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 M6 Carbine Mega-Thread Pt Deux
- Thread starter Chef
- Start date
- Status
FIRST POST! 
+1, and the manual really doesn't say much about it either other than it's "boost only". The rest is marketing speak, like "it's more musical" and such.
+1, except if it's truly boost only, in theory, that's boosted 50%. Dunno. Might have to contact them on this.
FIRST POST!
+1, and the manual really doesn't say much about it either other than it's "musical" and it's "boost only". The rest is marketing speak.
+1
There is a GREAT post somewhere on this site actually explaining the mid control. In oversimplified terms, there is an active mid circuit that presets the mid profile of the amp. The 'passive' mid control then controls that 'bumped' mid profile by passively cutting those frequenices if you so choose.
It's very similar from my understanding to the Celinder on-board preamp. There are internal treble boosts that are preset (with some limited additional sculpting with DIP switches), and a passive tone control to then adjust them down.
The confusion is that the manual says the control is a strange combination of 'boost only' and 'passive'. That's because (again from my understanding), there is a strong 'active mid boost' going on inside the head, and the passive control is then used to cut it.
On the scope, the MPulse heads seem to be the most flat with the mid control at around 9 o'clock. The M6 seems to have that internal mid boost set so that 'flat' is actually with the passive control at noon (at least that's the way I hear it). This again reinforces how different the M6 sounds versus the MPulse heads to me.
I have no idea why someone thought this was a good idea
Yeah...."passive mids..."
My ears tell me that "all the way off ain't flat."
And if it was; why the center detent?
They can call it passive it they want, but I respectfully disagree, at least a little
My ears tell me that "all the way off ain't flat."
And if it was; why the center detent?
They can call it passive it they want, but I respectfully disagree, at least a little
Yeah...."passive mids..."
My ears tell me that "all the way off ain't flat."
And if it was; why the center detent?
They can call it passive it they want, but I respectfully disagree, at least a little
See the above post. The control is passive, and can only cut the internally boosted mids. The 'flat' setting absolute level (9 o'clock, noon, whatever) is totally arbitrary and can be set wherever the designer wants it to be.
The relationship between flat on the scope and internally boosted mids versus the level of passive cut engaged to make the amp 'flat' can be set any way you want.
K
Edit: I agree, it seems like a bit of hooha, but the Greengrove guys who make the Celinder pre make a big deal about how much more natural the sort of circuit sounds. Who knows. One of the problems that many have with the MPulse is that those heads can sound quite nasal with the mids at noon, since that's where more traditional active controls are 'relatively flat'. The change of the M6 to have the head relatively 'flat' at noon, with a detent is a MUCH needed improvement over the strange '9 o'clock as flat on the scope' mid setting of the MPulse amps (at least the 600).
That's the way I understand it. It is a rather tortured concept
It sounds darn good though!
- Jun 29, 2006
- 5,148
- 3,214
- Disclosures
- President, CEO, CFO, CIO, Chief Engineer, Technician, Janitor - Reiner Amplification
I was just doing a side by side comparison of the Fathom into the Berg NV412, and the GK800RBII into 2x Bag End S15-D stack, and I have to say the tone of the two rigs was more similar than different (Mesa was set pretty much flat, lows boosted on the GK). They both have that quick, bright, punchy tonality with some grit. Thought it was interesting since the GK/Bag End is a classic combo that has been around for years and they Fathom/NV412 is pretty new. Just thought I'd share...
JR
JR
The passive mid circuit on the WalkAbout sounds great to me. It doesn't matter that it isn't technically flat set to noon, if it sounds good it's good.
It doesn't matter that it isn't technically flat set to noon, if it sounds good it's good.
Guess what I found at my local music store today? A new M6 Carbine atop a Mesa 410 cabinet. 
Didn't have my bass and the ones hanging in the shop were all a crap shoot, so I don't know how it would sound with my bass. So that was quite a variable. the nicest 5'er they had was a Musicman Bongo. (very punchy, but not my sound).
