Bergentino vs. Epifani

[fretless Bob]

I just got an epi ul 410 and 502 and am loving it, i was thinking about replacing my markbass 151p with a epi ul 112 and using the 502 with it.

Could i get sufficient low end out of this combo, comparable to the 115?


Dave

 

[tombowlus]

interesting you say,

cause with the bergs, i start thinking old school funk ala al green, curtis mayfield. while the epifani stuff does tend to come across as new school r&b/soul ala jill scott and jaguar wright.

course, that's a buncha joker flavor bolonga, cause you can kick it on whatever you pleez.

Funk and soul both span a lot of tonal expressions, so let's just say that we're both right.

 

[cheezewiz]

Last nights 1-12 shootout confirmed one thing for me. Bergantino and Epifani are the two finest cabinet makers out there.

 

[MacGroove]

When Tom or Ken start describing cabs it's like reading a wine review. They work really hard to describe what is very difficult to put into words, and I work very hard to understand. However, the above quotation is succinct and superb. My problem is I love motown and funk and my budget is very limited.

I agree, they both have had fine toolage in linguistics.

 

[KJung]

I most definitely like both Epifani and Bergantino cabs. There are some great descriptions of their resepctive differences above, but I'll just add that it seems - in general - that relative to Epifani cabs, Bergs have a more accurate/balanced response, with a stronger midrange presence, and smoother, more "connected" sounding highs. Conversely, relative to Bergantino cabs, Epi's have bigger, slightly blooming low end, some slight scooping to the mids (the frequency of said scoop varies from model to model, IME), and a more obvious, sparkly, airy, woody, but slightly "detached" sounding highs. The Epi's sound more like funk to me, and the Bergs sound more like motown, if that makes any sense. I do not consider either brand to be overly colored (on the whole; individual models can vary), and I am confident that I could get a killer tone (for my tastes) using products from either brand - and in fact, I have done so!

So, I would not say that one is better than the other. I would reflect upon both and smile, knowing that it is indeed a good time to be a bass player. Then, I'd buy whichever one sounded the best to my ears using my basses. If it's possible to test drive them on a gig or in a practice, that'd be great, but I think that you could succeed with either brand.

Tom.

I kind of missed this thread, but agree with the above. I own both Epi and Berg cabs and really like them both for different reasons, and I use them on totally different types of gigs (and even use different heads with them)... they are VERY different IMO.

I think Tom's 'funk' vs. 'motown' description actually works if you define funk as a more modern SS roundwound sort of thing, and Motown as that big, flatwound warm fat sound. From Tom and my many discussions, I believe that's what he was hinting at.... if you like that Marcus old school or Norm Stockton new school sizzle and sheen, the EpiUL's are just amazing. If you are more into a natural, organic sound (I think of it as nickel vs. stainless steel strings), the Berg's really sound good. They really bring out that 'Roscoe Bartolini Humbucker' type sound... fat, smooth, round and big.

However, I could be very happy with either brand in virtually any situation.

 

[Fretless5verfan]

I kind of missed this thread, but agree with the above. I own both Epi and Berg cabs and really like them both for different reasons, and I use them on totally different types of gigs (and even use different heads with them)... they are VERY different IMO.

I think Tom's 'funk' vs. 'motown' description actually works if you define funk as a more modern SS roundwound sort of thing, and Motown as that big, flatwound warm fat sound. From Tom and my many discussions, I believe that's what he was hinting at.... if you like that Marcus old school or Norm Stockton new school sizzle and sheen, the EpiUL's are just amazing. If you are more into a natural, organic sound (I think of it as nickel vs. stainless steel strings), the Berg's really sound good. They really bring out that 'Roscoe Bartolini Humbucker' type sound... fat, smooth, round and big.

However, I could be very happy with either brand in virtually any situation.

Man i really need to try some bergantino cabs! I dig that 'Roscoe Bartolini Humbucker' type sound (and good thing too being that i play a roscoe with bartolini humbuckers!) and i thought that when i heard the Epi UL series it couldn't get any beefier. Man....i'm gonna be in debt to Jivesound before the summer's out

 

[KJung]

Man i really need to try some bergantino cabs! I dig that 'Roscoe Bartolini Humbucker' type sound (and good thing too being that i play a roscoe with bartolini humbuckers!) and i thought that when i heard the Epi UL series it couldn't get any beefier. Man....i'm gonna be in debt to Jivesound before the summer's out

Those basses sound great through just about everything . I was very impressed with Vic's when I played it a few times. But man, the Berg's really line up with that vibe REALLY well in my humble opinion. They do 'warm and fat but still articulate thing' about as well as anything I've ever played out of.

 

[tombowlus]

I think Tom's 'funk' vs. 'motown' description actually works if you define funk as a more modern SS roundwound sort of thing, and Motown as that big, flatwound warm fat sound. From Tom and my many discussions, I believe that's what he was hinting at....

You got it!

 

[Fretless5verfan]

Those basses sound great through just about everything . I was very impressed with Vic's when I played it a few times. But man, the Berg's really line up with that vibe REALLY well in my humble opinion. They do 'warm and fat but still articulate thing' about as well as anything I've ever played out of.

Great...back to the drawing board with my rig construction...

