I was thinking about buying a Mesa TT-800, but someone recommended Bergantino. I have never heard one of these amps in person, and I really dont know anything about the company. Can anyone fill me in? Which Bass amp, between the Forte D-800 or TT-800 do you recommend and why?
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Bergantino vs Mesa Boogie Bass Amps
- Thread starter RockinAl
- Start date
Both are great amps and it just depends on what you want.
The Berg is a very uncolored sounding amp, basically what you put in is what comes out. It’s great if you use pedals to shape your tone.
The Mesa TT has two preamps built in. One is the Subway preamp and the other is meant to emulate the Mesa 400+ tube amp. It gives you lots of options for tone shaping but neither preamp is really a flat sounding preamp.
The Berg is a very uncolored sounding amp, basically what you put in is what comes out. It’s great if you use pedals to shape your tone.
The Mesa TT has two preamps built in. One is the Subway preamp and the other is meant to emulate the Mesa 400+ tube amp. It gives you lots of options for tone shaping but neither preamp is really a flat sounding preamp.
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I am not sure there is such a thing as an "uncolored" amp and I was under the impression the Berg has very powerful software which is upgradable. To me, this has suggested a powerful degree of tone shaping variations. And....I had been under the impression that the Subway Channel on the TT-800 is the clean ("uncolored") channel. Personally, I think we ought to use the term "clean" for both, and not "uncolored."
Both amps have top-notch reputations. I don't have a Forte but my Berg 212 cabinet is just amazing. Top quality in every way. Construction, design, function, aesthetics. Mr. Bergantino totally knows what he is doing, and the Forte amps get very strong universal praise.
I recently bought the Mesa WD-800 because I love my Walkabout and wanted the additional power and features. I expected to be impressed. I am more impressed than I expected to be.
There truly is not a bad choice here. These two manufacturers have only one another as competition, in my humble opinion. The gear they make is the best on the market. In my view.
Both amps have top-notch reputations. I don't have a Forte but my Berg 212 cabinet is just amazing. Top quality in every way. Construction, design, function, aesthetics. Mr. Bergantino totally knows what he is doing, and the Forte amps get very strong universal praise.
I recently bought the Mesa WD-800 because I love my Walkabout and wanted the additional power and features. I expected to be impressed. I am more impressed than I expected to be.
There truly is not a bad choice here. These two manufacturers have only one another as competition, in my humble opinion. The gear they make is the best on the market. In my view.
Both solid amps with solid advice from previous responses. I own the D800 and my buddy owned the Forte, and we both like each amp, but I’ll cast my vote for the Mesa gear all day.
Both brands are top tier. I own a B Amp and a Mesa TT. What has been said above is correct. If I need pedals the Bergie, if I want an amp with lots of adjustments, the Mesa, although the B Amp has way more actual adjustments. I do use the Bergie with a Bergie 2x12 cab and it seems to sound better, to my ears, than the Bergie paired with other cab brands (no real surprise). I have had the Bergie for several years. The Mesa for 18 months and usually use it with a Greenboy 15/6/1.
@RockinAl - What are you looking for in terms of tone, responsiveness, etc? You’ll get opinions here, but the context for how everyone is using their amp varies.
I own a Subway D-800+ and the Forte HP, but I’ve owned all three of the Subway heads (D-800, WD, and TT). Depending on what you’re looking for in an amp, it may be worth looking at the whole Mesa lineup. I think the D-800 hits harder and is quicker than the other 2 Subway heads. But that’s what I’m looking for with my band/style.
I own a Subway D-800+ and the Forte HP, but I’ve owned all three of the Subway heads (D-800, WD, and TT). Depending on what you’re looking for in an amp, it may be worth looking at the whole Mesa lineup. I think the D-800 hits harder and is quicker than the other 2 Subway heads. But that’s what I’m looking for with my band/style.
I absolutely love my Subway D-800+! I was looking for a non tube solution for gigs and I couldn't be happier with this head. I get a lot of use from the HP filter and character knobs and the price was right. I am sure the Bergantino is a great amp, but the price of the Mesa was too hard to pass up for me.
I don't know about the Berg (I'm too lazy to look it up.) but the Mesa D800 can do 2 ohm which I think is pretty nice (I have 2, 4 ohm cabs).
