Bugera 1990 Classic 120-Watt Hi-Gain Dual Reverb Valve Amplifier Head Review

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(More customer reviews)The Bugera 1990 really is an awesome sounding amp. It's got that classic marshall roar, pristine cleans, lush reverb (especially considering it's digital), and it's switchable between 120 watts and 60 watts, which offers great volume flexibility. But like the title of the review says, there are a few simple matters of business that any owner of this amp will need to take care of before you'll really be set:
1. New power tubes. The bugera power tubes aren't very good. Like, they're really really not very good. So depending on what tubes you choose to replace the stock tubes with, plan on spending an additional $80-$100 right from the start. It sucks, but Bugera can't make a quality amp at this pricepoint without cutting some corners, and tubes are one of the big places they're doing it.
2. BIAS THE AMP!!!! The out-of-the-box bias can be a little out of whack (mine was actually ok, but it was running a little hot). A common problem is that right out of the box the amp will be fine for between 15 minutes and an hour of playing, then it will just shut off. This reason this happens is a combination of poor power tubes and an out-of-whack bias. So be warned: the amp itself isn't broken, and since getting new power tubes and tweaking the bias, I haven't had a single problem. Also, this amp is very sensitive to impedance mis-matches, so be sure to know what impedance your speakers have, so you can match it correctly. A mis-match can also lead to the amp overheating and resetting. By-the-way, it was a pain trying to figure out where to set the bias, because on the Bugera website the biasing instructions are based on "tube" grades, which only Bugera uses to rate power tubes. So I just set my bias for the middle of the road at 50V, and it sounds great. I put JJ 6L6GC power tubes in, just for reference.
Ok, now that I've covered the "business" side of things, I'll move on to the truly important part of this review: I love the way this amp sounds. For reference, I play through a 4x12 cab with celestion vintage 30 speakers.
Cleans: Spectacular. Warm, rich, and full-bodied. I actually prefer the clean tones from the 1990 to the cleans on the fender tube amps I've owned. Fender cleans tend to be bass heavy (regardless of how you eq the amp), and I really like the more even frequency distribution I hear out of the Bugera. One concern I had was that with this amp only having one set of eq knobs, I would have to pick which channel I wanted the eq to be specifically set to, and then just compromise on the other channel. But fortunately, the clean and overdrive channel are pretty much voiced the same, so the same eq settings sound great on both channels. By the way, I mostly play hard rock/metal, stuff like Avenged Sevenfold, Metallica, Nickelback, Breaking Benjamin-style stuff. This amp has enough gain and a wide enough range on the EQ to be able to do each of these sorts of sounds well enough; maybe not match the tone exactly, but especially with a tubescreamer driving the front end, you can get some pretty heavy tones out of this amp. But if you're a total gain-a-holic who wants crushing bass-heavy tone, this probably isn't the amp for you. I'll also mention one small downside is that the clean channel doesn't respond well to distortion pedals. Plan on actually using the lead channel for your overdrive, and tube screamers or overdrive pedals to boost that channel should you wish to do so. I currently use the MXR ZW-44 (Zakk Wylde) overdrive to boost my lead channel and it works great as an additional "channel" with a little more bass, high end crunch, and gain for those heavier palm-muting riffs.
So if you're willing to "take care of business" with new tubes and biasing the amp, then the 1990 is a fantastic amp with as good of a price tag. Due to Bugera's reliability and quality control issues(more-so in the past, most of the major problems have been fixed), I don't know that I'd recommend this amp as a "first amp", but if you know a thing or two about tube amps, or just know a good amp tech, then this might be the best amp purchase you ever make.

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Classic 120-Watt Hi-Gain Dual Reverb Valve Amplifier Head

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Bugera 333 120-Watt 3-Channel Valve Amplifier Head with Reverb Review

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(More customer reviews)Well after hearing all the bad hype surrounding this amp I had some doubts that it would live up to my own standards. You hear all kinds of stuff about Bugera, but I'm here to tell you not to pay any attention to the negative comments. The tone this amp produces is way beyond what I expected, and certainly stands up to any other high gain tube amp out there. It doesn't matter what style you may be, this amp can do anything.
Buy it and prove me wrong.(Just kidding) Anyway, I recommend getting the amp if you can, you won't be disappointed.

