Bugera 333XL Guitar Amplifier Head (120 Watts)
No longer available at zZounds
Rock out with the Bugera 333XL. The 333XL is a hand-built 120-Watt amplifier driven by 4 x EL34 valves (convertible to 6L6).
Overview
There's no getting around it: an overdriven vacuum tube is the sound of rock. Solid state amps and tube modelers may be getting closer and closer to an approximation of tube distortion, but there's nothing like the creamy, searing, gut-kicking overdrive a real vacuum tube yields when it's saturated with power. Unfortunately, most tube amps are thousands of dollars more expensive than their comparably loud, solid-state equivalents, so blue-collar rockers are often forced to make do with cheaper, transistor-based rigs. . . until now. The Bugera 333XL is an all-tube, hand-built, 120-watt monster of hard rock glory. It's jam-packed full of useful features you'd typically find only on a boutique amplifier, but its greatest feature may just be the unbelievable price.
Why can't solid-state transistors replicate the sound of an overdriven tube? The reason is simple: transistors, when pushed to the brink, "clip", creating a harsh buzz that's akin to the noise that results from overloading a mixing board channel. "Faux-tube" technology takes that sound and attempts to shape it into something more pleasant, but that's like taking barbed wire and trying to spin it into gold. No such alchemy is needed with the Bugera 333XL; its real tubes don't clip, they "break up" in an organic, non-linear way, so your guitar tone will remain full, punchy and musical from the cleanest clean to the subtlest rhythm crunch to the screaming leads that… read more rock legends are made of. Bugera uses real tubes in the preamp and power sections, so your entire signal path benefits from searing valve power.
Three 12AX7 tubes power the preamp, and the 333XL makes the most of this flexible arrangement by providing you with three separate channels, each with its own unique gain structure. This amp can do anything you'll ever need it to do: the "Clean" channel gives you tons of shimmery, crisp headroom for lush chordal work and spankin' funk; the "Crunch" channel brings in a bit o' the dirt, perfect for chunky power chords and bluesy melodies; the "Lead" channel tops things off with huge, sustaining distortion for savage metal riffage and soaring, singing solos. Best of all, each channel features its own, discrete, three-band EQ. Beyond simply switching between gain-ranges, you'll be able to radically alter the sound of your amplified guitar, instantly, just by switching channels. This full range of tube tone will be at your fingertips, or rather, your toe-tips, because the Bugera 333XL ships with its own four-function footswitch, a necessary accessory that many amp makers make you buy as an "extra."
Tube technology may be almost one-hundred years old, but it still helps the Bugera 333XL Guitar Head crank out enough volume for today's biggest venues! A quartet of EL34 tubes generates up to 120-watts. . . that's more than enough power for your next stadium tour. EL34 tubes are the same type found in the high-gain stacks of the 60s British blues-rock revolution, and the 333XL comes pre-loaded with that classic, flame-thrower tone. If you so choose, however, you can simply flip a switch on the back of the amp, and your Bugera is now biased for 6L6 power tubes, the valves that provided the earliest American guitar amps with their sparkly clean headroom. Owning a Bugera 333XL head is like having two boutique amplifiers for a fraction of the price of one! Plus, no matter what speaker cabinet you favor, or how many you choose to bring on the road with you, the 333XL's switchable impedance can handle any arrangement. Switchable speaker impedance, three-channel operation, swappable power tube types. . . there's plenty of ways to tailor the Bugera 333XL to your unique tastes.
Switchable power-tube biasing is just one of several features on the Bugera 333XL that you'll typically only find on micro-manufactured amps costing thousands of dollars. Wondering whether 120-watts may be too much for some venues? Not a problem: Bugera outfitted the XL amps with the XL circuit which, when engaged, automatically compensates the master EQ curve for lower volumes. Turning down your 333XL doesn't mean neutering your tone. Another handy and none-too-common feature: a footswitchable effects loop. Many amps have an FX loop, but the Bugera 333XL's loop can be taken in and out of your signal path via the included footswitch. Use it to turn multiple effects on an off with a single stomp--it's like having extra feet! It's a mystery to us why more amps don't include this useful function, but you'll be glad your new 333XL does.
Stop pining over those big-name, over-priced tube heads! Get a Bugera 333XL, and live out your rock-god dreams with the legendary distortion that only an all-tube head can provide. It's what your guitar was made for! read less
Bugera 333XL - Real Tube Tone: There's No Substitution
Why can't solid-state transistors replicate the sound of an overdriven tube? The reason is simple: transistors, when pushed to the brink, "clip", creating a harsh buzz that's akin to the noise that results from overloading a mixing board channel. "Faux-tube" technology takes that sound and attempts to shape it into something more pleasant, but that's like taking barbed wire and trying to spin it into gold. No such alchemy is needed with the Bugera 333XL; its real tubes don't clip, they "break up" in an organic, non-linear way, so your guitar tone will remain full, punchy and musical from the cleanest clean to the subtlest rhythm crunch to the screaming leads that… read more rock legends are made of. Bugera uses real tubes in the preamp and power sections, so your entire signal path benefits from searing valve power.
