Behringer BXL1800

2 channels with footswitch - The distortion doesn't really cut it for me, I tend to go for a Muse-style finger picking distortion (check the Ibanez PD7), but I could get a decent Motorhead sound with a P-bass and stainless steel strings.
The 'shape' knob seems pointless, giving a choice between muddy or un-muddy sound.
The 'level' knob does give you the choice of a volume boost.

EQ - I found that the EQ was ok, it doesn't give you a wide variety of sounds just highlights certain tones.

Compression - Never use it, seems to act more like a volume boost than anything. Boosts the lows quite a bit which works well with stainless steel strings but when I use my heavy gauge nickel strings it just gets too muddy.

Ultrabass effect - This essentially gives you an octave down, it has a limited range, from about a low E to 2nd fret on the G string, any thing higher it can't sustain and just putters out. Can't handle more than one note either, it usually just attempts to pick out the note I played loudest before quickly failing.

Wattage (loudness) - It's pretty good for practicing at home or even rehearsing provided the drummer is using silencers otherwise I have to try and max it out to hear myself which usually results in some clipping. I'd suggest buying a louder amp if you're going to be rehearsing.

Im using 2 Squier P-basses with it, one with stainless steel medium gauge strings and one with nickel heavy gauge strings. I generally use the one with nickel strings.

It can't match my drummer's noise level and it clips (dodgily) when I push it to hear myself. I also found that the amp's tones are a lot different at a high volume compared to the low volume. Low volume I usually bump the mids. High volume I have to boost the lows otherwise I can't hear myself.

I play alt-rock, (Muse, QOTSA, Billy Talent) and it doesn't really suit my finger picking style because the lows are too muddy. However, when using the SS strings and a pick it does a good Green Day/GnR impression as well as a Motorhead one when the distortion channel's on. For my style of music I'd give a 4 but for the plectrum sound its a decent 7.

I've had it for 2 years and It's never broken down despite me pushing it a lot, although the sound has has deteriorated a bit. The only thing that's broken is an LED in an EQ push switch. I'd feel about 80% confident when gigging without a backup, provided I was hooked up to the PA (otherwise no-one would be able to hear me).

Never dealt with them.

I've been playing 3 years, this amp is 2 years old.
I shall be retiring it to practice at home soon as it can't keep up with the rest of the band (especially the drummer). If it was stolen or lost I wouldn't buy it again as its served its purpose as a temp until I could afford something bigger, better and louder.
If your looking for something for quite rehearsals or as a temp amp then I'd recommend it however you can get cheaper, better amps for just practicing at home and better, louder (albeit more expensive) amps for gigging and rehearsal.

This amp is great for a jazzy style, but sometimes becomes staticy if you want to crank it up real loud. It has effect loops and a headphone jack and cd plug in. There are some cool features like the compressor that are good, because then you dont have to go buy a compressor pedal, but the 2nd gain, I really never use.

Im using a Fender Precision Bass, with the P-Bass style and pickups. On my bass it sounds great, but I owned an old junker also, and it sounded just as good on that one as well. It suits a jazz style well. It is noisy is you crank it way up, but on a practice level it makes little or no static. The sounds are great, but again, at too high levels they become staticy.

This amp is very reliable, I would use it on a gig without backup. Ive had it for around two years and it has'nt needed to be repaired, just a few minor things I could fix.

Ive been playing for two and a half years, not long, but enough to know good gear. I also own a Wah pedal and a Fender Precision as I mentioned, and they work great on this amp. I love the tones and deepness of this amp, which all bass amps should have. I do not like the amount of static at high levels.

Behringer's BX1800 is described as truly affordable 180W bass combo with an original BUGERA 1 X 15" high-impact cone speaker and a custom-made horn tweeter for high-end clarity. That???s nice I guess.

It also comes with ???VTC Virtual Tube Circuitry??? to simulate a tube amp sound, I couldn???t tell any difference when the switch was on or off. The amp also came with a 4-band EQ and mid-shape function but the EQ and its sliders feel ???chincy??? and have very little impact on the tone. There is also an integrated musical opto-limiter (whatever that is) to ensures ultimate volume without distortion, unfortunately volume of any kind is lacking.

The amp does have connectivity options with a balanced XLR DI output, an FX Insert for external effects, a headphone output and a CD input.

From a features standpoint the Amp does have everything in needs.

The sound quality of this amp ranked in at poor, the sound was muddy and the amp lacked any tonal quality what so ever. In addition the sound this amp did produce was entirely insufficient for anything other than a solo practice at home. I purchased this amp on line assuming that, at 180 Watts, it would out perform my 80???s Peavey basic 40. In hind sight I should have tried one first.

For the 3 months I owned it the amp did work so I guess that???s good. I would have real questions about its durability in the long term given its ???cheap??? feel.

None needed

When I was looking for an amp larger than my basic 40 to jam with I found the Beringer on musician???s friend for $199.99 and I thought, ???that???s too good to be true??????unfortunately it is.

I guess you get what you pay for and I should have questioned how any 180W bass combo with a 15??? speaker can go for under $200. The quality was marginal and the amp was whisper quiet. Once past ?? volume I think that it???s ???opto-limiter??? kicked in so that there was no increase in volume.

Truly a disappointing amp at any price.

I got a brand new amp with 2 channels, footswitch, compressor, 7 band EQ, DI out etc. - all "must be" features. I was looking for the amp which gad to be compact, functional enough and not too heavy for carrying along and Behringer seemed to be reasonal opportunity.

Well ... first I switched it on there was hum. When I discovered that the EQ was broken. 3 upper sliders didn't function at all, lower one's worked but were crackling awfully while moving them.
The amp is described to be 180W. Do not belieave it! I turned both gain and the volume to the end and still my previous BX1200 was louder with half of power. Furthermore little 100W Roland Cube killed both Behringers and was absolutely silent. Seems to me that the Bugera speaker inside BXL1800 is pretty powerful, but the amp itsself is bit crappy.

I send it back the same day I bought it so I don't know. Anyway my previous Behringer BX1200 served me 3,5 years before I sold it and I believe this old box is still alive and kicking.

Never used.

I'v been playing bass almost 10 years, mainly jazz, blues, rock and pop. I use 5 string Ibanez (SR 505) bass, which suits almost every style I play. I had Behringer BX1200 before and which is rather good combo. I thought that BXL1800 was develepod further, but I was mistaken. I have lots of Behringer equioment and I'm satisfied with the overall quality. This was the first time I was really disappointed.