Mesa M6 Carbine Mega Thread

[tombowlus]

i tried one out today. i really love the simplicity of the amp but i found it a bit too aggressive. i ended up walking out of the store with a big-block 750 though

That's another great head! I think it's really cool how Mesa/Boogie is offering up different options in the hybrid head department.

 

[FrigginChris]

That's another great head! I think it's really cool how Mesa/Boogie is offering up different options in the hybrid head department.

+1

i spent almost 3 hours in the shop trying to decide between the big block, the fathom, an m-pulse 600, and the 400+ they had in house.

 

[XavidmanX]

i tried one out today. i really love the simplicity of the amp but i found it a bit too aggressive. i ended up walking out of the store with a big-block 750 though

Just curious, what cabinet did you play through?

I'm thinking the M6 wouldn't work well with my Schroeder cab but would probably work well with a "bigger" low end cab like an Epifani S2 410 (hopefully one will be coming my way soon).

 

[XavidmanX]

+1

i spent almost 3 hours in the shop trying to decide between the big block, the fathom, an m-pulse 600, and the 400+ they had in house.

Hmmm...what made you pick the head you did out of all of those?

 

[FrigginChris]

Just curious, what cabinet did you play through?

I'm thinking the M6 wouldn't work well with my Schroeder cab but would probably work well with a "bigger" low end cab like an Epifani S2 410 (hopefully one will be coming my way soon).

i played through a mesa 2x12, and then their 2x15 for s@#$s and giggles. i was using my stingray which might be part of why it was too much as stingrays a pretty aggressive on their own. i wouldn't say it sounded bad at all though, just not quite what i was after.

 

[XavidmanX]

i played through a mesa 2x12, and then their 2x15 for s@#$s and giggles. i was using my stingray which might be part of why it was too much as stingrays a pretty aggressive on their own. i wouldn't say it sounded bad at all though, just not quite what i was after.

Cool...thanks!

 

[tombowlus]

i played through a mesa 2x12, and then their 2x15 for s@#$s and giggles. i was using my stingray which might be part of why it was too much as stingrays a pretty aggressive on their own. i wouldn't say it sounded bad at all though, just not quite what i was after.

I like that P212 a lot. In fact, so much so that I bought it (and the M6, well, actually a Fathom) after the review. And what the heck, I even ordered a Mesa/Boogie P210 to go along with it.

 

[FrigginChris]

Hmmm...what made you pick the head you did out of all of those?

mostly the feature-set. the selectable mid frequencies and the overdrive section sealed the deal.

I like that P212 a lot. In fact, so much so that I bought it (and the M6, well, actually a Fathom) after the review. And what the heck, I even ordered a Mesa/Boogie P210 to go along with it.

i'm sure that's quite a killer set up!

i only have the 112 at the moment. i was trying out the 212 because it was the closest thing to what i have already. i'm going to place an order for my second p112 next week though!

 

[Vic]

I feel a bit ridiculous posting about this under the circumstances, but I promised some folks initial thoughts, so here goes...

The "problem" is, it turned out the place we played last night was really tiny, so this rig was like bringing a sledge hammer to drive some finishing nails into some trim board. I had the gain set to about noon, because I generally believe in setting any preamp with tubes in it such that the tube sees a pretty strong signal. Unfortunately, this meant I could barely turn the master up at all. Seriously, I had it down around 8:00 or so all night.

For reference, here's the rig, tho not the basses. I used my Skjold and MTD for last nights gig. That's a Series 2 UL410, btw, in case it's not obvious enough in the pic... kinda' hard to see.

I settled on using the flat profile, and even ended up pulling a bit of the bass out. The tone was very clear, quick, big, full, and puchy as all heck. I really wish I coulda' opened this thing up some more, and really get into it's "zone", but I had no desire to make people bleed from the ears, so I resisted the urge.

I'm impressed with this amp's clarity and responsiveness... I've always liked Mesa's direction for a "big" sound that has a lot of "tubey goodness" in it... IMHO, in pretty much all their bass amps... regardless of how many tubes are involved. However, most of their amps don't quite have the edge I like, which is why I've generally been a SS kinda' guy. This amp changes the rules for me. I've always liked some characteristics of a tube tone, but in most cases, not the dynamic response to my particular playing style. Well, I really need to spend a bit more time with this amp and push it if I'm granted the opportunity, but this amp might very well be "having my cake and eating it too". So far, VERY cool.

 

[ehornung]

Of course I'm a bit biased......
I recently traded in the Epifani 4X10 for 2 Aguilar GS 2X12's, (8 ohm)...... I like the Fathom so much I bought a Carbine.... Still waiting for delivery, I want both!

 

[tombowlus]

Of course I'm a bit biased......
I recently traded in the Epifani 4X10 for 2 Aguilar GS 2X12's, (8 ohm)...... I like the Fathom so much I bought a Carbine.... Still waiting for delivery, I want both!

