Yeah, but you can drop them back off with the treble control.
That said, I'd definitely try one of the scoop voicings before going with the deep control.
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Mesa M6 Carbine Mega Thread part 3:
- Thread starter Thor
- Start date
That said, I'd definitely try one of the scoop voicings before going with the deep control.
Still really vague, since you don't really describe it in terms of lows, mids, or highs, which would be more helpful. Also, you haven't said what kinds of things you've already done with the EQ and what seemed to at least help, and what seemed to kinda' hurt, which would also be very helpful.
Anyway, it seems like most folks here are taking you to mean more low end. So if that's the case...
My understanding of those Mesa cabs (I admit I have very little direct experience with them) is they can take a lot of power and EQ and not fart out. Given that...
Especially for live mixes, One thing you can try is what Chef suggests. That will tend to have more bass but lack some mids, including low mids, and then you can tweak from there with the EQ knobs. However, if that ends up getting kinda' muddy on you, what I like to do in a live mix to add low end without adding mud, is to use the "wider" bump voicing (voicing 5). The Q of that voicing extends into the low mids and a bit into the bass, and I've found that, combined with the natural effects of a room, that can really make your sound a lot bigger and fatter, but not suffer too much of a hit to your definition.
Anyway, let us know what you've tried so far, maybe try some of these things, etc., but I would strongly suggest you don't start flipping gear at this time. I would find it hard to believe you couldn't get what you need from what you have, given the correct EQ settings. Also keep in mind what you hear at home is not always relevant to what you hear in a live mix. Get a decent starting point, and pick a full band rehearsal where you make the final settings adjustments.
Sounds like the typical big fat punchy very well produced studio mix. I'm not hearing anything particularly emphasized tonally by the bass in this tho. Of course achieving that kind of big clean sound on a typical live stage is extremely difficult... maybe impossible for most bands.
Thanks - sorry, I should have been more specific.
Yes, mainly wanting more lows and low mids. I am mainly looking at getting the 212 or 412 because, having played a few shows using a 412, I enjoyed the on stage sound more...I hear people describe them as the 'middle ground' between 10s and 15s, which I think is perfect.
Also been keen on a Precision for a long time, and I chose the Warwick over one because it sounded better in store, but I suspect that the Precision would work better in a mix. Sound wise, we're somewhere between Sparta and Alexisonfire. Standard tuning.
I will try to describe as best as I can what I hear currently:
An upper-mid focussed tone, with good note articulation and presence on its own or with drums, but gets lost in a mix when the guitars and keys come in. The sound works well with chords (which I use often), picking notes higher on the fretboard, and has plenty of cut when overdriven.
What I would like to hear is quite a lot more "oomph" in the low end - I feel like there needs to be more trouser flapping.
I tried the voicing positions and didn't particularly like the first two (nearest the centre). Admittedly I didn't try the more extreme settings, because I figured that they would just be more of what I didn't like. I also did try with the Deep engaged, which I found to be a little too boomy and muddy - however, I didn't fiddle with the EQ, which is probably an important step. I found that the Mid dial seems to exacerbate things, and the treble sounds best flat.
I really like the gain at about 1 o'clock, but tonight I'm going to try winding that down a bit and using the SFT for a little bit of grit.
Apologies for being so vague, I find it quite hard to explain what's in my head! It's still a fantastic amp, and I know that I am being extremely fussy...but for what I paid, I expect to be allowed
Yes, mainly wanting more lows and low mids. I am mainly looking at getting the 212 or 412 because, having played a few shows using a 412, I enjoyed the on stage sound more...I hear people describe them as the 'middle ground' between 10s and 15s, which I think is perfect.
Also been keen on a Precision for a long time, and I chose the Warwick over one because it sounded better in store, but I suspect that the Precision would work better in a mix. Sound wise, we're somewhere between Sparta and Alexisonfire. Standard tuning.
I will try to describe as best as I can what I hear currently:
An upper-mid focussed tone, with good note articulation and presence on its own or with drums, but gets lost in a mix when the guitars and keys come in. The sound works well with chords (which I use often), picking notes higher on the fretboard, and has plenty of cut when overdriven.
What I would like to hear is quite a lot more "oomph" in the low end - I feel like there needs to be more trouser flapping.
I tried the voicing positions and didn't particularly like the first two (nearest the centre). Admittedly I didn't try the more extreme settings, because I figured that they would just be more of what I didn't like. I also did try with the Deep engaged, which I found to be a little too boomy and muddy - however, I didn't fiddle with the EQ, which is probably an important step. I found that the Mid dial seems to exacerbate things, and the treble sounds best flat.
I really like the gain at about 1 o'clock, but tonight I'm going to try winding that down a bit and using the SFT for a little bit of grit.
Apologies for being so vague, I find it quite hard to explain what's in my head! It's still a fantastic amp, and I know that I am being extremely fussy...but for what I paid, I expect to be allowed
Voice 5 (all the way to the right) bumps it up at ~ 250 Hz, which should give you some of that wump. And I always keep my Pull Deep engaged... those guys are just scared 
Chef
In Memoriam
I'm curious where you have the bass set while having deep engaged.
That's a looootttta low end...
That's a looootttta low end...
Try my trick. Use voice 5, the bigger wider bump, which (as has been posted) hits 250 pretty hard, which should be good. Then, adjust the mid and the bass controls to "tune" your low end. Honestly, I'd be surprised if that didn't work pretty well for ya. Just keep in mind that's a fairly hefty boost, so you'll probably want to drop your gain setting to compensate.
