Thank you for using the Vintage 22 amplifier. Putting something sitting on top of the amplifier like a coffee mug or a beer really is a good tip to give a better quality of the sound. Discussing the qualities of each features on the lead and clean channel to show the difference in order for others to know is appreciated. Will adjust the brightness of the Reverb as well so that it won't hurt the eyes of the buyers.
I toured for 2 years with my V22 across the USA = I've had it now for about 5 years - It still works, i still gig with it, and it's by far been the best Tube Amp purchase I've ever heard of. If you're reading this considering buying one, holy shit, best $400 you could spend on an amp and thats no shit. One small thing is the DSP on Reverb, it's digital and not Tube. A Fender verb tank simply has this certain "sag" to it that's to die for. But hey....Reverb isn't everything. Like most amps, the "Drive" channel is B Grade. I run a Boss GT8 or ME70 in front of it and it pushes it just right.
It's probably the most rewarding amp I've ever heard on very low volumes ... very warm & juicy ... the pentode/triode switch actually works very well on this amp.
Thank you Vaughn Skow for a great review 😊. You got me confirmed that i need to buy this amp. Getting it next week 😊. Happy owner of one bugera already the 1960 head 😊. Cheers 😊 .
Thanks Vaughn. Your vid, with its excellent representation of the Bugera V22's sound, led me to plugging in to one at the local GC. After a couple months of hunting for anything equivalent I couldn't find anything that compared at twice the price. I picked up my V22 yesterday and couldn't be happier. I have to agree that the clean channel is it's strong point. Nicely voiced and beautiful breakup with the volume around 6-7. So thanks again for making such an aurally informative vid!
Great review, just got the amp today and couldn't be happier.Great Amp!! I have a VOX AC 15C 2 and I end up playing the Bugera V22 more than the VOX!! Thanks for the great review, helped me to decide on getting one and it's the BOMB!!!
vaughn, this is the best amp demo i have ever watched. yours was the 4th i viewed and i was skeptical until i saw this one. thanks a million for this most excellent review...i am getting one of these.
Vaughn, I have the same amp and replaced my stock speaker with a Celestion Vintage 30. Surprisingly, I didn't get much change on overdrive, but the clean channel really came alive. I too, LOVE this amp. I have a full Marshall stack that never gets turned on because of my V22...
It's been almost 3 years since your initial review of the V22. How about a follow-up? Does the amp continue to hold up after all this time? Any changes of opinion? Any new observations to add? Thanks!
Have one of the new Infinium versions coming in from Sweetwater primarily because of your review. Thanks for the sweet jams and honesty, looking forward to giving it a run.
This amp has been rocking my freaking World, man!.. I'm so crazy about this amp... you're so funny, buddy... LoL... I've just bought one... What a rock freaking amp, man!
Hard to get the full picture of what it sounds like on crappy computer speakers but watching Mr Skow's has taught me more about tone than anything I have ever seen or read. I have been playing for almost 30 years. If he says it sounds good, then it sounds good. I am sold.
Thanks for posting this video and showing the possible tones that can be had on a stock V22. Being an at home guitar player, it makes my investment in my V22 feel that much more worthwhile...LOL!!!
One of best Amps I've got. I had Fender TwinAmp ProTube, Peavey Classic 30 and MG Vulture 100W (Polish company). Very vintage sound and this price!!!! Love it!
Thanks for obviously spending some time to get a quality sound on this video. It's unfortunate that so many people who have interesting things to say about various amps neglect to actually get decent quality sound on their video -- so important for demonstrating an amp! Your sound is so clear it's like I'm in the room.
Vaughn: Absolutely agree with you on removing the tube cage! I got my brand new V22 yesterday...and a tube was bad when it arrived. Damn! I had to remove the speaker to get to one of the screws on the cage! Anyway...did that and the amp works fine with the new tube. And...the tube cage is in the bottom of my closet. It will remain there forever. Love this amp! Best $400 I've ever spent. I'm a believer!
Great review. I put some chewing gum over the blue led.. dampens the birght lights a lot ;-) I've been using it for over a year now giggin as well as rehearsal and I can say it's as reliable as any tube driven amp. No problems what-so-ever. To support what you're saying on the amzing tones it produces, I've sent a small hint of what direct plugin in to the v22 sounds like in a 50's style vintage blues band Thanks for this review man!
