Thanks for the review. The V22 just sounds better to me. It breaks up just right to my ears. I don't dislike the Vox but it just doesn't have the tone I like. I also like the price of the v22.
I had the chance to play both of these amps at GC this evening. I liked the Bugera a lot, especially at that price. I like the growl out of the Bugera better than the Vox, but that Vox sound is beyond imitation. For a musician looking for a unique sound with a very affordable price tag the Bugera is the way to go. If you're looking for the Vox sound and price isn't a concern, the AC15 wins every time.
Wow I just bought a bugera v22 blind for a KILLER price, figured if I didn't like it id flip it but man... I'm liking what I'm hearing from it. Amazing bang for your buck. Can't wait to start messing around with this thing
one thing that wasn't mentioned in this video is that the bugera has the triode, pentode switch in the back which gives it different sounds as well. I have the V22 and love it, I thought the VOX sounded brighter for sure in this video, but on the distortion comparison it seemed the bugera actually had more sustain.
The Bugera V22 is an awesome amp. good for practicing and lots of volume. as far as the vox it is a great amp but i think i would go with the Bugera. more of a high gain amp with balls. Props to Bugera for making some awesome amps that rival the best for a decent price seeing as how the economy is tanked.
everybody watching that now... he uses sadly the wrong input on the bugera! it sounds more open in the 'bright' input which is made for humbuckers. can happen... just sayin.
I liked the Bugera on the clean channel but it got very muddy on the dirty. A bit like someone had placed a cloth bag over the speaker. Vox sounded a little harsh on the clean but had much more clarity with the gain turned up. Much more authentic sound imho.
Both great amps with great tone. As a two channel amp the Bugera is more flexible and a better gigging amp for anybody that likes to toggle back and forth between playing clean and playing with overdrive. The foot switch of the Bugera make switching back and forth easy. When practicing at home you can get killer OD sounds at very low volumes. Been gigging with my Bugera for three years and love it. Did have a problem right away with the tube socket melting which was covered under the warranty.
ToneKing, one a those bad boys right back atcha'! I've been sittin' her just watchin and enjoying many of your demos and shoot outs. Thanks so much for the time spent to give us some great comparisons and demos of gear. I have used your vidoes on many occasions to help me decide...Thanks!
Great comparison testing Tone King, I myself would choose the V22 over the Vox, more gutsy, better bottom end, more sustain on gain channel, just a better R&R amp all around, only thing here is will it hold it's value like the Vox can, I'm thinking probably not, good thing to keep in mind when amp shopping.
I think you are trying to convince yourself that you made the right decision. I got my V22 for $297 new and I think anyone would say the sounds are very comparable with the V22 sounding better IMHO. I'm glad you like your Vox for the extra $150+.
I recently bought the Bugera V22 and I love it. I was originally looking at the vox AC15. Don't get me wrong, the Vox is an amazing amp, I just liked the Bugera better for my guitars and the style I play with. I don't think one is universally better that the other. It all depends on your style or playing and your guitar(s). I definitely think the distortion on the V22 sounds better than the AC15 when you switch over to pentode.
I bougt a V22 from Guitar Center about 3 months ago now. Still sounds great. The only complaint I have is not from the amp. But from Guitar center ( Boardman ). I told the guy that was working with me that I loved the price and saw the reviews and that was the amp I wanted. He did everything he possibly could to talk me out of it. As well I also bought the Ibanez ART300 along with it. GREAT package with the ART having really HOT active pick-ups in it. Really helps to bring this amp out.
I know the AC15 is like the staple Amp out there but I will be honest and say that the Bugera blew it out of the water. The clarity of the tone in the latter is much more workable in both clean and OD channels.
I bought the Bugera over the Vox and a Fender Blues Jr. I'm so glad I opted to: A) Save myself $250; B) buy the amp w/ more tones and features; C) buy the better amp. Very pleased with my purchase. I don't need another amp and I'm certainly not going to pay a hundreds more for bragging rights, "I have a Vox." However, to be fair, the Vox may be a better option if distortion is your thing. That's cool, too. :)
I have been playing all of my life and went to Guitar Center to test guitars. I plugged into a V22 just to test a guitar and was very impressed with the tone. I am not saying that this amp has the tone of a VOX AC30 (which I own), but it has a warm sound in triode and pentode mode. I highly recommend this amp regardless of price.
I've had a V22 for about 3 years now, and it's one of the best starting tube amps that you can get. For under $400, it's the best amp on the market: period. However, I now play in a band pretty regularly and it's just barely loud enough to be heard over the drummer before it totally loses the bottom end, so my recommendation would be to just buy a bigger amp with a lot of volume (and the tone you want, of course) so you're only making one purchase, rather than wasting your money little by little! Vox amps are honestly the way to go! I don't think anyone makes a better sound quality for their price range (until you get to about $1500+ with boutique amps), but they hold out on bottom end and are amazing for playing with bands! Bugeras are great practice amps and/or for solo gigging. I'll definitely be keeping that, even after I buy the Ac30!
Thank you Imsjr! I've been scratching my head trying to figure out between the two. That being said i'm not sure if the volumes were really the same but if they were, the Vox is really punchy. The V22 seemed a lot cleaner and milky in tone. The AC15 seemed louder and grittier, which is totally fine. Since I own a Les Paul with Humbuckers, it would seem the Vox would be a better choice? Since I already get that Warm milky tone from the pickups. The V22 is within my price range at the moment...
