As an old "Fenderian" (49 years I've played almost all Fender -tube models) - I agree WITH YOUR OPNION. "Buggy" is an excellent amp. Four years ago I bought an Infinium 22-JUST FOR CURIOSITY AND EXPERIMENTATION. (NB: Even without any modifications it is an amp with CHARACTER!) I removed the head and studied a little , electric circuit diagram...Very surprising... Initially, I REPLACED THE CONE with an Eminence 1258-modif .Fender(1997).50 w-8 Ohm.Then I replaced all the 2 original tubes with 2 JJ EL 84, BUT RESULT THERE WAS 100% what i expected. So, I left behind a 1 JJ tube and a 1 Bugera tube(EL 84). Result: Sonorically 100% -ON THE CLEAN AND DRIVE Channel - HOT ROD (Obviously excluding the "third channel, which in reality is not the third channel, but only on added overdrive.) It can be compared even better with Fender Blues De luxe. This , it's not just my opinion (which could be subjective), but the opinion of 8 friends-guitar colleges, more or less - all with careers spanning more than 40 years.As the quality of the components-exceptional.I didn't think I can after so many years falling in love with an amp again.😍🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸
Bugeras really do have an astounding tone, I used to own the 5 watt version and it was amazing, and have played the V22 and the clean side with pedals is very good. But I wonder how they would hold up for a gigging musician. That is were the Dr Zs excels.. They are built like tanks. I have a Dr Z Wreck Jr and it is amazing and is plenty loud at only 15 watts and can keep up with a loud drummer in small rooms. . But for a home player there is nothing wrong with the Bugeras. Excellent comparison, well done.
I genuinely like these Bugeras more than most other amps I've owned that were sub £1000. I prefer it over the Fender blues Jr, The std Vox AC15, Marshall Origin, Marshall DSL among others. It just has such a great clean tone which is perfect for pedals. I don't use the drive channel. I did need to retube them as the stock tubes are cheap and I put a Celestion Greenback in one and a Vintage 30 in the other but they both sound terrific. It's almost like I'm trying to find reasons why I shouldn't like them but I genuinely do.
I'm 65 and have played guitar since the age of 11 and electric since I was 15. Many, many, amps later, I have 3 combos, all 30 watts or under. I have a Line 6 DT25, a Bugera v22 (pre-infinium), and an Ibanez TSA30 combo. They are all fantastic amps. The Line 6 has the incredible ability to store 8 different amp models that are available through hardware switching - NOT software voodoo of some sort - and when paired with a POD HD500 or a Helix can give one nearly any sound their heart desires. Without those effects, one still has immediate access to 2 of the 8 amps at a time via a footswitch. But my favorite setup at this point in time is the Bugera and the Ibanez stacked and selectable using an a/b/combo switch. I can use one or the other or both at the same time. With the Bugera, you have EL84s, affording a rather compressed and midrangy Vox style tone that has a beautiful warmth to it. With the Ibanez and it's 6L6s, you have Fenderish clean and headroom all day, and the added perk of the tube screamer circuit. With both of them going on a given tune, the sound is pure heaven. I've had the Bugera for at least 15 years and just had it retubed again with stellar results. Speaker is stock and was never replaced. The Ibanez is still so new that I've done absolutely nothing to it so far. Those two amps can be had new for under a grand. Unbelievable. Especially for a guy like me who will not pay anything more than I have to for exactly what I need and want. If I paid 2 grand for that Dr. Z, I still wouldn't have what I do with these two amps together. The only other combos I feel like I'm really missing at this point is an Egnater Rebel-30 Mark II and/or a VHT Special 6 Ultra 6W. But I'll get around to those too for sure. With the two amp setup I mentioned before, I've got the night covered with a spare amp if one craps out and three distinct sounds through the a/b/combo footswitch. My only effects pedal is a Zoom MS-50G Multi-FX. It's almost, or maybe flat out is, even better than the Line 6 DT25 which I may replace with the lower watt VHT. One final word though as this video was in fact mostly about the Bugera - an incredibly good amp! (and I'm not even going to say "for the price"... -- Jon Bjork
Thank you Jon, I'm 64 and your musical "baby brother" :) ..... I'll repost here with a little edit, much of what I just posted on another V22-included demo, fairly coinciding with your impression! ...My opinion otherwise is that our video host is comparing most from the "bright" input (more of a roll-off than bright), and not dialing settings to what most anyone would likely do, when setting the sound you WANT, but (fairly enough as a demo) more simply amp vs amp. Anyways, here's my re-post, thank you again, and thank you ASM! Having owned tube amps since 1974 (1st one a Fender Super Six, on to Marshall's, old and new Supro's and so on...), my opinion on the V22 (Infinium, stock, no added pedals/effects other than amp channels/settings)... is that it's not just "best for the price" although it's that too. It's among the best amps I've owned, used or have heard. I think where it really excels is at a low up to a medium high volume, enough reverb to suggest in sustain without saturation, gain set to just where backing off on pick/finger attack cleans up, and digging in brings the gain into play. It becomes something you play TO, like you would with a great guitar that has wonderful sonic treasures to find, unique to itself. I've read "Peavey clone" now and again, yet I find the V22 to be smoother in balance overall (maybe the stock speaker voicing?). Definitely a great choice in amps, and/or a great addition for such relatively low cost!
This is a very nice comparison! I’ve never tried the Bugera, but I own the Z-Plus, and I can say that for me it’s the best small tube amp I’ve owned. However, I’m a huge fan of all kinds of amps, and I enjoy playing my Peavey Bandit Red Stripe with my favourite pedals, for example. Dr Z is pricey, but their stuff is made rock-solid, in addition to sounding very nice and being very responsive to playing dynamics at any volume level. I bought the Z-Plus after playing it every time I visited the local shop over a period of 6 months. Love is love, I guess?
The Bugera cleans and crunch sounded awesome. When you went back to the Dr Z it sounded thin and less rich after listening to the V22. I'm looking for a V22 now darn it, my wife's going to kill me.
I like the "larger" sound of the bugera but thats probly the cabinet. There is a high end clarity and overtone thing from the dr Z that you kinda expect in high end amps
@Jacob Bockover My apologies in advance for such a long reply, but...This may be true, but just keep in mind that the Dr. Z has MUCH better quality tubes in it. Unfortunately, virtually all Bugeras come with very marginal quality tubes in them, and it's not even that uncommon to see some Bugera amps shipped with faulty tubes right from the factory (due to the tube's cheapness). So, in nearly all cases, swapping them out for higher quality tubes will give just about any Bugera amp more clarity and dynamics, a smoother overdrive response and better harmonic content than the inferior stock tubes could ever dream of delivering. Additionally, the speaker differences alone are a big factor as well. If you swapped the speaker from Dr. Z into the Bugera, or compared both amps through an extension cab to nullify any speaker variables, those differences would disappear pretty quickly. But even just a tube swap alone does wonders for just about any Bugera amp I have ever heard or played. I have a friend who has a V22 Infinium and another who owns a 1960 Infinium plexi-style head. In stock form, the V22 was only "okay" and the tone of my other friend's 1960 head wasn't that good at all. However, we all knew swapping out the cheap tubes would do wonders. With a tube swap in each amp, both amps absolutely came alive and responded with much better tone, clarity, picking dynamics and overall harmonic content. The difference was not subtle and the improvement in tone with the 1960 head in particular was startling. With a quality tube swap, I actually prefer the Bugera 1960 head over just about anything Marshall has made over the last 40 years. No word of a lie. It sounds killer. With a high quality tube swap and played through a good cab, its sound is something that truly has to be experienced firsthand. Many Bugera amps have a ton of potential to be truly excellent sounding amps, and not just "for the price". But, in most cases you'll never discover just how much they can come alive unless you get rid of those cheap stock tubes. It makes all the difference in the world.
Thanks for the walk-through comparison. Both amps sound great to me. Whilst you were playing crunch over the clean loop, I kept wishing you'd hit a few double-stops to see how those would pop.
Thanks for the enlightening comparison. I have both the Bugera V22 (non-Infinium) and V55 purchased about 7 years ago with no issues. They are decent amps for the price. Also have a Dr Z Maz 18 w/Reverb, 2x10 ordered in 2011 and it has significant clout. Both good amps.
