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M6 Fathom/Carbine cabinet mating thoughts

mrpackerguy

mrpackerguy

Gold Supporting Member
Jul 3, 2004
4,694
3,188
Madison, Wisconsin
www.whozplaying.com
#1
I did it and picked up an M6 Fathom over the weekend and so far am liking it a lot. I also have an Mpulse 600 on the way from Pickles to A/B, but the simplicity of the M6 is amazing. If it has one shortcoming from my perspective, it is that the tube front end doesn't quite put out the tubey warmth you get from say, the Kern, or has some have suggested, from the Mpulse 600. But I'll let you know on that when I can sit down with the Mpulse hopefully next weekend.

So right now I'm running the M6 through my 4 ohm Acme Low B4. Wow! I think the foundation moved a little when cranked. The mating of the two seems fine. Lots of low end and mid definition that I like in my sound. Through the Berg HT112, it seemed more hi fi, solid state sounding ( not as much to my liking) and definitely couldn't dial in as much low end as compared to the Acme.

I'm hot for a Low B2 as that might be the solution for me playing mostly medium sized dance halls and an occasional small club. With our set-up, I always have PA support available.

I'm seriously considering a Berg AE410 as well. It's lighter weight than the Acme Low B4 and therefore, probably a bit more portable. SHould have maybe a little more focused lows than the Acme. But for my purposes, I'm mainly looking for portability and the ability to handle small-medium. Maybe an Acme Low B2 or B4 is all I'll need, but if anyone can narrow the differences for me as compared to a Berg AE410 and maybe even an AE210, I'd appreciate it.
 
#3
mrpackerguy said:
I'm seriously considering a Berg AE410 as well. It's lighter weight than the Acme Low B4 and therefore, probably a bit more portable. SHould have maybe a little more focused lows than the Acme. But for my purposes, I'm mainly looking for portability and the ability to handle small-medium. Maybe an Acme Low B2 or B4 is all I'll need, but if anyone can narrow the differences for me as compared to a Berg AE410 and maybe even an AE210, I'd appreciate it.
Click to expand...

We are WAY beyond more focused lows when describing the AE410 versus the Acme B4. IMO and IME, those cabs are virtually mirror images of each other, with the AE having very tight, punchy low end that is a bit attenuated (my guess is, not much happening below 50hz or so), VERY pronounced mids, and an upper mid voicing and strength in the lower treble area that will grind and growl. The B4 is ALL about that sub 50hz, deep, open, wide, huge low end, and a very organic, smooth, and I would say a bit polite upper mid through lower treble. Literally 180 degrees.

The M6 has plenty of deep low end power to widen out the AE410 and make it sound full and powerful (but still tight). I'm not sure about the M6 having enough deep low versus low mid control to manage that wide, deep open low end of the B4... never heard that, but it doesn't 'feel' like a good match to me. Yeah, it will get huge down low I bet, but that's sometimes a disaster.
 
#6
gigabyte3 said:
I would go with a mesa bottom, since you have the head already. Try the PowerHouse 1200 bass cab. It has 1 15" with 4 10" in the same cab!! 1200 watts! This will give you some crushing lows, and bright highs!
Click to expand...
portability is king for me. I had one of those Peavey behemouth's in my youth that had 2 18's and 2 10's. That cab was a beast.
 
#7
i've come to a conclusion with mesa the best match is either a mesa 2x10 or 2x12 or multiple of each more watts into each speaker when you take that route plus its so much easier to set up a stack with a few 2x10s then a 4x10 or 6x10. i've never liked 4x10 cabs for bass tho they lack punch in my mind. at least with mesa i no they do
 
#8
YMMV but I was not bowled over by the mesa 212 with the carbine. It sounded OK, but kinda boxy and honky. It didn't really compliment the tonal character of that head IMO, and FWIW. Was nowhere near as warm, fat and articulate as I hear with other cabs, including an el whappo, NL210 and tri112.

Maybe I'm just not a mesa cab guy..... Although I like 410 + 115 powerhouse alot despite its weight.

Oh, the M6 also sounded glorious through a epi UL2-310.
 
#9
FWIW, all of the Berg NV's sound great with the Fathom, the NV215 possibly being my favorite. They are heavier than the AE, but their form factor makes them easily portable IME.

JR
 
#14
mrpackerguy said:
If it has one shortcoming from my perspective, it is that the tube front end doesn't quite put out the tubey warmth you get from say, the Kern, or has some have suggested, from the Mpulse 600

I read here on TB that the Carbine / Fathom head was designed to sound more like a solid state head... the info might be in that massive thread in the amps category on this head...
Click to expand...
 
#16
gigabyte3 said:
I would go with a mesa bottom, since you have the head already. Try the PowerHouse 1200 bass cab. It has 1 15" with 4 10" in the same cab!! 1200 watts! This will give you some crushing lows, and bright highs!
Click to expand...

I agree! I have a Vintage Powerhouse 1000, and the combination is pretty amazing. With my M6, Powerhouse 115 and Mike Lull M5V, the sound is a bit midrangy, but a lot of that is the bass. My FBass BN5 sounds fuller! Regardless, the M6 w/ Mesa cabinets is a great combination!

- Greg
 
#19
+1 My M6 sounds wonderful through an Epi UL2-410! The aggressive voicing of the M6 really brings that 410 to life. The M6 low end is tight enough to work well with the Epi's big low end and has the headroom to make that cab fill a room very nicely. The M6 has a deep sound with nice warm overtones, lots of punch, and just a bit of tube "give" which really gives the notes some heft. Good stuff! :D
 

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