Bergantino Audio Systems IP112 112 Combo

I currently play in three VERY different bands covering everything from rock, blues, funk, R&B, new country, and light jazz. I wanted a small, versatile, portable, combo amp (my back was tired of carrying large bass rigs). Over the years, I've used just about everything out there (Ampeg, SWR, Eden, GK) and I must say that nothing compares to Bergantino. My previous rig was a HT322 (Bergantino cabinet with 1-12, 2-10's and a horn) with an Eden WT550. Great full sound, just TOO much for my old back to carry anymore. When I heard about the IP-112 and read the reviews, I thought it might be perfect for my current needs. With 500 watts and only 50 pounds, ideal! I use a SansAmp Bass Driver and go directly into the IP-112. What a full sound from such a small cabinet. It is like listening to studio monitors. I did a free lance job last weekend at a bluesfest playing with the headlining band, then backing up guest musicians. Everyone commented about the excellent tone of my rig. The FOH guy said it was the best bass rig he heard all day, wishing everyone had used the Bergie! I've had the IP-112 about a month and played about eight gigs with it. So far it has exceeded my expectations. I just purchased the EX112 (boosting the power to 1000 watts), however I have not yet had the opportunity to use it. The reality of it is I probably don't need the extra cabinet/power, but thought it was better to have it available for larger outside gigs.

I play several different basses thru this rig. I have an old Schecter PJ bass with EMG pickups I've had for almost 30 years. This is one of the original California "Guitar Research" models, heavy as hell, but sounds absolutely awesome thru the IP-112. I also use a Sadowsky MS-5 with Jazz pickups. The low B just rocks! I also use a fretless Fender Jazz and 62 Percision bass (both with passive pickups) and the sounds are respectively true and correct.
The IP-112 cabinet completely suits any style of music I am required to play. Full range of sounds thru the SansAmp (the Bergantino only has a volume control, horn volume control, and DSP button allowing a second factory DSP preset) with no unwanted noise and no distortion (unless you dial it up thru the SansAmp). There are not alot of "useless" tweakable controls on the IP-112. Just plug it in, add your favorite preamp, and enjoy. It is one of the other main reasons I bought the Bergantino. Simple to use and get consistant, great bass tone.

I previously used a Bergantino HT322 for several years and had no problems whatsoever. I've only had the IP-112 for about a month. It has performed flawlessly and if it is anything like the HT322, I expect it always will. I don't feel the need for or use a back up amp.

I contacted Jim Bergantino when I purchased the HT322 several years ago. I received an email (almost immediately) thanking me for my purchase. When I decided to purchase the IP-112, I emailed Jim with several questions and received a response within 24 hours.

I've been playing bass professionally for about 35 years. As I stated above, over the years I've used just about every kind of bass gear (Ampeg, SWR, Eden, GK). The Bergantino IP-112 is absolutely amazing! If lost or stolen, I would purchase another one in a heartbeat. I tried the new SWR Redhead before I bought the IP-112. The Redhead is a nice combo amp, but the SWR horn still sounds "harsh" to me. The full range of the IP-112 sounds like a studio monitor! For my current needs with regard to size, portability, and quality of tone/sound, nothing compares to the Bergantino.
BTW, I purchased the IP-112 new from Jim Rubio with Atlanta Bass Gallery. He is a great guy and a pleasure to do business with. Next time you are in Atlanta, check out his store (814 Marietta Street, Atlanta, GA 30318) and experience what I call Bass Heaven!

I'm a Seattle area freelancer... I have to cover a lot of ground from jazz, funk, hip hop, rock, country, showtunes, and occasionally even "classical" if the show I'm playing has some faked legit stuff in it. Long story short, I take public transit, and this is the most powerful amp available that can be taken on a bus, sounds great, and is still completely modular!
The powerful bit: 500W to the internal speaker. I wouldn't try and fill a hall with this, but it certainly works for stage volume and even small clubs on its own without the extension.
The taken on a bus bit: under 50 lbs.? Please! Who thought this up? Brilliant!!! Add in those little $50 handcarts you can get on eBay that fold up and a good gig bag, you're a walking gig machine!
The sounds great bit: below/duh.
The completely modular bit: since there's no preamp, it's kind of like having a clean slate on every gig. This is especially important to me since I cover lots of genre ground, and need different basses or at least sounds to do that. Being able to swap out preamps for electric to upright and knowing that my sound isn't taken over by the amp is very cool.

For using it as stage reference, I rely on placement to hear myself, treating it more like a personal monitor than an amp. For smaller non-PA venues, it works fine in the monitor/ref/PA role.

I mostly just play regular old bass through this thing, it takes all styles that I'm doing well. Occasionally I'll use a single course eight string going through a bunch of effects for guitar/bass sounds, and it even takes those. I was initially worried about putting such distorted signals through an amp that is so pristine, but it does fine. Same goes for a grindy preamp setting on a vintage P.

