Bugera 5V Owners and users chime in please

[BoneNut]

$149?

Really?

 

Small 5 tube watt combo with built attenuator and reverb. What's not to like? What am I missing here?

 

For all you that own one, what do you like and what do you not like? For that amount of cash, I can see ripping out the electronics and installing it in a nice 1x12 cab with a Greenback. Doable? I'd only want it to play at home with.

 

How about you guys that tried one and didn't like it enough to buy. What stopped you?

 

Thanks!

[Grantus]

It's a decent sounding small amp. I like that it has a headphone jack and can get down to 1/10th of a watt.

 

My first one was defective, and I had to send it back. Bad tube connection or something.

 

It's not the cleanest sounding amp, but I like things a little dirty.

[roygbiv]

it has its place.

 

but really. you get what you pay for.

 

not saying don't buy it if it's what you can afford and you like it. that's cool if it's right for you.

 

just saying that it carries that price for a reason.

[BoneNut]

So some nice tubes and a 1x12 cab wouldn't make it a decent practice amp? Just looking for a nice bluesy sound .

 

The other amps I've been looking at is the MB Lonestar special and it goes down to 5 watts but I really shouldn't be spending two grand on an amp right now. The other is the MB 5:25 Express but with the 12 inch cab that seems harder to find. That one only runs around $1200 but I liked the idea that you could run the V5 at less than 5 watts... maybe take out the 12AX7 and drop in a 5751?

[drunkinminer]

I'm sure if you look you can find better amps then this in the price range and wattage.

 

Just a suggestion but you can get a vibro champ xd at amazon for $199 and I'm sure if you'll look you may be able to find a used one.

[roygbiv]

well, if those two amps (Bugera vs Mesa) are the only ones that sound good to you, and you don't want to spend the cash on the mesa, then your path is clear.

 

but there are many many options between the bugera and the mesa, price-wise, if you're open to other options.

[BoneNut]

 

I'm sure if you look you can find better amps then this in the price range and wattage.

 

 

Not too concerned with a really low price range but definitely looking for the low watts. Do you own one of these V5s? What is it you don't like about it?

[BoneNut]

 

well, if those two amps (Bugera vs Mesa) are the only ones that sound good to you, and you don't want to spend the cash on the mesa, then your path is clear. but there are many many options between the bugera and the mesa, price-wise, if you're open to other options.

 

 

Completely open to other options!

[Grantus]

 

I'm sure if you look you can find better amps then this in the price range and wattage.

 

 

The Bugera has a lot of features that other amps in the same price range do not. A lot of people like the Fender Champion 600, though.

 

To my ears, the Bugera is a nice sounding small amp.

 

There are tons of 5-watt tube amps available these days, however.

[calclown]

it's a great amp! absolutely no complaints. It does everything well, it's cheap, it's damn pretty and it has a headphone out

[BoneNut]

 

The Bugera has a lot of features that other amps in the same price range do not. A lot of people like the Fender Champion 600, though. To my ears, the Bugera is a nice sounding small amp. There are tons of 5-watt tube amps available these days, however.

 

 

Of those many 5 watt tube amps you mentioned, is there any one in particular you would recommend?

[Grantus]

The Fender Vibro Champ XD is a fun little 5-watter.

 

I hear good things about ValveTrain amps, too. They're more expensive, though.

[drunkinminer]

For me it's the Behringer connection. while other people may like them as was stated by a few here there are better amps out there. Why not try out a bunch and see what you like you may be surprised. Good Luck.

[guitarman3001]

 

The Bugera has a lot of features that other amps in the same price range do not. A lot of people like the Fender Champion 600, though. To my ears, the Bugera is a nice sounding small amp. There are tons of 5-watt tube amps available these days, however.

 

 

how many have a built in attenuator and can go down to .1 watt? btw, I don't have a V5 but I've been wanting one precisely because of the built in attenuator. If there's another amp that has this feature I'd definitely consider it.

