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How Does The Mesa M6 Compare To The Mesa Subway?

S

shoot-r

May 26, 2007
4,104
3,837
Illinois
#1
A friend let me borrow his Mesa M6 head for the past couple of weeks for my first Mesa experience on live gigs.

Wow!!!!!

Just Wow!!!!!

Absolutely "LOVE" it!!!!!

Absolutely "CAN'T" afford a new one.....

But, a new Mesa Subway D-800 head might be in the budget.

Does the Subway have that voice that's, super fast and extremely focused, and has that room filling presence as the M6 does?




.....
 
#4
The Subway is voiced more or less midway between the Walkabout and the M6/9.Not quite as bright as the M6/9 set flat, though it can easily get there with a little work with the voice and eq.
 
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#5
It would be hard to find an amp that makes a better sledge hammer than the Carbine series. I am not sure if one exists. I havent tried the Subway but I have deeply enjoyed every Mesa bass amp that I have tried/owned. I am sure it is an awesome piece of equipment.
 
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#8
chaosMK said:
It would be hard to find an amp that makes a better sledge hammer than the Carbine series. I am not sure if one exists. I havent tried the Subway but I have deeply enjoyed every Mesa bass amp that I have tried/owned. I am sure it is an awesome piece of equipment.
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I've owned both Carbine and currently own a D800. The D800 definitely is sledge hammer in it's own right. It feels like it gets Carbine loud, but lots more down low.
 
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#9
dukeorock said:
The M6/M9 are very special amps, as I'm sure the D800 is, but if you really love the M6 (and I don't blame you!), try to figure out how to get one :)[/QUOT
Click to expand...


Game plan is.....first "try" to talk my friend out of his M6.
Failing that....."try" to talk the wife into my spending the money for a new one!
(Actually found a Mesa dealer within a couple of hours drive from me, but they've not contacted me back yet as to what they have in stock.)
Failing talking the wife into a new M6.....maybe finding a used one.....but I'm not too thrilled buying used from a unknown.






Matt Dean said:
I've owned both Carbine and currently own a D800. The D800 definitely is sledge hammer in it's own right. It feels like it gets Carbine loud, but lots more down low.
Click to expand...


But does the D800 exhibit that voice that's fast and focused as the M6 does?
The feeling of fast note reproduction is my thing.
That's why I've almost always (past 31 years anyway) that I've always gigged with G.K. heads and their feeling of fast.





cfsporn said:
I haven't played either an M6 or a Subway, but a lot of people say that the GK MB(F)800 sounds a lot like the M series Mesas.
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One of the heads I currently own is a G.K. MB-800 (not quite the same as the Fusion I know), but I'm not bonding with it at all.
 
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#10
I owned and gigged an M9 (>>>> LDS 15/6 cab) for a few years-for me it was the best head in a live mix ever. I now own a D-800. I think it can get you there BUT that depends on what part of the Carbine did it for you. If it was the upper mid bump and clean sound, then yes. If it was that unfathomably (pun intended) wide and deep low end, I am not sure. Best bet is a Carbine. Closest cheaper head to it IME is a GK MB800; YMMV. The D-800 has me satisfied. Do not bother with the mPulse 600, Titan or Walkabout, as they are in a different universe from the Carbines. Good luck.
 
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#11
shoot-r said:
A friend let me borrow his Mesa M6 head for the past couple of weeks for my first Mesa experience on live gigs.

Wow!!!!!

Just Wow!!!!!

Absolutely "LOVE" it!!!!!

Absolutely "CAN'T" afford a new one.....

But, a new Mesa Subway D-800 head might be in the budget.

Does the Subway have that voice that's, super fast and extremely focused, and has that room filling presence as the M6 does?




.....
Click to expand...
I now own both...the answer is NO! if you compare them side by side they're different kind of animals
 
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#12
shoot-r said:
...Failing talking the wife into a new M6.....maybe finding a used one.....but I'm not too thrilled buying used...
Click to expand...

The Mesa 5-year warranty is transferable to the new owner of a used M6. You will need the original sales receipt or an OK from Mesa if that is not available. If you have the serial number of a used unit, you can call Mesa and discuss the warranty situation. They are strict, but very helpful.

In that regard, they treated me very well concerning some problems I had with my M9 (classic heat issues). They did two retrofits under warranty with out removing any of the original Mosfet power. The head has never given me any problems since. The Carbines sound great and have wonderful features. My only reason for not using mine as much as I used to, it that the M9 has not got quite enough power drive two fEARfuls to full cry.
 
#15
slade said:
the subway hits super hard and I much prefer it to the carbine- to me it's less sterile and harsh in the upper mids. IMHO
Click to expand...

It doesn't really matter to me because I'll be owning both soon enough, but I don't find anything sterile about the M6/M9. Love those amps! Looking forward to my D800 very soon :)
 
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#16
dukeorock said:
It doesn't really matter to me because I'll be owning both soon enough, but I don't find anything sterile about the M6/M9. Love those amps! Looking forward to my D800 very soon :)
Click to expand...

Awesome! I had an m9 for a few gigs and sold it off- found it a bit brittle- could have been the amp/cab combo too. Either way- when I gigged the subway the first time I knew it was more my speed. Just my ears and taste though
 
#17
slade said:
Awesome! I had an m9 for a few gigs and sold it off- found it a bit brittle- could have been the amp/cab combo too. Either way- when I gigged the subway the first time I knew it was more my speed. Just my ears and taste though
Click to expand...

I've had a couple gigs where the M9 sounded brittle set from the last gig, but it was easy enough to dial down. Very much looking forward to trying a D800 :)
 
#18
I've owned and loved the M6; there's an energy and excitement to the sound that's tough to quantify.

The Subway seems like a cool amp, but a local shop has both amps -- I plugged into the Subway and thought "this is nice".

Then I plugged into the M6 and was immediately reminded why I love that amp so much.

So my feeling is that the Subway is a great amp, but the M6 just has something unique and killer.

If the M6 is the sound you loved, find a used M6 and know that Mesa will support you VERY well.
 
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#20
Thanks for this thread... I have a M6 as my main gig-rig with two Aguilar GS112's. Sterile or brittle would not be anywhere near my description of the tones I get. I have been seriously looking at the D800 and one day I may grab one but for now I will just buck up and keep hauling my lead sled to gigs and enjoying life!
 
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