I own both the V22 and AC15. I use them both for different things. Example; my AC15 just doesn't sound good with my Envelope Filter. So i play it through the V22. When getting down with some good ole rock and roll, I go with the AC15 every time. Both are good amps. Also, I replaced the stock speaker in the V22 with a celestion Vintage 30. Made a huge difference. I love both amps, if i had to pick one it would be the VOX AC15 all the.
I've been looking at these bulgera amps and you've convinced me on which way to go with your comparisons. For the money and the tone it's a no brainer.Bugera all the way...Thanks for the good work.
The tones are completely different, both could be used extremely effectively, depending on the sound. That being said, they are both quality, but with the price point, it has to go to the bugera.
Love the new "look", and the vids are better than ever, all top notch! Thanks for all the great Bugera demos, killer-seeming amps, for the price! That said, I'm DYING to see what the V5 sounds like! How 'bout a demo, or maybe a shootout with the 4watt Vox from a few demos back? Stay Golden, Tone King!
I actually just bought a used V22 this past weekend. I'm an old Harmonica Player and finally decided to learn guitar at 64. From blowing a Harp, I knew at least wanted a Combo. All the Amps at Guitar Center were all over priced or none were available that had that tone like the old Marshall's of the 1970's... And those were more money than I wanted to pay. I blow my harp out of an old Ampeg Head that's sitting on top of an old Fender Bass Man Cabinet. Then I found this amp and to tell you the truth... I just liked the way it looked. What do I know? I'm as green as grass and only know open cords. I bring the amp home and KABOOM!!! This is a really great amp! I'm still pulling out sounds that I didn't know it had. At first, I thought I sounded like a horrible Jazz Guy but 2 day's into it I'm imitating Robin Trower ( Well not really, but ) Neil Young stuff, Blues and rock stuff. And this puppy has some nuts. This would work in just about any Bar or good size venue. I am just learning but have performed with bands for a long time... This amp could compete with anything I've played along with. If you're on the fence, buy it. You'll save a ton and could then buy some peddles and go nuts! Peace and God Bless Phil Lesh.
I sold the AC15. Got the V22. I'm happy. I also don't like how the controls on the Vox are on the top back, and you have to hover over it to see what the knobs say.
This AC15 just sounds thin and over compressed. Amazing how they can charge so much more for that because of it's big brother. I'm really surprised at this, but I think I'm going to have to choose the Bugera over the Vox.
Thanks for this, seems like every time I find something nifty and wanna hear about it all I've got to do is stop by your channel. Anywho, my moneys on the Bugera, if my soul was worth 350 bones I'd be on my way to Dave Phillips. Although, I have to say the tone quality from the VOX is warmer, fuller, nicer, however ya wanna say its had some ruff polished off. Keep on rockin/reviewin
Had a Bugera V22 for over a year and was always using a Modeling pedal through the clean channel. Then I took it away and found a great natural distortion.
The V22's distortion sounds absolutely killer! It's probably the closest thing you'll get to an 18 Watt Marshall below the $800 price point (and that would only be from a kit build). Lots of room to tweak the overdrive and it runs the gamut from blues to thrash.
Bugeras love Strats and teles because they sound like old Fenders. I have a Jet City that loves SGs and Les Paul's because it sounds like a Marshall. The end of the day the Bugera nail the vintage sound for much less money. I recommended my dad buy one and he loves it as much as he loves his Fender Blues Jr.
hey TTK, GREAT demo by the way this is exactly what i needed to see to make my decision on the Bugera. Bugeras reverd was a little weaker than the VOX but man it sounded so much cleaner and its Gain channel was Intense! thanks for the demo really helped me out. keep on shreddin bro \m/
V22 wins this one hands down by a mile. I already have the V55 head + 2x12 cab and that rig is awesome at around £320. I wanted the same quality in a small combo with FX loop and the V22 was the only option at £198...literally the ONLY option when it came to bang for buck. Not only that, but the Bugera amps work very, very well with pedals too. Don't hesitate - buy Bugera.
Hey Tone Kine, thanks so much for the reviews! I love the tone in the Bugera especially at almost half the price! I do know know if both amps are made in China or not (tired of that!). But would still buy the Bugera V22 at the same price as the Vox. It just sounds better overall. The overdriven sounds remind me of the Marshall that I used to own. Incredible!
these are two of the three amps I am considering at the moment so thank you for doing this demo. Now if you could only add a Marshal Haze MA50C to the mix I would know which amp I would get. The Bugera seems a little more American and the Vox a bit more on the British side. Both are great amps but I like two channel footswitchable so I am more or less leaning towards the Bugera. The significant price difference helps too!! Thanks again, great job on the demo.
I got it Friday Feb 26th....had the footswitch problem a few days later. The amp sounds great! The clean sound is awesome. The switch messed up twice, but not since....and it only happened when I used the pentode-triode switch. I wonder should you power off before switching? Other than that, great stuff. And yes, it looks awesome..... My next choice if I have to return it is the Egnater 30 combo. Didn't want to pay that much. So, I can keep the BV22, and add the warranty, hope for the best.
They had an issue with powersupplies, but that's been fixed. Some plastic part kept melting. I've had a V22 for a year or so, and it hasn't had any problems yet. I've been gigging with it, and it's been tossed around a bit. Still no faults.
bugera sounded great. what a great amp for people to have as a first serious amp, or for the reason i want it, a nice backup amp/practice amp/slash tool for the studio to get new cool sounds.
I have a Vox AC15. But I like the Bugera V22 and for the money you can't go wrong. Thanks, I have to go checkout the Bugera V22 tomorrow. I been giging small gigs with my Crate Palomino V16 for about a year now,but want something a little bigger. I will tryout the Bugera V22.