Good luck, and post up with how it goes.
More or less at noon, maybe a nudge either way to taste. All of my basses are active and I have the bass and mids boosted a touch, but nothing extreme - just enough to fatten them up. I don't hear the extreme low end that many do with the Pull Deep engaged; definitely a difference, but it strikes me as more of an extension than a boost. That said, I'm also the guy that dimes his mids knob
My primary band is hard rock tuned down to A with a 7-string guitarist, so some of that low-end might just be natural to me. Sounds fantastic in our band mix though and we consistently get compliments from fans and soundmen alike (always go post-EQ if not mic'd) about how balanced, thick, and clear we sound live, so it seems to work well.
Thanks so much for your help everyone!
I went back to the shop (I know the bass guy) and had a good long play through a bunch of different setups, tweaking and turning as I went.
New settings sound MASSIVE - absolutely fantastic.
...and then I have my Catalinbread SFT with gain at about 9.00 and volume at around unity, with the bass boosted a little bit.
The clean (i.e. no SFT) is really nice, and fills out the sound well. The notes are clear and reasonably crisp, while still having enough of the low mids to sit below the other instruments.
However, when the SFT is engaged it's a whole different kettle of fish. It's really warm, growly and slightly overdriven, and a dominant presence in the mix. I haven't really loved the SFT until this point, and through other amps it doesn't really sound as good, so I think it's a great symbiotic relationship they have going!
I also got rid of a bunch of pedals, thanks to our new synth player being able to handle pads and ambient stuff.
Unfortunately, my Ibanez ATK now sounds rather poor with the current setup, so I'm going to look into getting a GEB-7 or something to try and even things out between the two basses. That is, until my Jagmeister project comes together
So a massive thanks to all who helped!
I went back to the shop (I know the bass guy) and had a good long play through a bunch of different setups, tweaking and turning as I went.
New settings sound MASSIVE - absolutely fantastic.
- The active/passive switch is in passive - I found that it opened up the sound a bit more than having that pad activated.
- Gain is at about 9.30-10.00
- Bass flat
- Mids at 1.00
- Voice 5
- Treble at 10.00
...and then I have my Catalinbread SFT with gain at about 9.00 and volume at around unity, with the bass boosted a little bit.
The clean (i.e. no SFT) is really nice, and fills out the sound well. The notes are clear and reasonably crisp, while still having enough of the low mids to sit below the other instruments.
However, when the SFT is engaged it's a whole different kettle of fish. It's really warm, growly and slightly overdriven, and a dominant presence in the mix. I haven't really loved the SFT until this point, and through other amps it doesn't really sound as good, so I think it's a great symbiotic relationship they have going!
I also got rid of a bunch of pedals, thanks to our new synth player being able to handle pads and ambient stuff.
Unfortunately, my Ibanez ATK now sounds rather poor with the current setup, so I'm going to look into getting a GEB-7 or something to try and even things out between the two basses. That is, until my Jagmeister project comes together
So a massive thanks to all who helped!
quick question
went to music store to play m6 more and haggle
salesman was pretty firm on $1149 price tag and, like i assumed, mesa is pretty stringent on pricing. but i swear he had told me he could do it for $1k a few months ago(which i should have jumped on). also have found a few sites asking $999.
any thoughts? just don't want to pay more than i should.
went to music store to play m6 more and haggle
salesman was pretty firm on $1149 price tag and, like i assumed, mesa is pretty stringent on pricing. but i swear he had told me he could do it for $1k a few months ago(which i should have jumped on). also have found a few sites asking $999.
any thoughts? just don't want to pay more than i should.
My M6 has never been off the "just loud enough to hear it" setting. And my Thrash metal band has forced me to buy earplugs for the first time in a quarter of a century. Consider an M3.
Guys,
What are the best 112 cabs (X2) to go with this amp. I have a pair or Aguilar GS112's, but maybe there are some that are better paired. Light weight is a factor.
Thanks,
Bill
What are the best 112 cabs (X2) to go with this amp. I have a pair or Aguilar GS112's, but maybe there are some that are better paired. Light weight is a factor.
Thanks,
Bill
I've played through the M6 about a half dozen times and wow! This thing is loud. Whatever mid range frequencey this thing lives around it pushes it in spades. I'll never need this type of earsplitting volume. Just piercing voicing it has. M3 would do me fine. But aren't they just $200 apart in price? Or did the M6 go up?
I saw a hang tag on one M6 at GC that said $999 and at another GC store $1149. Have they gone up but some stores are behind in marking them maybe...?
Mine has been sounding great with a pair of Bergantino HT112s. I can't imagine it sounding any better on the single 12s.
The head cases usually cost about $200 more. The ones with cases and without are 2 separate products, per Mesa. If a dealer is stretching things, well, I'd never tell
Awesome! Thank you Vic!
I got my powder coated 1590 box on Friday and the jacks, switches and hookup wire on Saturday.I did get the SUPER BRIGHT white LED for the mute since the indicator doesn't work with the remote switch.
I just need to figure out how to put it all together now since this is my first pedal build.
Ok, I finished this pedal last week and I am super thrilled with it if I do say so myself.
I only wanted to access the mute and two voices so I've got three switches with SUPER BRIGHT LEDs. Who needs an indicator on the front panel of the amp when you've got a white LED that could run solar panels, anyway?
At Saluki's suggestion I added a jack for 9vdc to run the LEDs or a 9v battery.
