Re: Bugera 1990?
The thing about Bugera and Behringer is not their tone. They sound fine. You'd be surprised how good a Marshall or Mesa design can sound. That is not the point.
The point is by buying cheaply manufactured intellectual property theft, you are discouraging amp designers from putting money into research and development.
But, if the company charges twice as much and calls itself boutique it's ok then?
Metropoulos
Ceriatone
Soultone
Reinhardt
......And that's just the tip of the iceberg.
Or what about a company like Splawn who's amps are clearly built on the Marshall platform.
They just did the hot rodding for you.
But, because they are around 2K and added a gain stage or clipping diode or something else, they are exempt by definition?
All these companies make great amps.
Their amps are built off of the classic platforms of Marshall, Fender or Vox.
and some of them not so far removed.
Honestly, I think Bugera only gets ragged on because it's guilty by association.
I remember the same thing happening to V Series Amplification.
Yes, when they first came out, they had their own website, were considered their own amp line.
Once it was found out that they were associated to Crate/St Louis Music, oh
they must be crap.
But, once people actually tried them, and found out what a nice little amp they really were, the tune changed.
Of course, when production changed from USA to MIC, they got poo poo'd again. Just because of the MIC thing.
But, since then, V Series has been replaced by Blackheart. Made in the same MIC factory.
But, Blackheart seems to be more accepted now.
People have seemed to be able to finally move on and not worry about the Crate association, and judge the BlackHeart amp line on it's own merits.
Would Jet City Amps be as easily accepted if it were not for the association with Mike Soldano?
Or would we have just blown them off as another F'n Chinese amp.
Yes, Bugera had some first year production kinks to straighten out.
Which is not uncommon for any company's first year of production.
But, at least they stepped up to the plate and addressed the issues.
Didn't the first year run of the Egnater imports have a few wrinkles to iron out?
But, because it's Bruce Egnater, we excuse that first year?
Yes! Bruce stepped up to the plate and addressed those issues.
I think Bugera deserves the same chance.
A few weeks ago our band was in the studio recording.
I used my Carvin V3 (6l6 loaded). Which gives me the modern high gain tone.
For doubling we used the studios JCM900 (EL34).
It gave us a sonic-ally different tone, that when combined with the V3, gave us a rich full sound.
And no phasing issues, because of the sonic difference.
So, anyways, this has me seriously looking at getting a second amp myself that is sonic-ally different than my V3.
Who knows if that JCM900 will be available again, when we go back in.
So, I've been looking at the Bugera 1990.
Or maybe something different yet like the Egnater Tweaker or Rebel 20.
Or other amp that won't break the bank.
I personally think it's great that we have these amps out there that don't cost an arm and a leg.
That can get us into those sonic territories we want.
