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Opinions: Arkham Beast vs. Forte HP

golfnsubie

golfnsubie

Jan 17, 2011
133
441
#1
So I am looking at these two heads pretty closely....anyone have opinions on whether the arkham is worth the extra $300? Im particularly interested in DI quality between the two. I know arkham writes that they use a "hefty" cinemag transformer in their design.. how much percieved quality can be expected over what I would assume is also a very good di in the berg?
I want my next head to have the 1200 watt module in it and that's what has brought to these two....I do realize that arkham is a boutique hand -built brand so that is also part of the price difference
I'm currently running a quilter bb800 through MAS bodai 28 and 1,8 cabs...have played quite few gigs with this head as it's all I have right now but I just dont love preamp at all...went through 3 peavey mini mega heads in the last two years with either them becoming noisy or power section dying...but I loved that preamp section...it was magic lol
 
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#6
If you're looking for something tubey and warm Arkham would win hands down as the Forte HP is really none of those things without putting something like the Oracle or equivalent in front of it. Haven't played the beast specifically but have used a Zephyr direct in the studio and they are fantastic.

If you're looking for an uncolored or transparent head/di the Forte HP is extremely clean or HiFi. I had to push the bass quite a bit as well as some mids on it and cut some treble to get to what for me is a normal flat setting on most amps. Maybe that overly bright flat setting on the amp is why metal guys and slappers like them so much. They do keep upgrading the drive circuits on it and people seem to really like them. I only played it with the original drive circuit and found it to be harsh and completely unusable at the time. Forte HP is more versatile I'd wager if that's what your after but for me playing vintage blues and soul style music I'd take the Arkham all day long. I'll be adding an Oracle to my pedal board this year and run it all through my Bergantino NV212T which is my all-time favorite cab.
 
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#7
if I were primarily looking for vintage and thick tones, I'd go with the Beast, having owned one. Having played a Forte/B|amp, I would recommend that one if you're looking to venture into the clean and clear or modern category as well. But for the vintage-y tubey thickness, the Arkham rules.
 
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#9
I've played both. The WD is quite nice, one of my favorite of the new rounds of class D. I feel like the Beast is in another class, with its much higher power payload. It feels faster, bigger and warmer. But that being said, the WD is NO slouch, and if I were ampless and needed to buy something in that price range, its probably what I'd get.
 
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#10
Sorry I've been absent from the thread...but have finally made a move and its neither of these heads...have one of Mike Arnopols new amps coming and pairing that with (Mike's suggestion) a Bassics BPA 1....hopefully should have both by next week...
....thanks to j.wolf for bringing Mike's new amp builds to my attention...
 
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#12
J.Wolf said:
Superb amp. I haven’t heard the Bassics pre but i understand its pretty fantastic. Keep us posted!
Click to expand...
Yeah I basically ran down the list of of preamps/pedals I was considering with Mike(arkham beast or oracle, grace, berg forte hp, quality di) and he really likes that bassic so for the price ect i decided to give it a shot...grace stuff was good but too clinical and the bassic was very warm sounding SS....
 
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#13
Oracle into this amp is pretty amazing. I usually run Oracle from the end of my pedalboard> Sonic Farm 2di4 > amp, and its wonderful. More than enough headroom and gain and a world class DI on the sonic farm.
 
#14
Thinking of checking out an Oracle myself... Also Jules Simone.. I have the Forte HP and a Monique 700.. I was looking to add a Monique preamp for some tube warmth to the HP and ended up trading for the 700.. While there's no gigging going on and I have a little free time, I'm checking out different sounds/tone/flavors...
 
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