In any event, I saw, I played, I heard ...I understand. Very nice head. VERY. NICE. Simple to use from what I could tell. The center preset sounded the most natural to me. Although Preset 2 was useable as was preset 4. I didn't even switch into the 1st or 5th preset as the others sounded great and versatile enough since the tone knobs could boost or cut to taste.
Still not sure I 'need' one of these. God knows in terms of power, my Markbass LMII Master Vol is at 9 o 'clock and I get told to turn down here and there. So I certainly don't need 2 ohm capability, or any more volume for that matter. Headroom however is important to me and the M6 has this in spades!
the list price has gone up. It is $1149 now. Probably worth every penny. But for those who bought one for less, bravo! Well done!
In short, I liked it a lot and I'd love to hear my bass through an M6 Carbine using my Bergantino AE410. I'm sure that would kick major butt!
Didn't have my bass and the ones hanging in the shop were all a crap shoot, so I don't know how it would sound with my bass. So that was quite a variable. the nicest 5'er they had was a Musicman Bongo. (very punchy, but not my sound).
In any event, I saw, I played, I heard ...I understand. Very nice head. VERY. NICE. Simple to use from what I could tell. The center preset sounded the most natural to me. Although Preset 2 was useable as was preset 4. I didn't even switch into the 1st or 5th preset as the others sounded great and versatile enough since the tone knobs could boost or cut to taste.
Still not sure I 'need' one of these. God knows in terms of power, my Markbass LMII Master Vol is at 9 o 'clock and I get told to turn down here and there. So I certainly don't need 2 ohm capability, or any more volume for that matter. Headroom however is important to me and the M6 has this in spades!
the list price has gone up. It is $1149 now. Probably worth every penny. But for those who bought one for less, bravo! Well done!
In short, I liked it a lot and I'd love to hear my bass through an M6 Carbine using my Bergantino AE410. I'm sure that would kick major butt!
Aw crap... seriously? I knew Mesa prices were going up, but I didn't realize it would be immediately. Shucks.
This thread needs sound clips and or youtube links!
Indeed
So that puts it at about the same price range as the Tecamp Puma 500. So if a certain player around here (sounds like JKung) was only going to drop that kind of change for one of these heads...what would the decision making process inside of his brain look like to the rest of us?
I tell you this has got to be one of the best and most frustrating times ever to be shopping for a new bass rig. On one hand...I know I would be just fine snagging an LMII and a couple of Epifani cabs and thumping for the next couple of years without looking back. On the other hand, since I'm in the market and since I have the funds, everything seems to grab my attention! I find myself checking out every single thread from the Tecamp to the LMII to the Mesa Boogie, Epifani, Aguilar, Carvin, Hartke - then I hear Jimmy Earl playing on the Jimmy Kimmel show and think - God he sounds GREAT through that GK!
All that to say - the Carbine is definitely very high up there on my list of heads I want to try out before I take the plunge.
Reading the reviews has been helpful (well if not helpful, at least fun)
Well, it's a new fiscal year. That's pretty typical, I think. Plus, the rumor mill has been churning about this for several weeks, so I'm guessing this wasn't that much of a surprise to most folks.
Anyway, still very well worth it, IMHO.
Yeah, but I don't think the two are directly comparable tonally. From what I gather, the Tecamp stuff is more about pristine reproduction (to avoid the overloaded words "flat" or "uncolored" anyway
) than it is pre-voicing for popular or typical market tonal preference. Plus, dynamically, I'm guessing they'll be pretty different as well, due to the vastly different power section designs. Ken can correct if I'm wrong about that, but that's what I seem to gather on it. I'd think it'd be interesting to hear an A/B test tho. I know Tom has a Puma 1000 now or will very soon, so maybe we can have him chime in on it.
