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Mesa M6 Carbine Mega-Thread Pt Deux

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#421
I notice some people when discussing the hiss/no hiss have specified whether they were using tweetered cabs (presumably with the tweeter not turned down), but most of the ones who say "I got no hiss" don't specify about the tweeter.

Could those who didn't mention it before, specify whether they got "no hiss" even when using a tweeter that isn't attenuated? Thx!
 
#423
OK, so the show saturday with the house backline felt like an epic fail. They had a nice Ampeg head and cabinet, but there were tons of knobs on the head and no lights to show you what any of there were. I found the one marked "master" and it was cranked. I just gave up and left it where it was set (with that many knobs, and 5 minutes to setup, there was no way I would find the one marked "Awesome" in time). The preamp controls on my bass didn't even seem to change the tone at all. Feh!!! The sound was OK, but it wasn't my Carbine and I was not happy. The house said the sound was good, but it felt like poo on stage to not be able to have my beloved crushing tone and ruthless attack, nor my thunderous stage volume.

I did get the lovely compliment that the show Friday had such punishing rumbly bass that it made people feel it in their gut and almost a little ill :D
 
#426
couldn't help but search for this classic:
farside.gif
 
#427
bongomania said:
I notice some people when discussing the hiss/no hiss have specified whether they were using tweetered cabs (presumably with the tweeter not turned down), but most of the ones who say "I got no hiss" don't specify about the tweeter.

Could those who didn't mention it before, specify whether they got "no hiss" even when using a tweeter that isn't attenuated? Thx!
Click to expand...

Yo, Bongo,

I set up my M6 Carbine combo, just for your question, this afternoon.

The horn/tweeter, glaring omission in the manual regarding the Player Control Network as regards the combo option with 2x12 + horn, set at, trip downstairs to review available options, 3kHz, 4 kHz, or 5 kHz (selections made no difference in the discernable residual/baseline noise output) flat attenuation and full, available cut, yielded the following result. However the following, judicious, disclaimer applies, bass @ full cut, active mids @ full cut, pre-set = flat, treble dimed.

The fan noise was louder up to 8:00 - 8:30 o'clock on the master volume control. At this point and beyond the residual/bassline noise became more prominent, even, with the mute engaged.

In a live performance situation, no problem, as there are a lot more headaches introduced from other instruments and mic's.

In studio I would recommend isolation for the head and a deal with it attitude for the engineer if a micropone is employed for the cab of choice.

Hoping that helps. If not ask away, the combo is plugged in and ready to play with until Thursday this week.

Cheers,

Mr. BEAR
 
#428
CElton said:
As I recall, he was using an Epi UL310. It's the same combination as I'm using and I totally dig it. As Vic said, it would be dull if we all used the same thing.

It could be about the mix and match and I could see a P bass especially with rounds sounding very aggressive through that combination.
Click to expand...
OK, I'm back. Sorry to hijack the hiss discussion. Yes I was using a UL310, epic fail. Really awful with a P bass(rounds), tolerable with a Jazz(also rounds). Switched to my trusty old Goliath cab the other night, much better. But still too much upper mids happening. I'm on the road till Friday and can't try anything till then, but if you have suggestions, please suggest.

I've been trying to use the head 'flat' for the most part, with Gain at 1 o'clock, a slight Bass bump(1 o'clock), Mid cut(11 o'clock) and treble at 12 o'clock, or slightly less. Voice at setting 3('flat'). I have tried the number 2 filter setting but felt it took away too much 'punchiness', whatever that means to you. To me it means 400hz or so, the control is centered at 540hz. The Mid knob doesn't reduce the offending frequencies without taking other stuff with it.

Maybe there is an odd (to me) way of dialing in a better sound, like Chef was talking about defeating the Hi Pass filter by pulling the bass knob, then reducing bass, etc...I want to work with it some more if I can. It is a nice piece, if I can make it work. The power/size/weight combo is unbeatable, which is why I bought it. But that 900hz bump has me stumped. No obvious way to reduce it that I can see, and a P bass is already really strong in that region, so....?

For an idea of where I'm coming from, I really, really, REALLY like the sound of my Demeter HPB-1 /power amp sled. Got the M6 to reduce the schlep factor.
 
