Bugera BVP5500 550W Tube Bass Amplifier Head 

Comments about Bugera BVP5500 550W Tube Bass Amplifier Head:

This amp is amazing. it has an xlr out, can power 2 cabs, has a tuner out, and sounds incredible. people can actually hear good bass when they go to shows that im playing at. highly recomend.

Comments about Bugera BVP5500 550W Tube Bass Amplifier Head:

I really like this amp - plenty of punch. There are tons of options for connecting to DI, pre-amp out, power amp in, fx loop. I played it last night for about 4 hours and it ran flawlessly. The only thing is the manual is really a 2 page quick start guide. It basically gives the run-down on now to use the controls but you'll have to experiment a lot to learn how to use them. I found the Gain control is very touchy. If i had it on 5 it was too low and didn't give enough punch but at 6 it started "Farting" out. I had to get it somewhere in between. The quick start guide shows you need to get the clip light to just occasionally light up when a strong note is hit but NOT have it stay on. That's easier said than done. I found I had to set it a bit lower after getting that setting (lighting sometimes) otherwise my low E notes would make the amp clip and start "Farting". Also, the Valve Gain for the pre-amp tubes is not very useful in the lower settings below halfway and kind of sucks the life out of the tone - however, that can be compensated for in the 10 band EQ section. I think you can get a decent solid state amp sound that way but it's not for me. I love the SVT sound so I stay mostly in the 8-10 area. This is a decent HYBRID (tube pre-amp, solid state power amp) - tons of sound shaping controls, lots of output options and a decent amount of power (550 Watts peak/300 Watts RMS into 4 ohms). That 550 Watts peak seems a bit misleading but it really does sound LOUD and being driven by 4 tubes in the pre-amp it really can get very loud and punchy. I'm driving a Hartke 4x10 and a Behringer 1x15 w/aluminum cones. This amp could easily drive an 8x10. I wouldn't put this on any cab combo that had less than 600 watts of handling capability. So far i'm liking it and I hope it holds up. I think if it's used correctly and not abused and you learn how to use the controls it should be a keeper.

Comments about Bugera BVP5500 550W Tube Bass Amplifier Head:

I can't say I don't like this amp, because I do. She's solid and reliable(after you take care of the minor things). I usually use a tube overdrive to add a nice crispness to it and to push the preamp tubes a little harder. She sounds good and rumbles too, pair her with an 8x10 and you're set to gig.
It has everything a bassist could want, graphic EQ, tube preamp, and a decent supply of power. The Gain knob is NOT for overdriving the tubes. If you crank the gain on this thing it will sound like a farting mess. The three band EQ is decent the mid switch is a little flakey and its hard to get a not over powering openess in the midrange. Valve drive adds a nice warmth to the bottom end but if rolled down seems to suck the life out of the amp. The Graphic EQ works well, no complaints there.
This is where things went down hill, if you buy this amp invest in fuses as well because she eats them. I had to replace the fuses every few gigs until I invested in Slo-blows. Also, get rid of the stock tubes, they are some of the lowest quality tubes I have ever seen or used in my entire life. I recommend Electro Harmonix Tubes, they really liven this amp up.
I enjoy the amp, it simply took sorting out in the quality department. All flaws aside she's a good solid amp and she has served me well. Definitely loud, and not as heavy as they get.

Comments about Bugera BVP5500 550W Tube Bass Amplifier Head:

I bought this head based on the good reviews it received. It seemed like a great deal for the price. I also bought a Fender rumble 410 cabinet (rated at 1000w/500w @ 4 ohms) to go with it. I set the controls as instructed in the brochure (I'd call it a manual, but it isn't very detailed), and plugged in. Very disappointing - the low notes (from low A down) on my Steinberger bass buzzed, rattled and distorted terribly - and the amp volume was set to 1! I tried adjusting the controls six way to Sunday, EQ on/off, valves on/off, but nothing made it sound any better. At this point, I wasn't sure if it was the head or the cabinet, so I plugged in my 15" cabinet - same results. I then plugged the Fender cabinet into the 4 ohm extension speaker out on my Eden Nemesis amp - the cabinet sounded great! loud and clean with no buzz or distortion.
Lots of bells & whistles.
Appears to have been solidly built

Comments about Bugera BVP5500 550W Tube Bass Amplifier Head:

So far, so good... I have to admit I am still skeptical about how long it will hold up only based on it's price. That being said... feels and looks sturdy, quality knobs & inputs ... everything "says" quailty, if it lasts - it is probably HANDS DOWN the best value for the power and sound. It took about 30 minutes for the tubes to settle in the first time I played through it, out of the box - 4 hours of jamming solid and no problems! Had 3 or 4 sessions with it now and a gig coming up - keeping my fingers crossed it doesn't fail because it sounds killer! It is a keeper!

