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Mesa M6 Carbine Mega Thread

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#61
Finally got a chance to try it today - actually the older version still named Fathom - but new at the store. I believe I was hooked up to a 210 and 115 - not too familiar with Mesa models though.

I was very impressed with the tone, specially modes 4 and 5 with the mids boosted. I was playing a new American Standard P. I'm not very good at describing tone so I won't even try, I just liked what I heard.
 
#62
I've posted this general opinion before, but thought I'd go again on this topic.

I am a very happy MPulse player with a Walkabout 12 combo and a Venture 2x12 combo (one of the last they built I think).

When the Fathom/Carbine came out, I only had the Walkabout and was looking for a bit more power/coverage for larger or outdoor gigs. So, as soon as one was available locally, I was very eager to try one out and ran down the local Mesa dealer right away to try one out.

I tried the Carbine through a Mesa 4x10, and a PH 1000 cab. It was loud and very biased to the mids/upper mids to my ears. And, even though there is a tube in the pre, it was almost as if it simply did not influence the tone at all. Net is that it was very SS sounding to me, i.e. on the dry and midrangy side, with an "agressive" attack that I could not EQ out in the store.

The end result for me was to buy the Venture (Mpulse600 driving a PH 2x12). I am much happier with the MPulse sound for my tone goals.

After the Venture purchase, I happened to be talking with a Mesa artist rep, and he agreed that one of the major design points for the Fathom/Carbine was to move away from the "tubey-ness" of the MPulse line and over into a more agressive SS like tone. To my ears Mesa certainly succeeded.


Just my 2 two cents, to each his own and all of that.

enjoy!
 
#63
pfschim said:
I've posted this general opinion before, but thought I'd go again on this topic.

I am a very happy MPulse player with a Walkabout 12 combo and a Venture 2x12 combo (one of the last they built I think).

When the Fathom/Carbine came out, I only had the Walkabout and was looking for a bit more power/coverage for larger or outdoor gigs. So, as soon as one was available locally, I was very eager to try one out and ran down the local Mesa dealer right away to try one out.

I tried the Carbine through a Mesa 4x10, and a PH 1000 cab. It was loud and very biased to the mids/upper mids to my ears. And, even though there is a tube in the pre, it was almost as if it simply did not influence the tone at all. Net is that it was very SS sounding to me, i.e. on the dry and midrangy side, with an "agressive" attack that I could not EQ out in the store.

The end result for me was to buy the Venture (Mpulse600 driving a PH 2x12). I am much happier with the MPulse sound for my tone goals.

After the Venture purchase, I happened to be talking with a Mesa artist rep, and he agreed that one of the major design points for the Fathom/Carbine was to move away from the "tubey-ness" of the MPulse line and over into a more agressive SS like tone. To my ears Mesa certainly succeeded.


Just my 2 two cents, to each his own and all of that.

enjoy!
Click to expand...

If you check out the preamp curve in our M6 Carbine review, you can see that this upper midrange presence and enhanced clarity/articulation are part of this particular amp's intentional voicing. I definitely agree that it is not as warm/full sounding as the M-Pulse line, but I don't think it was supposed to. And of course, the M6 has a solid state driver, and the M-Pulse line has a tube driver, so this may have something to do with it as well.

Tom.
 
#65
I just picked one of these up today.:hyper:

It sounded great in the store, through a Powerhouse 212 (the Bass Gear review was pretty much spot on, IME).

But through my Powerhouse 810, it sounds phenomenal. It'll be a couple of weeks before I get to play it in a full band setting, but damn, I finally have a bass/amp/cabinet setup that NAILS the sound I hear in my head.

Punchy, articulate, and super responsive!! Not bloomy or mushy in the bottom end at all. I'm lovin' it so far.

And it is LOUD!!!
 
#69
Ryan L. said:
It's the first one I've plugged into, and within a few notes, realized that I had to have it.
Click to expand...

Agreed, and after 28 live dates, six studio sessions and countless hours at home, (way more than a few notes), the Mesa M6 Carbine Custom Combo still does it for me.

To date I have not disappointed myself, bandmates, audiences or engineers and I'm still learning things I had not counted on getting with the Carbine.