[BoneNut]

 

For me it's the Behringer connection. while other people may like them as was stated by a few here there are better amps out there. Why not try out a bunch and see what you like you may be surprised. Good Luck.

 

 

Ok. The amp doesn't sound good because it's connected to Behringer? Help me out here. I don't have the opportunity to go to a store a try a whole lot of small amps out, so I'm asking the experts here.

 

Appreciate it if you could tell me something about the amp itself or if you could recommend some of the better amps you mention so I can start investigating them?

[guitarman3001]

For me it's the Behringer connection.

 

We're on the same page! That's what got me interested in it too! Good (and in some case great) sounding amps for great prices.

[BoneNut]

Never owned anything Behringer. They good? Bad? What's up with that?

[guitarman3001]

 

Never owned anything Behringer. They good? Bad? What's up with that?

 

 

like with any other company, some of their products are great, others are good, others are not. I have a behringer PA amp that rocks, I have a behringer mixer that's great, I have a bugera V22 that.....well.....you've heard the clips and read the reviews.... and I have a behringer reverb pedal that I don't use because it completely sucks tone when I put it in my amp's fx loop.

 

Their amps are pretty well known to have great tone at amazing prices. The haters are usually the ones who have never gotten over the whole "great tone has to cost everyone else a lot of money because I paid a lot for my own amp" thing.

[BoneNut]

 

like with any other company, some of their products are great, others are good, others are not. I have a behringer PA amp that rocks, I have a behringer mixer that's great, I have a bugera V22 that.....well.....you've heard the clips and read the reviews.... and I have a behringer reverb pedal that I don't use because it completely sucks tone when I put it in my amp's fx loop. Their amps are pretty well known to have great tone at amazing prices. The haters are usually the ones who have never gotten over the whole "great tone has to cost everyone else a lot of money because I paid a lot for my own amp" thing.

 

 

Thanks!

 

I got curious about the V5 thinking that maybe with a good 1x12 cabinet, a tube change and maybe a cap mod or something, it might be a worthwhile amp to play through at home. I'm starting to look into some sites about mods now.

 

I've looked a few videos on Youtube and liked what I heard, especially with the little amp running through a 4x12. But you can only tell so much from the videos so I tried asking the guys here who have tried them.

[tlbonehead]

took one home for a few days. Took it back. Didn't like it at all.

[drunkinminer]

 

The haters are usually the ones who have never gotten over the whole "great tone has to cost everyone else a lot of money because I paid a lot for my own amp" thing.

 

 

As a matter of fact both of my amps cost under $300 so I know this statement is false.

 

I have a Super Champ XD because I wanted something with a little more watts. I've read good things about the Vibro Champ XD. It has a single channel. Not sure how it takes pedals but my SCXD take pedals fine so I would think the same for the VCXD. Maybe someone here who has one could chime in about this.

[tlbonehead]

 

.

 

 

not in my case.

[Orange Jackson]

I totally like mine. It simply is a warm tube amp with nice reverb, pretty straight forward imo, controls work as they should. I've owned the Vibro Champ XD and SCXD amps, a Blues jr (quintessential boxy sound), and Vox DA5, so those are in the same ballpark as far as price (I have also own/ed a host of amps that cost well above this price range. My main amp is a Rivera r55). I think the V5 is louder then the 15 watt scxd. It puts to utter shame the Vox DA5 (they are not close to the same class), and the V5 is like $10 more.

 

The v5 fits my needs really well as a home practice amp. On 1/10 watt there is no noise floor, unlike the SCXD. I hate a noise floor when you are practicing late at night and the volume is way down, the V5 does not have that problem.

If you need to have a clean at loud volumes you are not going to find it here, though the clean at middle (normal home use) to lower volumes is really nice. You can get tubes that will help raise the head room, how much I don't know. I think stock it is a good balance between clean and overdrive. No broOTals without a pedal.

