Bugera BVP5500 550W Valve Bass Amplifier Head  

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.

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.

Lots of bells & whistles.

Appears to have been solidly built

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.

  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!

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.

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 ?

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.