Virtube VT250FX

For a sealed-back 2X12, it¿¿¿s not quite as solid on the bottom end as some higher-dollar combo amps, but it certainly packs enough wallop to get the job done. On top of that, it has both an emulated and non-emulated line out, so connecting to the main mix is a breeze if you want to go direct. If not, mic it and call it a day. As far as the effects are concerned, I¿¿¿m not a big lover of effects. But I played around with some of the delay patches and was quite pleased. It gives you an FX mix control that allows you to control just how wet you want the mix. If you¿¿¿re into that sort of thing, I¿¿¿m sure the chorus and other effects will suit you fine. They¿¿¿re certainly better than some of the digital footboard crap I see players dinging around on. The reverb sound fines and the clean channel is exactly to be expected from a solid state amp, clean. Enough said there. Plenty of features for the dough.

Solid state amplification is improving, but don¿¿¿t ever be fooled into thinking it accurately duplicates the sound, warmth, dynamics and dimension of an all-tube amplifier. The Behringer VT250FX stands as a great example of value, simplicity and decent sound quality for your buck. But buyer beware, it¿¿¿s also a product of market hype by the manufacturer. The Virtual Tube Circuitry, or VTC, is Behringer¿¿¿s attempt at replicating the warmth and dimension of vacuum tube power stages. Their product description would lead you to believe it¿¿¿s been mastered, and that their Virtube line of amplifiers are a breakthrough that would lead someone to believe they were playing a tube amp. Not quite¿¿¿ While the VT250FX is a very good sounding solid state amplifier, certainly much better than anything else in its price range, it¿¿¿s still very much a solid state amp. The VTC switch, which can be engaged or shut off at the simple push of a button, is more like a colorized boost than an instant transformation from transistor to tube. While you can notice a difference when the button is engaged, it¿¿¿s more a decibel boost with a hint of warm color. The amp still doesn¿¿¿t have tube voicing by any stretch of the imagination. The VTC feature certainly makes the amp sound better, but it¿¿¿s not going to make you suddenly think you¿¿¿re playing a Dual Rectifier or a JCM800. Tube amps are known for warmth, multi-dimensional sound, dynamic nuance and headroom. The gain knob on a real tube amp determines how dirty or clean your signal is. I wish I could say that the gain knob on the overdrive channel of this amp behaved like a tube amp, but really it doesn¿¿¿t. I ran mine on 3 or 4, and while that did give me a little more headroom on the volume roll, it still produced ball-scalding distortion at full volume. This amp could really benefit from an additional gain stage in between clean and full distortion. Unfortunately, some of the less expensive Virtube models have two stages of distortion, but for some reason the top of the line VT250FX does not. With some work, I was able to dial in a tone that was livable, offering a little headroom and a nicer hard rock overdrive, but it took tweaking. While I have experience playing everything from jazz to metal, and know to a T how to dial in genre-replicating tones, I prefer a warm, organic rock tone with some natural grit to rock out, but not so fuzzy that I can¿¿¿t appreciate the natural sound of my guitar and finger work. It¿¿¿s difficult to find that middle road with this amp. But then again, and to put this into perspective for everyone: IT¿¿¿S A $300 AMPLIFIER --- plain and simple. For $300, you¿¿¿re getting a great amp. However, if you drop coin on this amp expecting Mesa-Boogie quality performance, you¿¿¿ll be disappointed.

I own several tube amps, from small five watt models to 120-watt models. I¿¿¿ve experimented for years with tube configurations and even work on tube amps from time to time. I purchased this amp because our rehearsal space is in a damp basement and I didn¿¿¿t want to expose my good equipment to it. For the money I spent on the amp, it suits my needs just fine and I¿¿¿m happy. I like a little more authentic tube sound, so I¿¿¿ve added a Behringer MIC200 tube preamp with a vintage RCA 12AT7 to my direct signal chain to further colorize and fill out my guitar sound. That, coupled with the VTC feature, is pretty darn convincing, and that¿¿¿s what I suggest if you¿¿¿re a tube connoisseur and want to use the overdrive channel of this amp. If you want to slave it, a Behringer Vintage Tube Monster VT999 pedal with the BitMo modification kit and a Tung-Sol or Sovtek Tube in your direct signal chain, using the VT250FX as just a clean signal source and power amp will also make a newfound tubey use for this combo. If you know what you¿¿¿re doing with this amp, it will work well for you.  If you¿¿¿re one of those people who don¿¿¿t know good tone and play with your mids on 0, gain on 10, treble on 10 and bass on 10, it¿¿¿s going to sound like all the rest of the garbage amps out there. Of course that EQ setting will also make even a Dual Rectifier sound as harsh and brittle as a cheap Crate.