Mesa M9 Carbine Power Reduced?

[David Jayne]

Wow, not cool....I bought a product because of the specs, now I find out it is not what I got.....Disappointing...

Just another example of why you shouldn't buy on specs. All that matters is how it works. Apparently it still works just fine.

 

[KJung]

Just another example of why you shouldn't buy on specs. All that matters is how it works. Apparently it still works just fine.

I agree with you in general, but in this case, it is more 'not getting what you thought you were paying for'. While I feel that the new M9 spec is fine, I in NO way feel good about not updating specs.

More of a 'minor foul' in this case I guess, and they did come clean and my guess is they will go out of their way in supporting all the M9's in the future. However, this kind of stuff can really get a company into trouble. Remember Epifani...... yep, that is my point. Along with a lot of other problems, they significantly increased the weight on their UL cabs a while back, and shipped production to China while still marketing the original weights and 'made in the US' (again, don't care if they are made here or not, but if you SAY they are made here, they better be made here, etc.).

 

[lomo]

It seems like reducing the M6's wattage was pointless, other than to make it lower than the M9.

Yeah, but considering where they found themselves, I am willing to forgive it. If they didn't have a heap of M6 - specific parts on hand, it seems to me eliminating the M6 and dropping the price a tad on the M9 would make sense......but I'm juss sayin'.......

 

[KJung]

It seems like reducing the M6's wattage was pointless, other than to make it lower than the M9.

I didn't see your post before I posted above. Yes, unfortunately, that is my guess. I would even guess that it is still the same wattage, and it is a 'reduced marketing spec' to help separate the M9 clearly from the M6, especially if they keep the M9 original price point.

Putting my marketing consultant hat on (which is what I do), I would suggest they think about doubling the warranty of any M9 sold with the lower power spec prior to them changing the website and dealer information. Since there should be very few problems (that is why they changed it... to reduce failures), that should be a very inexpensive way for them to provide good will to customers who might feel a little miffed.

Amazing how easy it is for companies to fix 'mistakes' if they are a bit proactive. That could turn a moderate negative into a net positive IMO. This is a good, solid company IMO, and they should get ahead of this one a little IMO.

 

[onda'bass]

Just another example of why you shouldn't buy on specs. All that matters is how it works. Apparently it still works just fine.

so you would be ok buying a car with V8 specs, and then get home and see its a V4 and be like eh ok whatever? I doubt it

All my point is truth in advertising, I wanted big power and thought I bought it.

 

[B-string]

It's not like you bought a 750 watt amp that only really puts out 236 watts. So long as sounds like 900 watts right?

Sorry my tongue is really sore from all the biting . I really enjoy every contact I have had with Mesa and had great respect for them but this is really disappointing.

 

[JGR]

It's an issue of ethics and integrity, and coming clean after you've been caught doesn't buy you a whole lot in my book.

 

[Munjibunga]

One thing I noticed about the inside of the M9 is that the fan blows across the smooth back side of the massive heat sinks rather than across their slotted vanes. However the MOSFETs are mounted on the smooth side, so the fan blows directly on them. I thought the cooling might be more efficient if they turned the heat sinks around so the vanes would present more surface area to the fan. But what do I know? Thermodynamics wasn't my favorite class in college.

 

[svtb15]

I often wondered what would have happened if they vented rear to front as in their BB750 ... Venting to the side as the M9 currently does seems that it just sucks the hot air back into the air intake?

I also see alot of people commenting here that "guess and assume" without having real hands on hardcore info.. SO many opinions without having hands on actual experience is just so TB!!!

 

[B-string]

See kids all that time learnin' to read and comprehend and thinkin' and stuff was just a waste of time

 

[bunkaroo]

I've been tempted to try a Carbine several times but always stayed away due to the numerous users who experienced issues. I have to say seeing what's happened here doesn't make me any more likely to do so.

On the plus side, it sounds like they've finally mitigated the root cause of the problem. But on the negative side, it pretty much means I'd have to buy new unless I want to deal with sending the amp in. I don't feel like dealing with the hassle just to get it at a used price. And frankly I think they are a bit overpriced now at the current spec, regardless of their performance.

 

[David Jayne]

so you would be ok buying a car with V8 specs, and then get home and see its a V4 and be like eh ok whatever? I doubt it

All my point is truth in advertising, I wanted big power and thought I bought it.

You're allowed to be miffed. I don't blame you. If you don't like it, send it back.
But in this case it's more like a turbo V6. If the car still goes 150MPH.....

