Epic Fight: Mesa vs Bergantino!

[joel406]

The only thing I still got to get a picture of is my WD-800 and both my 410s together. But you can't beat these.

 

[jastacey]

I been a Berg can user for many years ( NV610 & HS410 ), and really like how they sound, been playing a Subway 800+ recently, and I find it pairs nicely, with the Berg HS410, haven't had the opportunity to pair the Subway 800+ with the NV610, but it will happen, I always like to mix and match cabs amps, some of the recent offerings, from both companies, are really tempting, but, it's a money thing.

 

[pmad_bass]

Have been GAS'ing for *something Mesa (head/Head & Cab). Went to Bass Central earlier this week. Was hoping I could try Subway TT-800 and the Ultra light 15. They had a WD-800 connected to a Berg 2x12. Very impressive. I have a Greenboy Dually T, which I think would work well with the TT-800 (the latter of which would be leaps and bounds lighter than my GB RB 2001). Have been wanting a smaller but capable cab, perhaps of a different flavor than the Dually. Not sure that the Ultra light 15 would get me there in regards to the different flavor to which I speak...though would perhaps be a great smaller/somewhat similar version of what I currently have. The Berg 2x12 was def very capable, though maybe more than I need in the quest for something smaller. Leaning toward pulling the trigger on a Subway TT-800 soon, if there is availability. Hmm decisions/decisions.

 

[jastacey]

Here's another Mesa & Berg pairing

 

[petch]

Here is how I deal with the whole Mesa vs. Bergantino thing.

 

[Al Kraft]

Here is how I deal with the whole Mesa vs. Bergantino thing. View attachment 4441585

Excellent choices for exceptional performance with simplicity.

 

[kesslari]

I need an additional room and some extra disposable income!

 

[LiquidMidnight]

I used to play a 400+ through an AE410 and occasionally through an NV610. Neither combination sucked.

 

[PhishPhan22]

Brining back some stuff to see what y'all think. I have the genzler magellan 800 head. An I've ran genzler array cabs a then the mesa. Right now im running 2x10 mesa with 15"genzler cab. I'm thinking of selling both an getting something Berg. I played through a single 12" with tweeters at an open mic with a mesa head and wow. All the cabs mentioned are all pro level an get it done. So I think to a point it's all a matter of style, genera, Venue size, band size. But I will say the Berg head seems amazing like the eq is insane sn it adds breakup like tube breakup perfectly. But it seems like cabs are the real treat. They make any bass I plug into just sound… diff… I have a Spector euro LT 5 it has a darkglass pre I don't like
For me. I'm more jam band I'm wanting to get rid of pre for a more gospel tone. But I'm tryin to figure out is it the new model burgs that sound this amazing or do they all?

 

[msb]

I was quite happy to see this thread return.

And surprised to see how close the results are.

 

[sunbeast]

I was quite happy to see this thread return.

And surprised to see how close the results are.

78 votes for Mesa amps, 81 votes for Bergantino cabs- not a surprise to me!

 

[msb]

Mesa are a much larger company , and have sold far more amps and cabs. I'd expect the numbers to reflect that. But both companies make great gear.

We have two clear winners. You cannot go wrong with either.

 

[sunbeast]

Mesa are a much larger company , and have sold far more amps and cabs. I'd expect the numbers to reflect that. But both companies make great gear.

We have two clear winners. You cannot go wrong with either.

Outside of a niche gear-obsessed place like Talkbass I'm sure Berg's popularity would be a surprise! I suspect though that most folks in this thread specifically (and Talkbass generally) are much more familiar with both companies bass offerings than bassists as a whole (ie outside of the Talkbass amps forum). Berg cabs have been highly discussed and celebrated around Talkbass for as long as I've been around here (the only reason I knew of their existence and where I scored the NV610 cab I've played for close to 20 years), and in recent years Mesa Subway amps have similarly been celebrated in mass (though their old designs still have lots of fans too, including myself)- Still the vast majority of Mesa gear stocked and sold in stores is for guitarists so their bass offerings probably aren't much easier to find than Berg stuff in most markets.
So to me the results pretty much match what I'd suspect around Talkbass, though I suspect the popularity of both Mesa's Subway cabs and Bergantino's amps to only go up as they are both great gear (and I am fortunate to have seen/played both in shops)

 

[PhatBottomBass1]

I just did a trade deal on my first Bergantino cabinet earlier this afternoon for the new Fuchs FBT-700 amp.

NV412...sounds great!

I love all things Mesa/Boogie. TT-800 was my first new amp possibly ever and definitely the first Class-D amp.
This FUCHS is my third Class-D head and it just slams! I'm not a huge Bergantino amp fan...too much in there.

 

[Clark Westfield]

I've been struggling with these two brands, plus Darkglass, for my next amp purchase. I can make a two hour trek to Sweetwater and try Mesa and Darkglass head to head, but no Bergantino anywhere near here.

I'm running a Berg HP2 head with a Darkglass 212 and it sounds great.

Also have Hydrive Hartke cabs, sounds great through those too.

There is no issue of what you choose. All great suggestions

 

[Clark Westfield]

Here is how I deal with the whole Mesa vs. Bergantino thing. View attachment 4441585

And what is your conclusion and details of each?

 

[Taustin Powers]

Well, as I was the one who started this thread, I can give you an update on my journey and where I ended up.

At some point I owned:

1 Mesa Subway D800
1 Bergantino HP
1 Mesa Subway 112
1 Bergantino NXT212

I tried all possible combinations for quite some time, always having one rig at home to practice and one rig at our band's rehearsal space and gigs.

First and most importantly: Both brands make amazing gear, there really are no wrong choices here. Quality and design is top notch, and every combination sounded very good.

That said, I have discovered I am more of a Mesa guy. Their inherent tone and voice is just one that appeals more to me than the Bergantino tone. Bergantino to me sounds rather airy and transparent, the Mesa stuff has a stronger voice, which I like. This is 100% subjective and personal taste.

So I ended up selling the Berg stuff and now own:

1 Mesa Subway D800 (for home)
1 Mesa Subway D800+ (for rehearsal and gigs)
2 Mesa Subway 112's (one for each use case, stacked if need be)

So four years later, I finally go to vote on my own poll: Mesa Amps & Cabs!

 

[WG Plum]

Facing this choice soon- All but certain I will be going with the Mesa D800+ for its flexibility, but debating on a Mesa 212 or 210, or a Berg NXT 212 or 210. I have heard wonderful things about the Mesa 115, but I want a taller form factor. I wish more manufacturers did vertical 410s like Revsound.

 

[CosmicRay]

Mesa WD-800>Bergantino NV115

 

[matti777]

Wow not much love in this poll for the Berg head/Mesa cab combo. Where did I go wrong?