Thanks for the review man. After a 6-7 year hiatus I've taken up playing again. I just got back from guitar center and picked up a Bugera V22 on your demo vids. Thanks! Let's see how it hold up for the 30 day home trial.
I was looking into getting this amp and just heard about it today so when I opened up the RU-vid app this was the first video to pop up! Haha what a coincidence! Thanks for the vid man! ^_^v
Your video convinced me. I have found one locally for $175.00 that I am picking up tomorrow. I have a Bugera V5 Infinium that I love but it is a single channel amp and I am looking forward to having a 2 channel amp, especially with the footswitch.
OK, I know that this may sound kind of lame, but your video has really convinced me. I am seriously considered the Bugera V22 and the Blackhawk speaker. Every other review I have looked at makes this amp seem like a great little gigger and an even better deal. Thanks for sharing! (I already have an WSG speaker in one of my other cabinets, and I love it!).
Great review, You are nice and enjoyable to watch because of your positivity and the honesty that your bring to the table p.s I found this was the best review on youtube of this amp
Great review man. I bought one of these maybe two years and have never looked back. In fact my Marshall combo is more of a coffee table now. I am waiting on a set of JJ 12ax7s as OE are starting to fizz and pop and will post up any differences in tone. I use a VOX Brit Boost in front of this as it really pushes the gain on clean and on the dirt channel it goes thermo nuclear. It easy holds its own in front of a drummer and bass and second guitar.
Hi again, I just sat and watched the other half of this vid with the black Hawk speaker. Holy Crap that sounds good !! or as we say in the UK.. It's the Dogs Bollocks :0) I'm listening to it through a Rotel amp and a pair of Spirit absolute 2 monitors and it sounds, as you say "Freakin awesome".
I bought my v22 about a year ago, and this is my go-to amp for everything. I got rid of my Mesa Boogie F-50 because this v22 is just so amazing for blues. It's like this thing was made for us strat-slingers. I had a JCM2000 rig before this as well, and I still like this amp's tone better. I like it more than most fender amps even. I suppose I could also go for a good fender tweed to get in the clapton neighborhood, but for under $400 sticker, this bugera is just jaw-dropping. Great review by the way, you had the same reaction to the bugera in the 2nd half as I did after gigging with mine for a while. CAN YOU BELIEVE THE PRICE ON THESE THINGS???? simply amazing. I can't afford too much in my current situation, so this amp was a dream come true
JesusRocks26 Well the only way to truly get his tones are to use his gear and his guitar set up, but this amp gets me closer than any other. I would take it over a blues jr any day but thats just my opinion. If you go to my page, you still see a video of me playing on this amp with a stray, memory boy deluxe delay, and a tube scream at the end. Very very good tones.
I think the V22 HD with a trial of various 212 cabs is the way to go. Great review ,awesome clean tones. One of my main players is a SG so really sucked in by the Marshall esk OD tone. Good looker as well.
wow,,no wonder a lot of people and mags are now starting to bow to the fact that Bugera has pulled their act together and producing good amps at a fraciton of the price!!
The blackhawk sounds a little crispier while adding some balls. Very nice. This is a great demo and I really appreciate you not wasting my time talking about the appearance of the product (as so many so-called "demos" do).
Thinking of getting this. I have a H&K which has a great clean tone but very sludgy dirt/lead tone. Going to be using my amp's drive more now and use pedals as a boost.
I own a DSL 100 tube half stack and I love it... As for a good combo amp I can carry around I bought a Blackstar 150 watt combo and returned because of the low quality speakers and inability for the amp to cut through a mix. I Then turned to a Fender Deville but had problems because of the soldering issues and melting of the pods. Also, my tubes were burning out much too quickly. I traded a guitar for a 130 watt Vox and although it was great on the clean channels it sounds a bit to nasally congested on its overall tone. So, finally I bought this Bugera and its great on the cleans and adds just enough gain for when I want to play hard rock. Its crisp and clean and clear. When I add my pedals delay, chorus its quality for studio recording projects. I think some listeners do not understand or can tell the difference when an amp on youtube is being reviewed through mixers. Most of these videos are actually produced by the companies themselves but try and pass them off as a regular guy in his bedroom trying out an amp. Dont make that mistake and learn the difference. Go to your music store and plug in before you buy.
