Best Bergantino Amp?

Alevandet

Alevandet

Mar 12, 2020
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#1
Currently looking to upgrade my audio rig and I am happy to afford something that will last me a long time.

I've heard great things about Bergantino, especially their Forte amps, but to those who have used them, which Berg head would be best for an overall versatile tone?

For reference, I play a Warwick Thumb NT. I gig but I don't play in arenas or large concerts, mainly backyard shows, bars, and small venues.

I am looking for something that can let the Warwick express itself and let it get loud with great clarity!

Thanks!
 
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#3
Pep said:
I’d say the Forte HP or HP2. I know you said you play just small gigs but there’s nothing wrong with having power for some headroom.
Most versatile amp I’ve ever owned.
Click to expand...

Got it. I was thinking of the Forte HP2, but it's 1200w. Do you think it's still recommended to have that amount of power?
 
#5
I have been using my Forte HP for about two years now. I normally play through a Gallien Krueger 2x12 neo cabinet, but also have a second GK neo cab for large-scale outdoor gigs. Even for the largest of events and festivals (where we typically play in front of 800 or so people), I've never once had to turn the volume up past 30%.

The Forte HP uses a fairy common 1200 watt ICE module. This is a nice feature as it makes repairs simple and relatively cheap should anything go wrong. That being said, I've never had a single issue with my Bergantino. My band averages over 125 gigs a year and the Forte HP has been rock solid despite the pounding it takes. I bought the mounting ears and placed my head in a rack, BTW. This arrangement turned out to be good and bad. The head is protected and looks fantastic in the rack, but the on/off switch is on the back of the head. I hated reaching deep into the rack to switch off my amp, so I mounted a power strip inside the rack near the back cover. Now it's easy as pie to turn everything in my rack on and off.

With regard to tones, I am SUPER anal about the sound I get from my amp. The Forte HP gives me a very very wide array of sounds/tones... much more than I was getting with my earlier heads (GK 1001RB and an Aguilar AG-700). I also have the wireless footswitch, though I've never once had a need to use it. If there is one thing I like most about my Forte HP, it is the amount of "punch" it puts out. My notes seem to hit with a ton of attack. I cannot count the number of times random bassists in the crowd have come up to say they love my sound.

I play a variety of styles and demand a lot out of my rig. It took me years and years to find an amp that enabled me to get the sounds I needed and do so in a variety of venues each with different acoustics. My Bergantino handles it all with ease. If my amp was run over by a steamroller or stolen by some meth-head idiot, I'd definitely buy another. No doubt about it.
 
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#6
Whale said:
I have been using my Forte HP for about two years now. I normally play through a Gallien Krueger 2x12 neo cabinet, but also have a second GK neo cab for large-scale outdoor gigs. Even for the largest of events and festivals (where we typically play in front of 800 or so people), I've never once had to turn the volume up past 30%.

The Forte HP uses a fairy common 1200 watt ICE module. This is a nice feature as it makes repairs simple and relatively cheap should anything go wrong. That being said, I've never had a single issue with my Bergantino. My band averages over 125 gigs a year and the Forte HP has been rock solid despite the pounding it takes. I bought the mounting ears and placed my head in a rack, BTW. This arrangement turned out to be good and bad. The head is protected and looks fantastic in the rack, but the on/off switch is on the back of the head. I hated reaching deep into the rack to switch off my amp, so I mounted a power strip inside the rack near the back cover. Now it's easy as pie to turn everything in my rack on and off.

With regard to tones, I am SUPER anal about the sound I get from my amp. The Forte HP gives me a very very wide array of sounds/tones... much more than I was getting with my earlier heads (GK 1001RB and an Aguilar AG-700). I also have the wireless footswitch, though I've never once had a need to use it. If there is one thing I like most about my Forte HP, it is the amount of "punch" it puts out. My notes seem to hit with a ton of attack. I cannot count the number of times random bassists in the crowd have come up to say they love my sound.

I play a variety of styles and demand a lot out of my rig. It took me years and years to find an amp that enabled me to get the sounds I needed and do so in a variety of venues each with different acoustics. My Bergantino handles it all with ease. If my amp was run over by a steamroller or stolen by some meth-head idiot, I'd definitely buy another. No doubt about it.
Click to expand...
I’m dealing with the same issue with my amp being mounted in a rack.
My solution is I stack amp rack on my earbud rack which has a power conditioner in it so I have a power cable plugged into. When I stack the amp rack the the other end of the power cable goes to the Bergantino. I leave the amp on and muted when I pack it up. When I use it I simply use the power conditioner switch as my on/off switch.
 
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#9
with berg there seem to be no bad choices.

in a chat with a liscenced amp repair shop owner recently, he was talking negatively about many of the current offerings. cheap components, difficult to repair, failing all the time, crappy customer service, whatever.

when i asked what he'd use if he were a bass player, he spoke at length about bergantino and how good their stuff is. almost made me order one.
 
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#10
groooooove said:
with berg there seem to be no bad choices.

in a chat with a liscenced amp repair shop owner recently, he was talking negatively about many of the current offerings. cheap components, difficult to repair, failing all the time, crappy customer service, whatever.

when i asked what he'd use if he were a bass player, he spoke at length about bergantino and how good their stuff is. almost made me order one.
Click to expand...

Almost??? ;)
 
#11
Bite the bullet, you’ll be glad you did.

I was tired of playing with other stuff.

The Berg was something that finally cured my GAS.

Both heads are long term keepers:

IMG_4049.jpeg
 
#12
I could not be happier with my Forte HP. My band plays an average of 90 events a year plus I’m sitting as a hired gun of sorts for multiple groups. That’s a ton of playing time and yet my Bergantino has been rock solid throughout. I’m constantly amazed at how good it sounds with all of my basses. It makes each one that much better.

If my Forte HP was stolen, I would definitely buy another!
 
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#13
Whale said:
I could not be happier with my Forte HP. My band plays an average of 90 events a year plus I’m sitting as a hired gun of sorts for multiple groups. That’s a ton of playing time and yet my Bergantino has been rock solid throughout. I’m constantly amazed at how good it sounds with all of my basses. It makes each one that much better.

If my Forte HP was stolen, I would definitely buy another!
Click to expand...

I don't play nearly that much but feel the same about the HP2. This is the most phenomenal map I've ever owned and I've been around quite a long time. It's worth every penny. My backup amps are Mesa Subway WD800 and a TC Electronics RH750. I'm thinking about selling them both and getting another HP2.
.
 
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