Mesa M6 Carbine Mega-Thread Pt Deux

[KsPiNeSh]

Very interesting. I haven't yet read the manual (too busy playing and typing on TB ) so I'm not yet familiar with exactly what's going on, but so far I'm really digging setting 4 with the Pull-Deep, gain at 1-2 PM, mids dimed and bass and treble at noon. I'm excited to see how this does at practice tonight in my drop-tuned southern rock band.

 

[tombowlus]

One thing that I'm noticing is that I still get significant hiss from my tweeter with the mute engaged and that flipping to "Active" cuts out a ton of high end. Anyone else agree?

I have not noticed the hiss when muted, but I have noticed that Mesa/Boogie amps do seem to cut some high end (above and beyond just padding the signal) when you switch from passive to active. It's really noticeable on the Titan.

Tom.

 

[Chronicle]

Mine arrived today. I got home, plugged it into my Genz Benz NEOX-212T cabinet, and... holy geez, this thing sounds incredible! The "Pull Deep" really makes the cab rumble, similar in effect to my GBE-1200's LF Extend filter. One thing that I'm noticing is that I still get significant hiss from my tweeter with the mute engaged and that flipping to "Active" cuts out a ton of high end. Anyone else agree? Again, this is at (relative to the master knob) very low volume levels.

Something that I find interesting is that I have a 700RB-II and can get it to sound (to my ear) exactly like the Mesa, only with less signal noise. It is a tone that I love, but I didn't think they would sound so alike. I have not yet tried the GK at practice and will be taking the Mesa tonight, so there could be some differences in that setting.

So far...

I don't know about sounding like a GK amp...my GK2001 had no chance with this M6...the M6 is far more flexible with tone

 

[KsPiNeSh]

I don't know about sounding like a GK amp...my GK2001 had no chance with this M6...the M6 is far more flexible with tone

I'm not much of a knob-turner, so you are probably right. I find my sweet-spot and tend to hover, and they both nail my tone and then some. However, the low-lows on the Mesa seem better defined: I can actually make out a distinct tone when playing the B string (dropped to A), while the GK has what I'll describe as a "tonal rumble", if that even makes sense.

 

[Saluki]

After the wait, I can say it is probably worth it. The tone is great and very versatile. Tested it with 2-Bergantino HS210s. Crazy loud with with so much headroom it is unbelievable. Probably my favorite Mesa tone and I have owned the Mpulse 600, walkabout and BB750 but it doesn't surpass the build quality of some of those. I am not saying the build qualiy is poor but it seems the BB750 and Mpulse 600 were excellent as far as circuitry layout and quality. I know the M6 is a lower price point and with that comes some give and take as far as design and features go. My major issue right now is not the DI or the FX loop as I have made a big deal about in the past, but the noise.

I am having the same issue as kspinesh that my unit is pretty noisy. It is not affected by the mute at all or the active/passive switch. I tried several basses, cables, etc and the only thing that really makes the hiss quieter appears to be related to the input signal, but I can't get it figured out. It was tolerable with my nordy in passive mode, but in active mode it was loud and did not change with a toggle of the active/passive input on the amp or with the mute engaged. I know in a loud bar situation this would not be a big deal, but this could be an issue in the Church setting as my amp is left on between songs and sets and if the "mute" does not make it almost silent then someone will be commenting on it and probably make it useless for that application (which is what I bought it for)

 

[gregbackstrom]

. My major issue right now is not the DI or the FX loop as I have made a big deal about in the past, but the noise.

I am having the same issue as kspinesh that my unit is pretty noisy. It is not affected by the mute at all or the active/passive switch. I tried several basses, cables, etc and the only thing that really makes the hiss quieter appears to be related to the input signal, but I can't get it figured out. It was tolerable with my nordy in passive mode, but in active mode it was loud and did not change with a toggle of the active/passive input on the amp or with the mute engaged. I know in a loud bar situation this would not be a big deal, but this could be an issue in the Church setting as my amp is left on between songs and sets and if the "mute" does not make it almost silent then someone will be commenting on it and probably make it useless for that application (which is what I bought it for)

I noticed the same thing, and I actually sent my M6 back to Mesa after other posters said their M6's were quiet. The customer service rep called me before sendng it back to me and said that my amp passed all bench tests with flying colors and had "minimal hiss."