Good demo. I've got a V22. I love the tone. However...on my 3rd one. 1st one: Out of the box the hot channel would die on power up. 2nd one: the hot channel would drop out and come back on. This was symptomed with switch lights going off and on. Other victems say its a thermal problem. It happened once on my 3rd one but hasn't repeated since I started using "send/return" for my pedal board and not sure why it would matter. Just get the 2 year replacement option.
As always, a great review!! Thank you. I tried this at Guitar center today and compared it to the Marshall Haze. I thought the v22 was much more versatile and had a nice warm sound. My band has a bunch of Berhinger gear and has never had a problem with any of it. In fact that is some of the most reliable gear we have. Do you think the V22 would be loud enough to play with my band (other guitarist uses a Fender FM212)? Or should I look closer at the V55.
Last Friday, Feb 26th I bought this amp. Love the tone, the clean channel, the range and tone of the dirty channel. Love it! Wed. Mar 3rd....the footswitch craps out....the lights on...working...the lights off....not working. I'm thinking a fluke? NO....tonight...again, reverb shuts down, channel screws up...then it comes back on........have owned Fenders, Peavey's, Marshall's.....no problems. Now, unplug the footswitch? works fine, so far.....I will be making a trek back to Guitar Center. Dang!
Since I have V22 and got it after doing research I think it blows away pretty much everything in its price range. Vox is also OK but it is not worth that much money.
Ah, correct you are. I read it wrong on the website. Regardless, the low wattage, hard pushed EL84 tone is what I'm after and even though it's not in quite the same league, my wallet will take the $350 Bugera over a $2400 Marshall 1974x Handwired Reissue any day! Tone King: Your reviews are always awesome. Thanks a million for this one, can't find any good info on these new Bugera amps anywhere!
Over the years, my love was always of the Orange variety, although I've tinkered with Marshall and Mesa, Bugera are now making the best sounding Amps out there, and happen to be cheaper overall with a comparable or better build, i now have a V5 infinium and V55 and feel "My sound" is more distinct and richer, you really got to try them in the flesh because few of these videos do justice...
Im looking to buy my first amp to learn guitar. I think these are what i'm down to. I know the Vox is well made and will hold its value. I do like the Bugera and I like the 2 channels. I bought 2 guitars. I have a Gretch Duo-jet and a Gretch 5129. I can't wait to buy a amp and take some lessons. Im not sure witch one I want. Maybe I should buy both like I did with the guitars. NOT! What do you think?
It's all about personal preference. It depends on what one thinks is best. I personally think that the AC15CC sounds really good with Strats and SG's (b/c i used those guitars with that amp). If you're going for a hi-gain, then its obvious that the Bugera is the choice. However, if you want the classic "jangle" then get the Vox.
This was a cool comparison, for just sound I would probably go with a Vox and OD-pedal, but putting it into an economical context, I think I would go with the bugger.
as a proud vox owner I have to admit that the bugera sounded very good. I preferred the cleans on the vox and the od with the bugera in this vid. Although the vox has a much more "vintage" vibe in the way that it overdrives that is more appealing to some. The bugera it seems was given a more "modern" compressed overdive. all in all,nice vid and I am impressed withthe bugera.
Ive had the V22 for about a month now. I liked it very much from the start but there were some issues. 1st, tubes suck! These tubes were chattering like chains brand new out of the box. I did have some quality extra 12ax7's so I immediately replaced them. Not only did the noise go away but the tone got noticeably better instantly. I decided to go a little further and I put a vintage 30 that I had in place of the Bugera speaker. Used it at a gig last week with my Tele. I would recommend this amp
i like the bugera much better!!! the vox really sounds kinda harsh and the bugera has a nice warm full sound! i really love your videos and plz keep rocking dude!
Without a doubt - VOX! I'm glad this was up - was toying with buying the Bugera V22, I have the Vox AC30CC with the green backs. But I think another Vox AC15 does what I want. Vox is clearer, crisper, and warmer. Bugera, to me has a more "metal" sound - slightly muffled, but trying to scream.
I'm a Vox guy but in this video the Bugera sounded better and certainly more flexible. I've loved that EL84 sound since way into the last century... :-)
If I had the dough and the time, I'd consider getting a 6262 2x12 and a quartet of YellowJackets -> convert the 120W beast into a 30W AC30 killer and have the option to go back to 12 when you need it. You could do the same w/a pair in the V55.
I have a V22 it's a great amp I got it used for $200 and it's a great amp and loud as hell when cranked up ... plus has a power cut on the back that allows you to practice at lower volume levels in your home... without pissing off my neighbors LOL..
I barely use the reverb on (on my Vox), about 10%. It's truly fine. The tremolo is amazing!!! I've seen many who switch the reverb tank for about $30 and it sound fantastic! I run a BOSS pedal board in front and can get basically every sound from blues to jazz, rock to metal! Very versatile amp. It takes many different guitars VERY well, doesn't 'flavor' their sound. The (Whafedale) speaker needs a little time to break in, turn it up and let it breath. It gets smoother as it ages! Good luck!
The Booger is a heck of a lot less money. . right? I played the Bugera V22 yesterday at Guit Center and I was very impressed with the tone. Would the V22 be enough juice to gig with a loud drummer? What do you think?
No. Im not sure what biasing is. I will look it up. I heard some mention of it in the past. Something to do with the adjustment under the power module ?
I was definately taken with the Vox with the cleans at the beginning, and that Reverb was to die for - was it a true spring reverb? But the Vox really seems to be a one trick pony. The Bugera tone didn't deteriorate with the gain like the Vox did - I was a little disappointed with Vox when it came to dirt.