#429
dmusic148 said:
OK, I'm back. Sorry to hijack the hiss discussion. Yes I was using a UL310, epic fail. Really awful with a P bass(rounds), tolerable with a Jazz(also rounds). Switched to my trusty old Goliath cab the other night, much better. But still too much upper mids happening. I'm on the road till Friday and can't try anything till then, but if you have suggestions, please suggest.

I've been trying to use the head 'flat' for the most part, with Gain at 1 o'clock, a slight Bass bump(1 o'clock), Mid cut(11 o'clock) and treble at 12 o'clock, or slightly less. Voice at setting 3('flat'). I have tried the number 2 filter setting but felt it took away too much 'punchiness', whatever that means to you. To me it means 400hz or so, the control is centered at 540hz. The Mid knob doesn't reduce the offending frequencies without taking other stuff with it.

Maybe there is an odd (to me) way of dialing in a better sound, like Chef was talking about defeating the Hi Pass filter by pulling the bass knob, then reducing bass, etc...I want to work with it some more if I can. It is a nice piece, if I can make it work. The power/size/weight combo is unbeatable, which is why I bought it. But that 900hz bump has me stumped. No obvious way to reduce it that I can see, and a P bass is already really strong in that region, so....?

For an idea of where I'm coming from, I really, really, REALLY like the sound of my Demeter HPB-1 /power amp sled. Got the M6 to reduce the schlep factor.
Click to expand...

Have you tried running the gain at noon? I notice a lot of subtle changes going on when rolling up the gain. Also, where are you running your tweet on the Epi? I'm running mine at about 8:30 and it's plenty with the treble set "flat" and I'm usually cutting some treble on my bass' pre.
 
#431
again: try preset 2, or even one, and pull deep (adds highs) while trimming the bass.
if you still feel too much mid presence, trim some at the mid knob.

beyond that: all things ain't for all people.
try a walkabout sometime.
big booty, squishy tube goodness, and definately not as aggressive and clear as the M6.
 
#434
Chef, thanks for the suggestion to pull the bass boost and then roll it back. I would not have considered that. I've still got that "everything louder than everything else" mindset sometimes and try to just boost the heck out of all the knobs (why don't they just hardwire them all on the full up postion, except for the trebble???... j/k).

Im in a frantic search for "my" tone since my band is in the studio recording now. I chucked set of flat La Bella Deep Talkin' strings on and found that I needed to work the EQ out a bit more. Anyone find that they have had to tweak the EQ for flats with the M6? What have you tried? Right now, I'm in a neck puickup setting with the mid-control on the 1 or 2 setting to get some massive thump. I've found that it gets things a bit bright with the high end and that I need to roll the highs almost all the way off. I've tried running it in position 4 to take the emphasis off the trebble, then roll the mid knob back to cut some out. I'm still just fiddling in the bedroom laboratory and need to get to a full band volume before I'm certain of any of the settings I'm trying.
 
#436
Yes, but I've found that the 1 & 2 positions seem to emphasize the highs and the bass along with cutting the mids. I found a few settings at low volume where it worked better to bost the mids in postion 3 then cut them with the mid knob. It feels like the boosting of the mids takes the emphasis off the highs. Does anyone notice that positions 1 & 2 don't just cut the mids, but boost the lows and highs?
 
#437
This is why I dont like knobs with preset EQ curves - to much interaction between that and the normal EQ controls. Yes, they can sound good and can help, but I'd prefer a more powerful/tweakable EQ without the shape controls. That's just me, and I know that it sure works for plenty of applications, the Carbine is obviously a good indicator of that.
 
#439
I noticed this, but I think the lows and highs seem more prominate because the mids are cut. I still like the flat setting the best, treble cut to 10:00 all other tone at noon.

Another thing I tried and liked. Lower gain and higher master.
Pretty nice.
 
#440
Big String, I think you are right about "seem" part. The "feel" of each is hard to determine by twirlling through the presets too quickly because your ear needs a second to adjust to each one. If I cut the mids and play, then boost them, it sounds funny at first, but my ear will adjust and the sound will seem more natural.

I think the ~noon settings are also pretty dang good. I find I mainly need to tweak knobs past noon in low volume settings where the natural bass you get from a higher volume doesn't kick in. Of course, those settings at higher volume are overpowering and can get muddy.

As for an M9 with graphic, I can go get a stomp box EQ and jam it in the FX Loop now if need be. I like the simple settings though.
 
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