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Boutique-Style 120-Watt 3-Channel Valve Amplifier Head with Reverb

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Ashdown MAG 300H EVO II 307W Bass Amp Head, Black with Silver Face Review

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(More customer reviews)I have owned this bass head for over a year now and have had no problems with it thus far.
It's rated at 307 watts @ 8 Ohms, thats 307 real watts not 300 @ 2 or 4 Ohms like most bass amp companies try to wow you with. Has a warm clean sound without the hiss you'd get from other amps in this price range, but is still able to get a little ratty if need be, just crank up the input. cool lit UV meter helps you visualy to see if youre pushing it too far and the sub harmonic generator pumps out serious low end sound.
my only qualm is, no footswitch for the sub harmonic gen.
paired with the right cabinet this thing will shake stuff off of your walls!

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MAG is designed for the busy semi-pro player who wants classic ABM tone without the more sophisticated facilities and connectivity. The MAG 300H head features a potent fan-cooled 307-watt RMS power section. Rotary bass, middle, and treble controls are supplemented by smaller rotary controls—providing 15dB of cut and boost at 220Hz and 1.6kHz and effectively creating a comprehensive 5-band EQ section. Additionally, front panel push switches for Bright and Deep settings provide instant access to attacking and warm, rounded sounds, respectively. On the subject of low-end response, the trademark Ashdown sub-harmonic generator is willing and able to deliver truckloads of earth-moving tone if called upon. Inputs are provided for active and passive instruments, and the front panel also features an effects send and return; a tuner/line output; and a balanced DI output for direct connection to a mixing console. The amplifier also includes a built-in compressor with precision sonic control, and the cabinet is finished in a tough, retro-style vinyl covering.

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Aguilar AG 500SC Bass Head Review

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(More customer reviews)I was introduced to AGUILAR brand when I purchased the Tone Hammer, I was so impressed with the quality and versatility of that stomp tank that I had to have more!!!
That's when I started looking for a good amp head and I discovered the Aguilar AG 500SC bass head and it change my bass life for good.
Great response, great clean punchy tone and most important...reliable. I play in a extremely "LOUD" rock band and cutting thru the mix was always a challenge. That changed with the Aguilar Tone Hammer and The AG 500SC. It's powerful and can stand a loud guitar player as the one in my band (he currently uses a Laney 4x10 Tony Iommi half stack) and that thing is loud.
I'm no tech guy to go on and try to explain every button or setting of this amp I'll just say that for me it was a big $$ investment and I choose it to other brands (cheaper). It's a great amp head and so far (12 gigs later of true loud rock) it's still o top of the game.
Many thanks AGUILAR
Cheers!!!

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The AG 500SC is a high powered, lightweight head that combines an easy to use yet versatile EQ with 500 watts of power to create the perfect amp for the gigging bassist. Four bands of active EQ with bright and deep switches provide a variety of tones that can go from funk to rock to jazz. A flexible FX Loop and pure sounding D.I. are easily accessible on the front of this amp. Great features, tons of power and an affordable price make this amp a classic. *Optional: Headcase or Carry bag

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Gallien-Krueger 800RB Bi-Amp Bass Amplifier (300/100 Watt) Review

