getz out Posted January 30, 2006 Share Posted January 30, 2006 http://www.basstasters.com/images/preamps/kern.jpg So, I have owned this lovely piece of gear for about two years now. It is an older unit I purchased used for an extremely reasonable price. Apparently, it is a very early model; one with the external "wall-wart" power supply. The unit has been out of production for several years. I have noted in the past that this preamp pairs up very well with my Bergantino cabinets. So, I decided to contact the designer, Les Plopa, about having it serviced and upgraded to the internal power supply. After contacting Les via email, he responded that he would be happy to do the upgrade, but noted that the internal power supply provided more noise into the line than the external. He said it was acceptable, but the external power supply was superior. I have had problems in the past with the power-input plug becoming detached while playing, so this noise (which is not noticeable) was acceptable. Mr. Plopa was a pleasure to deal with. He kept me updated, advised me on what to do, and genuinely cares about the product he designed. I can't say enough about him. Now, about his preamp... The Kern IP-777 is fantastic. It is fat. In fact, it is huge. It is hard to describe the sound with words, but the word "thick" continues to play in my head when thinking about the sound of the IP-777. It is a shame these are out of production. Now, I also love my Demeter VTBP-201s. It is a great preamp. I have recorded a bunch of times with it and it has never let me down. I can't really tell you which I like better; both have their own character. However, the Kern has more character, while I would say the Demeter is cleaner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArwinH Posted January 30, 2006 Share Posted January 30, 2006 I bet an mb2 running into either of those preamps is a sickeningly beautiful experience! Which berg cabs do you right now Maury? Any favorites? www.myspace.com/movementwithoutmotion Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rumpelstiltskin. Posted January 30, 2006 Share Posted January 30, 2006 i would still pit my warwick quadruplet against the kern IP-777. robb. because i like people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
getz out Posted January 30, 2006 Author Share Posted January 30, 2006 Arwin, I'm currently using one of three setups: -Bergantino HT112 -Bergantino HT112 + EX112 -Bergantino HT322 I like them all. The HT322 is a brutal, forceful beast that is very loud and still pushes a lot of low end. I have considered using the mega-stack of doom with my Stewart World 2.1, much like PJR's stack of yester-year: -Bergantion HT322 + HT112 + EX112 (2 ohm load) and -(2)Acme Low B2 (2 ohm load) I have not done so, but when I do, I'll take a picture before the police show up. I still like the Rob Allen MB-2 through a solid-state preamp best; it does match up well with the GK MB150E's preamp. That cops the classic "amplified" upright sound I got used to from hearing every upright player in the region using that setup. robb, I'd love to pit the two, and include my Demeter and my SWR Interstellar Overdrive into the mix... I believe the Warwick and the SWR IOD have similar designs.. That might be a lot of fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArwinH Posted January 30, 2006 Share Posted January 30, 2006 At Rob's shop he uses an aguilar db 359 into a gs 210 and I personally use a db750 and the same cabs. I really like the way teh tubes compliment the sound of the mb2. I have played a gig with an swr sm900 and swr goliath III, this is closer to a solid state preamp sound; I did dig the sound I got on that gig, though it was somewhat mid scooped it was a very round and growly fretless sound. The aguilar gear I'm used to gives a more blooming low end and it emphasizes the mwah and note envelope. Maury, when you fire up taht mega stack of doom PLEASE take pictures!!! www.myspace.com/movementwithoutmotion Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_Sweet Willie_ Posted January 31, 2006 Share Posted January 31, 2006 Les can play, too. I heard him thumpin' on an EUB at a blues jam in beautiful Evanston, IL. I'm a large fan of the Kern. It pairs nicely w/ the Peavey DPC-1400X. In fact, nirvana is something along the lines of that pair into one of the older Epifani 2x12s (horizontal, not diagonal, speaker config). I would think that the Kern would be nicely nicely into those Bergies. I'm truly due for a trip to Hoboken to sample that. I'll help you construct the rig o' doom. Peace. --Doctor Luv spreadluv Fanboy? Why, yes! Nordstrand Pickups and Guitars. Messiaen knew how to parlay the funk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rumpelstiltskin. Posted January 31, 2006 Share Posted January 31, 2006 Originally posted by getz76: robb, I'd love to pit the two, and include my Demeter and my SWR Interstellar Overdrive into the mix... I believe the Warwick and the SWR IOD have similar designs.. That