Behringer BX1200 112 Bass Combo

some nice features.well designed amp like the idea of the kickback cab shape

sound was not up to the mark. this is supposed to be 120watts!!! nowhere near it. the amp i sold to buy this one was a trace elliot boxer 30watt with 1 x 10" speaker. it had far more balls than this one. i only wanted a small practice amp but the behringer was not even good enough for this. glad i didn't have to use it on a gig. sold it after 3 weeks and bought an ashdown mag 200 combo.

didn't own the amp long enough to rate it's reliability

didn't have to deal with behringer so no opinion on customer support

good features. well thought out design. good build quality for the money. don't expect to use it on gigs without being drowned out by the rest of the guys in the band, just not loud enough. never 120 watts. would not generate any trouser flap even if you stood with your leg against it.

I got mine 2005 and it has a lot more features I actually need. It has 2 channels and one has a shape function which probably helps adapting your axe to the amp. I like the XLR output for miking and recording. The tuner output is also very cool. The ultra bass sounds a bit weird, sort of a second tone below the original one. A compressor instead would have been helpful for recording.

I play a cheap Harley Benton HB400TKK active bass and it sounds ok in the practice room. It sounds great when played loud with a Squier bass. Of course, you can't compare it to a combo with 15" or 4 x 10" speakers, but it's ok for the price.

It didn't really break down, but I had the impression that the hum level was too high and had the amp replaced. The new had the same effect, so that seems to be a manufacturing problem (you can actually only hear it, when you're alone in the room and are close to the speaker). I think it' quite reliable (I only use it 3 hours a week).

I had the amp replaced and it took about 3 or 4 weeks since I didn't send it directly to Behringer.

It'a a nice practise amp that you can also use for smaller gigs. I like the the wedge shape so you don't have turn up the volume so much. You get a lot of amp for the money.

I bought my BX1200 in early 2004. I'd look up the serial but the amp is in getting repaired again. It has the standard equipment: foot switch, ultra-bass, shape filter etc.
I find the primary channel a bit too hot unless you rollback the treble. The secondary with the shape is more versatile. Ultra-bass is fun to play with as a toy, but not very practical.
The amp rarely leaves the basement, depending on who's hosting the weekly jam.

I play a passive 82 Hamer Cruisebass and an active Cort Artisan B5, which both have their own distinct tone. The amp is generally able to provide the sound I want, provided the volume isn't maxed out.
I primarily jam with friends and do the very occassional small room performance, mostly rock and prog-rock.
Overall, its got enough punch for most of my needs, but comes up a little short in a larger room. Competing for volume means sacrificing clarity, although I can usually minimize excessive distortion by dropping the mids a bit.

Here's the kicker! As mentioned earlier, its in the shop again. Two complete failures in 3 years. The first amp was actually replaced under warranty, after 3 months. Seeing as I play maybe 6 hours a week and usually at home with at low volume, I can't believe that I've gone through two of these. Fortunately this happened at a jam rather than a show as my backup is an ancient Traynor Bassmate (which naturally, still works fine after 30 years and much abuse)

First failure, it was replaced under warranty, but it took three months!! Behringer customer service was practically invisible.
Second failure, not under warranty, I'm still debating whether its worth it (estimate $280). This time, Customer service readily available and helpful via e-mail, although no expalnations or solutions. (Maybe they've been getting more practice at it lately)

Been playing for 30 years, mostly casually.

If it were stolen (please), I would not buy another. I'd look for something with more power and definitely not made by Behringer.
I like the features and the size, but it does weigh a ton.
When I bought it, there wasn't much else in that range with those features or that compact size.

FINAL SUMMARY: IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING BUYING A BEHRINGER AMP, BE PREPARED FOR POTENTIAL PROBLEMS. THE PRICE IS GOOD AND THE FEATURES MAY BE ATTRACTIVE, BUT YOU ARE ONLY GETTING WHAT YOU PAY FOR. CHINESE MANUFACTURED

This amp has a bunch of features I felt were basically useless. The sub-bass only added some distorted noise to the sound, the compressor hardly noticed, and the graphic eq hardly made a difference. The shape also didn't make much of a difference in the sound. If Behringer had only simplified this amp, only with volume, bass mid, treble, master, and left out the rest, I would have been happy.
WARNING! This amp doesn't have a line out. Could you believe a 12" combo with no line out for the p.a.? I might have kept this if it did.

