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212... Berg or Barefaced?

#2
Two different types of awesome in my book. It was easier for me to audition a number of the Berg cabs before I bought and I ended up going with the Berg CN212 - I couldn't be happier. As for which is better, a lot would depend on your single cab volume needs and maybe a touch in the voicing area.

If someone were to buy me either one as a present, my first reaction wouldn't be, "damn, I already have a 212 cab". :)
 
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#7
I played through AE and CN Berg cabs for nearly 10 years and now I'm using 2 Barefaced Super Compacts. I haven't heard the newer Bergs but if the old ones were anything to go by they'll have a fantastic sound.

I've owned dozens of cabs over the years and I've never been happier than with my SC's but Bergs are the only cabs I'd go back to. At the moment I'm toying with the idea of some Barefaced 10's.
 
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#8
Thanks so far. I didn't post any requirements because I really want to know what you guys think, unfiltered.

As for what I need/want: I'm never really sure what i want, but to paraphrase Supreme Ct Justice Potter Stewart re: pornography: I kind of know it when I hear it.

I want both punchy and deep, with a tight rather than loose, boomy low end. I recently played a used Berg 310, and almost bought it except for the weight of that anchor (is that why they say bass anchors the band?).

I'm in both 80's rock bands and modern blues/r and b bands, which to me is opposite worlds of what is required for bass tone, hence my desire for a new cab; the former needs a healthy amount of non-boomy low end and upper-mid bite while trying to reconcile the disastrous low mids coming forth from those evil Marshall 412s, while the latter needs punchy low mid/upper bass and just generally good tone. I'd like one cab to do it all, and I rather would like something a little on the tall side so I can hear it. I have considered two 210 cabs in a vertical arrangement, but would rather have a one cab solution. Weight needs to be light as I am now an old fart.

I have played through two Bergantino cabs in my entire life, one a 410 and the other the aforementioned 310. I was impressed by both. But the accolades and specs of the Barefaced have me very interested.

My amps:
Mesa D800 w/ 115/112 (great rig just not getting it for these situations, and I want a single cab)
Rumble 500
MarkBass LM3 800
MarkBass F1
Acoustic HD1000
Crown 2000w something or other, to which I may add an Ampeg pre/DI just to see what's up; the amp is awesome

What else would you like to know?
 
#11
From a flexibility, modularity and cash flow point of view. . . . if you already have the Subway series I'd either use the 115 as your one cab solution or get another 112 to make up the pair of 12's. IMO two always sound better than one.

I think I'd need a pretty big cab for a one cab solution in a rock band (at least a 410). On the other hand, my first choice would be to run the D800 at 2.67ohms through 2 112's and the 115 as a compact "wall of sound".
 
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#12
chris_b said:
From a flexibility, modularity and cash flow point of view. . . . if you already have the Subway series I'd either use the 115 as your one cab solution or get another 112 to make up the pair of 12's. IMO two always sound better than one.

I think I'd need a pretty big cab for a one cab solution in a rock band (at least a 410). On the other hand, my first choice would be to run the D800 at 2.67ohms through 2 112's and the 115 as a compact "wall of sound".
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I have used the Mesa rig in the 80's band and it definitely gets the job done, but I'm looking for tighter low end and a single cab. The 115 alone is so low to the ground I can't hear the midrange. When I elevate it it, there is not enough bass (floor coupling). And taking two cabs is a pain... In short, I think I can do better.

I'm not opposed to a 410, but my experience with them (having had several over the years) is that onstage I have trouble hearing them, but in the audience, it's killing people. And they are as directional as those blasted 412s.

As good as the Subway is, I've always had trouble getting my sound from that amp. It's a bit too round for my tastes, and I find the tone knobs very touchy.
 
#14
BF and Berg are my 2 favorite flavors of cab. If you want the lightest, single box, I'd favor BF for sure. The volume/lb ratio is where BF edges out Berg IME. The other factors are purely subjective. I prefer the Berg cab finish, and the tones offered by BF 10s vs 12s differ from each other and from Berg.
 
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#16
I have never played a Barefaced cab (really want to), but I've heard them on recordings and have been impressed. However, I can tell you that the Berg will be able to do everything you want it to. It will be perfect for the 80s rock project. Berg's modern voiced cabinets have a pianoesque timbre to them that I love and will fit right in with an 80s project. While if you want to be specific, an Eden or Markbass would probably be the optimal cab for a modern R&B project, the Berg won't be any slouch in that situation either.
 
#17
bdplaid said:
How are they different? I'd probably be just fine with a Berg, but a 212 for 37 lbs is mo better.
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I was only able to hear a One 10 cab in person when I was shopping around. I was amazed at how much sound came out of that little box. My understanding was/is that the 12's are a bit less colored and even more impressive volume and low-end capability-wise. Lomo summed it up well..."volume/lb ratio" is a notable Barefaced strength.

I was able to play a number of the Berg cabs (HD, CN and NV) and was equally impressed from a quality of tone and quality of build perspective - and they were all "loud enough/sufficiently low-end powerful" for my needs. Coming from Mesa PH212's, 410 and other similar heavy cabs, the 46 pound CN212 I bought was a laughably easy one hand carry with a very convenient footprint/overall size.

If my needs had been for absolute max volume with lightest weight and massive low-end capability without sacrificing a clear tone, the Barefaced Super Twin or Big Twin would have most certainly had the edge. Since the Berg impressed me, met my needs, and was screaming high quality, I decided to take the plunge rather search out more types of the Barefaced cabs to listen to. Also recognize that ended up buying a CN over an HD, so something with an even deeper low end capability (e.g. Barefaced) wasn't really a necessity for me.

Maybe my laziness got me a second place product in some respects, but I'm very happy with the Berg. I recognize that there will always be other products that may have better features, tone, capabilities, max output, etc., but the Berg line was impressive enough to me (overall) that I figured I'd be looking at "on the margin" improvements, some of which were in areas that weren't a top priority/essential for my uses. YMMV! :)
 
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