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Bergantino B/Amp at NAMM

#362
Munjibunga said:
I picked mine up today, and played it through my CN212 with several different basses for 45 minutes or so. One thing I've noticed is, in addition to the cleanest reproduction from bottom to top of any amp I've heard, the attack is just phenomenal - crisp and immediate. There's no fur on the sound at all, even on the B string down low - it just reproduces the sound very accurately. It's one of those amps that will give up any sloppy playing because you can hear everything that goes into it. May I say "three dimensional" sound without sounding like a huckster?

Anyway, I'm very happy with the amp.
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Thanks for the report and congrats! Clean is a good thing IMO, but for my taste, in addition to a clean/straight-forward tone, I prefer a warm and thick tone with heft. I get the impression that this amp is very dynamic and responsive, etc. but might be less warm and thick???? I'll test run one at some point, but trying to determine if I should walk or run to my Berg dealer....
 
#365
I was on the fence. Spoke to Jim about a problem with ip112. He said the ip DSp in the 112, is what the b/amp is. So what do you know. My rig has been solid. The dsp for the 112 is incredible. What I put in it was I get. Aggy 659, summit 2ba, most recently Ampeg clvp has been my favorite. He said "yeah you could get a b/amp, but you already have one. If it ain't broke don't fix it." Awesome. If you've never played an ip setup you are in for a treat. So +1 for the b/amp
 
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#366
Jman2089 said:
I was on the fence. Spoke to Jim about a problem with ip112. He said the ip DSp in the 112, is what the b/amp is. So what do you know. My rig has been solid. The dsp for the 112 is incredible. What I put in it was I get. Aggy 659, summit 2ba, most recently Ampeg clvp has been my favorite. He said "yeah you could get a b/amp, but you already have one. If it ain't broke don't fix it." Awesome. If you've never played an ip setup you are in for a treat. So +1 for the b/amp
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That probably explains why there won't be more user programmability access or more memory slots, assuming the software end is also the same or similar. It's a very powerful and good sounding DSP implementation, but programming it is not for the faint of heart IMHO and IME. It's very easy to blow stuff up if you chase the rabbit down the wrong hole, don't ask me how I know. Link Removed
 
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#367
It is a clean sound, but warm and full to my ears... One of the things I really love is I'm not tweaking the amp like I would with my other amps.. I just set it once and it's always consistent... The programming is simple and you don't have to over think everything.. It also has some great features to it...
 
#369
Whitbass said:
Thanks for the report and congrats! Clean is a good thing IMO, but for my taste, in addition to a clean/straight-forward tone, I prefer a warm and thick tone with heft. I get the impression that this amp is very dynamic and responsive, etc. but might be less warm and thick???? I'll test run one at some point, but trying to determine if I should walk or run to my Berg dealer....
Click to expand...
When I gigged it a couple weeks ago, I put 2 or 3 dB on the low mid and high mid and it warmed right up. The warmth that you get from some amps at "flat" is actually baked-in mid voicing. All you have to do to get that from the B|Amp is ask for it. The EQ is very responsive but not overpowering. I have a hunch all of the first batch are sold (maybe not) so call and confirm availability before running to your dealer.
 
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#370
I had a last minute call for a fill-in with a rock band last night and decided to bring out both CN-210's with my B/Amp.. Now for profiles Jim recommneded using the 2 CN210's for when the cabs are stacked and using the 1 CN-210 for when they are side by side.. I prefer side by side but there wasn't enough room, so I stacked them... But even in this setup I still preferred the 1 2x10 profile... Also there were a couple of guys who showed up to audition for the band, so I had a chance to hear the rig and the amp through the P.A. The 1st guy played an Ibanez and it was all right....The 2nd guy played a Ric which I normally hate the sound/tone of, but it actually sounded good in the mix both coming from the rig and P.A. Very interesting.. This setup killed for a loud ass rock band...
 
