Ultrabass BX4500H Review

The ULTRABASS BX4500H is a massive 450-Watt bass amp head with patented Dynamizer technology, boasting a switchable Ultrabass sub-harmonics processor for unbelievable low-end power and a revolutionary Shape filter for extreme sound range.

Features:	7.5
Sound:	8
Reliability:	6.5
Impression:	8
Overall rating:	7.5
Users rating:	7.9
Comments:	11

overall: 6

Reviewed by: DehumanizeR, on may 18, 2007

Price paid: $ 315

Purchased from: Thomann

Features: I bought this solid state head, together with a 1x15" Behringer cab, in 2004 because it was the cheapest with most power. It's got to many EQ-knobs for my taste but I've managed to find a good sound for downtuned fretless playing. With the Behringer cab it made some unwanted distortion, even at low volumes with zero gain, but when I got a Hartke 8x10" cab the sound became a lot cleaner and punchier. As far as power goes it's enough for rehersals and small gigs (50-100 people) without running it through a PA system. Once you get past the 12 o'clock position on the output knob it hardly changes in volume. // 7

Sound: As said I can get a pretty good sound out of it for my playing style and I use my defretted Squier P-Bass most of the time. I took all the 5 EQ-knobs and turned them to full and then just rolled them back until I found a good bassy yet able-to-cut-through vintagey sound. I can also get a nice clinky Iron Maiden sound out of it if I cut down on the mids and use the "bright" function and a fretted bass. // 8

Reliability & Durability: Behringer is not synonymus with reliability at all. The 1x15" cab I had at first died just like that when I was playing. Now the head has started to stop sounding for a few seconds at a time at high volumes. The pre-amp section is very easy to overdrive if a distortion pedal is used, even when using the active input. The construction on the head itself is really durable though, compact and heavy and has never broken. // 3

Impression: This is really good for the price I must say, it's nowhere near Sunn O))), Ampeg or Orange in sound quality but for about 250 euro it's defintley woth it. Plays good with nomal tunings and downtuned and 5-strings aswell. One cosmetic thing I don't like is the fluffy-fabric cover, it's easy go get stains on it and tolex looks a lot better but that's no big deal. It's got a nice handle on one side so it's easy to lift it. // 6

overall: 9

Reviewed by: m_daly_123, on may 17, 2007

Purchased from: www.Musiciansfriend.com

Features: I bought this head about a year and a half ago, and so far it hasn't let me down. With 450w @ 4 ohms, there's plenty of sound and excellent quality. It has 5 Band-EQ and "Ultrabass" and "Shape" features for sub-harmonics and mid-control respectively. It has 3 speaker outputs (TRS and Neutrik) and I run it with my Behringer Ultrabass 4x10 cab. It has an EFX loop send and return, footswitch controls for "Ultrabass" and "Shape" control. One nice feature is the cooling system, as I have yet to have it overheat on me. // 8

Sound: The sound quality is amazing especially for the price! I use my 74 Fender Musicmaster and 93 Fender P-Bass through it and with the EQ controls I can get both the funky sound, and rock sound that my band uses. I've also played with a couple metal bands using it and it handles lows extremely well, and with a little volume, will easily shake the room. I've never had any problems with distortion, even at peak levels. // 8

Reliability & Durability: This head is very durable. I've dropped it, kicked it, sat on it, and knocked it off my cab and it still works perfectly. One thing that I really like about Behringer is that they don't skimp out on materials, and you can tell by the weight (roughly 30/40 lbs). I've never taken a back-up amp to a concert b/c I've known I'll never need it. No break downs, no shorts, no problems. // 10

Impression: Overall, this head is truly awesome. It gets me the sound I need, at the volume I need to be heard. If this head ever broke down, I'd instantly go out and by a new one. This was the first Behringer amp I ever owned, and I'll probably won't ever change. And for the price, there's no way you can beat it! // 10

Comments

[KVincent]

"behringer" usually means it'll break down after a few months...
heard some really bad stuff about behringer...

[burn the stars]

whats with all the behringer hate? I've used them for YEARS without problems of any kind, theyer all I use anymore.

[SMterminator]

I second that. My amp has been thrown out of a bus trailer on tour and nothing happened to it!

The amps for 400-500 AU are really good. Dad uses the speakers and subs and they sound like any other brand. I know the pedal casings are a bit low standard but other than that, I cant see why all the behringer hate.

[synths]

Everyone hates behringer, but I have this and A cab from them and both work flawlessly and sound great!

[Marlux102]

i dunno, you said you bought it, but dont give a price :S

[m_daly_123]

sorry bout that man..i paid $200 for it..i think its went up now..around $240 or something..check musiciansfriend.com for exact prices..

[wbk666]

i've just picked on up for £199, you just cant moan at the price and it sounds great with my variax.

[Billswitch87]

this is the best amp you can buy for this price. I bought one of these a year and a half ago and i haven't a single problem. i think that anyone whos looking for a good sounding powerful amp at a low price this is the way to go.

[zichy1]

You cant beat them on price:quality ratio. I've had one of these heads running my 2x10 and 1.15 cabs and it hasnt skipped a beat. I've used it for small gigs of less than 50 people right up to a massive gig we did for over 1000 people and didn't need to run it through the PA, it was that clear! I flog my gear, and I wouldn't use anything else for the price.

[Mattie-MFR]

I have a crate BT100 bass amp at the moment and im selling it and buying a head and a cab are behringer any good? this is the head im thinking about buying along with either a Behringer Ultrabass BA115 or BA210 cab. I hope they are good because i am VERY low on cash. Please Email me [e-mail]
check out my band www.myspace.com/madeforradiouk

[sam1618]

I used this head on top of the behringer 410 for almost a year. First of all let me say, behringer solid state amps are built to last. Ancient civilizations left behind stone henge, the pyramids, and the great wall. We will leave behind behringer. The cab I will tell you, is built like an ox. The wheels on it really only are worth using if you don't care about the health of your back, or are roughly the size of an oompaloompa, or smaller, and if you use it on concrete, it may tip over, which mine did a few times. You'd think with such a heavy cab, you'd get some damage. Besides some scratches, not a single thing happened. The corners have plastic cover things, the names for which I can't think of, but they break of very easily, but there's not a huge point in having them, since the construction of both head and cab, is both heavy, but very very strong.
Its a behringer, and like most solid state amps, you're not going to get amazing tones. I did play about 30 gigs one summer with this, and it was both reliable with its sound and and volume. If you've got a good bass with good strings, you get good (not great) sound. If you've got bad strings on it, and you're looking for either a bright "clanky" tone, or just a tone that is not farty old string, the shape control knob can save you for quite some time. Though its no substitute for good strings or a better bass.
Like the review above, the carpet cover is dumb and inconvienient. Rips in carpet are gross, and aren't easy to play down. Its built in a way though that it would be very very easy to take off the carpet and put on your own cover, and it would look very good. Some new metal corners and whatever color tolex cover you wanted, and you'd have a fine looking amp.
For the money, this amp is good, but it will never be great. You can get great tones out of it, and its big which is rad, but for the money, in retrospect I probably would have spend about the same if not a little less, and gotten a little ampeg combo, because most of the places I've played are able to line out, or mic your rig, and smaller cheaper ampegs sound A LOT better. Good back up amp. I'd depend on it, but probably not buy it new again.