Get ready to unleash your inner sonic rebel, because Behringer just dropped a game-changer: the Ring Stinger, a bold recreation of Lovetone’s iconic boutique ring mod/fuzz pedal from the ‘90s. But here’s where it gets controversial—while some celebrate Behringer’s accessibility, others question the ethics of cloning boutique gear. Love it or hate it, this pedal is turning heads.
Behringer (https://guitar.com/brands/behringer/) has officially unveiled the Ring Stinger, a modern reinterpretation of Lovetone’s cult-classic guitar pedal. Designed to deliver a “world of sound sculpting carnage,” this pedal isn’t just for guitarists—synth players, bassists, and even electric violinists are invited to the party. Think of it as a sonic playground where metallic ring modulation meets gritty fuzz, all in one compact unit.
And this is the part most people miss—the Ring Stinger isn’t just a one-trick pony. Beyond its core ring mod and fuzz capabilities, it packs a built-in pitch shifter, expression pedal compatibility, a low-frequency oscillator (LFO) for rhythmic pulses, a filter section for tone shaping, and a mix control to blend wet and dry signals. There’s even a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) and true bypass to keep your signal pristine when the pedal’s off. Plus, multiple parameters can be assigned to an expression pedal, giving you hands-free control over your sound.
Connectivity-wise, the Ring Stinger is a Swiss Army knife: DC power input, mono output, expression pedal inputs for LFO depth and VCO, carrier in, VCO out, and a main input jack. Behringer sums it up perfectly: “No matter what you’re looking to sonically tear apart and reinvent, Ring Stinger will welcome you with open arms.” In fact, they encourage experimentation—the more creative the input, the better.
While Behringer’s website doesn’t list pricing, retailers like Thomann (https://www.thomann.co.uk/behringerringstinger.htm?offid=1&affid=2022/) have it priced between £80 and £99, making this boutique-inspired pedal accessible to a wider audience. But here’s the question—does affordability justify cloning a beloved boutique design? Behringer’s no stranger to this debate, having previously released a clone of Lovetone’s Meatball envelope filter pedal last December.
Whether you see this as a democratization of high-end gear or a controversial move, one thing’s clear: the Ring Stinger is a powerhouse for anyone looking to explore uncharted sonic territories. So, what’s your take? Is Behringer’s approach a win for musicians, or does it cross a line? Let us know in the comments!
Learn more about the Ring Stinger at Behringer (https://www.behringer.com/behringer/product?modelCode=0709-ALT).
Sam, Associate News Editor for Guitar.com and MusicTech, brings two decades of guitar playing, a background in music technology, and a passion for music culture to every story. His work has also appeared in Guitar World, Total Guitar, Metal Hammer, and MusicRadar.