The Z is clinical-sounding and expensive .. but then again, I love juicy, pushed mids that those EL84s probably excel at. Greg Howe's tone on Wheelhouse is exactly what I like. I wish almost you pitted the Bugera against Govan's V30 Victory amp but yea, for tone AND value, that Bugera wins ..
I own a Bugera v22 for almost a year now, and it is a beast, all of my friends love it, especially when I can get a little bit of break up in the clean channel and they can't believe me when I tell them the price, I did compare it with AC30, Twin Reverb and Marshall JCM 800, by far the nicest clean sounds comes from this amp, not too bright as a AC30, no too mid scooped as the Twin Reverb and not too gainy as the Marshall, and for my style (rock, blues) and obviously, not too pricey, big, and hard to move around, I couldn't get anything better for the price, the things that I don't like is the digital Reverb and the stock tubes, change them for a set of JJs and this thing come alive and now I use it with a HOF mini and is a incredible good pedal platform, since fuzz to tons of delay and modulation and I like the stock speaker too, personally I like darker sounding amps with little treble and tons of mids. Nice comparison
@@gabrielmorton8054 it has a drive channel with volume and gain and a independent master volume that works with the clean channel too, so you can crank the pre amp and down the output volume same with the clean channel. I forgot to mention that the amp has a switch in the back to choose between pentode (full wattage) and triode (half wattage). Using it in the triode mode reduces the volume and the headroom quite a bit, using it in the pentode mode gives you lots of headroom and the full volume capability
The burgera is a great sounding amp and you cant beat the price but the build quality was not so good when they first came out. I think they fixed that now . What’s amazing about that amp is the technology that allows you to put any tube in and mix and match. It self bais’s itself. Lol you can put an el34 and a 6l6 in at the same time and it will adjust the setting to be able to use it. That’s pretty amazing imo . Cant beat that for the price. It also has a switch that drops down the watts so it can be used as a practice amp.
I've owned a V22 since around 2015. Mine is pre-Infinium. I had to retube the entire amp. The Chinese tube were total garbage. But, after a tube job, it is an awesome amp. As it is a $500 amp, I leave my nice amps at home and gig with the Bugera. The OD channel leaves a bit to be desired but it takes pedals really well. And I'm not beating up my $2K amps. The pre-Infinium amps did have some issues with the circuit board. Mine has a crack solder trail currently and is making a light buzzing sound. I have heard of several that totally crapped out and started sounding like an airplane taking off. But they are a great 1st tube amp.
Thanks for your comment. I agree they are great. I have a Mesa TC-50 for gigs these days but I agree it is an expensive amp to be taking out all the time.
i had always been told that Bugera amps were trash. They were so wrong. This was eye and ear opening. I'm going to order the amp head today. Thank you for the comparison.
I’m not sure the drive channel was great but I always use pedals anyway. I liked the clean a lot, as you can hear it’s very usable and excellent value. I have read that it can be worth swapping the tubes out also, may be worth a go!
@@aaronshortmusic I always run clean and let the amp overdrive, with a tube screamer. i never liked the internal overdriven channels. Sounds very solid state and 1980's. I don't play stoner or death metal so the Bugera should keep me happy. I have to push my Marshall so hard and using a big stack isn't functional in the house anymore.
I bought mine when they came out. I got mine for like $250 on a labor day sale or something. I love it. It can crank and sounds soooooo good pushing it in the clean channel with the boost on.
Cab size does make a difference for sure. Speaker also. Thanx, I have looked both of these recently as I am looking for 1x12 combo. I sort of worn out my mid 70's Deluxe Reverb. I'm going to fix it. Needs new tubes, power chord , new speaker and couple new potentiometers because the git busted off moving it. Far small price to pay with the price of them today.
I have to say in my opinion the Bugera V22 is fatter and fuller sounding with more punch than the DrZ. Actually I have the V55 early non infinium it's an exact copy of a Marshall 2204 and at 50 watts it serves me well as a pedal platform and even a gigging amplifier with more headroom. Roll the Bass off and increase the treble more you might just surprise yourself with the results if you like a thinner sounding amplifier.
EL-84's in the V22.. 6V6's in the Dr. Z.. and its Class A. Theres a switch on the back of the V22.. Pentode/Triode.. switch it to Triode. Bugera hands-down.
I love my Infinium 22 I use it with 2 1x12 Bugera Cabinets they match perfectly. It also takes pedals. If an amp can do natural overdrive I love it. IF an amp can do nice cleans at 1/2 volume I am happy, if the added distortion channel can be adjusted to do a lead. The 22 is easy on tubes and I recommend to use the Bugera speaker cabinets with it.
Thanks, both sound good, the Bugera a little more darker. I saw a comparison between the Bugera v22 and the AC15, there the AC15 sounded better. It is a personal preference like you said
Im an older dude 64, I've owned original fender black faces new dual showman twin, ampeg V4 Pee get classic 112 and many more. Then I bought a v22 head. I had gotten it on eBay refurbished but to me it was brand new factory packaged. I paid 225.00 for the v22 head. A year later I found the same seller selling V55?heads also 225" best amps for the money I ever bought. Buyers copies circuits from vintage amps. They have their heavy metal amps, these are supposed to mimic either fender black faces like the V55 or a Brit sound with it's el34s in the v22. I've had zero problems . They hold up as good as any amp I've ever had. I've never owned a botique amp. But then i only played professionally in the 70s and 80s. Since then I just lead worship teams or play in my home studio. I would love to try your friend z but I can never justify buying one when I don't make a living with out and right now I'm super happy with my buyers amps. Thinking of getting a 5 watt buyers combo 129.00 at Sweet water also tube.
I have heard complaints and about rattling noises in the V-22. The fix is simple, If it happens to you get some lock tight and and and hit every thread you can find. I guess they didn't use any nylock nuts or put any lock tight on the threads.
I had a Bugera Vintage 45 running through a line 6 Spider V With 4 Celestions. Gave it to a budy (The Head) and got a T50 Infinium, and it is a kick ass setup. Blows away most half stacks I have heard. Bought a Marshal Half stack, and returned it. Very harsh sounding, I also Picked up a Vintage V22 infinium, and put an Emerson Cannabis Rex in it, and added an Egnater Tweaker 1x12 extension on it. Great amp to gig, and practice with. Much more portable. When I get a bigger vehicle I'll just take the stack to the practice space, and leave it there, but I'll still take the V22, and extension to gigs. It sounds that good. I get compliments on my sound, When they see it's a Bugera, they are quite surprised. Especially the amp snobs.
I just bought the Bugera V22. I’m No expert with tube amps, but damn is it nice. I bought it used, one owner and it satisfies my needs until I finish my Gibsonette
The Dr Z sounds really good, although the cabinet seems a bit small. I have a bugera v22 pre infinium and I love it. Only the original tubes were changed: I wouldn't change anything else! I like the stock speaker (I've seen several comparisons putting top of the line speakers on it and I think some sound good but make the amp lose its character) I bought it second hand, the amp must be about 15 years old: never had a problem! Nothing! It's a very versatile amp, reliable and it sounds damn good.
great video. I have been considering a v22 due to the value. I liked the clean sound a lot and something I need to add to my tones. My Blackstar Studio 10 KT88 doesn't do clean well.
I have preconceived biases about Behringer, and its not USA built - therefore the Bugera clearly sounds bad. Just kidding. Thats a beautiful sounding amp. Must...Buy....One.....
Thank you for your kind words. I actually decided to keep the Dr. Z amp but the V22 was impressive for the $$$. You can see the board in my ‘Pedalboard Vs Helix’ video. I’m probably going to stick with the Helix and Dr. Z but the pedals are great if you want specific effects that the modelers do not have.
@@aaronshortmusic i like the helix. Sounds great... better than the pedalboard. Im considering to buy the v22... your video shows its potential. Im going to use a digitech rp500 for effects and stuff. The v22 seems to take the helix well.
On my Bugera I changed the driver to an Eminace and was a noticeable upgrade. Connected it to a 2x12 cab I made and crap it sounds good. The bugera distortion is the weak point
@@aaronshortmusic Well, that is half way up. And if you look close, it is set to a little less then half. Maxed to the right, around 5 oclock, would be all the way up. Not trying to raise a stink, just pointing out that the treble was low, and the bass was high, and this amp sounded dark for that reason; and it could sound a lot better. Anyway, the Z sounded great.
