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Bugera 1960 for bass
- Thread starter Koffelito
- Start date
Hi folks!
I just joined this forum. I am a guitar player, not a bass guitar player. I desired to voice my comments on this forum with regard to the Bugera 1960 Infinium and you, the forum members.
First, it was very refreshing to find this forum, this thread in particular. At another very popular "gear" forum, it is just tiring to read the cork-sniffing "boutique" folks over there. There are a TON of negative comments on the other "gear" forum about Bugera or Behringer in general. Discussions can get outright caustic.
However, I think Bugera has a hit some good marks recently. I was not only impressed with the look of the amps, but they have TONE which is vital. You guys have provided objective, valuable and informative discussions regarding this particular amp. It is the second Bugera amp I've taken a chance on sight unseen and unheard, bought over the Internet.
I've had a few minor problems with mine straight out of the box. 3 of the 4 EL34s where microphonic. A re-tube was necessary, but it sounds fantastic.
This amp is LOUD and having the PPIMV helps tremendously. I was thinking of getting a power soak to run it at 80% with the PPIMV disabled. I'm running with just two EL34s. I don't need much clean headroom. I'm a rock guitar player!
My other amp is the BC30-212. It chewed up two of the 12AX7s out of the box, but another re-tube brought it back to a player.
Anyway, thank you very much for your objective, informative and valuable discussion. It is very refreshing, even though you guys play a guitar with only four strings.
Cheers!
\m/
I just joined this forum. I am a guitar player, not a bass guitar player. I desired to voice my comments on this forum with regard to the Bugera 1960 Infinium and you, the forum members.
First, it was very refreshing to find this forum, this thread in particular. At another very popular "gear" forum, it is just tiring to read the cork-sniffing "boutique" folks over there. There are a TON of negative comments on the other "gear" forum about Bugera or Behringer in general. Discussions can get outright caustic.
However, I think Bugera has a hit some good marks recently. I was not only impressed with the look of the amps, but they have TONE which is vital. You guys have provided objective, valuable and informative discussions regarding this particular amp. It is the second Bugera amp I've taken a chance on sight unseen and unheard, bought over the Internet.
I've had a few minor problems with mine straight out of the box. 3 of the 4 EL34s where microphonic. A re-tube was necessary, but it sounds fantastic.
This amp is LOUD and having the PPIMV helps tremendously. I was thinking of getting a power soak to run it at 80% with the PPIMV disabled. I'm running with just two EL34s. I don't need much clean headroom. I'm a rock guitar player!
My other amp is the BC30-212. It chewed up two of the 12AX7s out of the box, but another re-tube brought it back to a player.
Anyway, thank you very much for your objective, informative and valuable discussion. It is very refreshing, even though you guys play a guitar with only four strings.
Cheers!
\m/
Unfortunately, I went through two of them. Both died for unknown reasons. One also came with microphonic power tubes and the wrong mains fuse. I had to replace it with the correct spec, according to the panel on the back of the amp. They've been returned.
Since then, I've had a custom amp made by Union Jack Amps.
http://www.unionjackamps.com
\m/
Since then, I've had a custom amp made by Union Jack Amps.
http://www.unionjackamps.com
\m/
I haven't had any issues with mine, 19 months and counting of gigging 2 times/month + weekly practices.
I have JJ EL34s in mine, and I run it through either a Carvin 410 or an Avatar 212, and have run both a couple times.
Not sure if it matters, but I have the original, non-master-volume 1960. I also use a Tom Scholz Power Soak on my 1960 almost all of the time, but I only use it to crank it down 3/6/9 dBs; I never soak it down to bedroom levels.
bigchiefbc, you may have something there about yours being the non-Infinium version of the 1960... Both mine came as Infiniums, even though the website I ordered from showed the original non-master volume amp.
Rock on! \m/
Rock on! \m/
I think the Bugeras fail at a rate of any other tube amps today. My Bugera 1960 I was sold to my guitarist and really only had two issues.
Right out of the box, those EL34 and 12AX7 are bobo.... Swap those out ASAP. I'm sorry, IMO they sound horrible and bad quality.
Second , there was a wire inside I had to repair that wasn't properly soldered to the board that blew some fuses. I fixed that and haven't had a problem since.
Now keep in mind that there are several internal fuses on these amps. If a power tube arcs or a tube failure occurs, it can pop the internal fuses. IIRC there are 3-4 inside.
So, I've read several posts about their 1960 stop working, but I rarely here that the internal fuses were checked and the power tubes were replaced. If you put a little into this amp with $$ and knowledge you will find it works just as well as any other Marshall out there.
Right out of the box, those EL34 and 12AX7 are bobo.... Swap those out ASAP. I'm sorry, IMO they sound horrible and bad quality.
Second , there was a wire inside I had to repair that wasn't properly soldered to the board that blew some fuses. I fixed that and haven't had a problem since.
Now keep in mind that there are several internal fuses on these amps. If a power tube arcs or a tube failure occurs, it can pop the internal fuses. IIRC there are 3-4 inside.
