GMX212 Review

The GMX212 offers 2 full-featured modeling channels that boast 3 classic guitar amps, 3 speaker simulation models plus 3 gain modes each - all individually selectable.

Features:	9.4
Sound:	8
Reliability:	9.1
Impression:	9.3
Overall rating:	9
Users rating:	7.8
Comments:	21

overall: 9.5

Featured review by: ClashRocker66, on april 19, 2005

Features: // 10

Sound: As I said before I use humbuckers through my Les Paul Standard. Suits my style fine, the distortion is crazy, you can get it crunchy and lots of bark, especially with my treble switch on my guitar flipped on. But you can also distort it only slightly and get a pretty cool distortion for softer rock. Also distorting the clean channels is pretty cool. You can make it sound like southern rock, or slower rock, think Lynard Skynyrd: Sweet Home Alabama. You can actually match that distortion perfectly with the gain on 6, the amp on California, the mode on clean, and the speaker on UK.

The clean channel doesn't get distorted no matter what the volume unless you turn the gain past 3 on any volume. The effects seem to lean toward the distortion channel though in terms of how good they sound, although there are quite a few that work nice with the clean channel on. If you were to rate the distortion (how "brutal") with 1 being clean/clear and 10 being something like screaching power metal, I'd say you can get it between 2 (there is a little dirt on the clean but it's not noticable if you play on the tweed setting, but it's very quiet like that) and 7 or 8 for rock stuff. That seems like a pretty good range for me since my range of music I play is right in there anyways. Of course you're not gonna get a great metal distortion, but if you turn the mids to down to about just lower than half, and keep the highs and lows up pretty high you get a nice fat metal sound, but it's not screaming by any means. Once again, these distortions are the reason pedals were invented. // 8

Reliability & Durability: // 10

Impression: I've been playing for more than 4 years now. My friend owns a Fender FM212 which I compare it to, and I'd say this one beats it in almost every aspect except maybe volume, which by no means is quiet for this amp (GMX212). The tweed channel on my amp sounds just as good as his Fender's clean channel. If it were stolen I'd probably save up for this amp, although if I had the cash I might just go after a halfstack of some sort, but it would probably be a Behringer halfstack. I chose this amp because it was the cheapest in it's class of 212's but also as I said before I had already played my friend's FM212 and I just gave this one a try, because maybe it's just me but I can't stand the Fender's distortion. Overall, it's a great buy. I impress myself when I play it and I impress all of my friends and people who play it. It's an amazing amp and for $100 less than something comparable to this amp, this is the one to choose. // 10

overall: 8.8

Reviewed by: unregistered, on november 21, 2005

Price paid: $ 200

Purchased from: Music Go Round - Richfield, Minnesota

Features: This thing has a ton of features. It had more features than any amp in the store, actually. Chorus, Reverb, Flanger, Echo, those type of things. But the awesome ones are the wah (effect 72), the "wawawawawawawawa" type of vibrating wah (effect 74), and my personal favorite is effect number 96. Want more distortion than anything you can imagine? Turn the low to 10, mid to 1, high to 10. Put it on California, Hot, and US for the 3 channel effects. Put the master volume down to 3, turn the level on your channel to 7 if you want gain, 8 if you're gutsy, 9 if you've got balls, and 10 if you're insane. Turn the effect level to 99. Turn the effect on. You'll probably jump at first cause it's insanely loud, but at a level of 9 or 10 you can't even hear your notes because it's just fuzz. Think about the level of distortion on The Velvet Underground's "I Heard Her Call My Name". It also has a footswitch - one button to switch channels, one to turn the effects on or off, and if you hold the effect down for a few seconds it shuts off and goes into tuner mode (which I don't recommend. The tuner sucks. But it is a nice feature, and a way to quiet down inbetween songs during a show). Another nice feature are some big metal fins on the back to prevent it from heating up, which is definitely something I need. My last amp (a 15 watt solid-state practice amp) blew because it got too hot. This thing has never gotten really hot. I've played it very very loud for 30-40 minutes and it's not even really that warm. One thing it doesn't have though is a reverb dial. Instead, that is an effect. Hell, my old Peavey 15 watt practice amp had a reverb dial. This thing is a gig amp! It should have a reverb dial. Even a little amount of reverb is always healthy. // 10

