What's on your holiday wishlist? If you're wishing for some cool effects and a wider variety of tones, Behringer's V-AMP2 might be just the thing. The V-AMP2 is "virtual amplification," AKA an amp modeler.

This powerful little blue gadget offers 32 amp models, plus 15 speaker simulations and about 16 effects/effects combinations. It also has a built-in tuner (handy), and headphone input for private practice sessions at Granny's house or in a motel room.

To get the complete technical lowdown and write-up, and some more detailed pics, look here.

A V-AMP2 can be had for about a hundred bucks (USD) and comes with a nice padded carry case, footswitch, cord, AC adapter, and shoulder strap for the bag. And it's compact--a neat little thing at about 11 inches long and 7 inches wide.

I really enjoy and appreciate my V-AMP2, but truthfully, I have no clue how to take full advantage of everything it can do. I have resolved multiple times to wrestle my way through the manual so I could make more intelligent use of the unit. Sadly, after several tries, I have accepted that the manual is incomprehensible to me.

So, I just push buttons and have found a few fave settings. For my money, the V-AMP2 is just the ticket to give me some tonal options.

Happy Holidays!