So, I've read several posts about their 1960 stop working, but I rarely here that the internal fuses were checked and the power tubes were replaced. If you put a little into this amp with $$ and knowledge you will find it works just as well as any other Marshall out there.
carbonfold, I did retube the second Infinium. But, I don't have the technical skills to poke around inside an amp. I am confident with user serviceable things like retubing and replacing fuses. I actually liked the Infinium technology for ease of retubing power tubes. But after replacing the wrong/blown mains fuse with the correct one, it still failed. I did check the internal fuses one by one and they were not blown. So, something else went wrong. A new amp should not blow fuses in the first place. That is an indicator something else is amiss. It didn't inspire confidence with me to go ahead and get a third brand new 1960.
I'll also agree to a point with your comment that Bugeras can fail at the same rate as other tube amps. If the amp can last a month or so of playing, not abuse, it should keep on working for its life. The lemons fail soon out of the box.
On the minus side, I've discovered it is challenging to find tube amp techs that will even touch Bugera-type amps. Most prefer non-PCB amps or "big brand name" amps with parts and service manuals aplenty.
Bugera does make some tasty-sounding amps... the ones that aren't lemons!
\m/
I'll also agree to a point with your comment that Bugeras can fail at the same rate as other tube amps. If the amp can last a month or so of playing, not abuse, it should keep on working for its life. The lemons fail soon out of the box.
On the minus side, I've discovered it is challenging to find tube amp techs that will even touch Bugera-type amps. Most prefer non-PCB amps or "big brand name" amps with parts and service manuals aplenty.
Bugera does make some tasty-sounding amps... the ones that aren't lemons!
\m/
I'm going to have to get one of these, sooner or later. Hopefully sooner! I'll probably go over it with a fine-toothed comb before I even use it a first time, however. There seems to be an issue with Bugera's being wonky "out of the box". However, as stated before, if you don't have a lemon, you've got a rockin amp for little coin....win!
Today I bought a used 1960 Infinium. It's my first tube amp, and after playing with it for a few minutes I think I'm in love 
The amp only has one flaw: it gets REALLY noisy when I turn the volume up.
The seller told me that he never changed the stock tubes, so I thought one of them might not be working properly. Should I replace the preamp tubes or the el34s in the power section? I will eventually replace all of them, but right now I just want to eliminate the noise.
The amp only has one flaw: it gets REALLY noisy when I turn the volume up.
The seller told me that he never changed the stock tubes, so I thought one of them might not be working properly. Should I replace the preamp tubes or the el34s in the power section? I will eventually replace all of them, but right now I just want to eliminate the noise.
Mr. Foxen
Commercial User
Swap around the preamp valves and see if it changes the sound, if one is noisy, being in a later position with less gain after it will reduce the noise. Ideally swap about with a known good valve.
I took sme photos of the inside of my Infinium one, been told a lot of techs can't work on the, Since its normal through hole pcb on discrete boards, not really sure how those techs work on any amps. The infinium bit itself is fairly fiddly. http://ampstack.wordpress.com/2014/03/20/bugera-behringer-1960-infinum-amp-guts/
I took sme photos of the inside of my Infinium one, been told a lot of techs can't work on the, Since its normal through hole pcb on discrete boards, not really sure how those techs work on any amps. The infinium bit itself is fairly fiddly. http://ampstack.wordpress.com/2014/03/20/bugera-behringer-1960-infinum-amp-guts/
Just got the Infinium version for $399. Plenty of power through my 810e. Sounds amazing. There's no replacing that enveloping tube growl.
So glad I didn't spend 3.5X more on a 100 watt all tube Ampeg or Fender!
Plus, my Strat sounds amazing through it. (I've always wanted a Super Lead!) I don't understand why everyone doesn't use these.
So glad I didn't spend 3.5X more on a 100 watt all tube Ampeg or Fender!
Plus, my Strat sounds amazing through it. (I've always wanted a Super Lead!) I don't understand why everyone doesn't use these.
Just got the Infinium version for $399. Plenty of power through my 810e. Sounds amazing. There's no replacing that enveloping tube growl.
So glad I didn't spend 3.5X more on a 100 watt all tube Ampeg or Fender!
Plus, my Strat sounds amazing through it. (I've always wanted a Super Lead!) I don't understand why everyone doesn't use these.
Is this for guitar or bass? And what model did you buy? Oh, and CONGRATS on a great purchase!
It's for both! Mostly for bass as I have no need for that mich power for guitar, and only a single 1x12 open back guitar cab. There's some ice-picky high end resonance on guitar through the 810e, for which the neighbors should be grateful as it means I won't be playing my Strat through it.Is this for guitar or bass? And what model did you buy? Oh, and CONGRATS on a great purchase!
I bought the 1960 Infinium.
Mr. Foxen
Commercial User
Think its a case of just use the normal input. Can follow the circuit round and find the right cap though.
