Mesa TT800 vs GK Fusion 800s

[Tazilla]

Hello fellow TB’ers!

I am looking for a new amp and through extensive (online) research I have pretty much narrowed it down to these two amps but am struggling to know which one to pull the trigger on. I’ve seen both amps for sale used in the 800-1000 USD range.

A little bit of context: I play finger style on active basses (Fender Jazz Elite, EB Stingray, and Warwick Thumb 5). I have recently joined a stoner rock/indie pop kind of band (think Queens of the Stone Age and Mini Mansions), which plays anywhere between E and C Standard. I typically use an MXR Bass Compressor running into a DG Alpha/Omega to add body and grit (I rarely use full on distortion). I also have a YouTube channel, where I cover a number of different styles - https://www.youtube.com/@BassGuitarIQ

Not so long back I purchased an Aguilar TH 350, and while I really dig the tone, it doesn’t quite achieve the “dream tone” I have in my head. I like a lot of different tone styles but one of my favourites would be Justin Chancellor circa 10,000 Days. Other desirable tones of note would be Flea (Blood Sugar Sex Magik), Tim Commerford (any era), Ryan Martinie (L.D. 50). I’m guessing the common denominator between these players’ tones is rich, thick, slightly scooped, with plenty of growl and grit. I am currently using an Aguilar SL 112 but intend to transition to Mesa Subway cabs (most likely a 1x15 and 2x10) when my funds permit it.

I know how these threads often go so I’m going to add a few caveats to avoid some of the generic responses and help drive a more constructive discussion:
- I can’t find these amps in my local area to test out in person, hence relying on online videos and valuable feedback from you guys
- I know it’s subjective and not about better or worse but I would love to hear feedback from people who have experience with these amps and can provide insights on how they think each would perform within my specific context.
- One of the biggest issues I’m having in making a decision is the limited videos online of the TT800, which I find strange considering how many people are raving about this amp. Feel free to direct me any resources I may have missed.
- I am open to other amp suggestions (GK legacy?!) but please try to keep to the two I’ve mentioned unless you really think I’ve missed something significant in the same ball park (tone, size/weight, and price wise).

Thank you in advance and apologies for the long intro, I wanted to address as many potential questions off the bat to avoid wasting anyone’s time. That being said, feel free to ask any questions if I’ve missed anything that could help.

 

[Parzival]

Both of these amps cover a lot of ground. Can’t speak on the Mesa TT, but it is two channels and I would think a lot of versatility and tone options.
The GK is similar, though not really two channels, with the contour and drive options.
The GK sounds good but had a few drawbacks for me:

Pros:
-The tube preamp is top notch and sounds really good and gives you a great bit of grit.
-Gets a classic GK sound with the contour.
-Great 3-D tone to the amp
-Can punch hard

Cons:
-Very bright. To the point of being hard to dial it out. This could be a pro for some.
-Without the contour and classic GK sound, found it really hard to dial in a decent tone. But, with the contour, it gets some serious scoop that can be hard to deal with
-Didn’t like the drive channel. Some may, it’s really aggressive.

Hopefully others can weigh in and compare the Mesa.

 

[Tazilla]

Both of these amps cover a lot of ground. Can’t speak on the Mesa TT, but it is two channels and I would think a lot of versatility and tone options.
The GK is similar, though not really two channels, with the contour and drive options.
The GK sounds good but had a few drawbacks for me:

Pros:
-The tube preamp is top notch and sounds really good and gives you a great bit of grit.
-Gets a classic GK sound with the contour.
-Great 3-D tone to the amp
-Can punch hard

Cons:
-Very bright. To the point of being hard to dial it out. This could be a pro for some.
-Without the contour and classic GK sound, found it really hard to dial in a decent tone. But, with the contour, it gets some serious scoop that can be hard to deal with
-Didn’t like the drive channel. Some may, it’s really aggressive.

Hopefully others can weigh in and compare the Mesa.

Thank you, this is really helpful and confirms much of what I had researched about this amp. The punch and grit this amp gets is definitely appealing to me. It really seems like the top end is something people love or hate about this amp!

A lot of people talk about how versatile the TT is, which is a definite pro, however I feel like I can get a lot of versatility from playing style, bass selection, and pedals, so I wouldn't want to opt for versatility at the cost of a single "better" tone. Now, if the TT can give me that "better" tone AND versatility it's a no brainer. So, I guess my question to anyone with TT experience is "can the TT achieve similar levels of punch and grit as the GK 800s?" Unfortunately, I've not really seen anyone dig in or crank the gain that much in the online demo videos.