Poll: Wizzy 10/Berg NV215 youtube shootout

**nutdog** · #1 02-20-2011, 09:43 PM

I've been searching for a lightweight amp/cab to handle small gigs and practices. I was playing a 210 or 115 cab and usually had the amp at low volume so I thought a 110 or 112 would suffice, but the low G and E always broke up on the stuff I could find in local stores.

When I searched online the good reviews for small setups were usually qualified with something like "sounds good for it's size" or "don't expect it to sound like a 410". What does that mean?

And I could also look at several video reviews but they were usually the cab by itself, not in a mix. And what can you really tell from a youtube clip?

Fast forward, I now have an EA iamp micro300 and wizzy 10 cab. Definitely sounds good and doesn't break up, even at max volume. I also have a Thunderfunk 550b and a Berg NV215.

I was getting a little antsy because my two cover bands weren't doing much so I answered a craigslist ad for blues rhythm guitar/vocal. By the time we get together they've lost their bass player so I end up on bass. We played a couple of weeks ago in the guys garage. I brought the wizzy 10. It did alright but when we fed the DI into the PA it sounded better.

So yesterday we met again and I decided to break out the big guns. But I brought both rigs just for kicks. My daughter came along. I got her to film a run through of Stormy Monday. Then I asked the guys if they wouldn't mind doing the same song again with the other rig.

So here's a video I put together, warts and all, alternating verses between the two setups. It goes like this:

Intro- rig 1
Verse 1- rig 2
Verse 2- rig 1
Solo- rig 2
Solo- rig 1
Verse 3- rig 2

So in the poll, guess which rig is the micro/wizzy and which is the TF/NV215. Neither is plugged into the PA.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ltng4qt-rkc

Post your comments. I'm not trying to be scientific, just having a little fun. And no tricks.

Please excuse my video editing skills. I don't do this often.

seanm · #2 02-20-2011, 09:48 PM

I have never used the Wizzy 10 or the Berg, so I can't really say which is which

But I really liked the sound of rig 1 much better than rig 2. Rig 2 sounded muffled.

Nice playing by the way

**nutdog** · #3 02-20-2011, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seanm

I have never used the Wizzy 10 or the Berg, so I can't really say which is which

But I really liked the sound of rig 1 much better than rig 2. Rig 2 sounded muffled.

Nice playing by the way

It not so much the particular rigs as much as a nice 110 vs a nice 215. FWIW I could tell a big difference live but it didn't translate to the video IMO. Which is one of the things I've always wondered, can you really tell anything about bass from a youtube clip?

And thanks

rodneyat · #4 02-20-2011, 11:02 PM

I'm with Seanm..I don't really know which is which but prefer rig 1. Rig 2 seems to just be all low end with no distinct highs and muddy in the middle.

rodl2005 · #5 02-21-2011, 12:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rodneyat

I'm with Seanm..I don't really know which is which but prefer rig 1. Rig 2 seems to just be all low end with no distinct highs and muddy in the middle.

& the NV215 AINT all that!!!!
DAMN great cab!

ps got no spkrs at the mo'

AppliedStucco · #6 02-21-2011, 05:58 AM

I'm sorry but, listening to a live recording done with a camera mic, compressed, uploaded to youtube, compressed, and played by a cheap soundcard through a set of cheap pc speakers does not allow me to have an educated opinion or even make a guess. I'm afraid this would apply to most readers here. I don't mean to be snobby or anything, but the treble may have been killed off by the mic and the bass accentuated by my subwoofer, for instance.

Nice work with the band though, nice song and a great idea. I just feel that the production/execution was not up to standard.

**nutdog** · #7 02-21-2011, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AppliedStucco

I'm sorry but, listening to a live recording done with a camera mic, compressed, uploaded to youtube, compressed, and played by a cheap soundcard through a set of cheap pc speakers does not allow me to have an educated opinion or even make a guess. I'm afraid this would apply to most readers here. I don't mean to be snobby or anything, but the treble may have been killed off by the mic and the bass accentuated by my subwoofer, for instance.

Nice work with the band though, nice song and a great idea. I just feel that the production/execution was not up to standard.

That's part of the experiment. I've seen people comparing bass tone based on youtube and mp3 clips and as I said in the OP, what can you really tell from a youtube clip?

Your input is appreciated. So far the people with better things to do with their time have taken a commanding lead. We'll see see if the Monday morning work crowd has any spare time.

Dertygen · #8 02-21-2011, 08:46 AM

some unhappy people itt

rig one is wizzy

**nutdog** · #9 02-22-2011, 10:05 AM

Gonna bump it for another day although the busy people are in a commanding lead

Smurf-o-Deth · #10 02-22-2011, 11:07 AM

Just wanted to say thanks--I always appreciate it when people take the time and effort to share.

