Bergantino CN212

[smo]

I use mine with an SVT. It's a great cab, lots of lows and pleasant mids. I don't use the tweeter tho, so I won't offer advice on that.
It'll get as loud as you need, no matter how loud your drummer is.

 

[Goatrope]

Another CN212 owner/ player/ fan here.

I’ve been using one for several years now. I’ve run it with GK MBF800, D800, and currently with a Super Bassman 300. Also ran with a Crest ProLite 3.0 and Demeter pre.

The CN212 sounds phenomenal with all of them. I love it so much, I bought a second. I swap them every quarter. I’ve only used both a few times, for outdoor, festival-type gigs, with poor PA support.

Sometimes I GAS for an 810 or 610, but it’s purely a feels thing. I know I don’t need a 100lb cab. CN212 is a workhorse that does everything well.

 

[Old Fart]

Look what followed me home today. $825 (I hope it's okay to share that info). First impressions: I don't give a rat's heinie that the NV212 has (supposedly) more bottom end. This thing is NOT going to be a problem in that department. Sure, I can see the lows are not overbearing but they are most definitely there and the low mids are muscular.* This cab has plenty of what I would call lows and....an abundance of what I would call 'low mids.'

I have not had time to play different basses and different heads but I thought I would give my initial impressions to you guys.

I'm glad I did this. I have good but older gear, which I wanted to explore now that I have resumed our craft after being away for quite some time. But I have been reading that today's 4x10s (or 2x12s almost) can demolish the same brick structures as Yesterdays 8x10s. Today's speakers are the equivalent of today's automotive tires. Way longer lasting, and also stickier. I saw the handwriting on the wall. This 2x12 turned up and will be all I really need and a Walkabout** which fits in my briefcase will largely work. Today I shortcutted the process. It was inevitable. I have become a Modern Man.***


_______________________________________
* On today's amplifiers, I see what they call Low Mids and I disagree. Their Low Mids are way higher than the low mids I care about.

** See my posts, among several thousand others, extolling this amp. This thing has awesome tone, and tone options.

*** ...and this thing weighs 46 lbs. And I love footnotes.

 

[Lefty Gary]

Still ANOTHER "recent" convert to the CN212.
I've owned the Berg CN212 for about 6 years. I got it from a band mate that bought it new, used it once, hated it, and wanted rid of it. I bought it from him just because he sold it to me for half of what he had just paid. However, I was never too thrilled with the sound, too sterile. The only bass I had that sounded good through it was a Hofner Club, and I'm giving the credit to the Hofner, as it sounds great through anything (IMHO). I actually had the Berg up for sale locally in the Cincinnati area up until a month ago, but I couldn't get what I wanted for it.
Then, this: After doing tons of research, I bought a Mesa D800+ to try with the Berg.
After 10 minutes with the Mesa/Berg combo, I was floored. Everything that I couldn't get out of the Berg before was there with the Mesa. I was hearing sweet warmth with my Rickenbacker basses that I hadn't thought possible. Turns out, apparently, The Berg just wasn't compatible with the Markbass heads I've been using for many years.
So now, I'm a Mesa/Berg fan, and the Markbass head and cab I've been using are up for sale.
The most surprised/pleased that I've been with a bass setup in all my years of playing.

 

[Old Fart]

Further Update: I now see what people meant when they said this cab has a "modern" sound. I cannot yet put my finger on what constitutes "modern" bass sound, but I can sure hear it. This cab sounds quite different from all my "vintage" cabs and drivers. This is neither good nor bad. The "modern" sound is good, but just not same as vintage. the good news is that I like my chances of copping whatever tone I want. I bet I can get a satisfactory "vintage" tone using this cab. If I want.

It still blows me away that a 2x12 cab today can fill a 100-seat venue.

 

[pfschim]

welcome to the Berg club OF.
I'm an old guy myself (50 years of gigging).
I hear "modern" as pretty even, clear, "full range" reproduction across the frequency spectrum of the cab (which is 40hZ - 12KhZ for the CN212). It also means tweeters for the very shiny top end, which few if any old school cabs ever had (I don't recall tweeters on cabs until the early 80's ... but I'm an old guy so who can really remember this stuff from so long ago ).

There are so many cool things about well designed modern cabs. They can do the modern, clean, zingier tone, and just as easily do old school because they take EQ so well. Jim Bergantino is just one great designer builder. There are a number of designer/builders out there that offer amazingly great cabs; Baer, Genzler, Greenboy, Barefaced, DNA, Mesa Subway, Audio Kinesis and others. Its a great time to be a bass player as far as gear goes.

of course, we all need to remember that good gear is only part of the equation. Playing well, and keeping your chops up is equally (perhaps more) important.

enjoy!

 

[Al Kraft]

IMO there was no lack of bass, just a tight and punchy bass tone that pushed through the band and didn't allow bad rooms to influence its sound.

+1...To me it's almost like Jim Bergantino said to himself, let me optimize the cab's inherent voicing in a way that will meet the tone goal for many bass players who like that tight punch they get when they use a variable HPF. It's a ported cab and can give you extended bass response, but it's unique quality is to offer solid bass that seems to be a little more like a sealed cab without really deep sub-lows present all the time. It's super in a mix and in accoustically difficult venues IME.

