Behringer LX1-112 V-Ampire

Amp and Cab simulation. Loads of effects. All sound great!

A+. The real thing. U2 retro Vintage to modern blistering gain. Amazing for the price.

Never had a problem in two years.

N/A

Not quite my Mesa through a Recto; it does sound close recorded though. You MUST KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING WITH AMP EFFECTS and GAIN to get what sounds good to you; years of experience are irrelevant. SOUND ENGINEERING KNOWLEDGE will get you there with THIS AMP.

This amp has great features, the problem is it made of cheap parts that make the amp sound terrible!

Tried everything from a Les Paul to a Tele, The sound just got worse!

You better bring a backup!

None, Forget how customer support.

Been playing for 40 years. I may lose it myself.

Digital Modeling Amp, 125 memory banks, 5 channels per bank, 12" jensen speaker, 32 simulated amps, 15 simulated speaker cabs, 16 effects + reverb, channel swapping pedal inlcuded, headphone jack. that pretty well covers it. Can't really complain about the number of features, but the quality is questionable. I'm gonna go with 8 because yeah it does have a lot of bells and whistles. But it's a quantity over quality thing.

Currently I'm using an Ibanez sz 320, w/ emg 81, 85 active pick ups in the bridge and neck respectively. I hate to bash my own amp but honestly this amp's sound quality is lacking on most of the amp models, it just doesn't sound good enough. On a lighter note the clean channels sound alright, compared to the distorted ones. The Mesa Boogie (rectified head and rectified high gain) settings sound bad on any guitar. I realize it's not suppose to sound amazing in this price range but wow, some settings should be avoided like the plague. I have sort of a love hate relationship with this amp sometimes it sounds good to me, sometimes it's sounds so hurtin' i don't even wanna pick up my guitar. I'm gonna award four points b/c I like some of the clean channels and the effects may not be unreal but if you've got the patience you can create some cool sounds.

Amazingly this amp hasn't broken down or had any issues in the year and a half I've owned it. But i know sooner or later an LED will go out or something will stop working. The build quality is well, ok i guess. But by looking at it you can tell it wasn't meant for abuse. Everthing is plastic, that pretty much says it all. I wouldn't gig with this I don't trust it, plus with effects and cab sims...etc volume drops substantially. One other thing, because i'm lazy I put wheels on it, as I was drilling into it i swear to god the wood used to build it was particle board or some other low grade type of plywood. Until I have an issue I'll go with 9, I know construction ain't the highest quality but it hasn't broken yet.

no reason to call them yet, but presumably it's ok

For 300 bucks and oh so many features I can't complain other than the sound quality, but no one should expect eye watering sound quality from something like this. Some effects are useless, some amp models are useless. But you know what I'm never going to use them all anyhow, I have a metal guitar with emg pickups so i only use about four channels. Knowing what I know now I wouldn't buy this amp again, I would hold out and get a decently priced tube amp, but for a first amp the V-amp is good because it has so many sound altering options, so if you're unsure of what music style you wanna play you can't really go wrong without breaking the bank.

Built in 2003
The most versatile amp I've found and have used many different.
Used for practice & gigs in bars with audiences from 50 to 500 people.

Used with Gibson L.P. custom Strat with emg's Strat w/ paf.
Playing classic rock from the 1960's to the 1990's.
It is very quiet & the noise gate works quite well.
The amp is capable of a VERY wide range of sounds from crystal clean
to overdrive mayhem all available to tweak with descent quality effects to your. hearts content.

It let me down at the last gig. If the internal cmos battery becomes discharged or loose goodbye settings, only garbled nonsense remains.
I will implement an upgrade, but am hesitant to outline it here as the same reviewers who don't like the amp will probably damage theirs due to lack of understanding. It is strange this is not covered in the manual. The amp cabinetry is sufficiently heavy
but the potentiometers are not road quality, (plastic shafts). I built an 1/8" plywood cover to transport & has worked like a charm.

I have called Behringer in Calif. and they were very helpful sending
new chips for free when required, very quickly.

