The Bullhead 1.5K started with the front end of the 3K — the preamp, the EQ, and the filters — and simplified the concept. A single input feeds the preamp, a single power module drives the output, and two parallel speaker jacks put it to your cabinets. No dual-channel routing, no secondary inputs. Just a high-powered head designed to do one thing well.
The Mike Pope-designed Bullhead preamp is the same across every Bullhead head. Warm, transparent, and precise, it gives you an accurate picture of your instrument with as much or as little shaping as you want. The 4-band EQ covers Bass, Low Mid, High Mid, and Treble — shelving controls on the lows and highs, bandpass on each midrange — all with selectable frequencies and ±12dB of range.
Why the Bullhead 3K?
The Bullhead 3K offers a unique design of 2 independent power modules that are 1700w RMS each via 2 Pascal L-Pro2S power amps… We took that number down to 1500w × 2 to safely land at the Bullhead 3K name.
A common limitation with some Class D amps is a minimum-recommended load of 4 Ohms. In its simplest setup the Bullhead 3K feeds your input into both power modules allowing you to access both to feed your onstage cabinets. One advantage of having 2 power modules available is the ability to run 2 cabs at 4 Ohms each (one off each module) or multiple cabs at 8 Ohms each. Once we landed on the idea of including access to two power modules, we had even more possibilities open up for how the player can use the amp. We commonly have players with 2 rigs on stage, one for key bass and one for electric bass. With the Bullhead 3K, that same player can run his electric bass through the BH3K front end and into one of the internal 1500w power modules and to his stage cabs. Additionally, he can run his keys rig into the rear amplifier 2 input and access the second power module for his keys stage rig, with each input also having a dedicated XLR output. This same thinking could work for a clean/dirty set up or a modern vintage setup by inserting your favorite tube preamp into amplifier 2 or any 2 channel type of configuration you can come up with. TECH NOTE: The ring on the input jack of the Amplifier 2 input on the back acts like a switch. When a cable is inserted, the internal switching separates the second power module from the front input and allows it to run independently.
While the idea of 2 independent cabinets set up on stage sounds like fun and works for a lot of players, there are times when 2 cabs on stage simply does not make sense. For players wanting to utilize the 2 channel options mentioned above but wanting it to all go to one cabinet, we have an amplifier 2 ON/OFF toggle switch on the front of the amp. If you turn the amplifier 2 toggle switch to OFF, then the rear input will sum with the front input and put it all through the single 1500w power module and into one cabinet. Now you can have your bass and keys through a single cabinet and still have independent volume controls and XLR for each.
Is the Bullhead 3K overkill for most people? Maybe, but when you experience the versatility of having access to 2 independent power modules and the effortless response of the added headroom, it may just be the solution you were looking for. And if not, we proudly offer our Bullhead Mini500, Bullhead .5K and Bullhead 1K to meet your needs.
READ MORE ABOUT HOW THE BULLHEAD AMPS WORK