The point of all the settings at noon are so you hear what the manufacturers intended it to sound like. I think it's a great video. Cleanly TTK is trying to get the point across that the Bugera is similar but cheaper. The Vox clearly sounds better but not everyone has $600 to spend and the Bugera is the affordable option to a similar sound with a 2nd channel which is cool considering I would love to own a Vox AC50 Classic Plus but I do believe at the price range I would opt for the Blackstar ID
Nice shootout! Vox wins. The biggest difference for me is in the clean sound. I was thinking about getting a AC30 but I guess I should give the bugera a try as well :)
I don't know about 2009. but AC15 has two channels, normal and top boost with separate inputs. You can use ABY switch pedal for change channels. And i think there is waaay too much compression in recording, so when you stop the note, reverb tail is rising as compressor releases
By the way I think you did an excellent job on the video. I have extensive experience with the AC15 and I do find the V22 to be a lot more versatile. On the video the V22 had a lot warmer tone across the board. Please be sure that I'm not bashing VOX because while I do think that the AC30 is an absolute monster I'm not nearly as impressed with the AC15! Thanks for the video.
Bug V22! I've owned one just over a year. Play out often and "no" issues. Great studio amp. Plus I saved enough to buy a nice M-Strat. Never liked the Vox stuff anyway.
having played both (own V22, want an AC), I feel that the AC is better if you like dynamic. To get from clean chimey to large drive on the V22 you have to switch channels, on the Vox you just set the volume to about half way and your dynamic comes from playing. I also do not like the Mid control on the V22, I can never get a good spot for it (using a tele) and the bright is very thin. I've just grown too picky to enjoy my V22 any longer. hope this helps
Unsure if its the guitar or the recording, but the Vox sounded very different to me on this vid than the familiar tone I'm used to. With a Rickenbacker or Telecaster you get a profoundly brighter, sharper sound.
@juanspants89 I had the same marshall and valvetronix you did. I just bought a used ac15 yesterday and it blows them away completely; its definitely worth it to go all tube. The overdrive on the ac15 is a little lacking but the brightness and clarity can't be beat. I'm running an xotic ac+ pedal out of it for my gain tone and it sounds amazing. I've never played a bugera but it seems to have a nice distortion sound without a pedal. Whichever you pick you won't regret buying a tube amp.
I heard too much reverb from the Vox. I wasn't expecting that. The Vox has a unique sound, def, but for my taste and style, the Bugera wins out easily. I like the cleaner more natural sound from my playing - the Bugera did that very well. Sad to say because I was really expecting more from the Vox. By the way, the Bugera is now up to $450 and I'm told they are selling quite well.
AC15, hands down. Good review, TK. And by the way, the AC15C1 is an even better option, with a 2nd, Normal channel - you can have your clean and dirty too.
Man that Vox reverb sux. I like the Bugera. Sounds a lot like it's brothers. Vox always sounds like a solid state direct out no matter what kind of tube/speakers/mic.
Thanks a bunch for this review/comparison... Would u recomment me the Bugera V22 as my first valve amp? I like it but what do u think? I trust your opinion more than mine regarding amps :) Thank u!
On my computer the Bugera sounds smoother and fuller, more compressed perhaps? the Vox had good definition but I thought sounded a bit thin by comparision. If I only had this shoot put to go by I would pick the Bug... for what it's worth.
Perfect review!! I dont know haha wish I had both!! LOL I prefer bugera V22 love the drive channel, vox in my opinion has better clean, looks brighter, but if I had to choose between I choose bugera. Actually I'm going to buy one of those!
I hear ghosting on the VOX. The Beheringer people really did their research on the Bugera. Is 22 watts enough to gig with. . and to get clean on a gig as well? (Bugera).
Thanks for the review.
The V22 just sounds better to me. It breaks up just right to my ears. I don't dislike the Vox but it just doesn't have the tone I like. I also like the price of the v22.
Bugera has a preferred richer, creamier tone, the Vox is brighter.My vote is for the Bugera, it's a great amp. So is the Bugera V55.
The Vox is no slouch and its quite good when dialed up.The Bugera V22 just sounds awesome on all channel settings.
The price is right.
I had the chance to play both of these amps at GC this evening. I liked the Bugera a lot, especially at that price. I like the growl out of the Bugera better than the Vox, but that Vox sound is beyond imitation. For a musician looking for a unique sound with a very affordable price tag the Bugera is the way to go. If you're looking for the Vox sound and price isn't a concern, the AC15 wins every time.
Wow I just bought a bugera v22 blind for a KILLER price, figured if I didn't like it id flip it but man... I'm liking what I'm hearing from it. Amazing bang for your buck. Can't wait to start messing around with this thing
I like the bugera sound but that vox is really clear in comparison.
one thing that wasn't mentioned in this video is that the bugera has the triode, pentode switch in the back which gives it different sounds as well. I have the V22 and love it, I thought the VOX sounded brighter for sure in this video, but on the distortion comparison it seemed the bugera actually had more sustain.
The vox was brighter because he used the "normal" input instead of the brighter "bright" input on the bugera.
The Bugera V22 is an awesome amp. good for practicing and lots of volume. as far as the vox it is a great amp but i think i would go with the Bugera. more of a high gain amp with balls. Props to Bugera for making some awesome amps that rival the best for a decent price seeing as how the economy is tanked.
everybody watching that now... he uses sadly the wrong input on the bugera! it sounds more open in the 'bright' input which is made for humbuckers. can happen... just sayin.
