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Mesa M6 Carbine Mega-Thread Pt Deux

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#61
coolrunner989 said:
Has there been any comparison between this and the Genz-Benz Shuttle 12.0? They seem similar as they are both hybrid heads that go down to 2 ohms, which is what I'm primarily interested in (a "big" head compared to my GK MB2-500 that will go down to 2 ohms and is either tube or hybrid).
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Technically The 12.0 doesn't do 2 ohms, it does two loads of 4 ohms each. So if you had two four ohm cabs, either would work. Truthfully, the Mesa is in a different class from the micro heads though (I've owned the GK, the Shuttle 6 and the LMK) as far as headroom goes. And while in theory the 12.0 could do more damage than the Carbine through 2 4 ohm cabs, I kind of doubt it.

Plus the more traditional power amp of the Mesa just makes for a different quality to the sound than the micro heads. You really need to play one to understand.
 
#62
hmm, that's interesting. I've gone from an ampeg combo to a GK 1001 and now to a GK MB2-500 and I didnt notice any difference in tone by switching to the micro GK, but I havent had that much experience with amps in general.

I have two 4 ohm cabs, purchased with the intention of each being stand alone cabs that I could leave at home or my practice space but if I'm going to have a "big" head, I want it to be able to push both of them. I'll probably never have to run them both, but I'd like to :D
 
#64
Chef said:
I'd prefer a dedicated baseball bat switch.

You never get the volume back in the same place with the push/pull.
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This is exactly what I was thinking without even trying it. That would drive someone with ocd crazy.:)

Vic said:
This, and the PRE/POST switch config (also push/pull) were discussed a lot in the first part of this thread, as well, but the short version is, nobody likes it. Pretty much everybody feels it's not a deal breaker, but would have preferred a separate switch. Same for the PRE/POST DI switching. :)
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I started lurking half way thru part 1. Those 2 things would make it the perfect head? They must be scramblin' to fix this, right?
 
#65
Blues Cat said:
This is exactly what I was thinking without even trying it. That would drive someone with ocd crazy.:)



I started lurking half way thru part 1. Those 2 things would make it the perfect head? They must be scramblin' to fix this, right?
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Ha! I doubt it. Mesa appears to be run by a bunch of crazed hippies. Have you seen page 7 of the manual? It's definitely missing a symbol...;)
 
#66
Gig update - Took out the latest incarnation of my M6-founded rig (Goth T-bird + M6 + 212 PH cab). I played a gig the same venue I had used my M6 before. I changed to the T-bird bass w/ passive PU's (changed from Spector 5 string w/ actives). At the last gig, I used the M6 + a SWR Goliath 410 & a Mesa PH 115. That rig punished the house (smaller club/bar) and had tons of headroom. The sound guy didn't even run me through the system with that rig. This time I rolled in with the M6 and a PH 212. I didn't deliver the same punishment and I didn't have the same headroom. However, I did get a lovely Ace-of-Spades-ish grind with the gain at about noon. This time the sound guy plugged into my DI and word from the floor is that he did a good job of balancing the mix in the house.

Running a 1/2 stack rig made it a bit harder to hear what I was playing. At one point I dropped to my knees (yeah, I had to ham it up) and noticed that it was much louder with the speakers at ear level (duh), telling me the monitor infront of me wasn't helping me much. I think at the next show in a venue of similar size and technology, I'll bring an extra cab, even if it is just to put the 2X12 at ear level.

Overall, I must say, I was expecting to get a bit more headroom out of the rig with the 212 at stage volume, though I was pleased with the unplanned distortion. I'm still working on the EQ settings since this amp is a new toy for me. I'm stoked on the variations of EQ settings that sound good. I have found that at most full band volume settings the pull-boost on the Bass knob is too much and the sound looses focus. I've been running the mid-selector in either position 3 or 4 most frequently (mostly in 4 for some extra cut). I'm very happy with this rig and can't wait to see what more I can do with it.
 
#68
Vic said:
This, and the PRE/POST switch config (also push/pull) were discussed a lot in the first part of this thread, as well, but the short version is, nobody likes it. Pretty much everybody feels it's not a deal breaker, but would have preferred a separate switch. Same for the PRE/POST DI switching. :)
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I forget if this was discussed earlier -- can the muting be controlled with an added footswitch?
 
