bass-800D brings forward valve design and Boogie bass tone for a new generation of players, honouring the legacy while inspiring what they strive for and aspire to in their music.