Bugera amps

Petie · #1 02-25-2008, 06:39 AM

I'm the first to admit I was skeptical about these new Bugera amps by Behringer (6260, 6262 and 333, said to be inspired by Peavey 5150, 5150 II and XXX respectively). I wasn't sure they could make a good sounding valve amp for the price.

Tonight I tested one of each (6262 head, and the combo versions of the other two) to review for a guitar magazine.

I'm surprised to say I was blown away by the sound quality. The harmonic overtones and musical feedback of the 6262 in particular were worthy of a much higher priced amp. The crunch channel was a little muddy but that's to be expected with the 5150 II anyway so that's no surprise, and it still did some quite nice fusion tones.

In terms of making an amp that sounds way beyond its price point, they succeeded.

wilch · #2 02-25-2008, 06:59 AM

Interesting.

Your post made me search youtube for clips. The 333 sounds pretty "metal"

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

So Petie, what price point are each of these amps at?

EDIT: Listening to it again, it actually sounds a bit buzzy. Hmmmm...

Also, looks like the 333 head is $550 USD, I wonder what that equates to here in Aus.

EDIT2: Found this of the 6262 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhN6iLMtm74
Not a fan.

AleTheNervo · #3 02-25-2008, 07:10 AM

just one information about the Behringer line. I heard many interesting things about thoyr ultrastack BG412S cab, but never a professional review, has anyone ever tryed one? Since I'm planning of haveing one but never had the chance to try out one myself...
Thanks

Petie · #4 02-25-2008, 08:19 AM

Yeah the 333 can be very buzzy, but so can the Mesa Rectifier if the Presence control is just pegged to 10. The 333 is very cutting, like Dime on Far Beyond Driven, and it had the fewest 'good' sounds of the three amps, but as I said above, the complexity of the 6262's tone was quite surprising.

You really can't hear the overtones in that YouTube clip of the 6262.

The real standout of tonight's reviewing session though was the Laboga Alligator combo and Mr Hector head (the latter of which sounds like an attempt at classic EVH tone).

Tank · #5 02-25-2008, 05:17 PM

I cannot go along with this.

To me the Bugera amps tone:

Clean: Is ok. It is not as good as a JSX or anywhere near a Fender, but it is ok.

Crunch: If you really crunch it up it becomes really buzzy and muddy. Tone articulation and dynamics are dropped and IMHO it is severely lacking overtones.

High Gain: No punch. It does sound metallish and can even go to "the dark side", but it is lacking dynamics and punch. Very muddy and chainsawy.

Cannot comment on quality, I only tested it in the store for an hour, before they sent it off to its new owner. But compared to a Peavey Valveking, the Peavey wins and we all know that amp ain't super at all.

I am not impressed with the Bugeras and will recommend peeps to wait and save cash for another tube amp. There are other just a little more expensive alternatives (like Carvin) who are a better bang for the buck.

Drew · #6 02-26-2008, 04:48 PM

...or a used 5150? Honestly, those things are so cheap I never understood why someone would introduce a cheaper knockoff.

To each their own though.

Petie · #7 02-26-2008, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drew

...or a used 5150? Honestly, those things are so cheap I never understood why someone would introduce a cheaper knockoff.

To each their own though.

Ever tried to find a Peavey in Australia? I know of one store that stocks them in my city.

Ever tried to afford a Peavey in Brazil?

These amps are made to appeal to a certain market and a certain price point which might not necessarily reflect US prices. To the kid who's going to buy this amp instead of a Marshall MG or something, saving the extra few hundred (or, in Australia, thousand) dollars for the real Peavey amp is unrealistic. The street price of these Bugera amps is about $600 or $700 bucks. The average price of a used 5150 is about $1,700 here.

These amps are not made to steal the market from the 5150 etc. They're made for kids who aspire to that.

LonePhantom · #8 02-26-2008, 07:04 PM

So are those the sorts of prices in Australia Pete? Pretty good if it is.

I've also heard a number of people being surprised y how good the amps sound. One guy did a comparison of his 5150 with the Bugera with the same sort of settings, and there was very little difference in the sound.

HeavyMetal4Ever · #9 02-27-2008, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drew

...or a used 5150? Honestly, those things are so cheap I never understood why someone would introduce a cheaper knockoff.

To each their own though.

We don't all live in America. Check out the Australian *bay.

In Australia, decent quality 2nd hand equipment is as rare as an honest politician, and prices in general are hugely inflated compared to the US.

As an example, I recently called the biggest instrument store in my local area for some prices on a B.C Rich Gunslinger Retro, an Ibanez S5470 and a Peavey JSX combo.

Apparently, the Gunslingers are not even being imported into the country, the S5470 will retail for $2895 AUD (approx. $2720 USD), and the JSX retails for $3495 AUD (approx. $3280 USD).

The salesman I spoke to assured me they would "do me a deal", and drop the prices by "a couple of hundred". Trust me, their best price is far more expensive than a US retail price.

As Petie said, used 5150's go for about $1700 down under, not a couple of hundred...

Rock on!

wilch · #10 02-27-2008, 05:15 PM

...and I'm currently selling an immaculate JCM2000 DSL100 head with new tubes for $1300AUD.

Brand new amps are very, very expensive here in Australia.

jeffmoe · #11 04-16-2011, 09:11 PM

Hello Folks,

I'm writing this from the state of Alabama in the US. We are next door to Mississippi where Peavey is made. I am more and more astounded by people outside of the US that like Peavey amps. They have been around here forever and they are universally considered to be junk.
Players here would use ANYTHING before using a Peavey.
Bugera are very new here but I can assure you that most players would take a Bugera over a truck full of Peaveys.
Just my two cents worth

.

musikron · #12 04-17-2011, 10:38 AM

I won't touch anything Berhinger, they are like legit "Chinese" knockoffs.

Not to mention I tried one before I learned who owned them and was very unimpressed. I would go as far as to say they sound like **** actually.

fatal1ty39 · #13 04-18-2011, 06:24 PM

there are these fame amps they are even cheaper than the bugera you could get a halfstack with a foot switch for cheap:http://www.musicstore.com/en_EN/EUR/...tch/art-GIT226
i'm actually thinking about getting one but i'm not sure maybe getting a blackstar ht-5 will be better.

jeffmoe · #14 04-18-2011, 06:34 PM

VERY INTERESTING!! Thanks for the tip. I'm gonna check them out

.

dragsternj · #15 04-18-2011, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffmoe

Hello Folks,

I'm writing this from the state of Alabama in the US. We are next door to Mississippi where Peavey is made. I am more and more astounded by people outside of the US that like Peavey amps. They have been around here forever and they are universally considered to be junk.
Players here would use ANYTHING before using a Peavey.
Bugera are very new here but I can assure you that most players would take a Bugera over a truck full of Peaveys.
Just my two cents worth

.

you for real? Peavey does some great amps like the JSX, 5150, 6505 XXX or the classic 30.
If you take a Bugera over any of these than i have to wonder