Almost made a decision - Bergantino or Epifani

[Tumeni Notes]

Well, I am getting down to my final selection on a new bass cabinet. I have been reading many comments on this forum regarding the Bergantino and Epifani cabinets and am now deciding on:

Bergantino:
HT112ER and EX112ER or
HT112ER X 2

Epifani:
UL2 112 X 2

Note: As I was checking out eBay, someone is selling an Epifani cabinet and they stated, "Awsome epifani cab with the best 12 for bass in the World, BEYMA 12G40 ($220.00) 500AES Watts driver, instead of flimsy stock re-branded Delta Lite Eminence. It is light, focused and punchy, and very powerfull. No comparison to the stock UL-12 cab whatsoever." Is this simply "puffing"?

I want to narrow my selection down, before I make a long drive to a bass specility store.

In addition to the bass tone, weight and portability are very important to me. I want a lightweight cabinet that can be easily transported in my car.

I play a 5-string USA Lakland 55-94 and am currently using a RH450 amp head.

I play progressive rock and like a mid-range punch to my sound.

Any comments are appreciated.

[Stumbo]

Check out Beyma here: http://www.usspeaker.com/beyma%2012G40-1.htm

They are one of the high end bass speakers.

However, if the cab it's in wasn't designed for it, you probably won't be getting max performance out of it. It still may be better than stock, but you won't really know unless you run some calcs on the cab comparing the stock and upgraded speaker.

[gkbass13]

With your tonal goals you listed, I would say go with Berg stuff hands down. Epifani cabs play more to the wide open monstrous low end, sparkly highs kind of players, while Bergantino stuff is more even across and really pumps those mids. I'm more into Epifani personally, but I don't think the UL cabs would satisfy your needs as well as Berg might.

[nostatic]

I have no interest in any other cabs since getting my Bergs. And that included selling an Epi NYC T-210. If you want huge booty then Epi is great. I want/need mids, and Berg gives me that along with everything else. I find it to be an incredibly balanced cab.

[Hollow Man]

If you want midrange punch, Berg is the answer. IME, Epifanis tend to sound fairly scooped in the mids, and they're much more geared towards 'smooth' rather than 'punchy'. Go Berg!

[KJung]

The HT's are not lightweight, and I wouldn't think the ER's are particularly voiced for midrange punch (from the reviews I've read and the clips I've heard... never tried the new ER versions myself though... so
'grain of salt' there). The Epi's definitely are not.... wide and smooth and relatively hi fi.

I would consider the Berg AE112's... lightweight, tight, mid punchy, bright and grindy up top.

The Aguilar DB112's are magnificent for a rock mid-punchy tone, but are the same weight as the HT's.... I believe over 40 pounds each.

[tombowlus]

The UL-112 is a fine cab, for sure, but I sold both of mine once I picked up the Berg AE112's and HT112ER's.

[Virgil]

Originally Posted by tombowlus

The UL-112 is a fine cab, for sure, but I sold both of mine once I picked up the Berg AE112's and HT112ER's.

I have both, the Berg 112HT er and the Epi UL112, and I say you can't go wrong with either cab, I use them together. The HT has a very smooth mid-range and the Epi has the booty moving bottom. When I A/B-ed them side by side I gave the Berg a slight advantage but there were those in the room who clearly liked one or the other, and we all played different genres of music. It really boils down to your ears and your ears only. I love both which is why I use both.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by Virgil

I have both, the Berg 112HT er and the Epi UL112, and I say you can't go wrong with either cab, I use them together. The HT has a very smooth mid-range and the Epi has the booty moving bottom. When I A/B-ed them side by side I gave the Berg a slight advantage but there were those in the room who clearly liked one or the other, and we all played different genres of music. It really bowls down to your ears and your ears only. I love both which is why I use both.

+1 These cabs are all just different flavors of great, and each will 'speak to' different players.

I haven't heard the ER cab, but the AE112 and 112UL are quite different, with the tight, bright sound of the AE appealing to some players, and the wide, smooth, more hi fi voicing of the UL appealing to others. I like them both very much for what they are, even though the AE cabs 'speak more' to me, since I prefer 'tight punch and a bit of grind in the lower treble' over 'big lows and sparkly upper treble top end' at this point.

One thing for sure, I like Bergantino as a company at this point WAY more than Epifani, regarding business practices and service and support.

[Alexander]

Originally Posted by KJung

One thing for sure, I like Bergantino as a company at this point WAY more than Epifani, regarding business practices and service and support.

