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Mesa M6 Carbine Mega Thread part 3:

#681
I'm in big trouble now....
Been using Ampegs or a WA for the past million years and stopped by a GC to try a 7 Pro (looking for the lighweight 1kW SVT and the WA doesn't have enough power for clean headroom); also thought I'd compare it to a GK MB800 as both amps get hugs and kisses here.

They didn't have the MB800 so I A/B'd with a P bass, GK neo 4x12 and a GK RB1001.

I guess my tastes are changing; the 7 Pro sounded kinda murky and I was very impressed with the 1001. Obviously different, both good, but preferred the GK. That's when the trouble started as there was a M6 close enough that the speakon I had been switching would reach.

I never had considered an M series as I can't justify $1,200 + dollars for an amp that gets gigged twice a month (on gigs that pay between $50 -$100 per man).

Dear God; I should have paid more attention to what you knuckleheads have been writing. The M6 kills; clean, transparent, 3-D soundstage, can be bright without being strident, warm, with a low end that I've only heard with BIG iron power amps and a good pre (also have a SVP / 1500 watt amp that I love but is way to heavy).

Not particulary tubey but my mind must be goin through them changes as it sounded like my new amp; at least in a store.

Played the same 5 bass lines through all three amps at least three times; M6 won the battle at least in a solo situation.

The questions; any idea what serial number started the M6 revisions that takes care of the heat issue?
How does it compare to an MB800?
Where can I steal $1,200?
 
#682
Jim:
a couple things here:
If you're going to go M6, give serious consideration to the M9. As soon as it came out, I was happy to amek the change to be able to tighten up the low end via the last two bands of GEQ and the compressor.
I have "fat fingers," that just seem to bring out big low end out of everything, you may not, but with the M6, I had trouble controlling all that fat.

The MB800 is pretty dang close, but, doesn't quite convey that "massive transformer heft" you make note of. But man, is it ever easy to move around....

Having said all that, the GK1001 is no slouch, but, it's a different flavor than the preceding two choices, for sure.
 
#683
Thanks for the advice Alan; I had forgotten about your recomendation that the M9 offered better control of the huge bottom; suppose I could accomplish the same with an outboard EQ (maybe my Trace EQ pedal or spare rackmount EQ and compressor) but am rerally loosing interest in caring anything other than a spare amp.
Need to find a store with an MB800 is stock as it is less than1/2 the price of the M6 new ($549 at RMC), and it looks like the Mesa's are $1,300 & 1,549.
For $250 the M9 is a much better deal IMO although the resale of M6's are pretty low in comparison.

All in all, I'm glad to be in this predicament as I was about to pull the trigger on a used 7 Pro without trying one.
 
#684
FWIW - I've been gigging with a Mesa M6 for the past couple years or so. I have never felt the need for the M9. A couple times if the bass was too fat, I dialed down the bass EQ knob on the M6, or I change the tone shape selector knob to the middle position straight up. I've never once felt that I needed more control over low frequencies using my Nordstrand Alder/RW Vj5 (Big Singles) or my Ash/Maple Nordstrand VP5.
 
#687
When I made the switch to M9, I was still using the UL410 a lot, which is pretty hefty down low.

I'm pretty sure I had the M6 and AE410 at the same time.
While I liked the overall pairing well enough, at outdoor or bigger stage volumes, the shelf ports got chuffy enough on me I couldn't mic it.

The UL410 doesn't do that.

Of course, I don't mean the actual width of my fingers, but you knew that...my fingers are actually pretty narrow, sparrow ;)
 
#688
GRoberts said:
FWIW - I've been gigging with a Mesa M6 for the past couple years or so. I have never felt the need for the M9.
Click to expand...

+1 I did some gigs with the M9, and I never felt the need for the graphic EQ. The compressor is really nice, and I'd probably leave it on if I had an M9, but I also don't miss it when I gig the M6, so for me, the M6 is the ticket. That being said, if I were an M6 owner and I was not able to control the tone just the way I'd like from top to bottom, then yes, the M9 makes a lot of sense.

Do note, though, there is not any real noticeable volume/headroom increase going from the M6 to the M9, so I would not recommend the "upgrade" if volume/headroom were your only criteria.
 
#689
So true!
I never came close to using all the horsepower the M6 had, so, I'd never notice if the M9 had more power...dig.

tombowlus said:
Do note, though, there is not any real noticeable volume/headroom increase going from the M6 to the M9, so I would not recommend the "upgrade" if volume/headroom were your only criteria.
Click to expand...
 
#690
Chef said:
When I made the switch to M9, I was still using the UL410 a lot, which is pretty hefty down low.

I'm pretty sure I had the M6 and AE410 at the same time.
While I liked the overall pairing well enough, at outdoor or bigger stage volumes, the shelf ports got chuffy enough on me I couldn't mic it.
Click to expand...

Never experienced that, myself, with the AE410, but I will agree that the UL-410 is a bit bloomy down low, which is in part why I sold mine. If I were gigging with a UL-410, though, I can see where the graphic on the M9 might be helpful.
 
#692
I sometimes think the PH212 cab was made specifically for the Carbine amps; it's a combination made in heaven! The sound is heavy and tight at the same time, and the only way I can make it unbearable is to pull out that bass boost knob on the M6. If you have a powerful OBP, that knob is a "do not touch".
I slap my M6 head on my PH115 for rehearsal, and it doesn't sound half-bad either!
 
#693
Worldeeeter said:
I sometimes think the PH212 cab was made specifically for the Carbine amps; it's a combination made in heaven! The sound is heavy and tight at the same time, and the only way I can make it unbearable is to pull out that bass boost knob on the M6. If you have a powerful OBP, that knob is a "do not touch".
I slap my M6 head on my PH115 for rehearsal, and it doesn't sound half-bad either!
Click to expand...

The 212 is just plain awesome. Every time I play I'm amazed at how good it is with the carbine (mine's an m9). That combination is mindblowing.
 

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