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(More customer reviews)I was actively playing shows as part of a succession of bands for about an eight year span of time, and for about six of those years the 800RB bass head was my rig. It went through several levels of hell; clubs, outdoor shows, extreme temps, extreme moisture, etc... and it was a steady and dependable performer. I never had to have it serviced and it never quit on me.
While the amp is rated at 400 watts total, it should be made absolutely clear that this is really two amplifiers (300/100) in a single unit. It states clearly in the manual that you should never hook up both amplifier outputs to the same speaker. There's a pre-amp section that includes a basic EQ, a switchable effects loop out/in, a master volume/gain, and a footswitchable boost(loudness) adjustment as well. The boost adjustment is great because it can provide you with some pretty good distortion options.
The style of music I was mainly playing was hard rock/metal, but also used the amp for industrial/electro-rock and a little bit of jazzy lounge music. The 800RB has just enough adjustments available via the EQ section and the preamp/gain knobs so that it can deliver a wide variety of tonal options. It truly excels, however, when you're going with straight ahead rock. I liked to set mine with the "California Smile" EQ (boost the 60hz and 4khz and "scoop" out everything else...) which the 800RB was able to accomodate perfectly.
I was using the dual amp configuration to run both a Mesa/Boogie 4x10" PowerHouse 8ohm cab along with a 1x15" of indeterminate make/model. In the bigger clubs with weak or non-existent PA's, I did have trouble with filling the room, but I think that had more to do with my speaker setup than the amplifier itself. I was able to keep up with the guys that were running the Ampeg 215/SVT rigs, and the additional bite of overdrive distortion was similar to what they could acheive with their tube amps.
One thing though - after I purchased the amp I immediately secured it in a dedicated hard plastic roadcase with enough room to breathe on top and underneath, and I think that made all the difference in the world regarding it's durability.
I would definitely recommend this amplifier to anybody that wants a fairly simple, maintenance-free, and durable bass amp head to play in the practice space or take on the road. The 800RB has a well-deserved reputation as one of THE choices for 'Gig Warriors', and having used one as the heart of my rig for more than 1000 hours of playing and full volume practice, I can attest to it's ability to back up the reputation.
However, if you're looking for an amp head that is clean and pristine enough to use as a recording rig, you might want to go with something a little more high-end, because the one issue that I encountered with this amp head is that it has slightly 'noisy' electronics that can create some sound issues when you're using it plugged straight into the board.
So, while this amp may not have as many knobs or pretty lights as some of the other amps out there, it's got enough functions/adjustments to satisfy most bassists, and it's purpose-built so that it will never break.

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300/100 watt bi-amp bass amplifier

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Krank Black Rev Jr. Pro 20-Watt Guitar Head with Black Grill Review

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(More customer reviews)Really good high gain amp , just u need get a volume attenuator to get the best tone to low volume because is a very LOUD amp, the clean is totally perfect too.

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The Rev Jr. Pro is newest in Krank's Jr. Series of small but powerful lower wattage tube amplifiers. Expanding on the original Rev Jr., the two-channel Pro version is footswitchable and has the added features of treble and bass controls on the Kleen channel. The Rev Jr. Pro's circuit is very similar to the 120W Rev + in design and offers the same raging high gain sounds it's big brother delivers! Features include a 3-band eq, parametric mid-sweep, gain, separate volumes for Krank and Kleen channel, 'Boost" button for more drive, active effects loop, ohm selector and voltage selector for worldwide use.

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Line 6 HD 147 300-Watt Digital Modeling Amp Head Review

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(More customer reviews)I have been playing hard rock and metal for 29 years (love Dream Theater, OLD Metallica, Vai, Satch, etc.). Wow, has it been that long? I have done more recording and gigging than I can remember. Anyway, I was skeptical when I first heard about this, read the reviews, and listened to some of the digital deniers/naysayers. I, too, have always preferred tube sound to digital. However, I quickly found that, if you understand and know how to properly adjust this amp, the distortion blows the others away... in depth, in styles, in selections, in sheer amount of leeway with which to experiment and create your own, signature sound (instead of being staying in the flock of sheep... you really want to sound like everyone else anyway? You can if you want with this amp... but, this amp allows for SO MUCH MORE. No one ever was cited as being innovative for sounding like others... But, I digress.) And, good GOD, when you click the STEREO switch and hear this thing through true, 2 sided stereo... THE distortion is absolutely beautiful, smooth, creamy, and just MAJESTIC-sounding. Doesn't sound compressed and like you're listening to it through a can... or has been compressed down to a few frequencies. Fills the entire room with a symphony of brutality. THAT, my friends, is where you get HEADROOM... STEREO SOUND. The clean sounds you can produce are without equal. Like playing crystal strings... shimmering, clear, and really brings out the different characteristics of adjustments to your guitar... volume, tone, pickup selections... where you pick on the fretboard, all of it. Amazingly responsive to different styles. It really shows off your instrument and your brand of music.
The ease of use, the bone-crushing distortions that go way beyond what anyone would ever use, the crystal cleans, and the effects are all incredible. Speaking of effects, how many amps have a pre-set noise gate that you don't even have to really adjust for loud volumes? Just hit the button on your amp! Also, built in compression... again, just hit the button on your amp.
You know what, at the end of the day, all of these people who dribble on and on incessantly about that type of tube distortion and this type of tube distortion... Satriani, Vai, and Petrucci all use the Boss DS-1 distortion pedal to get their distortion sound. Yep, lol, that's right. Look at their racks and their rigs... Lynch used ProCo (Rat) stomp box for his distortion. MANY players use Ibanez TS-1, etc, etc. Well, here's an amp that you don't have to go buy a pedal for... Ever.
Get this and enjoy the freedom. Throw your effects away. GET THE FBV SHORTBOARD, however... Have fun and make music, people!!! Enjoy!!

