Bugera V55HD

Let me say I never dis anything unless it is bad... so that being said I will not Dis this amp either... First let me get the basics out of the way. It really looks vintage...It cleans up well. The back cabinet is a dust magnet. (back to easily cleaned) The stock tubes do the job. I imagine better tubes could never hurt though the only tube I have ever changed is the v1 to a tung-sol .. it really makes the clean channel shimmer. as far as the od channel goes ( I really don't use it.. I strictly go through a rp1000 and the built in stomp box loop.... But to just plug in directly and play it will give you black sabbath/ac-dc not anything more than that... But using any distortion device (which this amp handles well, you can push it into metalesque like tone) I have used a digitech distortion station and it handles every setting including Muff Pii. As far as Gigging with it I do not see why not .. Ive seen others gigging with the v55hd so I guess they are either confident or fool hardy. The only downside to this amp is the size and weight.. I do not believe it needs to be so big (taller than need be.. and at about 40 lbs weighs as much as most 100 watt valve amps..
So running it down pluses: 1:sounds great clean.. 2:takes stomp boxes well.3:easily cleans up. and 4: (in my experience) very reliable
Minuses: 1:Distortion channel is good for 50-60s rock..distortion rating would be about a 5.5/10. (needs a stomp box boost) 2: size and weight not in line with other amps its class.. 3: the design makes the back a dust magnet..
I'd rate the value of this amp a 9/10 for what it was designed for 10/10 but like everyone else, we want an amp to cross over to the dark side a bit and this one can't. Rating 6/10 with help from a stomp box 8.5/10

There are those who don't like bugeras, those who don't trust bugeras, those who have never tried a bugera, and then there are the rest of the bugera faithful who like/love em...
(One thing abut the bugera line.. for better or worse.. It has inspired a lot of manufactures to
engineer, build, and sell budget valve amps.. that for the working class stiff can afford to buy out of pocket)

UTILIZATION

This is an excellent sounding amp played clean or clean with effects

SOUNDS

primarily use an rp1000, distortion station and a blt slapback

OVERALL OPINION

9/10 very good budget conscious amp... played as it was designed.

Many people snicker and laugh at Buguera amplifiers because they are a cheap amplifier that sometimes can sound kind of corny and generally rips off other manufacturers by building amps that look and sound like some of the more popular boutique amplifiers. This is one of those amplifiers that really looks like a Dumble style amplifier. You basically have a two channel amplifier that features two 6L6 power tubes as well as 3 12aX7 preamp tubes. This is a nice cheap and inexpensive amplifier for someone who is on a budget and need something that can be workable for light gigging or home playing. I certainly would not recommend this amplifier for anyone going on the road for touring or any type of night tonight and taking or abuse. I don't feel that this amplifier will hold up to the rigorous touring schedules of many professional and want to be professional musicians.

UTILIZATION

Features

Hand-built 55 watt guitar head driven by 2 x 6L6 tubes
Cool vintage look and feel
Authentic 2-channel preamp design from the '60s featuring 3 x 12AX7 tubes—everything from purring blues to mind-blowing crunch
Integrated high-class reverb with dedicated Reverb control
Vintage Equalizer section with dedicated Bass, Mid, Treble and Presence controls
Normal and Bright inputs for ultimate sound character to perfectly match your guitar
Multi-gain stage Lead channel with Pre Gain, Post Gain and Master controls
Amazing Mode switch to select between Triode or Pentode operation
Heavy-duty footswitch for Channel and Reverb function included
Impedance switch (4, 8 and 16 Ohms) to match virtually any speaker cabinet
High-quality components and exceptionally rugged construction ensure long life



SOUNDS


You have a few cool features within this amplifier to give you a variance of features to sculpt your picture perfect guitar tone. All around this is simple two channel amp and it's pretty self explanatory on the control panel. It won't take you to long to find a decent town or a workable tone for your bedroom use work garage plant. You have some simple control and EQing that will get you up and running quite quickly and painlessly.

OVERALL OPINION


You can find these amplifiers new online and in many guitar retailers for right around $360. That's a pretty inexpensive price for a guitar amplifier that has two channels of operation and a decent sounding tone. If you want to look cool and hip than this is not your amp, but if you are low on a budget and need a decent two channel amp then this will fit your needs quite well.

Lamps; 2 starters, 2 volumes (master, etc.); trble / medium (with switch "vintage" very interesting); bass; presence; reverb. 55 W "lamps" ...; simple connections.

UTILIZATION

Config & unnecessary manual sound: good for "old fashion lover" (+ 55 years, used the Marschall, Sound City (old mark of 60-70S) ...

SOUNDS

Do for making "contemporary rock" blues, jazz, country ... the questions are inappropriate; guitar (G & L, Ibanez Modified Wilkinson mini Humb;. ...) I love all the sounds because I created myself with my guitar, and not the reverse (playing with the sounds "provided" it sounds pretentious, but it's the right attitude question that we want.)

OVERALL OPINION

3 years; tried those mentioned above + Fender Deluxe 85 (all transistors, see section); value very good: I find the sound fabulous, lights are essential, because they create harmonics. I have said elsewhere that seemed fake guitar on an amp transistors, and "harmonic" (qques settings to bridge: the case of a stratovolcano, everyone knows that changing strings requires retuning of the bridge, it that is not within the reach of first come in when it is a good guitar (G & L), things get complicated: the harmonics are more on good microphones, even on a "Indonesia".. So, the subject is "in progress": this amp has not delivered all its secrets sounds, and it's exciting to discover daily (!). a defect that makes the "7": the reverb tube hums after a few hours (or months) So this is a big worry.