That's not my point. It's this: Many years ago SWR came out with the SM900 and i bought one because I 'wanted big power.'
On a scope, it does indeed make 900 watts. But guess what? My old GK800RB seems louder. 300 watts, and it's louder. That's my point. Forget 'specs.'

 

[KJung]

See kids all that time learnin' to read and comprehend and thinkin' and stuff was just a waste of time

 

[lomo]

I also see alot of people commenting here that "guess and assume" without having real hands on hardcore info.. SO many opinions without having hands on actual experience is just so TB!!!

That's fine-it's a 'net forum, not a peer-reviewed journal or the Washington Post.....it's about everything from fact to opinionated humor and all in between, coming from every angle. Most of the unsubstantiated conjecture in this thread seems spot-on to me. Frankly, when a company does not come forth with facts, the lay public inevitably tries to fill in the blanks.....that's life. Besides, how many times have you heard an "expert" with a lot of "hands on experience" spouting
drivel as though it's been proven by an entire literature of evidence? In my field that's regular occurrence, and it doesn't seem rare in other fields either. Happy Friday....almost time for Palinka

 

[svtb15]

Yes, but sadly and often seen here, it leads to much Misinfo.. Much RUMOR... And cheapens the information gathering experience. Sort of turns it into a TMZ or National Enquirer.. My .02

 

[lomo]

Yes, but sadly and often seen here, it leads to much Misinfo.. Much RUMOR... And cheapens the information gathering experience. Sort of turns it into a TMZ or National Enquirer.. My .02

I totally hear you-there's a fine line between logical, well-intended speculation (OK) and damaging rumour-mongering (not OK).....I was just being contrary

 

[lomo]

BTW.....as a guy who has owned and (hides behind a chair) sold 3 M9s.....I will now be looking for either a used M6 or a new M9 because IMHE nothing chest thumps quite as effectively.

 

[B-string]

Too often consensus musings of many being dismissed as "rumor" are born out with facts.
I guess we could all accept disinformation or deception as being the current way of things.

In the end if you like what you play, you're happy. If you know about the disinformation and like it anyway, awesome. If you later find out about the 'deception' it is up to you alone if it matters any.

 

[svtb15]

I LOVE the tone of the M9... I have also an old Fathom (pre M6 ) which happens to be an animal and works on any gig. My friends newer M6 is beast too.. !!!!

There is a reason i inserted my .02 earlier.. It is because i see more and more young and inexperienced folks joining TB lately and posting questions..... You can see by the questions that many of them ask, and how they describe their gigging situations and likes...

Many of these folks are not like you and me when we were young and staring out. I didn't learn how "What NOT TO DO" or "what to do" or buy gear, basses etc by going on a forum.. I did it by making mistakes and finding out from my own failures and triumphs. And like some of us spent tens of thousands of dollars over the decades

The folks today sort of have it made because of the technology. But because of it (technology/online forums etc) , they can be mislead more easily and more quickly by circulating rumors created by know-it-alls, that they themselves only learned from something they read on TB and not from real life experiences. And that can lead to trouble for themselves and others.... I dont think it is done to be malicious at all.. And then there is good intel out there to be spread about.. . Again my .02

 

[B-string]

I LOVE the tone of the M9... I have also an old Fathom (pre M6 ) which happens to be an animal and works on any gig. My friends newer M6 is beast too.. !!!!

There is a reason i inserted my .02 earlier.. It is because i see more and more young and inexperienced folks joining TB lately and posting questions..... You can see by the questions that many of them ask, and how they describe their gigging situations and likes...

Many of these folks are not like you and me when we were young and staring out. I didn't learn how "What NOT TO DO" or "what to do" or buy gear, basses etc by going on a forum.. I did it by making mistakes and finding out from my own failures and triumphs. And like some of us spent tens of thousands of dollars over the decades

The folks today sort of have it made because of the technology. But because of it (technology/online forums etc) , they can be mislead more easily and more quickly by circulating rumors created by know-it-alls, that they themselves only learned from something they read on TB and not from real life experiences. And that can lead to trouble for themselves and others.... I dont think it is done to be malicious at all.. And then there is good intel out there to be spread about.. . Again my .02

I quoted you as I agree with your points. Case in point: Someone read the JBL white paper written to 'help' reduce high frequency horn failures (reduce warranty costs) as all speakers should have twice the clean power rating of the drivers from the amplifier. This did enough damage when it was in print only, FTP and now WWW made this much worse. This has been misquoted more than I could possibly count either as pure misunderstanding or outright deception. I'll see your $0.02 and raise you $0.02 We still probably didn't make a drop in the ocean but the effort is there anyway.