Cloud Run I could have adjusted it but I kept everything flat for reference. I’m using a Kemper and Katana now but you do have a point as I run the treble high on those. I like a brighter tone. I also changed to non noiseless pickups as I find them to be brighter also. Thanks for watching, I appreciate it!
KEEP the Bugera! LOL! Different speakers in both. Bugera/TS speakers tend to be darker sounding! Best served with a better speaker that has a wider range! Nice comp however! \m/
Yeah, not surprised Azz, they are good. BUT did it sound 4X BETTER than the V22? No! 1X maybe yes, but not 4X! The articulation and brightness could come down to the speaker used by Dr. Z! But $500 V $2000 amp compared favourably! Cheers Guv!
Us guitarists will spend 10x the amount on an amp that is 5% better anyhow haha. I have the V22, they need a retube and i put an Eminence Swamp thang in and its really nice now. Did have a harsh mid freq (and i have a tele) with 'fizz' on the notes and channel 2 is only good with the gain up a fair bit. Great little amp none the less :)
Dr. Z vs Bugera is kinda like comparing a Mercedes to a Dodge. The Dr. Z had a high-res sparkle. The Bugera sounds like there is a wet towel covering it. Don't get me wrong, the Bugera is a great entry level tube amp and there is a need for gear like this. You can find a Bugera V22 for $200 used and that's a great amp for that price. But if I was buying an amp for the long term ownership, buying a Dr. Z.
My thoughts exactly. The DocZ is clear, and that is what you are paying for. Superior parts and the edge on sound. The Bugera are nice amps for their price. I have played gigs with Bugera. No complaints. However, the win is unsuprisedly to Dr Z.
I was going to scoff at the degree of the Z's superiority, but compare :52 to 3:52. yes the are EQ settings involved, but you can hear a distinct boxiness to the Bugera, while that Z is bell-like and clear. Sick. But nice, fair treatment of the Bugera, which is still pretty damn good for the price-point!
"There's a brightness around the note that I don't like"... Um... You never switched back from the "BRIGHT" input which in my opinion as a owner of multiple V22's is GARBAGE... It's not a "bright" input at all. It actually filters the lows our rather than adding mids and highs to obtain the "brightness". Your whole tone throughout the test would have sounded even better (and truer) than it did here if you would have left your signal in the full range input and simply clicked the little mid BOOST button to match your Dr.Z. You could have also tweaked the EQ as you did here for a match which would be expected with different cabinets and especially, different speakers. The SPEAKER in the Bugera is another story... It's tight as hell before it's broken in yet, sounds pretty damn decent for the price point. But... Break this thing in and it will slap you in the face!... I've tried three of my favorite vintage 12's in one of my amps while using another V22 A/B switched for a side by side comparison and ended up putting the STOCK speaker back in!... It just seems to be perfectly matched for the little beast. It wouldn't have any part of "Gear snob" attitude or my obsession for upgrading lower end equipment. Play that thing to death or leave a loop playing through it until that speaker gives in... You'll LOVE it. TUBES are a similar scenario... Although the stock Chinese tubes are junk that actually seem to sound pretty damn good initially, a modest set of Ruby-Tubes is a nice treat and a definite improvement for this amp. However... After swapping numerous sets of HIGH dollar vintage Sovtechs, GEs, etc. from what I can only describe as my obsessive collection of NOS 1960's vacuum tubes, the verdict was the same as above... The $50.00 upgrade set brought the amp to the next level, but beyond that, the high end tubes did absolutely NOTHING!... Save your money folks. This amp LOVES blue collar tubes. LONGEVITY is probably not a consistent factor as these aren't exactly "Hand built", but in my personal experience, I can't complain... I keep my vintage amps at home and have been happily abusing the V22 in their place. I have been gigging and practicing exclusively with these little amps for about 4 years with NO issues. Mine are the "pre Infinium" series, and one is even the dreaded BLUE light model that was known for overheating. I never performed the $5.00 fix as it's never went into "Heat induced auto switching" mode for me. I run a very modest pedal-board and NEVER use the factory foot-swtich and I think that's the reason. My gigging conditions and storage conditions have been "Less than optimum" and I admittedly abuse these amps because of the price point. There are times they have been stored in a van outdoors in scorching heat or freezing Wisconsin winters. There was a 5 hour job in 103 degree heat that took out my second guitarist and sent him to the medical tent, but not this amp, We had another outdoor job the following day in nearly the same conditions. I had the clean gain at 5 and the master set at 8 the entire time with NO heat issues...These things have been RAINED ON (short periods of time) more times than I can count. I was lucky enough to score my first NEW V22 from Sweetwater at a one time price of $225.00 USD (Not a typo), and my others in "like new" condition bought second hand for less than $200.00 each. I love bringing an EXACT duplicate of my main amp for a back-up but I've never needed one. Sometimes I'll use the back-up to run stereo, but mostly, it just waits happily in the van, listening to it's brother from afar. The only thing I've done besides the previously described experiments was... A: Remove the tube cage.. It WILL cause problems and will also be a MAJOR headache if you ever need to replace a tube while gigging... (Maybe they changed it on the Infinium) B: I've gone through the cabinet and hand-tightened all of the screws and fasteners, as my irresponsible storage and handling of these amps is, of course, going to cause some cabinet expansion and contraction. I never had any serious rattles (after removing the tube cage) but I've gotten some "quarter turns" on factory set cabinet and speaker mounting screws. This would have probably been the same with ANY cabinet. Back to your review... An excellent review (Thumbs-up), but put a cap over that "Bright" input! ;-)
Wow thank you for this information. I didn’t keep the amp long and sold them both but I was genuinely impressed with the Bugera. I currently have a Mesa Mark 5:35 combo which I really love but again it’s a much more expensive amp. The Bugera (with the upgrades and tips that you mentioned) is an excellent choice.
@@aaronshortmusic - Nice choice. I have some older Mesa products that I'll use for recording, and you just can't go wrong.... It's still a blast watching other guitarists look at the V22 on stage and wonder how much I spent in "Upgrades" ;-)... My bass player installs vinyl wraps on commercial vehicles and I had him do a partial wrap on my early 80's American Strat... To make it look like a "Hello Kitty" guitar! complete with the Squier headstock logo. You should see the heads explode when I bring that one out. :)) It's even more fun listening to recorded shows and loving your own live sound. Something I've struggled with for YEARS. Dial it in at home all day long and you'll still never match that sound on stage. Even my '64 Fender Bandmaster (Great straight line tone) had it's arguments with some of the pedals I used for classic rock cover tunes. I wouldn't let that amp go for 5X the price I paid for my new Bugera. What's wrong here? I hope your video let players wanting to try tubes know that they don't need to sell their guitar just to afford a great sounding amp. Also, older guys should note that these things weigh a LOT less than your vintage fender combo without losing that sweet sound. Bonus!
Excellent info given! Thx! I have been looking at getting the V22, I'm sure that a big difference will be noticed as I've been using the Katana 50...I miss the tube feeling/sound though... I like the idea of running a clean mode and using my pedals... and the Katana has all these bells and whistles that I don't even care for... I don't know but this Bugera V22 seems to have a nice sound and the way I like to use amps, it just may be perfect! I might also add that last year I got a Fender blues junior lV but for home use it was crazy loud! One thing about the KATANA is you can use lower watt settings... I'm thinking less watts would be perfect... and I will keep in mind what you mentioned about buying some tubes, I should get "Ruby Tubes" right?!
Thanks for the demo. Wow! The comments can get dowright nasty. I wont post anymore because of that. Most of the negative comments are from people that really dont know what they are talking about.
You can’t take anything personally on RUclips. At the end of the day I am just testing my gear to decide what I like and what I don’t and sharing those experiences with others.
This is comparing an Acura to a Honda Civic. Both have a lot of similarities, but the higher end has more. There is a reason for the difference in price. Which ever one someone thinks is better depends on their ears and perception.
@@aaronshortmusic niCe playing on that strat...next time play babys comin home or mister sandman...i freakin dare you as Jerry reed would sayyy "SONNNNNNNNN"
The Bugera's cleans are serviceable, but when overdriven it sounds like what it is- a cheap amp. Although I will point out that your leg was in the path of the mic>speaker of the Bugera, and not of the Z. While I'm not sure how much difference that makes, it IS a tone comparison and we're all about splitting hairs, ha. Thanks for the video, nicely done.
