Bergantino AE212 - Just Released

[KJung]

Well, I don't know about fixed pricing, but I do know that I spent some time with the AE212 yesterday. Very full and balanced... un-neo sounding to me (if you'll forgive the description). The ONLY neo cab that I have ever considered - and am still considering - laying down the cash for.

Cool! It is VERY A-C friendly also... nice fat tone for a J Bass!

 

[Top_Ten]

There's nothing in that law that says that a companies agreement with a dealer/distributor can't set prices. As long as they aren't doing it with a competitor it's fine.

Not to derail, but that's not correct. A company cannot force its resellers/distributors to resell at a certain price. That is illegal.

However, a company can tell its resellers/distributors "you can resell at any price you want, but if you resell cheaper than I like, I'm not going to sell you any more of my products."

Sort of a technicality, but that's how the law works.

 

[KJung]

Not to derail, but that's not correct. A company cannot force its resellers/distributors to resell at a certain price. That is illegal.

However, a company can tell its resellers/distributors "you can resell at any price you want, but if you resell cheaper than I like, I'm not going to sell you any more of my products."

Sort of a technicality, but that's how the law works.

That's the way I understand it also. I think Mesa has pulled their line from GC a few times when GC started to discount (or maybe GC discounted remaining stock after Mesa pulled the line!).

The Berg selling prices are in line with other companies 'discounted retail pricing' (at least comparing cabs of similar quality and small volume manufacturing).

 

[rodneyat]

That's the way I understand it also. I think Mesa has pulled their line from GC a few times when GC started to discount (or maybe GC discounted remaining stock after Mesa pulled the line!).

The Berg selling prices are in line with other companies 'discounted retail pricing' (at least comparing cabs of similar quality and small volume manufacturing).

100% agreed..The Berg stuff is right in line with the other "boutique" manufacturers..and it is made in the USA..which is not the case with all of them.

And yes, you will see manufacturers pull lines from stores when they continually sell below MAP. One bass specific retailer in particular has had a number of lines pulled in the past year or two. Not to derail though.

The AE212 is a killer cab at a killer price and Jim Bergantino's customer service is superb. If you have a question or concern..he is more than willing to speak to you personally.

 

[vision]

Not to derail, but that's not correct. A company cannot force its resellers/distributors to resell at a certain price. That is illegal.

However, a company can tell its resellers/distributors "you can resell at any price you want, but if you resell cheaper than I like, I'm not going to sell you any more of my products."

Sort of a technicality, but that's how the law works.

Thanks for the clarification! That makes sense...

 

[emjazz]

However, a company can tell its resellers/distributors "you can resell at any price you want, but if you resell cheaper than I like, I'm not going to sell you any more of my products."

Yes, this is how it works from what I understand.

 

[gregbackstrom]

The eagle has landed. Here's just a few teaser pic's of the cab... front and back, and next to the AE410 with the F500 and Sadowsky.

First, nice to have a company not talk about a new product until it is almost ready to ship, and then giving a ship date that is actually met. Nice Jim! Kudo's to Greg at RocketMusic also... easy transaction... nice cat!

Beautiful cab just like all the other AE's. Just a tiny bit shallower than the AE410, and of course, thinner and taller.

So far... it sounds GOOD... but more on that in a couple hours after I've pounded it a bit versus the AE410.

Well, my eagle didn't land -- I had to go catch it! I just picked up #101 at BassNW. Hopefully I'll get a chance to try it out tonight.
What a great size! It should be much easier to get in and out of some of the venues my band finds itself in! It should look pretty sexy with a Shuttle 9.0 on top!

- Greg

 

[DB5]

Picked up #114 last Friday at Bass Emporium and using it with the F500. And loving it. Sold my old berg cabinets today, its been a good week.

 

[Jerry J]

Well, my eagle didn't land -- I had to go catch it! I just picked up #101 at BassNW. Hopefully I'll get a chance to try it out tonight.
What a great size! It should be much easier to get in and out of some of the venues my band finds itself in! It should look pretty sexy with a Shuttle 9.0 on top!

- Greg

I was wondering who would be the first one in the PNW to get one of these. Lucky guy!

Was yours the only one they had in stock?

