Gear Review: Mesa/Boogie D-350 Compact Bass Amp

Mesa Boogie D-350 Compact Bass Amp

Mesa/Boogie amps are known for their powerful, muscular tone – some are also renowned for their weight. That prompted the company to enter the world of lightweight gear in 2015 with their Subway Series, which utilizes Class D power sections in the amps and neodymium speakers in the cabs.

This year they’ve unleashed the smallest of the lineup with the Subway D-350 head. In fact, at just three pounds and two ounces, it’s the lightest amp the company has ever built. It also happens to be the most affordable amp in its history. The D-350 shares many of the same features as its predecessor, the D-800, while having an even smaller footprint and being rated at just under half the power. Mesa says its creation was a response to fans who wanted a smaller package at a mid-level power with a more open top-end voicing and silent operation.

We picked up a D-350 matched to a 2×10 Subway cabinet to see how much punch this mighty little amp could pack.

The front panel begins with the input plus three switches: Mute, Active/Passive, and Bright. The latter of the three stands opposed to the D-800’s Deep switch and, as such, aids in more top end as requested. The knobs include an Input level, a Voicing knob, a four-band EQ complete with low and high-mids, and a master volume.

The voicing knob is an overall shaping filter and stands as the most important tonal feature of the control set. It adjusts from “Flat” response to “Boost,” which leans towards vintage tones by boosting the bass and highs while the midrange is cut and shifted upwards. Mesa suggests setting this control for your general sound before tweaking it any further with the EQ.

The back panel is fully furnished with a pair of Speakon outputs, a headphone output, an auxiliary input, and an XLR output with switches for pre/post EQ, line or mic level output, and a ground lift. Another nice touch is the addition of a USB port for powering devices while you’re playing.

I first plugged into the rig with a Sire V7, and it’s clear from turning up for the first time that a “mid-level power” amp in the eyes of Mesa still has plenty of strength. After enjoying some clean signal with everything in the neutral position, I naturally went straight for the Voicing knob.

Turning it up smooths out your tone, taking off any harsh edges from the midrange. Fully clockwise, the amp has a deep, warm low end that almost sounds slightly compressed to my ears. Of course, a good mid scoop lends itself to slap and, boosted all the way, the voicing knob delivered the sound of the ‘70s. Flipping the Bright switch added some more brilliance to suit more modern slap masters.

In fact, I found I enjoyed having the Bright switch on fairly often. The D-350 does big and heavy very well, and adding some top end helped to lighten things up. This was more evident when plugging in a Marleaux Consat, which has a natural singing character. I goosed the high mids up a bit to make the harmonics really ring and bring out its vocals.

You can still get some nice grit on your sound by rolling up your gain. After dialing in the dirt, I rolled a little high end off and adjusted the volume to suit. Between the flexibility of the Voicing knob, which gives a huge palette of sounds in less than a second, and the classic Mesa tones, this amp has a lot to offer sonically. That’s not to mention the sheer practicality of having a compact amp that fits in most gig bags.

The utility side of the amp is also stellar. The USB is very handy – I often find gigs as the best time to charge my phone while on the road, so having it right there helps. It’s also nice to charge a tablet while you’re practicing along with it. On the point of practice, I have one small point of contention. The auxiliary input is a 1/4-inch, and though it’s not a big deal, it does mean you’ll need a 1/8-inch to 1/4-inch adapter to use pretty much any of your aux devices.

Ultimately, the D-350 is the gateway to Mesa’s bass lineup, but that doesn’t make it an entry-level product. It’s a handy tool that sounds damn good, and you can’t ask for much more than that.

Mesa/Boogie Subway D-350 Bass Amp Features:

Price:$699
Preamp Type:Solid-State Preamp
Power Amp:Class D
Wattage:350 Watts @ 4 Ohms / 175 Watts @ 8 Ohms
Features:Variable Voicing (Flat to Vintage Scoop), Fully Active 4-Band EQ plus Bright Switch
Back Panel Features:XLR Output, Headphone Output, Auxiliary Input, & USB Power Outlet with LED Indicator
Speaker Outputs:2 - Speakon Output Jacks (no 1/4″ speaker jacks) - 8 or 4 Ohms
Foot switchable Functions:N/A
Weight:3 Lbs. 2 Oz.
Dimensions:3″ H x 9″ W x 8 1/4″ D
Available Formats:Compact (Metal) Head
Case:Gig Bag with Shoulder Strap Included

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