**nutdog** · #11 02-22-2011, 04:36 PM

Appreciate that smurf. I'll reveal the mystery tonight, or maybe in the morning if I fall asleep early.

**nutdog** · #12 02-22-2011, 10:01 PM

Rig 1 is wizzy.

On the video the sound wasn't very different to me. I agree with the posters that said rig 1 had more definition. It was that way live. But the Berg was more satisfying. The sound just drips effortlessly from that cab and envelops the room in rich, lush low end without needing to be loud. I may be buried in that cab.

But I wouldn't call transportation effortless. The wizzy wins that one. And the wizzy is quite incredible. We weren't blowing the neighborhood away but it wasn't low volume and it held it's own with 2 guitars and drums. I think two wizzys would do a lot.

But this probably says more about recording, computer sound and youtube than anything else.

My thanks to all who participated. It was educational and fun.

GregC · #13 02-23-2011, 01:06 AM

I just listened and voted (correctly) without reading past the OP. I've tried the NV215 once (great cab) and the T-Funk once but never the Wizzy or the EA head. Yeah, I voted the way I did based on the mid-forward nature of Rig 1 in the recording--it sounded sort of like a smaller box to me.

IME, the NV215 sounds much better in person than it did in this clip. It's not gonna get lost in the mix, that's for sure. Does yours have an attenuator for the 6" driver, and if so was it all the way up? I believe the later (tolex) ones had this control.

**nutdog** · #14 02-23-2011, 05:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GregC

I just listened and voted (correctly) without reading past the OP. I've tried the NV215 once (great cab) and the T-Funk once but never the Wizzy or the EA head. Yeah, I voted the way I did based on the mid-forward nature of Rig 1 in the recording--it sounded sort of like a smaller box to me.

IME, the NV215 sounds much better in person than it did in this clip. It's not gonna get lost in the mix, that's for sure. Does yours have an attenuator for the 6" driver, and if so was it all the way up? I believe the later (tolex) ones had this control.

It does. I'm not certain but I believe it's up. For the experiment I left both amps' EQ flat. The TF has timbre knob and it was slightly to the "old school" side that is less treble-y. I generally add some upper mids. It can sound quite modern and midforward. My theory is it has the mids of the wizzy but also a depth that came forward on the recording that makes the mids less apparent.

The wizzy/micro is strong, clear and clean, but the berg is thick and juicy and makes you proud to play bass. Quite honestly I haven't been moving the berg around much. I was quite happy at the first gathering with the EA in the going into the PA.

But this experience makes me want to bring the berg. It really isn't that hard to move around if you don't have to negotiate stairs. It just adds a little time because it stays at our church. I can't get it in and out of my basement by myself. I never set out to own one but it popped up on the local craigslist and when I tried it I had to have it. It was basically new at half price.

It sounds fantastic in our extremely sound-difficult sanctuary-high, sloped ceilings, pentagon shape and little extension side rooms. When I brought it to church I think it scared people but many have commented on how much better things are sounding. Bass sounds clear and defined anywhere in the room, not boomy mud.

We videoed the solo load and unload so I might put that up when I get a chance.

seanm · #15 02-23-2011, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nutdog

Rig 1 is wizzy.

On the video the sound wasn't very different to me. I agree with the posters that said rig 1 had more definition. It was that way live. But the Berg was more satisfying. The sound just drips effortlessly from that cab and envelops the room in rich, lush low end without needing to be loud. I may be buried in that cab.

That is the difference between studio sound and live sound. In the studio, the only important thing is that it sound good. But live, there is a non-audio component to the sound. Especially with bass, the feeling you get can be very important.

Dertygen · #16 02-24-2011, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nutdog

Rig 1 is wizzy.

On the video the sound wasn't very different to me. I agree with the posters that said rig 1 had more definition. It was that way live. But the Berg was more satisfying. The sound just drips effortlessly from that cab and envelops the room in rich, lush low end without needing to be loud. I may be buried in that cab.

But I wouldn't call transportation effortless. The wizzy wins that one. And the wizzy is quite incredible. We weren't blowing the neighborhood away but it wasn't low volume and it held it's own with 2 guitars and drums. I think two wizzys would do a lot.

But this probably says more about recording, computer sound and youtube than anything else.

My thanks to all who participated. It was educational and fun.

Woot.

Anyways from experience, handheld recordings (camera's, cellphones etc) plus then the conversion to youtube, loses the lower register clarity. Which is why the Wizzy sounded "cleaner"... or something.