Sound:
First let me say this. This is a good sounding tube amp for $450.00 bucks. For the price, it can't be beat. The only reason this doesn't get a higher rating then a 7 is because I side by sided the amp to my Mesa Boogie Dual Rec. An amp costing 4 times what this one does. It sounds wonderful. The clean has a nicce sparkle to it when set on low gain settings and this amp will go to the other extreme of gain and all places in between. This amp is being used as my backup to my boogie, it has to sound good, or I would not buy it. That's the end of the story on that.
Feature:
This gets a seven for one reason, there are not seperate eq's for the clean and dirty, but the foot switch is great. It alows you to change channels as well as turn the reverb on and off, very cool for a cheap tube amp.
Ease of Use:
This amp is very easy to use because it's so basic in layout and features, but don't let that fool you into thinking that there is no good rang of tones, this is no one trick pony. There are lots of great tones on this amp, and there all easy to get to because of easy product use.
Quality:
This gets a 5 because it's got great build quality from what I can tell, but based on past reputation, and the fact that I haven't put it through it's paces yet, this is a rating that only time will tell.
Value:
This thing rocks. It's loud, got grgeat tones, and is easy on the pocket book. It can't be beat. Believe me this thing sounds good, remember, it's my backup to my mesa boogie. BTW my backup used to be a Marshall JCM 800. I thought you my want to know what this amp beat to get that spot right under my mesa.
Manufacturer Support:
havn't used them, don't want to need to.
The Wow Factor:
It looks ok, kind of like a marshall but not as golden. I don't buy for looks, I buy for sound.
Overall:
For what this amp was bought for it's the best. It can hold it's own with the big boys and even beats some of them up. I walked into the store to buy a backup amp for my boogie for about 1500.00 and walked out with a great amp for 500.00 and a grand left in my pocket. You couldn't beat this amp with a stick. It's that good, and the price makes it better. Try for your self and let your ears be the judge.
20 of 21 people
(95.24%) found this review helpful. Did you?
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Sound:
if you dig that Marshall roar, but don't have deep pockets, this is your amp head. If you closed your eyes, you'd think it was a Marshall. It totally nails that 80's hard rock/metal tone of Motley Crue, Iron Maiden, Dokken, Motorhead, early Metallica(pre-Black album), Queensryche, etc., or back the gain off and it can do 70's hard rock ala Thin Lizzy as well. It takes pedals quite well too, if you wanna do other stuff. It can't quite get to modern metal gain-wise, but that's nothing a good boost or distortion pedal can't fix. You can have a clean and a crunch channel, or get a crunch tone on the clean(yes, it can do that), and dial in a lead tone on the dirty channel... it's quite versatile.
Feature:
really, the only thing it lacks is separate EQs for each channel... other than that, it has everything you'd want or need in an amp. The half-power switch on the back is cool too, dropping the wattage from 120 to 60 watts, reducing headroom, but getting to that 'sweet spot' a little quicker. As with most tube amps, cranking it up loud really makes it sing - if your ears - or the neighbors - can handle it. LOL It also has an out for direct to PA, and another for direct recording, along with an effects loop, with its own level control. With a switch for 4, 8 or 16 ohms, it can go into any cab you have.
Ease of Use:
VERY easy to use - it took me all of 5 minutes to dial in my tone.
Quality:
I'll give this a 9 just because I haven't had it long enough to address durability... It's construction is quite sturdy, and I must say, it's quite a good-looking amp as well. Nothing feels/looks cheap or 'cheesy', and it's heavy as h@!! too!
Value:
an amazing value - real 'British roar' tube tone for short money - what else do you want?
Manufacturer Support:
I have not had any dealings with the company aside from registering my amp on their website.
1 of 1 people
(100%) found this review helpful. Did you?
Sound:
I wrote similar specs to the Bugera 1960 Classic, previous, and/but, much of it applies also to this Bugera 1990 Classic. Will just Edit it a bit.[Thank you, zZounds!]
