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Berg IP153 review

#61
Played a great gig tonight. Guitar, bass, drums and sax. Sax through a little PA. Biggest obstacle? Firehouse. Retired firehouse. We were playing in the Engine bays. In fact in front of the overhead doors. The slap back was incredible.
Berg IP153 with Kern just ruled. Big lows with stratocaster highs. Actually sounded great in very unruly acoustics.
 
#62
Am I the only one that chokes a bit on a $2700 price tag? Sure wish Jim would find a way to get the cost down on his IP line. Look at the price difference in an HT112 and a IP112 and that is one mighty expensive amp. Also, am I the only one that would buy this cab in a heartbeat as a passive cab?
 
#64
bassadicct said:
I hate Jim!!! He makes my cab and amp decisions so tough! i was gonna go db750 through an nv215. now i'm thinkin my sadowski bpdi through either a ip310 or this new 153. my wife will probably leave me because of Jim.
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You really want something that puts out a line level signal in front of the IP's. The Sadowsky pre doesn't put out a line level unfortunately. :(
 
#65
Rhythm5 said:
Am I the only one that chokes a bit on a $2700 price tag? Sure wish Jim would find a way to get the cost down on his IP line.

When the IPs came out we did the math of cab+1000w amp+pre. The additional +/- $300 for the DSP is worth it when you hear it.
A DB750 is $2400 plus $800 to $1000 + for a boutique cab you are really in range.
As is discussed on the boutique bass threads the hourly wage a boutique maker has to make to pay his living expenses has to come from somewhere. He/She can't work full time and then carve your bass by hand or design and test to perfection and update the DSP in some reasonable amount of time. Ask those bassists waiting for their bubinga blewowy ebony concarne' 11.5 string laminated special with 96volt pre to be finished before go into the retirement home.:)
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#67
chadds said:
The only problem is you start trying pres..............:eek::rollno:
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Amen !!! The Kern has been my favorite preamp, but with my IP-153 all I've been using is the Presonus Tube D.I. basically just for adjusting volume and having a D.I. line..
This set-up has been sounding amazing for all the different gigs I've been doing since receiving it... It probably doesn't hurt using my Celinder basses with it as well...:bassist:
 
#68
Rhythm5 said:
Am I the only one that chokes a bit on a $2700 price tag? Sure wish Jim would find a way to get the cost down on his IP line. Look at the price difference in an HT112 and a IP112 and that is one mighty expensive amp. Also, am I the only one that would buy this cab in a heartbeat as a passive cab?
Click to expand...

he's using a Bang & Olufsen power amp in there, the finest drivers I have ever heard in my life, with the best cabinet designs, and a custom crossover and tweeter specialized for each cab (the FIRST bass company to do that), and a custom DSP. Have you heard any of the IP stuff? It is totally amazing, and THE best bass system on the market, in my opinion, and in the opinion of many people here, including Tom Bowlus, who can use and afford pretty much any rig he wants. It is comparable in price to the cost of a good cabinet and poweramp comibination, but will pretty much blow them all away thanks to the DSP and the total customization from the great Mr. B.

IMHO, of course.

Cheers,
Cameron
 
#69
Bassflute said:
he's using a Bang & Olufsen power amp in there, the finest drivers I have ever heard in my life, with the best cabinet designs, and a custom crossover and tweeter specialized for each cab (the FIRST bass company to do that), and a custom DSP. Have you heard any of the IP stuff? It is totally amazing, and THE best bass system on the market, in my opinion, and in the opinion of many people here, including Tom Bowlus, who can use and afford pretty much any rig he wants. It is comparable in price to the cost of a good cabinet and poweramp comibination, but will pretty much blow them all away thanks to the DSP and the total customization from the great Mr. B.

IMHO, of course.

Cheers,
Cameron
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+1!
 
#72
Damn you Jim Bergantino!! You will be my financial ruining!!! After reading this thread, I must send my IP310 amp to Jim for the latest DSP re-flash... Hopefully that will tide me over before I do something stupid.. again!

I have to say IME, the IP's just sit in the mix so well it is astonishing. I played a gig last week in a TERRIBLE acoustic environment with my IP310. Honestly, at points I thought I must have been too loud during rehearsal, but when the soundguy was setting levels, he asked the guitarist to turn down but for me to stay put.

I also received compliments from the drummer on how clearly and non obtrusively the bass sat in the mix. With the Summit Pre, the bass was warm, fat, and deep. I really can't imagine anything better.

Oh, I had no idea that Jim used Bang Olufsen Amps.. :eek: No wonder these are so pricey. Does anyone know which amp, or the tech specs or any other tid bits? This is intriguing.
 
#73
Groovin said:
Oh, I had no idea that Jim used Bang Olufsen Amps
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Neither did I. As far as I know Berg's using OEM units from Powersoft. There was another inaccurate statement or two in that post too I think, about custom drivers and such. A fair number of cabs have non-stock drivers in them, modded to the cab company's spec.

As for DSP, there are a number of standalone DSP / SMS (Speaker Management Systems) available. I just bought a Peavey VSX 26, Passinwind has used one and is very pleased with it, and he also bought a Rane RPM26z which is pretty slick. He also has a POwersoft plate amp/DSP like the ones in the IP series. I think Alex Claber is getting a QSC DSP-4 which only weighs a pound or so and is just large enough to house 4 XLR connectors. BBE has a few very affordable units available as well.

So there are alternatives, and easily-programmable ones at that.
 
#77
Daywalker said:
$2700????:eek:
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What? Your list includes a DB750 at $2400. without a cab.:) Unless you feel this is a reasonable down to earth price....:) It is to me for what you get.
I know I told you guys that at a previous gig one of my guitarists thought the other was playing this riff when it was me. The Biamping is crazy. The thing on the firehouse gig was how full and warm and middish the IP153 waa. Hmmmm? Middish. Full mids with large low end and great highs. What are we describing here anyway?
Yes the IP310 redo is a must do. It's so good now.
 

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