I can promise you in person and when pushing the z plus, it blows the bugera completely away. You can play a whole Allman brother show with just the z plus and eq bypass with correct tones. I’ve played the bugera and it’s completely impossible to get throaty girthy tones just from the amp.
@@aaronshortmusic exactly. I wasn’t directing that at you. I was directing it at the people who think the bugera even comes close to the z plus. It’s quite comical lol.
Once re tubed with some jj's the infinium comes alive. Does it sound as good as a $2000 dollar Dr z? No, but it's close! Got to laugh at the chumps who paid $2000 for an amp that's just 20% better than an intro level cheap tube amp!
I haven't played tube amps before, so this might sound like a dumb question, but would the V22 be considered an upgrade from a Boss Katana 50? If so, is the feeling and sound much different from a 'somewhat decent' solid-state?
That’s hard to say. A tube amp is ‘the real thing’ and some people say they sound or ‘feel’ better to play. They are also more fragile and need to be maintained. You really have to compare the two amps in question and decide for yourself.
Robert Koster I find a good tune amp (like a fender twin) sounds fuller and more ‘3D’) but solid state can be lighter and more flexible (built in effects etc). They are different but I would choose a tube amp most times.
Robert when i first started playing i was much younger so in those days i had no choice other than to buy solid state amps but once i could afford the tube amps i must say they are much better and are literally like night and day compared to solid state amps. I will say solid state amps have come a long way and the more expensive ones sound damn close if not just like a tube amp, But in my experience and for me i prefer tube amps !!! Whatever you decide good luck....
The Z is a lovely amp and wanna be for the $$$'s. Put vintage Amperex or Mullard pres and good el84's in the Bug and you have a killer boutique amp for near to nix!
Yes you’re right, almost any piece of gear can be modded and improved. You just have to decide if it’s worth doing that over buying a more expensive item in the first place...
@@aaronshortmusic It depends. If you set the drive channel with a rather low gain and a fairly high volume, you might be surprised, in a good way, at the result with possible pedals.
Kinda crazy but goes to show yes the Dr Z is 4 times the price, but doesnt offer 4 times the better sound. If strip both of the amps down to there bare bones I think youll be surprised, left wondering why your paying 4 times the money for amp A over amp B..... the Bugera infinium is an unbelievable buy for the "money"...
This is the case for a lot of stuff.. A big online retailer has a new 6 watter, it's 3000 bucks 😮 When you watch the, guts, there are a few components sold on a turret board, a 100€ speaker, and 100 bucks for the cabinet. 😂..
Clean is where the V22 does it’s best tones. The distorted and overdriven tones are pants. Though that could be down to how the whole thing has been mic’d up. As thought the same with the DrZ too.
I heard an ugly rumor 😉 that every once in a while an outta phase single coil pickup sounds nice and is appropriate for Many different tunes if ya ever do covers. Pauls are Great! Please don't misunderstand, each guitar is great in itself.
@@welsleygrondin9397 A " telephone led paul" is what you get when you allow your Telecaster to reproduce with an Epiphone Les Paul. How did this happen?
Honestly, if you had 2 identical Dr Z's but one was rebadged with Stagg or Squier - many/most players would swear on a pile of bibles that the non Z was garbage compared to the 'real' Z. It's mostly perception and the skills of the player/demonstrator.
@@aaronshortmusic Hi...sorry, I wasn't crear enough. If you took exactly the same 2 high end Z amps but pulled the 'Z' insignia off one of the amps and replaced it with for example a 'Stagg' insignia (which is, when compared to Dr Z, very very very low end musical equipment), even though they were exactly the same high end amps, because one had a low end badge on it, people would believe that they hear low end sounds from it. See what I'm saying ? the badge dictates peoples expectations in many cases.
I stopped buying expensive tube amps, I realized it was mostly hype and customer service you pay for and to be honest, I have a great amp tech nearby and would rather him fix it than send it off for repair. 500$ is my limit nowadays. A Fender blues junior and a Peavey Valveking 2 50 watt combo are all I need especially since no one plays loud anymore, everything is mic'd and sent through the P.A.
I can get these Bugera tones from my Fender Blues Jr easy. But neither will sound like a Dr Z. You have to play them in person to truky experience them. Neither can touch that Dr Z. It can do these tones as well, but they cannot do what it can, Trust me
i got a bugera V22 infinium model my wife got me back in 2015 for my birthday from guitar center in San Deigo not the floor model but ive open the box at my friend band practice and after a week of break in period the amp til this day sound real good and is very pedal friendly never had any problem with the amp i know there are few who had a few problems with there amp but as for me the amp is still running
It seemed too dull in the regular output. It’s hard to directly compare two amps since they are both voiced differently and have too many settings. I did prefer the Dr Z overall but of course it’s a lot more money.
I bought this amp used. It's literally like top 3 amps I've ever used. And I've used amp rigs of a couple professionals that play stadiums. There's just something perfect about the Bugera. Which is crazy for its price. Playing it in person is so crazy, because it sounds like a studio recording sometimes. Bizarre.
people tend to say that the v22 is a great amp in that price range, i think its a great amp in any price range
As an old "Fenderian" (49 years I've played almost all Fender -tube models) - I agree WITH YOUR OPNION. "Buggy" is an excellent amp. Four years ago I bought an Infinium 22-JUST FOR CURIOSITY AND EXPERIMENTATION. (NB: Even without any modifications it is an amp with CHARACTER!) I removed the head and studied a little , electric circuit diagram...Very surprising... Initially, I REPLACED THE CONE with an Eminence 1258-modif .Fender(1997).50 w-8 Ohm.Then I replaced all the 2 original tubes with 2 JJ EL 84, BUT RESULT THERE WAS 100% what i expected. So, I left behind a 1 JJ tube and a 1 Bugera tube(EL 84).
Result: Sonorically 100% -ON THE CLEAN AND DRIVE Channel - HOT ROD (Obviously excluding the "third channel, which in reality is not the third channel, but only on added overdrive.) It can be compared even better with Fender Blues De luxe. This , it's not just my opinion (which could be subjective), but the opinion of 8 friends-guitar colleges, more or less - all with careers spanning more than 40 years.As the quality of the components-exceptional.I didn't think I can after so many years falling in love with an amp again.😍🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸
Best part of this video is how well you articulate your picking volume. Well done sir.
Thank you!
Bugeras really do have an astounding tone, I used to own the 5 watt version and it was amazing, and have played the V22 and the clean side with pedals is very good. But I wonder how they would hold up for a gigging musician. That is were the Dr Zs excels.. They are built like tanks. I have a Dr Z Wreck Jr and it is amazing and is plenty loud at only 15 watts and can keep up with a loud drummer in small rooms. . But for a home player there is nothing wrong with the Bugeras. Excellent comparison, well done.
I genuinely like these Bugeras more than most other amps I've owned that were sub £1000.
I prefer it over the Fender blues Jr, The std Vox AC15, Marshall Origin, Marshall DSL among others.
It just has such a great clean tone which is perfect for pedals. I don't use the drive channel.
I did need to retube them as the stock tubes are cheap and I put a Celestion Greenback in one and a Vintage 30 in the other but they both sound terrific.
It's almost like I'm trying to find reasons why I shouldn't like them but I genuinely do.
Great comparison using a Dr Z. It really shows what the Bugera is capable of. Nice playing as well.
I'm 65 and have played guitar since the age of 11 and electric since I was 15.
Many, many, amps later, I have 3 combos, all 30 watts or under. I have a Line 6 DT25, a Bugera v22 (pre-infinium), and an Ibanez TSA30 combo.
They are all fantastic amps.
The Line 6 has the incredible ability to store 8 different amp models that are available through hardware switching - NOT software voodoo of some sort - and when paired with a POD HD500 or a Helix can give one nearly any sound their heart desires.
Without those effects, one still has immediate access to 2 of the 8 amps at a time via a footswitch.
But my favorite setup at this point in time is the Bugera and the Ibanez stacked and selectable using an a/b/combo switch. I can use one or the other or both at the same time.
With the Bugera, you have EL84s, affording a rather compressed and midrangy Vox style tone that has a beautiful warmth to it.
With the Ibanez and it's 6L6s, you have Fenderish clean and headroom all day, and the added perk of the tube screamer circuit.
