Bugera 6262-212 Guitar Combo Amplifier (120 Watts, 2x12 in.)

Feature:
2 channel, Eddie Van Halen's Peavy 5150 II/6505+ 'clone' which is probably one of the most popular metal amps but I think Bugera/Behringer did a better job of the 'overall' distortion bottom end and clean/crunch tone...for a 1/3 the price. Yeah it a behringer BUT it is hand built (in china - like a lot of Marshalls etc) AND has good hand tested valves AND Bugera MAKE their own speakers...from scratch UNLIKE Marshall etc. The transformer isn't massive and I know it 'could' pop eventually but by then I could have bought 3 Bugeras for the cost of one Marshall or Peavy and I'd still have some spare parts left over.

Quality:
Nearly as heavy as a 3k Marshall though some of the items inside aren't as robust.

Value:
Could there really be a BETTER amps for the money? NOT A CHANCE. Would you EVEN consider a POS solid state wonder or a POD over this? You would have to be insane. Man I could have gotten the 6262 120w head AND 4x12 half stack for not alot more.

Desirability:
It looks like a simple old style amp, the knobs ARE ok (contrary to reviews - just like a Marshall), it's solid, the footswitch is metal and the valves glow merrily behind the scenes unleashing a maelstrom of insanely loud valve driven mayhem.

Sound:
I wanted an amp that had a really nice clean tone (not like a Fender but similar at a pinch) and a warm clean sound with a little tube distortion and breakup for clean(ish) blues. This amp nails that and with 120watts has LOADS of headroom. Classic rock: ACDC etc on about 2 gain on channel one nails this old school sound as well with a nice distorted blues sounds with a neck humbucker on about 5. Shred is ok (it's really mad distortion) but it's so damn loud I haven't been able to turn it over 3 on this channel and the amp hasn't been able to open up and it's still pretty fizzy. Plus the tubes/speaker are only just breaking in. This amp has regularly been given by guitar mags 4 1/2 out of 5 stars for tone/sound so it should kick arse on 5. But at home it will make you quickly deaf. You have to be mindful of its power so you don't damage your hearing and realise it's not going to sound quite as good down low. But it's still really nice on low, unlike many other valve amps. While I used to be a metal guitarist, it's all the other tones that sold me...oh and the INSANE price. The sound it really beefy and Fender 'like' on the clean channel though it does thin out noticably on low volume on the crunch and lead settings. It's been noted on reviews that this amp has heaps of bottom end (plus bottem end focused 6L6 valves) so it should really kick when turned up to jam/gig levels.

Ease of Use:
Simple, 2 channel layout, separate tone controls per channel inc reverb and presence.

Support:
I heard Behringer just replace stuff if it dies spectacularly so hey you get a brand new one within 12 months if there is a major prob.

Overall:
If you don't heed this review, go buy a sucky solid state and have your mate reduce you to dust when you gig and he turns up his valve monster. It's got REAL, warm, valve driven tone (it's NOTHING like a POD - which I own and I like but comeon...POD = NO DYNAMICS and MASSIVELY compressed sound - I run my POD through my 15" PA and while it's great to practice with and play through headphones...it doesn't have a valve power section) Whether you play blues, rock, even a little jazz (check out the jazz muso playing through it on a hollow body on the Bugera website) or metal, the Bugera will make Fender owners cringe, irritate Marshall owners that just don't have much (if any) better tones AND less volume and reduce Soldano owners to weeping in their beers (as they pay the really big bugs for their rigs and doesn’t really sound that much better) after the jam/gig. 2 x 12 inch speakers and 120 watts of boutique valve driven tone and power for cheapo 30 watt 10 inch speaker solid state money. Hell, I would pay for a new transformer to keep this puppy going down the track as I really like it - irrespective of price/name. I've owned an original modded JCM 800 half stack and this is SO MUCH nicer. I've played through Hot Rod fenders (yuck) and Marshalls and Vox AC30s and the only amp that I would own over this is a Bad Dog as it's just so warm and bluesy. I would have regretted getting another brand as they are often limited (rock...nothing else, blues...nothing else...metal...nothing else). Get the Bugera and reap mayhem for you hard earned cash...peace to the other poor amps.