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Bergantino with GK cabs?
- Thread starter Purdyoldude
- Start date
The Forte will be fine with your existing cabs. But I suspect the Beg cabs will sound better with the Forte.
I bought the cabs first , and was so impressed with the cabs I bought the Forte.
I bought the cabs first , and was so impressed with the cabs I bought the Forte.
Thanks. That’s kinda my thinking also. I’m weaning myself off of my wonderful but too-heavy Sunn 200s w/ 2-15 JBL cab, which is a hard act to follow, at least imo. And I also have an Ampeg B-18 which I love, but it’s also getting too heavy for this 71-year-old to lug around anymore. My GK rig is light and very powerful, but I’m missing the tube warmth, which I am told the Bergantino does an outstanding job of emulating.
I agree with msb in post #4 above. I did the same thing. I bought a Berg HG410 first, played it with a variety of heads and then bought the Forte. Bingo! They're a matched set. Each is best when played with a Berg counterpart.
Koog
Koog
I haven't tried any of Berg's newer heads, but they seem to have a really good reputation. I'm sure I'll eventually sample one or another if I get a chance.
I do have a GK MB 500 and I play it through a pair of 2x10 cabs. This setup is plenty loud for me, even outdoors without PA support for my sound, but I agree that it isn't particularly warm sounding on its own. I get a little more warmth and maybe "smoothness" from a Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0, but this head isn't quite as eager go as loud as the GK.
To get a little more of that cozy warmth in my sound when using the GK, I dug out my old rack preamp; an Ampeg SVP-BSP (Billy Sheehan model). Only one tube in there, but its clean channel has a very nice personality that's warm and fat. The first time I added the preamp to my rig for a show, everybody noticed more fullness in my sound (and loved it
), so I've used the preamp in front of the GK a few more times since then.This is only one example that could potentially bring more of what you want to your sound without needing to buy a Bergantino, but it would also add another component to your signal chain. A Berg would probably be a honey of a head, but one preamp or another wouldn't be tough to cart around and could sprinkle some tube warmth into the sound you're getting now without you needing to make a really big investment.
I haven't tried any of Berg's newer heads, but they seem to have a really good reputation. I'm sure I'll eventually sample one or another if I get a chance.
I do have a GK MB 500 and I play it through a pair of 2x10 cabs. This setup is plenty loud for me, even outdoors without PA support for my sound, but I agree that it isn't particularly warm sounding on its own. I get a little more warmth and maybe "smoothness" from a Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0, but this head isn't quite as eager go as loud as the GK.
To get a little more of that cozy warmth in my sound when using the GK, I dug out my old rack preamp; an Ampeg SVP-BSP (Billy Sheehan model). Only one tube in there, but its clean channel has a very nice personality that's warm and fat. The first time I added the preamp to my rig for a show, everybody noticed more fullness in my sound (and loved it
This is only one example that could potentially bring more of what you want to your sound without needing to buy a Bergantino, but it would also add another component to your signal chain. A Berg would probably be a honey of a head, but one preamp or another wouldn't be tough to cart around and could sprinkle some tube warmth into the sound you're getting now without you needing to make a really big investment.
Agreed, love Berg cabs, but sold the Forte because I found it too clean and dry. Warm it does not do (without pedal or preamp help), although I haven't heard the newer Forte "D" with overdrive which may warm it up to OP's liking.
I also have a GK head (1001RB), crazy loud but not warm and fat. But if I plug a tubey preamp into the effects return, like my Broughton Archetype, ohhhhh yeah.
So warm/fat comes from the pre rather than the power section, unless of course you're rocking a tube amp. If one is ok bringing an extra device, pre-of-choice + SS power amp + quality cabs (including GK CX's) will get it done.
I just picked up a simple Forte rather than the bigger Bergs , and fell in love with its modern hifi sound. And loved the simplicity of the Forte.