Bugera 333XL: Three Channel Versatility
Three 12AX7 tubes power the preamp, and the 333XL makes the most of this flexible arrangement by providing you with three separate channels, each with its own unique gain structure. This amp can do anything you'll ever need it to do: the "Clean" channel gives you tons of shimmery, crisp headroom for lush chordal work and spankin' funk; the "Crunch" channel brings in a bit o' the dirt, perfect for chunky power chords and bluesy melodies; the "Lead" channel tops things off with huge, sustaining distortion for savage metal riffage and soaring, singing solos. Best of all, each channel features its own, discrete, three-band EQ. Beyond simply switching between gain-ranges, you'll be able to radically alter the sound of your amplified guitar, instantly, just by switching channels. This full range of tube tone will be at your fingertips, or rather, your toe-tips, because the Bugera 333XL ships with its own four-function footswitch, a necessary accessory that many amp makers make you buy as an "extra."
Bugera 333XL: 120 Massive Watts Of Power
Tube technology may be almost one-hundred years old, but it still helps the Bugera 333XL Guitar Head crank out enough volume for today's biggest venues! A quartet of EL34 tubes generates up to 120-watts. . . that's more than enough power for your next stadium tour. EL34 tubes are the same type found in the high-gain stacks of the 60s British blues-rock revolution, and the 333XL comes pre-loaded with that classic, flame-thrower tone. If you so choose, however, you can simply flip a switch on the back of the amp, and your Bugera is now biased for 6L6 power tubes, the valves that provided the earliest American guitar amps with their sparkly clean headroom. Owning a Bugera 333XL head is like having two boutique amplifiers for a fraction of the price of one! Plus, no matter what speaker cabinet you favor, or how many you choose to bring on the road with you, the 333XL's switchable impedance can handle any arrangement. Switchable speaker impedance, three-channel operation, swappable power tube types. . . there's plenty of ways to tailor the Bugera 333XL to your unique tastes.
Bugera 333XL: More Boutique Features Than Most Boutique Amps!
Switchable power-tube biasing is just one of several features on the Bugera 333XL that you'll typically only find on micro-manufactured amps costing thousands of dollars. Wondering whether 120-watts may be too much for some venues? Not a problem: Bugera outfitted the XL amps with the XL circuit which, when engaged, automatically compensates the master EQ curve for lower volumes. Turning down your 333XL doesn't mean neutering your tone. Another handy and none-too-common feature: a footswitchable effects loop. Many amps have an FX loop, but the Bugera 333XL's loop can be taken in and out of your signal path via the included footswitch. Use it to turn multiple effects on an off with a single stomp--it's like having extra feet! It's a mystery to us why more amps don't include this useful function, but you'll be glad your new 333XL does.
Stop pining over those big-name, over-priced tube heads! Get a Bugera 333XL, and live out your rock-god dreams with the legendary distortion that only an all-tube head can provide. It's what your guitar was made for! read less
Documents and Manuals
For support or warranty questions, please contact the manufacturer:
Bugera's Description
Bugera 333XL Guitar Amplifier Head
The Bugera 333XL tone machine cranks out mind-blowing lead distortion and tight crunch due to its raw tone and massive power. Whether you want crystal clean punch, sultry smooth classic rock lead tones or that bone shattering metal crunch, the 333XL provides extensive tone shaping abilities with virtually unlimited dynamics in a three-channel configuration.The 333XL's brutal power comes from 4 hand-selected and matched Bugera EL34 power valves. 4 Bugera 12AX7 valves in the preamp add up for terrifying punch and mind-rattling gain.
Each channel features Volume, Bass, Mid and Treble, while the Crunch and Lead offer additional Gain control. The XL builds on the 333 series with added XL tone shaping switches on the Lead and Crunch channels for super-fat valve tone and also includes a versatile noise gate. We added Impedance switching to match virtually any speaker cabinet, from 4, 8 to 16 Ohms. Plus you'll love the detail in the fine reverb tails. The amp comes with a four-way heavy-duty metal footswitch for channel and effects loop selection, to tap your favorite effects.
This boutique-style valve head is constructed using precision manufacturing, blended with our artisan hand assembly, so you can be confident it will stand the test of time. The next time you wield your axe, feel the Soul of Valves with the Bugera 333XL.
Bugera 333XL Features
Hand-built 120-Watt amplifier driven by 4 x EL34 valves (convertible to 6L6)
Classic 3-channel preamp design (Clean, Crunch, Lead) featuring 4 x 12AX7 valves for terrifying punch and mind-blowing gain
Integrated high-class reverb with dedicated Reverb control
XL switches on the Lead and Crunch channels for absolute killer sounds
Independent Equalizer sections for each channel with dedicated Bass, Mid and Treble control
Classic Presence control for awesome sound shaping
Impedance switch (4, 8 and 16 Ohm) to match virtually any speaker cabinet
FX Loop with independent Send and Return level controls also serves as Boost function
Heavy-duty footswitch for Channel selection and FX Loop/Boost function included
Line output with dedicated Level control
High-quality components and exceptionally rugged construction ensure long life
Reviews
Reviewers gave this product an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars.