Since I got the amp back, I've attenuated my speaker cabinet's tweeter to better-match the high frequency response of my other amps. That improves the noise somewhat. But this amp is still noisier on mute than anything else I own! (Even the tube stuff).

I guess I'm getting used to it. And I mostly use my Shuttle at church anyway!

- Greg

 

[Chronicle]

I'm not much of a knob-turner, so you are probably right. I find my sweet-spot and tend to hover, and they both nail my tone and then some. However, the low-lows on the Mesa seem better defined: I can actually make out a distinct tone when playing the B string (dropped to A), while the GK has what I'll describe as a "tonal rumble", if that even makes sense.

Yeah i understand. I like having a set-and-forget setting but on the GK, it would always be Flat or Low mids boosted and that's it...Also the distortion/grit didn't feel organic enough for me as well.

 

[Vic]

I am having the same issue as kspinesh that my unit is pretty noisy.
...
I know in a loud bar situation this would not be a big deal, but this could be an issue in the Church setting as my amp is left on between songs and sets and if the "mute" does not make it almost silent then someone will be commenting on it and probably make it useless for that application (which is what I bought it for)

Interesting. I never really noticed that before, but then again, the bars are the only places I use mine, since one church is strictly in-ear, and the other is well served by a small combo amp. I'll have to do some plug testing with some other amps.

 

[Chronicle]

So hawt.

 

[KsPiNeSh]

Just got home from practice and, as has been stated many times before, this thing is the real deal. Active Corvette 5-string with the EQ flat, pull-deep engaged, setting #3, gain ~ 1:30, mids ~3:00, treble flat... my NEOX-212T was absolutely rumbling with the master barely above zero. I actually started on setting #4, but the Fathom/NEOX combination cut through WAY too much.

What a great freakin' time to be a bass player!

 

[Chronicle]

Quick question, I got a Boss FS-5 for the mute switch but will i drain the batteries if i keep it plugged in? Does it even matter if the batteries run out? Is it passive so the batteries are only used for the LED? And it kinda sucks the mute LED on the amp doesn't light up when I turn the mute on with the footswitch

 

[Chronicle]

Got that answered.

here's a clip of the M6 again with my favorite setting as of right now. Polish Love pedal turns on for grit for the Toolfanboy messup riffs.


Invalid Link Removed

 

[Saluki]

Cool....TOOL

 

[Musicman81]

I am having the same issue as kspinesh that my unit is pretty noisy. It is not affected by the mute at all or the active/passive switch. I tried several basses, cables, etc and the only thing that really makes the hiss quieter appears to be related to the input signal, but I can't get it figured out. It was tolerable with my nordy in passive mode, but in active mode it was loud and did not change with a toggle of the active/passive input on the amp or with the mute engaged. I know in a loud bar situation this would not be a big deal, but this could be an issue in the Church setting as my amp is left on between songs and sets and if the "mute" does not make it almost silent then someone will be commenting on it and probably make it useless for that application (which is what I bought it for)

My unit is also very noisy compared to my old Epifani. I almost think it has something to do with the fan causing some of the hiss, but I could be wrong. My Epifani was dead quiet, but I attribute some of that to it not having a fan. I could be wrong in saying that.

 

[Saluki]

My unit is also very noisy compared to my old Epifani. I almost think it has something to do with the fan causing some of the hiss, but I could be wrong. My Epifani was dead quiet, but I attribute some of that to it not having a fan. I could be wrong in saying that.

I don't think so in my case. My amp appears to be running very cool and the noise can be significanlty reduced depending on the input signal. When I used my nordy in passive mode the noise out of the m6 was significantly less with the amp acitve/passive switch engaged or not. To me that has something to do with what the amp sees coming into it. It is loud hiss though. Like I said tolerable with the Nordy in passive and annoying when more than that. And it is definetely not affected by the mute either. Someone suggested a tube swap which I might try.

