M-Pulse 600 is too squishy/mushy/cushiony

[Two Percent]

I've been playing through a Mesa Boogie M-Pulse 600 for about a year and a half and I'm not happy with my sound. I use a powerhouse 210 and an SWR Big Ben 118 for cabs. The sound is not articulate enough for me. The low end in particular sounds squishy/mushy/cushiony and it's hard to hear all of the nuances of what I'm playing.

Before the M-Pulse 600 I used a Mesa Boogie M2000. I was a big fan of the M2000 tone, but swapped it out for two primary reasons:

- M2000 eq was too complicated
- M2000 didn't have a ground lift and soundmen often complained about noise when using the direct out

Last weekend I plugged an old Peavey Mark IV head into my powerhouse cab just for sh*ts & giggles and it actually sounded better. The tone was more 'in your face' and I could hear the notes I was playing better.

I'm now researching replacements and looking for opinions. Thanks!

[Two Percent]

BTW...my primary bass is a MusicMan Stringray 5 HH.

[rockstarbassist]

1. The amp is pretty much designed to sound like what you said (sans the "not articulate" comment) so if you didn't research that ahead of time, then that's no fault of the amp's. It's meant to be big, wide, deep and beefy.
2. The thing has a friggin' parametric EQ on it. And I've had say, 3-4 of them over the years, so the "not articulate" thing is baloney, you're just not EQ'ing it right. You can make it sound pretty much like anything you want. I had to actually cut bass on that amp most of the time it's so low-end heavy. Have you looked at any of the presets Mesa recommends? That's a good place to start to "clean up" some of the out of control bottom end.

Or you just again may not like it's overall attack and front end of the amp, in which case if you still want to stay in the Mesa camp I recommend the M6 Carbine. No graphic or para-EQ to get in the way, just straightforward kick@ss toane.

Adding a 118 sub to that amp though isn't going to be helping your cause of over-exerting low, end btw...

[Calaverasgrande]

Also, an 18" is not the cab I would go to for articulation. Even with a 2x10 on top.
Though if it's the Big Ben with the Bagend driver those were pretty tight sounding 18" cabs.

[benthughes]

I agree with everything above. The tone is warm and supportive, a nice tubey sound but definitely not as attacky as my GK head, SWR or GenzBenz. I find the Mesa to be wonderful for classic rock and blues stuff where my GK is my go-to hard rock head as it gives me the attack I want. With the semi-parametric EQ I can't call the Mesa lacking in articulation but it retains its "bigness" no matter how you tweak it. I love the Mesa with P-basses....yerm! Spector or G&L with the GK kills for hard rock.

[Colonel Monk]

Originally Posted by rockstarbassist

1.You can make it sound pretty much like anything you want.

^^^^

What he said.



Truly, when I had mine I did not use the Parametric at all because I liked how it was voiced. I was playing thru Eden cabs which have a nice deep sound and handle TONS of power.

You can either really fix you sound with parametrics or really screw it up. Personally I don't know how to use them correctly so I don't. I also like Mesa amps.

[rockstarbassist]

Originally Posted by Calaverasgrande

Also, an 18" is not the cab I would go to for articulation. Even with a 2x10 on top.
Though if it's the Big Ben with the Bagend driver those were pretty tight sounding 18" cabs.

I know you have the Four-Hundie, but have you actually used an M-P600 for a few gigs? I played that thing through like a 1x8 cab and had to cut the low end LOL.

[Two Percent]

I have messed with the EQ on the M-Pulse 600 quite a bit. Using the parametric eq, I typically cut back some on the very low frequencies (30-35hz) and boost the low mids (55hz) in the hopes that it will tighten up the sound. Still, the amp seems very slow.

With the M-Pulse 600 I feel I need to play on top of the beat in order for the note to land on the beat...if that makes sense.

Good call on the M6 Carbine. I have tried that amp a number of times and it has some nice bite to it. However, I'm wondering whether it's time to check out another manufacturer.

[rockstarbassist]

Originally Posted by Colonel Monk

^^^^

What he said.



Truly, when I had mine I did not use the Parametric at all because I liked how it was voiced. I was playing thru Eden cabs which have a nice deep sound and handle TONS of power.