The head is GREAT! And, for the price....WOWWW!!! I started off putting my stompbox in the input and sound very Direct. My Stompbox sounds quite average through the Direct input. But, my (self built 1993; similar to Cornish) stompbox is inserted into the FX-loop, though, for best results! Which makes it mush more easy to equalize
(just as the 1960)! Can set it much 'finer' than when the box goes through the Direct input! Which sounds much 'course or hard'; not hard in sound, but hard in frequency, so-to-speak. Just bothers the/my ears. Did not sound right.
With the Bugera cabinet, you can hear very much - Depth -; 12x4 is here at her best. My echo sounds much more - Perspective - and Deep; in a Mono/stereo way!
Usually, you just hear echo...and that's it, but with this head and cabinet: your Ears hear ALL THE SOUND, which is processed into her! And she does not discriminate what she is fed; processes it all to her best abilities!
This head I utilize for the RAW stuff. The very Heavy Rock sounds. Put one Gain, slightly to Mellow, and the other to a bit more Gain, for a very Fuzzy sound, which creates Thunder-like sounds. For the soft parts, I utilize the Mellow channel and than the Fuzzy channel to get the whole song rocking, into a climax! And her Rawness is just as bad as the Marshalls! In contrary, to the Bugera 1960 Classic, which has the same possibilities, but in a more - Subtle - fashion; more with Control(: for bottleneck, Blues, Subtle Instrumentals/songs; in this
sense)! Still have to fabricate a Switcher, to switch to the 1960 or to the 1990. If you want to Rock...without stopping: THIS IS IT! A
real Rocker head, she is! Just as good as the Marshall JMC, or similar types. Also, very excellent technology incorperated into this head.
Feature:
For me, this head is The Cherry on top! What is told about her....she
produces! Very nostalgic for me. Old times surfacing!! Such a Simple head which delivers VERY MUCH in Sound and Craftsmanship, etc., which does not have to bend down to most of the expensive heads around, because: She Delivers!!!Rawness, beyond your imagination!
Ease of Use:
From also, having experience from this type of head, for me...she is easy to use. Just get the Gains correctly and....Your Off!! I mentioned above: she is Simple and the rest the musician has to do, with his EARS...and guitar playing! Just: Plug And Play!!!
Quality:
She is just BEAUTIFUL!!! Had seen her on the net, here...and others..
BUT...when I saw her...I had to have her!!! I did not even try her out!! I just purchased her online, and picked her up, loaded in, went home and then...hooked her up and: BAM!!! It was Love/Sound at first sight/hear!
The Bugera company did an excellent job on all the specs of the head.
Everybody knows Marshall, but the other replicas out there, were just as good. And this one made by the Bugera Company...is on the SAME level of Marshall or any other, I have to say. And is affordable...for the small wallet! But still gives a Great Value Of SOUND, back, worth every penny. She can take any beating on the road, I would say! But, I made a heads flight case for her, so she is comfortable. Even without the case...she can make it through life!! You also get VERY MUCH, for little money!!
Value:
Well, the price in the country I live (Europe) I even got 10% off on each stack because, I purchased 2 of their half stacks: 1960 and the 1990. It was for me...Worth buying!!! So, compared to others...: She was well and worth invested! Every penny Worth It!!!
Manufacturer Support:
Have emailed the company a couple of times, and they are very quick!
Asked for a Straight Cab, among others; which would be nice, but the slanted does excellently, though. Have had no difficulties so...there was no need for assistance.
The Wow Factor:
"Love at first...sight!!" Simple...but....Beautiful!!
Overall:
Will keep her till the end of her days (just like the 1960)!! Had been looking for these old/semi Vintage type of heads and presto: Bugera comes out with them!! And is affordable, for me. Almost bought a 2-3 channel head some years back, which I am glad I did not purchase!! This is an excellent 2 channel head, though, I have to say. It was well worth waiting for! The Bugeras brought it for me...back to the Basics...the Purity of playing on such Grandeur heads which the rock and pop music was built upon! Nothing can beat that!! If they were stolen, I would surely purchase the same setup, again, if possible, without doubt!
