Every guitarist dreams of getting a warm tube sound for the price of a solid-state amp. Meanwhile, current trends split sonic demand in two directions: the vintage sound of tubes in the old-school CRUNCH style and, second, the metal adrenaline of wild LEAD sounds. It seems the Bugera range offers it all; let's analyze how it does it.
Who makes it?
This line of tube amplification comes from Behringer, but under its own brand, Bugera. It seeks the perfect solution in warmth, versatility and price. Its look, components and concept are certainly very tempting.
We all know Behringer's advantages already: generally less aggressive prices than the competition, concern for the consumer's wallet, good distribution, finishes and looks, manuals in Spanish, good documentation in print and online, etc.
At the same time, our minds associate the company with mass production, something far from handcrafted, hand-built gear. With Bugera, a new concept of budget amplification is born, but in the old-fashioned way: 2 x 12AX7A and 2 x 12AX7 tubes in the preamp, and 4 x 6L6GC in the power stage.
What is the 333-212?
It is a 120 W, three-channel tube combo, with good visual finishes and total flexibility in sound: from clean/crystalline sounds to wild leads, passing through the bluesy, British or broken-up rhythmic vibe of crunch.
This is a machine capable of offering solutions especially for live shows and the rehearsal room. Solutions which, thanks to its ample power, will devour the most beastly drummer you may have in your band if you need some muscle. While we're at it, let us warn you (as the company behind its manual also does) that constantly playing at wild volumes can damage your ears.
It also offers a good range of sounds. Like almost all the latest-generation guitar amp offerings, this "not-so-little one" gives us three channels with independent EQ and volume. This architecture makes it easy to have three totally different sounds preset and ready. Thanks to its footswitch (included), we can switch from one sound to another at will with a single click of the foot.
In addition to these features, the amp comes packed with options. We can add an external effects loop (which can also be engaged from the footswitch and has its level adjustable from the amp's rear input), and it has reverb and a line out with a pot on its rear panel. This last option lets us send our amp's signal to an external source: a multitrack recorder, computer, mixing desk, etc.
Another notable feature is its outputs for connecting an external cabinet and its options for adjusting the output impedance: 4, 8 or 16 Ohms. Thanks to this selector, we can adapt to almost any external cabinet we choose. It must, however, be able to handle the watts coming out of the combo. In our case, taking advantage of the review, we connected the 333-212 to a Bugera 412H cabinet to compare results and the change in sound when using the combo's own speakers (2 x 12") versus the cabinet's speakers (4 x 12" Vintage Series).
About the cabinet
Little to add except its solid, robust construction. Under a weight of approximately 37 kg (82 lb), we find some more than practical casters. On the sides, sturdy handles. Both elements are essential for moving the "beast" without the help of a second person.
As for features, as you can see in the spec sheet, it has four 12-inch Vintage Series speakers. Add to that a handy mono/stereo selector and another that lets us change the impedance from 8 to 16 Ohms, depending on the amp we use.
Sound of the combo and sound of the combo connected to the cabinet
I must express my amazement at the warmth of this amp's sound, considering its price. We should keep in mind that this is a 120 W tube amp for little more than €600. That is not a very common combination. All three channels have their magic. On clean, we find excellent punch, transparency and that warm tube thickness. On the Crunch channel we get some quite tasty saturation, great for searing solos and broken-up rhythms. The channel and its saturation are quite natural. Moving on to LEAD, we get scrappier, darker sounds. Combined with good use of the EQ, we achieve a truly wide tonal palette.
Even if we didn't have effects pedals, the variety, warmth and richness of the saturation (along with its reverb) are enough to cover extreme and opposite situations. Personally, I would add our own good overdrive/distortion pedal. Bringing together the EQ, the variety of the three channels and our favorite pedal, we can get almost any color we want in our guitar sound.
To sum up the sound, I would say it is surprisingly attractive considering the price. Yes, there are certainly 2,500-euro amps that are quite a bit more powerful and that I like more... True. But I don't find those jumps in price proportional to the jumps in quality. What I mean is that, for the money this Bugera costs us, we get things that, without being the absolute best, are satisfying for amateur guitarists of beginner, intermediate and even upper-intermediate level.
The only drawback, as far as sound goes, is that radio sometimes sneaks in. In the rehearsal room, given the volume we play at, radio station leakage will go completely unnoticed, since with a single strike of the pick all we'll hear is guitar, covering up any noise and interference. Things change in the studio, as that interference leakage can be annoying in the mix. To be honest, I did not do thorough tests to isolate the ground, move the amp to other places, etc., to solve this problem. What is true is that I have tested other amps in the same place without getting any interference at all, which makes me think it is the unit's electronics. With some tinkering, though, the problem can be isolated and corrected.
Conclusions
Throughout these lines I have described my impressions of the product. Outlining its main features, I would emphasize its good value for money. It is hard to find a 120 W tube amp at these prices. You may wonder what sets it apart from a more expensive amp. I suppose the isolation that makes it quieter when we're not playing, and a rounder sound when saturated (only for experienced ears). The point is that having a three-channel amp, with footswitch, reverb and that hot tube sound, escaping the artificiality of transistors, for around €600 is an almost irresistible temptation for many. Go ahead and try to test the "beast"; in terms of power, finish, versatility and tube "muscle," you are sure to be blown away. Especially if you're on a tight budget.
As for the cabinet, it's all excellence: good finishes, a grand sound worthy of a cabinet of these dimensions, a robust look, good handles and convenient casters. For its price, we can't find any drawbacks.
