NAD Mesa Boogie M3 Carbine

[joebar]

I found this amp at a blow out price at a local L&M. on the recommendation of a friend (enabler), I decided to take it home and give it a try.
I already have a walkabout head that I love but it would be nice to have a tad more power for those times I play the 5er and/or have a loud situation on my hands.
I did some research and although this amp wasn't a best seller in the Mesa lineup, it gets rave reviews for its tone and immense power. out of the three Carbines, this one sounds especially sweet and I love the no nonsense simplicity.
I took it to a band rehearsal tonight with one 12" cab and a P bass- I loved it. at home, I couldn't turn it up loud enough to get a real idea. very linear and sweet sounding pre section that can be wound up with useable tone. the deep switch is very useful without being a sub-bass boost; again, very linear.
although rated @ 300 watts 4 ohms...I don't believe it. this thing has serious heft and girth. but not so powerful that you cant dial in some pre gain without blowing heads off like the bigger Carbines.
a really nice addition to my mesa Walkabout. both are now discontinued.
I will give the WA a slight nod for tone but this carbine has a pretty darn nice tone as well and not as modern as you might think.

surprised this amp wasn't more popular. not a lot of threads on here about it either.

 

[shoot-r]

I found this amp at a blow out price at a local L&M. on the recommendation of a friend (enabler), I decided to take it home and give it a try.
I already have a walkabout head that I love but it would be nice to have a tad more power for those times I play the 5er and/or have a loud situation on my hands.
I did some research and although this amp wasn't a best seller in the Mesa lineup, it gets rave reviews for its tone and immense power. out of the three Carbines, this one sounds especially sweet and I love the no nonsense simplicity.
I took it to a band rehearsal tonight with one 12" cab and a P bass- I loved it. at home, I couldn't turn it up loud enough to get a real idea. very linear and sweet sounding pre section that can be wound up with useable tone. the deep switch is very useful without being a sub-bass boost; again, very linear.
although rated @ 300 watts 4 ohms...I don't believe it. this thing has serious heft and girth. but not so powerful that you cant dial in some pre gain without blowing heads off like the bigger Carbines.
a really nice addition to my mesa Walkabout. both are now discontinued.
I will give the WA a slight nod for tone but this carbine has a pretty darn nice tone as well and not as modern as you might think.

surprised this amp wasn't more popular. not a lot of threads on here about it either.

View attachment 1136852

I'm TRULY sad about Mesa's dropping the Carbines from their product lineup (I've two M-6's and absolutely LOVE them).
But I understand the why's and wherefores of Mesa taking them from their line....just hate to see it happen.

 

[joel406]

I've only recently become a Mesa fanboy(Been using GK forever) and I was kinda looking forward to getting one of the Mesa tube amps. I was sniffing around the M9 or walkabouts. Currently I'm running the D-800+. Still getting use to it a bit but happy none the less.

My one wish would be more cabinet choices from Mesa.

That being said great find and enjoy that M3.

Some people have all the luck.

 

[mmbongo]

I've only recently become a Mesa fanboy(Been using GK forever) and I was kinda looking forward to getting one of the Mesa tube amps. I was sniffing around the M9 or walkabouts. Currently I'm running the D-800+. Still getting use to it a bit but happy none the less.

My one wish would be more cabinet choices from Mesa.

What other cabinets would you like to see?

 

[joel406]

I've only recently become a Mesa fanboy(Been using GK forever) and I was kinda looking forward to getting one of the Mesa tube amps. I was sniffing around the M9 or walkabouts. Currently I'm running the D-800+. Still getting use to it a bit but happy none the less.

My one wish would be more cabinet choices from Mesa.

What other cabinets would you like to see?

Subway 410, 810 and 215. In both 4 and 8 ohm versions.

 

[mmbongo]

Subway 410, 810 and 215. In both 4 and 8 ohm versions.

@agedhorse is always curious as to what folks would like to see.

 

[2goofy]

Congrats on your find! I too just lucked into M3 Carbine Combo today at GC. Used but pristine, silver vinyl --plugged into it and wow--- amazing tone! Especially compared to the new Markbass and Acoustic stuff that dominates the floor space in this market...Hard to try out a wide spectrum of amp makers. This is the first "Boogie" I have been able to play through although I have loved them (and envied those lucky guitarist) since hearing my first one in the 80's --- I am also wondering why this was not more successful, trying to find out more about it here but not much luck.

 

[mmbongo]

Congrats on your find! I too just lucked into M3 Carbine Combo today at GC. Used but pristine, silver vinyl --plugged into it and wow--- amazing tone! Especially compared to the new Markbass and Acoustic stuff that dominates the floor space in this market...Hard to try out a wide spectrum of amp makers. This is the first "Boogie" I have been able to play through although I have loved them (and envied those lucky guitarist) since hearing my first one in the 80's --- I am also wondering why this was not more successful, trying to find out more about it here but not much luck.

I don't know when the Carbine's came out, but I see articles featuring them from 2009 so we'll assume then. That's 8 years ago. 8 years for an amp line is extremely successful. I can think of ten amp companies that have come and gone in that time, and Fender has released and discontinued at least 3 complete amp lines in that time.

So I'd say the Carbine's were a huge success. However the Subway line has made them somewhat redundant. Does basically the same thing (plus a lot more) at 1/4 the weight and much less cost. Win win.

 

[sstillwell]

Congrats - I love the bejesus out of my M6, but it's waaaaay too much for most gigs. My D800+ is way more flexible and does the Carbine thing ALMOST as well as the M6 itself and doesn't kill me to lift (the M6 isn't THAT heavy, but along with the power conditioner and Rane parametric EQ and old-school Anvil road case...yeah, it's a load.)

I always ran the M6 through 2 Bag End S15D...someday I should try hooking it up through my Subway 112 stack. Wowser.

 

[Al Kraft]

I own all three of the Carbines and while the M6 and M9 are excellent, the M3 is almost as strong in real world use and the straightforward simplicity is great on a gig. For me the M3 feels powerful enough when compared with the M6 that Mesa could have legitimately called it an M5.

 

[2goofy]

I don't know when the Carbine's came out, but I see articles featuring them from 2009 so we'll assume then. That's 8 years ago. 8 years for an amp line is extremely successful. I can think of ten amp companies that have come and gone in that time, and Fender has released and discontinued at least 3 complete amp lines in that time.

So I'd say the Carbine's were a huge success. However the Subway line has made them somewhat redundant. Does basically the same thing (plus a lot more) at 1/4 the weight and much less cost. Win win.

Thanks for the info, as I stated not much opportunity to try out Mesa's where I live so I was going off of trying to find comparable items on this site as well as ebay, etc. Which I guess that is a testament to what you say since nobody wants to give them up..Have been looking at the Subway line but not willing to buy before I could try...may be in my future..for now I'm loving the M3..

 

[mmbongo]

Thanks for the info, as I stated not much opportunity to try out Mesa's where I live so I was going off of trying to find comparable items on this site as well as ebay, etc. Which I guess that is a testament to what you say since nobody wants to give them up..Have been looking at the Subway line but not willing to buy before I could try...may be in my future..for now I'm loving the M3..

As you should. The M3 is a fantastic amp that will probably last a lifetime.