S.O.S. Mesa M6 or M9???

CliffD · #1 08-28-2010, 12:07 AM

Ok boogie lovers help a fellow Mesa junkie out and help me decide which Carbine I should go with to add to my Boogie arsenal. I already own an MPulse 600 and a Big Block 750, along with a nice selection of powerhouse cabs to pair them with. After reading the specs on Boogie's website and reading the M6 and M9 threads I pretty much had my sites set on an M9. But the I went to my local Boogie dealer and was able to A/B the two through a 4x10 powerhouse cab. I actually found that the M6 seemed a little more "gutsy" and "responsive" than the M9, which I'm kinda lost about... anyway so now I'm a bit torn...

Post any thoughts and experiences on owning either or better yet both if you can, thanks!

JimmyM · #2 08-28-2010, 01:57 AM

why should you be lost about the m6 sounding better to you? how much wattage do you need? i'd venture to say that unless you're playing doom, you'll never need more than what the m6 could give you. and on the odd chance that you do, a couople hundred watts doesn't make that much of a difference in volume when you have a 600w amp anyway.

ampcarfan · #3 08-28-2010, 02:05 AM

I agree with J, the m6 has plenty of muscle. I power 3 boogie 2x10 cabs with it and "could" add another

I didn't go with the M9 because I couldn't hear a huge difference either, plus I'm not a huge fan of compression.

lomo · #4 08-28-2010, 02:29 AM

Only reasons to get the M9 are the graphic eq, the compressor and/or possibly the need to have more power into an 8 Ohm load.

Jim Carr · #5 08-28-2010, 03:29 AM

Hmmmm.....I have an M9 and had never used one until after I bought it! I got a terrifc deal on the M9, but would have probably paid the same for the M6—as it was my alpha and omega ever since I had played one a couple of times.

I had used an M6 when the RW series first appeared in late '08 or early '09. It was in a 212 combo and blew me away.

I tried an M6 again about 6 months ago. I compared it to my ART pre-amp through the CA6 driving my Epifani 610 (410 + 210). Yipes. I had to have one. Then the deal on the M9 appeared 3 weeks ago. I grabbed for the M9. I have no regrets.

The 9 is more complex to operate, and yes, the gain and volume are touchy. Never the less, I don't think I have found a tone I don't like, as long as I can roll off the highs as I please.

KsPiNeSh · #6 08-28-2010, 07:32 AM

Owning both an M6 and M9, I can't say that I've ever noticed any difference in inherent sound between them. Your ears are different though, so if that's what you hear and you don't really think you'll use the compressor or graphic than the M6 will definitely not disappoint.

daflores · #7 08-28-2010, 07:45 AM

Go with the M9. It's better to have the extra power and features and not need them than to need the extra power and features and not have them.

aledeville · #8 08-28-2010, 08:43 AM

What about the sensitivity of the master knob? I heard the one on the M6 is quite tricky when the gain is set at 12 o clock.
Is that the same thing with the M9?

Jim Carr · #9 08-28-2010, 12:11 PM

I think the two amps are more similar than different.

Actually, for me with the M9 it isn't that the volume knob is touchy exactly—perhaps that was a poor choice of words. Rather, its the total volume resulting from a given master level while still getting the warmth of the pre-amp gain.

I found that this is less of an issue on my passive Fender Jazz than on my active Lakland 55-01D Skyline, and there is an active/passive pad switch at the Carbine's input—which helps.

Generally at gig levels, this is not an issue. I notice it mainly when rehearsing at a pretty low level or practicing in my studio. So yes, at times if you want to run the gain high and the volume low, you may need to adjust carefully. But it is not a real performance issue for me—so far.

CliffD · #10 08-28-2010, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

why should you be lost about the m6 sounding better to you? how much wattage do you need? i'd venture to say that unless you're playing doom, you'll never need more than what the m6 could give you. and on the odd chance that you do, a couople hundred watts doesn't make that much of a difference in volume when you have a 600w amp anyway.

First off thanks for all the input! Jimmy, I'm not lost about the M6 sounding better to me, I certainly think it did, but not by enough to immediately sell me on it, the M9 still sounded great. The only reason I'm lost in choosing between the two is the added features of the M9, which are similar to the MPulse, however the power is not, I know I'd NEVER need 900w. The power of the M6 is perfect, I run both my Boogie heads at 600w and 550w and couldn't be happier. Once again thanks for al the input, I'll be sure and share what I get!

Matt Dean · #11 08-28-2010, 12:45 PM

After playing the M-pulse 600 for a few years, I like the simplicity of the M6.

