Mesa-Boogie M6 User Manual
Owner’s Manual
Greetings from the Home of Tone
...You, smart player and intuitive human, have put your trust in us to be your amplifier
company. This is something we do not take lightly. By choosing this instrument to be a
part of your musical voice, you have become part of the Mesa family...WELCOME!
Our goal is to never let you down. Your reward is that you are the new owner of an amp,
bred of fine all tube heritage...benefiting from the many pioneering and patented Mesa
circuits that led to the refinement of your new model. We feel confident, this amp will
inspire many hours of musical satisfaction and lasting enjoyment. It was built with you in
mind, by players who know the value of a fine musical instrument and the commitment it
takes to make great music. The same commitment to quality, value and support we make
to you...our new friend.
Table of Contents
Precautions
Overview _________________________________________________________________________________________ 1-2
FRONT PANEL:
INSTRUMENT INPUT _________________________________________________________________________________ 3
ACTIVE / PASSIVE SWITCH ___________________________________________________________________________ 3
CONTROLS:
GAIN ______________________________________________________________________________________________ 3
BASS ______________________________________________________________________________________________ 4
PULL DEEP ________________________________________________________________________________________ 4
MID _____________________________________________________________________________________________ 4-5
VOICE _____________________________________________________________________________________________ 5
TREBLE _________________________________________________________________________________________ 5-6
DI LEVEL __________________________________________________________________________________________ 6
PULL-PRE __________________________________________________________________________________________ 6
MASTER ___________________________________________________________________________________________ 6
MUTE LED _________________________________________________________________________________________ 7
POWER SWITCH ____________________________________________________________________________________ 7
REAR PANEL:
FUSE ______________________________________________________________________________________________ 8
A.C. RECEPTACLE ___________________________________________________________________________________ 8
FUNCTION SWITCHES _____________________________________________________________________________ 8-9
SPEAKER OUTPUTS _________________________________________________________________________________ 9
TUNER ____________________________________________________________________________________________ 9
EFFECTS LOOP __________________________________________________________________________________ 9-10
GROUND LIFT, DIRECT OUT __________________________________________________________________________ 10
FACTORY SAMPLE SETTINGS ________________________________________________________________________ 11
PERSONAL SETTINGS ______________________________________________________________________________ 12
DIAGNOSING PRE-AMP TUBE PROBLEMS _____________________________________________________________ 13
PARTS SHEET _____________________________________________________________________________________ 14
PRECAUTIONS & WARNINGS
Your MESA/Boogie Amplifier is a professional instrument. Please treat it with respect and operate it properly.
USE COMMON SENSE AND ALWAYS OBSERVE THESE PRECAUTIONS:
READ AND FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS OF PROPER USAGE.
YOUR AMPLIFIER IS LOUD! EXPOSURE TO HIGH SOUND VOLUMES MAY CAUSE PERMANENT HEARING DAMAGE !
No user serviceable parts inside. Refer service to qualified personnel. Always unplug AC power before removing chassis.
EXPORT MODELS: Always insure that unit is wired for proper voltage. Make certain grounding conforms with local standards.
WARNING: EU: permission from the Supply Authority is needed before connection.
WARNING: Vacuum tube amplifiers generate heat. To insure proper ventilation always make
certain there is at least four inches (100mm) of space behind the rear of the amplifier cabinet.
Keep away from curtains or any flammable objects.
WARNING: Do not block any ventilation openings on the rear or top of the amplifier. Do not
impede ventilation by placing objects on top of the amplifier which extend past the rear edge of
its cabinet.
WARNING: Do not expose the amplifier to rain, moisture, dripping or splashing water. Do not
place objects filled with liquids on or nearby the amplifier.
WARNING: Always make certain proper load is connected before operating the amplifier.
Failure to do so could pose a shock hazard and may result in damage to the amplifier.
Do not expose amplifier to direct sunlight or extremely high temperatures.
Always insure that amplifier is properly grounded. Always unplug AC power cord before changing
fuse or any tubes. When replacing fuse, use only same type and rating.
Avoid direct contact with heated tubes. Keep amplifier away from children.
Be sure to connect to an AC power supply that meets the power supply specifications listed on
the rear of the unit. Remove the power plug from the AC mains socket if the unit is to be stored
for an extended period of time. If there is any danger of lightning occurring nearby, remove the
power plug from the wall socket in advance.
To avoid damaging your speakers and other playback equipment, turn off the power of all related
equipment before
making the connections.
Do not use excessive force in handling control buttons, switches and controls. Do not use
solvents such as benzene or paint thinner to clean the unit. Wipe off the exterior with soft cloth.
