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Mesa M6 Carbine Mega-Thread Pt Deux

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#781
Has anyone ever replaced the tube in the M6....similar to the way many people replace the standard Chinese or Russian preamp tube in the Aguilar DB750? After hearing so many positive comments about the DB750 after the tube swap I'd love to hear similar experiences with the M6. Thanks guys.
 
#782
I think Vic may have tried this sometime in part one. In fact, I might have tried it.
The tube in this application isn't driven particularly hard-as evidenced by its "stay clean at all volumes" nature.
I don't think tube swapping is going to make much diff here. It's a much different situation than the db750.
 
#783
Thanks Vic. As much as I love the punch and quickness of my M6, especially the lower frequencies, I wish the top end was a bit more airy. I have an NOS Tele Smooth Plate that I'm going to put in my M6 tonight to check out. Hopefully it will do the same to the top end of the M6 as it does to the DB750.
 
#784
Neil said:
Thanks Vic. As much as I love the punch and quickness of my M6, especially the lower frequencies, I wish the top end was a bit more airy. I have an NOS Tele Smooth Plate that I'm going to put in my M6 tonight to check out. Hopefully it will do the same to the top end of the M6 as it does to the DB750.
Click to expand...
While I don't have any complaints with the high end in mine, it may also depend on what cabs you're using. Regardless, good luck, and report back. :)
 
#785
Neil said:
Has anyone ever replaced the tube in the M6....similar to the way many people replace the standard Chinese or Russian preamp tube in the Aguilar DB750? After hearing so many positive comments about the DB750 after the tube swap I'd love to hear similar experiences with the M6. Thanks guys.
Click to expand...


This has been done by several of us hear including Chef (memory is the first to go Alan ;)). Several of us have posted about it some pages ago, but in summary I believe Chef, Vic and I agree that the M6 is not sensitive to tube changes and may not even warrant removing the 26 or so screws to swap them out. But in the end if you hear a difference you like then that is all that is important.
 
#787
Saluki said:
This has been done by several of us hear including Chef (memory is the first to go Alan ;)). Several of us have posted about it some pages ago, but in summary I believe Chef, Vic and I agree that the M6 is not sensitive to tube changes and may not even warrant removing the 26 or so screws to swap them out. But in the end if you hear a difference you like then that is all that is important.
Click to expand...
Yeah, to be totally accurate, I did notice a diff, but it was subtle, and at the end of the day, at least IMHO, not really worth the hassle to switch. Then again, I was also very satisfied with the tone of the head as it was anyway. :)
 
#788
Regarding the tube swap in the M6....I used my Berg AE410 and my Fodera Emperor. I don't remember what replacement tubes others have used to swap with the original Russian made Mesa tube....but as I've said I did the swap with an NOS Telefunken Smooth Plate and probably went back and forth at least 8 or 9 times. First of all I just want to say that I really dig the sound of my M6 stock....I just wanted to experiment to see if there would in fact be a big difference to the sound using the German made tube.

To my ears the difference was a little more than subtle. To me the Nos Tele does give the M6 a more open & airy sound. It sort of makes the sound a bit smoother not just on the top end but across the tonal spectrum. What I mean by that is I can hear that smooth, open, airy sound not only on the G string but on the B and E strings as well.

Having said that, I believe that open airy sound gives the illusion of making the lower mids just a tad less punchy & aggressive. In addition the Mesa tube also produces more low mids than the Tele does.

Bottom line is that when I comes to the M6 I don't believe one tube is better than the other they just sound different.....so it really depends what you're looking for. Either way this amp sounds pretty amazing.
 
#789
Vic said:
Yeah, to be totally accurate, I did notice a diff, but it was subtle, and at the end of the day, at least IMHO, not really worth the hassle to switch. Then again, I was also very satisfied with the tone of the head as it was anyway. :)
Click to expand...

Ya Vic I think you are correct. The difference I experienced with the the Low Gain GT (Chinese, I believe) is definitely subtle, so to me that shows the amp is not real sensitive to changes, but I did leave it in there. GO figure..
 
#791
Just picked up a barely used M6 that sat racked in a studio.
Wow!!! Fantastic!!!
I set it up w/my 1989 SWR Goliath (Eden) 4x10 8 Ohms...
I'm looking forward to playing it through my MESA PH 2x10 & 1x12 at rehearsal tonight.
Worth every ounce heavier than my Thunderfunk 550.
I like the uniqueness that this is the Fathom.
MESA kicks serious booty!!! :cool:
 
#796
My Mesa got its first 3/4 stack :D Love the option of 4/8ohm and 2ohm...play one cab? 4/8...play both? 4ohm and 8ohm cabs, 2ohm running....equal power to all speakers! yummm


DSCN1910.jpg
 
#797
Chronicle said:
My Mesa got its first 3/4 stack :D Love the option of 4/8ohm and 2ohm...play one cab? 4/8...play both? 4ohm and 8ohm cabs, 2ohm running....equal power to all speakers! yummm


DSCN1910.jpg
Click to expand...

Pretty sure that'd be 2.67 ohm (nominally speaking).

Of course with the variation in impedence @ different freq. w/different drivers in different cabinets, at some point it's possible it could drop as low as 2 ohm.
 
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