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#372
I received a B/Amp from Jim on Friday afternoon, and as soon as it was unboxed, it was off to a gig. One my bands was playing in a medium-large hall (which used to be a Strand theater, and has a lot of history to the room). This is a great sounding room with a nice PA (the guy who owns it is a recording engineer who also runs the PA). I paired the B/Amp up with one of my all-time favorite cabs, the HD212, and it just rocked! Out of the gate, everything set flat, it just killed. I was just coasting on the volume, and had tons of headroom left. Nevertheless, it was slamming without overpowering. Very nice. The only thing I noticed as I moved around was that my side of the stage was a bit low-mid heavy. Two clicks down on the low-mid EQ and it was locked in. The owner (sound guy) commented that the DI sounded great and was not too hot, and I had positive comments from multiple musicians that night.

This band plays a mix of rock and pop, and I use more effects with this band than any other I play in. Several songs featured an octave down, and on one tune (Sail, by AWOLNATION), I use both my Octabvre and Bass Synth Wah (set to octave down), and the rig just sounded pleased as punch to deliver.

So far, so very, very good!

Here's the rig:

IMG_3812_zpszaknkbmy.jpg


And here were my basses for the night:

IMG_3814_zpswu9o9nzu.jpg
 
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#373
I played eth B amp in a store. Not on a gig.
It was very nice and Clean. Just not my thing. For me its almost TOO clean..Cleaner than my studio API or Erikson Montessi 500 preamps... I would call it sterile . others may call it accurate.
Interesting features,, built well.
Maybe if i spent more time changing Mid EQ points etc.. Its just so darn clean..
I have a NEVE clone preamp ...it is CLEAN too. but it has a certain something . maybe its the transformers or inductor EQ???? Dont know. Its just Fat..
The B amp sounds like straight wire from bass to cab without any detours.. Some people will really like and prefer that..just not my thing..


Low Class said:
Over 2 weeks since this amp has started shipping and hardly a word from anyone. Cancelled my order at the last minute when some user descriptions caught my attention like GK MB500(don't want an amp that sounds like a MB500), clean(too clean for my taste from the recording I heard), and IP(one of the most frustrating pieces of gear I've ever owned). Also, when comparing my HT112ER side by side with my DNA DNS112C, I found the DNA sounded much better, so why should I spend $1400 to buy an amp to "fix" my cab when it makes more sense to just buy a better sounding cab?
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#374
I just spent some time comparing the B|Amp to several other heads, and I have to say, I love it. Very full, very smooth, and - much like I found with the IP cabs - incredible string-to-string and note-to-note balance from top to bottom. While it is smooth, it hits with authority - the classic "iron fist in a velvet glove." And this is without tweaking the various DSP options. Do you like to use a "bright" boost, but feel that many are set too high (or too low)? Then set it where you like it. Do you want to employ high-pass filtering, but don't like fixed frequency options? Again, dial it in to your liking. The default EQ points are about perfect, IMHO, but if you want to move around the center frequency points, you certainly can. The built-in tuner is a nice feature, and it tracks a low B better than anything else I have tried.

That all being said, if smooth, clean and balanced aren't what you are after, then it might not be your cup of tea. But if you want that part of the time, and a warm, gritty overdrive at other parts of the time, I find that putting effects/pedals in front of the B|Amp works very well.

This is a dead-on bulls-eye for what I look for in an amp, but I totally recognize that other players have different preferences and goals. Fortunately, we live in a great time for bass players, with many excellent options! :bassist: :bassist: :bassist: :thumbsup:
 
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#376
image.jpg

Had my B|Amp for about a week, and have been a/b'ing it with several other combinations at home, using my MTD AG5, and Berg NV610T, CN210/112 combo.