As basic as the controls are there is a veritable fountain of resources available for tweaking within. I look forward to gigs and playing out live is fun once again.

I now look forward to putting my gear through its paces and enjoying the results. I've found my voice for the way that I play. However, and as always, YMMV.

Really try to read the manual before you audition this head or combo, (I know it is not online yet but ask the dealer to see it) as it will make you aware of the many tonal options that are hidden within the minimal processing controls of this amp. Apply and tweak as necessary, especially the initial gain control, as you just may find yourself not only a surprised, but, very happy camper.

Cheers,

Mr. BEAR
 
#70
Does the tube pre in the gain stage act like it does on the other mesa heads? Where if you turn it past noon it starts to get more bloomy and tubey? Or does it stay tight and clean throughout the gain spectrum?
 
#71
tombowlus said:
If you check out the preamp curve in our M6 Carbine review, you can see that this upper midrange presence and enhanced clarity/articulation are part of this particular amp's intentional voicing. I definitely agree that it is not as warm/full sounding as the M-Pulse line, but I don't think it was supposed to. And of course, the M6 has a solid state driver, and the M-Pulse line has a tube driver, so this may have something to do with it as well.

Tom.
Click to expand...

Yes Sir Tom,

The M-Pulse drives the power section with a tube whereas the Carbine drives the Custom Made in England Mos-Fets with a, you guessed it, Custom Made in England Mos-Fet Driver. Thus the Trans-Class with Vacuum Tube Preamplifier / MosFet Power designation.

All of the gooeyness of tubes is applied in the preamplifier driving the EQ section, then driven into the Mos-Fet power section by a (Tube sounding Mos-Fet?). Ahh the miracles of engineering in the times we live in.

Could not resist sharing additional info/and amplifying upon your comment.

Cheers,

Mr. BEAR
 
#72
Visirale said:
Does the tube pre in the gain stage act like it does on the other mesa heads? Where if you turn it past noon it starts to get more bloomy and tubey? Or does it stay tight and clean throughout the gain spectrum?
Click to expand...

Question 1: Yes, as it does in most of the Mesa bass Products with a Tube Preamplifier stage.

Question2: Exactly, between 12:00 and 2:00 it reacts in ever so touchy, the slightest adjustment yields progressively bloomy/gooey, tube bloom/harmonic rasp, into the EQ voicing.

Question 3: Below 12:00 it has an interesting scoop transition, ie: a lot more of a mid-scoop the lower you dial the clock setting, lessening as you get to noon, then almost none at all past 12:00.

Hope this explains it as I intended it to.

Cheers,

Mr. BEAR
 
#73
MrBEAR said:
Question 1: Yes, as it does in most of the Mesa bass Products with a Tube Preamplifier stage.

Question2: Exactly, between 12:00 and 2:00 it reacts in ever so touchy, the slightest adjustment yields progressively bloomy/gooey, tube bloom/harmonic rasp, into the EQ voicing.

Question 3: Below 12:00 it has an interesting scoop transition, ie: a lot more of a mid-scoop the lower you dial the clock setting, lessening as you get to noon, then almost none at all past 12:00.

Hope this explains it as I intended it to.

Cheers,

Mr. BEAR
Click to expand...

While I do not disagree with my ursine friend, I will add that IME, the M6 does not offer up anywhere near as much tube overdrive as my Walkabout, or some of the other M-Pulse line heads I have tried. It does get more warm, gritty, and harmonic, but I was not able to get the really heavy, buzz-saw-like overdrive I can get from my Walkabout. And I'd like to add that although I have heard many a 'buzz-saw-like' overdrive that sounded terrible, the overdrive I can get from my Walkabout is glorious, to my ears at least. :bassist: :bassist: :bassist:
 
#74
tombowlus said:
While I do not disagree with my ursine friend, I will add that IME, the M6 does not offer up anywhere near as much tube overdrive as my Walkabout, or some of the other M-Pulse line heads I have tried. It does get more warm, gritty, and harmonic, but I was not able to get the really heavy, buzz-saw-like overdrive I can get from my Walkabout. And I'd like to add that although I have heard many a 'buzz-saw-like' overdrive that sounded terrible, the overdrive I can get from my Walkabout is glorious, to my ears at least. :bassist: :bassist: :bassist:
Click to expand...