 

[mymahn]

Well my brother I got good news!!!!!!!! I am the pickiest tweekiest person I know.
THE!! best bass rig is from the IP series at Bergantino I have the 12" these are the powered versions (there is one other one that has a 3 10")
you need a kiler pre amp and compressor.
pre amp ------ "Juggernaut 500"
compressor ---- Purple "Action"Comp 500
and a APA Revolver Rack to hold them in
both at atlasproaudio.com
the 12" amp and speaker is $2,000
and the pre and comp is $2,000
well you my think this is to much? think again there is no and i mean no bass amp rig that has REAL electronics. That are class A and discrete. no power amp (except Bergintino) that will have the dampening factor that will give real a response.
I work with top end studio gear and am spoiled with top sound quality. you can not get a better sound....period

 

[Fuzzbass]

Heh. I won't argue with the IP love.

I've just joined the 1x12 club with a pair of Bergantino HT112ER cabs. They are simply amazing. The tweeters sound so natural I couldn't even tell they were on.

 

[mymahn]

Well my brother I got good news!!!!!!!! I am the pickiest tweekiest person I know.
THE!! best bass rig is from the IP series at Bergantino I have the 12" these are the powered versions (there is one other one that has a 3 10")
you need a kiler pre amp and compressor.
pre amp ------ "Juggernaut 500"
compressor ---- Purple "Action"Comp 500
and a APA Revolver Rack to hold them in
both at atlasproaudio.com
the 12" amp and speaker is $2,000
and the pre and comp is $2,000
well you my think this is to much? think again there is no and i mean no bass amp rig that has REAL electronics. That are class A and discrete. no power amp (except Bergintino) that will have the dampening factor that will give real a response.
I work with top end studio gear and am spoiled with top sound quality. you can not get a better sound....period

 

[mymahn]

I entered 2 times .....sorry

 

[tallboybass]

I entered 2 times .....sorry

Well my brother, you've entered this same post 4 times in 3 different threads!!!!!! What's up mymahn??

 

[burk48237]

While I don't disagree with Ken and Toms descriptions but when it comes to the UL 410s I would like to add this. The Bergs add some growl and almost a knarly-ness to their tone. They are more aggressive then the Epi's which sound almost polite when played side by side. While both are punchy I have a feeling if you wanted to punch thru a cluttered mix the Berg AE410 would be my choice. Right now the AE IMO has become the standard for 410 lightweight cabs.

 

[Willem]

It's a 4 year old thread.

 

[Fuzzbass]

It's a 4 year old thread.

In this case there's possible confusion between the old and new Berg HT112 cabs, but aside from that, it's good that folks are using the search feature.

 

[Bassflute]

If you're using a 1x12 alone for a while, you'll want to go with the Epifani.

Gotta disagree with that...tried both...some of my students won the Epifani's, but they ALL wish they had my Bergs...top end is much more integrated and less harsh and 'ticky'...bottom end controlled but deep, without ever getting boomy...and the midrange punch is the best in the business.

Maybe, maybe not. IMHO, the Bergantino 112 is the best 112 I've ever heard.

It's worth a drive to check them out if you're going to drop that kind of cash. It's doubtful you'll see too many of either one available on the used market.

Yup, you got that right. Epi's are very nice, but they ain't no Berg!

IMHO...you're free to be WRONG if you like!


Cheers,
Cameron

 

[msquared]

you need a kiler pre amp and compressor.
pre amp ------ "Juggernaut 500"
compressor ---- Purple "Action"Comp 500
and a APA Revolver Rack to hold them in

When you start talking 500 series gear there is just so much awesome stuff out there. Personally I would either dump the Juggernaut in favor of a Shadow Hills Mono GAMA or keep a few pres handy depending on the gig. I get a lot of use out of my Great River 500NV and A Designs EM-Silver for bass but they're totally different animals.

I've never used the Purple Action but the Buzz Essence is wonderful for bass compression.

And you didn't even mention EQ options.. Buzz Tonic? Avedis E27? Great River 32EQ? API 550a?

This little bit of shilling/thread subversion is making me want to set up a Lunchbox -> DB750 power section -> Acme rig for my next non-bar gig.

 

[VroomVroom]

Interesting thread...I'm a bit late to the party, but I'll share my two pennies....mostly in agreement with Tom and Ken.

I still own cabs made by both companies. I love the Epi UL line...for 10" drivers. I tried to like a UL112, and just couldn't. The Berg HT112ER had me at hello. I can't speak to older versions of this cab, but I can offer that I've had no issues in pretty darn loud live environments. I absolutely love my tone with this cab, through all of my basses. The quality of the output is just wonderful to my ears. And the quantity? This is a LOUD cab. Many of my two-cab gigs instantly became one-cab gigs. No complaints whatsoever with this one.

Having recently played through an HS410, I was equally blown away. It felt very similar to the first time I played through my UL410. Everything I want out of a cab with 10's is in there - quick and hard-hitting lows, punchy mids, and crisp highs. I'm not using a 410 much these days, but it's been awfully tempting to part with my 8-ohm UL410, only to replace it with a 4-ohm HS410.

The moral of the story? You have to trust your own ears....as well-stated in many of the posts above mine. I think both product lines are of high quality, and are priced accordingly. If you're seriously in the market, you owe it to yourself to test drive both and see which works best for you. Good luck...