F
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F
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VACUUM TUBE PREAMPLIFIER
MOSFET POWER
EXT SW
PULL-DEEP PULL-PRE PULL-MUTE
FRONT VIEW: M6 CARBINE
REAR VIEW: M6 CARBINE
Operating Instructions
Overview:
Congratulations on your choice of the M6 Carbine and welcome to the Mesa/Boogie Family!
First we would like to thank you for choosing us as your amplifier company and trusting us to help create your musical voice. This
is something we never take for granted and you’ll find that we are here ready to assist you should you ever need help. Our goal is
to help you sound your best at all times! We feel confident that your new amplifier will bring you many years of reliable service and
rewarding inspiration and create for you a newfound freedom to express through your music.
The M6 Carbine expands the MESA Family of Bass amplifiers with an exciting new voice that’s super fast and extremely focused!
The output section relies on the same time-proven array of custom designed mosfets used in our M-Pulse, Big Block 750 and Titan
models, but the preamp and driver section are all new creating a very different feel and attitude.
First a PASSIVE/ACTIVE switch determines the preamp Input sensitivity and ensures you will have the headroom you need. Up
front the tube preamp utilizes a standard tone control string of Bass, Mid and Treble to shape the basic sound, but the shaping power
doesn’t stop there. There is a PULL DEEP feature found on the Bass control that keeps the low end tight and articulate when pushed
in or, enhances the sub-lows and adds super-top air when pulled out.
The M6 Carbine also features a new VOICE control for instant access to global character changes. Here you’ll find four iconic and
distinctively different sounds and a bypass on a 5 position rotary pot that graphically shows you the EQ curve for each. To the left,
positions 1 and 2 dip the midrange in two different places giving you two amazing choices for classic round, warm R & B sounds.
Turning right past the 12:00 noon FLAT position unveils two variations on the mid-bump theme. Positions 4 & 5 boost adjacent mid
regions to create two powerful mid focused sounds that push articulate fingerstyle playing to the forefront of any mix or add the tight
drive to Rock. Great Tone doesn’t get any simpler!
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Overview: (Continued)
DI LEVEL and MASTER controls make adjusting your playing volume levels quick and easy on stage. The DI LEVEL features both
post and pre Tone control options, with post being the default (pushed in) setting and PULL PRE activating the pre setting that bypasses the entire preamp. A TUNER MUTE pull pot is added to the MASTER Output control for silent tuning in live or studio applications. This feature can also be triggered remotely from the Rear Panel Function Switch jack labeled MUTE.
The Rear Panel follows suit with simplicity dictating the layout of the all essential features every pro rig should include. Tucked securely between the intake/exhaust vents sit the FUNCTION SWITCH jacks and the SPEAKER OUTPUTS. The FUNCTION SWITCH
¼” jacks provide switch ports to control the Front Panel VOICE feature and the TUNER MUTE. Connecting any grounding (tip to
ground) logic switch here will trigger the desired VOICE setting or the MUTE. This allows settings to be stored under programs in a
master external switcher. The SPEAKER OUTPUTS utilize stage ready SPEAKON UNIVERSAL connectors which accommodate
both standard ¼” phone type and Nuetrik SPEAKON locking plugs. A SPEAKER IMPEDANCE switch keeps things in the Output
section properly matched and allows you to select between 8/4 Ohm loads or switch down to 2 Ohms (CRITICAL when loads of 2
Ohms are used) for full power with these low load settings.
To the right of the air intake vent are the EFFECTS LOOP and DIRECT OUTPUT sections. The DIRECT OUTPUT consists of a
standard 3 pin male XLR jack and a ground lift for the circuit to chassis ground connection. Leave the switch set to GROUND (switch
down - circuit grounded) unless you experience hum when connecting to a live sound board or studio recording console in which case
try the LIFT position to eliminate the hum caused by the two different references to ground.
The EFFECTS LOOP is in series with the main signal and can be bypassed with the switch located above the SEND jack. The
TUNER OUT jack will feed a signal to your outboard tuner and you can use the Front Panel PULL MUTE feature located on the
MASTER control to mute the signal for silent tuning. The MUTE can also be remote triggered by connecting a grounding footswitch
to the Rear Panel FUNCTION SWITCH labeled MUTE.
That wraps up our Overview of the controls and features of the M6 CARBINE and now we’re ready to look at the controls and their
individual roles in creating the sounds you hear in your head. Once again, thank you for choosing Mesa and most of all Enjoy!
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