With both of them going on a given tune, the sound is pure heaven.
I've had the Bugera for at least 15 years and just had it retubed again with stellar results. Speaker is stock and was never replaced. The Ibanez is still so new that I've done absolutely nothing to it so far.
Those two amps can be had new for under a grand. Unbelievable. Especially for a guy like me who will not pay anything more than I have to for exactly what I need and want.
If I paid 2 grand for that Dr. Z, I still wouldn't have what I do with these two amps together.
The only other combos I feel like I'm really missing at this point is an Egnater Rebel-30 Mark II and/or a VHT Special 6 Ultra 6W. But I'll get around to those too for sure.
With the two amp setup I mentioned before, I've got the night covered with a spare amp if one craps out and three distinct sounds through the a/b/combo footswitch. My only effects pedal is a Zoom MS-50G Multi-FX.
It's almost, or maybe flat out is, even better than the Line 6 DT25 which I may replace with the lower watt VHT.
One final word though as this video was in fact mostly about the Bugera - an incredibly good amp! (and I'm not even going to say "for the price"...
--
Jon Bjork
Thanks for sharing Jon. That sounds like an awesome rig!
Thank you Jon, I'm 64 and your musical "baby brother" :) ..... I'll repost here with a little edit, much of what I just posted on another V22-included demo, fairly coinciding with your impression! ...My opinion otherwise is that our video host is comparing most from the "bright" input (more of a roll-off than bright), and not dialing settings to what most anyone would likely do, when setting the sound you WANT, but (fairly enough as a demo) more simply amp vs amp. Anyways, here's my re-post, thank you again, and thank you ASM!
Having owned tube amps since 1974 (1st one a Fender Super Six, on to Marshall's, old and new Supro's and so on...), my opinion on the V22 (Infinium, stock, no added pedals/effects other than amp channels/settings)... is that it's not just "best for the price" although it's that too. It's among the best amps I've owned, used or have heard. I think where it really excels is at a low up to a medium high volume, enough reverb to suggest in sustain without saturation, gain set to just where backing off on pick/finger attack cleans up, and digging in brings the gain into play. It becomes something you play TO, like you would with a great guitar that has wonderful sonic treasures to find, unique to itself. I've read "Peavey clone" now and again, yet I find the V22 to be smoother in balance overall (maybe the stock speaker voicing?). Definitely a great choice in amps, and/or a great addition for such relatively low cost!
This is a very nice comparison! I’ve never tried the Bugera, but I own the Z-Plus, and I can say that for me it’s the best small tube amp I’ve owned. However, I’m a huge fan of all kinds of amps, and I enjoy playing my Peavey Bandit Red Stripe with my favourite pedals, for example. Dr Z is pricey, but their stuff is made rock-solid, in addition to sounding very nice and being very responsive to playing dynamics at any volume level. I bought the Z-Plus after playing it every time I visited the local shop over a period of 6 months. Love is love, I guess?
It’s a very cool amp!
The Bugera cleans and crunch sounded awesome. When you went back to the Dr Z it sounded thin and less rich after listening to the V22. I'm looking for a V22 now darn it, my wife's going to kill me.
Lol! Just tell her it’s a great deal!
You have only one life. just buy, it's affordable
Your wife won't kill you if you tell her you bought the Bugera INSTEAD of the Dr. Z!
Well? Still alive and rockin?
I like the "larger" sound of the bugera but thats probly the cabinet. There is a high end clarity and overtone thing from the dr Z that you kinda expect in high end amps
Yeah I agree.
@Jacob Bockover My apologies in advance for such a long reply, but...This may be true, but just keep in mind that the Dr. Z has MUCH better quality tubes in it. Unfortunately, virtually all Bugeras come with very marginal quality tubes in them, and it's not even that uncommon to see some Bugera amps shipped with faulty tubes right from the factory (due to the tube's cheapness). So, in nearly all cases, swapping them out for higher quality tubes will give just about any Bugera amp more clarity and dynamics, a smoother overdrive response and better harmonic content than the inferior stock tubes could ever dream of delivering. Additionally, the speaker differences alone are a big factor as well. If you swapped the speaker from Dr. Z into the Bugera, or compared both amps through an extension cab to nullify any speaker variables, those differences would disappear pretty quickly.
But even just a tube swap alone does wonders for just about any Bugera amp I have ever heard or played. I have a friend who has a V22 Infinium and another who owns a 1960 Infinium plexi-style head. In stock form, the V22 was only "okay" and the tone of my other friend's 1960 head wasn't that good at all. However, we all knew swapping out the cheap tubes would do wonders. With a tube swap in each amp, both amps absolutely came alive and responded with much better tone, clarity, picking dynamics and overall harmonic content. The difference was not subtle and the improvement in tone with the 1960 head in particular was startling. With a quality tube swap, I actually prefer the Bugera 1960 head over just about anything Marshall has made over the last 40 years. No word of a lie. It sounds killer. With a high quality tube swap and played through a good cab, its sound is something that truly has to be experienced firsthand.
Many Bugera amps have a ton of potential to be truly excellent sounding amps, and not just "for the price". But, in most cases you'll never discover just how much they can come alive unless you get rid of those cheap stock tubes. It makes all the difference in the world.
Thanks for the walk-through comparison. Both amps sound great to me. Whilst you were playing crunch over the clean loop, I kept wishing you'd hit a few double-stops to see how those would pop.
Noted and thank you!
Thanks for the enlightening comparison. I have both the Bugera V22 (non-Infinium) and V55 purchased about 7 years ago with no issues. They are decent amps for the price. Also have a Dr Z Maz 18 w/Reverb, 2x10 ordered in 2011 and it has significant clout. Both good amps.
You’re welcome Robert!
The Z is clinical-sounding and expensive .. but then again, I love juicy, pushed mids that those EL84s probably excel at. Greg Howe's tone on Wheelhouse is exactly what I like. I wish almost you pitted the Bugera against Govan's V30 Victory amp but yea, for tone AND value, that Bugera wins ..
I own a Bugera v22 for almost a year now, and it is a beast, all of my friends love it, especially when I can get a little bit of break up in the clean channel and they can't believe me when I tell them the price, I did compare it with AC30, Twin Reverb and Marshall JCM 800, by far the nicest clean sounds comes from this amp, not too bright as a AC30, no too mid scooped as the Twin Reverb and not too gainy as the Marshall, and for my style (rock, blues) and obviously, not too pricey, big, and hard to move around, I couldn't get anything better for the price, the things that I don't like is the digital Reverb and the stock tubes, change them for a set of JJs and this thing come alive and now I use it with a HOF mini and is a incredible good pedal platform, since fuzz to tons of delay and modulation and I like the stock speaker too, personally I like darker sounding amps with little treble and tons of mids. Nice comparison
Does it have decent gainy tones at very low volumes?
@@gabrielmorton8054 it has a drive channel with volume and gain and a independent master volume that works with the clean channel too, so you can crank the pre amp and down the output volume same with the clean channel.
I forgot to mention that the amp has a switch in the back to choose between pentode (full wattage) and triode (half wattage). Using it in the triode mode reduces the volume and the headroom quite a bit, using it in the pentode mode gives you lots of headroom and the full volume capability
@@StoTemPil Thanks!
The burgera is a great sounding amp and you cant beat the price but the build quality was not so good when they first came out. I think they fixed that now . What’s amazing about that amp is the technology that allows you to put any tube in and mix and match. It self bais’s itself. Lol you can put an el34 and a 6l6 in at the same time and it will adjust the setting to be able to use it. That’s pretty amazing imo . Cant beat that for the price. It also has a switch that drops down the watts so it can be used as a practice amp.
That is cool!
I've owned a V22 since around 2015. Mine is pre-Infinium. I had to retube the entire amp. The Chinese tube were total garbage. But, after a tube job, it is an awesome amp.
As it is a $500 amp, I leave my nice amps at home and gig with the Bugera. The OD channel leaves a bit to be desired but it takes pedals really well. And I'm not beating up my $2K amps.
The pre-Infinium amps did have some issues with the circuit board. Mine has a crack solder trail currently and is making a light buzzing sound. I have heard of several that totally crapped out and started sounding like an airplane taking off.
But they are a great 1st tube amp.
Thanks for your comment. I agree they are great. I have a Mesa TC-50 for gigs these days but I agree it is an expensive amp to be taking out all the time.