 

The stock speaker is good, but of course, though a 1x12 or 4x10 it's going to have a lot more body, but the stock combo does not sound boxy at all. I have used it in jam settings, drummer, bass other guitars, and I thought it did great and got complements that it "sounded great." I was playing in a very clean style.

 

 

I don't think people get that you need to have at least a couple amps. Like tools, you have the right tool for the job. To get a strong clean at high volumes you need a solid state amp, or a tube amp with something in the neighborhood of 50 watts or more, or a PA.

 

A 5 watt tube amp is for kicking around the house, or jamming with a buddy, smaller settings and recording. I think the V5 is a revolution when you look at the price tag and then consider the tone you are getting. It is just unheard of before this. It is not just the price that makes it good though, it's just good on its own merits.

 

It takes pedals really well, I would not like the overdrive as much if I did not have a the pedals that I do have, Keeley DS-1 ultra, Dod 250.

Give it a few days to break in, and don't put it up against a wall; it is an open back cab that needs to breathe.

 

I give it 5 stars out of 5 for the class that it is in.

I play a jazz rock fusion, instrumental rock, classical, some blues, and on occasion, some old loud noisy crap.

[Orange Jackson]

 

As a matter of fact both of my amps cost under $300 so I know this statement is false. I have a Super Champ XD because I wanted something with a little more watts. I've read good things about the Vibro Champ XD. It has a single channel. Not sure how it takes pedals but my SCXD take pedals fine so I would think the same for the VCXD. Maybe someone here who has one could chime in about this.

 

 

I owned the VCXD and thought it sounded very poorly.

And like you, I found some cool stuff in the SCXD. However i did not like how it would fart when I pushed it, and I hated the noise floor when it was late at night. So it was really a useless amp for my needs.

 

Just curious, have you owned a V5?

[BoneNut]

I totally like mine. It simply is a warm tube amp with nice reverb, pretty straight forward imo, controls work as they should. I've owned the Vibro Champ XD and SCXD amps, a Blues jr (quintessential boxy sound), and Vox DA5, so those are in the same ballpark as far as price (I have also own/ed a host of amps that cost well above this price range. My main amp is a Rivera r55). I think the V5 is louder then the 15 watt scxd. It puts to utter shame the Vox DA5 (they are not close to the same class), and the V5 is like $10 more. The v5 fits my needs really well as a home practice amp. On 1/10 watt there is no noise floor, unlike the SCXD. I hate a noise floor when you are practicing late at night and the volume is way down, the V5 does not have that problem. If you need to have a clean at loud volumes you are not going to find it here, though the clean at middle (normal home use) to lower volumes is really nice. You can get tubes that will help raise the head room, how much I don't know. I think stock it is a good balance between clean and overdrive. No broOTals without a pedal. The stock speaker is good, but of course, though a 1x12 or 4x10 it's going to have a lot more body, but the stock combo does not sound boxy at all. I have used it in jam settings, drummer, bass other guitars, and I thought it did great and got complements that it "sounded great." I was playing in a very clean style. I don't think people get that you need to have at least a couple amps. Like tools, you have the right tool for the job. To get a strong clean at high volumes you need a solid state amp, or a tube amp with something in the neighborhood of 50 watts or more, or a PA. A 5 watt tube amp is for kicking around the house, or jamming with a buddy, smaller settings and recording. I think the V5 is a revolution when you look at the price tag and then consider the tone you are getting. It is just unheard of before this. It is not just the price that makes it good though, it's just good on its own merits. It takes pedals really well, I would not like the overdrive as much if I did not have a the pedals that I do have, Keeley DS-1 ultra, Dod 250. Give it a few days to break in, and don't put it right up against a wall; it is an open back cab that needs to breathe. I give it 5 stars out of 5 for the class that it is in. I play a jazz rock fusion, instrumental rock, classical, some blues, and on occasion, some old loud noisy crap.

 

Thanks much for taking the time to write that up.