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Mesa M9 mega thread

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#102
I am using my M9 with a Phil Jones 6T/9B stack. I usually run it flat with the graphic bypassed, except for last night's gig with my upright and electric. I used the graphic to help tweak for the upright, and bypassed the graphic for the Lakland DJ5. What a sweet rig. BTW, played with David Garfield last night, an honor indeed.
 
#103
New amp day!!!!

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Wow. This amp is SUBSTANTIAL. I'm loving the power and tone, as well as the overall feel of the amp. The voices are very nice -- I'm starting to like #5 quite a bit.

The only two things I don't like are the lack of a mute switch (I like the footswitch but I'd rather have a separate one on the front) and I find the voice knob on the M9 is a little hard to grip and turn.

Other than those minor issues, this amp is darn near perfect. Feels like an anchor compared to my Genz shuttle though. :p
 
#105
BartmanPDX said:
New amp day!!!!

IMG_1900.jpg


IMG_1902.jpg


Wow. This amp is SUBSTANTIAL. I'm loving the power and tone, as well as the overall feel of the amp. The voices are very nice -- I'm starting to like #5 quite a bit.

The only two things I don't like are the lack of a mute switch (I like the footswitch but I'd rather have a separate one on the front) and I find the voice knob on the M9 is a little hard to grip and turn.

Other than those minor issues, this amp is darn near perfect. Feels like an anchor compared to my Genz shuttle though. :p
Click to expand...

Congrats! After you've gigged with it some, let us know how it sounds!

There's so many ways to affect the tone on that amp, I'd think it might take awhile to get a firm grip on the best usable settings.
You may have already read this, but I suggest experimenting with the gain and master settings at gig-level volumes just to get a feel for the tonal differences that the gain settings can yield.
Find what you like and then use that as a base point to work on the rest of the EQ options.

I hate the idea of extra cables and devices, but I suspect that a volume foot pedal might come in handy with an amp that is so sensitive to small changes in the gain & master settings.
That or looking into switching out the pots to audio-style (has anyone looked into this?).
Good luck with it and hope you enjoy!
 
#107
BartmanPDX said:
The only two things I don't like are the lack of a mute switch (I like the footswitch but I'd rather have a separate one on the front)
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You do realize the master volume is also a mute switch on the front, right? Otherwise, if you're just complaining that it's not a separate small switch or button instead of being on a push/pull knob, join the club. :)
 
#108
Vic said:
You do realize the master volume is also a mute switch on the front, right? Otherwise, if you're just complaining that it's not a separate small switch or button instead of being on a push/pull knob, join the club. :)
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Yeah, it's the latter. I love a switch on the front. Simple, doesn't require another footswitch/cable, and you don't accidentally mess with the (potentially touchy) master volume knob. But I can live with the footswitch. Gotta figure out how to best set the EQ though -- I'd like to use the footswitch to switch between two different sounds during a gig but haven't gotten it to do what I want -- switch between two different voices at near equal volume levels. As long as we're on that, it would also be cool if all the voices were more equal volume-wise. I'm coming to really like #5 but it's so much louder than #3 that I have to adjust volume when switching. I'd like to use both voices while gigging.

This amp has headroom, clarity and punch. WOW OH WOW does it drive the AE410. Can't wait for next weekend's gigs!!
 
#109
BartmanPDX said:
...I'm coming to really like #5 but it's so much louder than #3 that I have to adjust volume when switching...
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+1

I have noticed that, though my EQ on voice 5 lately has been a bit extreme. Are you using the 9 band with voice 5?

BartmanPDX said:
This amp has headroom, clarity and punch. WOW OH WOW does it drive the AE410. Can't wait for next weekend's gigs!!
Click to expand...

I know that feeling. I've had a chance to use it on 3 gigs so far, all with a 4 ohm Epifani UL1 410. Looking forward to the next one! :cool:
 
#110
Jim Carr said:
+1

I have noticed that, though my EQ on voice 5 lately has been a bit extreme. Are you using the 9 band with voice 5?
Click to expand...

I haven't messed with the graphic EQ much. I'm still trying to get a handle on how it interacts with the voices (depending on how the rear switch is set) and how the voices sound and respond to my basses and technique.

This thing has a great basic sound but a LOT of control and I think it will take several gigs before I really get comfortable using all the various controls.

I was thinking of boosting the EQ on the graphic EQ so that voice 3 would be as loud as voice 5 but have a different tone. Then I could switch between two great tones on the fly during a gig.
 
#111
BartmanPDX said:
I haven't messed with the graphic EQ much. I'm still trying to get a handle on how it interacts with the voices (depending on how the rear switch is set)...
Click to expand...

Since I am pretty much a slow adopter of foot switches, I haven't really felt the impact of the voice defeat feature, yet. The time will come.

The EQ sliders are cool, but one must take into account the contour of the Voice selected and how one might be boosting something already boosted, etc.

Never-the-less, one can effectively use the EQ along with the various contour Voices. It just takes a bit of common sense and sensitivity to what the Voice control is doing--at least that is what I am telling myself at the moment, LOL! :D
 
#112
i pretty much use the GEQ to correct room deficits...most generally to trim some 30-50hz.

sometimes i use it to push to ~100 hz into a bass lacking punch.

i've never messed with the switch on the back.
 
#113
I am loving my M 9

My settings are EQ scooped...dont use the pre sets...bass about 1 oclock and mids abpprox 10 - 11 oclock.
No compression.

Glaub - USA P Bass
4 x 10 Goliath 4 ohm.

I have 2 Acme B 2 that I have not yet tried with this head..
 
#114
Thought I ought to post a quick mention of my latest adventure with the M9. I had to send it back to Mesa for repair and/or "thermal updating," which includes a 2nd fan and a slotted cover (mine has no cooling slots). The unit was one of the first 40 or so made.

More details over here: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=689629
 
#115
Jim; while I've not had my M9 in my gator 3 space bag, I've had the M6 in there a long time now with no issues, and I've not noticed one running hotter than the other.
I have a Korg DTR tuner on top of the M6, but that's a *very* shallow piece of tuner.
I have the M9 in a two space skb; as does vic and some others I know. Not lots of extra room in there.

fyi: when last I sent my M6 back for latest upgrades, they spoke of a second fan being part of that. It did not come back with one, nor do I see where one would fit.

I do not see one in my late model M9, nor a place for it to fit. If you spy one in yours, I'd sure love a photo of that for a mental reference point of how they rammed it in there...

Mesa CS is top notch; miss your M9, but rest easy knowing that *they will* make that right.
__________________
 
#116
Here's my M9 and Avatar stack. I just received all this gear last week. Definitely still learning what settings I like, just total tone heaven.

A question for the M9 users here. When you turn on and off the compressor, do you get a pop sound that comes through the speakers? The only way I can eliminate the pop is if I turn the master volume completely down.

This is a great thread....

AvatarStack2.jpg
 
#118
My M9 has a very low serial number even though I bought it new in January 2010 and no vents on the top cover. Should I be looking to send it in for upgrades? I have had no issues with it getting hot but its used pretty gently and never pushed. I would hate to send it away but if the upgrades are considered important it may be worthwhile.
 
#119
I'd say if it ain't broke, don't fix it. I have a Fathom (in a 2 space SKB) and as far as I know, has not had the upgrades. It seems to work just fine... no hiss, doesn't run hot, so as long as it runs ok, I'm not getting upgraded (even though I live 15 minutes from Mesa).
 
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