 

[Vic]

My unit is also very noisy compared to my old Epifani. I almost think it has something to do with the fan causing some of the hiss, but I could be wrong. My Epifani was dead quiet, but I attribute some of that to it not having a fan. I could be wrong in saying that.

I don't think it's the fan. I think it's just the design.

I did some A/B testing last night and my Eden head is not as hissy as the Mesa. What's interesting is, as I turn the Eden up, the amp noise gets louder. With the Mesa, it seems to just be the same no matter what gain/master are set to.

So I guess I don't know how quite/noisy it is in a general sense, but for my usage, it won't be a problem because the venues I play it in, you'd never hear it. In fact I didn't even know about it until it was brought up in this thread. Not to say it shouldn't matter to some folks... I can understand that... just thankfully it's no big deal for me.

 

[Vic]

I don't think so in my case. My amp appears to be running very cool and the noise can be significanlty reduced depending on the input signal. When I used my nordy in passive mode the noise out of the m6 was significantly less with the amp acitve/passive switch engaged or not. To me that has something to do with what the amp sees coming into it. It is loud hiss though. Like I said tolerable with the Nordy in passive and annoying when more than that. And it is definetely not affected by the mute either. Someone suggested a tube swap which I might try.

I'm thinking a tube swap would be a waste of time. I'm pretty sure any noise the amp is producing will be there when nothing is plugged in. That's the way I A/B tested. If you plug different basses in and you get different levels of hiss... especially more with an active bass vs a passive bass, that makes perfect sense. The M6 is a very bright amp so it's gonna' probably appear to emphasize any hiss coming from the preamp in the bass. It stands to reason a passive bass wouldn't add any... you should get the same hiss with a passive as with nothing plugged in (I would think), and more with any active bass... how much depends on the preamp in the bass.

Anyway, that's my theory. Now let's see if it holds water.

 

[Musicman81]

You know, I did try it in Passive mode with my 55-94 and there was a pretty large decrease of hiss, so rethinking that, I don't think it is the fan either. It's just the design like Vic was saying. I don't recall if it goes away during mute or not, as I just got my unit back from Mesa after almost 1 1/2 months. So, I haven't had a chance to play with it much as I had owned less than 2 weeks prior to sending it back. But, for the bar situations I play in, it's not a problem for me. It's just kind of annoying when playing solo.

I don't think so in my case. My amp appears to be running very cool and the noise can be significanlty reduced depending on the input signal. When I used my nordy in passive mode the noise out of the m6 was significantly less with the amp acitve/passive switch engaged or not. To me that has something to do with what the amp sees coming into it. It is loud hiss though. Like I said tolerable with the Nordy in passive and annoying when more than that. And it is definetely not affected by the mute either. Someone suggested a tube swap which I might try.

 

[MrBEAR]

The "hiss" or "rushing air" sound being discussed does present itself on my earlier model, March '08 completion date, M6 Carbine.

That said it is at a level which is significantly lower than the "fan noise" the unit produces. This sonic disturbance remains at a constant level until the gain is increased past the 12:00 o'clock position. Results obtained with nothing plugged in vs. a passive bass plugged in are too close to call by ear.

Reducing the gain to zero, placing the master volume at 12:00 o'clock and raising the gain obtained similar results, with any discernable dB differences being negligible to the ear and most likely a moot point in a live setting. I did not plug in for this practice run, as the obtainable levels would have been "ear crushing", but again, as mentioned there is more "ambient" noise issued by the fan than the "hiss, air rush" dilemma.

This issue is not that prominent through the DI to a board, input gain PFL'd on an A&H MixWiz 16:2, while monitoring via Sennheiser HD 600's.

There appears to be a significantly large, hot(?), amount of gain employed in the gain stage via the pre-amp tube, certainly more than I personally need, so a possible suggestion for those that find this a persistent personal "niggle" would be to try swapping tubes with some known to have a lot less gain.

Just a thought and as always ymmv etc.

Cheers,

Mr. BEAR

P.S. I just checked the Mute mode and there is Zero hiss emitting from either the 12's or the horn.

 

[Chef]

FWIW: I've had brand new preamp tubes in brand new amps go south and create all kinds if icky and weird noises. Changing the tube out might not fix it, but, it might.

Can't hurt nothing to try.