Mesa M6 Carbine Alternatives?

[Bjazzman]

really like my carbine but im looking at adding another amp to the arsenal.

what i love about the carbine is how quick it responds and how deep, yet clear and articulate everything is.

what im looking for should have the same if not more power than the M6. Especially when running one or two of the Fearful Cabinets

My new band is Neo Soul/Funk/Old School/Reggae so looking for something along those lines when it comes to tone

I'd ideally not like to have a tube amp due to the upkeep involved and usually the weight that come with it too

Budget is around $1000

Some thoughts:

Markbass F500
GK MB500 or Fusion
Mesa BB750
Aguilar DB750
Ampeg SVT4 Pro
Tecamp Puma 1000


obviously some of those are either out of the price range even used or not as much power but im mostly after tone/quick responsiveness

also where i live there aren't that many music stores so my options to try stuff out are limited

any suggestions?

[brendanbassist]

Doesn't Mesa have an M9 out now?

[Bjazzman]

right but it's basically the same thing as the m6 and i'd like something a bit different but responds similar if you can understand. i've thought about the m9 but i have a good compressor pedal and i wouldn't need the graphic eq and the power isn't that much more for me to justify it yet.

but it was a good suggestion

[Matt Dean]

The M6 nails deep, clean and quick. If you want something "different," I say: Mesa BB750 or Aguilar DB750 for grittier, bloomy, more tubey sounding tones.

[Bjazzman]

the only thing i would like though would be a bit smoother top end since it can get a little too "in your face" when you don't want it. It really has been my favorite amp but of course it would be nice to have an alternate head just in case. One that fits those styles i listed and can get warm yet is super fast. I also thought about the SD800 Markbass but i didn't like it when i first tried it.

it may help to note that i play a 5 string jazz with a maple neck

[Bjazzman]

oh i just checked the specs on the BB750 and it's just 280 watts @ 8 ohms so that might be out of the question

[JimiLL]

Hartke LH 1000. Great sounding inexpensive amp. Not much EQ control but a EQ Pedal can fix that

[RickenBoogie]

The BB750 runs full steam @ 2 ohms, but you'd be surprised how loud those 280 watts can be through a good spkr cab.

[Matt Dean]

Originally Posted by RickenBoogie

The BB750 runs full steam @ 2 ohms, but you'd be surprised how loud those 280 watts can be through a good spkr cab.

+1

Originally Posted by Bjazzman

the only thing i would like though would be a bit smoother top end since it can get a little too "in your face" when you don't want it. It really has been my favorite amp but of course it would be nice to have an alternate head just in case. One that fits those styles i listed and can get warm yet is super fast. I also thought about the SD800 Markbass but i didn't like it when i first tried it.

I find that you can reduce the "in your face" aspects of the M6 by dialing back the treble and mids a little... still sounds good, but smoother.

[Bjazzman]

Originally Posted by Matt Dean

+1



I find that you can reduce the "in your face" aspects of the M6 by dialing back the treble and mids a little... still sounds good, but smoother.

hmmm. i'll have to give that a try at practice. also, i wouldn't be running the head @ 2 ohms. Most of the time it will be just 8 ohms but once my new cab arrives i'll be running it at 4 but only on the bigger venues.

[Crabby]

This a strange request because you are looking for an amp that is very similar to an M6 but different. The Big Block 750 is a monster and pumps a lot of volume even at 8 ohms, but sounds nothing like the Carbine. its growly warm and fat without the same punch or quickness of the Carbine.

You may want to consider a GK amp. I recently picked up an MB-500 and it is similar in many ways to the carbine, has lots of power, its quick, crisp, punchy and authoritive and only weighs 3 pounds! Makes a fantastic backup amp that can hold its own and fit in a gig bag pocket.