MDBass
Supporting Member
- Nov 7, 2012
- 8,590
- 14,890
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Dingwall-Fender-Bergantino-Dunlop-Tech 21-Darkglass-Nordstrand
Might be my favorite amp ever as well: I’ll know for sure in another few weeks 
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Bergantino Forte HP
- Thread starter dave hope
- Start date
Can't wait to try a Forte HP at NAMM 2020! I'm bringing my jazz to get some quality head demo time!
- Sep 3, 2006
- 4,358
- 6,117
- Disclosures
- Authorized dealer for Dingwall, Genzler, Phil Jones Bass, Cort, Traynor, Yorkville Sound
I might suggest that headroom is not the main reason to consider. Note heft may be a reason for bumping up to this 1200 watt module, but the adjustable HPF/LPF, the drive with easily downloaded updated circuits being released often (“tube screamer”, “B15”, Fuzz etc.) and a compressor that can make a die hard bass compressor-hater change their mind (I am speaking of me); these are reasons to consider.
Michael, I hear you on the compressor and I was the same way but this parallel compressor is more like a note thickener rather than that super squasher you and I never got along with. Glad you’re digging it, too.
- Sep 3, 2006
- 4,358
- 6,117
- Disclosures
- Authorized dealer for Dingwall, Genzler, Phil Jones Bass, Cort, Traynor, Yorkville Sound
Yeah, even though I have always utilized compressors for FOH soundman equipment, I have been adamant about how any I have tried screws up the dynamics SO much for stage bass. The one on the Forte HP is the very first I have liked with bass.
- Sep 3, 2006
- 4,358
- 6,117
- Disclosures
- Authorized dealer for Dingwall, Genzler, Phil Jones Bass, Cort, Traynor, Yorkville Sound
I have a question about the Bergantino Forte HP. Are they good amp to match with other non berg cabs? I had own in the past amps that were made to match the company cabs and so they weren’t that good with other cabs. Is the HP that good that provides good sound with any cab? I am in the look for a new amp to match my Acme low B2 series III.
- Apr 3, 2003
- 35,515
- 19,943
- Disclosures
- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
After six months of deliberating I finally pushed the button, paid the customs duty to release it today so should be in my hands in the next 48 hours.
I’m recently returning to playing after a couple years of health issues, and buying new gear for the first time in a decade. The HP is mind bogglingly good. A quantum leap. I found 4 NXT 112s to be my preferred pairing, even at low volumes. Expected to like the PJB stuff more based on YouTube clips. Glad I got the Forté, Forté HP and PJB pb800 to audition simultaneously, and 9 speaker cabs. My house was a mess. Worth it.
I know the OP was about a year ago, but this dials in a great old school tone as he says (Want you back is a favorite track to just play for fun) but it covers modern slap tones and aggressive modern rock and some metal tones all right out of the box. It seems there’s nothing this thing can’t do.
I know the OP was about a year ago, but this dials in a great old school tone as he says (Want you back is a favorite track to just play for fun) but it covers modern slap tones and aggressive modern rock and some metal tones all right out of the box. It seems there’s nothing this thing can’t do.
My Forte HP was just delivered, so I feel compelled to provide some very early observations - bearing in mind I won't be playing it in a band situation until the weekend. I also own a Mesa 800+, but won't pass any judgement on which is "better". Initial reaction on plugging the Forte into a Barefaced Big Baby 2 was that the Mesa is warmer and smoother (as I rather expected), but the Forte HP has massive weight and depth behind it and is louder into the 8 ohms Big Baby (again as expected, given the power difference). There are no winners or losers here, both great heads and I will be keeping both at this point.
Five minutes playing around with the controls on the Forte was enough to figure out its versatility, and at this very early point it seems the tone controls will be staying pretty much flat (12 o'clock) with the Big Baby, although I can see the HiMid getting dialled back occasionally if the speaker warrants it. This amp really does seem to suit the Big Baby, which gobbles up the 600 watts available into 8 ohms and sounds the best I have heard it. The low end weight leans towards that smiley face 70s tube amp sound which I quite enjoy when alone, although no doubt will need some tweaking with the band. Huge pluses to me are the high and low pass filters, they really do work well in a natural and intuitive way and are incredibly quick and easy to use in a way that I have not struck before. Similarly, the compressor and drive controls combine nicely to dial in a lovely tube-like tone, with punch the icing on the cake if needed. I briefly tried it with a Barefaced Two 10 but the tone initially did not quite shine like it did with the Big Baby, no doubt because the Two 10 does not have a tweeter which really demonstrates the detail available with the HP. I am sure that if I spend a little time tweaking it I can match it up beautifully with that cab too.
There are some sample settings on the Bergantino site, but many of them do not have all the knob positions filled in which is a bit disappointing. Nevertheless, the amp is pretty easy to get your head around so no worries.
I have been taking an Aguilar DB751 to most gigs recently, suffice to say that I think the Forte HP can take its place and still provide that huge depth and punch for which the Aggie is renowned.
So that is that. A few initial reactions after only an hour of owning the head. I am suitably happy and impressed, but of course there will be a learning curve and the true test in a gigging situation is yet to come. Anyway, thanks very much Jim Bergantino, you have made my day.
EDIT: Just spent a little more time with the Two 10s and simple fix of turning off the punch and up the bright made all the difference - another perfect fit.
