Mesa M9 mega thread

[Crabby]

call mesa and ask them to send you the new cover?

I thought about that, if that's the only "upgrade" needed it would save a lot of hassle for sure.

 

[Jim Carr]

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).

Rick at Mesa told me the "thermal update" to my M9 would include a "second fan and vented cover." Of course, that might not be all. I did ask if there was any change in the shutdown control hardware or software, and he said there was no change in that.

However, who knows what else might be done? I'll see if I can get more info from Rick about it.

 

[Jim Carr]

Latest info: My M9 arrived at Mesa in Petaluma, CA this morning. More later.

 

[bassjam]

Ok,M9 lovers.I finally went and test drove one of these today.I had super high hopes and honestly didnt get it.It sounded good,but I was expecting it to knock my socks off.Now the only cabs they had were Mesa cabs-Im going back next week and may take my Berg HS410.But I tweaked on it for a good while.I was a bit bummed.I felt like I spent all my time tweaking.It seemed to be a bit strong in the upper mids and I had trouble getting around that.The specs on this amp are exactly what Im looking for-2 rack space,tons of power,love the graphic EQ,love the comp.

They had a Walkabout and I loved it-did not have an Mpulse.So Im wondering If Im more of an Mpulse guy.

Just thought Id check in with the loyal M9 users.Im going to try again with my cab,but could it be the Mesa cabs??

 

[Vic]

Ok,M9 lovers.I finally went and test drove one of these today.I had super high hopes and honestly didnt get it.It sounded good,but I was expecting it to knock my socks off.Now the only cabs they had were Mesa cabs-Im going back next week and may take my Berg HS410.But I tweaked on it for a good while.I was a bit bummed.I felt like I spent all my time tweaking.It seemed to be a bit strong in the upper mids and I had trouble getting around that.The specs on this amp are exactly what Im looking for-2 rack space,tons of power,love the graphic EQ,love the comp.

They had a Walkabout and I loved it-did not have an Mpulse.So Im wondering If Im more of an Mpulse guy.

Just thought Id check in with the loyal M9 users.Im going to try again with my cab,but could it be the Mesa cabs??

Yes... I suppose it'd have to be, and from what I understand, there are some Mesa cabs that are fairly mid strong.

Definitely try with some other cabs. The mids are definitely present on my M6 and my M9 similarly, but I definitely don't feel they're unpleasantly peaked in any one spot as it apparently sounded to you. Something not quite right there, so I'm suspecting cab voicing.

 

[Fretless5verfan]

Where did you have the crossover set for the tweeters? That might have had an impact. But honestly, sounds like you might be after a different sound, which is totally understandable. I find that Mesa heads sound the best with Mesa cabs, but that's just IMHO.

 

[Jim Carr]

I'd say you are probably not going to feel too different with a different cabinet unless you use the right voice or GEQ setting for what you are hearing in your head.

That said, I basically loved the flat setting with or without the deep knob pulled. I also liked voice 5 with the GEQ engaged and the higher Freq. bands rolled off progressively more steeply.

Did you use the GEQ foot switch? It can interact with the voice settings in unexpected ways. I found it took me a while to find what I wanted beyond the flat voice three thing.

Are you using a passive bass?

 

[bassjam]

Yes... I suppose it'd have to be, and from what I understand, there are some Mesa cabs that are fairly mid strong.

Definitely try with some other cabs. The mids are definitely present on my M6 and my M9 similarly, but I definitely don't feel they're unpleasantly peaked in any one spot as it apparently sounded to you. Something not quite right there, so I'm suspecting cab voicing.

Thanks Vic-Ill find out next week.I tried it with a PH212,PH212,and PH410 and I played a Fender passive 5 and my F BN5.I may have stated it a bit strongly.I wouldnt say unpleasant.Just a bit of a gank I couldnt dial out.I can see how this may be a different beast in a live setting though.

 

[bassjam]

Where did you have the crossover set for the tweeters? That might have had an impact. But honestly, sounds like you might be after a different sound, which is totally understandable. I find that Mesa heads sound the best with Mesa cabs, but that's just IMHO.

