Behringer GDI21 sansamp review

[bluescube]

Just got the Behringer GDI21 sansamp clone from music123.com

I have only tried using it into the front of my roland bluescube30 2x10 combo amp.

The GDI21 is pretty heavy. I will have to open it and see what's inside. The baseplate is metal but the body is plastic. The knobs are kinda hard to see where they are set at, the notch is not easy to see on the knob. The footswitch is cheap plastic! Real cheap. I would not use it live unless it was on a pedalboard with some protection. Home and studio use should be fine.

The jacks are not mounted to the plastic enclosure, I will try out the XLR send into a mixing console this weekend.

How's it sound?

The amp models are pretty good. I only like the CLN setting for the mode. When you switch to "HI G", there is a volume drop and seems like more compression, the "HOT" is about the same volume drop as "HI G". Both "HI G" and "HOT" offer more gain and compression but they don't sound as natural to me. I prefer the "CLN" mode which is more organic and feels more amplike. I can get some good crunch on the BRIT and CALI models. I actually like the CALI model the best! The MIC setting offers more tone shaping. The CLSIC setting has a low end rolloff, OFF X has a high end rolloff and the CNTR seems to be full range, might have a mid boost to it. The bass and treble tone controls are active with boost/cut.

Overall for $30 it's a nice tone toy. No where as tough as my Zinky True Grit. I bought it to toy around with and have something I could plug into a mixer and run direct with for practice so i don't have to lug gear around.

I will test it out direct soon.

 

[Willie D]

I just put in an order for the ADI21 V-Tone Acoustic box. I've been looking for a cost-effective DI for the git-fiddle and this might be the ticket.

 

[BB]

I just put in an order for the ADI21 V-Tone Acoustic box. I've been looking for a cost-effective DI for the git-fiddle and this might be the ticket.

My fav local shop has the electric and acoustic one in. I almost bought them "just because", but passed for the time being. What a great deal. Even if there is only one useable tone, it's worth it.

 

[Willie D]

My initial impression of the ADI-21:

I have only used it thru the GuitarPort at this point. I play a 1995 Taylor 510 Mahogany Dreadnaught with an LR Baggs Ribbon Transducer (active, under-saddle piezo). This setup plugged straight into the guitarport had disappointing results (had that typical slappy or quacky piezo sound through every model I tried, including "no amp."

The ADI-21 was able to warm the tone up quite a bit, and the quackiness can be tuned out to a good extent. Does it sound like an $800 microphone? Heck no, and no pickup-preamp system ever will. But it does sound a whole lot better than the pup itself.

I don't own a Tech 21 Acoustic SansAmp, so I can't do an A-B test. I look forward to someone doing an A-B comparison on any of these new Behringer boxes.

The housing is plastic with a metal bottom, quite heavy, and other than the footswitch feels pretty sturdy (very sturdy for a $30 pedal. A gigging musician could buy one and two backups and still have a cheaper setup than a Tech 21). I mostly do fingerpicking and light strumming solo in church, so I don't need to worry much about spilt beer, vomit, or having a brawl end up on my pedal - translation: it's fine for what I need it for. Mostly I play in small churches where there is no EQ on the PA system, so this pedal gives me that control.

This is $30 not wasted. Next month I'm getting the electric one, before Tech 21 sues Behringer and they're taken off the market.

 

[halouis]

glad you dig it. if it's a ripoff of tech21 then it will sound nice, but for me I'd rather buy somethign sturdy and from the originator. I think it stinks that some company overseas can rip off a good solid company like Tech21 and get away with it. i mean is it fair that a co. can use super cheap labor, cheap materials and solid concept/technology and put it up for sale in the same market? my concience says "no". but thats just me. And now Tech21 has to incur legal fees to go after them. that will affect the concumer down the line i imagine.

i love my TM10 amp from tech21. gets tons of use!

 

[Willie D]

The TM10 is my amp of choice for most situations these days. Love it, love it, love it. And I agree that Tech21 is a great company.

 

[bluescube]

I'd like to have the new TM30 amp.

I'd also rather have a real Tech21 sansamp now that I've tried the Behringer. The behringer is really really cheaply made. the bottom steel plate is hefty but the case, knobs and footswitch are toy plastic. Not bad for a $30 toy.

 

[Willie D]

I'll bet the TM30 is SCHWEEET. I also hear good things about the 60, which may be in my future at some point.

If I end up liking this ADI-21 box, there is little question that the real deal (the acoustic SansAmp) will be in my future. I really would like the all-metal construction and the support of a good ol' US-based company with quality products and really good customer support.

I've had really good luck with Tech 21 on the phone. When I first received my TM10, the reverb tank wasn't fastened down. The guy on the other end of the line offered to send me a whole new amp, just to be sure I was satisfied. I was happy just to get the little plastic thingies to fasten it down with. Great company, and worthy of our support.

That being said, it was worth the $30 gamble to see how I liked this dude, and I like it (so far).

 

[bluescube]

Works good as a bass DI on the tweed setting!