A Great Bass Needs A Great Amplifier And Cabinet.
Posted by Bass Central on Jul 12th 2025
Getting a great Bass Guitar at Bass Central is the start, with it must come a great amplifier. Here are some great amp choices for your consideration.
What’s Old is New Again
In 1982 James Demeter built the first of his series of VTBP-201 pre-amps. His idea was to build a Tube Audiophile Pre-amp with Classic Bass Amp style tone section. There were other Pre-amps at the time but they were just guitar amp circuits that had major design flaws. His first customer was Leland Sklar. Lee took our proto-type to try it out and kept it. Lee used the pre-amp and it’s backup for another 25 years until he downsized his rig. In 2012 He decided to donate the #1 Pre-amp back to its creator. We were very happy to see it back and of course we had to listen to it. We were amazed how warm and clear it was. It sounded very similar to the current VTBP-201 but it was rounder and a bit slower than the newest model due it unregulated power supply and old school parts. Around the same time we found 150 of the original PCB’s that were used in that model. We decided to clone Lee’s pre-amp but, put it in the smallest box possible with our 800D power-amp. The result is the VTBP-M-800D. At 10.5 lbs. It is one 800 Watt tube tone monster.
Features
All tube pre-amp circuitry Hand wired in the USA using High quality components, DC filament, full 280V high voltage supply. Classic passive tube tone controls Treble, Middle, Bass with frequency selector and presence with frequency selection. We replaced the original bright switch with our new Mode switch that lets you control the overall tone: Dark, Normal and Bright. The unit has a pre-amp output if you need to run more amplifiers. There are two Speakon combo jacks on the back to hook up your speakers. The amp weighs 10.5 lbs and messures 13”wide x 5.5”high x 9”deep. Built right here in the USA in our Barn in Templeton CA.
Tone section:
- Treble Control: The treble control gives 6 dB of boost or cut at 4 kHz (6dB per octave, shelving type).
- Middle Control: The middle give 6dB of boost or cut at 500Hz (wide Q, peaking type).Bass Control: The bass control gives 9dB of boost or cut at a selectable frequency of 60Hz or 120Hz (6dB per octave, shelving type).
- Presence Control: The presence control gives up to 12dB of boost at a selectable frequency of 2kHz or 4kHz (active type, 6dB per octave).
- Mode switch: Dark, is a high frequency cut fatting up your fundmental. Normal, flat opertion showing off more overtones. Bright, brings out the overtones on the dullest basses or speakers.
- Internal Volume Trimmer: This control is designed to match the output volume of the VTBP-M-800D with the sensitivity of any Bass.
- Optional, Studio Output: The VTBP-M-800Dm- features a mic level Jensen DB-E output transformer for a balanced studio output.
- Effects Loop: in/out line level
- Power Amp Outputs: Operating at 4 (800w),8 (500w) or 16 ohm (250w). 1/4” & Speakon
Preamp Specifications
- Inputs: one instrument level 1/4” jack.
- Output impedance (line): > 1 kohm, (unbalanced)
- Minimum load impedance: 10K
- Input impedance: > 1megohm
- Maximum output: + 24dBV
- EQ gain : + or - 12 dB
- Signal to noise ratio: - 80dB
- THD : .5%
- Outputs (preamp): 1/4” unbalanced , NO XLR Direct Output
- Frequency response : 10Hz to 40kHz
- Tube: 1-12AX7a selected 1-12AT7
- Operating voltage: 115V or 230V AC
- Power supply: 280V DC
- Filament: 6.3 V DC
Power Amp Specifications
- Outputs (power amp): 1/4” Speaker & Speakon
- Output impedance (power amp): 4 ohm, 8 ohm, 16 ohm
- Output Power (power amp): 800 watt RMS @ 4 ohms, 400 watt RMS @ 8 ohms
https://basscentral.com/epifani-ul-901-v.2-1000-watt-bass-amp/
Superior engineering brings you up to 1000 watts of pure power with an impedance as low as 2 Ohms. And when you're on the road the auto-sensing power supply automatically detects the correct voltage no matter where you are in the world.
Heading into the studio? The award-winning PureSound D.I. gives you the world's most flexible pre-amp for studio recording in style. No need to plug in a cabinet. Just send your single to the engineerÌ_Ì_̨pre or post EQÌ_Ì_̨and bring your signature tone to every recording.