#70
lo-freq said:
I forget if this was discussed earlier -- can the muting be controlled with an added footswitch?
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1,000 words, all saying yes (if you look just above the speaker jacks, on the left, it says "Mute")

CarbineRearEnlargement.jpg
 
#72
More signal path weirdness: the effects loop is POST Master. Yes, post. I hooked up a compressor through the loop and noticed that suddenly the Master had little effect as I increased it. And this is because the signal was being squashed more and more by the comp. as I rotated it.
In other words, the SEND level is controlled by the Master volume(!?).
This is really, really bogus IMO. Lucky for me I have an output level pot on the compressor, which I must now use as my master volume...:rolleyes:
 
#73
dmusic148 said:
More signal path weirdness: the effects loop is POST Master. Yes, post. I hooked up a compressor through the loop and noticed that suddenly the Master had little effect as I increased it. And this is because the signal was being squashed more and more by the comp. as I rotated it.
In other words, the SEND level is controlled by the Master volume(!?).
This is really, really bogus IMO. Lucky for me I have an output level pot on the compressor, which I must now use as my master volume...:rolleyes:
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the plot thickens!
 
#75
After 5 intermittent-and-for-no clear-reason shutdowns, and one (possibly rack bag induced) thermal shutdown; mine's headed back to Mesa for diagnosis tomorrow. Mine is a late enough serial number "it should be current spec."
CS were very concerned and empathetic on the phone, had no idea what could be up with my unit, and are sending out a call tag for return shipping.

Huge bummer, cause *I looove this head* and the SKB two space rack with lots-o-breathing room just arrived.

Hopefully, the service diagnosis will reveal some clear and easily remedied problem and get the M6 back in my grubby lil mitts pronto, cause I sure don't want to be without it.

If I were an effects guy, I can see how the issue several posts up would be a real concern. I'm not an effects guy. The mute needs improvement. I'll tell the CS guys about both of these when I chat with them next.
 
#76
Chef said:
After 5 intermittent-and-for-no clear-reason shutdowns, and one (possibly rack bag induced) thermal shutdown; mine's headed back to Mesa for diagnosis tomorrow. Mine is a late enough serial number "it should be current spec."
CS were very concerned and empathetic on the phone, had no idea what could be up with my unit, and are sending out a call tag for return shipping.

Huge bummer, cause *I looove this head* and the SKB two space rack with lots-o-breathing room just arrived.

Hopefully, the service diagnosis will reveal some clear and easily remedied problem and get the M6 back in my grubby lil mitts pronto, cause I sure don't want to be without it.

If I were an effects guy, I can see how the issue several posts up would be a real concern. I'm not an effects guy. The mute needs improvement. I'll tell the CS guys about both of these when I chat with them next.
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What;s with the mute? I'll call my Mesa representative and ask him what was the reason behind that effects loop
 
#78
Chronicle said:
What;s with the mute? I'll call my Mesa representative and ask him what was the reason behind that effects loop
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Would you please? It's a major irritation. Not so sure I'll be keeping this after all. Effects guy or no, it's nice to have the option. The loop is practically worthless in it's current configuration when you consider that the most common use of it is probably with a compressor. Just dumb.
 
#79
dmusic148 said:
Would you please? It's a major irritation. Not so sure I'll be keeping this after all. Effects guy or no, it's nice to have the option. The loop is practically worthless in it's current configuration when you consider that the most common use of it is probably with a compressor. Just dumb.
Click to expand...

I don't use effects, but don't understand why you would put a compressor in an effect loop. I thought the whole point of a compressor is to control the peaks and valleys of an input signal at the beginning of a signal chain. Putting a compressor that late in a signal chain seems to be limiting (pardon the pun) its effectiveness.

I can't quite see the use for a compressor in a bass rig anyway, especially one with a tube in the pre that gives you a touch of give anyway, but that would be another topic for discussion.

That being said, the mute switch design and the pre/post DI thing seem VERY minor IMO, but I can see that effects loop design being a deal killer for some.
 
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