Berg , EA , Genz , Aguilar , Glock shootout at Bass Specialties today...

[MWBass]

So, in continuing to break down the list of rigs for this time around, I decided to head out to Bass Specialties in PA. I was a little disappointed that they no longer carried Accugroove, because my main goal there was to test the AG verses EA and Berg. But you can't always get what you want.

As for the day, overall it was great. I was a little disheartened at first. When I first went in, they basically told me that I could only use a certain set off basses for cab testing. They also siad that there preference was to not have to many heavy slappers on the high end pieces. Thats a problem with me, because thats my thing. They explained that they had to many guys comin in pounding away on the mtd's and the Roscoes and they were getting dinged up in the shop. Then upon sale they were gettin biten in the ass from that. I guess I can understand that. From a builders standpoint its nice to see that people understand the quality and man hours put into these great works of art. Since I was cab testing, it was all good. But if I was looking at basses, I definetly would have pressed harder. They had some nice pieces... especially this one Roscoe 5... beautiful.

The second thing was when I plugged in they said I have to play very low because lessons were going on. Well, I am cab testing, playing low everything sounds stellar. I could have been frustrated, do to the 1h15min drive but the guys were super nice and the lessons were ending in a half hour, so I was happy to wait.

The highlight of my day was the following.
I was playing, at the time Genz S600 into a Berg AE112. I had a slight bit of time adjusting to the bass. They guy that was helping me let me borrow his Marcus Miller Bass. GReat bass, but different then my customs. I got hooked in quickly. I was finally hitting my stride and feeling the playing and the cab. So, there's a guy standing about 4 feet to my right, and I hear him say to another guy across the room something along the lines of.. "Man, this guys goin to work. Nice playing man." I looked up. It was Gerald Veasley. MAn, that felt good. He is such a talented an accomplished player... made my day. So far in my playing career I got a compliment from Anothony Jackson, Richard Bona, and now Gerald Veasley. I guess I have the good fortune of being in the right place at the right time, more than once. So, cool.

Anyways... Cabs, Amps, Reviews... Let's do this.

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[Art Araya]

Like the Paganini caprice on your site bro. Nice job!

[MWBass]

So, where did i start...

1. Genz S900 into Uber Quad - Cool cab and head. This was my first experience with the S900. It was awesome, basic, simple, and to me, just better than the Shuttle. I can't explain it, its just like they took the shuttle and dialed in the right amount of thickness and warm, and then removed all of the bells and whistles. The coolest part was that, since I was cab testing, I just set everything flat, and it was surprisingly great. Good for me being a set it and forget it guy. As for the Uber Quad. Cool Cab. Sounded great. I can attest as others have said, it has this neat 3d quality. Hard to explain, but you just have to hear it. Warm articulation.

2, Genz S900 into Berg AE210 - I brought over the berg. I plugged it in. Within 5 seconds, I prefered it over the Quad. It just seemed deeper, thicker and tighter all at the same time. I thought it wasn't fair because the Quad was up on an Uber 212 and the Berg was on the floor. So I raised the Berg up to the same height. Same thing. The berg was nice. Remeniscent of my last berg experience with the IP310.

3. Genz S900 into Berg AE112 - I thought it was time to try they 112 vs. the 210. I probably went back and fourth 10 or 12 times. They were similar, but different. The tens were a bit punchier and it was a slight bit louder, but the 12 was deeper and seemed more solid down below. I wish i could better explain it, but the 12 just seemed thicker note to note, but didn't loose the articulation and it wasn't really any less punchy. I ended up prefering the 112. This is contrary to my experience with the ip 112 stack and the ip310. I prefered the tens then. But, man, I really dug the S900 into the 112.

4. Genz S900 into Berg EX 112 ER - Now, I would have preferred the HT with the tweeter, but they had sold it. I really wanted to see the difference between the AE and HT lines. So, I just rolled the tweeter off on the AE and started going back and fourth. So, how can I describe the difference since they were both build and tuned by the man himself. To me, it was a demo between the difference in sound between a Neo driver and a regular driver. They were different. The AE had a little more of what I call that neo sound. I am not good at describing it, but anyone that has gone back and fourth between neo and ceramic, you may know what I am talking about. In the end, I would say that I liked the EX better. Kind of the same as the first time I tested neos. Better, but really marinal. The real question is was that sound difference worth the extra weight? I dunno. I do however understand why so many people had that HT/EX stack. It really is a beautiful presentation of sound. Jim really is a model american.

****A word on Jim Bergantino. I have to give Jim one major bit of kudos. His implementation of tweeers. If there is one thing that really stuck out about the berg, it was how smooth the crossover is, and how connected the tweeter is to the woofers sound. Probably the most coherent I have heard. The furthest from that Separate low and Hi clackity clack sound... the very opposite of the experience I had with the Hartke Hydrive Cabs.