Comments about Bugera BVP5500 550W Tube Bass Amplifier Head:

Overall rating of this amp is an "8"; does what is advertised - great power for price to larger cabs (I am feeding a 4x10 vintage Peavy cab and a 2x12 vintage Fender Cab together), clean, sharp tube pre-amped sound with much versatility with tone.
This head unit provides more than ample diversity in tone shaping with the fretless Fender Jazz that I use most when playing out.
The head unit worked as advertized for about a week; died horrabily during a jam after only owning and using for 12 days. Some uncontrolled distortion in the sound happened after about 10 days before dieing eventualy when in the spotlite on stage. Never cool when new equipment fails on stage.
After recieving the replacement for the defective unit, I have pummeled this head unit in the full sence of what I and my bass can throw at it and it has performed flawlessly.
Quality, features, tone, price, customer service; Excellant!

Comments about Bugera BVP5500 550W Tube Bass Amplifier Head:

I have been playing for 40 years. A few things I have learned along the way is to buy quality and this amp is quality. If you need a name, go buy another amp that costs much more. Amps can be designed anywhere, Germany, U.K. or U.S.A. since production costs are less in China, they are all made there, just like all the resistors, capacitors, I.C's, transistors, pots, you name it, that are in all the amps, name brands too. I would prefer to buy an amp made in the USA, but that's not the case, they are made in China. Before anyone tries to B.S. you about this amp, ask them How do They Know ? There are a few manufactures that procuduce the amps, boards and components for all the brand names. I have A/B's this amp with the name brands, hearing is believing. Buy this amp and you will have saved money for the other equipment you want. If you don't believe me, just call your favorite amp company and find out for yourself, where they are made and get the details as to the city and factory,ask where the parts come from, they are selling their name. They know where they are made, but they may not want to tell you. Go A/B the amp, same guitar, same speaker cab, see (hear) for yourself, you be the judge.
Just like the Ampeg SVT3PRO, you can add in or out the EQ section. Just like the Ampeg, the rear panel is virtually identical.
I just recieved the amp and only have played it for ONE gig and several hours of practice. It's everything advertised.
To get the same amp that is probably made in the same factory in China, only with a NAME, you get to pay 3x more, Why ?

Comments about Bugera BVP5500 550W Tube Bass Amplifier Head:

I have been playing with this unit for about a year, and i love this thing. its not too expensive and for the price its more than worth it. it has enough power to play any kind of gig, big or small. i do advise getting a rackmount case for this, because if the knobs get bumped hard enough it will screw something up on the inside and its not a cheap fix.

Comments about Bugera BVP5500 550W Tube Bass Amplifier Head:

I recently picked up this amp as a backup for my Eden E300 320 watt all tube amp. I just wanted something to plug into my cabinets at home and the reviews looked pretty solid. I can tell you for the price there is a whole lot of amp here and the tone was unbelieveably good when hooked up to my Avatar 4 Ohm b410 neo cab. There is plenty of head room for any gig we would play and I play with two guitar players using Bogner Alchemists. There seems to be unlimited possibilities to the range of sounds you can create with this thing and all comes through exceptionally clean. I can truly say that for a fifth of the price of my Eden, this thing can measure up. The amp seems to be built like a tank and should give anyone years of reliable service. I took a chance as I am not a big Behringer fan, and am glad I did.

Comments about Bugera BVP5500 550W Tube Bass Amplifier Head:

I love this head. This is a mojor upgrade from micing up my little 12" 80W guitar amp. My bass never had the power it needed. I was AMAZED by how fast I received it. I used the free shipping and had it 32 hours later. The valve and the mid-frequency control do little to nothing but that doesn't matter much for me any way. You can get so many tones out of this ting its amazing. I love the footswitch to switch back and forth between my normal tone and the one I have set on the Graphic EQ's. The mute switch on the foot switch is one of my favorite features. :) The only thing that suprised me was the weight. The thing is about 30 lbs. Along with my 100lb Behringer UltraBass 1200W 4x10, my rig is about 130lbs. Thats ok though, considering I don't have to carry it a mile and a half. I would recommend this head to ANY amatuer and above bassist that is goig gigging. tis got the power, the presence, the beauty, and the balls to fill up anywhere that your playing. I can't wait to get my other 8x10 and make this thing into a full stack. Baby plays like a dream and I owuld recommend to any one. BUY NOW!!!!!