4 of 5 people
(80%) found this review helpful. Did you?
Sound:
he head is GREAT! And, for the price....WOWWW!!! I started off putting my stompbox in the input; tried both, High and Low. With a start. When inserted in High, you get a Satriani/Blackmore sound and when inserted in the Low, you get a deep startocaster Hendrix type of sound: Superb! But, my (self built 1993; similar to Cornish) stompbox is inserted into the EX-loop, though, for best results! Which makes it mush more easy to equalize! Can set it much 'finer' than when the box goes through the Direct input! Which sounds much 'course or hard'; not hard in sound, but hard in frequency, so-to-speak. Just bothers the/my ears. Did not sound right.
With the Bugera cabinet, you can hear very much - Depth -; 12x4 is here at her best. My echo sounds much more - Perspective - and Deep; in a Mono/stereo way! Usually, you just hear echo...and that's it, but with this head and cabinet: your Ears hear ALL THE SOUND, which is processed into her! And she does not discriminate what she is fed; processes it all to her best abilities!
I use a Selector, to switch to the High and Low. Depending on what kind of sound I want to incorporate it, into. In the begin 70ties, I used the High and Low for switching to Lead/High and Normal/Low; when there were not good Boost pedals around, in those days and done on a replica of Marshall: London City/Power City(Dutch fabrications).
Thus: my advice would be to utilize BOTH inputs, in such way as I do!? It is almost like playing a 2 channel head, but only both on the same settings, which for me...it no problem. The guitarist, is the one that makes it sound better, not? His contribution, while playing.
Feature:
For me, this head is The Cherry on top! What is told about her....she
produces! Very nostalgic for me. Old times surfacing!! Such a Simple head which delivers VERY MUCH in Sound and Craftsmanship, etc., which does not have to bend down to most of the expensive heads around, because: She Delivers!!!
Ease of Use:
From having much experience from this type of head, for me...she is easy to use. And I mentioned above: she is Simple and the rest the musician has to do, with his EARS...and guitar playing! Just: Plug And Play!!!
Quality:
She is just BEAUTIFUL!!! Had seen her on the net, here...and others..BUT...when I saw her...I had to have her!!! I did not even try her out!! I just purchased her online, and picked her up, loaded in, went home and then...hooked her up and: BAM!!! It was Love/Sound at first sight/hear!
The Bugera company did an excellent job on all the specs of the head. Have not seen and heard such one since the beginning of the 70ties! Everybody knows Marshall, but the replicas were just as good. And this one made by the Bugera Company...is on the SAME level of Marshall or any other, I have to say. And is affordable...for the small wallet! But still gives a Great Value Of SOUND, back, worth every penny. She can take any beating on the road, I would say! But, I made a heads flight case for her, so she is comfortable. Even without the case...she can make it through life!!
Value:
Well, the price in the country I live (Europe) I even got 10% off on each stack because, I purchased 2 of their half stacks: 1960 and the 1990. It was for me...Worth buying!!! So, compared to others...: She was well and worth invested! Every penny Worth It!!!
Manufacturer Support:
Have emailed the company a couple of times, and they are very quick! Have had no difficulties so...there was no need for assistance.
The Wow Factor:
"Love at first...sight!!" Simple...but....Beautiful!!
Overall:
Will keep her till th end of her days!! Had been looking for these old Vintage type of heads and presto: Bugera comes out with them!! And is affordable, for me. Almost bought a 2-3 channel head some years back, which I am glad I did not purchase!! The Bugeras brought it for me...back to the Basics...the Purity of playing on such Grandeur heads which the rock and pop music was built on! Nothing can beat that!! If they were stolen, I would surely purchase the same setup, again, if possible, without doubt!
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