Behringer BX3000T Ultrabass Bass Amplifier Head (300 Watts)

Feature:
The amp includes a foot switch for special effects. The Ultra bass sounds pretty cool but I never use it in the music that I play. The Shaping is nice and punchy, but I don't use it either as I set my tone and run the deep and bright switches as needed. I do have a DigiTech BP200 and run about 3 presets occassionally, but even here, I like my own sound and mostly use the processor as a glorified tuner with a volume control. I like the analog read out better than the LED's and would really love it if it could be hooked up to a good tuner. I like the simplicity of the head and tone controls, the amount of good clean power, and the ruggedness with which it was built, and the incredible price that I got it for.

Quality:
Yes. Very rugged and durable. Good heat relief. Very little distortion at full volume. Excellent reproduction at low to moderate volumes. No blemishes that I can find and it was well packed for shipping. I do depend on it. My Hartke 3500 head is in the repair shop and we are playing out every week end. I have not had the need to bi-amp as our stages and practice areas are small but this little amp gives me plenty of volume and push. However, I wouldn't mind having a second one for bi-amping, running a second stack of cabinets, or even as a back up for my primary. For more bottom or volume out front I use a direct line out to the mixer for our PA. I would give it about 10 years or better on the road. The road is very hard on equipment but this little fellow is as tough as they come.

Value:
Absolutely worth the price. Compares very well to any major name on the market.

Desirability:
I bought it because I was in a jam. No amp in my price range and a job coming up. It caught my eye by the simplicity of it's style and the power rating of the unit. The price was great, but I was holding my breath on the sound, until I finally plugged in. It is very practical, expandable, and affordable. I just want to make love to it all night long. I am very pleased.

Sound:
There is a little bit of air on high volume (all amps have this) and if you absolutely try to blow the doors out of the studio, a little distortion. However, this is a great little amp in every way. It gives excellent reproduction at low to moderate volumes, plenty of power for practice and stage use, is attractive, rugged, and very easy to use. I played with the foot switch when I first got it but do not use it anymore. I do have a Boss MD200 for the few effects that I use occassionally (use it mostly for tuning than anything else). This amp gives me the sound that I like without all the extra periphereals i the way. I play a Fender Jazz through a Peavey 200 watt @ 8 ohms 1-18 2-10 cabinet, with an extra pair of 200 watt @ 8 ohm 10's on top. This amp pushes them all with no problem. If I need any more volume out front I run direct through the PA. Sound will change from cabinet to cabinet and from amp to amp and room to room. I would like to try it on a pair of 15's with a couple of 10's. My 18 has a very sharp roll off but pushes a lot of air which gives me a great feeling and fills the room with a nice bottom end. (Music should be experienced not just heard, eh!?!) The tone, presence, and punch is mostly from my 10's. Even on 2-10's or 4-10's it sounds great and feels good. I have used Sunn, Ampeg, Peavey, and Hartke. All of which cost considerably more and the sound is only slightly better in some and undistinguishable in others. For a straight bass player's amp, to get your foot in the door, or a dependable back up for practice and small gigs, this little fellow will do the job faithfully and in good fashion. You cannot go wrong for the price and you will be very pleased with your sound.

Support:
No.

Overall:
I will probably get another soon and would not hesitate to replace it with another BX3000T. If I were to change anything cosmetically it would be to make the face plate in a silver and black finish as opposed to the gold and black (it would match my equipment better) but it is beatiful just as it is. Quite frankly, I don't think you should mess with anything on this amp. But, let me know if you come up with a more powerful amp (say, an 800 Watt amp delivering 400 Watts to four speaker cabinets for $400). I'd like to be first in line to buy one.

Feature:
The EQ capabilities are very comprehensive. I haven't found an need for any external pedals or effects, except for my Digitech Bass Squeeze compressor. I guess if I had to wish for another feature, it would be adjustable compression. The Ultrabass feature is kinda fun to mess with, but not really practical. VU meter is really a sweet touch. Shape filter is the icing on the cake that makes this amp a tone wizard and the footswitch makes it easy to use.

Quality:
So far, it seems plenty durable. Nice carpety covering. My complaint is how loose the knobs are. Behringer should tighten those pots, and this would be a totally tight unit.

Value:
I did a lot of research looking for 300 watts in my price range. This was well within that range, and far more feature-packed than anything else out there. I already owned a Behringer mixer, so I knew it was good stuff. Just buy one, and if you become a bigshot later and get an Eden or something, this will be the sweetest backup amp you ever had.

Desirability:
This is a good looking amp. The gold face and VU meter are sexy features.

Sound:
I play and or dabble in virtually all styles of music where an electric bass is appropriate. So far, there's not a tone I can't dial in to this amp. This amp sounds awesome through my Hartke Transporter cabs (1x15 & 2x10) with my American Fender Hot-Rodded P-Bass. It's plenty loud too. I haven't dared turn it up over 5 yet, for fear of shaking pictures off my walls.

Support:
Don't know yet. Hopefully I'll never know.

Overall:
I'm in love with this amp. Just writing this makes me want to go home and crank it up. Buy one. Quick, before they jack up the price!