Bugera Amps

[MDV]

Well, i'm just sitting by the 6262 2x12 combo version(at uni), and it doesn't sound very good. The cleans are poor and lack the feel and response of a valve amp, and the distortion sounds like a fizzy MT-2 pedal. The (digital) reverb- a spring emulation doesn't have much too it, and the presence controls are very unresponsive. Overall the amp lacks in general tone, and sounds like a small solid state practice amp, not too dissimilar to the Marshall MG, or the Fender Frontman series. The footswitch is built reasonably solidly, but uses a proprietary connector that is similar to a PS2 keyboard/mouse connector, but with an extra pin, so i'd guess that if the footswitch fails, you'll have to buy one from them rather than fixing it. The build quality of the amp is reasonably poor, it feels and looks cheap close up, especially the plastic tolex. The controls are all PCB mounted, rather than panel mount, and are likely to fail quicker- there is some sideways movement of the pots as they are not secured to the chassis.

When you open the amp up a bit (over 12 'o' clock), then the amp starts to sound a bit better- at least at lower/no gain. High gain still sounds really fizzy and lacks any 'balls' to it. However, this being a 120w valve amp, it is very loud, and far outside a practice level that would be tolerated outside of rehearsal space. The 6L6 valves are Bugera branded, which are likely to be mass-purchased stock where quality could vary. The speakers are 'Bugera Vintage Guitar Series' which doesn't inspire much confidence into them- items actually labelled as vintage by the manufacturer rarely are.

To summarise, it's not very good, and 'the soul of valves' slogan is hardly fitting, considering the output and price. At £399, there are far better options out there.

Hope that gives you an insight into the amp :)

Yes it does. Thank you for the review!

I think 400 on a guitar would serve me better after all.

[hamfist]

Your description of the build quality sounds awfully similar to the Marshall JVM. Although if looked after, these types of amp can give some reasonable service.
  Personally, I would still like to try the 333 head, through a good cab.  Even a Bogner through cr@p speakers or cab will sound poor.  Also, their 6262 is apparently a very different circuit to the 333.
  Even so, Oli, thanks for your review. Looks like I'll be avoiding the 6262 (or any of their combos for that matter).

[kevincurtis]

Your description of the build quality sounds awfully similar to the Marshall JVM. Although if looked after, these types of amp can give some reasonable service.
  Personally, I would still like to try the 333 head, through a good cab.  Even a Bogner through cr@p speakers or cab will sound poor.  Also, their 6262 is apparently a very different circuit to the 333.
  Even so, Oli, thanks for your review. Looks like I'll be avoiding the 6262 (or any of their combos for that matter).

Alan - are you on a mission to own every tube amp ever made (and I don't just mean specific models :) ) - I can't keep up!

[hamfist]

Alan - are you on a mission to own every tube amp ever made (and I don't just mean specific models :) ) - I can't keep up!

Hey Kevin, that's unfair    I've only been through 5 amps so far this year !

To be honest, I think I'm settled with the RV50 for a while. But the Bugera's are just so cheap, it's tempting to get one, if they are any good, just for a second amp.

[dave_mc]

thanks very much for that review... would definitely pay to be wary after that (i think they fit into the "definitely try first" category... :lol: ).

:)

[blackout]

I feel obliged to chime in on this one because I've been reading everything I can find about these since they were announced at the beggining of last year. I've had no amp for 3 years cos I can't afford anything I can stand the sound of so this was a big thing for me! haha
There are a lot of peoples reviews and recordings out there now of these amps, and from reading/hearing them I'm pretty sure the problem Oli had was the fact that he was using one of their combo amps. When they were announced, I dismissed any consideration of a combo because a cheap speaker will ruin anything.
People have said the heads sound very nice, especially 5150/5150 II copies which can sound remarkably like the original product but its their build quality that lets them down. About 70% seem to say they have problems/die really quickly, the other 30 have no complaints at all.