I have been playing for 40 years. Have owned all types of guitars & amps. Always searching for the best sounds to emulate the wide range of material we do. I use it with the fcb1010 midi controller on stage
with good results. I read all the manuals, downloaded the free setup software (very nice) gone to user groups, in other words have done the homework. I have not experienced the time lag others have on switching. I can say from experience that it is loud enough for gigs of up to 500 when set up properly, but just barely. I run the master at least 3/4. It volume seems to not increase much at 1/4 to 3/4 and then increases a lot at 3/4 +. The cleaner sounds are weaker than the overdriven ones, but this can be helped with the compressor with its added gain. WE have a hard hitting 220 lb. double bass playing drummer & the other guys hear me better than when using the 4x12/ tsl setup. No doubt this is because of the Vampire's open back design & single 12" spkr being driven 4x as hard as a 4x12. The foot controller needed a new chip installed in it before it worked properly & has now been Ok for almost 2 years. I couldn't be without this thing. It is my sound(s) now. I use too many presets but really enjoy sounding exactly like the originals. The biggest shortcoming is the wah, using the pedal. I have tried everything but it just doesn't sound good. I substituted the autowah where possible which is better. The Vampire is less costly than the competition. It is designed in Germany & made in China. Yes I know, theres something about that, But LISTEN with your ears, not your ego & you wont believe what is available now for a total $425.00+ IT IS THE BEST AMPLIFIER VALUE THAT I HAVE FOUND IN 40 YEARS. It weighs about 1/5 of the last setup (racks etc.) and I really like it. Maybe I should put the jensen 12 alone in a 4x12 cab. & fit the vampire guts into a marshall head Cab........... No I dont think so. This modeling stuff
is what the fuzz & wah were in 1965. (My hiwatt & Marshall amps are
gathering dust) I guess I'll save them for when we play Masison Square Garden........... OK That won't happen either..........

Just try to use, for example, a Behringer MIC200 tube mic preamp (valve setting, low cut engaged, minimum gain, volume to reach "0" in the preamp's meter) plugged in the pre DSP fx loop of the vampire.
This can make an huge difference.Better and live cleans, no clipping (If the MIC200 is well tuned)..Distortions stay great....
It's a shame, the delay (and stupid sound) bettween patches..

Well, after some time, the preamp selector switch is DEAD...now, to use some diferent preamp I have to search a patch that has the desired preamp... That's a pain in the arse...the rest is fine

Still great...

Take all the amps (tube and solid state) you have collected, all your footpedals, and cabinets.

Write software to simulate the amp circuitry, effects pedals, and cabinets.

Build an all digital amp amp with only one analog control (power amp master volume). Build digital inputs (volume, tone, amp select, etc) for all the other controls. Add a Jensen 12" speaker for good tone.

Add headphones output, recording and PA outputs, etc.

Now you have the LX1-112 design. Minimal analog, all digital domain processing to simulate the classic amp tones, effects, and speaker cabs.

This amp is good for all styles of amplified (electric) guitar, given the fact that it can reproduce the tone of most any well-known amp produced.

Treat it like you would your instrument, and it should last a long time. Plastic parts are used for cost reduction, and the 'pots' (look like digital input knobs not real pots) are probably not very easy to find as a spare part ... except maybe through Behringer customer service.

Behringer USA is very friendly and helpful, even with questions.

I have never had a problem needing actual repairs or support, however.

If stolen or lost, I would buy another.

Unless that happens, I will just be one of the first to buy the next generation digital modeling combo from Behringer. Maybe by then they will have added USB/PC (direct digital) recording support and tube tone 'morphing' controls such as those found in Dr Z. MazJr and Peavey Valveking amps.

This unit was cleary designed by and evaluated (for usability) by guitarists (who also have technically demonstrated they are in the top tier of audio engineering talent).

Check out the Behringer web site for more info, and check here for more ratings and opinions,

http://guitar-mentor.blogspot.com/2005/08/high-yield-gear-for-guitarists-then.html
and
http://www.epinions.com/Behringer_V-Ampire_LX112_Combo/display_~reviews

I'll give this unit a 9 only because I there's always room for improvement. Maybe the USB and 'tone morphing' controls should be open and extensible (downloadable) upgrades to the amp?

If so, then we would have an undisputed 10.

Best in Class features, no need to elaborate as others have covered the vast array of features.

The only missing feature is USB direct digital output for recording (wait for the next model, I guess).

I would rate '10' it USB capability was available today.

Everything a working guitaris needs (and covered in the other reviews).