 

[Lefty Gary]

+1...To me it's almost like Jim Bergantino said to himself, let me optimize the cab's inherent voicing in a way that will meet the tone goal for many bass players who like that tight punch they get when they use a variable HPF. It's a ported cab and can give you extended bass response, but it's unique quality is to offer solid bass that seems to be a littel more like a sealed cab without really deep sub-lows present all the time. It's super in a mix and in accoustically difficult venues IME.

That makes perfect sense to me, as I had thought for a long time that the CN212 WASN'T ported. The low end is super-tight, never flabby, and yet still with the "extended" character.

 

[Old Fart]

Q: What is "HPF?"

Further update: Okay, I give. Yes, this cab does not emphasize the low lows. It is not unbearably, uncorrectably (I just made that word up) boomy. That's still fine. I have tone knobs, and I do not have any crappy amps.

Pfschim (I think) pointed out that this cab is even across the entire sonic range. And....it therefore accepts EQ gracefully. This, I think, is the signature of this cab. It doesn't sound "like" any specific other speaker, but I can sound much like that speaker depending on the amp and....the operator.

The operator. Pfschim, disturbingly, opines that practicing, playing well and keeping my chops up is equally or perhaps more important than which cab I choose. I hope he is wrong about that. See....I've been assuming I can just buy expensive gear and if I spend enough money, then I will sound like a good bass player. If he is correct, then that means I would have to....practice.

Do you guys understand the significance of the Green Font?

 

[Al Kraft]

What is "HPF?"

High Pass Filter...there is a superthread that Stumbo started on them (and Low Pass Filters) if you want to get more insight. It's possible you may own a head that has an internal one. As an example, the Mesa D-800 is fixed, and the D-800+ or WD-800 include variable (user adjustable) HPFs. There are also plenty of great boxes you can get that offer that functionality. Hope that helps.

 

[Old Fart]

It sounds like I am not finished learning. Reading. Thank you.

 

[pfschim]

It sounds like I am not finished learning. Reading. Thank you.

Using an HPF with your Walkabout is a very good thing. It will allow you to get the most out of that wonderful amp without taking away anything about its great tone. I use an fdeck v3 HPF (he is a member here) with my Walkabout and CN212. Outstanding combination!

good luck and good learning

 

[Old Fart]

Dang. I pride myself on the "no pedals" thing. Does this mean I should use a HPF pedal? Can we not call it a "pedal?"

All kidding aside, after doing some "reading" it seems a HPF is a quite useful tool.

 

[Al Kraft]

Dang. I pride myself on the "no pedals" thing. Does this mean I should use a HPF pedal? Can we not call it a "pedal?"

All kidding aside, after doing some "reading" it seems a HPF is a quite useful tool.

The HPF-Pre Series 3 is actually a small box with a couple knobs, an LED, and some jacks. I'm not much of a pedal/effect guy myself but fdeck's HPF-Pre Series 3 is a sweet lilttle deal that even those on strict no pedal diets or recovering pedal addicts can safely use.

You will be amazed at how dialing out some unusable lows actually punches up your bass tone and buys you some headroom you may not have known your amp had. You'll also be doing a big favor for your speakers themselves.

 

[Old Fart]

I have another question for you persons. Would/could this CN-212 pair well with an HT-322. Both are 4 Ohms, and are in the 102-104 db sensitivity range. If I were to need more than a 212, I think this would work. Disagree?

 

[Al Kraft]

I have never played an HT-322, but I can tell you that if you call Bergantino, the man himself oftens answers the phone and would be glad to share his thoughts on cabs/cab combinations relative to your tone goals. The one base you would absolutely need to have covered though is having a head/amp that can safley run with a 2 Ohm load. That's all I got!

 

[hennessybass]

The CN212 is a pretty great cab.
Long time user, with a few different amps. It just kind of delivers - in a lot of ways.

I love it so much, I bought a second... I’ve only used both a few times, for outdoor, festival-type gigs, with poor PA support.

Can't say a 2xCN212 hasn't crossed my mind before.

CN212 is a workhorse that does everything well.

Yep.

 

[pfschim]

I have another question for you persons. Would/could this CN-212 pair well with an HT-322. Both are 4 Ohms, and are in the 102-104 db sensitivity range. If I were to need more than a 212, I think this would work. Disagree?

I grabbed a CN112 to go with my CN212 when the odd situation arises when just the CN212 is just not enough. It's a 2.67ohm load on the Walkabout ... which is not sanctioned by Mesa, but it does kick some serious booty when called on. I have also run the "CN312" with my Mesa WD800 (which is rated for 2ohms) and it was a very big sound.

Can't comment on the CN212 and HT322, but 2 4ohm cabs will give you a 2ohm load on the amp and while the Walkabout can handle it (again, not sanctioned by Mesa), it really does put some strain on the amp, particularly if you run it at the top of its power level. So just beware of that situation.