One tiny complaint on an otherwise awesome product
"I love how this chimes when you replace the input tube with a jj803s reissue and the output with a mullard el84 reissue. But that output el84 is almost wasted. If it wasn't such a chime machine it would matter. It easily keeps up with my chime configured Lil Night Train. But when I want the output tube to distort, that's no problem with the lil night train's 12ux7. It's shame I can't make that noise at low watt settings because it's not a real attenuator. Try it. Try to set it to 1 watt or .1 and turn the volume all the way up and get the output to clip. Won't happen. It will set to full power turned up, and be a lot louder than you think it's going to be. I'm probably going to get a real thd hotplate off ebay. But I mean for the price, you are still getting an outstanding class A real tube amp with a very impressive sounding reverb, even if it's not a tank. Can't recommend the combination of the JJ ECC803S reissue with the Mullard EL84 reissue in this one enough. That's the other thing. The choice of tubes is easy and inexpensive if you want a chime machine that can then take a pedal for metal. It really loves the Suhr Riot a lot. The dynamics of the two work together like magic, especially with a 1x12 cab with a blue, greenback, or v30. You get these lush rich distortions that work for anything. You can get the cheap Mooer Solo riot clone but courts out on if it's as good. I think it is. Some folks don't."
High quality practice amp
"I am an admitted tone freak, and not just on gigs. I practice daily even though I have been a professional guitarist for 50 years (have played with Miles Davis, Gregg Allman, Bill Champlin etc). I was looking for a low-power but high-quality amp just for practicing so that I can drive the amp into saturation without having the cops show up.
I have a studio and I practice along with backing tracks, youtube videos, and even my own songs which I have recorded. In the YouTube demo of the Bugera I was immediately impressed by the quality of sound. It had what I call "suppleness" by which I mean a kind of cushiness as opposed to a hard unforgiving type of sound more suitable for aggressive rock styles.
As soon as I plugged into the Bugera I liked it. It breaks up musically and it has three power settings; 5 watts, 1 watt and 0.1 watt. In addition it has an LED to indicate when the power tube (EL84) needs to be replaced. Brilliant idea! At any price, it's a good amp but for less than $250 including tax, it's a no-brainer!"
Reverb iffy and intermittent
"I wanted a mate to my Black Face Champ, to road.
This is a replacement for my little Epiphone 4 watt combo, that I should have kept.
A 4 ohm out put is pretty ideal.
Don't let 5 watts keep you from running large bottoms. Worry about the bottoms not the amp.
I had some EL84s and 7025s laying around.
The stock tubes are just fine!
The reverb sounds better than expected, when it works. It has become intermittent.
It gets jolted back on when I engage the Phat switch.
I am not sure what that Phat switch actually does, nor have I found a schematic.
But man do I like it.
This deserves a foot switch.
Being old school I run the master nailed open and control the amp with the gain.
It is lively around 5 1/4 .
The power choices work, but suck the life out.
I have been staying on 5 (I think more like 4 rms)
And pushing two 10" Vintage 30s.
8s leave me flat.
It would be too much of a hassle to return it over the reverb.
I'll look for a cold solder joint one of these days.
I had planned to do a NFL mod, but the Phat switch seems to cover that!
Hope this helps. Chris"
