• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Just bought the Bugera BVP5500!

I recently bought the Bugera BVP5500 and yesterday I tried it at a gig with my own build 4x8 cab.
It's amazing what this amp can do for such a small price!
One other bassplayer used my rig to play his gig as well and he was not dissapointed. In conjunction with the 4x8 it has lots of attack.
I listened off-stage when the other guy played, it punched right through the other instruments, great. The other bassplayer normaly uses Eden amplifiers, he was impressed by what the compact rig could do.
The tone is just there, no complaints at all. I also used the DI to get the signal to the board, perfect. This one does not go back to the store:bassist:.
 
Yesterday I got two new tubes to try in the V1 and V4 position. They are Philips JAN 5751 tubes Invalid Link Removed. Suddenly the tone went from good to excellent, very hifi like but still the butterness of the tubes. I also have a BBE Bmax-t, it may be more silent (the bugera is dead quiet too), but the tone of the Bugera with the new tubes is on par or even slightly better. It sounds more lively.
These 5751 tube have a slightly lower gain then the 12ax7 tubes so the tone stays more clear.
I also took some pictures of the open Bugera. The contruction is good, it even has a part with rubber caps for the tubes to hold them in position.
The transistors are 3 pairs of Toshiba 2SA1943/2SC5200, they should be able to get a power of 200watts RMS at 8ohms and 340watts RMS at 4ohms. So it's best to combine this amp with 4ohm cabinets (most 2x10" cabs are 4ohms). 340watts is more then enough power to drive 2 10"speakers to their mechanical limits.
 
Yesterday I got two new tubes to try in the V1 and V4 position. They are Philips JAN 5751 tubes Invalid Link Removed. Suddenly the tone went from good to excellent, very hifi like but still the butterness of the tubes. I also have a BBE Bmax-t, it may be more silent (the bugera is dead quiet too), but the tone of the Bugera with the new tubes is on par or even slightly better. It sounds more lively.
These 5751 tube have a slightly lower gain then the 12ax7 tubes so the tone stays more clear.
I also took some pictures of the open Bugera. The contruction is good, it even has a part with rubber caps for the tubes to hold them in position.
The transistors are 3 pairs of Toshiba 2SA1943/2SC5200, they should be able to get a power of 200watts RMS at 8ohms and 340watts RMS at 4ohms. So it's best to combine this amp with 4ohm cabinets (most 2x10" cabs are 4ohms). 340watts is more then enough power to drive 2 10"speakers to their mechanical limits.

Nice shots

Looks well built, well thought out layout.

What's that on the power input? A MOV - who would have thought - no fancy power conditioner needed for this amp.

B* needs to enter the Micro head market.
 
Old thread revival!!

BVP5500_P0767_Front_XXL.png


I just bought one of these. They are still out there at these super low prices! I have a couple of Ampeg combo amps here but I still wanted something with more power that could really shake the house if I wanted to as well as some really full range tone possibilities. Also picked up one of those workhorse Peavey 2x10 cabs to go with it. The "Headliner 210"

I got both for just over $500.00 new out the door, which is the price of some of the more expensive combos. But as everyone knows, none of those $500.00 ish combos have a tube preamp or a 2x10 speaker arrangement.

I personally like the idea of a hybrid amp which offers a tube preamp and a solid state power amp. For one thing, MUCH CHEAPER to own! Has anyone priced a good 6550 power tube lately? NOS power tubes are getting to be so expensive now that you can end up spending half the price of a good amp or bass guitar just to retube a Bassman or Mesa Boogie head with NOS power tubes! Not even talking about the preamp tubes!

The bulk of the warmth comes from the tubes in the preamp anyway. In some respects you get a much tighter bottom end with a solid state main amp, and still have the tube warmth on the top end of the guitar thanks to the 12AX7s.

I've been really digging my new VOX AC15 TWIN guitar amp I retubed with some JAN Phiilips EL84s and 12AX7s. Made a HUGE difference in the tone of the amp compared to the cheap Chinese tubes it came with.

I spent a whole day last week hunting around the web for some good deals of NOS tubes, and I found a source that had some great prices on GE and JAN Phillips 12AX7s. The price was so good I ended up buying a half dozen of each.

I got them yesterday and they all tested as advertised and BOY do they sound sweet in the AC15 and in my ART Pro Channel II!

This got me to thinking that with plenty of these awesome 12AX7s, it might be time to track down a good hybrid bass head that used 12AX7 tubes! That lead me eventually to the BVP 5500 which uses FOUR 12AX7s in the preamp.

I haven't received the new amp and cab yet, but I am really excited about what I think this combo is going to sound like with four of these 1965 production JAN Phillips 12AX7s in it!

BVP5500_P0767_Rear_XXL.png


:hyper:
 
Old thread revival!!

BVP5500_P0767_Front_XXL.png


I personally like the idea of a hybrid amp which offers a tube preamp and a solid state power amp. For one thing, MUCH CHEAPER to own!

I've been really digging my new VOX AC15 TWIN guitar amp I retubed with some JAN Phiilips EL84s and 12AX7s. Made a HUGE difference in the tone of the amp compared to the cheap Chinese tubes it came with.

I spent a whole day last week hunting around the web for some good deals of NOS tubes, and I found a source that had some great prices on GE and JAN Phillips 12AX7s. The price was so good I ended up buying a half dozen of each.

I got them yesterday and they all tested as advertised and BOY do they sound sweet in the AC15 and in my ART Pro Channel II!

This got me to thinking that with plenty of these awesome 12AX7s, it might be time to track down a good hybrid bass head that used 12AX7 tubes! That lead me eventually to the BVP 5500 which uses FOUR 12AX7s in the preamp.

I haven't received the new amp and cab yet, but I am really excited about what I think this combo is going to sound like with four of these 1965 production JAN Phillips 12AX7s in it!

:hyper:

Still got my BVP5500 with the Philips JAN 5751 on V1 and V4, sounds sweet! Very nice top end with lots of detail but stil sounding warm :bassist:
 
hey guys, I currently have a Carvin R600 that I beleive is on it's last leg. I started looking at new heads and I keep coming back to the guy. Are you guys all still happy with this guy? it seems perfect for me, except for the weight, I hate being a bass player cause the equipment is so damn heavy!!! But really not a big deal. I'd like to hear all you guys have to say about this guy holding up over the years.
Thanks!
 
hey guys, I currently have a Carvin R600 that I beleive is on it's last leg. I started looking at new heads and I keep coming back to the guy. Are you guys all still happy with this guy? it seems perfect for me, except for the weight, I hate being a bass player cause the equipment is so damn heavy!!! But really not a big deal. I'd like to hear all you guys have to say about this guy holding up over the years.
Thanks!

I own the BVP5500 for over 2.5 years now, still up and running! :bassist:
 
  • Like
Reactions: Magnus Thorne
Hey! Quick question for ya!

I am retubing mine as we speak with some vintage NOS JAN Philips 12AX7s and am not sure which end of the tube line is the V1 position. Is it the furthest left socket if looking at the head from the front?

Thanks in advance!