Super-Clean, Powerful Head Poll: There Can Be Only One

[RGerhart]

What about an Aguilar AG700? Very clean, clear, and powerful.

 

[Smooth Operator]

Mesa D800+. I know Mesa Subway gear is recommended on TB often, but deservedly so.

 

[LowWay]

This has Bergantino Forte HP written all over it. Crazy powerful, and can be as hi-fi and transparent or as sculpted as you want. Tough to find right now though (I'm looking for one myself).

This gets my vote too. And I just sold one with gig bag and wireless footswitch for under your budget.

Best amp I ever owned. I just don’t need the power. Easiest amp I’ve ever dialed in as well. From clean modern hifi to old school thump. From clean to grind. Power that hits you in the chest like a sledge hammer.

 

[groovaholic]

Don’t doubt it based on the brand, but the Peavey MiniMega was one of the best sounding “clean” amps I’ve played. More punch than any other class D head I’ve played.

I loved the sound of the MiniMega …enough so that I kept trying after two of them quit on me.

After the third started getting squirrely, I had to give up on them.

Back to OP, if you’re looking for extreme clarity, the GK Legacy might be perfect for you.

I had a Mesa D800+, then got the Legacy, then participated in a 3-way trade between a D800+,a Legacy, and a Genzler Magellan.

For me, the Legacy was a bit too bright & the Mesa a bit too warm. The Magellan is my “Goldilocks Zone”.

But for what the OP is looking for, a GK Legacy 800 sounds made-to-order.

 

[Jazzdogg]

Try to find an older Acoustic Image Focus power amp or regular amp

I have one and love it!

 

[BGroovy]

The 2001RB isn't exactly what one would call 'compact'!

Oops! I missed the compact part and air travel. Modern, clean, powerful I had checked.

 

[JtSD619]

Gk…no question imo

 

[scott sinner]

I would look for a used Quilter BB800 or 802, or wait for their next bass amp (coming soon, hopefully).

Clean, powerful, compact, reliable, what's not to love?

I votes GK of the choices in the poll, but I think this is worth looking into as well.

Reliability…, I have a GK from the early 90s that still works. I got a new one because I superstitiously can’t believe it is hanging on (and more wattage) But it has never needed a thing but a new fuse once or twice.

Quilter is a relatively new brand, if you haven’t heard of them, but the same guy behind QSC PA stuff is the founder. So not a new engineer by any stretch.

 

[cbass1]

No question GK.

 

[Bassology]

Quilter BB800, bench tested by Bass Gear Magazine.

Amp Lab – Quilter Labs Bass Block 800

 

[cnltb]

Glockenklang steamhammer comes to mind as well...

 

[guitarflinger]

Genzler Magellan 800 can do clean & hi-fi. Definitely not a one trick pony either.
Magellan 800 - Genzler Amplification

This!!

 

[Koog]

Bergantino Forte

 

[Nebadon2000]

The Trace promotes the TE 1200 is built for the road if I was in your position I would give it a listen

The only AMP I would add to your list known for 'Clean/Hi Fi', Solid build, reliable is Genzler MG800

 

[ctmullins]

Crown XLS 2502

Loud. Clean. Will drive lots of cabinets. Adjustable input sensitivity. Adjustable HPF.

Pretty interesting concept here! Would you have any idea if a Boss GT1B or even a SansAmp can drive it, or would I need something else in between?

Sure. I drive mine with my SansAmp RPM.

Since you're doing all of your tone shaping with outboard gear, all you really need is something to make it louder. Using an actual bass head for that will certainly work, but the preamp circuitry would be redundant.

Things to keep in mind when using a PA-style rack mount amplifier:

• Input sensitivity. The Crown has two settings, and the lower one works fine with outboard gear, provided you...
• Use a balanced cable. This can be an XLR or a TRS. If you use a normal TS quarter-inch cable, you're throwing half of your signal level away (and inviting noise in the process).
• PA amps are typically two-channel, and those channels often are each capable of 2-ohm loads. So you can connect lots of cabinets! They also typically have an "Input-Y" option, where a single source is sent to both channels.
• Most have a built-in HPF for protecting drivers. I really like the adjustable one in the XLS2. I have mine set to around 45Hz.

 

[Dbassmon]

Clean is deceiving as every amp has a voicing and character it imparts to the sound of the bass. as do speaker cabinet and drivers. While frequency response may be pretty flat between any given set of amps, the all sound a little different. Enough so, that it is likely that you will have preference for one over another. Every amp on the OP is a great amp. Boogie, Genzler and Markbass, deserve a look too.

 

[wysiwyg248]

I voted other (old timer here): SWR SM-900. Tons of headroom and very transparent, I have been using it for about 20 years and it sounds like the first day.

 

[zonkola]

If your Phil Jones Bass BP-200 already delivers your favorite bass tone, why not give the BP-800 a shot?

 

[2thAche]

Love the GK 800 Fusion. Bought another used as a backup. And 2 cabs at 4ohm is killer.

 

[timmus]

QSC RMX 1850hd power amplifier being driven with a BBE BMax Preamp. Lots of power and very (very) clean.
If you run the QSC in bridged mode, you can easily get >1000 watts