You do know that it's the same amp, right?

 

[Ryan L.]

I like that P212 a lot. In fact, so much so that I bought it (and the M6, well, actually a Fathom) after the review. And what the heck, I even ordered a Mesa/Boogie P210 to go along with it.

The next cabinet I buy is going to be a PH 212. I really dug the one I demo'd the Carbine through in the store. It was darn tough leaving there without it.

That way, I'll have the Carbine into my Vintage PH810 for the bigger gigs, and the smaller, much more portable PH212 for rehearsals/smaller gigs.

 

[Visirale]

The next cabinet I buy is going to be a PH 212. I really dug the one I demo'd the Carbine through in the store. It was darn tough leaving there without it.

That way, I'll have the Carbine into my Vintage PH810 for the bigger gigs, and the smaller, much more portable PH212 for rehearsals/smaller gigs.

That's my overall cab plan... except substitute M6 with Titan. They are certainly a nice pair of cabs to have!

 

[5StringPocket]

Vic,

That looks like one incredible rig! I'd be interested in further experience you have with this combination. I picked up my Epi UL2-410 a year ago and have really enjoyed this cab with both Shuttle 6.0 and Markbass F1 heads. If the M6 Carbine is like an F1 on steroids with a touch of tube grit, more headroom, 2-ohm stable, and those nice voicing options it sounds like a very good match.

 

[Vic]

Vic,

That looks like one incredible rig! I'd be interested in further experience you have with this combination. I picked up my Epi UL2-410 a year ago and have really enjoyed this cab with both Shuttle 6.0 and Markbass F1 heads. If the M6 Carbine is like an F1 on steroids with a touch of tube grit, more headroom, 2-ohm stable, and those nice voicing options it sounds like a very good match.

You got it. I think I'll have it for at least one good loud gig and we'll see what happens.

 

[5StringPocket]

How does the M6 compare to the B1500? Seems like the B1500 is twice the power at half the price of anything else out there but if headroom for both is adequate then it's all about tone. I'm considering 600W+ heads which work well with a 2.67 ohm load (8 ohm Dr Bass 1260SF on a 4 ohm Epi UL2-410). I was going to try the F1/Shuttle in a slave configuration but have my doubts it will work as intended. The M6 voicing and tone seems like it might be the ticket if it has enough power to run that stack well. I plan on testing it out when my Dr. Bass cab comes in.

 

[Chef]

Not sure how the Carbine would deal with 2.67, as it's got a switch for 2 ohm operation...

If anyone knows fer-sure, that's a question I'm interested in the answer to as well.

"600 Watts @ 4 or 2 Ohms (320 @ 8), Trans-Class™ Power with 8/4 or 2 Ohm Impedance Switch for optimum Power-to-Load Performance"

I presume you'd run it in 2 ohm mode; the manual isn't on line yet...

 

[Smallequestrian]

Not sure how the Carbine would deal with 2.67, as it's got a switch for 2 ohm operation...

If anyone knows fer-sure, that's a question I'm interested in the answer to as well.

"600 Watts @ 4 or 2 Ohms (320 @ 8), Trans-Class™ Power with 8/4 or 2 Ohm Impedance Switch for optimum Power-to-Load Performance"

It would work fine on the 2 ohm switch. Basically for 4 ohms and more use the 4 ohm setting. For between 2 and 4, use the 2 ohm setting. IANAMT (I am not a Mesa Tech), but its the only "sensical" interpretation.

 

[Vic]

It would work fine on the 2 ohm switch. Basically for 4 ohms and more use the 4 ohm setting. For between 2 and 4, use the 2 ohm setting.

Yep.

 

[Vic]

How does the M6 compare to the B1500? Seems like the B1500 is twice the power at half the price of anything else out there but if headroom for both is adequate then it's all about tone. I'm considering 600W+ heads which work well with a 2.67 ohm load (8 ohm Dr Bass 1260SF on a 4 ohm Epi UL2-410). I was going to try the F1/Shuttle in a slave configuration but have my doubts it will work as intended. The M6 voicing and tone seems like it might be the ticket if it has enough power to run that stack well. I plan on testing it out when my Dr. Bass cab comes in.

Interesting you should bring this up.

I have a B1500 and also the M6 (at least temporarily). I'm considering the M6 as a replacement for the B1500 just because the M6 is a little lighter, a little friendlier form factor for stacking, and I MIGHT like the tone better. Otherwise, I'll probably just stick with the B1500. I really do like that head, and for the few times I need ridiculous power, it's fine.

As far as power output goes, I'm not sure the B1500 would seem much louder than a "600W" amp with as much headroom as this one has. It all depends on how the testing was done. Trust me... I KNOW about how test methods can change the story on specs.

The next Bass Gear Magazine will have the B1500 test results, and the last issue had the M6. At least there they'll both be tested with the same methods, so that'll be a better apples/apples comparison at least. I'm looking forward to that.