Mesa M6 Carbine Mega Thread part 3:

[Chef]

I do use the graphic; i have 30/50hz trimmed a lil bit to tighten things up.

I do prefer the simpler looking laoyout of the M6...but, there ya go.

I do use the compressor on the M9 when using small cabs, this limits it's massive low end from being able to pout the smakdown on smaller cabs at higher volumes.

 

[Jim Carr]

...when do you know you're a bass geek?

When the first thing you do upon waking up after a gig (besides firing up the espresso machine) is log onto TB...

+1

And check TB classified for a used Carbine, LOL! Yes, one is on the way at last. Now I've got to sell some gear...yipes!

In any case, soon I will be firing up an M9.

 

[drasticDUB]

man...the only thing negative I have to say about my Fathom...is how sensitive the master Vol. knob is.
With the gain where I like it...1:30 or 2 on the dial, its just so tough to get the master where it's not screamin bust your speakers loud, or super quiet...
just had a thought...! while using a passive Pbass, I always keep the passive/active switch, switched to passive....would using a passive bass with this switch switched to active give me anymore leeway with the amount of usable travel i could get outta the master vol??
guess I'll give it a try.

thoughts?

 

[lomo]

Sounds like how I feel playing Psycho Killer.. Tina Weymouth is badass player-in the sense of being completely unselfish and serving the tune-I love the Heads and her lines!

 

[Matt Dean]

Yea... I love the Talking Heads too. I remember going to see them in the seventies... didn't even know who they were, but I was blown away by the tiny women pumping the badass bass lines.

Gotta say that I'm rapidly becoming a M6 fanboy.

 

[Jim Carr]

So will I be unhappy that I have found an M9 and it is on the way, or will I think it's as good as an M6, LOL!

 

[lomo]

So will I be unhappy that I have found an M9 and it is on the way, or will I think it's as good as an M6, LOL!

You'll be tickled if you want eq, compressor or more electrons pumping. Otherwise you'll close your eyes and hear the same thing IME.

 

[Vic]

So will I be unhappy that I have found an M9 and it is on the way, or will I think it's as good as an M6, LOL!

I may have missed a joke here, but If you like the M6 of course you'll also like the M9, and also enjoy the extra features. However, don't expect a huge SPL difference. I don't really hear that much difference in headroom between my Fathom(M6) and my M9.

 

[Chef]

Concur...

Hey Matt, if y'all like talking heads, check Tom Tom Club sometime.

I may have missed a joke here, but If you like the M6 of course you'll also like the M9, and also enjoy the extra features. However, don't expect a huge SPL difference. I don't really hear that much difference in headroom between my Fathom(M6) and my M9.

 

[lomo]

Concur...

Hey Matt, if y'all like talking heads, check Tom Tom Club sometime.

Or the album they released sans David Byrne, aptly titled.... No Talking, Just Head



Another gem is Byrne's solo LP, I think it's called Feelings.

 

[Matt Dean]

I like Tom Tom Club... but I'm partial to the Talking Heads, especially early Talking Heads. Not real crazy about post Heads Byrnes (although I do like his Brain Eno collaborations).

Back to on-topic.... I have been experimenting with the voices on the M6 and have decided that this is a truly useful feature and actually like each of the voices for various types of music.

I haven't really found the deep setting that useful as the amp has plenty of low end without it.

I've been reading through the various M6 mega threads and find the whole DI and effects jack situations puzzling, but not an issue as I run my effects between my guitar and the amp. The DI thing may be more of an issue as I do use the DI routinely at gigs.

I read in thread #2 that Vic and Tom had meaningful conversations with the designer of the M6 at NAMM and had developed some understanding, but never read what that understanding was... anybody know?

Also, anyone want to chime in on drastic dub's question about using the active pad as a way to mitigate the attenuation curve issue?

 

[Chef]

Personally, I "hear a difference" I don't like when switching from passive to active.
It seems to knock some of that sheen off the top.

I've never met an active bass that was hot enough to warrant using the active pad, so, I don't.