You can either really fix you sound with parametrics or really screw it up. Personally I don't know how to use them correctly so I don't. I also like Mesa amps.

And that's where people run into issues with that amp. Like the M2K, it's intimidating to look at. Definitely not in the "beginner" category, if you want to actually turn on the para-EQ anyway. I, like you, rarely used mine at all. I would use it for a "dub boost" on a tune or two but the regular EQ + the compression was killer for me.
But I know there's more than a few presets Mesa has for that amp, a few "rock" voiced ones for certain.

[yamaha]

The Big Ben is articulate, the M-Pulse is not (when flat). I've owned both. Although not at the same time. I am sure that with time & playing with the EQ (5 full parametric bands), you will get a decent tone, but I personally like a pretty decent flat sound, and then slightly adjust to taste. I will usually boost the lows a bit for R&B and most of what I play, or boost the low-mids for loud rock venue, but my main sound is flat. I love my LM2.

Markbass / Bergantino makes amazing gear, and go very well together.

LM2 or 3, or F1, into a Berg HS410, and you will have amazing tone and definition. I also like SWR cabs, and a Goliath over a Big Ben is simply amazing. I powered a 6X10 goliath sr with a LM2 for years with impressive results. Too bad those pro series from SWR are so big & heavy.

[rockstarbassist]

Originally Posted by Two Percent

I have messed with the EQ on the M-Pulse 600 quite a bit. Using the parametric eq, I typically cut back some on the very low frequencies (30-35hz) and boost the low mids (55hz) in the hopes that it will tighten up the sound. Still, the amp seems very slow.

With the M-Pulse 600 I feel I need to play on top of the beat in order for the note to land on the beat...if that makes sense.

Good call on the M6 Carbine. I have tried that amp a number of times and it has some nice bite to it. However, I'm wondering whether it's time to check out another manufacturer.

Well 55hz isn't "low mids", really. That's still under 100hz which is extreme bass. Low mids are gonna be (depending on who you ask/talk to) in your 250-500hz range, with high mids being 800-2khz, or so. Maybe try boosting in that range and cutting those extreme lows, especially with that sub. I know what you mean about it being a "slow reacting" preamp however, as I noticed that too and others have mentioned it.
If you want quick and a more articulate attack, the Carbine is where it's at. I got rid of my 400+ to pick up the M9 and couldn't be happier.

[Two Percent]

The band I play in is a mixture of hip-hop/reggae/rock. I don't necessarily want a dirty tone, but I do want a tone with good presence that is right there.

[NUN101]

From what I understand the Carbine amps were designed to minimize the latency you're experiencing.

[rockstarbassist]

Originally Posted by Two Percent

The band I play in is a mixture of hip-hop/reggae/rock. I don't necessarily want a dirty tone, but I do want a tone with good presence that is right there.

That's what's cool about the Carbines, is their Voicing features. I set that flat when I use my graphic EQ which is my "Normal" tone and then flick that off and use Voice 2 when I play slower stuff that needs a bigger bottom/fundamental. Quick, easy, useful.

[Two Percent]

"Slow reacting" preamp - I think that just about hits the nail on the head.

[KsPiNeSh]

Originally Posted by NUN101

From what I understand the Carbine amps were designed to minimize the latency you're experiencing.

A huge +1 to this. I tried an M-Pulse 600 and was left with the same impression as the OP. Especially since you liked the M-2000, I highly recommend a Carbine amp. Can't go wrong with either, but after owning them both IMO the M9 is the bigger value. That said, if the graphic EQ and compressor don't interest you, the M6 is a real winner as well.

[rockstarbassist]

Yup. Doesn't have the "immediacy" of other amps I've found. Which again, isn't bad if that's what you need.

[Matt Dean]

Originally Posted by NUN101

From what I understand the Carbine amps were designed to minimize the latency you're experiencing.

You want a carbine. I play in a reggae band and a dub/electronica band with a Fathom (M6/Carbine) and it slays.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by NUN101

From what I understand the Carbine amps were designed to minimize the latency you're experiencing.

+1 The M6 and M9 are much closer to the M2000 than the very warm, fat, and a bit pillowy MPulse600.

[Ronny49]

Also, the SWR SM series might be an option. Very articulate, clean and you can also get a growl out of them if you set it up right.