Bugera V5 anyone?

Stratopastor · 03-22-2010, 09:59 AM

Has anyone played one of these? Does it look reliably built to you? If you've been inside, are the tube sockets mounted directly on the PCB? Does it seem well-ventilated?

Is the reverb any good? (the online demos don't seem to use the reverb enough to help form an opinion)

For the price, they seem very reasonable and well featured, but if they're going to rattle to bits or die from their own heat after a year... (etc etc...) ..

**jamforchrist123** · 03-22-2010, 11:26 AM

You're going to get mixed reviews on this one. Some people really like it and some people realllly don't. I haven't personally played it so I can't give an opinion though haha

**nbfan** · 03-22-2010, 02:19 PM

I tried one of the higher-watt combos and I liked it a lot. Think your typical 18watt Marshall sound. Pretty compact, punchy, and very usable.

Stratopastor · 03-24-2010, 03:56 AM

so.... "no", then.

**nbfan** · 03-24-2010, 08:08 AM

Haha. I'm pretty sure there's a Bugera thread on Ultimate-guitar.com. Might be worth asking there?

metropolis4 · 03-24-2010, 08:43 AM

I haven't played one, but I'm always hesitant when it comes to Behringer. They have a sketchy history of unethical tactics like copying other manufacturers designs, undercutting them and getting away with it because they are based in another country.
They wouldn't be my first choice if I was looking for an inexpensive low watt amp. There are more reputable companies out there making stuff that is just as good, if not better.

Stratopastor · 03-29-2010, 08:49 AM

hi Metropolis

My soul band's 24-ch mixer is a Behringer and it's been serving us very well for over 5 years. I don't think it's a clone of anything. I thought the cloning artists were Danelectro (ref. their Transparent Overdrive "Timmy" clone). Which design-stealing Behringer products were you thinking of?

Incidentally I'm told (not verified) that most 5W 2-tube amps from the last few years are all essentially the same Chinese guts (Fender, Gretsch, Epiphone, Harley Benton) in different boxes. But there's no pretence about that. I wouldn't be surprised if the Bugera V5 is the same animal again, but what makes it interesting to me is the front-end gain gain control, attenuator and reverb, hence my original post.

**thesteve** · 03-29-2010, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stratopastor

hi Metropolis

My soul band's 24-ch mixer is a Behringer and it's been serving us very well for over 5 years. I don't think it's a clone of anything. I thought the cloning artists were Danelectro (ref. their Transparent Overdrive "Timmy" clone). Which design-stealing Behringer products were you thinking of?

Many Behringer products, if not direct clones, are copying a concept as closely as possible. Many Behringer mixers I've seen looked a lot (design and feature wise) like Mackie products. The majority of their guitar effects pedals are copies of Ibanez, Boss and EHX pedals. Their V-Amp and V-Ampire lines look like they're trying to copy Line 6's POD technology and market niche. Bugera's BVV3000 looks a lot like an Ampeg. The 333 and 6260 are definitely a nod to two of Peavey's most popular amplifiers. The BC30-212 certainly has Bad Cat styling and features.

PaulF · 03-29-2010, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stratopastor

hi Metropolis

My soul band's 24-ch mixer is a Behringer and it's been serving us very well for over 5 years. I don't think it's a clone of anything. I thought the cloning artists were Danelectro (ref. their Transparent Overdrive "Timmy" clone). Which design-stealing Behringer products were you thinking of?

Incidentally I'm told (not verified) that most 5W 2-tube amps from the last few years are all essentially the same Chinese guts (Fender, Gretsch, Epiphone, Harley Benton) in different boxes. But there's no pretence about that. I wouldn't be surprised if the Bugera V5 is the same animal again, but what makes it interesting to me is the front-end gain gain control, attenuator and reverb, hence my original post.

Most Behringer's mixers I believe are Mackie copies. I've used two different Behringer mixers (one that was just a mixer, and one that was a mixer and amp built in) and two 15" speakers.

All of them have been great, until the mixer w/ amp caught fire two Sundays ago and left a small church without a sound system.

For the price, I'd say they're still good. That mixer/amp lasted that church 2 years, and was fairly cheap.
I don't think I would buy Behringer again though.

Stratopastor · 03-29-2010, 03:53 PM

well... yeah, OK, but apart from the rampant plagiarism and the risk to life and limb, what exactly is your problem?

:-)

jthomas1600 · 03-29-2010, 04:19 PM

This may just expose my ignorance.....but are there really a lot of new ideas out there? Especially with your basic tube amp? If I contacted CGR user Rubberchipmonk and asked him to build me an amp....told him I really liked the Marshall tone....wouldn't the amp he built me look a lot like a Marshall? It would seem like enough amps with enough different tones and options have been made that if you entered the amp business today, your amp would end up looking a lot like one that has already been made. Am I missing something?

**jamforchrist123** · 03-29-2010, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jthomas1600

This may just expose my ignorance.....but are there really a lot of new ideas out there? Especially with your basic tube amp? If I contacted CGR user Rubberchipmonk and asked him to build me an amp....told him I really liked the Marshall tone....wouldn't the amp he built me look a lot like a Marshall? It would seem like enough amps with enough different tones and options have been made that if you entered the amp business today, your amp would end up looking a lot like one that has already been made. Am I missing something?

I think you missed the point... it's a BEHRINGER.

....

Stratopastor · 03-30-2010, 01:50 AM

to stick with jthomas1600 for a moment - I think you're right. Indeed I believe the original Fender designs were based on a GE amp designer's handbook or application notes. It may only be power-scaling that has been 'new under the sun' for decades. And no-one is saying the Bugera V5 is a ripoff.

However, there seems to be a jokey idea developing here that there are ethical reasons for not buying Behringer. If I thought they were serious, I'd be encouraging the forum moderator to distance CGR from such comments before he/she heard from Behringer's legal department.

Funny the way this thread has gone.

***BillSPrestonEsq*** · 03-30-2010, 04:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stratopastor

However, there seems to be a jokey idea developing here that there are ethical reasons for not buying Behringer. If I thought they were serious, I'd be encouraging the forum moderator to distance CGR from such comments before he/she heard from Behringer's legal department.

Why, Behringer has engaged in acts of flagrant copyright violation. Behringer has done quite a bit of morally nebulous, legally dodgy acts.

This is quite a bit different than say, if I asked rubberchipmunk to build me a PTP AC30 clone. Why? I would be paying a premium for premium parts, control over the build, tweaks to the circuit, and such that would be impossible to get from Vox.

Now I had Eric build me an amp, but I opted for an original design.

**thesteve** · 03-30-2010, 09:51 AM

On any decent web forum, the topic of Behringer/Bugera products will bring up a discussion regarding Behringer's reputation as reverse engineer of other companies' popular products. There are definitely lots of people out there that, regardless of cost, would rather get the really thing (say, a Peavey 6505) than the Bugera equivalent (the 6260) just based on this. On top of this (as BSPE) mentioned is the company's reputation for putting out products that are very hit-or-miss in the QC area.

That being said, from what I've seen and been reading, Behringer's QC has been improving over the last several years. I know the V5 and V22 are both very popular amps on another forum that I frequent (with a much larger user base). I would just get out and try one if you're interested in it.