got to try the carbine at rudy's music today. not a definitive review of course, but some random noodle noodles and thoughts. had my valenti from an early afternoon rehearsal, and had the carbine plugged into an AE112 pair.
first off, the EQ was both crazy cool. i loved how interactive the tone controls were w/ the the voicing knob, which was like having a new amp to play with with each knob notch. and yes, i did get some nice tones with the amp set flat! the upper mids and razor highs were actually really nice for slap. added a great edge to my fingerstyle. the pull bass knob should be renamed the biggers knob. easily had the rafters doing a jig, and made even the single ae112 sound massive. still, i need/love knobs. lots of knobs. oh well.
but, i really dug the gain knob aka "ME TUBES IS ANGRY" knob. w/ my pick, i was getting some kickass grind. the more you turn it up, the more burly it got. and frankly, its been a while since i've heard some good grind from these so called hybrid amps. the db750 has always had a nice grind, but compared to the carbine, almost seems meh sounding vs. the literal grind of hefty rocks sound in the carbine's preamp section.
and while 24 lbs., strangely actually felt lighter than the eden wt800. but this experience made me realize i'm more an eden wt800 guy at heart i.e. the all important EQ section, plenty of tubey beef, and i'm a sucker for faux gold plating. still, the carbine has some awesome sounds in it, and if mesa could somehow incorporate a semi para knob for the mids, it'd be all over the amp in the heartbeat.
first off, the EQ was both crazy cool. i loved how interactive the tone controls were w/ the the voicing knob, which was like having a new amp to play with with each knob notch. and yes, i did get some nice tones with the amp set flat! the upper mids and razor highs were actually really nice for slap. added a great edge to my fingerstyle. the pull bass knob should be renamed the biggers knob. easily had the rafters doing a jig, and made even the single ae112 sound massive. still, i need/love knobs. lots of knobs. oh well.
but, i really dug the gain knob aka "ME TUBES IS ANGRY" knob. w/ my pick, i was getting some kickass grind. the more you turn it up, the more burly it got. and frankly, its been a while since i've heard some good grind from these so called hybrid amps. the db750 has always had a nice grind, but compared to the carbine, almost seems meh sounding vs. the literal grind of hefty rocks sound in the carbine's preamp section.
and while 24 lbs., strangely actually felt lighter than the eden wt800. but this experience made me realize i'm more an eden wt800 guy at heart i.e. the all important EQ section, plenty of tubey beef, and i'm a sucker for faux gold plating. still, the carbine has some awesome sounds in it, and if mesa could somehow incorporate a semi para knob for the mids, it'd be all over the amp in the heartbeat.
Yeah, but I don't think the two are directly comparable tonally. From what I gather, the Tecamp stuff is more about pristine reproduction (to avoid the overloaded words "flat" or "uncolored" anyway
+1 Two very different things, and both worth every penny IMO. Being that I like it clean and pure, it's no surprise that I'm sticking with my MB and TecAmp heads. However, that M6 is just a killer 'rock' head... fat, loud, quick, punchy, a little gritty if you want, etc.
I agree with Joker's review of the tone contols. The Mesa tone stack is simultaneously wonderful (interactive to the point where the amp seems to be totally revioced even with minor changes) and frustrating (the amp seems to be totally revoiced even with minor changes
). I prefer a more straightforward 'channel strip' like EQ control, with a couple nicely voiced (or semi-parametric) mid controls. Just pure personal preference there.It would look like this
1) Where on the 'pure transparent' to 'fat,warm' continuum do I want to be?
2) How loud do I need to be?
3) What cab and bass am I going to use with it? (the 'mix and match'... is my cab a little low end attenutated? Does my cab need precise tuning of the low mids to even it out? Is my cab very low or very high SPL? Same for the bass... is it a 'fat, pure, warm' type instrument, are a grindy, mid punchy, growly type instrument?)
4) What are my size weight requirements?
5) What is my budget?
I put those in order of importance for me.
- Status