 

[Whitbass]

Thanks KJung and Rodneyat.

Yes, I was thinking a single cab that could get the job done. Small problem of not having the $999. But I can sell some stuff and get there.

Thanks!

The Berg AE410 might be the best chance considering weight, quality of tone, and clean volume. This cab, like Bergs pretty much in general will remain clean at higher volumes, the AE410 is a punching, cutting rascal......As I mentioned I have gigged SWR 2x 210 or 210+115, etc, and have done some side by side comparisons of these vs my Bergs.....of course the 115 brings something different to the table vs the 10's; but in my comparisons, the Bergs are just so clear, yet they still sound plenty bassy.....I find this to be very useful in a mix in that you can really hear it well, and is plenty authoritative...............
of course I think its safe to say, a single AE410 will not really hang with 2 SWR 410's generally speaking, but one AE410 can get quite loud without breaking up, and can be heard really well even in loud mixes...

good luck

 

[gregbackstrom]

I was wondering who would be the first one in the PNW to get one of these. Lucky guy!

Was yours the only one they had in stock?

+1 I am lucky -- this is a great cabinet. It seems to have all the punch of the AE410 with a little more on the bottom and less "crunch" in the upper midrange. It seems more consistent from bottom to top than most of the other cabs I've played. It also looks great, either as a stand-alone cab or with my AE210 on top. That's my new "big stage" rig, powered by two Shuttle 9.0's.

BassNW ordered two AE212's: #'s 100 and 101. One of the cabinets was pre-ordered, so I bought their only "store-stock" cabinet. I'm not sure who else on the left coast might have one. Maybe Gelb or BassSanDiego?

My band is playing in Tucson, AZ this weekend for the Noevir annual convention. I'll be playing the "provided" instrument (Fender AmStd5) and backline (WT800 and 410XLT). But I'll be thinking about the new cabinet!!

-Greg

 

[Jerry J]

+1 I am lucky -- this is a great cabinet. It seems to have all the punch of the AE410 with a little more on the bottom and less "crunch" in the upper midrange. It seems more consistent from bottom to top than most of the other cabs I've played. It also looks great, either as a stand-alone cab or with my AE210 on top. That's my new "big stage" rig, powered by two Shuttle 9.0's.

BassNW ordered two AE212's: #'s 100 and 101. One of the cabinets was pre-ordered, so I bought their only "store-stock" cabinet. I'm not sure who else on the left coast might have one. Maybe Gelb or BassSanDiego?

My band is playing in Tucson, AZ this weekend for the Noevir annual convention. I'll be playing the "provided" instrument (Fender AmStd5) and backline (WT800 and 410XLT). But I'll be thinking about the new cabinet!!

-Greg

SWEET! Your comments seem to be inline with the other reviews. This might make me go ahead and sell one of my HT112s to fund the 212. I wonder what the leadtime is for the next batch from Bergantino? It's amazing how fast the first batch sold out. I'm guessing the anticipation really built up based on the success of the ae410/210. I was one of the first ones to get an ae410 from BNW when they first came out and have been thrilled everytime I play anything through it.

On another note, I've always preferred 12s for fretless. Has any of the collective here tried the ae212 with a fretless bass?

 

[A_E_A]

Man the AE212 looks awesome. I have just started on the lookout for a 4ohm 2x12 for rehearsals and the light weight makes it pretty attractive.
Just wondering if it would pair up alright with an HS410 for larger gigs? Or would they take away from each other rather than compliment?

 

[RocketMusic]

On another note, I've always preferred 12s for fretless. Has any of the collective here tried the ae212 with a fretless bass?

Why, yes. Yes I have, Jerry.

The clip below is my fretless Roscoe Century Sig V though my amp rig (Alembic F1X preamp -> Crest CA4 power amp) into the AE-212.

"AE-212 Fretless Demo"

Sorry for the minor intonation issues in there, the caffeine has yet to kick in this morning. I think the cab sounds pretty spectacular with fretless, the low end heft of it really likes my fretless Roscoe...

 

[kho]

BassNW ordered two AE212's: #'s 100 and 101. One of the cabinets was pre-ordered, so I bought their only "store-stock" cabinet. I'm not sure who else on the left coast might have one. Maybe Gelb or BassSanDiego?