might be a lot of fun. ah, but the quadruplet is so much more. the tube mini-power amp utilizes a similar design (single-ended EL-84 power amp into resistive dummy load), and two of the four settings on the quadrumatrix use that section. but the other two are simply preamp stages. did i mention that there's a microprocessor inside the thing which controls the center frequencies and preset EQ curves for the four different settings? and that's for a four band EQ, with shifts on both mids. seriously, i wouldn't replace it. i'd add to it (maybe an F-1X or bmax-t), but i wouldn't sell it for something else. it's too rad. of course, all that said, i may take the classic 400 to the gig, just for the fun of lugging really heavy, excessively loud gear into the club. nah. robb. because i like people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
groover Posted January 31, 2006 Share Posted January 31, 2006 I still say the sweetest bass tone I ever heard came from a '64 Jazz played through a Kern IP-777. The sound, created by such a potent combination, had these rich singing harmonics in the upper register and some SERIOUS growl on the bottom. Never has a richer, fatter and sweeter sound ever vibrated my ear drums. My quest for perfect tone shall not end until I am in command of such sonic fare! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David King Posted January 31, 2006 Share Posted January 31, 2006 Getz I started reading your post thinking to myself "is he going to sell it?" Happily for you and sadly for me you were just waxing eloquent as to why I should have bought one of these for myself way back when. Les is indeed a wonderful designer and a very personable musician as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
getz out Posted January 31, 2006 Author Share Posted January 31, 2006 Sorry guys, not for sale. You would kick me if you know what I paid for it... purchased it on ebay with an auction that ended on Thanksgiving with no reserve. Apparently I was the only person on ebay that day. Even I was surprised I won it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Capasso Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 It's clear that the NYC crew needs a road trip to MI. I could bring my EA500 for laughs (well, for laughs it would have to be my ancient Kustom 2x12). Robb, I was underwhelmed with the Warwick heads that I tried locally, but it wasn't the preamp that you favor. Another success story with a small company/individual who cares. Very nice. Tom P.S. David - wipe that drool from your keyboard www.stoneflyrocks.com Acoustic Color Be practical as well as generous in your ideals. Keep your eyes on the stars and keep your feet on the ground. - Theodore Roosevelt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David King Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 Tom, I'm not sure it's an unqualified success as the the units haven't been available for several years despite glowing reviews and clearly some demand. I'd put it into the Lane Poor category of success, (not to bring up a sore subject). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexclaber Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 Originally posted by David King: ...I'd put it into the Lane Poor category of success, (not to bring up a sore subject). What did happen to Lane? Anyone know? Alex Barefaced Ltd - ultra lightweight, high ouput, toneful bass cabs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rumpelstiltskin. Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 yeah. at least we know les plopa is still alive and sane. robb. because i like people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_Sweet Willie_ Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 There was a time when I knew the story of the issues around the production of the Kern IP-777. The fellahs at Flynn Guitars in Evanston are up to speed on it. I think Les has done amp tech work in their shop before. I don't remember the details now, unfortunately, but I think the challenges of keeping this product on the market had to do with business management and relationships. Peace. --SW spreadluv Fanboy? Why, yes! Nordstrand Pickups and Guitars. Messiaen knew how to parlay the funk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David King Posted February 3, 2006 Share Posted February 3, 2006 Les has a guitar amp design that was in production at the same time. From Victoria Amps website: "The design on the Regal was created and perfected by none other than the esteemed Les Plopa" I know that he and Henry Kern had signed on with Mars Music just before they [Mars] went down. A few Kern preamps did have issues with cold solder joints on the outputs. The top of the line version had an XLR mic input along with the 1/4". I was always hoping they could do a second channel to blend the mic input with their superb high impedance input. That would have made some upright players very happy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.