Just bought the Bugera V22 for $200 w/ pedal. Very pleased
That is a crazy good deal!!!
i had always been told that Bugera amps were trash. They were so wrong. This was eye and ear opening. I'm going to order the amp head today. Thank you for the comparison.
I’m not sure the drive channel was great but I always use pedals anyway. I liked the clean a lot, as you can hear it’s very usable and excellent value. I have read that it can be worth swapping the tubes out also, may be worth a go!
@@aaronshortmusic I always run clean and let the amp overdrive, with a tube screamer. i never liked the internal overdriven channels. Sounds very solid state and 1980's. I don't play stoner or death metal so the Bugera should keep me happy. I have to push my Marshall so hard and using a big stack isn't functional in the house anymore.
Modern Hoghunter I’m using a Helix with a power amp and cab right now. It’s working well.
I bought mine when they came out. I got mine for like $250 on a labor day sale or something. I love it. It can crank and sounds soooooo good pushing it in the clean channel with the boost on.
kckrye What a deal!
Cab size does make a difference for sure. Speaker also. Thanx, I have looked both of these recently as I am looking for 1x12 combo. I sort of worn out my mid 70's Deluxe Reverb. I'm going to fix it. Needs new tubes, power chord , new speaker and couple new potentiometers because the git busted off moving it. Far small price to pay with the price of them today.
I have to say in my opinion the Bugera V22 is fatter and fuller sounding with more punch than the DrZ. Actually I have the V55 early non infinium it's an exact copy of a Marshall 2204 and at 50 watts it serves me well as a pedal platform and even a gigging amplifier with more headroom. Roll the Bass off and increase the treble more you might just surprise yourself with the results if you like a thinner sounding amplifier.
EL-84's in the V22.. 6V6's in the Dr. Z.. and its Class A. Theres a switch on the back of the V22.. Pentode/Triode.. switch it to Triode. Bugera hands-down.
I love my Infinium 22 I use it with 2 1x12 Bugera Cabinets they match perfectly. It also takes pedals. If an amp can do natural overdrive I love it. IF an amp can do nice cleans at 1/2 volume I am happy, if the added distortion channel can be adjusted to do a lead. The 22 is easy on tubes and I recommend to use the Bugera speaker cabinets with it.
Thanks, both sound good, the Bugera a little more darker. I saw a comparison between the Bugera v22 and the AC15, there the AC15 sounded better. It is a personal preference like you said
Im an older dude 64, I've owned original fender black faces new dual showman twin, ampeg V4 Pee get classic 112 and many more. Then I bought a v22 head. I had gotten it on eBay refurbished but to me it was brand new factory packaged. I paid 225.00 for the v22 head. A year later I found the same seller selling V55?heads also 225" best amps for the money I ever bought. Buyers copies circuits from vintage amps. They have their heavy metal amps, these are supposed to mimic either fender black faces like the V55 or a Brit sound with it's el34s in the v22. I've had zero problems . They hold up as good as any amp I've ever had. I've never owned a botique amp. But then i only played professionally in the 70s and 80s. Since then I just lead worship teams or play in my home studio. I would love to try your friend z but I can never justify buying one when I don't make a living with out and right now I'm super happy with my buyers amps. Thinking of getting a 5 watt buyers combo 129.00 at Sweet water also tube.
I have heard complaints and about rattling noises in the V-22. The fix is simple, If it happens to you get some lock tight and and and hit every thread you can find. I guess they didn't use any nylock nuts or put any lock tight on the threads.
I had a Bugera Vintage 45 running through a line 6 Spider V With 4 Celestions. Gave it to a budy (The Head) and got a T50 Infinium, and it is a kick ass setup. Blows away most half stacks I have heard. Bought a Marshal Half stack, and returned it. Very harsh sounding, I also Picked up a Vintage V22 infinium, and put an Emerson Cannabis Rex in it, and added an Egnater Tweaker 1x12 extension on it. Great amp to gig, and practice with. Much more portable. When I get a bigger vehicle I'll just take the stack to the practice space, and leave it there, but I'll still take the V22, and extension to gigs. It sounds that good. I get compliments on my sound, When they see it's a Bugera, they are quite surprised. Especially the amp snobs.
Yes I agree it’s not all about the $$$ and name.
I just bought the Bugera V22. I’m No expert with tube amps, but damn is it nice. I bought it used, one owner and it satisfies my needs until I finish my Gibsonette
Great value for sure.
The Dr Z sounds really good, although the cabinet seems a bit small. I have a bugera v22 pre infinium and I love it. Only the original tubes were changed: I wouldn't change anything else! I like the stock speaker (I've seen several comparisons putting top of the line speakers on it and I think some sound good but make the amp lose its character) I bought it second hand, the amp must be about 15 years old: never had a problem! Nothing! It's a very versatile amp, reliable and it sounds damn good.
What tubes you're using for your Bugera Vintage V22?
Im buying the bugera as i watch this it sounds great
It’s a great amp and excellent value.
great video. I have been considering a v22 due to the value. I liked the clean sound a lot and something I need to add to my tones. My Blackstar Studio 10 KT88 doesn't do clean well.
It’s a great amp, especially for the price!
they both sound great! as you say the dr z is four times the price of the bugera.the bugera would make a superb amp for home use.
I have preconceived biases about Behringer, and its not USA built - therefore the Bugera clearly sounds bad. Just kidding. Thats a beautiful sounding amp. Must...Buy....One.....
both sound nice clean, The Z has a nicer drive sound
I’m using a Mark 5:35 now. Review coming soon!
Nice playing! Very smooth. You seem to feel what you play.
And the tone you get out of your v22 is awesome.
Which pedals do you use?
Thank you for your kind words. I actually decided to keep the Dr. Z amp but the V22 was impressive for the $$$. You can see the board in my ‘Pedalboard Vs Helix’ video. I’m probably going to stick with the Helix and Dr. Z but the pedals are great if you want specific effects that the modelers do not have.
@@aaronshortmusic i like the helix. Sounds great... better than the pedalboard.
Im considering to buy the v22... your video shows its potential. Im going to use a digitech rp500 for effects and stuff.
The v22 seems to take the helix well.
Bugera or fender champion 100?
I have not tried the Champion 100 but since it is solid state I would personally go for the Bugera.
On my Bugera I changed the driver to an Eminace and was a noticeable upgrade. Connected it to a 2x12 cab I made and crap it sounds good. The bugera distortion is the weak point
I agree, I didn't care for the drive channel as much as the clean channel.
You had the treble set to less then half way and the bass boosted, no wonder the Bugera sounds pretty dark compared to the Z.
That’s not correct.
@@aaronshortmusic Really? I can see the settings in the video.
@@cloudrun654 Treble is the 6th along from the left. It is straight up at noon.
@@aaronshortmusic Well, that is half way up. And if you look close, it is set to a little less then half. Maxed to the right, around 5 oclock, would be all the way up. Not trying to raise a stink, just pointing out that the treble was low, and the bass was high, and this amp sounded dark for that reason; and it could sound a lot better. Anyway, the Z sounded great.
Cloud Run I could have adjusted it but I kept everything flat for reference. I’m using a Kemper and Katana now but you do have a point as I run the treble high on those. I like a brighter tone. I also changed to non noiseless pickups as I find them to be brighter also. Thanks for watching, I appreciate it!
KEEP the Bugera! LOL! Different speakers in both. Bugera/TS speakers tend to be darker sounding! Best served with a better speaker that has a wider range!
Nice comp however! \m/
Lol thank you but I kept the Dr Z. I love that amp.
Yeah, not surprised Azz, they are good. BUT did it sound 4X BETTER than the V22? No! 1X maybe yes, but not 4X! The articulation and brightness could come down to the speaker used by Dr. Z!
But $500 V $2000 amp compared favourably!
Cheers Guv!
DMSProduktions Does any high end gear ever sound 4x better? No...
;o)
Us guitarists will spend 10x the amount on an amp that is 5% better anyhow haha. I have the V22, they need a retube and i put an Eminence Swamp thang in and its really nice now. Did have a harsh mid freq (and i have a tele) with 'fizz' on the notes and channel 2 is only good with the gain up a fair bit. Great little amp none the less :)
I write on nylon strinvs so i like to get a warm tone for my electrics
Hello Aaron, would you mind telling me which distortion pedal you use here? It sounds great! :-)
I don’t remember. It was probably the Suhr Riot.