Sound: OK, I don't exactly have the greatest guitars in the world. I have a Washburn Maverick BT4 (hey, don't laugh, this thing is as good as your Squire Strat) and an Epiphone Les Paul Jr. (don't laugh at this either, I got it for $40). The amp's sound I would rate at pretty good. As everyone says, the clean channel is really quiet. But I don't really care, I never use it. My 'Drive' dial is always at 10, sometimes I try to push it to 11 but it can't go further. The reason I do this is that the regular distortion is just a little wimpy. Don't put the low at 10, that will shake the speakers and be a bit damaging and just sound really crappy. Put the low at maybe 8, mid at 1 and high at 10, which is about the best distortion setting I can think of. Your first impression will be that it's pretty damn good. But it's a solid state. It's not a Marshall, it's not a Fender. Oh yeah, it'll give you that Metallica sound, no problem. But it can't deliver a really nasty, dirty, garage rock/grunge/noise rock/superfuzz type of tone, which is really what I like. It's not going to give you a sound like Hendrix gets live, for example. But I guess that's because it's not an incredibly huge Marshall, and it's not a tube. It's tone is what leaves me wanting a bit more, is basically what I've been saying. But it is loud. You can do shows with this thing. Another downside is that with the speaker setting on US, the sound is kind of distant. Put it on the UK setting and it sounds right there, in your face, AC/DC style. Put it on US and it sounds like you have the presence dial down a bit. But you only notice this if you switch between the UK and US dials right next to eachother. Take a look at the back of the amp though. Two 50 watt Jensen speakers which were made in Italy. These speakers are used in a few certain very high quality Fender amps, so these ain't some poor quality no-name speakers. These things have OOMPH! I was definitely surprised to see those in there. These are some of the best speakers you can get. // 7

Reliability & Durability: It seems very reliable. I would definitely use it at a show, because it's loud and more than enough power to get a good sound. It's really big and bulky, too. This thing is 2 1/2 feet wide, about a 1 1/2 feet high and 53 pounds. 53 pounds doesn't seem like a lot, but it's pretty damn wide and it has one measley rubber handle on the top to hold it (which I sometimes thing might just rip off because it's so flimsy) so it is kind of difficult to move around. As I said in features, it takes a long while for it to get real hot and overloaded. It can do shows no sweat. I bought mine very very slightly used and taken to no shows, so when I got it, it had no warranty. So I sure as hell hope it's reliable and durable. // 8

Impression: I play a few certain styles. I do many Sonic Youth style noise rock freakouts on effect #96, I play some very very heavy stuff like The Melvins (to get this sound, put on effect #96, put the low up, turn the tone all the way down on your guitar and do some riffs on the E string with your palm muting it a little bit. Hell yeah), and I do some old school hardcore punk style stuff (early Hüsker Dü, Minor Threat, Black Flag, Dead Kennedys, etc) so I'm always using distortion. It is impressive. If it were lost or stolen, I would try to find one again, but I would have a tough time coming up with the cash. Best parts: easy to use, totally uncomplicated, loud, awesome effects, pretty good tones and distortion, for the price you absolutely cannot beat it. A Marshall with the same stats costs over twice as much. Seriously. Worst parts: Distortion tone could be better, but depending on your style of music, you'll probably think it's great. It's also pretty big and bulky. But I this was sitting in the store for $200 dollars. That is MASSIVELY cheap for what you get. I shouldn't be complaining at all. I'm not, really. I'm just telling you what you get. The bottom line is that if you can get this, preferrably slightly used for $100-$150 less like I got mine, buy it. It will not dissappoint you, but it will dissappoint your friend with the Peavey or the Crate or even the Fender amp. Heh heh heh. Basically, this is the cheapest 100 watt amp you can possibly find. Two 50 watt Jensen speakers. Those speak for themselves. And boy do they ever speak. // 10