-Greg

I got #100 from BassNW from the pre-order. It's a ridiculously good cabinet! I was using an Eden 2x12 with a Thunderfunk 550 and thought that sounded pretty amazing (which it does), but the AE212 has so much more clarity. And it's size is better too... The Eden fits in the back seat of my car, but you have to do some funky angle-y maneuvers to get it in there.

Can't wait to bring this cab to my next practise and try it at a higher volume! I live in an apartment and my neighbours didn't seem to appreciate the A/B'ing I was doing with the two cabinets.

 

[Jerry J]

I got #100 from BassNW from the pre-order. It's a ridiculously good cabinet! I was using an Eden 2x12 with a Thunderfunk 550 and thought that sounded pretty amazing (which it does), but the AE212 has so much more clarity. And it's size is better too... The Eden fits in the back seat of my car, but you have to do some funky angle-y maneuvers to get it in there.

Can't wait to bring this cab to my next practise and try it at a higher volume! I live in an apartment and my neighbours didn't seem to appreciate the A/B'ing I was doing with the two cabinets.

I just checked the Rocket website and they show one in stock. I would really like to snag that one but I really have to get some stuff lined up before I have the bucks. So I will have to wait until the second set of deliveries start showing up, probably.

 

[Jerry J]

Why, yes. Yes I have, Jerry.

The clip below is my fretless Roscoe Century Sig V though my amp rig (Alembic F1X preamp -> Crest CA4 power amp) into the AE-212.

"AE-212 Fretless Demo"

Sorry for the minor intonation issues in there, the caffeine has yet to kick in this morning. I think the cab sounds pretty spectacular with fretless, the low end heft of it really likes my fretless Roscoe...

Greg, thank you for the clip and your thoughts on the fretless through that ae212. And that IS a beautiful Roscoe!

 

[rodl2005]

I got #100 from BassNW from the pre-order. It's a ridiculously good cabinet! I was using an Eden 2x12 with a Thunderfunk 550 and thought that sounded pretty amazing (which it does), but the AE212 has so much more clarity.

+1
Thats what I found the 1st time I tried my 1st Berg Cab(a NV610) - clarity!!!
EVERYONE in the band noticed it straight away, with comments like "wow the bass sounds great- so much clearer" , "Is that a new bassline in that song" etc..etc.. & the AE112 I've got is the same.
I'd LOVE an AE212, & MAY even have to grab one, but I Don't 'NEED' one damn it!!! I WISH I DID!

 

[gregbackstrom]

I got #100 from BassNW from the pre-order. It's a ridiculously good cabinet! I was using an Eden 2x12 with a Thunderfunk 550 and thought that sounded pretty amazing (which it does), but the AE212 has so much more clarity. And it's size is better too... The Eden fits in the back seat of my car, but you have to do some funky angle-y maneuvers to get it in there.

Can't wait to bring this cab to my next practise and try it at a higher volume! I live in an apartment and my neighbours didn't seem to appreciate the A/B'ing I was doing with the two cabinets.

Congratulations! You probably paid less with shipping than I did with sales tax. But it was worth it ...!

 

[rodneyat]

So, I have now added a couple of other amps to the list that I have tested with now. The Markbass F1 and Genz Benz Shuttle 9.0. I would definitely agree with Ken's assessment about the LMII vs F1 with the AE212. The overall sound is pretty close. But, the F1 just has a little more punch and attack. So, how does the Shuttle 9.0 sound with the AE212....IT SMOKES! It is definitely a killer combination. That said, the overall sound is still quite similar to the F1. I did find it probably a little easier to quickly dial in a good tone quickly with the F1. ie: pretty much flat. It took some very slight EQ tweaking to get the tone I liked with the Shuttle. But, once you did...the possibilities are limitless. The tube pre just adds some really nice variations that are not there on the F1. Obviously, the Shuttle has a good bit more overhead with the extra power. The F1 seemed to break up (in a bad way) once you started really pushing it. The Shuttle 9.0 stayed clear and stable all the way up to unreal volumes. I am pretty sure the neighbors may not have appreciated my testing though.