5. Genz S900 into Aquilar 112 - What can I say, it was good, but it was the same. Aguilar kind of sounds in line with everything else to me. Great, but just there.

6. Genz S900 into Glockenklang 112 - I actually went back and fourth between this and the AE112 for a while. The glock sounded good, great actually. Had a very studio monitor type sound, at least from my standpoint. It was a tough call. Very different than the AE112. The AE won when I was doing fingerstyle grooves and harmonic work. Just seemed more like the bass on the berg.

7. Genz S900 into EA Wizzy M 12 - Classic EA sound, but it just didn't come close to the bottom end on flat eg that the berg had.

8. EA iAMP Pro into EA Wizzy M 12 or Berg AE112 - Well, naturally, the iAMP sounded great with the Wizzy. It just still didn't have enough of it. I can't explain it, but it didn't quite have IT. When i switched to the iAMP into the AE112. Terrible. It takes a lot for me to say that, but all of the richness and beautiful thick yet articulate bass from the S900 AE112 combo was lost. If you want my opinion, the iAMP800 is a no go with the Berg AE. No. If you like the iAMP stick with the EA stuff, it is a great great marriage. Sounds superb. Or even an iAMP into an Accugroove, I used to be head over heels for that sound. Not EA AE. Poler Opposites iven when you write them down.

So, my thoughts...

The S900 is a smokin head. It really has a great great tone. Personally, the way I can describe it... It is basically my Shuttle dialed to the perfect thickness that I like, a thickness I could never attain on the shuttle myself trying to dial it in, with minimal knobs for slight changes and possible room eq's. Awesome.

My favorite on the day was the AE 112, but probably the HT112 if they had it, given my testing. Jim Bergantino's a saint. Biggest surprises, the insanely perfect transition of Jim's woofer to tweeter and crossover implementation. Wonderful. Best part of the day, GErald's comment...it felt good. Real Good. and also kudos to bass specialties. Great guys over there, cool shop.

Well, my original list included GEnz Quads, Accugroove tri112's or a jr, phil jones roadcase, berg ae, eden 210xst's, acme, mesa scout 112's, and the tc rs stuff.

Looks like I can narrow it down to four now.

Genz is out. As much as I really love what there doing, the BErg struck them out today in my opinion with my playing style.

PJB is out. I played a superflight case the other day at NJG&B and as much as I really dig the tone, I don't think its gonna play ball with enough volume and projection for a $2600 75 lb. combo.

Acme and Eden are out. I didn't get to play the Low b-2 or new 112, but my notes from last time, about 2 or 3 years ago, I spent a long time trying to make the cab work for me, and it didn't. It just wasn't my thing.

So, looks like...

1.) AG Tri112 stack

2.) Berg AE 112 stack or AE212

3.) Mesa Scout 112 Stack

4.) TC RH and RS combination.

For me its gonna be a really tough call between the Berg AE or HT if I can get my hands on it, and the mesa cabs. Over the last week, I had very ear opening experiences with both. Very excited about the sound. I feel that the berg has that amazing tweeter coherence and smooth crossover, but the mesa has that passive radiator which will definetly run louder. And given my problems with volume in the past, that extra output would be nice. Also, if I do go Mesa, I definetly won't get the combo. It eats up 25% of the internal volume and drops down to an 8" passive radiator. I think that would be a huge difference in output. And the combo was loud. Noticeably louder then the berg AE. I think two Scout 112's would probably be equivalent to 3 AE112's in terms of volume output. Tough decisions.

If you have any comments on the above 4, given what you've heard so far, let me know.

Lastly, I would like to say that I like the marcus miller bass palm rest. I always thought they looked stupid, but its like its like ergonomics for a slapper. Its like a slappers recliner.

Ok, i'm out for now.

[bucephylus]

That's a very nice write-up. Thanks for taking the time.

Agree that JB's cabs are just something really special. No disrespect to the other cab makers, but the Berg's are really goin' on. Looks like you are really on target with your assessment. Guess its one upside of this otherwise nasty economy that the AE's can still be had. Good luck.

[T. Alan Smith]

Originally Posted by bucephylus

That's a very nice write-up. Thanks for taking the time.

This.

[noahw1]

Have you tired the Genz Benz Neox cabs? Curious to hear your thoughts on those with the Streamliner since I hear them compared to Bergs every now and then.

[jeff7bass]

Good post MW. You’re like me, a big fan of the single 112 cab. Something pure about a single 112.
I have to try the Berg’s someday. Those AE’s look real nice.

[T. Alan Smith]

Originally Posted by jeff7bass

You’re like me, a big fan of the single 112 cab. Something pure about a single 112..

That's how I've always felt about 2x10"s. 4x10"s always sounded muddy by comparison.