overall: 10

Reviewed by: Swordmaster, on july 19, 2004

Price paid: $ 280

Purchased from: ZZounds.com

Features: This amp has 99 onboard effects, 27 possible variations with the amp, distortion, and cabs, and two channels, footswitchable. The 99 effects are great, once you figure out what they do, and what they are, so make sure you get the manual with it. It gets great distortion out of its 100 watt head into two jensons. It took me a while to get a decent clean out of it, and now that I have it its alot quieter than the distortion channel, which is to be expected. But this thing gets plenty loud. And for the price, its the best best deal out there. // 10

Sound: Like I said you can get really heavy metal distortion to crytal clear with just a few switches. For the heavier sound, just turn up the bass nob. I really like the british with hi gain and the high on the three band equalizer turned all the way up. Its sounds great. For more of a metal, go to calif, hot, US, with the high and the bass all the way up. Sounds sweet. This thing gets great alround sound. // 10

Reliability & Durability: It's built like a tank, simply stated. The speakers are protected, the nobs feel solid. everything works great. One time me and my friend put some ear plugs on and ed it to 10 everything and it worked great. This thing will last. // 10

Impression: I play soft punk, some hard punk, and some rock. This thing can do whatever you need it too. I've been playing for 2 years, and this is my first "real" amp. I love it too. If it were stolen id buy it again in a heart beat. It can sound just like a Marshall, or it can get clean like a Fender. The only thing to make it perfect would be if the footswitch could change between effects, not just turn them on and off and switch channels. This is an awsome amp, worth every dollar spent. // 10

overall: 10

Reviewed by: unregistered, on january 07, 2008

Price paid: $ 250

Purchased from: Guitar Center

Features: This amp is great for any kind of style of music. It gives great distortion and a clean or another distortion channel. It has 2x12" speakers in it and sounds great. My brother had got one for his b-day a while back and I heard it and wanted one so I asked for one for my b-day and got one. I am so glad! // 10

Sound: On this amp you have a clean and distortion channel. The distortion is heavy and with the 99 effects built in, it sound great. I use an Epiphone les paul on it and it sounds good. It gets lound and still sounds great. It gives great feedback and gain.The distortion is about the best distortion I've ever heard. // 10

Reliability & Durability: You will not regret getting this amp. It compares to most half stacks. And it fram will keep it together. This amp has never let me down. It would do good gigs and propably concerts. You could use this without ever buying another amp. This amp has never broke nor let me down. // 10

Impression: I play rock, blues, and metal and this amp sounds great with it. I've been playing for about a year and I used to use a RP-80 and a Squier and Epiphone amp together with pedal. The coolest thing about it is the distortion that sounds great and on the back panel it has two outputs for loudspeakers so you can use a cabinet with it. // 10

overall: 9

Reviewed by: fretsonfire74, on august 11, 2007

Price paid: $ 316.92

Purchased from: Bavas Music City

Features: This is a great amp with plenty of power behind it. It has 2 x 12" speakers with 60W coming from each of them. It has 2 channels, but not one clean and one overdrive. Just 2 channels. So in consequence, I can't get a loud clean with out just a little distortion, but sometimes this small amount of distortion can be a good touch. The HI gain setting with a UK speaker is much like a Marshall on overdrive, so real crunchy distortion, but still clear. The "hot" setting has heaps of distortion, great for metal and crazy fast solos. If you're playing a bigger gig, it has 2 jacks for another speaker, or can plug into a PA system, so overall, very versatile, and as far a solid state amps go, it's great. // 8

