GBE750 vs. Mesa/Boogie m6 Carbine

[Flanker]

Hey Steve - what do you think now?

Hi Mark

I think the Mesa is right down my street in terms of tone. As you know I've just bought one after playing it for not very long!

I might sell the GBE 750 for a Shuttle6 but only if the Shuttle can match the big amps percussive tone - otherwise I'll be keeping the 750 and the M6.

I A/B'd the GBE750 against a Aggie DB750 and decided to keep the Genz so that might reflect what a great amp the GBE 750 is IMO and IME.

 

[Ryan L.]

+1 BB750 is a totally different thing. The M6 is closer to the vibe of the GB750, and the M6 totally kills it IMO in headroom, punch, volume, and 'plug and play' simplicity (i.e., it sounds great set flat). No comparison between the Genz and the M6 IMO and IME.

After having now owned the M6 (and gigging it) for a few months now, I agree completely.

Edit: Don't get me wrong---I still am a big fan of the Genz GBE750 and 1200 heads. But I do think that the Mesa is a notch or two above them, for me, anyway.

 

[poptart]

Hi Mark

I think the Mesa is right down my street in terms of tone. As you know I've just bought one after playing it for not very long!

I might sell the GBE 750 for a Shuttle6 but only if the Shuttle can match the big amps percussive tone - otherwise I'll be keeping the 750 and the M6.

I A/B'd the GBE750 against a Aggie DB750 and decided to keep the Genz so that might reflect what a great amp the GBE 750 is IMO and IME.

Steve

I hear you - the STL6 does have a similar tone to the Tube channel on the GBE but it is different due to the amp stage.

IMO both the GBE750 and M6 are both excellent amps and offer different flavours of modern bass tone - having both is totally the way forward

Regards

Mark

PS +1 on the Genz support - Jef always responds personally to any questions I have and the response has been faultless, certainly one of the best companies I have the pleasure of dealing with. Plus - these guys are on this forum and will not run away if it gets heated! Kudos to you!

 

[CliffD]

If you're considering a Mesa M6, I'd at least check out their BB750 or MP600. I've played all of their stuff with different mesa cabs (live close to their factory store) and I'd go with those over the M6, but honestly I don't think you can go wrong with Mesa.

 

[Bassorama57]

BillsCool's notes encapsulate what I believe to be correct, based on my experiences as a V12 Titan (which is a BB750 x 2) owner.
Real question is what do you play? Rock? Jazz? Sometimes both? I'd postulate that if you want the flexibility to fit into anything - Genz or perhaps the M6.

 

[Ryan L.]

If you're considering a Mesa M6, I'd at least check out their BB750 or MP600. I've played all of their stuff with different mesa cabs (live close to their factory store) and I'd go with those over the M6, but honestly I don't think you can go wrong with Mesa.

IF that's the sound you're after. For me, the BB750 wasn't quick enough sounding for my liking. Same with the M-Pulse 600.

Different strokes for different folks and all that.

 

[KJung]

IF that's the sound you're after. For me, the BB750 wasn't quick enough sounding for my liking. Same with the M-Pulse 600.

Different strokes for different folks and all that.

+1 I've been describing the M6 as 'the Mesa head for those who don't particularly like Mesa heads'. It's much tighter, quicker and 'cleaner' than any of their other hybrids, especially the BB750. It's cool that they have all these flavors, from the Walkabout, which is clean but VERY warm, the MPulse600 which is also clean and very deep and fat, but with lots of 'tube give and bloom' in the voicing, the BB750, which is capable of that 'pushed SVT' sort of growl and grind, and now the M6, which is more 'pure solid state' sounding with just a hint of tube (close to, for example, SWR than the other Mesa voicings to my ear).

All nice stuff, and there's a tone in their line to make almost any player happy!

K

 

[KsPiNeSh]

Hi Mark

I think the Mesa is right down my street in terms of tone. As you know I've just bought one after playing it for not very long!

I might sell the GBE 750 for a Shuttle6 but only if the Shuttle can match the big amps percussive tone - otherwise I'll be keeping the 750 and the M6.

I A/B'd the GBE750 against a Aggie DB750 and decided to keep the Genz so that might reflect what a great amp the GBE 750 is IMO and IME.