Five minutes playing around with the controls on the Forte was enough to figure out its versatility, and at this very early point it seems the tone controls will be staying pretty much flat (12 o'clock) with the Big Baby, although I can see the HiMid getting dialled back occasionally if the speaker warrants it. This amp really does seem to suit the Big Baby, which gobbles up the 600 watts available into 8 ohms and sounds the best I have heard it. The low end weight leans towards that smiley face 70s tube amp sound which I quite enjoy when alone, although no doubt will need some tweaking with the band. Huge pluses to me are the high and low pass filters, they really do work well in a natural and intuitive way and are incredibly quick and easy to use in a way that I have not struck before. Similarly, the compressor and drive controls combine nicely to dial in a lovely tube-like tone, with punch the icing on the cake if needed. I briefly tried it with a Barefaced Two 10 but the tone initially did not quite shine like it did with the Big Baby, no doubt because the Two 10 does not have a tweeter which really demonstrates the detail available with the HP. I am sure that if I spend a little time tweaking it I can match it up beautifully with that cab too.
There are some sample settings on the Bergantino site, but many of them do not have all the knob positions filled in which is a bit disappointing. Nevertheless, the amp is pretty easy to get your head around so no worries.
I have been taking an Aguilar DB751 to most gigs recently, suffice to say that I think the Forte HP can take its place and still provide that huge depth and punch for which the Aggie is renowned.
So that is that. A few initial reactions after only an hour of owning the head. I am suitably happy and impressed, but of course there will be a learning curve and the true test in a gigging situation is yet to come. Anyway, thanks very much Jim Bergantino, you have made my day.
EDIT: Just spent a little more time with the Two 10s and simple fix of turning off the punch and up the bright made all the difference - another perfect fit.
Last edited:
Questions for @husky123 and/or @Jim Bergantino regarding drive firmware on Forte HP as demonstrated by Andy Irvine in this video:
He demonstrates a "Fat Tube" drive release, stating that it is capable of "being used to toggle between 2 drive functions." He mentions "original fuzz" as one of the tones, and "Fat Tube" as the other.
2 topic questions. 1st question: what are the 2 tones he is comparing as defined on the Bergantino firmware page: Forté HP Available Firmware Options? For example, there are 2 BFTs referenced and 2 fuzzes. Which are used in the video?
2nd topic questions: Are 2 drive tones available to download to the amp for onboard/storage use? If so, is 2 the max at a given time? Related to this, How does one "toggle" between the drive tones? Finally, are there soundcloud clips to preview drive tones? Or, is the only way to hear these from downloading them to the amp for direct comparison?
Please advise. Thanks!
He demonstrates a "Fat Tube" drive release, stating that it is capable of "being used to toggle between 2 drive functions." He mentions "original fuzz" as one of the tones, and "Fat Tube" as the other.
2 topic questions. 1st question: what are the 2 tones he is comparing as defined on the Bergantino firmware page: Forté HP Available Firmware Options? For example, there are 2 BFTs referenced and 2 fuzzes. Which are used in the video?
2nd topic questions: Are 2 drive tones available to download to the amp for onboard/storage use? If so, is 2 the max at a given time? Related to this, How does one "toggle" between the drive tones? Finally, are there soundcloud clips to preview drive tones? Or, is the only way to hear these from downloading them to the amp for direct comparison?
Please advise. Thanks!
Jim Bergantino
Commercial User
The firmware Andy is using in the video is basically the BFT_VFuzz firmware, possibly with some minor tweaks if at all.
If you notice, we've added a bunch of firmware updates on our website which can be loaded into the HP. Each firmware update comes with a dedicated pair of drive circuits, the primary and secondary one. The amp always powers up with the primary drive selected regardless of whether or not the drive itself is engaged. So upon power up, if the drive is not engaged and then you engage it, it will turn on the primary drive circuit. To select or toggle to the secondary drive circuit, you would need to just press and hold the engage button on the amp or foot switch for 3 seconds and it will toggle the drive selection from primary to secondary, or if you're already using the secondary drive circuit, it will toggle you back to the primary. You can toggle between the 2 drive circuits even when the drive system itself is not engaged (orange LED off). So if you're running the amp clean and you want to switch into the other drive circuit which is not loaded, you can do so before turning the drive circuit on, avoiding having to go from one drive circuit to the other in real time. If you disengage the drive, it will return to the clean signal and if you re-engage the drive, it will turn on the last selected drive circuit.
As mentioned, there are various combinations of drive circuits available with the firmware updates. You can only load one combination at a time into the amp. You can test them all out and determine which one you prefer and then reload it into the amp. You are "limited" to the 2 drive circuits on that particular firmware update. You can not mix and match one drive circuit from one firmware update with another drive circuit from a second firmware update. Although given the amount and combinations we've provided, I would hardly call that limited, thus the " ".
You can always go back and forth between each firmware update based on personal preference or gigging requirements. In fact I've heard of some players bringing multiple thumb drives to a gig to load in various drive circuits as needed. The whole process should take no more than 15 seconds once the firmware update is properly formatted on that particular thumb drive.
Hope this answers your questions. Also stay tuned as we have a few more cool combinations we will be adding soon to the mix!
Last edited:
Ok, I think I understand. The paired combinations are described in the list of 15 choices below the general descriptions. Pick 1 of the 15 pairs for download/use at a time. Is this correct? Also, thank you for your detailed answer! Much appreciated
Jim Bergantino
Commercial User
That is correct. Glad it helped!
So easy to change the different options. I just trialled the bft and the blend with vintage fuzz. The modern fuzz now is starting to tempt me so think I will just get some more usbs and download the lot. This amp is versatility plus once you start using all its options.