I saw your review of the Bugera and it's very thorough....good review
LaneEternalmaster thx man! it's a great amp
Thanks fof this info, how Voxy would you say this amp is?
I liked the Bugera on the clean channel but it got very muddy on the dirty. A bit like someone had placed a cloth bag over the speaker. Vox sounded a little harsh on the clean but had much more clarity with the gain turned up. Much more authentic sound imho.
Both great amps with great tone. As a two channel amp the Bugera is more flexible and a better gigging amp for anybody that likes to toggle back and forth between playing clean and playing with overdrive. The foot switch of the Bugera make switching back and forth easy. When practicing at home you can get killer OD sounds at very low volumes. Been gigging with my Bugera for three years and love it. Did have a problem right away with the tube socket melting which was covered under the warranty.
ToneKing, one a those bad boys right back atcha'! I've been sittin' her just watchin and enjoying many of your demos and shoot outs. Thanks so much for the time spent to give us some great comparisons and demos of gear. I have used your vidoes on many occasions to help me decide...Thanks!
Great comparison testing Tone King, I myself would choose the V22 over the Vox, more gutsy, better bottom end, more sustain on gain channel, just a better R&R amp all around, only thing here is will it hold it's value like the Vox can, I'm thinking probably not, good thing to keep in mind when amp shopping.
I think you are trying to convince yourself that you made the right decision. I got my V22 for $297 new and I think anyone would say the sounds are very comparable with the V22 sounding better IMHO. I'm glad you like your Vox for the extra $150+.
I recently bought the Bugera V22 and I love it. I was originally looking at the vox AC15. Don't get me wrong, the Vox is an amazing amp, I just liked the Bugera better for my guitars and the style I play with. I don't think one is universally better that the other. It all depends on your style or playing and your guitar(s). I definitely think the distortion on the V22 sounds better than the AC15 when you switch over to pentode.
I bougt a V22 from Guitar Center about 3 months ago now. Still sounds great. The only complaint I have is not from the amp. But from Guitar center ( Boardman ). I told the guy that was working with me that I loved the price and saw the reviews and that was the amp I wanted. He did everything he possibly could to talk me out of it. As well I also bought the Ibanez ART300 along with it. GREAT package with the ART having really HOT active pick-ups in it. Really helps to bring this amp out.
I know the AC15 is like the staple Amp out there but I will be honest and say that the Bugera blew it out of the water. The clarity of the tone in the latter is much more workable in both clean and OD channels.
I bought the Bugera over the Vox and a Fender Blues Jr. I'm so glad I opted to: A) Save myself $250; B) buy the amp w/ more tones and features; C) buy the better amp. Very pleased with my purchase. I don't need another amp and I'm certainly not going to pay a hundreds more for bragging rights, "I have a Vox." However, to be fair, the Vox may be a better option if distortion is your thing. That's cool, too. :)
it makes my day when you say
"i'll give you one of those bad boys right there"
awesome. thank you
Bugera seems to have a well blended high gain channel. I just ordered a V55 so I am hoping I love it.
I have been playing all of my life and went to Guitar Center to test guitars. I plugged into a V22 just to test a guitar and was very impressed with the tone. I am not saying that this amp has the tone of a VOX AC30 (which I own), but it has a warm sound in triode and pentode mode. I highly recommend this amp regardless of price.
To me they sound like this-
Vox- classic era rock.
Bugera- late 80’s early 90’s rock.
I've had a V22 for about 3 years now, and it's one of the best starting tube amps that you can get. For under $400, it's the best amp on the market: period. However, I now play in a band pretty regularly and it's just barely loud enough to be heard over the drummer before it totally loses the bottom end, so my recommendation would be to just buy a bigger amp with a lot of volume (and the tone you want, of course) so you're only making one purchase, rather than wasting your money little by little! Vox amps are honestly the way to go! I don't think anyone makes a better sound quality for their price range (until you get to about $1500+ with boutique amps), but they hold out on bottom end and are amazing for playing with bands! Bugeras are great practice amps and/or for solo gigging. I'll definitely be keeping that, even after I buy the Ac30!
Thank you Imsjr! I've been scratching my head trying to figure out between the two. That being said i'm not sure if the volumes were really the same but if they were, the Vox is really punchy. The V22 seemed a lot cleaner and milky in tone. The AC15 seemed louder and grittier, which is totally fine. Since I own a Les Paul with Humbuckers, it would seem the Vox would be a better choice? Since I already get that Warm milky tone from the pickups. The V22 is within my price range at the moment...
I own both the V22 and AC15. I use them both for different things. Example; my AC15 just doesn't sound good with my Envelope Filter. So i play it through the V22. When getting down with some good ole rock and roll, I go with the AC15 every time. Both are good amps. Also, I replaced the stock speaker in the V22 with a celestion Vintage 30. Made a huge difference. I love both amps, if i had to pick one it would be the VOX AC15 all the.
I had the Vox ac15 now I have the V22, my ears just liked the sound better, glad I switched cant wait to keep jamming!
I've been looking at these bulgera amps and you've convinced me on which way to go with your comparisons.
For the money and the tone it's a no brainer.Bugera all the way...Thanks for the good work.
The tones are completely different, both could be used extremely effectively, depending on the sound. That being said, they are both quality, but with the price point, it has to go to the bugera.
Love the new "look", and the vids are better than ever, all top notch! Thanks for all the great Bugera demos, killer-seeming amps, for the price!
That said, I'm DYING to see what the V5 sounds like! How 'bout a demo, or maybe a shootout with the 4watt Vox from a few demos back?