Thank you 🙏
I paid 850 nzd new for the v55 as needed something for shows but im hoping it can sound good at practice volumes
Dr. Z vs Bugera is kinda like comparing a Mercedes to a Dodge. The Dr. Z had a high-res sparkle. The Bugera sounds like there is a wet towel covering it. Don't get me wrong, the Bugera is a great entry level tube amp and there is a need for gear like this. You can find a Bugera V22 for $200 used and that's a great amp for that price. But if I was buying an amp for the long term ownership, buying a Dr. Z.
I totally agree!
My thoughts exactly. The DocZ is clear, and that is what you are paying for. Superior parts and the edge on sound. The Bugera are nice amps for their price. I have played gigs with Bugera. No complaints. However, the win is unsuprisedly to Dr Z.
Nice shirt, man. SUN was my first label. --E.P.
I was going to scoff at the degree of the Z's superiority, but compare :52 to 3:52. yes the are EQ settings involved, but you can hear a distinct boxiness to the Bugera, while that Z is bell-like and clear. Sick. But nice, fair treatment of the Bugera, which is still pretty damn good for the price-point!
Well done man ! Helped me make a decision.
You’re welcome!
The z is nice and I am listening through my iPad pro with 4 speakers but I can't hearc1500 dollars difference
"There's a brightness around the note that I don't like"... Um... You never switched back from the "BRIGHT" input which in my opinion as a owner of multiple V22's is GARBAGE... It's not a "bright" input at all. It actually filters the lows our rather than adding mids and highs to obtain the "brightness". Your whole tone throughout the test would have sounded even better (and truer) than it did here if you would have left your signal in the full range input and simply clicked the little mid BOOST button to match your Dr.Z. You could have also tweaked the EQ as you did here for a match which would be expected with different cabinets and especially, different speakers.
The SPEAKER in the Bugera is another story... It's tight as hell before it's broken in yet, sounds pretty damn decent for the price point. But... Break this thing in and it will slap you in the face!... I've tried three of my favorite vintage 12's in one of my amps while using another V22 A/B switched for a side by side comparison and ended up putting the STOCK speaker back in!... It just seems to be perfectly matched for the little beast. It wouldn't have any part of "Gear snob" attitude or my obsession for upgrading lower end equipment. Play that thing to death or leave a loop playing through it until that speaker gives in... You'll LOVE it.
TUBES are a similar scenario... Although the stock Chinese tubes are junk that actually seem to sound pretty damn good initially, a modest set of Ruby-Tubes is a nice treat and a definite improvement for this amp. However... After swapping numerous sets of HIGH dollar vintage Sovtechs, GEs, etc. from what I can only describe as my obsessive collection of NOS 1960's vacuum tubes, the verdict was the same as above... The $50.00 upgrade set brought the amp to the next level, but beyond that, the high end tubes did absolutely NOTHING!... Save your money folks. This amp LOVES blue collar tubes.
LONGEVITY is probably not a consistent factor as these aren't exactly "Hand built", but in my personal experience, I can't complain... I keep my vintage amps at home and have been happily abusing the V22 in their place. I have been gigging and practicing exclusively with these little amps for about 4 years with NO issues. Mine are the "pre Infinium" series, and one is even the dreaded BLUE light model that was known for overheating. I never performed the $5.00 fix as it's never went into "Heat induced auto switching" mode for me. I run a very modest pedal-board and NEVER use the factory foot-swtich and I think that's the reason.
My gigging conditions and storage conditions have been "Less than optimum" and I admittedly abuse these amps because of the price point. There are times they have been stored in a van outdoors in scorching heat or freezing Wisconsin winters. There was a 5 hour job in 103 degree heat that took out my second guitarist and sent him to the medical tent, but not this amp, We had another outdoor job the following day in nearly the same conditions. I had the clean gain at 5 and the master set at 8 the entire time with NO heat issues...These things have been RAINED ON (short periods of time) more times than I can count.
I was lucky enough to score my first NEW V22 from Sweetwater at a one time price of $225.00 USD (Not a typo), and my others in "like new" condition bought second hand for less than $200.00 each. I love bringing an EXACT duplicate of my main amp for a back-up but I've never needed one. Sometimes I'll use the back-up to run stereo, but mostly, it just waits happily in the van, listening to it's brother from afar.
The only thing I've done besides the previously described experiments was...
A: Remove the tube cage.. It WILL cause problems and will also be a MAJOR headache if you ever need to replace a tube while gigging... (Maybe they changed it on the Infinium)
B: I've gone through the cabinet and hand-tightened all of the screws and fasteners, as my irresponsible storage and handling of these amps is, of course, going to cause some cabinet expansion and contraction. I never had any serious rattles (after removing the tube cage) but I've gotten some "quarter turns" on factory set cabinet and speaker mounting screws. This would have probably been the same with ANY cabinet.
Back to your review... An excellent review (Thumbs-up), but put a cap over that "Bright" input! ;-)
Wow thank you for this information. I didn’t keep the amp long and sold them both but I was genuinely impressed with the Bugera. I currently have a Mesa Mark 5:35 combo which I really love but again it’s a much more expensive amp. The Bugera (with the upgrades and tips that you mentioned) is an excellent choice.
@@aaronshortmusic - Nice choice. I have some older Mesa products that I'll use for recording, and you just can't go wrong.... It's still a blast watching other guitarists look at the V22 on stage and wonder how much I spent in "Upgrades" ;-)...
My bass player installs vinyl wraps on commercial vehicles and I had him do a partial wrap on my early 80's American Strat... To make it look like a "Hello Kitty" guitar! complete with the Squier headstock logo. You should see the heads explode when I bring that one out. :))
It's even more fun listening to recorded shows and loving your own live sound. Something I've struggled with for YEARS. Dial it in at home all day long and you'll still never match that sound on stage.
Even my '64 Fender Bandmaster (Great straight line tone) had it's arguments with some of the pedals I used for classic rock cover tunes. I wouldn't let that amp go for 5X the price I paid for my new Bugera. What's wrong here?
I hope your video let players wanting to try tubes know that they don't need to sell their guitar just to afford a great sounding amp. Also, older guys should note that these things weigh a LOT less than your vintage fender combo without losing that sweet sound. Bonus!
Excellent info given! Thx!
I have been looking at getting the V22, I'm sure that a big difference will be noticed as I've been using the Katana 50...I miss the tube feeling/sound though...
I like the idea of running a clean mode and using my pedals... and the Katana has all these bells and whistles that I don't even care for...
I don't know but this Bugera V22 seems to have a nice sound and the way I like to use amps, it just may be perfect! I might also add that last year I got a Fender blues junior lV but for home use it was crazy loud! One thing about the KATANA is you can use lower watt settings...
I'm thinking less watts would be perfect... and I will keep in mind what you mentioned about buying some tubes, I should get "Ruby Tubes" right?!
Great comment. Enjoyed it as much as the original video.
Pickup are microphonic..
7:00 Bugera loop
8:08 Dr. Z loop
dr z for sure
Thanks for the demo. Wow! The comments can get dowright nasty. I wont post anymore because of that. Most of the negative comments are from people that really dont know what they are talking about.
You can’t take anything personally on RUclips. At the end of the day I am just testing my gear to decide what I like and what I don’t and sharing those experiences with others.
4:58 theres like a brightness around the notes that i dont like. well it was plugged into the bright channel after all.
I meant in general. I just preferred the Dr Z but the Bugera was a very good amp, especially for the price.
@@aaronshortmusic tone nob
This is comparing an Acura to a Honda Civic. Both have a lot of similarities, but the higher end has more. There is a reason for the difference in price. Which ever one someone thinks is better depends on their ears and perception.
i imagine if you spent a couple hundred more quid on a good speaker for the bugera it would sound better then the dr z because ov it's cabinet size
It’s possible. That Dr Z is a REALLY great amp though.
I have 2 of these Bugeras. I put a Celestion creamback in one and a greenback in the other. Sounds superb. I actually prefer them to my hand wired vox
about time you bought some decent gear
Thank you but I don’t have either of them anymore!
@@aaronshortmusic niCe playing on that strat...next time play babys comin home or mister sandman...i freakin dare you
as Jerry reed would sayyy
"SONNNNNNNNN"
;)
Keith Clark Awesome. It’s great value for sure!