If I were drastic dub, I'd just dial back the input gain, or, turn the vol down at the instrument a tad. Or, use a smaller cab with less drivers. Though I feel what he's saying it's not been an issue for me, personally. Yeah, the master volume is generally at about 9 o'clock or less, and yeah, it's a little difficult to accurately re-dial it to the same place as from off to 9 oclock sin't much on the knob, but, it's doable without irking me.

 

[Vic]

I haven't really found the deep setting that useful as the amp has plenty of low end without it.

Big +1

I've been reading through the various M6 mega threads and find the whole DI and effects jack situations puzzling, but not an issue as I run my effects between my guitar and the amp. The DI thing may be more of an issue as I do use the DI routinely at gigs.

Which DI thing? If it's the one I think it is, where the master controls its output, I think that only happens if you use POST mode, which I personally don't find nearly as useful... especially with a full PA system... as PRE mode, where that behavior doesn't happen. Just have to pull the knob to get there. I've considered rewiring mine so that's the default instead of POST.

I read in thread #2 that Vic and Tom had meaningful conversations with the designer of the M6 at NAMM and had developed some understanding, but never read what that understanding was... anybody know?

We've spoken to them about lots of stuff. What topic are you asking about?

Also, anyone want to chime in on drastic dub's question about using the active pad as a way to mitigate the attenuation curve issue?

It could help some, as long as your bass has enough output such that the preamp would still be getting a strong enough signal to still be able to achieve max power output (most likely it does). It wouldn't change the curve of the master of course, but it would put your max volume later in the travel of the knob, so it could still help. I've simply gotten used to it, and it's not really a problem for me.

 

[Vic]

Personally, I "hear a difference" I don't like when switching from passive to active.
It seems to knock some of that sheen off the top.

You know, I think I noticed that too, but I figured it might have just been a perception thing due to the amp getting louder as I flick the switch. If it's really happening, that'd be a reason to just live with the sensitivity if you could, of course.

 

[drasticDUB]

I will try it out I guess, next "loud" gig isn't for a week or so...I'll report back with any findings.

 

[Chef]

fwiw; i hear that same kinda sonic diff using the walkabouts active/passive pad...
again, i've never really had to use it on that amp either, so, i don't.

passive mode at all times on both amps.

 

[Chef]

drastic, fwiw, i use my M6, and more often M9 at lower volumes with my upright.
yes, pushing the input gain up past noon does add some warmth and harmonic content, but, it's not a big change...especially in a live mix.
roll your input gain back and be happy

 

[Jerry J]

drastic, fwiw, i use my M6, and more often M9 at lower volumes with my upright.
yes, pushing the input gain up past noon does add some warmth and harmonic content, but, it's not a big change...especially in a live mix.
roll your input gain back and be happy

I've not really been pleased with the tone the times I've tried the input gain at a 1:30 setting. It just seems a bit undefined(?).

As far as the active/passive switch, I do use it at home for quiet practice since it's a bit tough to throttle the amp down low enough to not disturb the house. The one time that I forgot to switch it back to passive at a practice I just just kept rolling my master up until I figured out what I had done.

 

[drasticDUB]

drastic, fwiw, i use my M6, and more often M9 at lower volumes with my upright.
yes, pushing the input gain up past noon does add some warmth and harmonic content, but, it's not a big change...especially in a live mix.
roll your input gain back and be happy

I think it's a big enough change to make a difference. The "quickness" of the M6 is great, but I really love the "smear" that happens with the gain at higher settings...the amp is too sterile for me to have the gain any lower!
I would imagine with the quicker decay of an upright, it might be harder to hear a difference in a band setting? I haven't tried upright with the M6 yet...don't play amplified often at all.

 

[Matt Dean]

Big +1

Which DI thing? If it's the one I think it is, where the master controls its output, I think that only happens if you use POST mode, which I personally don't find nearly as useful...

This is what I was referring to... and this is what I was curious about regarding your conversations with the M6 designer.

I also tried playing my passive instrument through the pad and heard a difference; it sounded a slightly and subtly muffled to me.

Anyway, thanks for all the comments regarding the M6; it's what helped convince me to buy one. I had tried one out at my local Mesa dealer when they first came out and thought it too dry. I kept reading the positive reviews and decided i should give one a sustained try. I'm glad I did.