Stay Golden, Tone King!
I actually just bought a used V22 this past weekend. I'm an old Harmonica Player and finally decided to learn guitar at 64. From blowing a Harp, I knew at least wanted a Combo. All the Amps at Guitar Center were all over priced or none were available that had that tone like the old Marshall's of the 1970's... And those were more money than I wanted to pay. I blow my harp out of an old Ampeg Head that's sitting on top of an old Fender Bass Man Cabinet. Then I found this amp and to tell you the truth... I just liked the way it looked. What do I know? I'm as green as grass and only know open cords. I bring the amp home and KABOOM!!! This is a really great amp! I'm still pulling out sounds that I didn't know it had. At first, I thought I sounded like a horrible Jazz Guy but 2 day's into it I'm imitating Robin Trower ( Well not really, but ) Neil Young stuff, Blues and rock stuff. And this puppy has some nuts. This would work in just about any Bar or good size venue. I am just learning but have performed with bands for a long time... This amp could compete with anything I've played along with. If you're on the fence, buy it. You'll save a ton and could then buy some peddles and go nuts! Peace and God Bless Phil Lesh.
I feel like selling my AC15 now and getting a V22!
PlanetRockJesus have both. Great for stereo. Each amp is a bit different and they can compliment the other well.
I sold the AC15. Got the V22. I'm happy. I also don't like how the controls on the Vox are on the top back, and you have to hover over it to see what the knobs say.
Make a few hundred bucks in the process.
@@PlanetRockJesus do you like the v22 better
This AC15 just sounds thin and over compressed. Amazing how they can charge so much more for that because of it's big brother. I'm really surprised at this, but I think I'm going to have to choose the Bugera over the Vox.
Legend and all. People pay for the name.
Thanks for this, seems like every time I find something nifty and wanna hear about it all I've got to do is stop by your channel. Anywho, my moneys on the Bugera, if my soul was worth 350 bones I'd be on my way to Dave Phillips. Although, I have to say the tone quality from the VOX is warmer, fuller, nicer, however ya wanna say its had some ruff polished off. Keep on rockin/reviewin
Had a Bugera V22 for over a year and was always using a Modeling pedal through the clean channel. Then I took it away and found a great natural distortion.
The V22's distortion sounds absolutely killer! It's probably the closest thing you'll get to an 18 Watt Marshall below the $800 price point (and that would only be from a kit build). Lots of room to tweak the overdrive and it runs the gamut from blues to thrash.
Bugeras are out there cheap!!
Sound awesome, best bang for buck!! Love mine w/ American Strat
Yes they are. Just when you thought Chinese amps are cheap, they got even cheaper. Soon they will be free.
They are built with such quality too! If you open one up it looks nice!
Maybe they will pay you to play them !
Will they hold up to gigging?
Bugeras love Strats and teles because they sound like old Fenders. I have a Jet City that loves SGs and Les Paul's because it sounds like a Marshall. The end of the day the Bugera nail the vintage sound for much less money. I recommended my dad buy one and he loves it as much as he loves his Fender Blues Jr.
Thanks for comparison. Been looking around for a second combo amp for a stereo config. I think I like the Bugera in this one.
@confretti That makes sense. You sure got some beautiful amps! Thanks for sharing.
...i play the Bugera with Strat and Tele and it sounds awesome. Totally defined tone on every string. I never had that clean before.
hey TTK, GREAT demo by the way this is exactly what i needed to see to make my decision on the Bugera. Bugeras reverd was a little weaker than the VOX but man it sounded so much cleaner and its Gain channel was Intense! thanks for the demo really helped me out. keep on shreddin bro \m/
V22 wins this one hands down by a mile. I already have the V55 head + 2x12 cab and that rig is awesome at around £320. I wanted the same quality in a small combo with FX loop and the V22 was the only option at £198...literally the ONLY option when it came to bang for buck. Not only that, but the Bugera amps work very, very well with pedals too. Don't hesitate - buy Bugera.
Hey Tone Kine, thanks so much for the reviews!
I love the tone in the Bugera especially at almost half the price! I do know know if both amps are made in China or not (tired of that!). But would still buy the Bugera V22 at the same price as the Vox. It just sounds better overall. The overdriven sounds remind me of the Marshall that I used to own. Incredible!
not only are you the tone king but your my king
Both are incredible!!
these are two of the three amps I am considering at the moment so thank you for doing this demo. Now if you could only add a Marshal Haze MA50C to the mix I would know which amp I would get. The Bugera seems a little more American and the Vox a bit more on the British side. Both are great amps but I like two channel footswitchable so I am more or less leaning towards the Bugera. The significant price difference helps too!! Thanks again, great job on the demo.
I got it Friday Feb 26th....had the footswitch problem a few days later. The amp sounds great! The clean sound is awesome. The switch messed up twice, but not since....and it only happened when I used the pentode-triode switch. I wonder should you power off before switching? Other than that, great stuff. And yes, it looks awesome..... My next choice if I have to return it is the Egnater 30 combo. Didn't want to pay that much. So, I can keep the BV22, and add the warranty, hope for the best.
I am so thankful this guy does shootouts!
God bless you sir. I also like the bugeras dirty sound enough to buy it over the vox.
They had an issue with powersupplies, but that's been fixed. Some plastic part kept melting.
I've had a V22 for a year or so, and it hasn't had any problems yet. I've been gigging with it, and it's been tossed around a bit. Still no faults.
bugera sounded great. what a great amp for people to have as a first serious amp, or for the reason i want it, a nice backup amp/practice amp/slash tool for the studio to get new cool sounds.
