Which Amp head would you buy?

[msb]

I went with Bergantino , and am happy with the choice , but the other options are excellent too . I’d lean towards Mesa if I hadn’t gone for the Bergs .

 

[HolmeBass]

I've got the MB Vintage D2 and Mesa WD800 and definitely prefer the Mesa for $150 more no question. The Mesa has a MUCH bigger tube (full sized in the Mesa vs ~1/2 stick of chapstick sized in the Vintage) and MUCH more EQ options on the Mesa. Only reason I bought the Vintage D2 was because it was on a pretty hefty sale.

View attachment 4452305

That MB looks sweet, and addresses my main pain point with my LM2 - the two mid controls are not semi-parametric.

 

[Kipp Harrington]

I put all your inputs into my supercomputer, and the solution is the TT800. One SS Subway channel, and one Tube channel. #versatility

View attachment 4451657

Can you blend the 2 channels?

 

[Phaidrus]

That MB looks sweet, and addresses my main pain point with my LM2 - the two mid controls are not semi-parametric.

 

[Jjacks651]

Between all the 500+ watt options like the genzler megellan, Mesa subway, quilter block, darkglass, orange options, and pretty much any other bass amp that can be had for under $1000, which would you go with and why? Sound? Weight? Aesthetic? Any that I’m missing that should be considered?

Where’s the MarkBass contingent? The Tube 800. It’s 1Kg, 450 watts at 8 ohms 800 watts at 4 ohms, a tube pre amp and class D, mute, Lpf & vpf filters allow you to dial in ant tone you want, and it’s gig-worthy. Just my humble opinion.

john

 

[Joeykun]

If you like the sound of your bass and want to hear it without any added color, the Genzler Magellan 800 is the one to get. Great punchy amp that sounds fantastic. Clean and Drive channels that are switchable with optional footswitch. The 2 Contour options is great if you want to add a little Modern or Classic curve. Plus, you get the best Customer Service in the business! Check them out!
https://www.genzleramplification.com/

 

[Acoustic356]

Jule Amps Simone 500.

Not only do I use mine with the Simone 500, but I can add any passive pre to get a completely different characteristic.

I’ve gigged that with the following pre-amps:

1. Jule Simone
2. Olympic MKIIIs
3. Simplifier Bass Station
4. Tech21 Bass DI

It’s transparent enough to handle any tone stack.

@juledude

 

[misterCRUSH]

Don't sleep on Ampeg. I love that deep solid tone and ability to manipulate the mids that I get with my PF 500. It's a very good amp.

 

[Phaidrus]

Where’s the MarkBass contingent? The Tube 800. It’s 1Kg, 450 watts at 8 ohms 800 watts at 4 ohms, a tube pre amp and class D, mute, Lpf & vpf filters allow you to dial in ant tone you want, and it’s gig-worthy. Just my humble opinion.

john

There's also the Little Mark Vintage 1000, also with tube preamp, with even more power on tap.
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• WEIGHT: 6.61 lbs / 3 Kg
• WIDTH: 10.87 in. / 27.6 cm
• DEPTH: 9.84 in. / 25 cm
• HEIGHT: 3.27 in. / 8.3 cm
• OUTPUT POWER: 1000W RMS @ 4 ohms / 600W RMS @ 8 ohms

 

[RColie]

Over the past five or so years, I've tried the Genzler Magellan 800, the Mesa 800+, the Bergantino Forte, and the Aguilar TH500. I preferred them in the order listed. While all of these amps had a quality build, the Genzler stood out from the pack as very solid and well made. The Genzler gave me the clean punchy tone I wanted right out the box, with a lot of tone shaping options to fit the song and the room.

Good luck in your search!

Bob

 

[mrjim123]

I would DEFINITELY only get one with an adjustable HPF. Can't go wrong with Mesa. I LOVE my Mesa D-800, although it does not have an adjustable HPF, whereas most of the other Mesa heads do (I just recently added a Broughton always-on, adjustable HPF - best $85 I've spent on gear).

 

[BOOG]

Where’s the MarkBass
john

If it has a failure, that’s likely what you are going to be saying for quite awhile. I tried two of them and they were both returned faulty. I certainly am not investing in a product that lacks QC, and extended absence issues for service /repairs.

 

[noahw1]

I own an Magellan 800 and couldn't be happier. I've owned it since it was first released (5 or 6 years?) and have had zero gas since purchasing it. Added bonus is having Mr. Genzler on the board and Aged Horse as well to answer questions or concerns - quality folks both.

 

[tekhedd]

After playing a bunch this year with a TT-800: I'd buy another right now. Incredible tone stack, input tube stage creates yummy growly harmonics when pushed, adequate power, HP can be tuned to match various ported cabs, sounds good at max volume... it basically does everything right. Even came with a long power cord.

The only thing that could improve it would be a form fitting tolex case.

 

[DJ Bebop]

I play a musicman sr 5 (love it) and my upright thru one or two 112 cabs (of different make but are in phase and compliment each other well). As far as style of music, everything from pop/funk to doom metal, lots of jazz and free jazz, some Latin and reggae as well. But I’ll pretty much take any gig.

I also have solid body basses and an upright I like playing. I went with the Mesa WD 800 because of the upright in the mix and I found a HPF is a great tool for uprights. Yet you can go from Jazz to Funk to Rock and all ports in between with this amp.

I like the flexibility of the amp, the HPF, the 3 bands of para mids, the variable damping, and the 2 ohm stability which when used also can reduce the power output so, you're not always running 400 watts or 800 watts into a cabinet. It allows a 300 watt or 600 watt output as well.

 

[Smokey P]

For the record i am taking shipment soon of an Fdeck series 1, I mean I only play 5 string or upright. Currently I have a pf500, which is cool but I find it’s bigger than it needs to be and the tone stack can be hard to tame, especially with upright. Lucky I didn’t pay much for it at all. I think I could deal with the extra size and heft if it was known for reliability..I’m looking closely at used megellans and d800s for the future I think.

 

[bass12]

I’m totally happy with my TH500 and Puma 900. I haven’t tried out any of the other common recommendations (Mesa, Genzler, etc.) but I’d rather not go down the tone-chase rabbit hole. I don’t get all that excited about amps - I just want something that sounds good to me, is reliable and is easy to transport.

 

[DJ Bebop]

For the record i am taking shipment soon of an Fdeck series 1, I mean I only play 5 string or upright. Currently I have a pf500, which is cool but I find it’s bigger than it needs to be and the tone stack can be hard to tame, especially with upright. Lucky I didn’t pay much for it at all. I think I could deal with the extra size and heft if it was known for reliability..I’m looking closely at used megellans and d800s for the future I think.

D+800 gets a lot of love.
But you're covered with the fdesk 1

 

[Pilgrim]

Between all the 500+ watt options like the genzler megellan, Mesa subway, quilter block, darkglass, orange options, and pretty much any other bass amp that can be had for under $1000, which would you go with and why? Sound? Weight? Aesthetic? Any that I’m missing that should be considered?

Simple. I have Genz-Benz gear. The new generations of that amp family are branded Genzler. If Genzler makes it, it's superior. Get it.

 

[Amajew]

They all sound different. YOUR ears will decide for you.... not the best response, but the most factual IMO!!