MusicRadar Verdict
For £39 it's hard to complain about this unit. It will prove useful for live use or in the studio.
Pros
- +
Myriad uses. Great value.
Cons
- -
Cabinet simulation a little underwhelming.
MusicRadar's got your back
For all the giant steps in amp-modelling over the last few years, many of us still prefer the living, breathing sound of our own guitar amplifier pushing air with a couple of choice microphones capturing the results.
Often though, it's just impractical; perhaps you are in a small studio with live drums and want to avoid any tub-thumping bleeding on to the guitar track.
The Behringer Ultra-G GI100 is a robust aluminium unit with stackable rubber corners that looks more than up to the job.
Around the back, an XLR output is joined by a pair of switches that engage 4 x 12 cabinet simulation and ground lift. If you use a valve amplifier, you'll still need to connect the direct link output to a speaker cabinet of the right impedance to provide your amp with a load.
We sent the XLR out to a mixer and then a Mac running Garageband. The voicing of the speaker simulation is essentially a preset EQ curve that mimics a mic'd 4 x 12 cabinet.
It's not the most detailed or three-dimensional virtual cabinet sound we've heard, but it does the business with largely noiseless, fuss-free performance.
- Best DI boxes: a studio and stage staple for acoustic guitar, bass and keyboards
Chris Vinnicombe worked with us here on the MusicRadar team from the site's initial launch way back in 2007, and also contributed to Guitarist magazine as Features Editor until 2014, as well as Total Guitar magazine, amongst others. These days he can be found at Gibson Guitars, where he is editor-in-chief.

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