The Bugera's cleans are serviceable, but when overdriven it sounds like what it is- a cheap amp. Although I will point out that your leg was in the path of the mic>speaker of the Bugera, and not of the Z. While I'm not sure how much difference that makes, it IS a tone comparison and we're all about splitting hairs, ha. Thanks for the video, nicely done.
I can promise you in person and when pushing the z plus, it blows the bugera completely away. You can play a whole Allman brother show with just the z plus and eq bypass with correct tones. I’ve played the bugera and it’s completely impossible to get throaty girthy tones just from the amp.
Thanks Aaron. The Bugera is excellent value but the Z Plus is fantastic.
@@aaronshortmusic exactly. I wasn’t directing that at you. I was directing it at the people who think the bugera even comes close to the z plus. It’s quite comical lol.
Once re tubed with some jj's the infinium comes alive. Does it sound as good as a $2000 dollar Dr z? No, but it's close! Got to laugh at the chumps who paid $2000 for an amp that's just 20% better than an intro level cheap tube amp!
turn up the presence on the Bugera
Did you keep Bugera in the end?
No, I sold it and kept the Dr Z but now I have Mesas...
@@aaronshortmusic
Stuff out of reach of us, commoners...
@@Phoenix_cataclysm_in_2040 Well the Bugera was impressive...
Get a Dumble or a clone and be done with it .. Absolutely love my 3
I haven't played tube amps before, so this might sound like a dumb question, but would the V22 be considered an upgrade from a Boss Katana 50? If so, is the feeling and sound much different from a 'somewhat decent' solid-state?
That’s hard to say. A tube amp is ‘the real thing’ and some people say they sound or ‘feel’ better to play. They are also more fragile and need to be maintained. You really have to compare the two amps in question and decide for yourself.
@@aaronshortmusic Thanks for the quick reply! I guess I'm going for a ride then :)
Robert Koster I find a good tune amp (like a fender twin) sounds fuller and more ‘3D’) but solid state can be lighter and more flexible (built in effects etc). They are different but I would choose a tube amp most times.
Robert when i first started playing i was much younger so in those days i had no choice other than to buy solid state amps but once i could afford the tube amps i must say they are much better and are literally like night and day compared to solid state amps. I will say solid state amps have come a long way and the more expensive ones sound damn close if not just like a tube amp, But in my experience and for me i prefer tube amps !!! Whatever you decide good luck....
Well done.
the best Dr Z . It is very best
They are great amps!
The Z is a lovely amp and wanna be for the $$$'s. Put vintage Amperex or Mullard pres and good el84's in the Bug and you have a killer boutique amp for near to nix!
Yes you’re right, almost any piece of gear can be modded and improved. You just have to decide if it’s worth doing that over buying a more expensive item in the first place...
I've had this amp. Cleans are excellent. Drive channel very poor.
I agree. I preferred the clean channel to the drive channel.
@@aaronshortmusic It depends. If you set the drive channel with a rather low gain and a fairly high volume, you might be surprised, in a good way, at the result with possible pedals.
Kinda crazy but goes to show yes the Dr Z is 4 times the price, but doesnt offer 4 times the better sound. If strip both of the amps down to there bare bones I think youll be surprised, left wondering why your paying 4 times the money for amp A over amp B..... the Bugera infinium is an unbelievable buy for the "money"...
This is the case for a lot of stuff..
A big online retailer has a new 6 watter, it's 3000 bucks 😮
When you watch the, guts, there are a few components sold on a turret board, a 100€ speaker, and 100 bucks for the cabinet.
😂..
Clean is where the V22 does it’s best tones. The distorted and overdriven tones are pants. Though that could be down to how the whole thing has been mic’d up. As thought the same with the DrZ too.
I only used a room LDC mic here. A guitar cab mic would have been better. I’ll use that next time.
Uhhh, Keep the Bugera and sell that overpriced amp and go buy a les Paul 🤘🏻
I heard an ugly rumor 😉 that every once in a while an outta phase single coil pickup sounds nice and is appropriate for Many different tunes if ya ever do covers. Pauls are Great! Please don't misunderstand, each guitar is great in itself.
gheddi Personal opinion, but strats are more versatile
Just got a v22 and have a telephone led paul tribute to learn guitar I'm excited
@@welsleygrondin9397 A " telephone led paul" is what you get when you allow your Telecaster to reproduce with an Epiphone Les Paul. How did this happen?
@@Kevlarel84 more like telecaster, epiphone, led zeppeline, paul mccartney having a foursome.
Honestly, if you had 2 identical Dr Z's but one was rebadged with Stagg or Squier - many/most players would swear on a pile of bibles that the non Z was garbage compared to the 'real' Z. It's mostly perception and the skills of the player/demonstrator.
I don’t agree. They are excellent amps, some of the best I’ve ever played.
@@aaronshortmusic Hi...sorry, I wasn't crear enough. If you took exactly the same 2 high end Z amps but pulled the 'Z' insignia off one of the amps and replaced it with for example a 'Stagg' insignia (which is, when compared to Dr Z, very very very low end musical equipment), even though they were exactly the same high end amps, because one had a low end badge on it, people would believe that they hear low end sounds from it. See what I'm saying ? the badge dictates peoples expectations in many cases.
Ah yes I agree. We pay for the name and history as well.
I stopped buying expensive tube amps, I realized it was mostly hype and customer service you pay for and to be honest, I have a great amp tech nearby and would rather him fix it than send it off for repair. 500$ is my limit nowadays. A Fender blues junior and a Peavey Valveking 2 50 watt combo are all I need especially since no one plays loud anymore, everything is mic'd and sent through the P.A.
excellent point I owned everything but sometimes when you spend some money you do get the magic
I can get these Bugera tones from my Fender Blues Jr easy. But neither will sound like a Dr Z. You have to play them in person to truky experience them. Neither can touch that Dr Z. It can do these tones as well, but they cannot do what it can, Trust me
The Z is limited by the cab size. A head and cab would be more flexible.
@@aaronshortmusic I have an extention cab with 2 Celestion golds that sounds amazing
@@realtruenorth That will do it!
Dr Z for me
Did you use the same dist pedal ?
Yes
i got a bugera V22 infinium model my wife got me back in 2015 for my birthday from guitar center in San Deigo not the floor model but ive open the box at my friend band practice and after a week of break in period the amp til this day sound real good and is very pedal friendly never had any problem with the amp i know there are few who had a few problems with there amp but as for me the amp is still running
Thanks for the update Ricardo. They are excellent amps for the price.
@@aaronshortmusic Why for the price ? The V22 is excellent amp , short.
strat plus 95 it wasn’t for me but it was impressive.
Buy a mic setup.
I have mics.
@@aaronshortmusic I think he means one for you speaking, you're barely audible. Maybe get a clip on mic for your speaking
@@rickhammel9541 I have that now. This video is like 5 years old!
Bugera wins in my ears
Well I think the bugera sounds loads better
I don’t have either anymore but they were both great amps!
"There's a brightness around the note witch i don't like" maybe try not plugging into the bright input
It seemed too dull in the regular output. It’s hard to directly compare two amps since they are both voiced differently and have too many settings. I did prefer the Dr Z overall but of course it’s a lot more money.
Had to laugh!!
roll off the Presence control..
Tubes on bugera are not good
Have you heard of re-tubing?
they shouldn't be that bad for 400
@@Estuardino71 u can't really push them so
Bugera sounds far more analogue/tubey.
I bought this amp used. It's literally like top 3 amps I've ever used. And I've used amp rigs of a couple professionals that play stadiums. There's just something perfect about the Bugera. Which is crazy for its price. Playing it in person is so crazy, because it sounds like a studio recording sometimes. Bizarre.
Record with a mic BRUH
Audio doesn't sound good
If you look in the middle of the screen you can see the microphone that I used to record the audio...
Dudes blind af. And probably listening through phone speakers. 12 year olds....
@@aaronshortmusic ok then get a better mic lol, bad demo
AlienZone 2000 Thank you for your feedback.
leave 2000 I love all your demos, they sound great. Good mic on them, I can tell ...
Total garbage
I've owned two of them and they were both nothing but trouble. Never again. There is no such thing as a good amp for a reasonable price
True but also expensive amps can have issues too.