A HUGE +1 to this. Not to mention the fact I think Bergantino 12" loaded cabs are the bees knees, I will never again buy any product from Epifani. Haven't come across a bigger set of ***hats when it comes to servicing customers of a "supposedly" high end product...

Jim has been top notch in my (albeit limited) experience with him. I owned an HT\EX112 stack and am now playing through an NV412 cab that absolutely rocks...

[B String]

A major comonent here is the amp. An amp with a strong mid
range can help compensate for a wider sounding box.
In years past, one of the standard backline rigs was an SWR
box with a GK800rb. The 800rb being punchy as hell, would
compensate for the very wide voicing of the SWR 4x10 boxes.

With the right head, you can eq out some of the lows and
highs, and eq in a little mid. I like using a Shuttle 9.0 head
with smaller boxes like the Berg HT112. The 9.0 can have a
good low end extension and strong highs which even out the
limited frequency response of the HT112. I used to use an Epi
UL112 with a Focus I head which is very low mid to high mid
strong. Paired with the strong lows and highs of the UL112,
they made a good combination. So maybe correct matching of
amp and speaker is rather important in this application.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by B String

A major comonent here is the amp. An amp with a strong mid
range can help compensate for a wider sounding box.
In years past, one of the standard backline rigs was an SWR
box with a GK800rb. The 800rb being punchy as hell, would
compensate for the very wide voicing of the SWR 4x10 boxes.

With the right head, you can eq out some of the lows and
highs, and eq in a little mid. I like using a Shuttle 9.0 head
with smaller boxes like the Berg HT112. The 9.0 can have a
good low end extension and strong highs which even out the
limited frequency response of the HT112. I used to use an Epi
UL112 with a Focus I head which is very low mid to high mid
strong. Paired with the strong lows and highs of the UL112,
they made a good combination. So maybe correct matching of
amp and speaker is rather important in this application.

+1 all the way. The mix and match is key, key key!

[B String]

Originally Posted by KJung

+1 all the way. The mix and match is key, key key!

Ok people. This is BIG! Ken is agreeing with me! As you all
know, its usually me (us) agreeing with Ken. Oh, this is big! lol

[PlanetEarth]

FWIW: Using the GB S. Max 12 and Berg HT112ER - IMHO: Heaven.... But, sounds so personal. Nice clear vocal highs, smooth mids, tight punchy bottom, I love the Bergs, both are a great cabs though and as someone else mentioned, as a company Berg. is outstanding.

As a side note, the Berg has a slightly higher power rating at 350W and a slighter wider frequency range 40Hz - 18k but truthfully the difference in the numbers is probably negligible.

It really boils down to how and what you play too... If you know another bassist that shares similar musical tastes as you across the board that's tried em..... That usually works for me, I've got a just a few other players that I share some common ground with and between them I'm usually able to get a good trust-worthy picture to rely on before making a blind (having not tried first-hand) purchase.

I would HIGHLY recommend hitting up TB'r Greg Bump (AKA Rocket Music) who owns Rocket Music in Blacksburg, VA - He's got a sponsored forum here on TB.

Greg carries a lot of high end basses and gear, is a bassist himself (a good one at that), and gives great advice on gear having spent a lot of time test driving stuff himself. Even seen him go as far as posting side by side sound clip comparisons in his forum when someone has a question like yours.

-PE

[Steve]

I think if I was in the market for Bergie 12's (which I always am)

I'd hold off until the AE 212's hit the market and got reviewed because...that thing looks sa-weet.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by B String

Ok people. This is BIG! Ken is agreeing with me! As you all
know, its usually me (us) agreeing with Ken. Oh, this is big! lol

[T. Alan Smith]

Originally Posted by B String

Ok people. This is BIG! Ken is agreeing with me! As you all
know, its usually me (us) agreeing with Ken. Oh, this is big! lol

He agreed with me in another thread. Here I thought I was having a great day, when in fact its Ken having an off day.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by T. Alan Smith

He agreed with me in another thread. Here I thought I was having a great day, when in fact its Ken having an off day.

I even agreed with Bill FitzM in another thread, and Bowlus and I have been in a lovefest the last month.... I'm getting soft

[::::BASSIST::::]

I have a couple of UL112 (series one) cabs and they are very portable at 30LBS and sound excellent. I have found it is much more effective/easier to EQ in some low-mids into a wider cab to get a punchy tone rather than trying to pump lows into a middy cab.

[tombowlus]

Originally Posted by KJung

I even agreed with Bill FitzM in another thread, and Bowlus and I have been in a lovefest the last month.... I'm getting soft

Yeah, you are slipping for sure. I mean, I know that you and I sometimes agree just to mess with folks, but you agreeing with Fitzmaurice!