I've had both the HP and the HP2, and I can assure you the HP2 sounds better, punchier and in my opinion more defined.
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The Bergantino Forte HP or HP2
- Thread starter Pep
- Start date
You'll love it. I know I loved mine. I purchased one from a fellow member as well. It cam with the Bluetooth footswitch, Bergantino bag and a small case of flash-drives with all of the "firmware" patches downloaded and marked for easy reference. I sold it with everything except the footswitch since I had an HP2 coming. I then went on Amazon and purchased flash-drives and another carry case for them. They're all filled with the firmware and labeled should I ever be looking for something specific. Explore everything and have fun with it.
I have my HP now and really love it. I've had a difficult time finding an amp and this one is a keeper.
as far as the "more headroom" from HP to HP2, can you comment on the players impression? do you feel its... 15% louder? 20%? 5%?
I'm loving my HP for now, but really would prefer a brand new amp. I have a friend who already wants to buy the HP from me, so i could sell it and upgrade to the HP2 when i'm ready.
but i honestly don't think i need to. my used amp came with an awesome hard case, the wireless footswitch, and it sounds freakin awesome.
Jim Bergantino
Commercial User
Don't confuse headroom with volume. It's not about that. The headroom with the "2" adds more weight to the note due to the extra current reserve. Speakers are low impedance devices and need current to control their motors and thus cone movement. By having the extra current reserve the 2 will hit lower and harder and have an overall rounder and warmer tone to it. It's not night and day, but it is not subtle either.
Hope this helps.
Jim Bergantino
Commercial User
Not sure what you mean by a tube amp feel. My thoughts are probably not. Tube amps are a different beast. There's a lot more going on with their topology that cops a different "feel". Things like power supply sag along with the resulting compression, high output impedance transformers and just transformers in general. There's more but the HP2 is not about emulating a tube amp. It's about being a high Perfomence amplifier conveying as accurately as possible what you the player puts into it with minimal color unless you choose to add it via the drives, etc. Both very viable approaches, IMO, that appeal to different players.
this is such a refreshing response to read.
it seems all amp makers have the goal of reaching the "tube amp" sound when truthfully - they're just apples and oranges. i love an svt or bassman, but i like a genzler 800, mesa subway, and specially bergantino HP way more for my every day use.
it seems a lot of the amp makers are promoting great sounding class D amps as "tube like" when they're not, to people who think they love tube amps but have never owned one.
For me Tube amps tend to sit in the mix with a fatter tone but a little softer attack which is lovely, I have one. However I've also just purchased a Forte HP2 and that is a totally different beast in a good way. It's fat yes, but in your face punchy. Having had the original HP which I sold fairly quickly, this new HP2 has a very different feel. The guitar comes alive with each note you play and that's what was missing from the original HP. There's a place for both in my opinion.
Anyone compare the Berg Forte HP2 to a Mesa D800+? I have a Mesa D800+ now, but wanted to add another amp as an alternative. I always wanted to try out a Bergantino amp.
I bought the HP1 first then sold it and bought the HP2. I don't a major difference between the two except just a little more power. I compared it to the Mesa WD800 but a more fair comparison is the Bergantino Forte D. Forte D is 800 watts @ 2 ohms, 700 @ 4, 350 @ 8. I absolutely love the Forte D. It sounds nearly the same and does everything I need. I rarely need 1200 watts from the HP2.
I sold the Mesa WD800 and really don't miss it.
I sold the Mesa WD800 and really don't miss it.
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They don't compare in any way, Mesa has a completely different approach to bass tone. If you like classic tone then the maybe the Mesa is worth a look but the berg hp2 is in a different league. Clean or driven there are so many different tone options and they all sound brilliant. I had the HP 1 for a short while but didn't love it, the HP2 is everything the HP was supposed to be but never got there.
Interesting. Most comments I have read say there is a small but significant difference relating to the hp2 having a little more heft behind each note. Still can't decide whether to upgrade from my hp1 to a 2 since the hp1 is still working perfectly for my needs.
Same here. The HP2 sounds intriguing but I've never found the HP1 lacking. Taking a $500 hit on selling the HP1 and then paying $1600 + tax for an HP2 makes it a VERY expensive upgrade.
What differences do you notice between the different HP versions?.. I thought the specs were essentially the same..
They are but in my opinion the HP2 has a bit more volume/punch than the HP1. It's noticeable especially when compared side-by-side like I did. I made the switch and really glad I did.
