Behringer's New Guitar Amp Line Starts Shipping

(Click for a close-up of the controls)

BEHRINGER announced that the first model of its guitar amplifier line is now shipping to dealers. The BLUE DEVIL GX112 ($449 MSRP) is a 60-watt, channel-switching guitar amplifier with onboard effects. The BLUE DEVIL is one of five new guitar amplifier combos from BEHRINGER that offer a unique and appealing feature set, including onboard high-quality effects, comprehensive I/O capabilities and extensive MIDI implementation. This powerful combination of analog and digital technology comprises what BEHRINGER calls a Guitar Workstation.

The BLUE DEVIL offers two independent foot-switchable channels (aptly labeled Heaven and Hell) with separate volume controls and effects. The Heaven channel provides a wide palette of clean tones and slightly distorted (fuzz) tube sounds. The Hell channel delivers overdrive ranging from metal crunch to screaming blues. Like several of the BEHRINGER Guitar Workstations, the GX112 was designed from the ground up to be an ultra-reliable amp with distinctive tube characteristics. Based on BEHRINGERs VIRTUBE technology, it accurately simulates complex tube interaction with solid-state components.

The BLUE DEVIL also includes programmable 24-bit effects based on BEHRINGERs award-winning VIRTUALIZER and MODULIZER effects processors. The processing unit has 31 original effects algorithms including: reverb, delay, phaser, chorus, flange, pitch shift, speaker simulator, rotary speaker, compressor, expander, wah-wah, tube emulator and more, as well as various combinations of these effects. The effects can be easily edited via three parameters with dedicated controls, stored in 99 user presets and independently assigned to the 'Heaven' and 'Hell' channels.

The BLUE DEVIL GX112 has extensive MIDI implementation, which allows remote real-time control from an external sequencer or any other MIDI controller, of up to five effects parameters, channel selection, volume and even a wah-wah from a pedal board.

Stereo input jacks on the back of the amp enable a guitarist to easily patch in backing tracks including drum machines, groove boxes, or any other external stereo source, directly to the amp. A wah-wah pedal, stomp boxes or any other external effects device can be connected via the BLUE DEVIL's serial input path. Headphone outputs allow private practice, while separate stereo line out jacks provide an easy path to an external mixer or recording console. The unit comes with its own dual footswitch that allows channel switching and effects by-pass.