One caveot, however. Make sure you audition the amp, not the presets. The factory presets don't do justice to either the clean or gain amp models.

For single coils, make sure your adjust the 'configuration gain stage'. You do this by simultaneously selecting 'D & E' (config mode), then using 'tap' and 'gain' to increase the input gain stage globally. Just make sure the clip led isn't going on too often, or you will have too much gain.

From my experience, this is the #1 reason why folks think the amp has insufficient volume (they are set up with a factory-default low gain, weak pickups, and a large S/N ratio, which makes them think the amp has no volume!).

'9' vs. '10' becaus this usability tip is not noted by the majority of folks who audition the amp ... too bad, because it shoudln't be a reason NOT to buy the amp. The factory default presents probably should use a little compression and kick up the gain to be compatible with many weaker single coil pickups.

I have owned mine for over a year, and use it (hard) daily. It stands up to contstant use. Some plastic parts were used to reduce cost, but that shouldn't deter you from using the amp. Just take care of it like you would any recording gear or guitar and you should be ok. Why should we have to build amps like a tank? If you need to buy a gigging case for it.

Good customer support, as I have talked with them for other product info, and Behringer has been very responsive.

Overall, this is a 10. I'll buy another when USB is part of the package.

See other reviews and comments at,

http://guitar-mentor.blogspot.com/
and
http://www.epinions.com/Behringer_V-Ampire_LX112_Combo


Not the only choice out there, but maybe one of the best and most versitile guitar amps made today. Certainly a best value or best buy when evaluated or auditioned properly.

I have owned this amp for about a year. I love it but I haven't owned a lot of amps to compare it to.
Great amp modeling, hate the speaker sims. Power is okay, better if you hook up to another cab and run the full 100 watts.

I use an Epi LP Custom and have no complaints on sound.
I only use about 8 sounds total. Clean, Slight Distortion and really distorted on one channel bank. Clean, Phased out clean, and spacey distortion on another channel.
My advice is... Play and listen to all the presets, pitch the ones you don't like, and tweak the ones you do then save them on one bank for use (write it down).
Play with the amp simulations, they're great. I use my amp only on L2 mode for live playing. I also run mine thru our Alesis PA with powered subs (sounds awesome).

I haven't had any problems over this year of fairly heavy use (everyday).

I give this a 7 because I sent en email about the clip light being lit almost all the time when playing hard. They commented that the clip light indicates the INCOMING signal, meaning I should turn my guitar down in order not to lose the dynamics of my Epi LP Pickups.

I got mine on Ebay for an unbelievable $100 bucks off. There is no problem with it and everything was intact, no scratches.
I would buy another if this one is stolen since it was so low-priced. Although by then I will have more moeny to blow and may go with a higher priced Fender Frontman 65 or higher...

Purchased from Guitar Center in January, 2005.
15 amp models, 32 speaker models, the usual effects.
XLR outs for recording
Line outs for additional amps.
Headphone jack
Just about all the features you'll ever use.

Main guitar is a cheap Ibanez AX model, with buckers.
Play metal, classic rock, praise, country.
Wanted an amp that could get alot of different sounds and be portable
for hauling to church and gigs.
Some amp models sound great, others OK, still others are rotten.
Clean sounds are not the best.Fender should not be worried just yet.
Distortion is much better. Boogie amp model is great for rock & metal.
Amp is not noisy at all.

Seems solid. Nothing broken yet.

Have'nt dealt with Behringer before.

Playing all kind of instruments for 30 years.
Good amp for all around use. Price can't be beat.
If stolen I would probably buy another.
If you want alot of options without spending $1000.00 this is a good amp. It's not a Marshall JCM800 or a Fender '65 Twin, but you can get some good sounds out of it.

It has plenty of features for $250. I have some Fender and Peavey amps
This thing is about as loud as my Peavey Delta Blues, with a crap pot more features. I like them both.

It has a lot of sounds.
You got to read the manual before you try it.
It can get loud enough to gig with if you set the master input jack level to match your pickups.
I play a Nashville Tele thru it. I use the L2 mode, but I also like the S3 mode also.

Looks good and heavy to me. No problems yet, but too soon to tell.
Won't know for a couple three years.

N/A

I been gigging a long, long, long, time. I bought this to see what it was like. I had 45 days to return it, so why not. I hated it until I read the manual. Now I gig with it. Sounds great!