• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Ok I have narrowed it down to 3 class D heads

which class D head

  • Ampeg PF 800

    Votes: 45 14.3%
  • Mesa D 800

    Votes: 174 55.2%
  • GK MB 800

    Votes: 96 30.5%

  • Total voters
    315
Those are 3 great choices. I voted Ampeg because I love their sound and have used a bunch of different Ampegs in the past as well as currently. The GK is nice but it's tone isn't me. Way too bright and sterile. Mesa makes some nice sounding amps but their natural compression turns me off. If I want a compressed tone I'll add a separate compressor I can dial in the way I want it, not the way the manufacturer says it should be.

There are a number of trusted TBers that use Ampeg also.
 
I was in a very similar position last werk. 3 choices. I ended up with the gk mb fusion 800. I had the mesa on the list but i wasnt going to pay aus1700 on it without playing one first. I played the gk, loved it. Hated the ampeg so that never got to final 3. The other was a genzler. Again, one distributor in Australia and hes in sydney so i didnt want to buy it without playing first.
 
image.png
Where are you seeing the 2-ohm stability? I looked over the manufacturer's page and see:
800W @ 4ohm
400W @ 8ohm

I'm not saying you're wrong, but I can't find anything about that.
 
To the OP. If you have no way of trying out the amps before you buy, perhaps you can at least fins a Mesa, Ampeg, and GK to try to see if any one of them sound better to you as each brand has a tone of its own.

Its hard to give any real advise here, other than personal preference. I just finished going through the process of choosing a new class D amp. I tried and bought several of them until I finally ended up with a Mesa. During my search, I did not try Ampeg, simply because that wasn't the tone I wanted.

I will add that comparing the Mesa to the GK, the Mesa is more on the vintage side, with less aggressive highs - while the GK tone has more sizzle to it. Both sound great to me, I just happen to like the warmer sounding Mesa tone over the barky tone of the GK.

What really sold me on the Mesa was:
  1. First - the tone
  2. Easy to get a great sound
  3. Deep switch
  4. Mute Switch
  5. 2 ohm stable
  6. 800 watts
  7. 5.5 #
  8. Quality gig bag
  9. 5 year warranty
  10. Mesa reputation
  11. TB chatter
  12. Price
 
I sold a GK Fusion 500 to get an Ampeg PF800, the reason being I like the Ampeng sound better. I've had no problems what so ever with it and I absolutely love it!

I have no experience with the Mesa, but I've heard only good things about it!

My vote is for the Ampeg.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jaycephas
I've had them all.
The PF800 died within an hour. Will not buy another Ampeg until I see some change in their manufacturing.
The GK is great, if you like the GK sound. Can't really get around that sound.
The D800 has the deepest tone of the lot, but extremely versatile. Definite the most versatile of the three.
 
  • Like
Reactions: kevbassman
I've owned an Ampeg PF 800, have played the GK MB800 and have never tried the Mesa. I like both the Ampeg & GK but for me the GK with a SansAmp VT Bass pedal gives more flexilbility and sounds amazing, especially through an SVT 810E cab. My vote vote goes to the GK by a hair over the Ampeg.
 
  • Like
Reactions: SpruceApple

Latest posts