I tried all three settings on all 3 cabs.It did in fact help quite a bit.I believe you may be right though,may not be my thing.I really liked the Walkabout and still want to try the Mpulse 600.But I remember when I first plugged my LMll in for the first time.I knew in about a minute it was a keeper.

 

[bassjam]

I'd say you are probably not going to feel too different with a different cabinet unless you use the right voice or GEQ setting for what you are hearing in your head.

That said, I basically loved the flat setting with or without the deep knob pulled. I also liked voice 5 with the GEQ engaged and the higher Freq. bands rolled off progressively more steeply.

Did you use the GEQ foot switch? It can interact with the voice settings in unexpected ways. I found it took me a while to find what I wanted beyond the flat voice three thing.

Are you using a passive bass?

Probably not a huge difference if I bring my cab in,but I really want to try.It was totally different for me.I didnt care for it totally flat.I did like position 5(my fav of the bunch,followed by 3)I did not use the footswitch.Again,Im not at all slamming the M9-In fact Im hoping with some more time to play with it I can get a handle on it.

BTW- I used a passive Jazz bass the store had and my F BN5.

Thanks you guys for the replies.

 

[tombowlus]

They had a Walkabout and I loved it-did not have an Mpulse.So Im wondering If Im more of an Mpulse guy.

I'm definitely a fan of the Carbine series heads, but I gotta say, the Walkabout just really gets my juices flowing. I am still trying to talk the guys in Petaluma into making an 800-watt Walkabout!

Yes, the M-Pulse 600 or BB750 should be close to this, but for some reason, I still like the inherent tone of the Walkabout better. That being said, the BB750 and the Titan V-12 can be EQ'd to get fairly close to the Walkabout. I have not owned an M-Pulse 600, though, so I am not sure how close they would get.

Back on topic, the M3/6/9 are some really great amps, and a compelling take on a different "Mesa/Boogie tone," but they are not going to be for everyone, of course.

Tom.

 

[Chef]

If you really liked the Walkabout, it's not too surprising that the M9 might not excite you. They're pretty different.

I'd *totally* buy in if Mesa made a Walkabout with M9 power. In a heartbeat.

But, I like both those amps really well, and wouldn't be giving up my M9 to do a Walkabout 9.

 

[bassjam]

I'm definitely a fan of the Carbine series heads, but I gotta say, the Walkabout just really gets my juices flowing. I am still trying to talk the guys in Petaluma into making an 800-watt Walkabout!

Yes, the M-Pulse 600 or BB750 should be close to this, but for some reason, I still like the inherent tone of the Walkabout better. That being said, the BB750 and the Titan V-12 can be EQ'd to get fairly close to the Walkabout. I have not owned an M-Pulse 600, though, so I am not sure how close they would get.

Back on topic, the M3/6/9 are some really great amps, and a compelling take on a different "Mesa/Boogie tone," but they are not going to be for everyone, of course.

Tom.

The suprise to me was that I liked the BB750 way more than I thought I would.I almost didnt turn it on but since I was there I thought what the heck.

I do agree they may not be for everyone,but there are several here that I know and have similar tone goals as I do.That makes me think I may not be as far off as I think-guess its more fair to say I liked it,didnt love it-Id really love to get one on a gig to try.Someone was kind enough to PM me and told me they didnt care for it so much when playing it solo in a store.Tried it on a gig and it totally changed his mind.

Thanks for the thoughts,Tom.

 

[bassjam]

If you really liked the Walkabout, it's not too surprising that the M9 might not excite you. They're pretty different.

I'd *totally* buy in if Mesa made a Walkabout with M9 power. In a heartbeat.

But, I like both those amps really well, and wouldn't be giving up my M9 to do a Walkabout 9.

I think if Mesa made a WA with M9 power,they couldnt keep them in stock.Id buy one also.

Well Ill say this-I liked the flat tone of the WA more than the flat tone of the M9.I felt I got to greatness way faster with the WA.