Sound: My guitar is a Samick Greg Bennett Interceptor, which I love, and has SSH, so I can shred on it, and the amp copes wonderfully. I play mainly classic rock, sometimes some metal, a range of other stuff, and it's great for that. My guitars neck single coil is noisy, so I don't think it's the amp, but when using the humbucker, there is no noise what'soever unless I lean my guitar against the amp. It can play anything from blues to metal and is like I said before, it's not real great on the cleans. The distortion has great crunch behind it, unlike a lot of other cheaper amps I've played through, the distortion is really weak, this is far and away the best amp for it's price range. // 8

Reliability & Durability: I can always depend on it, I've had it for a few months and it hasn't given me any need to even take the manual out of the plastic, it's great. it's solid as a rock, never looks or feels like breaking or even chipping, haven't torn the vinyl on the outside or anything yet. Being a solid state amp, tubes don't need replacing or anything, so overall, very low maintenance amp and will last for years without touching any of the setup. I wouldn't ever need a backup. // 10

Impression: When I first saw this amp, I thought holy crap, it looks way bigger than it did on the net, which I was happy about, because I get more Drive for less money. I was 100% happy with my purchase, it was on special, usually something like $500, so I was stoked. it's hard to lose an amp, so I don't think there's any risk of that happening, and in someone trying to steal it? they wouldn't be able to get far, I weighed it because I wanted to know how heavy it was exactly, and it was 24 kilograms, it weighs a tonne, which is no problem because I don't take it far. Just to gigs, and then it's from the house to the car, then from the car to the gig, it only travels about 50 metres a time. I've compared it to my friends Marshall, and it comes really close, I'd go as far as to say it matches it. I chose it because it was a cheap amp with plenty of power, and I was happy with my choice. If I could wish something, it's that it wasn't a Behringer, it deserves the respect of another amp. // 10

overall: 9

Reviewed by: leavmealone13, on july 26, 2006

Purchased from: local storeI

Features: I play guitar in a hard rock/metal garage band in my neighborhood. The main reason I purchased this amp was to be heard over our drummer's double bass pedal. For this purpose it is very effective, however if I had purchased it with the intentions of using the effects I would be very dissapointed. The reverb effects work well, but I didn't find anything else to be usable. It has 2 channel's with a pedal to Switch channels or turn effects on and off. There is a slight delay, and the only thing I really use the channel switching for is going from soft to loud, or clean to distorted. // 8

Sound: It's hard for me to rate this because until my new ESP arrives, I'm using an Ibanez guitar from the jumpstart package I purchased slightly more than a year ago. When I played with my neighbor's Schecter guitar however, the sound quality was very good. The main problem is that it can't produce as much distortion as I would like at high voulumes without producing a large amount of feedback. It creates a lot of excess noise, but none that can be noticed when playing. // 9

Reliability & Durability: I've had the amp for about 4 months now but I think its been through everything. Until I got a good practice amp for my home, I had to carry it to our drummer's garage about 3 times a week, and from this experience it is built to be strong. I weigh about 150lbs. and can stand on it with out worrying. There hasnt been any decline in performance since I purchased it, and it has been used heavily. // 10

Impression: For my style of music, it is a good match. The main priority of my new amp was to be loud and it works excellently for that. If I lost this amp, I'd probably look for an amp similar in size without the effects and save money for some pedals. It was a very good value for the size of the amp and I am satisfied with my purchase. // 9

overall: 6.5

Reviewed by: Rockn_Clay, on december 24, 2004

Purchased from: Shellharbour Music Centre

Features: Ok when I first saw this amp I was amazed. It has 2 chanels, 2 50 watt Jensen speakers, comes with foot switch, loads of inputs in the back for headphones, extra speakers like everything you could ever plug into an amp. It has 99 preset sound effects built in aswell. It also has three different kind of amp sounds, three different speaker sounds, and three different guitar sounds. Now I bet this all sounds impressive but looks can be disceiving. // 10