I am kinda new to your demos and so far what ive seen i love em. I dont think you talk too much(as you mentioned some have said in another video) as i love info and thorough demo's ,lol. Anyways ive been going back and forth between getting this or a little Fender Super Champ X2. I love the thought of a 12" speaker but im concerened about durability of the Bugera. I dont really need a big amp(cant find anywhere how much this weighs) as i mainly do house/bedroom playing and somtimes get together with friends, so no gigs, but the price on the V22 is awesome. BTW, i also love WGS speakers, and Scumbacks but im fine just using ceramic as i love the sound for less money. Though in this demo the WGS Alnico was better than the stock speaker.
i was a marshall guy for a long time until i did my first recording with my tsl 100 in studio which i spent 1300.00$ just on the head alone then to find my self completing the project with mesa and a bugera 55hd.most things in life you get what u pay for but be careful in the music industry because marshall is like nike shoes....1300$ tsl 100 head from marshall 1000$ for the name and 300 for the amp.and yes ive been a victim of this because ive always loved marshall up until i played a bugera.....yes a 400$ bugera..they even sound better on a mix when recording a rythym or lead more full than a marshall tsl 100. newer marshalls sound like all highs ans lows even with the mids turned up.i will never dump that much money on a new amp head ever again with out trying out other ones...cheaper doesnt mean crappier SOMETIMES.
great review. i actually get a feel for how this amp sounds. a lot of guys who review this amp .. honestly can't play....i'm not being a jerk but...you gotta be able to play to show how something really sounds. i think i'm gonna get one of these and stick the blackhawk speaker in it...because damn.
Standard recommendation for tube amps in general: Turn it on to standby for 15-30 seconds to allow the filaments to warm up before taking it off standby ...
I put a couple pieces of painter's tape over the pedals blue led. It takes the brightness off,but allows enough blue to shine through. I recommend to change tubes first thing. I had issues w/mine
Was sold as soon as you put it through the bright channel. Was fairly sold from the beginning. Pity about the reverb not being a proper spring. But yep, doesn’t seem to matter, it’ll do that 60’s surf sound. Haha😂👍 Personally I would say it was more Vox like than Marshall sounding when turned up, but that is no bad thing. There is more of a Brian May Tone, rather than AC/DC tone. Sort of confirmed when you went into Brian Adams stuff. Been looking for a Fender, but cannot afford Fender amp money. The alternative speaker sounds great, but wondering about the cabinet dynamics having something to do with that. But boy is that WGS Blackhawk a doozie...!👍🖖👍🤟 wondering what sort of Celestion or Eminence would be a good alternative, keeping in mind I’m in the UK and wanting Richard Thompson and Jerry Donahue stuff. I will check the prices of the Blackhawk this side of the pond. Cheers Dude, great vid, great playing.
Agree on taking the tube "cage" off and leaving it off. Sounds fine with the stock tubes but it sounds even better with JJs or GTs so I highly recommend you replace the stock EL84 tubes straight away. Great amp for rock, southern rock, blues and country. I agree the stock speaker is fantastic and doesn't need to be replaced.
Very helpful videos Vaughn. I recently purchased a V22. I'm happy with it, though I'm really wishing it wasn't quite so bright and lacking of that thicker bottom end crunch. I was going to go with the Fender Bassbreaker, though I found it to be too loud for home use. Can you recommend any way to thicken the sound of the V22? The Jet City amp is close, but sounds a bit flat and lacking of that special tone the V22 has. I've watched some tube and speaker replacement videos for the V22 but it's tough to hear much of a difference. I was thinking maybe an overdrive pedal could help, but am unsure what route to go. Any suggestions? Thanks.
So to get that good clean sound you crank your clean channel and then use the master to set your volume? V22 is my first tube amp so I'm just trying to learn how to make it sound good
I do believe you've made a sale on a V55 head. Expect your commission! In the price range for things like the DSl15 and OR15H (and this is cheaper), this is the one that has the most versatility for me. Thanks for demonstrating that with so many tones, it's just a shame no store near me seems to stock it, so I have to blind-faith it a bit. I take it you've had no problems with it? Mine wouldn't be for gigging anyway, just sitting for all sorts of recording purposes.