My first reaction when I turned it on was, "Wow, quite a bit of stand-by hiss (@0 Master vol) coming out of my cabs, and haven't figured out any way to eliminate some of it. It won't be a problem gigging, but in the house, I find it kind of annoying, as I'm not used to hearing it. I usually have to put my ear on a cab grill to hear any hiss with my other equipment combos... I'm not talking about the bass on-board preamp>Hi/Lo input gain>Master control signal chain...rather a "fixed hiss" just turning the amp on, compared to everything else I've got.

Moving on, I wouldn't characterize the tone as "sterile" or too clean. (My Warwick Hellborg pre>Crown XLS2502 is "cleaner" for sure...) It sounds very balanced, very smooth, and clear, but very musical! The eq (w/moveable points) is really a great feature, although flat is very usable. I can get it warmer with some 250hz and 1k mid boost, but not anywhere near "Monique territory"...

I must say, there are so many gig worthy features on this thing that other amps just don't have...it's incredible!

I uploaded the CN322 preset, into the empty #12 slot...super quick and easy! I really like the tone I'm getting from the B|Amp>CN322...but actually prefer my Monique>LWA1000 (effects return) into the NV610T. The Monique's lush notes>1000 "quiet" watts>sealed NV cab are incredibly huge and punchy! It's an "accidental" pairing that just works...

For warmth and note definition, I find the B|Amp>Berg cabs somewhere in between the Monique signal chain above, and using my Hellborg pre>Crown XLS2502>Berg cabs...but closer to the Hellborg/Crown @flat eq.

Hey, I'm definitely a Berg fanboy...but, with the NV610T: come on...it begs for a tube pre, and I find it slightly beefier thru the (1000w) LWA vs (700w) B|Amp effects return.

I haven't found the Monique as appealing with the CNs, whereas the B|Amp on its own (using the 322 cab preset) just 'rocks' them!

I'm pleased with the B|Amp so far...but, if I could figure how to reduce the inherent stand-by hiss, I'd be SUPER pleased, as I'm not as inclined to fire it up at home against my other options atm. Gigging...it's a keeper, particularly with my CNs!
 
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#377
Hmmm... Have you compared the background hiss level to any other heads? Yes, mine has a little bit of background hiss/noise, but it's similar to or less than that from all of the heads I have compared it to so far (though in all fairness, I have not yet compared it to the Glockenklang Blue Soul, which is my current reigning champ of silence when standing by).
 
#378
tombowlus said:
Hmmm... Have you compared the background hiss level to any other heads? Yes, mine has a little bit of background hiss/noise, but it's similar to or less than that from all of the heads I have compared it to so far (though in all fairness, I have not yet compared it to the Glockenklang Blue Soul, which is my current reigning champ of silence when standing by).
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Just what I already own...Warwick LWA1000 head, and Hellborg Pre or Monique into CrownXLS2502 or LWA1000 (effects return)... I know the Pre + Amps is somewhat apples and oranges...but the LWA1000 Class D head is a better comparison. I am NOT a huge fan of the pre section of the LWA tonally btw... But that head is far quieter, hiss-wise...
 
#379
Yeah, I was wondering how it compared to the LWA1000. I have not spent a lot of time with that head, but I've been impressed with what I have heard, and it does seem like the Germans do a good job of making bass heads that stay quiet when they are supposed to be quiet. :thumbsup:
 
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#380
kevk said:
Just what I already own...Warwick LWA1000 head, and Hellborg Pre or Monique into CrownXLS2502 or LWA1000 (effects return)... I know the Pre + Amps is somewhat apples and oranges...but the LWA1000 Class D head is a better comparison. I am NOT a huge fan of the pre section of the LWA tonally btw... But that head is far quieter, hiss-wise...
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Hi Kevin,

Something doesn't sound right. I am here in my office with a B|AMP connected to a CN210 and I have to get down on my knees, on axis with the tweeter, inches from the grill, to hear any hiss. Please contact me at [email protected] with your contact info, including a phone number and good time to call so I can help get this remedied for you.

Best Regards,

Jim Bergantino
 
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