Have Darkglass M900 - Upgrading to Aguilar DB751 or Mesa M9 Carbine?

zwish

zwish

Nov 3, 2009
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#1
I've been gigging with my Darkglass Microtubes 900 and 2 x Dietz 1x15 cabs for the past 6 months or so now and I think I'm looking for something with a bit more warmth and punch. I play a P Bass with Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounders and tend to go for a brighter, grindy bass tone with a bit of gain behind it. I was thinking an SVT would be the obvious choice but I'm really not looking to lug 85 lbs around. The Darkglass can sound really cool, but I feel like if the Microtubes engine is not engaged, the amp sounds very sterile. Curious if anyone has any opinions between these 3 amps with that grindy p bass tone in mind.

Amps I've been looking at:

• Aguilar DB751
• Mesa M6 or M9 Carbine
• Fender Super Bassman 300

I'd probably pair the amp with an Aguilar Agro or Darkglass B7k if the amp was pretty clean on its own. I haven't been able to find too many examples on the DB751 where people are playing it in a style that seems similar to what I go for. Digging the sounds here though:

 
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#3
Never played a 751, but I used to have (and miss) an M9. There is no grit to be had from a Carbine; IMHE it's a warm, big, deep, clean slammin' machine. With an M9 you'd need a pedal if you want what the vid above shows.
 
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#4
I own the Carbines (M3, 6 and 9) and have played the DB751. I think the big Aguilar is warmer than the Carbine. The Carbines have a decidedly rock edge and are quite aggressive.

None of these amps will ever feel short on raw power IME. I think the Aguilar may be a bit better for that old school tube type grind, whereas the Carbines slice through a mix with a very modern voicing to my ear. The Carbines also have low end that requires judicious use of EQ and benefits significantly from a HPF.

If convenient weight/size are high on your list, the Class D offerings from these manufacturers (and others) could be a great option. I find myself taking out my class D heads (Mesa, GK and Aguilar) more than the heavy iron these days.
 
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#6
Al Kraft said:
I own the Carbines (M3, 6 and 9) and have played the DB751. I think the big Aguilar is warmer than the Carbine. The Carbines have a decidedly rock edge and are quite aggressive.

None of these amps will ever feel short on raw power IME. I think the Aguilar may be a bit better for that old school tube type grind, whereas the Carbines slice through a mix with a very modern voicing to my ear. The Carbines also have low end that requires judicious use of EQ and benefits significantly from a HPF.

If convenient weight/size are high on your list, the Class D offerings from these manufacturers (and others) could be a great option. I find myself taking out my class D heads (Mesa, GK and Aguilar) more than the heavy iron these days.
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Thanks a bunch for the reply! My only experience with Class D amps has been the Darkglass Microtubes 900 which I'm finding to be a bit sterile. I don't know if that's a common trait amongst other Class D amps (I'm sure that's a can of worms right there). That's what has me looking at Class AB and Tube amps. I recall playing an M6 Carbine a few years ago and really digging it, but I didn't have the opportunity to try any drive pedals in front of it. I've never tried the Aguilar, just heard great things and have heard multiple people say it's like an "SVT on steroids" which sounds right up my alley.
 
#8
zwish said:
Thanks a bunch for the reply! My only experience with Class D amps has been the Darkglass Microtubes 900 which I'm finding to be a bit sterile. I don't know if that's a common trait amongst other Class D amps (I'm sure that's a can of worms right there). That's what has me looking at Class AB and Tube amps. I recall playing an M6 Carbine a few years ago and really digging it, but I didn't have the opportunity to try any drive pedals in front of it. I've never tried the Aguilar, just heard great things and have heard multiple people say it's like an "SVT on steroids" which sounds right up my alley.
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You may be surprised at the new Mesa D-800+ and the two offerings from Aguilar (TH500 and brand new AG700). I was quickly addicted to the Carbine tone and power. I'm not a huge effect user, but I can tell you the heads sound great with a VT Bass V2, BDDI, Aguilar TH pedal, etc. in front.
 
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#9
My thoughts (after encountering all 3 of those as backline). Being that the Bassman 300 is ALL tube pre/power and an the other 2 are hybrid (tube/ss power), the Bassman has the biggest sonic footprint on your tone of the 3. It responds like a tube amp, but certainly is the warmest of the 3.
On the opposite side, the 751 I love. Still super warm, 2x AX7 on input/EQ, but fast response from the ss power section. Very versatile which is why so many people love that thing. They would be incorrect to call it an SVT on steroids, though. Nothing alike, nor is it trying to be, it's a hybrid amp with totally different pre and EQ.
If an SVT is what you're after, the closest of those 3 is the Bassman (hence the "300", that wattage was chosen to match an SVT).

