How Does The Mesa M6 Compare To The Mesa Subway?

[agedhorse]

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.

Did you work with the voicing control and eq? It's possible to get very close to the M6 this way.

 

[Double E]

Check with this guy...it appears this may still be available.

For Sale - Mesa Boogie M6 Carbine, rack, tuner, power conditioner

 

[Murph_Orpheus]

Sorry to ressurect an old thread but just wanted to get an opinion here. Posted this in the Mesa fan club too:

So I have a Mesa D800 and I love it. I'm looking at a used M6 Carbine that went up for sale recently in a city a couple hundred miles from where I live and the guy said he would consider a swap for the D800. I'm considering this as I loved the tone of the M6 when I used one at a gig years ago. My thinking is seeing as the Carbines are discontinued, I could always pick up another D800 in a year or two if I really wanted it back. But what I'm wondering is can the D800 cop a similar tone to the M6? Would getting the M6 be much different? I've always just set my D800 flat as I love that tone. Any particular settings that could get me in the ballpark of the M6 or is it just totally it's own thing?

 

[agedhorse]

The 800+ would be able to get closer (specifically by using the bright switch). The Subway is more or less between the Walkabout and the Carbines, not as bright and aggressive as the Carbines, but not as warm and vintagy as the walkabout. Using the voicing filter and eq can get pretty close (but not identical) to either the WA or Carbine.

If the amp is new enough to be covered under the 5 year transferable warranty, be sure that you get a copy of the original sales receipt otherwise we have to use the build date which may be a fair amount earlier.

 

[BassVibes]

If the amp is new enough to be covered under the 5 year transferable warranty, be sure that you get a copy of the original sales receipt otherwise we have to use the build date which may be a fair amount earlier.[/QUOTE]

Sorry to ressurect an old thread but just wanted to get an opinion here. Posted this in the Mesa fan club too:

So I have a Mesa D800 and I love it. I'm looking at a used M6 Carbine that went up for sale recently in a city a couple hundred miles from where I live and the guy said he would consider a swap for the D800. I'm considering this as I loved the tone of the M6 when I used one at a gig years ago. My thinking is seeing as the Carbines are discontinued, I could always pick up another D800 in a year or two if I really wanted it back. But what I'm wondering is can the D800 cop a similar tone to the M6? Would getting the M6 be much different? I've always just set my D800 flat as I love that tone. Any particular settings that could get me in the ballpark of the M6 or is it just totally it's own thing?

I own the d800+ and the M9 and prefer the M9. Mine is the 600watt version so is very similar to the M6. I am in the minority but I find that, although there are similarities in tone between the d800+ and M9, the M9 has more heft and so much more muscular in a live mix - which suits my needs in a rock band. There doesn’t seem to be much love for Carbines in TB and not sure it was ever a big seller, where the d800+ is hugely popular. Perhaps I am missing something about theD800+ but it is now for sale. I find there is no substitute for at least comparing in a live mix before making your final decision.

 

[Murph_Orpheus]

Thanks for the advice guys. The M6 is 6 years old so just outside the warranty limit. I'm going to have to do some serious thinking about this one as I worry I'll regret trading the D800. Pondering maybe selling one or two other things and just buying the M6 outright in a few weeks if it's still available.

 

[shoot-r]

Thanks for the advice guys. The M6 is 6 years old so just outside the warranty limit. I'm going to have to do some serious thinking about this one as I worry I'll regret trading the D800. Pondering maybe selling one or two other things and just buying the M6 outright in a few weeks if it's still available.

O.P. here.

Since I posted this thread I became the owner of the M-6 I originally posted about.

I was so taken with it as a gigging amp I now have two M-6's!

Absolutely love these amps....

 

[s_wood]

I used to own an M9, which I sold when I bought my D800 (which I replaced with a D800+). I still own a Walkabout and an mPulse 600. To my ears, the M6/M9 doesn’t sound like any of the other Mesa Boogie amps that I’ve owned. The Carbines are inherently brighter, more “modern” and less “tubey.” Almost like a very good (non-tube) DI. The D800/+ are more “Mesa Boogie” sounding. Warmer, and a tad less quick. No value judgment here: the Carbines and the D800/+ are both killer amps. But they sound different enough that I suspect most people would hear a difference, and most would like one more than the other.

 

[SteveFromBerlin]

Got myself a Carbine M3. Absolutely love the tone! Taking a look at the Subway DIs but am not sure enough they can get me there. Carbine Tube DI, I say!