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When we introduced our Insane custom model in 1996, we redefined how much distortion you could squeeze out of a single piece of gear. Now we've got HD147 with 14 custom models like Smash, Big Bottom, Octone, Purge, and Agro that will send you into high-gain overload. But, we didn't stop there. We added models based on boutique heads like the Diezel VH4 and Herbert, Peavey� 5150, Cornford mk50h, Marshall� Silver Jubilee and JCM2000, and Bogner Extacy and Ubershall.

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Silver Chadwick Series 2-Channel Tube Guitar Head with Chrome Grill Review

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(More customer reviews)I own several different amps and this amp is great. I prefer a lot more gain and most people will say it has plenty. It KRANKS! Normal price is high but I got this for an unbelievable price. So good that I bought two.

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One of the most versatile amps in the Krank stable, this footswitchable 50W two-channel head has distinctly british vintage tone. The dirty channel features a 3-band eq, gain, volume,fixed parametric shift, gain boost and unique "envelope" that allows users to decide how hard they want to push the preamp into the power section. The clean channelreally shines,offeringa 3-band eq, volume and gain thatproduces sparkling cleans to distinct plexi-style overdriven sounds. Features include an active effects loop, ohm and voltage selectors, line out.

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Orange Amplifiers AD Series AD30HTC 30W Tube Guitar Amp Head Orange Review

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(More customer reviews)I have owned this amp for about a year. I Have had zero problems with it. For the sound this amplifier is created for it is the best amp in this price range. Comparable to Matchless or Bad Cat, only alot less money. There is not alot of clean head room on channel 1, which allows you to achieve that nice mild break up without having it cranked. But when it is cranked it sounds even better, (It's a valve amp). So if your looking for clean head room, go with a Thunderverb 100, or a fender. Channel 2 will go from a moderate break up to a dirty gritty beautiful distortion. (Not to be confused with a high gain metal style distortion), if you like that get a pedal. This amp sounds perfect in a live setting with a band. It is very dynamic, as far as using the volume controlls on your guitar to change the style of distortion.
Complaints: Channel 2 has to much treble (in my oppinion), so i usually dial it way down on the EQ,and that takes care of the problem. This is subjective though, as i'm sure some ppl like that sound.
No reverb
If you've never played through this amplifier i suggest you do. Unless you don't want to spend 1,500 dollars, because i assure you, once you play it you will spend the money.

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The 30W Orange Amplifiers AD30HTC all-tube guitar amp head offers 2 dual stage channels with completely separate signal paths for convenient channel switching. The result is like having 2 vintage valve amps in 1. The Orange AD30HTC amp's Channel 1 has a thick, creamy, classic voice that barks like a rottweiler when pushed into the tone zone. Channel 2 has a tighter, springy and slightly faster character with a little more upper mids and a bit more gain. The Orange AD30HTC amp head has proved to be so popular worldwide that its specs remain unchanged. The Orange AD30HTC is quickly becoming a go-to amp head in the 30W Class A tube amplifier realm..

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