I was talkin most directly towards bogner... but yes your right you can find some pretty good deals on used mesas
Thanks for the reply!
Just Bought the V22, I love it. Sold My Peavey Mace Half stack to buy it.
I have a Vox AC15. But I like the Bugera V22 and for the money you can't go wrong. Thanks, I have to go checkout the Bugera V22 tomorrow. I been giging small gigs with my Crate Palomino V16 for about a year now,but want something a little bigger. I will tryout the Bugera V22.
and BTW TTK , you are doing an awsome job with your vids , thanks a lot bro.
Good demo. I've got a V22. I love the tone. However...on my 3rd one. 1st one: Out of the box the hot channel would die on power up. 2nd one: the hot channel would drop out and come back on. This was symptomed with switch lights going off and on. Other victems say its a thermal problem. It happened once on my 3rd one but hasn't repeated since I started using "send/return" for my pedal board and not sure why it would matter. Just get the 2 year replacement option.
As always, a great review!! Thank you. I tried this at Guitar center today and compared it to the Marshall Haze. I thought the v22 was much more versatile and had a nice warm sound. My band has a bunch of Berhinger gear and has never had a problem with any of it. In fact that is some of the most reliable gear we have. Do you think the V22 would be loud enough to play with my band (other guitarist uses a Fender FM212)? Or should I look closer at the V55.
THE VOX IS ALIVE!!!
I love your videos man..awesome stuff really!!
Last Friday, Feb 26th I bought this amp. Love the tone, the clean channel, the range and tone of the dirty channel. Love it! Wed. Mar 3rd....the footswitch craps out....the lights on...working...the lights off....not working. I'm thinking a fluke? NO....tonight...again, reverb shuts down, channel screws up...then it comes back on........have owned Fenders, Peavey's, Marshall's.....no problems. Now, unplug the footswitch? works fine, so far.....I will be making a trek back to Guitar Center. Dang!
@AwesomeSauce64 yes it even have an impedence selector for 4, 8 or 16 ohms, i have used it in a 4x12 cab its nothing short of awesome.
It is 45.3x57.2x27 cm. And it is 41.8 LBS. I got one of these yesterday and it is really nice. Great sounding amp.
Since I have V22 and got it after doing research I think it blows away pretty much everything in its price range. Vox is also OK but it is not worth that much money.
Ah, correct you are. I read it wrong on the website. Regardless, the low wattage, hard pushed EL84 tone is what I'm after and even though it's not in quite the same league, my wallet will take the $350 Bugera over a $2400 Marshall 1974x Handwired Reissue any day!
Tone King: Your reviews are always awesome. Thanks a million for this one, can't find any good info on these new Bugera amps anywhere!
Over the years, my love was always of the Orange variety, although I've tinkered with Marshall and Mesa,
Bugera are now making the best sounding Amps out there, and happen to be cheaper overall with a comparable or better build, i now have a V5 infinium and V55 and feel "My sound" is more distinct and richer, you really got to try them in the flesh because few of these videos do justice...
The Bugera sounds like a digital amp and the Vox sounds like a real rock sound.
Im looking to buy my first amp to learn guitar. I think these are what i'm down to. I know the Vox is well made and will hold its value. I do like the Bugera and I like the 2 channels. I bought 2 guitars. I have a Gretch Duo-jet and a Gretch 5129. I can't wait to buy a amp and take some lessons. Im not sure witch one I want. Maybe I should buy both like I did with the guitars. NOT! What do you think?
It's all about personal preference. It depends on what one thinks is best. I personally think that the AC15CC sounds really good with Strats and SG's (b/c i used those guitars with that amp). If you're going for a hi-gain, then its obvious that the Bugera is the choice. However, if you want the classic "jangle" then get the Vox.
This was a cool comparison, for just sound I would probably go with a Vox and OD-pedal, but putting it into an economical context, I think I would go with the bugger.
as a proud vox owner I have to admit that the bugera sounded very good. I preferred the cleans on the vox and the od with the bugera in this vid. Although the vox has a much more "vintage" vibe in the way that it overdrives that is more appealing to some. The bugera it seems was given a more "modern" compressed overdive. all in all,nice vid and I am impressed withthe bugera.
Ive had the V22 for about a month now. I liked it very much from the start but there were some issues. 1st, tubes suck! These tubes were chattering like chains brand new out of the box. I did have some quality extra 12ax7's so I immediately replaced them. Not only did the noise go away but the tone got noticeably better instantly. I decided to go a little further and I put a vintage 30 that I had in place of the Bugera speaker. Used it at a gig last week with my Tele. I would recommend this amp
wow! the bugera sounds great and holds it's own. thanks for the demo
i like the bugera much better!!! the vox really sounds kinda harsh and the bugera has a nice warm full sound! i really love your videos and plz keep rocking dude!
Without a doubt - VOX! I'm glad this was up - was toying with buying the Bugera V22, I have the Vox AC30CC with the green backs. But I think another Vox AC15 does what I want. Vox is clearer, crisper, and warmer. Bugera, to me has a more "metal" sound - slightly muffled, but trying to scream.
I'm a Vox guy but in this video the Bugera sounded better and certainly more flexible. I've loved that EL84 sound since way into the last century... :-)
thanks for the great shootout. my bugera v22 is on its way as i speak.
If I had the dough and the time, I'd consider getting a 6262 2x12 and a quartet of YellowJackets -> convert the 120W beast into a 30W AC30 killer and have the option to go back to 12 when you need it. You could do the same w/a pair in the V55.