(58 ratings)
Submitted December 22, 2008 by a customer from hotmail.com
"Now you CAN sound like a million dollars, without spending a million dollars!"
Verified Customer
zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
I've been using lots of amps and gear for over twenty years and this is one of the biggest no-brainers I've ever come across. For anyone out there that might have doubts about these amps I would suggest you check out the Bugera website and look at the continually growing list of musicians and significant professionals that are now using these. I never imagined I'd give any product all 10's, but no bull to me this head really deserves it. As a guitarist in Hollywood who plays regularly I don't see any reason to use anything else now and I expect to use this for a long time. I'm also starting to notice these amps popping up in clubs around Hollywood and L.A. The secret is out!
Sound
This amp pretty much rivals anything out there soundwise, and even though it seems to have been designed mainly for hard rock or metal it can easily be used for literally any type of music there is, in my opinion. The tone is beautiful and warm, the eq is very lively and it's super quiet, even with some of my Boss pedals in the effects loop. The clean channel is gorgeous but the distortions are where this thing really will amaze you. Full, rich, focused and articulate distortion that can go anywhere from mild pop rock to the most extreme death metal there is, and all at punishing volume!
Features
It has everything you would need in a modern professional level tube head, with the added bonus of a noise gate on the distortion channels. The… read more reverb is another good feature. Reverb seems to be a touchy thing with some people. Some will love it, others might not, but I think it sounds very good on this head. There's an impedance switch which is handy, a line out, and for those who are tech savvy you can switch out the stock EL34's and put in 6L6's if you wanted to with the bias switch and adjuster.
Ease of Use
Pretty simple to me, just plug in, dial in your sound and rock out! I don't think any guitarist at any level would have a hard time with this.
Quality
One would guess that this is the area where the amp would fall short, but I've found this thing to be very well built and strongly put together. The guitar and effects loop inputs are plastic, but to me that's no big deal. The knobs have a very slightly loose feel, but again it's not an issue with me. I don't beat up any of my equipment so I'm not worried about it. I've owned this for about 8 months and I've had to replace a couple of tubes that blew, but other than that it's been a hard rocking workhorse.
Value
It's ALOT of amp for the money....mind boggling really. The features to cost ratio is just out of whack...it SHOULD cost double. From here on out anyone who spends thousands of dollars for the "name" brands is wasting their money. This is my #1 amp in my rig now.
The Wow Factor
Aesthetically it's a really nice looking boutique head. I don't know if any amp has "sex appeal" but to me it does have a cool look, especially with the lights and the tube glow inside when it's in use. As they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and the sound is really the most important thing, but I'd have to say it looks great.
Musical Background:
Active Musician
Musical Style:
Hard rock, classic rock, metal read less
Sound
This amp pretty much rivals anything out there soundwise, and even though it seems to have been designed mainly for hard rock or metal it can easily be used for literally any type of music there is, in my opinion. The tone is beautiful and warm, the eq is very lively and it's super quiet, even with some of my Boss pedals in the effects loop. The clean channel is gorgeous but the distortions are where this thing really will amaze you. Full, rich, focused and articulate distortion that can go anywhere from mild pop rock to the most extreme death metal there is, and all at punishing volume!
Features
It has everything you would need in a modern professional level tube head, with the added bonus of a noise gate on the distortion channels. The… read more reverb is another good feature. Reverb seems to be a touchy thing with some people. Some will love it, others might not, but I think it sounds very good on this head. There's an impedance switch which is handy, a line out, and for those who are tech savvy you can switch out the stock EL34's and put in 6L6's if you wanted to with the bias switch and adjuster.
Ease of Use
Pretty simple to me, just plug in, dial in your sound and rock out! I don't think any guitarist at any level would have a hard time with this.
Quality
One would guess that this is the area where the amp would fall short, but I've found this thing to be very well built and strongly put together. The guitar and effects loop inputs are plastic, but to me that's no big deal. The knobs have a very slightly loose feel, but again it's not an issue with me. I don't beat up any of my equipment so I'm not worried about it. I've owned this for about 8 months and I've had to replace a couple of tubes that blew, but other than that it's been a hard rocking workhorse.
Value
It's ALOT of amp for the money....mind boggling really. The features to cost ratio is just out of whack...it SHOULD cost double. From here on out anyone who spends thousands of dollars for the "name" brands is wasting their money. This is my #1 amp in my rig now.
The Wow Factor
Aesthetically it's a really nice looking boutique head. I don't know if any amp has "sex appeal" but to me it does have a cool look, especially with the lights and the tube glow inside when it's in use. As they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and the sound is really the most important thing, but I'd have to say it looks great.
Musical Background:
Active Musician
Musical Style:
Hard rock, classic rock, metal read less
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