I've never heard or tried either amps. As already stated, they both are outstanding!
I've never heard or tried either amps. As already stated, they both are outstanding!
The Forte D does not have a software interface, that's the B/Amp. The Forte D has a basic m/b/t EQ setup.
And the Subway channel of the TT is definitely not a 'clean, uncolored' preamp. It's got a thick, juicy sound that can get dirty with the gain control.
The Forte does 2 ohm as well, which was one of the main things that made it hard for me to choose which amp to keep. In the end I kept the Mesa D800+ because of the high pass filter and voicing control. If I had kept the Berg, even though I loved it, I would have had to take a pedalboard with me no matter what. With the Mesa I can get by without pedals if I have to.
Great problem to have. Both fantastic amps.
MDBass
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- Nov 7, 2012
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No personal experience with the Mesa, but the Forté D is a fantastic amp and sounds like this:
Can't go wrong with either. The TT-800 seems like it could do just about anything anyone would ever need. Never owned one though. Owned the 800+ and didn't care for the tone. Currently own a Bergantino Forte HP and I've not been happier. Great amp. But once again, both great companies with excellent products.
Both companies make wonderful stuff . I picked up a couple of Berg cabs and was blown away , so I bought a Forte . I’m a believer .
That said , Mesa also make excellent gear .
That said , Mesa also make excellent gear .
Would love to try Mesa amps, but they're hard to find here.
BAmp Bergantino works very well for me
BAmp Bergantino works very well for me
Two excellent product lines, two excellent designers, and lots of variations - especially Mesa.
Aside from the Forte HP, they all use the same power section; but, the similarities end there.
I have gigged the B|Amp and the TT800. Those are probably the two most dissimilar. The B|Amp, as previously posted, pretty much amplifies exactly what you put into it. Exactly. One of the most surgically precise amps I’ve ever gigged. The TT800, OTOH, has a personality somewhere in the Mesa 400 / Alembic F1X / Demeter VTBP space, depending on how it gets used. My impression is that the other Mesa amps fall somewhat in between; perhaps somewhat closer to the B|Amp, but with character. That’s about the best I can do.
I’m still sorting out cab / amp pairings. ATM I’m most impressed with the Demeter amp driving the Subway 12’s, and the Mesa amp driving my Bergantino cabs. I mean, you can really get into some unexpected territory, when you start trying different combinations. One flavor of great vs another flavor of great.
Experience rules. Hard to come to any conclusions on TB.
Aside from the Forte HP, they all use the same power section; but, the similarities end there.
I have gigged the B|Amp and the TT800. Those are probably the two most dissimilar. The B|Amp, as previously posted, pretty much amplifies exactly what you put into it. Exactly. One of the most surgically precise amps I’ve ever gigged. The TT800, OTOH, has a personality somewhere in the Mesa 400 / Alembic F1X / Demeter VTBP space, depending on how it gets used. My impression is that the other Mesa amps fall somewhat in between; perhaps somewhat closer to the B|Amp, but with character. That’s about the best I can do.
I’m still sorting out cab / amp pairings. ATM I’m most impressed with the Demeter amp driving the Subway 12’s, and the Mesa amp driving my Bergantino cabs. I mean, you can really get into some unexpected territory, when you start trying different combinations. One flavor of great vs another flavor of great.
Experience rules. Hard to come to any conclusions on TB.
I A/B’d the Berg and the Mesa amps and cabs when I bought my rig. Both are amazing. As others have noted, with things set flat the Mesa amps/cabs have a more obviously voiced sound and the Berg gear is more neutral. The Mesa D800+ through a pair of Subway 15’s is an absolute treat. In the end I tend to want a neutral/“accurate” sound and went with the B|Amp + HDN210 and it’s been fantastic. I think I would’ve been equally happy with the Mesa rig, too. Excellent customer support from both as well. You can’t go wrong with either.
I seem to remember another thread not long ago with this exact topic. I have a D800+ which is my main amp, and a while back I had a Forte to check out for a few days. In A/B-ing them my preference was easily for the D800+ - it just sounded fatter, richer and bigger to my ears, much closer to my ideal of a bass amp. That is totally a matter of personal taste, and i can see how others would like the Forte, especially if your taste skews toward modern, hi-fi with a bit of top end sheen.