I tried using this amp with a duo that I play in. One guitar, one bass, and backing tracks and vocals. When we turned up later in the night, this thing fell behind. When I cranked it up halfway the sound became very mushy and the bottom sounded terrible. You can't use this live because there's no line out to help push the sound out.

n/a

I sent an email to Behringer and they're good at getting back to me. They acknowledged that this one needs to go back to the drawing board

This amp was actually very well built. However, it suffered from a mixture of bad features that didn't work well and a very weak presence and lack of line out for live performance. I really like Behringer stuff and I hope they try at this one again. I hear the competitor version by Rogue really kicks. I'm going to try that one.

Pretty good in this area - the shape function is nice, and footswitchable channels are always useful. The Ultrabass function is kinda weak and not really usable, but fun, at least, for the novelty factor.

The only problem is that this really dosent sound like a 120 watt amp. Its been sufficient for my needs; i.e. practice at home and with a small band, and even a small gig, but it sounds more like a 60 watt then anything else.

Oh yes.. The bastard is heavy

I really like the sound of this amp. Granted, its not gonna be as good as a much more expensive amp, but the shape function does its job. I use it through a Hartke SB-15 p-j bass, and between the settings on the bass and the amp, i can get a pretty wide range of decent tones.

Ive been using it for 8 months or so with no problems whatsoever. Im not exactly gentle with it and its taken a few knocks and small drops with no problems.

been playing for 2 years now, my other amp is a hartke 15 watt practice amp. for 400 dollars, its probably the best amp ive seen. But if you got a bit of extra cash, it may be worthwhile to get a louder amp if you need it.

2006 model. I think the sub bass control is a joke. Why waste money putting garbage like this in the amp that is totally useless, when something usefull like a tuner could have been installed instead. Doesnt have enough power to use in my blues band with a drummer but works well for acoustic jams. It also is a great practice amp for practicing alone with my mp3 player plugged in. The wood used is particle board and it is VERY heavy.

Using a fretless vintage jazz bass with it. The tone isnt bad and has a bit of flexibility and doesnt seem noisy. Havent really experienced distortion with it except when i tried to use it with the full band, it couldnt begin to cut it. Its a great amp for when i jam with acoustic instrument or playing alone but i dont recomend using it with a drummer as you will never hear it. I know 120 watts sounds impressive but the amp isnt really all that loud.

Have only owned it for 4 months but it has been trouble free. Solidly built.

never needed it.

Great little amp for the money and if you realize its volume limitations. If i were to do it again I would go for the smaller lighter amp with the 10 inch speaker because it would also be adequate for acoustic jams and a hell of a lot lighter. The amp isnt campable of being heard over a drummer so the smaller one would cover anything i use this amp for.

2 channels-one with shaping and one without both footswtchable
great four channel eq
Ultrabass or Octave Drop which is also footswitchable
Dynamizer preamp on both channels

i play mainly at church and for my band, but the sound is incredibly good.
Of course it isnt as good as a Crate or something but the alumiun cone is really punchy and the Shape is astoundingly good.
Its got really great low end, and it really rumbles the floor.

i have only had it for about 7 months, and absolutely problem free.

No problems yet

its utterly fantastic
the value is brilliant-120 watts for $399
i would reccomend this to anyone
i just love it!
so glad i bought it!!

Comes with two chanels, shape filter, full EQ, Ultrabass (-1 octave sound), and a footswitch to turn the ultrabass on / off and change chanels.
Also has like line in and tape in and external speaker ability.

I play a lot of slap, and fingerstyle. The amp certainly is very bright due to the alumilium cone and so it sounds really good, even at the loudest volume. It does have to be cranked to almost max to practice with a loud drummer tho, but thats what the volume control is for isnt it :P
The Chanel change allows me to get a good trebbly punchy slap sound and a more bass heavy fingerstyle.
When the amp is cranked up tho, a little tone is lost and it becomes a little muddy. Nothing to worry about tho i'd say.

