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Gallien-Krueger vs Bergantino

B

bassfacer1357

Sep 4, 2010
7
0
#1
Ok, this isn't so much a 'vs' kinda thing. I'm not really feeling the whole "This is better. Period," sorta playground comment-off vibe, but I reckon I can do a lot worse than to post a thread to get opinions from users of both brands. I played through a Gallien-Krueger 700RB-ii head into a Gallien-Krueger 410RBH cab a few months ago and was, to use a cleche, blown away by the tone. The owner was understandably particular, so I humbly (if slightly begrudgingly) agreed not to change any settings. Didn't matter. It was the best tone I've ever had. I'm a big fan of low mid PUNCH. I have no time for flimsy ear-scraping fretbuzz-highlighting treble or woolly rumble-in-the-background-of-a-mix bottom end (just my opinion) but I can't get enough of that sweet compressed low mid bit of Bruce Lee judo chop tone slicing itself through the mix of a 10-piece band. Combine that with a Roscoe SKB-3005 (to be ordered very soon) and I'm gonna need a zimmer frame and a change of underwear...

Anyway, I'm dribbling... I've heard a lot of great things about Bergantino amplification, particularly the NV412, and I thought I'd ask... If anyone's used both brands (and I really mean gigged through not tried out) and has similar taste to me, what differences did you notice and which would you rather spend a night with?

And for anyone who has similar tastes to me but hasn't used either brand, what else have you played through that's really tickled your middle g-spot?
 
#2
I can say that as a Bergantino user, I've found cabinet bliss. Each of his models is distinct and does what it's intended to do. Since his sole focus is cabs you get some serious design and implementation.
The NV610 is a great example. He aimed it to sound like a square back vintage SVT. It does it all while being more portable.
 
#3
I really like the Bergantino NV cabs a lot - very sweet, musical, round and clear (not rumbly & muddy like some of the Ampeg 810 cabs I've tried). They have a big, but tight & controllable low end with good articulation throughout. You don't have ports for dubby lows or tweeters for that bright upper sheen, but it doesn't sound like that is your goal anyway. I find the NV412 to be a bit more even with a low mid kick and the NV610 to be tighter and punchier. Either cab could work - just depends on what you are looking for. With a SS or hybrid head, I'd probably go with one of the ported cabs instead (such as the HS410)...

As for GK, I've got less direct experience with them. I used one as a backline once and it was the best I ever sounded (though I think the big subs under the stage had something to do with that!). Also had a GK Fusion 550 for a short time, but didn't really care for it all that much. If you really liked the GK tone, you might want to stick with it - but I'd give the Bergs a try.
 

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