Built super solid, the included cover is a very thoughtful addition. The twistlok connector for the AC line is genius. It's built strong enough that Jim Bergantino assures me it wouldn't be a problem for me to stand on it (I did ask, as I mentioned earlier... important for me since I wanted to be sure sitting on it while playing was fine). I can't think of too many amps where this is a problem, but the assurance is nice since it's so small, and yet it FEELS so strong!

Very friendly fella, great at answering my (at times inane -- "can I stand on it?") questions.

Have been gigging w/ this for nearly a year now, anytime I've been dissatisfied on a gig that had this amp, it was because of something else that was absolutely relieving the amp of all reasonable fault. It's quite the price tag, and the in state tax tacked nearly $150 on top of the already high list price. To be honest, I have trouble conceiving of what that kind of money is "worth" -- "worth every penny" ? Not a clue. Was it totally worth selling the gear and dropping the additional dough needed? You betchya.

Since there wasn't a "Powered Cabinet" product type to choose from, I need to pick the next closest thing, a 1x12 combo. First off, there is no preamp, but there is some interesting magic going on in the box. In a single 1x12 cabinet sits a 7lb 500w @8ohm amp (1000w @4ohm)that is being processed by a DSP chip that provides factory set Compress, EQ, and Limiting. This DSP programing is done in such a way to make the most out of the speaker and enclosure. On the back of the cabinet where the amp plate is you will find a DSP button to allow for a second factory DSP preset, a volume dial, a XLR input, and a XLR output(pre DSP), a speakon output or an extension cab, at tweeter attenuator dial, and a speakon style power plug input. The whole cabinet only weights 47 lbs. I purchased the EX112 extension cab to make sure I had enough umph for any venue I would play. So far, even at outside venues, half volume has been more than enough. Anymore volume would have caused problems for the FOH sound guys. I play blues, rock, funk. This amp/cab is more than versatile enough to play any of these styles and with the extension cabinet, more than enough tone to go around for any size of venue I would ever play. I found that my active basses did pretty go going direct into the IP112 and the tone of my passive bass did ok as well, but to really make this cab crank, you need a preamp. I was using a Sansamp RBI or my Boss GT-6B to preamp the signal. I have since ordered a Aguilar DB659 which will be a sweet match for this setup. There really aren't a lot of features that are tweak-able, but I love the plug and play and ease of use of this cab. One of the main features this setup offers and why I bought is to have the largest, fullest, best sounding rig I could be in the smallest package. I have found exactly that.

I play three different basses through this rig. A Warwick Thumb 6-string Neck Through (active pups), a Warwick Corvette Std. 5-String Fret-less (active pups), and a Fender Jazz American Standard 4-Sting (passive pups). This setup does very nice for the style I play, but think that is can reliably reproduce any tone you're looking for with the right pre-amp. The IP112 sounds like I'm playing through studio monitors but with the ability to play at gig'ing volumes. There's a lot of talk about them being 'flat'. Not sure about that, as I haven't hooked them up to a meter, but I will say that before I got the IP112 I was ready to sell my Fender. After I got played my Fender through the IP112, there is NO WAY I will sell my Fender now. I love the tone and detail that I didn't know was there. I love it as what ever volume I play at. For small venues I just use the IP112 and have to boost the lower frequencies with my bass to help round off the bottom tone. For larger venues I use the extension cab EX112 and run my EQ flat and love every second of it. This cab is punchy, full range, can hand the low B with absolutely no trouble at all. The blend between the woofer and the tweeter is seamless. No can believe how much sound comes out of just these two little cabs. It's tone city, and that's before I even have my tube preamp hooked up.

N/A - So far so good.... It's brand new and have only had it for a couple of weeks but I have no reason to believe that it will brake down. I have no reason to feel uncomfortable not having a backup. This is the only rig I have, and it's the only rig I'll bring to a gig.

AAAAAAAAA+++++++++++++ on customer support. Jim Bergantino was a pleasure to talk to and answered every question I had and then some. Super friendly, easy to talk with, and very helpful in making my decision easier to buy his product. From other Bergantino owners, customer service is #1 on their priority.

I have been playing Double Bass, and Bass Guitar since 1986. I also own a SWR SM-900 and a Goliath III 4ohm 4x10 cabinet. Since I got my Bergantino's, the SWR rig is definitely for sale. If it were stolen or lost, I would love to replace it if I could afford it. So far I love the tone on my basses through this rig. I love how transparent the rig is, it's small size, and it's BIG sound. You have to hear it to believe it. In closing, I'll say I was pretty nervous investing that much money without even hearing it, and more so since I was looking at a single 12" woofer + a second 12" extension cab only weighting 37 lbs. This setup, by far, surpasses my previous 900 watt, 4x10 setup is every way. For those still scared of the IP112/EX112 setup, they also have the IP310 a 3x10 setup or the IP212 a 2x12 setup. From what I understand they all have the same amp and technology but the DSP settings are customized for those particular drivers and enclosures.