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Mesa M6 Carbine Mega-Thread Pt Deux

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#841
jdwinva said:
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. :bassist:
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Something not quite right there. What was each head set to, which cabs, what was the active/passive switch set to, and maybe even more importantly, what was the 2-4/8 switch set to on the back of the M6?

Don't get me wrong, I like the Markbass stuff a lot, but no way should an LMII chew up the M6 like that... not by a darn sight.
 
#844
There is no doubt that bass, active versus passive, speaker cab, etc. can all affect a comparison. I just took an American Jazz down off the wall and compared everything flat using the M6 passive input mode. The M6 was plugged into a Mesa 410 cab (the new one) and the LM II was plugged into a Markbass 410.

It really comes down to preference I guess. And yes, the M6 was WAY louder.
 
#845
jdwinva said:
There is no doubt that bass, active versus passive, speaker cab, etc. can all affect a comparison. I just took an American Jazz down off the wall and compared everything flat using the M6 passive input mode. The M6 was plugged into a Mesa 410 cab (the new one) and the LM II was plugged into a Markbass 410.

It really comes down to preference I guess. And yes, the M6 was WAY louder.
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Ok, that makes sense. However, it would have been best to use the same cabs. From a tonal perspective, it can make ALL the difference!

Don't get me wrong, if you don't dig it, you don't dig it. There is no one head that's "it" for everyone (which is a GOOD thing!!). It's just that cabs can affect things so greatly, I don't think you've really yet compared them effectively.

FWIW anyway. :)
 
#846
I've used this amp since it was released and always find new settings that I fall in love with. What's everyone's favorite settings, mid-voicing, gain in particular? I used to use 2 with mids bumped, but recently found the 4 with the mid scooped to get closer to my ideal. You would think they would be somewhat close, but they sound entirely different to me. What do you guys think? Sorry if this has already been gone through here, redirect me if it has.
 
#847
I usually use setting 3 for the voicing, gain at between 1 and 2 o'clock, slight cut on bass, mids at 3 o'clock, treble at 10 o'clock. I don't totally understand the passive mid thing, but when I started juicing it, I liked it.

FWIW, I have the 212 combo and use a Fender ADJV and an SR5. I agree with always finding new settings. I've removed the head and used it with an Epi UL310(Loved it) and a Schroeder 1210. The M6 really opened up both of those cabinets in a very good way IMO.
 
#848
CElton said:
I usually use setting 3 for the voicing, gain at between 1 and 2 o'clock, slight cut on bass, mids at 3 o'clock, treble at 10 o'clock. I don't totally understand the passive mid thing, but when I started juicing it, I liked it.
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FWIW, I mostly run it pretty much flat, but if I do make adjustments, they're a lot like these, so kind of a +1.

The voicings (as in 1,2,4, and 5) tend to be a bit too strong for me, so I can't really use them without also then adjusting a bunch of the other controls to kinda' mellow them out a bit, so I basically just don't use them. The good news is, I don't need them either. With settings like the above, plus the EQ on the bass, plus right hand position, I can pretty much get whatever I need without using them.
 
#849
I have an M9 but I'll jump in on this one. My favorite voicings are 2 and 4; slight mid scoop and slight mid boost. I am using the head with some very different basses (Stingray 4, fretless Bongo H w/ piezo and Hoyt w/ passive Armstrong pickups).

I find setting 2 works well with the different basses but setting 4 tends to be bass dependent. What I'll do is use setting 2 and set the graphic eq up with a mid boost with the frequency centered on whatever works best for the bass I'm playing at the time. And footswitch between the two.

I'll set the tone knobs best for the overall room sound. Mostly with a slight bass boost. And I'm using the head with an Epifani UL-410 S1

LeonD
 
#850
My standard setting is gain ~ 1:00, Pull Deep engaged, bass slightly bumped, mids dimed, voicing 3, treble flat or very slight boost. When the strings die (or I feel like ticking off my guitarist :)) I will go the voicing 4, but everything else remains the same.

FWIW I have found that the gain makes an incredible impact on tone. It just doesn't sound like the same amp to me with the gain below noon.
 
#854
I think we would all agree the beauty of this amp is in many things, but what shines the most is the versatility. I use a PH210 and PH212. I like the 210 for the height and clarity. Playing by myself, I favor the 212, but in a band/live the 10s really help.
 
#855
would anyone care to comment how the carbine tone compares with the alembic preamps f-1x, f-2b, or the sf-2. i did read a couple of short comments (one liners) but nothing too descriptive.

i'm looking for very clean tone - think phil lesh in the 70s for those that know. or a 70s country tone.

i have 2 4ohm cabs, so the ability to run down to a 2ohm load is key for me. i was thinking of going class D power with the alembic pre, but if this mesa can do it all in one package, i'm sold.

i play a modulus q5 with the aggie obp3 and barts.
 
#856
hgregs said:
would anyone care to comment how the carbine tone compares with the alembic preamps f-1x, f-2b, or the sf-2. i did read a couple of short comments (one liners) but nothing too descriptive.

i'm looking for very clean tone - think phil lesh in the 70s for those that know. or a 70s country tone.

i have 2 4ohm cabs, so the ability to run down to a 2ohm load is key for me. i was thinking of going class D power with the alembic pre, but if this mesa can do it all in one package, i'm sold.

i play a modulus q5 with the aggie obp3 and barts.
Click to expand...

IMHO: The Carbine/Fathom is excellent for what you're looking for. As posted above; the versatility of the amp is excellent. I play, RnB, Jazz, Funk, Blues, Country, Gospel, Contemporary Christian and Rock. I love a very clean tone. It has a switch to handle 2 Ohms.

I played a Walter Woods 600/450 amp exclusively for 20 years; prior to that I used a Demeter Preamp & Power amp, recently I've played a BBEMaxT preamp & Power amp and a Thunderfunk 550A.

Currently I use my Fathom M6 for everything. The fundamental pitch of the note in the octave I'm playing is quite audible. The bottom end is full fat/phat and tight.
I use MESA PH 8 Ohm cabinets 99% of the time:
2x10 & 1x12
2x10 alone
1x12x2cabs
1x12 or
2x10 & 1x12x2cabs
or
SWR Goliath/Eden (1989) 8 Ohms

It's a killer amp! :cool:
 
#858
Between my Walkabout and my M6, Mesa has all my amplification needs well covered.
That review was pretty good: the M6 is very different from the Mesa I'm used to, and I like it, lots.
 
#859
MESA continues to satisfy my amp and cabinet needs.

At Bass Player Live today, I prefer the M6/M9 tonal circuitry for my ear and style. All of the Powerhouse cabinets satisfy my ear as well. The 8x10, 4x12, 6x10, 2x12, 2x10 and 1x12 are all equal depending on your specific needs. I use an M6 with 2-1x12s or 2x10 or 2x10 + 1x12.

The Scout 1x12 combo is also really nice!

I can't say enough good things about MESA. I'm not a paid endorser. Rather a paying endorser. It's worth every $100 bill and more.
 
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