I had the Titan which was pegged at 1200W. My M9 "seems" louder, and by a good bit. Not sure why that is, but yeah an M12 would be...
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Mesa Boogie M9 Megathread: Pt II
- Thread starter Chef
- Start date
I had the Titan which was pegged at 1200W. My M9 "seems" louder, and by a good bit. Not sure why that is, but yeah an M12 would be...
You are most welcome. Let us know what you do with your M9, OK?
I'm really enjoying the M9 and the Epifani UL410 I got for it. The tone, the warm/organic (?) sounds I get from my basses ... Mmm Mmm good. Man, this amp is so versatile and easy to use! Plus, as you folks already know, it's VERY powerful.
One of the many things I like about the M9 is that, whenever my spouse has the dimmer switch on in the room where she plays piano, I switch the EQ on, adjust my curve and simply lower the 8 KHz down and Tadam, no more electrical buzz/hiss with minimal impact on my sound (of course, a «please Sweetie, could you turn the lights off» has the same effect ...). I would assume this would work in a Gig where the wiring sucks. Again, great amp !
Jim Carr
Dr. Jim
- Jan 21, 2006
- 16,223
- 7,613
- 76
- Disclosures
- fEARful Kool-Aid dispensing liberal academic card-carrying union member Musicians Local 72-147
+1
In the last few weeks I have used mine to play diverse gigs of Latin, Reggae, Ska/Jazz, early Nashville Bob Gibson/Merle Travis/Tennesse—Ernie Ford hits, Rock Oldies, Canadian 60's Folk (Gordon Lightfoot), a Johnny Cash Tribute, A Bob Dylan Tribute, Syrian Popular Ud music (with upright), Belly Dance/Klezmer Band, two Jawaiian pretty Da Pa'inha drivern Jams at Boardriders in Kailua.
All were either with the M9 and UL410, or with the GK MB800 and a an 8 ohm 15/6/1 fEARful in Kailua.
an M12 would be...
Stupid!
Just kidding and I thought the same when I first got my M9..... until I played a few large outdoor gigs with the M9 and a 6x10. I was blowing my head off and the amp was barely breaking a sweat.
This amp is so stupid loud IMO that there is no need for anything higher powered for 99.% of gigging/jamming bassists. If you play Madison Square Garden, use a single M9 and a friggin' DI!
So--just in case anyone was keeping track from a couple of months ago--I am now M9-enabled and quite pleased with the sound, feel, and control (combined with various Berg cabs). I still haven't got it past about 8:30 on the master, but then I'm not planning on immolating any atolls in the Pacific. Like my Trace Elliot lead sled from 1989, which was actually strikingly similar in many ways, this one ain't going anywhere until it dies without replacement parts.
You may all go back to your "My M9 mugged my grandma" posts now. I appreciate the forbearance.
You may all go back to your "My M9 mugged my grandma" posts now. I appreciate the forbearance.
Question for all you Mesa folk.
I get that this is a beast of a head for loud, earthquake stuff. I'd be pairing this with a fEARful 1212/6/1.
But how does this beast sound at low/moderate volume? Does it still have tone at a whisper?
I'd like to go to one head for all occassions, and am wondering if this could be the one...
I get that this is a beast of a head for loud, earthquake stuff. I'd be pairing this with a fEARful 1212/6/1.
But how does this beast sound at low/moderate volume? Does it still have tone at a whisper?
I'd like to go to one head for all occassions, and am wondering if this could be the one...
Agree with Husky-you'll have no trouble getting warmth at low volume by using the gain knob and a low master setting. I always use the passive input setting and find the active one to be less sweet sounding, but when practicing solo, I cannot hear a difference at "living room" volume.
BTW, IME/IMO the fEarful/M9 pairing is stunning!!!! No other rig I have played goes as low/loud/clear as my M9>>LDS 15/6
Interestingly, since I started messing around with a pedal board over the last month, I now have the input power to drive the M9 well into gnarly overdrive (my pedals go through a Morley Twin Mix before the M9 input, and that box has it's own adjustable boost/cut). It still sounds best in the cleanish zone with barely a hint of peachfuzz.
BTW, IME/IMO the fEarful/M9 pairing is stunning!!!! No other rig I have played goes as low/loud/clear as my M9>>LDS 15/6
Interestingly, since I started messing around with a pedal board over the last month, I now have the input power to drive the M9 well into gnarly overdrive (my pedals go through a Morley Twin Mix before the M9 input, and that box has it's own adjustable boost/cut). It still sounds best in the cleanish zone with barely a hint of peachfuzz.
I was hoping you'd chime in, Lomo. I believe the M9 I'm buying used to belong to you! It's got a good legacy...
Yeah , the legacy of impulsive stupidity 
(selling 2 M9s and coming back for my current 3rd, which I will NEVER PART WITH 'cause I missed the others BAD) cost me a bundle. If it's one of mine, it has all the updates (including the pesky fuseholder) and is good to go!
(selling 2 M9s and coming back for my current 3rd, which I will NEVER PART WITH 'cause I missed the others BAD) cost me a bundle. If it's one of mine, it has all the updates (including the pesky fuseholder) and is good to go! Yeah , the legacy of impulsive stupidity
Yep, yep and yep. I was just in the "thinking" stage yesterday when money just showed up in my Paypal. I have a feeling I will be regretting this one.
Scott - this one is a post 500 serial number with all the updates like Lomo mentioned. Plus I have battle tested it for you.
Sometimes the decision to sell occurs in an "ignisecond" (the fleeting moment during which your hand is closing the car door, and your brain is saying "door locked, keys in ignition, windows up........shite!")
...........................too late...................................
...........................too late...................................
I learned a long time ago, when I get offered a 'Husky Deal', it's best to send payment before the end of the sentence.
And with that, I'm now a Mesa M9 owner. I've had 1500 watt rigs that didn't pack this much punch.
This is replacing a Genz Benz Shuttlemax 12, which in itself is a hard act to follow, but is a very yin/yang comparison. So far it proves that intelligent engineering can lead to two completely different paths. First impression is the SM 12 is the ultimate in neutral transparency, the M9 may be the ultimate in strategic voicing.
More will be revealed....
I agree. It's a very pronounced flavor...like stinky cheese....and if you dig it, you prolly dig it big time
The bonus is the GEQ, so if you dig it bent a little bit, it still delivers in spades
I agree. It's a very pronounced flavor...like stinky cheese....and if you dig it, you prolly dig it big time
The bonus is the GEQ, so if you dig it bent a little bit, it still delivers in spades
Right now I'm still exploring, but am going to spend some time with GEQ off and everything flat, compression off.
I'm going to check out different plucking pressure, hand position, pick/up changes and then play around with the sweepable mids on my Carvin BB76 to see how responsive the Mesa is to subtle changes from hands and bass EQ alone.
The only thing I know for sure is that this is the best tone I've ever heard from an amp set flat. I generally don't buy into the concept that an amp should sound great flat out-of-the-box. This is my third day with this head, and I think I'm hearing what other bassists mean when they assert that.
Does anyone know how the M9 is voiced? Specifically the treble frequency?
I'm GASing for a head better voiced for my Barefaced S15's frequency range
M9 a good head for a tweeterless cab?
I'm GASing for a head better voiced for my Barefaced S15's frequency range
M9 a good head for a tweeterless cab?
