The behringer factory, no soul there?

[crow01]

I came across this video of the behringer factory where they make basses, amps, speakers, pedals and all kind of music stuff.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqUGLUJF7y4

Although I own a couple of cheap pedals, which work OK. It seems as is Behringer is just a factory where they produce mass quantities of soul-less gear.

There is no innovation. Just make the same stuff as anybody else, as cheap as possible and at gigantic quantities.

I don't think they ever say. "How can we make this amp better?"

It is just incredible how huge this factory is that they call it Behringer city. It's not only a factory but a huge neighborhood.

[Mark Wilson]

I think this would be better in misc...

[LCW.]

I would think after 6 years of playing i would own a decnet cab , not the case being in college haha.

I own a bb210 by behringer, i got it new for 100$ , its hard to find a used 2x10 for that price, it works and sounds ok. I get some loud hiss from the horn and i have a peavey mark VI head and i cnat crank it past 5 without looking like the speakers will blow. But in defense its not suppose to handle that much. For 100$ is it worth it? very much. For the price they sold for 200$, not really.

If i could steer clear of them i would.

Now to watch the video.

[TC2112]

just like the video states - they really aren't in the market of creating soul. they just put decent (not great) gear into the hands of people that may not have the money for the Mesas, or Ampegs, or whatever other top end manufacturer you want to list.

Bottom line is, Jamerson would have sounded great through a behringer cab because he was great. it's not the gear that gives anyone "soul", it's the player that makes the gear give it up

[bmc]

That video is at least 3-4 years old.

What is meant by "no soul"? It's an assembly line.

Does Honda's assembly line have soul?

[LCW.]

man all the workers live in site , its like a cult haha.

[RustyAxe]

What's yer point? Think it's any different at Samson, Peavey, or even Fender? Factories make stuff. Behringer has a great business model ... see what's working for the innovators, then clone it at a MUCH cheaper price and sell a gazillion of 'em.

BTW - it's wood, steel, plastic and glass. The only "soul" is in the heart of the performer, not the gear ...

[René_Julien]

Thanks for bringing that video to my attention.

Strangely... watching this video makes me respect Behringer more.
I mean as a manufacturer.
The factory seems very well organized, and from a business standpoint it is impressive what they do.
There is even some quality control.


I agree with the "no soul" attitude around Behringer products.
But strangely, that's kay in their business succes.
They don't waste time and money in marketing and promoting signature innovative products.


The question still is if copying so many products from other manufacturer's is ethical.
I have no problem with that.
I don't want to open a can of worms with this, but frankly every manufacturer copies somehow from another company.
For example many boutique pedal builders start a product by studying other effect pedals. And then try to improve them and "soul" to them by extra feautures, modifications and fancy housings.
It's just like putting icing on a cake somebody else make and take credit for the whole cake.
(Take for example the various Tube Screamer and Big Muff clones.)
Why are they more ethical than Behringer?

Behringer does not really care the fact that they blatant copy products.
They're building it down to a price. Which in 99% of the case means lower quality of the product they copied of.
So it's up to the consumer to make a choice of how much they are willing to spend for quality.


From a business POV I respect Behringer.
From a musician's POV I try to avoid Behringer.

[TL5]

Venue: the world renown Ryman Auditorium Nashville, Tennessee
event: NAMM All Star Guitar Night '09



If it gets the job done, use it. If not, use something else.

[LilRay]

I don't know if they have no "soul" but Behringer definately has no "tone."

God Bless, Ray

[john turner]

Originally Posted by crow01

I came across this video of the behringer factory where they make basses, amps, speakers, pedals and all kind of music stuff.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqUGLUJF7y4

Although I own a couple of cheap pedals, which work OK. It seems as is Behringer is just a factory where they produce mass quantities of soul-less gear.

There is no innovation. Just make the same stuff as anybody else, as cheap as possible and at gigantic quantities.

I don't think they ever say. "How can we make this amp better?"

It is just incredible how huge this factory is that they call it Behringer city. It's not only a factory but a huge neighborhood.

they are not the only places that have cities built up around their factories. that happens all over the place, and in every industry.

if they were going to improve their products, they would not be doing it at the factory, they'd be doing wherever their design headquarters is, probably in germany somewhere.

you know, i get it that a lot of folks have a problem with behringer, from all the way back in the mackie/lawsuit days. i really do.

but fishing for stuff is sorta silly. i have some behringer gear, and it always has worked well for me, and at a fantastic price to boot.

[Urban777]

Originally Posted by bmc

That video is at least 3-4 years old.

What is meant by "no soul"? It's an assembly line.

Does Honda's assembly line have soul?

yeh because honda are crap haha. Then again I'm 16. lol

[KPAX]

No no. I saw innovation. Look at 3:38. That girl sneaks some innovation in. I think she mutters "how can we make this amp better" or something like that and then she suddenly innovates. It happens very quickly so it's easy to miss.

Originally Posted by crow01

I came across this video of the behringer factory where they make basses, amps, speakers, pedals and all kind of music stuff.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqUGLUJF7y4

Although I own a couple of cheap pedals, which work OK. It seems as is Behringer is just a factory where they produce mass quantities of soul-less gear.

There is no innovation. Just make the same stuff as anybody else, as cheap as possible and at gigantic quantities.

I don't think they ever say. "How can we make this amp better?"

It is just incredible how huge this factory is that they call it Behringer city. It's not only a factory but a huge neighborhood.

[Nappa]

Don't forget part 2.

[Pilgrim]

Originally Posted by crow01

Although I own a couple of cheap pedals, which work OK. It seems as is Behringer is just a factory where they produce mass quantities of soul-less gear.

There is no innovation. Just make the same stuff as anybody else, as cheap as possible and at gigantic quantities.

I don't think they ever say. "How can we make this amp better?"

Dude, it's a factory. They build stuff. They connect electronic parts, mount them in little cases, wrap them up and drop them into boxes. If new products are developed, that happens somewhere other than the factory. Once you get to the factory, they just assemble parts made elsewhere.

No soul to it - regardless of manufacturer. It's a place where you work and punch a time clock. The narrator of this piece needs to simply deal with it. I don't think he makes any point at all....

[KPAX]

No no. You have it all wrong. At the soulful factories there's old craftsment with long white beards, smoking pipes and expertly plying their time-honored and innovative craft with a twinkle in their eye.

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

Dude, it's a factory. They build stuff. They connect electronic parts, mount them in little cases, wrap them up and drop them into boxes. If new products are developed, that happens somewhere other than the factory. Once you get to the factory, they just assemble parts made elsewhere.

No soul to it - regardless of manufacturer. It's a place where you work and punch a time clock. The narrator of this piece needs to simply deal with it. I don't think he makes any point at all....

[Pilgrim]

And what's in them thar pipes, we wonders????

[Josh Ryan]

I don't know, seems par for the course really.

[bobTHEbasser]

if this guy is that pissy about buying some bad gear in the 90's imagine how pissed off he's gonna be when someone tells him he's goin bald! maybe he can team up with russell crowe and go "fighting 'round the world".

[bmc]

So let me get this straight. This Aussie guy hates Behringer, slams down money for a play ticket, a train ticket, pays for bad hotels and "interesting" local food, to make a video spun to his satisfaction about how bad Behringer is.

If I were thinking about doing an expose on a manufacturer, I would take Swiss or Continental to New York, go to Brooklyn and see Roger Sadowsky, or Vinnie Fodera and talk to craftsman that care about their product, and not employing 100 workers to run electric screwdrivers on an assembly line.

I guess I'm weird.