The new Bass-800D is an upgrade of the classic Bass 400+, now available in a modern and compact package.
Mesa/Boogie has brought one of bass history’s most revered amplifiers into the modern era with the Bass-800D. This is a complete reimagining of the iconic Bass 400+ that ruled the stage throughout the ’80s and ’90s, now packed into a lightweight Class D head that won’t wreak havoc on your spine.
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The original Bass 400+ was the apex of Mesa’s tube bass amplifier line during its 20-year production run. With its supremely musical tube preamp, powerful 7-band graphic EQ, and bank of 12 x 6L6 output tubes, it became the go-to choice for world-class bassists. Sir Paul McCartney was among the artists who relied on its defined attack, clear pitch and dynamic content.
But let’s be honest—lugging around a full-tube bass head isn’t exactly practical in 2025. Most artists don’t have a team behind them and are lugging their own equipment to every gig. Mesa/Boogie’s new Bass-800D solves this issue by combining the 400+’s coveted tube preamp architecture with modern Class D power and the proven features from Mesa’s successful Subway line.
Classic tone and convenience
The Bass-800D’s tube preamp follows the same architecture and cues as the original 400+, but is enhanced with additional gain staging and tweaks for expanded tube character and subtle overdrive capabilities. Mesa has retired the old graphic EQ in favour of more practical switching options that reflect what most bassists actually use.
The front panel features a LOW/HIGH preamp gain switch, plus DEEP/BRIGHT switches that deliver proven voicing options without the fiddly tweaking that graphic EQs demand. A variable high-pass filter control lets you dial out sub-lows that can muddy your mix or compromise overdrive cohesiveness — and all with a musical approach that actually sounds good.
“We’re all really excited to have even more Bass 400+ DNA back in the mix with this new Bass 800D,” says Doug West, Director of Tone Lab for Gibson Amplifiers and Mesa/Boogie. “This model is aimed more squarely at the essence of the 400+, both in sound and its simplicity to drive. Fat, round notes with a supremely musical character and a bit more gain on tap than our other Subways.”
Built for the modern bassist
Beyond the tone, the Bass-800D includes welcome modern upgrades: speakON-style locking speaker output jacks, a comprehensive impedance switch covering 2, 4, and 8-ohm operation, headphone output, mute footswitch jack, aux in and tuner out jacks, effects loop, and a USB device power jack for charging your phone or powering accessories.
What you get now is a compact, travel-ready head that delivers the Bass 400+’s iconic tube warmth and character with expanded overdrive potential, backed by the stunning power, clarity, and accuracy of Mesa’s Subway line. You get all the 400+ goodness without the weight. Win-win.
The Mesa/Boogie Bass-800D will be available in late November here. For more information, check out Mesa/Boogie.
