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GK, MESA, Bergantino, Barefaced - choosing

crocawombawoof

crocawombawoof

Mar 9, 2020
118
375
CO
#1
I know this type of topic has been brought up ad nauseam on TB, but here goes anyway. Looking for opinions on modern amp/cabs from various manufacturers. The “Spector Haz Lab” tone is what I would like to nail. I have a Spector NS-2A (Kramer era made in Korea) upgraded with active EMG P/J and it has the Korean HAZ Lab preamp. I would like to acquire an amp/cab that compliments the Spector.

The usual suspect example tones I am shooting for:
Alice in Chains – Man in the Box
Metallica – Enter Sandman
Queensryche – Jet City Woman

This demo from Ian Allison sums the tone up pretty well:

This sounds pretty cool to me as well:

So here are the amps and cabs I am considering:

Amps:
Gallien-Krueger Legacy 800
Mesa Subway D-800+, WD-800
Bergantino Forte D

Cabs:
Gallien-Krueger Neo 212
Mesa Subway 212, or 115
Bergantino NXT 212
Barefaced Three10

I know I would probably be perfectly happy with any of these, or combination of these, as I don’t have that sophisticated of an ear, but I can’t try any of these out before buying. So that is why I am here. I have been pouring over the GK, Mesa, Berg, Barefaced threads and seem to change my mind several times a day on which direction to go.

A few thoughts:
- The GK seems to be the best value and might give me the “nasty” tone I am looking for.
- The Mesa stuff looks awesome and gets an awful lot of love here. Not sure if it is too “polite” or is it flexible enough to cover what I am shooting for.
- Berg, again looks top shelf, but not sure if it is too high fidelity for what I am looking for.
- Barefaced cabs – I am really interested in the Three10 cab (3 ceramic magnet drivers) and wonder if it is all it is cracked up to be. I like the look of matching amp heads and cabs, but I could see putting any one of the above- mentioned heads on top of the BF cab.

I appreciate all of you TB bassists that can provide me any wisdom from your personal experiences with this equipment, and any recommendations (including any mix and match recommendations). Cheers!
 
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#6
crocawombawoof said:
I know this type of topic has been brought up ad nauseam on TB, but here goes anyway. Looking for opinions on modern amp/cabs from various manufacturers. The “Spector Haz Lab” tone is what I would like to nail. I have a Spector NS-2A (Kramer era made in Korea) upgraded with active EMG P/J and it has the Korean HAZ Lab preamp. I would like to acquire an amp/cab that compliments the Spector.

The usual suspect example tones I am shooting for:
Alice in Chains – Man in the Box
Metallica – Enter Sandman
Queensryche – Jet City Woman

This demo from Ian Allison sums the tone up pretty well:

This sounds pretty cool to me as well:

So here are the amps and cabs I am considering:

Amps:
Gallien-Krueger Legacy 800
Mesa Subway D-800+, WD-800
Bergantino Forte D

Cabs:
Gallien-Krueger Neo 212
Mesa Subway 212, or 115
Bergantino NXT 212
Barefaced Three10

I know I would probably be perfectly happy with any of these, or combination of these, as I don’t have that sophisticated of an ear, but I can’t try any of these out before buying. So that is why I am here. I have been pouring over the GK, Mesa, Berg, Barefaced threads and seem to change my mind several times a day on which direction to go.

A few thoughts:
- The GK seems to be the best value and might give me the “nasty” tone I am looking for.
- The Mesa stuff looks awesome and gets an awful lot of love here. Not sure if it is too “polite” or is it flexible enough to cover what I am shooting for.
- Berg, again looks top shelf, but not sure if it is too high fidelity for what I am looking for.
- Barefaced cabs – I am really interested in the Three10 cab (3 ceramic magnet drivers) and wonder if it is all it is cracked up to be. I like the look of matching amp heads and cabs, but I could see putting any one of the above- mentioned heads on top of the BF cab.

I appreciate all of you TB bassists that can provide me any wisdom from your personal experiences with this equipment, and any recommendations (including any mix and match recommendations). Cheers!
Click to expand...

I would change the Bergantino Forte D to HP2 for more versatility and options.
You’re not limited to jut one tube/drive sound.
 
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#11
I have a Berg NXT212 and every amp I've ever put through it sounds fantastic. Anything from 200w all the way to 800w, it gets really really loud, and it's pretty easy to schlep.

There's really no wrong answer though.
You could get your sound from any of those amps.

Do you prefer 10s or 12s in your cabinet?

That would be a good way to find a direction.
I personally wouldn't go with just a 15, but that's just me.
 
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#13
No matter what you pick between those brands it will have the ability to sound fantastic. Barefaced is rad but they are typically more expensive and have a wait. also there is no way to hear them live and returns are umm…cumbersome to say the least. Id focus on the stateside manufacturers. Barefaced for all their strengths are really not any better than stuff offered stateside, regardless of what they may advertise. IMO of course. Buy from a place with a good return policy and try some stuff out with your band. That would be my recommendation
 
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#17
Yeah, TT800 on the boogie (400+ inspired) channel + a Mesa subway 115 (you'll probably get addicted and want a second, I did! lol) and ideally 210 on top too and you're in business

Disclaimer: I haven't tried the WD800 so it may get you there as well, but have tried the others at bass central in Orlando when I was in the area (funnily enough, while playing a Spector, it was whichever model that has the slimmer neck they're making now - Wimbish?) and owned the D800+ before the TT
 
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#18
naetog said:
I have a Berg NXT212 and every amp I've ever put through it sounds fantastic. Anything from 200w all the way to 800w, it gets really really loud, and it's pretty easy to schlep.

There's really no wrong answer though.
You could get your sound from any of those amps.

Do you prefer 10s or 12s in your cabinet?

That would be a good way to find a direction.
I personally wouldn't go with just a 15, but that's just me.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I am about 95% sure I would go with a 212.
 
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#20
willsellout said:
No matter what you pick between those brands it will have the ability to sound fantastic. Barefaced is rad but they are typically more expensive and have a wait. also there is no way to hear them live and returns are umm…cumbersome to say the least. Id focus on the stateside manufacturers. Barefaced for all their strengths are really not any better than stuff offered stateside, regardless of what they may advertise. IMO of course. Buy from a place with a good return policy and try some stuff out with your band. That would be my recommendation
Click to expand...

Good points, thanks. The long distance for shipping and duty tax is a negative and I have wondered if there really is anything more "magical" about the BF cabs over the others here in the discussion.
 

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