[lo-freq]

I'm thinking that the AE112 and AE210 might be a cool combination of cabs to have about.

Actually, if I had an HT112ER, AE112, AE210, and HS210 I could mix&match up a storm for different gigs/venues...

[esoxhntr]

If you don't mind shlepping the extra weight, the HS210/HT112 combo is VERY good.

[Red Planet]

Nice review.

Regarding the Berg cabs; I much prefer the HT112ER cabs to the AE112 cabs. They just have more bottom and are warmer sounding.

I agree about the tweeters on the Bergs though I hardly ever use a tweeter.

I settled on a pair of the HT cabs with the Streamliner 900 after first getting a pair of the AE cabs and regretting that. I must give an extra Kudos to Jim as well. I had to order the two AE cabs and after not liking them he took them back and sent me a pair of HT cabs. I've not looked back.

[IntrepidCellist]

If you like the smooth extension from woofer to tweeter with plenty of volume and under 35 lbs, you need to see if you can find someone's AudioKinesis Thunderchild to try out. I *love* mine, and haven't found anything that quite matches up.

[lo-freq]

Originally Posted by esoxhntr

If you don't mind shlepping the extra weight, the HS210/HT112 combo is VERY good.

You talking about the original HT112 or the newer HT112ER?

[tombowlus]

Originally Posted by Red Planet

Regarding the Berg cabs; I much prefer the HT112ER cabs to the AE112 cabs. They just have more bottom and are warmer sounding.

+1, sorta. My caveat is that I do like the AE112's very much, and with some basses, on some material, I prefer them to the HT112ER's. That being said, I probably haven't raved enough lately about the HT112ER's. If you like a big, deep, warm sounding cab (that still has a clear, pure high end - if you want it) the HT112ER is hard to beat, especially in its size range.

[esoxhntr]

Originally Posted by lo-freq

You talking about the original HT112 or the newer HT112ER?

My preference would be the original, for what I'm doing - no low B, mostly jazz - the original HT112/HS210 is a slightly tighter and dynamically responsive stack, but I can see why others would like the ER for a little more bottom end extension and booty. Sorta depends on your ears and your gigs I guess, but I've had both combos, and both are good. I kept the original HT112 and sold the ERs. My ears, my taste, that's all.

[tombowlus]

Originally Posted by esoxhntr

My preference would be the original, for what I'm doing - no low B, mostly jazz - the original HT112/HS210 is a slightly tighter and dynamically responsive stack, but I can see why others would like the ER for a little more bottom end extension and booty. Sorta depends on your ears and your gigs I guess, but I've had both combos, and both are good. I kept the original HT112 and sold the ERs. My ears, my taste, that's all.

Yup, the original HT112 still has its own thing to offer, and it still has probably the best midrange texture, focus and communication of any 1x12 I have played.

[lo-freq]

Originally Posted by esoxhntr

My preference would be the original, for what I'm doing - no low B, mostly jazz - the original HT112/HS210 is a slightly tighter and dynamically responsive stack, but I can see why others would like the ER for a little more bottom end extension and booty. Sorta depends on your ears and your gigs I guess, but I've had both combos, and both are good. I kept the original HT112 and sold the ERs. My ears, my taste, that's all.

I've always wished I had picked up one of the original HT112 along with a pair of the original EX112 -- I'm thinking that a Berg 3x12 stack driven by a Mesa M9 would have enough low end for me (BEADG -- 5-player) as l like my 'B' to sound very tight and upper bass/low-mids to sound very punchy with those smooth mids and sweet highs.

[andertone]

That's my main rig: Streamliner 600 through a HT112/EX112 stack, either one or both depending on gig. I play a 4 string sadowsky and Alembic Rogue, and that rig just sings. Plenty of bottom, although my old Epifani t212 goes lower, the Bergs are more musical especially in the low mids

[Red Planet]

Originally Posted by tombowlus

+1, sorta. My caveat is that I do like the AE112's very much, and with some basses, on some material, I prefer them to the HT112ER's. That being said, I probably haven't raved enough lately about the HT112ER's. If you like a big, deep, warm sounding cab (that still has a clear, pure high end - if you want it) the HT112ER is hard to beat, especially in its size range.

I'm not really dogging the AE112. I'm sure they are great. I think my biggest issue is coupling it with a single coil P Bass. The basses have this pronounced peak at around 2k built in and the AE cabs do as well. This does not mix well. I could not EQ it out.

Too much going on at 2k in the AE's for me even with the tweeter off.

[MWBass]

Originally Posted by Art Araya

Like the Paganini caprice on your site bro. Nice job!

Thanks man, I appreciate it.

Wish I could remember how to play it. Haven't played it in almost 4 years. It was Yngwie Malmsteen's arrangement for guitar converted to bass. Probably would have been a bit easier on a stick, but I don't have one... hehe.