However , I recently picked up a Monique preamp , and have been getting that real old tube warmth , with some serious Class D slam behind it. Using the effect return and bypassing the Berg front end entirely.
Up until I got Monique I had been perfectly happy with the Forte. It seems there’s always something …
However , I recently picked up a Monique preamp , and have been getting that real old tube warmth , with some serious Class D slam behind it. Using the effect return and bypassing the Berg front end entirely.
Up until I got Monique I had been perfectly happy with the Forte. It seems there’s always something …
That’s excellent advice. Thank you very much. I’m going to explore that option.
I haven't tried any of Berg's newer heads, but they seem to have a really good reputation. I'm sure I'll eventually sample one or another if I get a chance.
I do have a GK MB 500 and I play it through a pair of 2x10 cabs. This setup is plenty loud for me, even outdoors without PA support for my sound, but I agree that it isn't particularly warm sounding on its own. I get a little more warmth and maybe "smoothness" from a Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0, but this head isn't quite as eager go as loud as the GK.
To get a little more of that cozy warmth in my sound when using the GK, I dug out my old rack preamp; an Ampeg SVP-BSP (Billy Sheehan model). Only one tube in there, but its clean channel has a very nice personality that's warm and fat. The first time I added the preamp to my rig for a show, everybody noticed more fullness in my sound (and loved it
This is only one example that could potentially bring more of what you want to your sound without needing to buy a Bergantino, but it would also add another component to your signal chain. A Berg would probably be a honey of a head, but one preamp or another wouldn't be tough to cart around and could sprinkle some tube warmth into the sound you're getting now without you needing to make a really big investment.
I have a B|amp and a GK MB800 amps. I have Berg CN212 and GK Neo 4x10 cabs. I find that each works best with manufacturers cab, no surprise there. The B|amp is too dry for the 4x10 and the GK is not at its best with the CN212. I have other amps/cabs and find the B|amp is not my first choice with other cabs while the GK seems to be more cab agnostic. The B|amp with CN212 is the cleanest amp/cab combo I have.
Topkat13, after the pandemic I can tell the difference in toilet paper effectiveness.
Topkat13, after the pandemic I can tell the difference in toilet paper effectiveness.
One thing I like about the Berg is the built-in pre-set compression. I don’t know a lot about compression or any effects for that matter, but I understand that it is a good thing.I haven't tried any of Berg's newer heads, but they seem to have a really good reputation. I'm sure I'll eventually sample one or another if I get a chance.
I do have a GK MB 500 and I play it through a pair of 2x10 cabs. This setup is plenty loud for me, even outdoors without PA support for my sound, but I agree that it isn't particularly warm sounding on its own. I get a little more warmth and maybe "smoothness" from a Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0, but this head isn't quite as eager go as loud as the GK.
To get a little more of that cozy warmth in my sound when using the GK, I dug out my old rack preamp; an Ampeg SVP-BSP (Billy Sheehan model). Only one tube in there, but its clean channel has a very nice personality that's warm and fat. The first time I added the preamp to my rig for a show, everybody noticed more fullness in my sound (and loved it
This is only one example that could potentially bring more of what you want to your sound without needing to buy a Bergantino, but it would also add another component to your signal chain. A Berg would probably be a honey of a head, but one preamp or another wouldn't be tough to cart around and could sprinkle some tube warmth into the sound you're getting now without you needing to make a really big investment.
Cool beans. I like the playing my GK with the limiter on top switched on, but I haven't experimented with going between on and off at higher gig volume. Hope it's helping my cause.
I have a very simple TC Electronics Forcefield pedal that I use here and there to give my volume some soft margins when I'm turned up. I keep the settings on the mild side and it seems to work okay, but I'll probably sample something more elaborate in the future.
I have a Forte HP and found it a bit cleaner than I like right out of the box, but downloading the BFT plug in with a little compression, drive, and a bump at 100 Hz turned it into fat city.
