Which Mesa do you prefer?

[Brattbugg]

Regardless of what I like, tell me which Mesa you prefer, the Carbine stuff or the MPulse, and why. If there's another amp, feel free to throw it into the mix. Please tell me about the tone and reliability as well.

 

[husky123]

I like the Carbine's for no other reason than they slam your head to the ground and step on your neck.

 

[Primakurtz]

+1 - the M9 is my fave Mesa bass amp, and my favorite bass amp period.

 

[MuthaFunk]

You'll find a lot of Walkabout users here on TB. For reasons just look at the 8000 responses to the Walkabout mega thread here on TB. Mostly though, its the old school tubish tone of the Walkabout that people dig.

 

[packhowitzer]

I like the carbines M9 and M6. kapow!

 

[jdelemus]

Played a 600 carbine the other day sounded awesome. Thinking about getting a walkabout in the 8 ohm if I could ever find one to play...

 

[MSUsousaphone]

Mesa Bass 400+ (is bringing all tubes into this even fair to these lesser non all tube amps?). All day every day. Unless the wife and I are having quintuplets....which we are....so one of the solid states it IS for me, now. But otherwise, it's all about SIXTEEEN TUBES!!!!

 

[mpdd]

have a d180, really like it, received many compliments on the tone

 

[lomo]

Walkabout for warm-my favorite sounding head ever. M9 for most versatile, full-featured head with enough power to drive my 15/6 LDS cab to glory, no matter how loud and low I wanna go.

 

[Skygonzo]

I love the one that says "Mark Bass" on it. Kiddin'! LOL

 

[gravesbass]

Carbine M9's. Solid and Beautiful!!

 

[dukeisdog]

Haven't had a chance to play any other Mesa bass heads, but I'm loving my M-Pulse 360. I have no doubts that I'd be happy with any one of their amps, though.

 

[Dave W]

Loved my M2K Basis, love my Walkabout, I really like the M9, Buster, 400/400+

Probably the 400+ to answer your question. The Walkabout is pretty sweet though. In combo form I use it as my practice amp (at home and with my band) and for small gigs. I'll take just the head out often enough and pair it up with my other cabs for normal gigs.

 

[pfschim]

I am more of a tube fan, so the MPulse line gets my vote - particularly the Walkabout. I had an MP600, and it was a very nice amp with some cool features (Solo level, pre/post EQ on the DI), but the WA just has more tube influence in it than the other MPulse amps (360 and 600).

OTOH, I did not care for the Carbine/M3-6-9 series amps, primarily because of the much reduced tube influence in the tone (IMO/IME), and the 5 position, fixed mid control design.

I have owned and gigged a Buster 200 in the past and while it is an all tube amp, which you would think would be great for a tube guy like me, it is one of the most linear designs around and often sounded more SS than many of the major SS amp brands. Again, this is just IMO/IME.

So, my Mesa vote goes to the Walkabout. For me it's almost a perfect amp. My only complaint (and it's a modest one) is that I wish it had 2x or 3x of the power avail for more clean headroom as I seek clean and warm tube tone, and NO distortion/grind.

good luck

 

[Alex1984]

I like the WalkAbout and 400+ for warm tube tones. If you need over-the-top tube overdrive, get the Titan!

 

[Yango]

Walkabout Scout. It just sounds amazing. The fact that it's also light and extremely portable is just an extra bonus. Oh, and the head is detachable from the combo if you decide to use another cab.

 

[wong99]

I had an M6 and the sound was really great. It was an older one and had a couple of problems with over heating. It would also cut out because it had a faulty fuse holder. If I jiggled the fuse holder it would come back on.
When I called Mesa I really felt that they jacked me around on this issue. They basically said, "Problem, there's no problem. Just because a couple guys on TalkBass say there is doesn't make it so!"
It's like they were acting as though I was making it up in an effort to get a new amp or something. I felt that they were a bit snobbish. I have been playing bass for 40 years and they treated me like a ten year old kid.
I promptly sold the amp... no problem!
Too bad though, I did like the sound of the amp.
Playing GK now. Every bit as good, maybe better.

 

[NecroticImbecil]

I can't quite bring myself to think of the ones without power tubes as Mesa bass amps. Those others are just for practice, or to bring to bar gigs where somebody might dump a beer on them. No loss that way.

 

[chaosMK]

I think each Mesa head offers certain unique and cool things. Carbines are sledge hammers, though I don't own one.

To me the Bass 400 with 6550/KT88's is at the top of the heap. It has an amazing rock/metal voicing with warm clarity in the midrange. I use an outboard pre blended in my FX loop to modernize and grind the tone just a little more.

I owned an M-Pulse for a while... it was a little too boomy for what I was going for but I really liked the warm tapping tones I could get out of it and felt like the compression on it was killer.

I always enjoy plugging into my Buster combo but it's more like the ultimate pratice amp for me (I'd gig it with an extension cab though, would be great for rock).

I just picked up a D180 and might like it's natural voicing even more than the 400... very similar, but a little less stiff in the midrange than what the 400 has going on and has lots of options where overdrive is concerned.

 

[georgestrings]

I prefer the M-pulse 600 over the Carbines, because I feel it's more versatile... Truthfully, there is nothing the Carbines can do for me that I can't get done with my 700rb-II...


- georgestrings