But...I play in a situation which calls for a bigger rig from time to time.The M9 caught my because it serves everything Id wish for in a higher powered amp
(weight,2 rack space,power,features).I actually really liked the compressor.And I dialed in a nice finger style tone.Didnt quite get the slap tone yet.

 

[Crabby]

The Big Block gets a bit of a bum rap these days just because there are so many other amps in the Mesa line. I owned one until recently and it was wonderful in a loud band setting. Plenty of power and warm, fat gooey tone that everyone in the room just loved. I did sell mine because I now have an M9 and a Walkabout and both get more of my playing time but I am still fond of the BB750 and think it just may be what you're looking for.

 

[bassjam]

The Big Block gets a bit of a bum rap these days just because there are so many other amps in the Mesa line. I owned one until recently and it was wonderful in a loud band setting. Plenty of power and warm, fat gooey tone that everyone in the room just loved. I did sell mine because I now have an M9 and a Walkabout and both get more of my playing time but I am still fond of the BB750 and think it just may be what you're looking for.

Well I didnt want to say it around these parts,but....I want to go spend some time with the BB750.Only played it through a Mesa 210.Sounded nice to me,comming from an Aggie DB751,tough to beat for that tone.


Still,so many love the M9 that I dont want to turn away from it because of one day in a music store.I LOVE my LMll and have played one many times in music stores and left uninspired.I would have never picked one up from what I heard out of it at Guitar Center.Now Its in the regular rotation.

 

[Vic]

Still,so many love the M9 that I dont want to turn away from it because of one day in a music store.I LOVE my LMll and have played one many times in music stores and left uninspired.I would have never picked one up from what I heard out of it at Guitar Center.Now Its in the regular rotation.

Exactly. Just make sure you really give it a fair shot. That said, as others have also said, despite the whole lotta' luv 'round here for the M's, if it doesn't fit you, then so be it. Lotsa' great amps out there, and even specifically within the Mesa line, lots of really differently voiced and targeted amps. Maybe even more-so than most other brands.

 

[Jim Carr]

Probably not a huge difference if I bring my cab in, but I really want to try. It was totally different for me.

The first time I tried a Carbine M6 it was in the mesa 212 cab on the dolly-thing. I was actually testing Road Worn Basses. Although the focus was on the basses, I left with a very clear and positive impression of the amp.

The second time was when I schlepped my CA6/Art pre-amp rack, a 4 ohm Epfani UL1 410 and an 8 ohm Epifani NYC 210 into the North Dallas GC and A/B'd my rack with an M6. Within 5 notes, it had me—I was using a bone stock 2003 Skyline 55-01D.

I didn't care for it totally flat. I did like position 5 (my fav of the bunch, followed by 3). I did not use the footswitch...I used a passive Jazz bass the store had and my F BN5...

F BN5? Totally awesome!

A couple of comments that I hope help: As you probably have observed, depending on the direction you turn the knob, the voice setting changes the contour in opposite ways from straight up 3 (AKA flat). To the left (1 and 2) bumps low mids and lows, and to the right (4 and 5) bumps high-mids and highs. The Mesa folks have selected the 4 "non-flat" contours pretty well, IMHO.

I find something a bit confusing in your description of voice preference vs. your earlier observation about persistent high mids. It seems you were wanting to cut high mids, yet you selected contours that don't cut or even enhance high mids (3 and 5). I might try the lower numbers and try cutting the lows.

Also, If you didn't try this, I'd recommend starting with the TMB control knobs at noon and GEQ off. Select a voice, and then tweak by cutting, either on the knobs, or with the GEQ. Yes, then bump things up, if needed. Good luck with your next test!

 

[Chef]

My favorite setting is voice 2 (bumps some lows and highs, cuts some mids...at least that's how it seems to me) with some mids pushed back in, and some bass trimmed a bit.
Very full range and clean, great shimmer on top.

 

[Jim Carr]

My favorite setting is voice 2 (bumps some lows and highs, cuts some mids...at least that's how it seems to me) with some mids pushed back in, and some bass trimmed a bit.
Very full range and clean, great shimmer on top.

+1
I love 2, also.
Oops, yes there is that scooped thing happening there, too...