Sound: You can make this amp so distorted its not funny, the three guitar settings are: clean, hi-gain and hot. So the distortion is fine but if you want a clean sound it wont go loud unless you distort it a little bit which is a let down because you can't get a good clean sound. When it is distorted you can barely here what you're playing its mainly just fuzz. The amp would only be good for heavy metal or hard rock. // 4

Reliability & Durability: I wouldn't call this amp reliable with the amount of feedback it smells alot after playing for a meer 5 minutes. // 6

Impression: If you see this amp have a good think about buying it. Make sure you have a look at all its features for your music style you play. I wasn't happy with it and I want to return it back to the shop. It really depends on your style with this amp. // 6

Comments

[Schecter_tabber]

this amp is awesome if you cant figure out how to get a loud clean sound here it is gain 10, amp tweed, mode clean, speaker u.k. and precense on 7, thats a good sound; for lead gain 10, amp cali, mode hot, speaker u.k. preset 24 fx all the way, and for a heavy metal rythmn sound you want gain 10, amp tweed, mode clean, speaker u.k.,preset 98 fx all the way and digi tech death metal pedal set on smoth sustain but with more low at like 3 o'clock ya this amp kicks ass!

[blueandyellow66]

im buying this monster as soon as i have the which im working on now after reading these reviews it sounds pritty goot cant wait!!!!!

[rps13fanatic]

Uh, I don't know about the last review, but mine doesn't smell after 5 minutes. It doesn't smell at all. The only thing I don't like is that the footswitch isn't very responsive. It takes like a second. But no big deal, I only use it to go into tuner mode anyway.

[Captain Planet]

This is a brilliant amp. In terms of quality to price, this is amazing. The effectsa are really useable, and it's not like most other modelling amps where you don't hev much control over the sounds. Really, the amp models are different modes than specific amps. Each channel has it's own dedicated set of knobs and this amp can go very loud. I've played gigs with this thing and never had it up past 4 on Master Volume. I can't imagine how loud this thing can actually go!! Overall, I'm really impressed wit this amp. My only gripes are that the footswith is not very responsive (it takes maybe a second to change channels once the button is pressed) and the Tweed amp setting is too quiet. 9/10

[Captain Planet]

Oh, just a note: I got one of these and after about 8 months, it started acting weird whenever the footswitch was plugged in. The footswitch buttons wouldnt work and it would kind of freeze up until you took the footswitch plug out the back and turned it off then on again. I email Behringer in Germany and they said there was definitely a problem. They arranged for UPS to come pick it up (at their expence) and sent me another brand new one completetely free! Behringer rock!

[tsmilliner]

The last guy probably has the wrong power voltage selected. The international version has selectable power options depending on your country. I just got one and I love this thing for the money spent.

[powerlord]

me and my friend had this baby on volume 5 with the output at 10 on california-UK-hot bass at 10 mid at 2 and treble at 10,people were leaving the house!It was clean and monsterous while he was playing metallica songs,I paid 159.00 for this amp at a guitar center closeout,wee!!!! I was going to buy a half stack but after hearing a couple of these slaved at this price,I'll happily stick with these any day,damn good amp at an unheard of price!!!

[Chavagnatze]

About six months after purchase the amp started making random popping noises. After another month of that the effects and tuner don't work at all. The display just reads d2 and I can only use channel two. I have always used the amp with a Zoom GFX-5 in the effects loop. with some tweaking I can make the amp sound decent enough. Nowadays I just set channel two as clean and get the dynamics from the Zoom GFX-5. Atleast there is no more lag when switching channels. I will probably end up using the speakers with a home built amp and trash everything except the heatsink, amplifier circuit, output transformer, and some other hardware.

