thodrik

I have an UAD Apollo interface on a Mac. Thankfully it is really good because if I wanted to switch it for something else getting rid of all of the DSP plugins and UAD software would be an utter pain.

Sounds annoying. A great majority of Plugin manufacturers require a plugin management tool (UA Connect, Softube Central, Slate Digital/SSL etc) and or an iLok account AND some kind of online account and password with the manufacturer’s website. It is bloody ridiculous.

The other ones are decent to great, so this is a great deal. They just did a free LA2A compressor the other week as well. I think UAD are getting ready to launch Luna 2.0 (their self created updated DAW) soon so probably trying to get as much engagement as possible.

I was in a band that literally played to a barman, one man and the man's dog. We did sell album to the man. We didn't ask if the album was for the dog.

Well done!

Trace Elliot probably stuck the caps on after realising that Geoff Capes was the only human capable of lifting a Trace Elliot 4x10 combo on top of another cabinet.

This is also the case with my Powerhouse 6x10.

I love these finishes!

I still have my manual from the Walkabout from 2008 and it is a really quality document. I have a couple of high end amps where the manual is simply a schematics design, some very obvious warnings (this amp is loud, keep away from fire) and all the different things that will invalidate the warranty. The extra effort is really appreciated.

Great manual as well. Mesa generally do very good manuals which deliver technical information in a really player-friendly manner. I normally expect to see selectable mid frequencies on modern amps, so it is nearly refreshing to see an amp with simple pre-set bass, middle and treble controls like an old school valve amp. Yepp, definitely on my list.

My go-to is the Softube Bass Amp Room suite. It is limited to an SVT clone, a retro solid state thing (which isn't great) and some kind of overdrive amp (which again isn't great). Only the SVT is actually useable but it is seriously good because it is easy to use and understand. The downside is that there is no dedicated bass amp overdrive which I think would be solved with a plugin version of the Agro pedal which I owned for about a decade. I tried some Brainworx/Plugin Alliance, Bias FX and Amplitube sims but never really go on with them. I like the idea of the Helix but I think it would just present me with too many options. I really like Aguilar kit, so this is tempting.

I do like the tone controls, simple layout and overall retro look. £999 is good for a Mesa bass amp. My Walkabout combo cost me about £1500 quid in 2008, and the Big Block 750 I really wanted at the time was £1800 which is more expensive than any of the current heads in 2025. This is very much the Mesa amp I would be looking at if I was going to get another one, unless they release a class D Big Block...

I run a Clarett +8 octopre ADAT expander to my main interface (Apollo 8xp - not the current model). The stock preamps on the Clarett+ are really impressive and easily on par with the UAD stock preamps. The UAD preamps only become superior when you use the Unison DSP preamps, however with good mic placement I don't consider the Unison preamps to be the be all end all (especially when most of the popular UAD preamps are going native). Prior to the Apollo I had a second generation Scarlett, which was perfectly fine, but I did think that the Clarett + was a good step up. The new model Scarletts are exceptional for the price though. The only thing I don't like about the 8 input Clarett interfaces is that phantom power is done in banks of 4 rather than per channel. Normally this isn't a problem but if I only had a Clarett 8pre to record drums and had 6 dynamic close mics and two condenser overheads then I am kinda screwed unless I get additional channels via ADAT. I think that the 8 channel Scarlett would be a better bet as I believe that it has independent phantom power per input. The Clarett stuff definitely gets a big thumbs up from me.

Is it any good? I am kinda tempted just because of the Agro pedal in plugin form.

The snare trigger is intriguing by itself!