Behringer Shark DSP110

This is not really adverstised or marketed as a guitar effect but I purchased it after noting in the manual that it will work well with acoustic guitar feedback. I have an amplified dobro (Dobrolektric)that howls that a madman when amplified. I took a chance on this box.

This sucker is basically a one channel feedback eliminator with a noise gate, low cut filter, compressor and delay. The delay is designed to delay a signal to a satellite speaker and, since it has no blend function with the undelayed signal that I can find, it really is useless as an effect. Otherwise, this box is amazing for feeback prone acoustic instruments.

The unit is very small - about the dimensions of a stompbox only taller - it will fit on a pedal board if you can deal with the display being on the front rather than on the top. There is no bypass switch. The Sharc will also provide 48v phantom power out of its balanced input jack if you're so inclined.

The manual is average when it comes to the non-feedback related features - it explains everything but you have to jump around a bit to figure out which button has to be held and how you access this or that - but it's not too bad. Fortunately, the automatic feedback supressor is ready to roll right out of the box with the factory settings.

The Sharc has both mic and line level inputs - it will accept an unbalanced guitar signal - input level and clip level can be adjusted as necessary. Output can be set to line or mic level - set it at mic level and go straight to your guitar amp.

Power comes from an outboard transformer - the connection to the Sharc is a strange multi-pin plug - quick replacement is, therefore, a problem should the power supply burnout. Minus one point for that.

I bought this really for one thing - feedback supression on an acoustic instrument - it does that incredibly well with the factory setting's untouched. I could not stand with my back to the amp over three feet away without my guitar feeding back - last night I sat in front of it and about a foot away and heard absolutely no feedback whatsover (without any appreciable change in sound quality). The unit works on very small bands (1/60 of an octave) and does not color your sound like a graphic or parametric eq. Brilliant!

The low cut is cool for eliminating bumps and clacks - put it on about 35hz - your guitar doesn't go that low so no tone is lost.

The compressor lacks enough parameters to really be used as an effect - but it will level off the top of your volume range (like Fishman's compressor on its new Platinum acoustic pre-amp purports to do) - you can go from slide to fingerstyle with less change of volume if you squash the strum volume by ear - start with a setting of 60 on density and 70 on speed.

Noise gate is just that and does a fine job.

As noted, the delay is really not usable as a guitar effect.

The whole thing is very quiet and doesn't color your sound.

This box is completely worth it alone as an excellent one-channel feedback supressor!

I wouldn't spill beer on it or go swimming with it. It otherwise seems to be as sturday as most professional sound-reinforement gear - A lot of plastic though....don't drop it.

Haven't dealt with these folks before. I think they're German...

If you have feedback problems with an acoustic instrument that goes beyond somethig Fishman or L.R. Baggs can fix with a notch filter, this is most definitely the way to go.

Although the Sharc has some other features, don't expect a multi-effects unit - that being said, the low cut is cool as is the noise-gate. The compressor is more a limiter than anything but can be helpful to smooth out peaks.

It costs about as much as a good acoustic pre-amp and basically does the same job as one (minus the eq features) with a vastly more advanced feeback supressor. I would buy it again if lost or stolen.