I personally found the Shuttle 6.0 to be less percussive than my GBE-1200 - a slightly darker voicing, if you will. I am, however, very interested in the M6 as I also like that agressive, percussive sound.

 

[sergiostarsmith]

i have th m6,and an swr pro.have owned a genz benz,an eden cxc solo,an ampeg svt 3 pro,mesa basis,gk 1000 rb,and a line six pro pod.I play a wide array of music(cover gigs).my current drummer is the loudest drummer in the world and the m 6 has never gone above 3 on the master at 4 ohms,5 on the gain.The tone is like glass even at peak vol.I did however have a problem with it that shut it down for three months.the warrenty is great but 3 months is no good if you have no back up.they did upgrades including venting the chasis in more places.works great now.I highly recomend this piece bc its simple,put the knobs at 12 o clock and it sounds perfect.no tweeking all night.I will say that my swr 220 pro is true blue,trustworthy,cranks out clear and I will never part with it(its an early swr) but the same goes for this mesa.if you play small gigs dont run this amp @ 4 ohms,too much power.you can barely get the master to 1.this amp is to be seriously considered.

 

[Crabby]

I own a BB750, Walkabout and an M9 and they are each very unique. The BB750 and Walkabout share a very similar tone stack and can be tweaked to sound like each other which is a warm fat tone. The M9 is an absolute clean monster amp. It has such a clear articulate tone but its such a quality sound that is highly addictive. It has so much headroom that it seems almost ridiculous. I love all three of these amps for what they offer and would have a hard time choosing to own only one.

 

[I play metal]

I was in the same spot lately. I think they are both good sounding amp but I picked the Mesa, why? because its super simple to use. You cannot have a bad tone with it. And its better "build in the USA".

Why would I send my money to taiwan. What if it breaks? If my Carbine breaks, I can make a phone call and talk directly to the actual guy that builded my amp.

Easy choice unless you live in Taiwan

Man Im sorry to hi jack the thread, and not to be a douche bag but you OBVIOUSLY dont know much about genz.Genz is setting the standard and breaking new ones with everything they do.,especially customer support.
"what if it breaks"...do a search on benz customer service and you'll find there putting eveyone(including mesa to a point,judging on my experience) to shame.Strong words but the head-aches with other companies ive had, make it true.Though mesa is truly pretty stellar in this regard!!fact!

"You cannot have a bad tone with it?"...completely crazy thing to say as I think the tone from the one carbine I used sounded like junk(a.k.a-didnt suite my sound needs and lacked oomph and tight growl I crave)).Whats gold tone to one guy can be noise to another.Pretty much rule #1 there..

Being "build in the us" doesnt make it better always either btw.Though id agree foe the most part.


Rock on..

 

[Jaco who?]

Uhm......... August, 2008?

 

[I play metal]

Uhm......... August, 2008?

ahhh ya true...good burn.

 

[stevecham]

Until you have played an M6 please don't make conclusions...this is one of the finest bass heads out there. Tonally warm, accurate and powerful. I did extensive research playing many heads and cabs and settled on this one (even over the M9!) for tone alone. After many years and many rigs later, this is the one I am most satisifed with. Paired with one of Mesa's cabs, the package is quality and tone.

 

[Baird6869]

I own a M9 Carbine and recently owned a GBE1200. I know these are the "big brothers" of the GBE750 and M6....

In any case, I think the M9 is louder.

I had a loaner M6 recently and it is also loud as hell. I think it is louder than the GBE750 (I have limited experience with the GBE750 though).

I also owned a SHuttleMax 1200 previously and like the M6/M9 tone better than both GB amps.

Personal preference, but I love my Carbine. Strangely, I wasn't fond of the Mesa BB750.

P.s. I have dealt extensively with both Mesa and GB support. Mesa is great but a little flaky (don't return emails, closed Fridays, etc.) and GB is amazing. I had a bad footswitch and Jeff personally dealt with the issue for me. Cool to dealing with the President on the first call.

This really should boil down to what sounds better to you....

 

[KsPiNeSh]

Considering that this thread is almost 3.5 years old now, I'm betting the OP already made their decision, and whatever they picked up is probably long since sold off for something else