[gav007]

I've been gigging with this amp for two years and can highly recommend it as a great rig. I play covers,everything from Monster Magnet to Creedance and the amp does the job. I like 26 delay and 70 for Van Halen type sound eg. Ain't talkin bout love. The drive settings cover metallica and Grin Spoon(thats using my tele!). I use tube screamer for the rest. The tuner and footswitch can be unreliable, otherwise a great amp. Plenty loud for a pub covers band good for the money. There is a bit gear snobbery using this amp and alot of guys see it and laugh -until they hear the sound. Our bass player uses the Behringer 300W four speaker combo and it cranks as well(although this baby is as heavy as hell)If you want to get gigging and save some money this gear pays for itself in no time. highly recommended.

[mattmcavoy400]

i like it

[SOAD_GOD]

i have the GM108 which is basically the practice amp version amp version of this, it is VERY good! with the right pickups, you can get your desired sound. i use mine with a Dimebucker (which sounds great!) and an unnamed 17k humbucker (which sounds INNNSSAAANNNEEE!) and i couldn't be happier with my practice tone.
if my GM108 sounds good, then i bet this just sounds crushing.

[soul_power]

Sometimes i complain about this amp but then i remember that it was like $250. For that price its actually a really nice amp. The clean channel works very well w/ my strat but the distortion channel is too noisy so i dont use it. However w/ my other guitar its not too bad. All my pedals sound decent through it as long as i run them through the effects loop. If not it gets WAY to noisy. Overall im pretty impressed with this amp. Thinking about getting a Behringer VD-1 pedal but i cant decide if i want that or the real thing (Big Muff).

[break_it down]

i got 1 and im pretty happy the effects are cool, it goes loud enuff to shut drummers down and i got a hardly used 1 for 250aus(mates rates hahaha if u bought it new)

[cyclefreak207]

This thing sounds like the real deal, it seems like it has everything you would ever need to just play when, and wherever, so i think i will buy it!!!(when i have the money)

[redrumsixsix6]

I have one, and i love it! One problem is when gigging with it, i get massive feedback when im not playing..
I use a lot of distortion, and when i stop playing (when the amp is really loud) i get bad feedback. Although, as long as your playing this doesnt happen.

For the price this amp is amazing, im thinking of buying a cheap behringer tube pre-amp to run through the effects loop to add a little bit of warmth. But, i love this amp!

[CHASROCK]

Listen up, this is a good amp, but if you got a sucky guitar it's not gonna sound like it. If you want nasty distortion the best thing to do is replace the pickups on your guitar, like with duncan distortion or dimebucker (this is the case with any amp). Also some of you complained about feedback. This could also be because your guitar sucks, but if your playing the amp in a small room that might be the problem, also. That's why the pros hump their stacks like mad dogs to get lots of feedback.

[CHASROCK]

This amp pushes 120 watts, has Jensen Bugera speakers and costs less than $300. 'nuf said.

[davegrohljr]

I bought this amp brand new. I played it for 7 days, and one of the speakers blew! I was NOT playing it too loud. I was NOT impressed. I got a refund, but I'm unhappy about the whole thing.

[fat chicken]

getting it for christmas, can't wait!!!

[Mr.Blue]

I bought this a couple of years ago and it still rocks. The only thing I don't like about it is the effects loop especially with a Scream Demon. The sound loses something when I engage the pedal. Still a great amp.

[B_M_I_B]

Awesome amp. Amazing quality, and i havn't encountered any of the problems that people have listed above. i cranked it up to around 7 on the master volume in the studio and it was imence, Shut the drummer up aswell. i recomend it to anyone. just listen to the band Helloween (they all use behringer amps) My drummer hates the amp, maybe because it's German or just because of the name, and thats why i crank up the volume on it. It can handle being thrashed around with at a crazy volume, and also sound great at a low volume i.e. 1. The worst problem i've encountered so far is that one of the knbs fell off (This was due to a clumsy mate getting it caught) It really is an amazing amp. I'm curretly using a Legacy telecaster. It was £99 when i brought it but now it's £55. and this amp makes that sound amazing. should be getting a Schecter PT soon so i can't wait to hear the sound i get from that.

Buy it, you won't reget it.