Honestly, I owned an M6 and it didn't work for me. Had to EQ the crap out of it to get what I wanted, then it had circuit board issues. The 751, I just plug in and it sounds great.
 
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#10
If the tone you want is in that video with the Aguilar 751 then I'd go that route or the Tone Hammer 500 if you want a smaller / lighter cheaper option.

The Mesa Carbine series does sound great, I've used several times and have an older Mesa M-2000 which has been super reliable as every Mesa amp I've ever owned has been, you can't go wrong with that. The Subway line gets great reviews here and sounds great in every video / sound clip IBE heard if you want a class D option.

If possible I'd try to check out with your bass / pedal combo as that can make a big difference if the bass and/ or pickups has a significantly Different sound that what was in the video you posted.

I think that was a great tone btw.
 
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#12
zwish said:
My only experience with Class D amps has been the Darkglass Microtubes 900 which I'm finding to be a bit sterile.
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I too found the Class D amps a bit sterile. This was several years back when the Markbass stuff started to get big. I tried a bunch of them, switched back and gigged with an M6 for years. Agree with the Iomo's comment above, there's no grit in the M6 sound. It's clean and powerful.

Just wanted you to know that I'm using the Mesa Subway D-800 right now and it's different than the other Class D amps I've played. It's way warmer and I'm loving it through a Berg 4x10. If the light weight of Class D appeals, you may want to try one out with a pedal for the grind you need.
 
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#14
Before I went to all the expense I think I'd try an overdrive pedal. I use a SansAmp BDDI and just adding a touch of DRIVE and RESONANCE really changes the entire character of my pf500. You can get pretty much the same pedal in a plastic case from Behringer for $29 bucks or $200 bucks in a metal case from SansAmp.
 
#15
I owned an Microtubes 900 for a week and then returned it for the same reason - way too sterile sounding without the dirt engaged. Give the new Mesa D-800/800+ a try - it is definitely not a sterile sounding amp and will be my next amp when I get around to buying one. You will still need a overdrive / distortion pedal for any serious dirt. If you have high-output basses, the D-800 can get dirty (with my passive Fenders it just added a little dirt with the gain dimed).

As others have mentioned, the Aguilar TH series are great heads with good dirt. However, I found the voicing of the D-800 to be better.
 
#16
Ikonoklast said:


What about a V4B ?
It wont do really loud and clean.
It will do loud and grindy
Might be worth checking out
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The V4B was top of my list, but I read a bunch of info about people saying they weren't loud enough with loud bands. I haven't had the opportunity to try one for myself yet, so who knows if that would be true in my situation. I'm playing in a pretty loud band that is in the same camp as bands like: Kvelertak, Failure, Torche, Quicksand, Deftones. I would want to make sure the V4B could hang with two 100W guitar amps. Most of the time we have PA support, but I hate feeling like I don't have any juice left under the hood if I need it.
 
#17
I had an M6, if you really want "brighter, grindy bass tone with a bit of gain behind it." then you do not want the M6. It was loud as can be, but had a very dry, clean neutral tone, very much its own as I cant compare it to any other amp, and I've been playing 38+/- years so I have played them all.
I play through a pair of GK MB Fusion 800s, they will get you what you want. Really anything GK will.
 
#18
bass40hz said:
I had an M6, if you really want "brighter, grindy bass tone with a bit of gain behind it." then you do not want the M6. It was loud as can be, but had a very dry, clean neutral tone, very much its own as I cant compare it to any other amp, and I've been playing 38+/- years so I have played them all.
I play through a pair of GK MB Fusion 800s, they will get you what you want. Really anything GK will.
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You don't think a Carbine would work even with an overdrive pedal in front of it?
 
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#19
zwish said:
You don't think a Carbine would work even with an overdrive pedal in front of it?
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Anything would work with an OD in front of it, a Carbine is big bucks...Get a TC BH800 and load up the tone print slots with different ODs, GKs inherently GROWL, put an OD in front and it could get as crazy as you want...I'm just saying...its your money ;-)
 
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