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Behringer
Known primarily for great-sounding yet moderately-priced signal processing gear, Behringer has also made waves with its high-quality small mixing consoles that bear a striking resemblance to those made by Mackie. But at MusikMesse, the big news from Behringer was its line of guitar amplifiers - actually, they call them "guitar workstations." Catch phrases aside, what Behringer is offering is a selection of five combo amps that range from a 30-watt 1x10 to a 120-watt stereo 2x12. One of these is tube, and the others are solid-state with proprietary "Virtube" technology. A half stack with built-in stereo surround sound is coming too. Every amp incorporates an onboard 24-bit effects processor, which is simple to use, with 31 user-editable presets and lots of places where they can be saved. There's also MIDI control, and certain parameters can be changed in real time. Most of the models include Jensen speakers, and all of them come with a standard footswitch for FX bypass and channel select. Personally, I would choose to hold onto my beloved Tube Screamers and leave the amp clean. The players demonstrating these amps, Alexander Beyrodt and Burkhand Lipps, used this method and achieved nice tones. But having access to a built-in effects processor in a convenient combo amp package would allow players to chuck their other pedals. This would be cool for frequent giggers who occasionally play in the studio; it saves the hassle of toting and hooking up outboard gear. Although I don't use a lot of effects, I know it would be great to have them when I need them, especially in a studio. The full-blown effect freak would probably be better off with something else. U.S. pricing is not yet available. www.behringer.com, 425-673-7647 |
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