Never broken on me, ive played it at full volume for 3 hour band practices, with a guitar and vocals using the line in. it did get very hot at the back tho. Apart from that, its fine. Id easily use it, and do, at all my gigs.

Never delt with them, no need yet

Been playing for 3 1/2 years, also used a big muff USA wit this amp, and its terrible so I am selling it, a USA has no bass presence, especialy with this amp.
If it was stolen id probably upgrade to something slightly larger, seeing as its always being used at near full volume.

For the price this amp is loaded with features; two chanels one with a shape dial (a filter), hi, lo, hi-mid and lo-mid tone controls, and ultrabass which basicly playes a note an octave below what your playing - it sound great on the higher strings but pants on the lower strings. Has a DI out, headphone jack, tuner out and everything else you'd expect. Comes with a foot switch too.

I use this amp with a warwick streamer lx and the amp is really letting the team down. the sound is ok at a low volume but bring in a drummer and your screwed, despite the 12" aluminum speaker.As the volume goes up the sound gets muddier and undistinctive.

Well it's still going-ish. the input jack is broken, the plastic simply snapped clean through. this amp is a combo but i have to seperate the head from the cabinet in order to get at the input jack. in saying that it's still going. I wouldn't use this amp at a gig, nevermind without backup, it's just not good enough.

Shite. one year warrenty. I've heard of people simply not being able to get parts of behringer. Four shops i brought it to for repairs refused to take it because they are fed up dealing with behringer.

This amp is great value for money, nowhere else will you get this many features for such a low price. pity it's a bit crap though. sounds bad, poor reliability, poor custumer support. my advice? splash out and get a Hartke Kickback.

If it Where stolen it would probably have been me scamming an insurance company.

I got this amp in March 2006 it was like brand new on ebay. Paid $150. It has all the features I wanted. Light weight, tilt back, 120 watts, small enough to fit in my Miata's front seat. I'd plan to use in a 3 piece blues band. And for practice. At home, it sounded great. I have a peavey MIII with a 15 in. cab, but wanted something smaller to lug around. I only play bass part time, mostly guitar.

I play Blues, classic rock, modern, new and original music. With all the feaure. I thought it would be ideal for all musical styles.
I got a good clean sound and the other chanel wass great for soloing. The sub effect was great, but I had to tweak in a small amount to get a real bass sound. too much made it sound way too artificial. Might be good for original ideals though. I really don't use much distortion on bass. I prefer a good clean bottom, with enough treble to be able to slap, but still hear the full sound clearly. Any slight adjustment of the knobs give the amp a totally differant sound. And I learned through trial and error, quick set ups can be a pain if you're in a new club, and not accustomed to how the room will sound before you start the gig. Get there early and tweak the sound to your taste. At home it was great, at the club....not so good. I was unable to match the stage volume of the drummer and the guitar player who using a peavy 50 watt combo. They couldn't hear me either and visibly complained. The XLR direct output worked great, but when I turned the volume past 6 the internal speaker cut out. Luckily the house PA had monitors. I was able to crank some volume back through the monitors and was able to hear a decent sound. It took to the third set to finally dial in a decent stage volume and sound, but for a blues band the bass was not big and fat enough. I play with some old farts, so playing loud is not their thing. I thought sure this amp would be the answer. but it failed. My Peavey MIII, all you have to do is cut it on and play. The next night, I took the peavey

Due to the previously stated experience, I don't think I can use it gigging. Maybe practice around the house. I plan to give it one more shot this weekend to be fair, but I'll have my Peavy as a stand by...

Never had to deal with them, but I do plan to ask them about the internal speaker cutting out. One guy said it had something to do with phamtom power. I use a Samick greg bennet P-bass with passive pickups and a maple neck..no phomtom power there...

I've been playing seriously bass for 2 years, but guitar forever. I know enough and been around great bass players enough to know how a bass should sound, even if its a combo. I have a GK 1X10, 75 watt which is more poweverfull, and a better tighter sound. If stolen, I would get a fender or peavy combo. I also have a peavey basic 50 which has a better sound. I will give this amp one more try this weekend. And if it passes I may just retract everthing I said, but for now, it doesn't look promising