MysticMichael · #12 08-28-2010, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daflores

Go with the M9. It's better to have the extra power and features and not need them than to need the extra power and features and not have them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CliffD

The only reason I'm lost in choosing between the two is the added features of the M9, which are similar to the MPulse, however the power is not, I know I'd NEVER need 900w.

Depends on what you mean by "need". There's nothing wrong with having lots of extra headroom available. That could be considered a "need"...

MM

BartmanPDX · #13 08-28-2010, 12:51 PM

Just gigged my new M9 for the first time last night.

One final difference between the two is the footswitch. With the M9 you get the footswitch, but the only things you can do with it are mute and turn the graphic EQ on and off. There's a switch on the back that determines if the EQ overrides the voice (defaults to #3 and applies the EQ to that) or is applied on top of the active voice. With the M6 you can build your own footswitch and have mute as well as switching between voices (depending on how you build it).

The M9 has LOTS of flexibility, which I'm sure I'm going to come to love as I get more familiar with it, but the M6 is easier to grasp from the outset and has plenty of power.

babebambi · #14 08-28-2010, 01:30 PM

You don't need a M9, if you are absolutely sure that 600W is enough...
You don't need a M9, if you are absolutely sure that you can get all the tone you ever need with only the 5 voice and 3 band EQ...

If in doubt, get the M9.
The extra features do not hinder the performance and useability.
The price difference is cheap insurance.

ampcarfan · #15 08-28-2010, 01:50 PM

Hey BartmanPDX, shhh ... I LOVE my M6, but your making ME gas for an M9. The footswitch mute alone would be a great thing!

BartmanPDX · #16 08-28-2010, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ampcarfan

Hey BartmanPDX, shhh ... I LOVE my M6, but your making ME gas for an M9. The footswitch mute alone would be a great thing!

Funny . . . there are moments I wished I'd gotten the M6 instead since it's simpler to set up and you can build a footswitch for it (as Jerry J has done) to switch between the voices, which you CAN'T do with the M9.

I do like having the ready-made footswitch mute though -- very useful for gigging. I'm also coming to like the graphic EQ, and the compressor is OK.

I would think getting a footswitch for just the mute on the M6 shouldn't be too difficult.

Jim Carr · #17 08-28-2010, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BartmanPDX

...there are moments I wished I'd gotten the M6 instead since it's simpler...

...I'm also coming to like the graphic EQ, and the compressor is OK...

+1

I wanted an M6 and was worried that maybe I wouldn't find the same clear low end and great flat tone with an M9. The good news is that I've found the M9 does what I loved about the M6.

Is it exactly the same? Well, yyeeeeeaahhh—uh, maybe. I can't really swear to it, because I am not doing a blind A/B. All I know is that I am getting the sounds that made me want an M6 AND the GEQ is turning out to be terrifically useable.

My only problem with the compressor is that I don't know how to use it as well as my EBS Multi-comp, which was easy to use for a good thickened mildly compressed sound.

I am still working my way through the interaction of all the features. I have not found the pedal to be a compelling feature, but that will probably change.

martybernal · #18 08-29-2010, 12:20 AM

I too was on the fence between the M6 or M9...I choose the M9...It's a Boogie you can't go wrong...

Crabby · #19 08-29-2010, 01:59 AM

I went with the M9 as the extra features and the included footswitch made it very appealing. I do however, prefer the larger knobs on the M6 as they are easier to grab. I love the simple look of the M6 and although I do use the graphic and the compressor, I could live without them as the amp just sounds so good no mater how its set. You cannot go wrong either way!

mentalpatient · #20 08-29-2010, 04:51 AM

This is a tough decision to make. The M9 is physically larger in depth, that would be my concern if I had to buy a super deep/large rack.

Now that the M3 is available I would say go for the M9 just for the extra watts and get an M3 for when something smaller is required. I think owning an M3 and M6 is a little silly as the M3 is still Mesa loud. The gap in power between the M3 and M9 is large enough for me to say they are both worth owning, so you can have a main rig and mini Mesa rig. Going by the other nice Mesa heads you have, I would say go for the big bad boy M9.

But Hey, the M6 is plenty loud, when I get a Mesa PH810 or PH1200 all amp and cab GAS will be cured. You can't go wrong with either of them and there are good multi band compressors out there if you think you will miss a compressor with the M6.

How about getting it in the Bronco Vinyl wooden case ? I wonder if the heads in those cases have a full chassis so they can be removed and mounted in a rack ? Something to consider and find out. I'm getting tired of looking at racks myself. The other main decision maker is if you like the M9's eq but I bet any experienced user can get the sound they want out of either, it's something different but nothing to be afraid of. If Mesa only made one or the other (eq styles) I bet we would all still be happy and have nothing to complain about.

To me the M9 is just a bigger M6, the other Mesa amps you have would be enough for me, either of them

so you can't go wrong.