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Mesa M6 Carbine Mega-Thread Pt Deux
- Thread starter Chef
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Ok, I'm seriously considering swapping my Ampeg SVT 6Pro, and Mesa Deisel 215, for a brand spankin' new M6 Carbine. I'd pair it with my GB Uber 212. Aside from the small amount of money lost on the deal, (though it's a straight swap), can any of you Carbine owners think of a reason why I SHOULD'T do this?
Only if you like carrying around heavier equipment that doesn't sound nearly as good...
In time MESA Powerhouse 12's; either 2x12 or 2 1x12's and you'll be blown away.... I'm sure the GB Uber 212 will work...
Thanks. I was already pretty confident this is a good deal for me, weight wise it's a no brainer, but I actually really like the tone of my 6Pro. The Carbine will be very different. I'm sure it'll sound killer.
My M6 *LOVES* my Genz cabs, especially the Uber 410. I have no reason to believe that the M6/Uber 212 combo would be anything less than friggin' phenomenal
Truth be told, I wouldn't mind picking up an Uber 212 just for the fun of it. M6 with an Uber stack = falling drywall... in the neighbor's house
Only if you like carrying around heavier equipment that doesn't sound nearly as good...
In time MESA Powerhouse 12's; either 2x12 or 2 1x12's and you'll be blown away.... I'm sure the GB Uber 212 will work...
Hey LowB,
Do you stack the 1x12 cabs vertically, or lay them side by side horizontally with your rig?
I am not a Carbine M6 owner (yet), but I have an M9, and I absolutely love it with the PH 212 and 210 cabinets stacked. Just a killer rig!
I was thinking of getting an M6 (or Thunderfunk) and 1x12 PH as a quick grab and go combo to do smaller stuff and jams with my buds. I could add another PH112 if I needed something bigger, and it would be more portable than the setup I have in my studio space.
Thanks,
Dave
Dave - I've done both. also, the PH 2x10 with the PH 1x12 on top is rocking. The 2x10 puts out so much bottom. I've played it with my SWR Goliath 4x10 and it sounds as large and loud... Fantastic stuff that MESA!!!
Rich
Dave - I've done both. also, the PH 2x10 with the PH 1x12 on top is rocking. The 2x10 puts out so much bottom. I've played it with my SWR Goliath 4x10 and it sounds as large and loud... Fantastic stuff that MESA!!!
Rich
Thanks Rich. I also love the big punch of the 2x10, but the 2x12 is simply breathtaking as well. Both combined are just ridiculous!!!
If I had to complain about one thing, it would be that for Neo speaker cabs, they are absolute nut busters! I can only imagine what they would weigh if they weren't Neos! LOL!!!
I know you had a Thunderfunk 550, and was wondering if you could give me a direct comparison to the M6.
Thanks again,
Dave
As an M9 owner, there's no reason to get an M6. The size is the same and the M9 is only 3 pounds heavier. There's nothing the M6 has that the M9 doesn't.
I normally use an M9 and an Epifani UL-410. Recently I played a duet with an acoustic guitar / vocals. I used the M9 and an Epifani UL-112.
Grab and go great sound.
LeonD
I really like the tone of this head, it's probably the only "led-sled" type solid state head I'd consider buying. Just curious though, how does it switch from 2 to 4 ohms? I thought that was a tube amp option. Usually SS heads gradually increase in power as the ohm load lowers, I don't get why it should stay the same on the M6/M9, much less need a switch. 
I think it's a matter of design and precaution- the M6 uses the same power amp as the M-Pulse 600, which doesn't support 2 ohms. My guess is that the power amp on it's own doesn't run optimally at 2 ohms (creates too much heat), so they added an element that takes some of the pressure off (resulting in a slightly lower wattage than you would expect from 2 ohms, but allowing the amp to run within what Mesa considers "optimum" heat parameters). This is just conjecture based partially on the fact that Mesa doesn't recommend running the Walkabout at 2 ohms, though many people do it consistently with no issues...why I feel the need to spout conjecture is beyond me!
I'm just happy that it is designed to run safely at 2 ohms...
Karl
I'm just happy that it is designed to run safely at 2 ohms...Karl
I really like the tone of this head, it's probably the only "led-sled" type solid state head I'd consider buying. Just curious though, how does it switch from 2 to 4 ohms? I thought that was a tube amp option. Usually SS heads gradually increase in power as the ohm load lowers, I don't get why it should stay the same on the M6/M9, much less need a switch.
sunbeast's post is pretty accurate. I believe all the switch does is place a limiter on the power section so it won't put out any more power than the amp can safely supply without overheating and/or failing. In the Bass Gear Magazine (Issue 1) test, it tested out to it's rated 600 or so Watts into 4 ohms, but only about 700 or so Watts into 2 ohms. This tells me there's a limiter involved because those numbers don't really work out if there wasn't one in place. I know we talked to these guys about the design at NAMM, but I can't recall the details and it was after we wrote the review, so it's not in there, either.I really like the tone of this head, it's probably the only "led-sled" type solid state head I'd consider buying. Just curious though, how does it switch from 2 to 4 ohms? I thought that was a tube amp option. Usually SS heads gradually increase in power as the ohm load lowers, I don't get why it should stay the same on the M6/M9, much less need a switch.
svtb15
Inactive
- Mar 22, 2004
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- I play it all. Whatever works for the gig. Q+
The amps are voiced very different from one another.
I have had both.. still have an M6 Fathom actually.. But am going to sell it..
The M6 is noticeably louder than the TF when both are driven hard.. The TF is warmer and perhaps compressed..
The M6 is LOUDER! I found the M6 to be brighter too.. and a blossoming end.. the mesa is very different from other mesa amps or at least the ones that i have heard in the past... But in a good way... it is also very fast responding
The M6 is a beast for 600 watts...
I have had both.. still have an M6 Fathom actually.. But am going to sell it..
The M6 is noticeably louder than the TF when both are driven hard.. The TF is warmer and perhaps compressed..
The M6 is LOUDER! I found the M6 to be brighter too.. and a blossoming end.. the mesa is very different from other mesa amps or at least the ones that i have heard in the past... But in a good way... it is also very fast responding
The M6 is a beast for 600 watts...
- Apr 3, 2003
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- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
So does that mean it just lowers the rail voltage to the power amp? This part of amp design I'm a bit fuzzy on.
- Apr 3, 2003
- 35,515
- 19,942
- Disclosures
- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
So based on everyone's glowing reviews I headed to GC today to check out the M6 Carbine. It sounded great - very un Mesa sounding. Then I tried a comparison. so I fired up a Markbass LMII next to the M6 and to my ears the Markbass ate the M6 Carbine for lunch. I'm not even that much of a Markbass fan. I was shocked.
So based on everyone's glowing reviews I headed to GC today to check out the M6 Carbine. It sounded great - very un Mesa sounding. Then I tried a comparison. so I fired up a Markbass LMII next to the M6 and to my ears the Markbass ate the M6 Carbine for lunch. I'm not even that much of a Markbass fan. I was shocked.
I dropped the LMII for the Mesa gear becuase I thought just the opposite. No right answer here just personal preference.
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