Behringer V-amp2

DALE WHITENER · Post by **DALE WHITENER** » 27 Jul 2004 8:44 am

Does anyone use the V-Amp2 for steel?
I'm considering it or the Pod XT to use in live direct situations.
Thanks for any opinions.
Dale

David Spires · Post by **David Spires** » 27 Jul 2004 10:23 am

Dale,

I would compare the V-Amp2 to the Pod 2.0, in terms of technology level. I know players (great players) who use the Pod 2.0 and sound great. My personal opinion was that the clean settings were not clean enough, not enough headroom, and too high of a noise floor for me to use it.

The XT is a "newer" generation, and to me - it greatly improved in these areas. I know the Pod XT costs significantly more ($400 vs what $180 for the Vamp2), but I think you get that much more. I have owned other Behringer gear, and I have always found that it is great for the money - but occassional have "glitchy" problems with those pieces.

As is always best - try them out, and see what you think.
Good luck,

David Spires

Timmy Witt · Post by **Timmy Witt** » 27 Jul 2004 2:16 pm

I use a Vamp2 for recording direct. The only way I can get a sound satisfying to me is to run it in the effects loop of my blue tube 2 steel preamp which really makes a difference and set it on the roland amp model. If I had the money, I would probably get the pod xt.
I havn't used it live so I can't comment on that. Just my opinion.
Tim

William Peters · Post by **William Peters** » 27 Jul 2004 4:33 pm

Dale,

I have a Vamp-Pro (the rack mount version) and wouldn't recommend it for several reasons.

It is very noisy on some of the amp emulations, with a sort of rolling thunder type of background noise thats bothersome to me.

Also, in order to get a nice clean undistorted sound, the gain has to be turned down to the point that it won't drive a power amp to full volume. I have an ART SLA, and a Peavey PV-260 power amp, and the Vamp won't drive either one to anywhere near full power. Now, to be truthful, my tubefex doesn't drive either one full either, but its better than the Vamp.

Next problem... it is flimsy, and doesn't take physical abuse well at all. The controls all have plastic shafts that are easy to snap off.... I broke one off just by bumping it when I was putting the lid back on my rack case.

Then there is the volume pedal... When I put my pot pedal between my guitar and the Vamp input, it makes my pedal scratchy, like there is some amount of DC feeding back into the pedal. If I put the pedal in the effects loop, it will only control one channel, so I have to run mono instead of stereo, but there is no scratchiness in the pedal.

I'm still trying to figure out the instructions. For instance, the instructions do not detail how to change the speaker emulations. The rest of it is pretty easy and intuitive though.

I keep looking for the perfect gear... for me, this isn't it. The idea is good, the quality just doesn't cut it.

I know you asked about the Vamp 2, but I think the electronics are the same.

On the plus side, it doesn't weigh very much.

------------------
Bill

http://www.wgpeters.com
Mullen RP U-12, Cougar SD-10, PV-260, Tubefex, PV TNT-115, Gibson SG, Squier P-Bass, Berhinger V-amp Pro

DALE WHITENER · Post by **DALE WHITENER** » 28 Jul 2004 2:02 am

Thanks to everyone. I'm going with the
Pod XT. Please close this topic.
Dale

Jeff Hogsten · Post by **Jeff Hogsten** » 6 Aug 2004 7:33 am

you may want to take a look at the vox tonelab and the Roger Linn adrenalinn 11 I have read rave reviews on both the vox actually used a tube and from what Ive read has the best clean sounds