Specs
Tone Controls Bass: Shelving, +22 dB @ 40 Hz Mid: +17 dB @ 450 Hz Treble: Shelving, +22 dB @ 3 kHz or 6 kHz Mid Cut: -8dB @ 800Hz
Weight 6 pounds (2.7 Kg)
Dimensions 11.25 inches (W) x 10 inches (D) x 3 inches (H) 285 mm (W) x 254 mm (D) x 76 mm (H)
Amplifier Response 20 Hz - 25 kHz
Sensitivity 98 dB (1W @ 1m)
Voltage Auto Adjusting Voltage 115 Volts or 240 Volts, 50 or 60 Hz 1000 Watts
Configuration Single Channel Preamp Class-D Power Amp Switch-Mode Power Supply
UL 901 [1000W] 1000 Watts RMS Minimum Load: 2 Ohms
Connectors Input: 1/4-inch TS Phone Jack Passive: 470K - Active: 200K Output: Combination SpeakonTM and 1/4-inch Send: 1/4-inch TS Phone Jack 200K Return: 1/4-inch TS Phone Jack 50K Tuner Out: 1/4-inch TS Phone Jack Foot Switch: 1/4-inch TRS Phone Jack Direct Out: Low Impedance XLR w/ Level Control Pre/Post EQ: Selectable Switch sets DI Output to Pre/Post EQ
Accessories (Included) Rackmount Kit US Power Cable International Power Cable
https://basscentral.com/amps/bergantino-forte-hp-2x-1200-watt-bass-amp-in-stock/
The Forté HP2X – Hyper-Powered Lightweight Bass Amplifier
Bergantino HP2X Bass Amplifier with “Custom Output Transformer”
Never to rest on past successes or ground breaking designs, Bergantino Audio is proud to introduce our new forte’ HP2X!
It’s no secret since the beginning of amplification, transformers were, and still are to this day, credited with what is often associate with that “Tube” sound. In fact, in many audio circles, transformers are often given much of the credit for those harmonically rich tones we so revere! So what does a transformer do? Because transformers are not perfect devices, they have a very unique and subtle way of distorting and adding desirable harmonic content to the final tone we hear. The added texture and presence associated with them are often credited with the “glue” or warmth of the amplifiers and recording gear they inhabit.
These added harmonics add a very desirable excitement, low end fill, and cut-thru clarity to the system they are utilized in by adding harmonic content to the original signal not otherwise present; similar to what a slightly overdriven tube does, but lower in frequency. Another quality (or shortcoming ;-})of transformers is hysteresis. This memory effect that delays the changing of polarity of the transformer core, and thus signal passing thru them, also helps create even more of those desirable harmonics we enjoy. So is it any wonder we couldn’t help but want to add this harmonically rich texture to our best selling amp, the forte’ HP2, now our forte’ HP2X ?
Special Features of the Bergantino HP2X Bass Amplifier
- Bergantino HP2X Bass Amplifier with “Custom Output Transformer”.
- Built-in parallel compression.
- Drive Circuit: Goes from Soft Clip “purr” to mix shredding distortion. Featuring the new proprietary B.S.D. (Bergantino Smart Drive) technology.
- Same 3dB of additional dynamic head room from HP2 as compared to the original HP.
- Variable Low-Pass (VLPF) and Variable High-Pass (VHPF) filters, critical for precise tone shaping and taming of the most challenging gigging environments.
Additional Features
- 4-Band Tone Controls: Bass: +/-10db @65hz, Lo-Mid:+/-10db @250hz, Hi-Mid: +/-10db @ 1khz, Treble: +/-10db @ 3.5khz
- Bright Switch: Software selectable between +6db @2khz or +8db @7khz
- Punch Switch: +4db @100hz
- Auxiliary Input and Headphone Jack: for personal monitor and practice
- Bluetooth, Foot-Switchable features for Drive, Punch, Bright, and Mute
- Software Upgradable via front USB port
- Rack Mountable with optional rack ears
- Effects send and return loop
- Studio quality Direct Output: software selectable Pre or Post EQ
- UPS – Universal power supply 115VAC – 240VAC 50/60Hz
- Power Section: 600W @ 8 ohms, 1200W RMS @ 4-Ohms, 1200W RMS @ 2-Ohms
- Dimensions: 13.25”W x 8.375”D x 3.75”H
- Weight: 6.4 lbs
- forté HP2X Owners Manual