Purple Haze Hey, I actually ended up going for the DSL15 (the head) and the Marshall cab that matches it - I unexpectedly found one discounted nearly 50% and couldn't pass it up. How good it is really depends on what you play - I prefer a warm Johnson/Bonamassa type tone, and with the right pedals and EQ tweaking it sounds incredible (though I use a 10 inch cab instead of the Marshall 12 as that seems to respond better). I get the impression that the crunch or distortion or whatever you call it isn't as good as whatever people deem is "classic" Marshall, but I was never much into that sound anyway and stick to the clean channel. So - as a pure amp, it's a maybe. As a pedal rig, it's a beast. The Bugera probably delivers more versatility standalone than the DSL judging by this review.
Hi Vaughn, Thank you for the informative demo. I was wondering if you know when the quality control got better with this line of amplification? I have read that the early versions had a few issues with channel reverb/switching, overheating, etc. I was wondering what year on is safe to purchase. Thank you in advance.
To anybody who's got that sweetsounding thing: I recommend changing tubes. The amp sounds good with stock tubes, but if you change them and put in some good tubes, then you'll see, it can sound even better. I put some high gain preamp and high output power tubes in it, so the clean channel doesn't have much headroom anymore. Now crank it up and you get a sound so fat and full of sustain... just pure poweramp overdrive. Try it! It's awesome!
+1 Jonas: I agree. OK w/ the stock tubes (I actually have the head instead of the combo), but a person can really fine tune one of these to taste with a little tube rolling.
Great, great review! This is an amazing sounding and I am sold, for sure. Gotta say, both speakers sounded amazing. I couldn't really tell a difference. But then I'm not a connoisseur w/ boutique type speakers. The only thing I miss about my house is the ability to play my amps at volumes I want. Now in a townhome, I have to be conscious of my neighbors and I was lucky enough to end up with elderly neighbors that do not care for the loud amps. I'm wondering if this V22 is townhome friendly... or is it really loud?
Hey Vaughn great review and sweet playing man! I'm torn between the combo vs the head version. I already have a 12" and 212 cabs. I hear this badboy is a bit on the heavy side.
Hey great review, got a question for ya! Do you think that this amp could compete with a Jazz Ens? With plenty of headroom and such? or would it's counterpart the v55 be better for that?
What is your recording chain in this video? You really did capture the sound of the amp incredibly well. Also, is that WGS you have the 50W or the 100W?
I had the Laney Cub 12r in mind, but now I stumbled upon this amp. Is it better for a 19 year old guitar playing looking to play in a rock n roll band, but also shred some jazz standards with a sax? If there are any other suggestions please advise me!
Also, I'm definitely buying this amp, could tell me what the settings are to dial in that "Marshally sounding" tone at 7:34. I fell in love with this amp when you played that.
Thanks for the great review!!! How is this amp at bedroom/apartment levels? I'm needing a practice amp for home and at reasonable volume levels. Regards!!!!
Love mine, and it sounds "decent" @ low volume (it comes with a 70 watt speaker that is just too stiff to be sweet at very low volumes), but for less $$$ you might consider the Bugera V-5 (5 watts of sweetness). The 22 is truly loud for it's size, and unlike solid state amps, tube amps "sound different" at different levels. They don't like being "choked out". I'm not sure, but the V-5 MIGHT even have a headphone jack or an aux in as many small wattage amps will nowdays. That would be invaluable for the insomniac apartment dweller. Good luck.
Great demo. Is the blackhawk really that much louder than it seems in this demo? Hard to tell how much better it actually sounds as the extra volume tricks the ears in to thinking it's a lot better sounding. I have the V22 and I love it and might consider a Blackhawk speaker for it. :)
Great video. I'm considering replacing the speaker with something less harsh sounding (less highs / tweedy sound). I've seen people put Celestion Blue speakers in those great MojoTone Tweed Deluxe Kit amps and they sound excellent. Do you or anyone think if I put one of them in my Bugera V22 amp it would offer a similar tone and be worthy of an upgrade? Also, what tubes would you recommend to lower the highs? The type of music I like is a mix of styles (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Soundgarden, Kurt Vile, Tool, etc). Thanks for any tips. I'm new to all of this. Thanks!
