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Audiofanzine FR
Published on 11/06/08 at 10:17
(Originally written by pseudo.nyme/translated from Audiofanzine FR)
- Amplification technology (tube, solid state, ...)?
Transistor amp with tube preamp simulation and power amp.
- Output power?
40 watts RMS (I've never turned the volume control over the center position using the high input!!!)
- Connections?
High and low level inputs
Recording output with dedicated level control
Headphone output
Footswitch to control the boost function and the channel selection.
- Controls, effects, etc.?
2-channel preamp
Voicing selector Vintage/Classic/Warm on the clean channel.
Voicing selector Classic/Modern/High Gain on the lead channel.
Clean: Volume, Low, Mid, High.
Lead: Pre-gain, Low, Mid, High, Post gain.
Reverb
Boost
In short: quite comprehensive!
UTILIZATION
- What about its settings?
Easy and quite effective!
- Is it easy to get the right sound?
Just plug in and you'll immediately have a good tone!
Very important: I was searching for a light and compact amp which could provide enough gain and volume to play in a band, and I'm pretty satisfied!
SOUNDS
- Does it fit your music style?
Yes and furthermore it's quite versatile!
- Which guitar, bass or effects do you use?
PRS Se and SG Faded. A noise gate isn't necessary... Effects are pretty good.
- What kind of sounds do you get and which settings do you use ("crystal-clear", "fat", ...)?
My opinion with a flat EQ setting:
Clean channel first:
*vintage: the sound is quite brilliant and present. Perfect for funk or ska.
*classic: well-rounded, fat sound with a big low end, but not quite excessive! Always very clean and warm, respecting the guitar's own character...
*Warm: Same sound with a little bit more gain and lows, ideal for jazz.
Lead channel:
*classic: Marshall Plexi-like sound with limited gain. Great for rock rhythm guitar! AC/DC power!!
*Moderne: High-gain sound �a Mesa Rectifier! Unreal gain reserves, perfect for heavy metal!
*High gain: Just like the classic channel but with an atypical character yielding a bigger sound. Say hello to Marshall JCM!
All voicing types are very good and the tube simulation is convincing.
No comments about the reverb... it's a reverb! I haven't tested the boost function nor the recording output yet.
OVERALL OPINION
- How long have you been using it?
I bought it just now!
- Which feature do you like the most / the least?
Pros: output power, weight (22 lb.) and size, sound, versatility, and also that it seems to be quite rugged.
Cons: no master control, no effect loop, no speaker output... but I don't need them! Otherwise the Bandit 112 offers all those features!
- Did you try any other models before buying it?
Yes indeed! I already owned:
- Randall RG50TC: Awesome distortion sound!! But too much noise, too heavy, too bulky and mediocre clean sound.
- Tiny Terror: Very good but no clean channel.
I tested:
- Vox Valtronix: Not bad but the sound isn't "pure" enough for my taste!
- Line 6 Spider Valve: not bad but its sound is too artificial for my taste and it's too complicated!
- Super Champ XD: Good but not conceived for distortion sounds!
- Peavey Classic 30: Good... sometimes really good, but it doesn't have enough gain and its clean sounds are too harsh.
- Marshall JCM 401: Heavy and with poor output power compared to amp head models!
- Roland Cube 60: Simulation sounds too synthetic.
- Fender 212 Frontman: Nice but it's not what I'm looking for.
- How would you rate its value for money?
Considering the great tube simulation, the effective settings and the versatility (you can use it for rehearsal or on stage, it's WELL WORTH the money!
Based on your experience, would you buy this product again?
Yes, unless I had enough money to buy a Mesa :p
- Amplification technology (tube, solid state, ...)?
Transistor amp with tube preamp simulation and power amp.
- Output power?
40 watts RMS (I've never turned the volume control over the center position using the high input!!!)
- Connections?
High and low level inputs
Recording output with dedicated level control
Headphone output
Footswitch to control the boost function and the channel selection.
- Controls, effects, etc.?
2-channel preamp
Voicing selector Vintage/Classic/Warm on the clean channel.
Voicing selector Classic/Modern/High Gain on the lead channel.
Clean: Volume, Low, Mid, High.
Lead: Pre-gain, Low, Mid, High, Post gain.
Reverb
Boost
In short: quite comprehensive!
UTILIZATION
- What about its settings?
Easy and quite effective!
- Is it easy to get the right sound?
Just plug in and you'll immediately have a good tone!
Very important: I was searching for a light and compact amp which could provide enough gain and volume to play in a band, and I'm pretty satisfied!
SOUNDS
- Does it fit your music style?
Yes and furthermore it's quite versatile!
- Which guitar, bass or effects do you use?
PRS Se and SG Faded. A noise gate isn't necessary... Effects are pretty good.
- What kind of sounds do you get and which settings do you use ("crystal-clear", "fat", ...)?
My opinion with a flat EQ setting:
Clean channel first:
*vintage: the sound is quite brilliant and present. Perfect for funk or ska.
*classic: well-rounded, fat sound with a big low end, but not quite excessive! Always very clean and warm, respecting the guitar's own character...
*Warm: Same sound with a little bit more gain and lows, ideal for jazz.
Lead channel:
*classic: Marshall Plexi-like sound with limited gain. Great for rock rhythm guitar! AC/DC power!!
*Moderne: High-gain sound �a Mesa Rectifier! Unreal gain reserves, perfect for heavy metal!
*High gain: Just like the classic channel but with an atypical character yielding a bigger sound. Say hello to Marshall JCM!
All voicing types are very good and the tube simulation is convincing.
No comments about the reverb... it's a reverb! I haven't tested the boost function nor the recording output yet.
OVERALL OPINION
- How long have you been using it?
I bought it just now!
- Which feature do you like the most / the least?
Pros: output power, weight (22 lb.) and size, sound, versatility, and also that it seems to be quite rugged.
Cons: no master control, no effect loop, no speaker output... but I don't need them! Otherwise the Bandit 112 offers all those features!
- Did you try any other models before buying it?
Yes indeed! I already owned:
- Randall RG50TC: Awesome distortion sound!! But too much noise, too heavy, too bulky and mediocre clean sound.
- Tiny Terror: Very good but no clean channel.
I tested:
- Vox Valtronix: Not bad but the sound isn't "pure" enough for my taste!
- Line 6 Spider Valve: not bad but its sound is too artificial for my taste and it's too complicated!
- Super Champ XD: Good but not conceived for distortion sounds!
- Peavey Classic 30: Good... sometimes really good, but it doesn't have enough gain and its clean sounds are too harsh.
- Marshall JCM 401: Heavy and with poor output power compared to amp head models!
- Roland Cube 60: Simulation sounds too synthetic.
- Fender 212 Frontman: Nice but it's not what I'm looking for.
- How would you rate its value for money?
Considering the great tube simulation, the effective settings and the versatility (you can use it for rehearsal or on stage, it's WELL WORTH the money!
Based on your experience, would you buy this product again?
Yes, unless I had enough money to buy a Mesa :p