Bergantino B|Amp-Power and Versatility (and cost-efficiency!)

[Juan Lauda]

I'd be very interested in your opinion on how the B|Amp compares to the Glock Steamhammer, if possible!

First off, I thought they both sounded wonderful. Both have loads of headroom and wonderful tone shaping options, with the Steamhammer's being more immediately accessible on the front panel. The Steamhammer's build quality is impeccable and I feel its metal knobs would last better in the long term than the Berg's plastic ones. Time will tell, and it's not as if I'm going to be thrashing it around on the road.

I liked the voicing of the Glock, but felt that the B|Amp was slightly more transparent and somehow more responsive. Hard to put into words. Aesthetically, I'm not a fan of the Glockenklang use of typefaces on their amps... that chalk script doesn't do it any favors.

Ultimately it was the flexibility of the Berg that won me over, together with the cab profiles. The VRC compressor model is unobtrusive and very good. Paired with my CN212 when we engaged the profile everything gelled beautifully: in both my active and passive Sandbergs I heard timbres in the notes that I'd previously only heard through my Phil Jones Bass Bighead headphone amp, through good cans. Very happy with this.

 

[Juan Lauda]

It's like looking at a picture and discussing the quality of the carbon used in the pencil lead instead of focusing on the accuracy of the drawing itself.

Good analogy. I try to describe it to him in terms of JPEG image compression: image sampling and compression modes are light years better than they were a decade ago, and even an average modern digital camera can capture more information than was contained in a 35mm transparency.

 

[Admiral Akbar]

Just purchased a B Amp 2 weeks ago and have used on rehearsals and gigs. Thing sounds great, with the EQ pretty much flat. I've been using it with hd112 and hd210 cabs.

It's my bass only louder. Very transparent. I used it with a LAkland, MTD, and a Smith BSR6. Can't wait to use it on my Pbass gig next weekend.

 

[bucephylus]

+1

Jim keeps adding all these really cool effects and features. But, I just turn the thing on flat; and, bam, there is the sound I'm looking for. It almost takes all the fun out of it. Almost.