I have a V22 it's a great amp I got it used for $200 and it's a great amp and loud as hell when cranked up ... plus has a power cut on the back that allows you to practice at lower volume levels in your home... without pissing off my neighbors LOL..
I barely use the reverb on (on my Vox), about 10%. It's truly fine. The tremolo is amazing!!! I've seen many who switch the reverb tank for about $30 and it sound fantastic! I run a BOSS pedal board in front and can get basically every sound from blues to jazz, rock to metal! Very versatile amp. It takes many different guitars VERY well, doesn't 'flavor' their sound. The (Whafedale) speaker needs a little time to break in, turn it up and let it breath. It gets smoother as it ages! Good luck!
The Booger is a heck of a lot less money. . right? I played the Bugera V22 yesterday at Guit Center and I was very impressed with the tone. Would the V22 be enough juice to gig with a loud drummer? What do you think?
BTw ... I bought the v22 at another GC. It did not rattle and I'm very happy. Considering the v55 head next.
No. Im not sure what biasing is. I will look it up. I heard some mention of it in the past. Something to do with the adjustment under the power module ?
I was definately taken with the Vox with the cleans at the beginning, and that Reverb was to die for - was it a true spring reverb? But the Vox really seems to be a one trick pony. The Bugera tone didn't deteriorate with the gain like the Vox did - I was a little disappointed with Vox when it came to dirt.
Cool!! to my ears the Bugera would be my choice . .. i really liked its crunch sound!
The point of all the settings at noon are so you hear what the manufacturers intended it to sound like. I think it's a great video. Cleanly TTK is trying to get the point across that the Bugera is similar but cheaper. The Vox clearly sounds better but not everyone has $600 to spend and the Bugera is the affordable option to a similar sound with a 2nd channel which is cool considering I would love to own a Vox AC50 Classic Plus but I do believe at the price range I would opt for the Blackstar ID
Nice shootout! Vox wins. The biggest difference for me is in the clean sound. I was thinking about getting a AC30 but I guess I should give the bugera a try as well :)
I don't know about 2009. but AC15 has two channels, normal and top boost with separate inputs. You can use ABY switch pedal for change channels. And i think there is waaay too much compression in recording, so when you stop the note, reverb tail is rising as compressor releases
toneking meets his faithful friend, 240p - making it a truly valuable review
hey tone king your reviews and shoot-outs kick ass. I was wondering do you buy all these amps or are you endorsed.
By the way I think you did an excellent job on the video. I have extensive experience with the AC15 and I do find the V22 to be a lot more versatile. On the video the V22 had a lot warmer tone across the board. Please be sure that I'm not bashing VOX because while I do think that the AC30 is an absolute monster I'm not nearly as impressed with the AC15! Thanks for the video.
Bug V22! I've owned one just over a year. Play out often and "no" issues. Great studio amp. Plus I saved enough to buy a nice M-Strat. Never liked the Vox stuff anyway.
Thanks for the demo TTK...Any chance we can see the Bugera v22 vs a Crate v18? I'm trying to decide between the two. Thanks.
having played both (own V22, want an AC), I feel that the AC is better if you like dynamic. To get from clean chimey to large drive on the V22 you have to switch channels, on the Vox you just set the volume to about half way and your dynamic comes from playing. I also do not like the Mid control on the V22, I can never get a good spot for it (using a tele) and the bright is very thin. I've just grown too picky to enjoy my V22 any longer. hope this helps
Unsure if its the guitar or the recording, but the Vox sounded very different to me on this vid than the familiar tone I'm used to. With a Rickenbacker or Telecaster you get a profoundly brighter, sharper sound.
I got a bugera with a Sheffield 6505+ speaker and change tubes for tung sol its so much rrr sound I love it
@juanspants89 I had the same marshall and valvetronix you did. I just bought a used ac15 yesterday and it blows them away completely; its definitely worth it to go all tube. The overdrive on the ac15 is a little lacking but the brightness and clarity can't be beat. I'm running an xotic ac+ pedal out of it for my gain tone and it sounds amazing. I've never played a bugera but it seems to have a nice distortion sound without a pedal. Whichever you pick you won't regret buying a tube amp.
I heard too much reverb from the Vox. I wasn't expecting that. The Vox has a unique sound, def, but for my taste and style, the Bugera wins out easily. I like the cleaner more natural sound from my playing - the Bugera did that very well. Sad to say because I was really expecting more from the Vox. By the way, the Bugera is now up to $450 and I'm told they are selling quite well.
AC15, hands down.
Good review, TK. And by the way, the AC15C1 is an even better option, with a 2nd, Normal channel - you can have your clean and dirty too.
Man that Vox reverb sux. I like the Bugera. Sounds a lot like it's brothers. Vox always sounds like a solid state direct out no matter what kind of tube/speakers/mic.
Thanks a bunch for this review/comparison... Would u recomment me the Bugera V22 as my first valve amp? I like it but what do u think? I trust your opinion more than mine regarding amps :) Thank u!
On my computer the Bugera sounds smoother and fuller, more compressed perhaps? the Vox had good definition but I thought sounded a bit thin by comparision. If I only had this shoot put to go by I would pick the Bug... for what it's worth.
Perfect review!! I dont know haha wish I had both!! LOL I prefer bugera V22 love the drive channel, vox in my opinion has better clean, looks brighter, but if I had to choose between I choose bugera. Actually I'm going to buy one of those!
I hear ghosting on the VOX. The Beheringer people really did their research on the Bugera.
Is 22 watts enough to gig with. . and to get clean on a gig as well? (Bugera).