Agreed 100%, which is why, oddly enough, I have a Custom cab Scout being built as I type. That said it will also be used appropriately on gigs that require it, which also seem to regularly have FOH support although I am somewhat perplexed by their choice of tying the DI output to the master vol control but I digress, and need that nasty in-bred tube growl, however we are talking about the M6 Carbine in this thread, so that does make alternatives rather off topic but.... No slight intended Tom as they are very different animals in the available zoo, so to speak. Which is why, IMHO, Mesa presented the M6 Carbine as their latest offering to bass disciples, as an alternative to their tube gooeyness/nasty/gnarly preent offerings. They, as we as bassists are, still learning about what works and what may not for some.

Cheers,

Mr. BEAR
 
#75
MrBEAR said:
Agreed 100%, which is why, oddly enough, I have a Custom cab Scout being built as I type. That said it will also be used appropriately on gigs that require it, which also seem to regularly have FOH support although I am somewhat perplexed by their choice of tying the DI output to the master vol control but I digress, and need that nasty in-bred tube growl, however we are talking about the M6 Carbine in this thread, so that does make alternatives rather off topic but.... No slight intended Tom as they are very different animals in the available zoo, so to speak. Which is why, IMHO, Mesa presented the M6 Carbine as their latest offering to bass disciples, as an alternative to their tube gooeyness/nasty/gnarly preent offerings. They, as we as bassists are, still learning about what works and what may not for some.

Cheers,

Mr. BEAR
Click to expand...

Good points, Kodiak-man! Those cats at Mesa/Boogie are all about providing us with multiple options, and the M6 was intended as a killer alternative to the M-Pulse/Big Block/Titan line. I dig it a lot! But I am also a huge fan of the Walkabout. :cool:

Tom.
 
#76
LOL!

Soon to be a huge fan of two of those you listed, the alternatives aside. Why lug a gatling gun, (M-Pulse/BB/Titan), to a knife fight when a double barreled derringer (Carbine Combo) will more than do?

And only because Wisconsin is somewhat north of Ohio...
and for future reference:

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Ursidae
Genus: Ursus
Species: Ursus maritimus

Well... that's what my BFB keeps reminding me of.

Cheers,

Mr. BEAR
 
#77
MrBEAR said:
And only because Wisconsin is somewhat north of Ohio...
and for future reference:

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Ursidae
Genus: Ursus
Species: Ursus maritimus

Well... that's what my BFB keeps reminding me of.

Cheers,

Mr. BEAR
Click to expand...

Ah, thank you for clarifying the species. :D
 
#79
MrBEAR said:
I have enjoyed the basic black and silver combo for about one month now, the orginal order for a custom vinyl cab arrived today. Enjoy or Drool at your discretion:D

M6CarbineCombo.jpg


Cheers,

Mr. BEAR
Click to expand...

Awesome looking rig, Bear!

Mesa should steal that photo for their website.

How would the M6 + Bergantino HT/EX compare to this combo?

Is it a pain to get that thing moved around?

Do you happen to know dimensions and weight?

Cheers!
 
#80
CaptainWally said:
Awesome looking rig, Bear!

Mesa should steal that photo for their website.

How would the M6 + Bergantino HT/EX compare to this combo?

Is it a pain to get that thing moved around?

Do you happen to know dimensions and weight?

Cheers!
Click to expand...

Thanks so much Captain Wally,

Pleasing aesthetic compliments keep rolling in, especially in person, on this Custom Combo build and I agree Mesa should post that one so maybe I will send them a copy. :)

No it is not a pain to move at all, although at 6' tall I do have to stoop a bit to pull it along with the roller blades by the handle, and it's an easy one man tussle out of the trunk of my Ford Five Hundred. With assistance it's easy as pie.

Dimensions are as follows with a guesstimate of the weight @ 110 lb.-ish (no scale available that could tell me true)

Height 29 & 5/8"
Width 21 & 1/2"
Depth 18" (Plus the rear skids)

No Bergs in the house, or area, so I can't help on the HT/EX comparison.

Cheers,

Mr. BEAR
 
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