Bugera 1960 Infinium vs Marshall 1987x Plexi (Battle of the Budgets)

Bugera 1960 Infinium vs Marshall 1987x Plexi (Battle of the Budgets)
These two tube amps are supposed to do roughly the same thing. The difference in price though is HUGE. Also, one is 50 watts, while the other is 150 watts, so there is that difference. But how do they REALLY compare soundwise? That's what I find out in this video.
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The gear I most often use.
A Stratocaster of some kind, either an Yngwie Malmsteen Strat, or a custom Strat with a scalloped fretboard. For 7 string stuff I mostly use an Ibanez Universe.
A Marshall 1987x into a Marshall cab.
A Fender Yngwie Malmsteen overdrive, plus a Boss NS-2 noise gate, or a Strymon Sunset.
A Morley Bad Horsie 2 wah, and a delay.
An AKG C-414 mic for the guitar.
For acoustic stuff I use a Taylor 710 short scale thingy.

[@kgriff1205]

The Bugera 1960 is rated at 150 peak watts, that equates to 100 watts RMS, same as the Marshall 1959

[@Nightwinflyer]

In any other industry, 60 year old technology gets less expensive. The fact Bugera can make a clone of this circuit with overseas labor at this price makes perfect sense. Except for the England made reissues, Marshall is doing the same thing with Vietnam factories. Except Marshall is still charging a premium. Even if I could afford it, $2500 - 3500 for an amp is out of line, for me anyway. On top of that, saving labor cost of a tube replacement makes the Bugera a solid win.

[@richardmahan6888]

It makes perfect since to me to but I can't find one anywhere I was wondering if you had any clues for me to purchase one

[@Nightwinflyer]

I got mine from Sweetwater a couple years ago. They have been out of stock since. I would buy it new to get the 3 year warranty. Just keep checking all the reputable online stores. You can have them notify you when they come back in stock.

[@JonDeth]

I have a formal education in the science of electrical/electronics engineering and virtually all areas of consumer electronics are so horrible when you know the cost of manufacturing in comparison to the selling prices that are non-negotiable when brand new. The irony is, semiconductors can absolutely produce an identical texture with the fizzing and zinging of valves but nobody seems to bother for a wide variety of reasons with profit margin ratios seeming to be the primary. Sure, someone including myself could produce a solid-state that sounds identical to valves in every way for a few hundred bucks, but there's more money sticking with valves because of "wive's tales" used in marketing. It's 2024 and even with my qualifications and unique circuit architecture I've produced proving my claims, people still squirm over the subject regardless of what they hear come out of my equipment.

[@Nightwinflyer]

I agree, I used solid state primarily for many of my songs. I can’t tell the difference in the mix. I think the Orange Super Crush is going to be my next purchase. Even without having to bias, the cost of new tubes is getting hard to justify these days.

[@JonDeth]

​@@Nightwinflyer solid-state has better definition, raunch, sleaze and aggression, but you also hear trash that gets into the signal a lot more. The oh so well known "static" or "white noise" that shrouds even the deepest of bass notes with a treble "crust". From my perspective having a significant amount of formal education in the science of electrical/electronics engineering, I look at the last 50 years of electric guitar technology and it just seems there's a huge void in development. No single company has ever had a dedicated interest to designing with semi-conductors to *truly* produce the sound of nothing but valves. Maybe once every 10 years, a major brand churns out a solid-state that appeals to tube dominant players, but it runs it's course and they always discontinue them. *My current goal is to quit buying commercial gear in general when I can design and build original gear with my mind and hands.* It's actually ridiculously easy to get transistors to sound like the fizzy, zinging and zippy texture of all tube distortion but for reasons I suspect are due to profit margins and the huge shifts in direction for the technology, no single company has genuinely committed to it as the basis for their company outright existing. They can not only do it, but do it better and with a crazy amount of variety tubes can't which is why I'm done buying commercial gear for life and in pursuit of eventually using nothing but my own. I'll soon have a full featured guitar preamp that I will build by hand and be able to shift from sounding 100% valve to 100% solid-state and then of course, the blending of the two. My goal is for it to sound primarily solid-state, but have the definition and clear note identity in bass notes without the shell of "static" or "crust" around it that valve lovers absolutely hate. If I start hitting wild arpeggios on an 8-string even into my VH140C lead distortion it still gets too raspy and crusted to be worth recording seriously. *If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself!*

[@bflo1000]

I prefer the Bugera….But am more impressed by the bitchin guitar playing.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Haha :D Thanks!

[@Blues-House]

Great video and playing. The Bugera 1960 is an absolutle BEAST! I've had one for five years and used it regularly. Swapped out the valves for JJs and the tone is mint and you don't need an amp tech to balance the circuits because of the infinium technology. To be honest in a blind test with a pedal in front of it and in a pub / club setting, you would be hard pushed to discern any difference. I gigged with mine last night and hope nothing happens to it as they don't seem to be available anymore. Bargain amp yes but not at the expense of the quality. Thanks for sharing this.

[@MrPolevaulter]

And thank you :)

[@canterburyaudio5836]

Nice demo and playing! I had a 1960 bugera for over 10 yrs, no issues!

[@joeisitt1904]

I like the Micro cube, it's the only one I can pick up, oooh me back 'erts.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Haha :D

[@ATOMSKI_MRAV]

You're too old my son. Time to come to dadda!

[@joeisitt1904]

Jesus Christ Not yet guvnor, I've still got a lot of fury to unleash, rock on. 😁

[@PeteKaltsa]

I used to have one of these. I’ve got a 6262 and it’s one of the best amps I’ve heard, and I’ve had a 1969 plexiglass, a 1973, a jcm800, I’ve had about another 5-6 JMP’s, I’ve got a 1977 master volume, a JTM45 RI, a jcm2000. They’re built really well, and not a cheaply made piece of rubbish. I build pedals, and done a few amp mods. Bugera make good amps

[@buckrandolph4260]

do not know what you are smoking A 1973 JCM 800 TOO BAD THEY CAME OUT IN 1981 FACT CHECK

[@pastorkev777]

If the Bugera is 100% stock, it faired well. Some tube rolling will fine tune it even more, a v1 swap making the most difference.

[@ZombieBath]

The Bugera 1960 smashes the new Origin Marshall series amps. It is astonishing to see how Marshall can destroy it's own name trying to offer a low budget series, a thing that isn't absolutelly necessary, as Bugera proves when it reconciles low budget with high quality.

[@PeterDad60]

I have the Bugera 1960 Infinium and I like it. I think it can also be used as a Bass amp as well. I also have a Bugera T50 and I like it as well as it has great pure clean tone. - Peter age 72

[@1thess523]

I used to have a Bugera 333XL and the one thing Bugera owners always suggested was swapping out the tubes. I've heard a high quality demo of a Marshall JCM 900 vs a Bugera 1990 and its a 99.99% match.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Cool :)

[@JohnWiku]

I have a 333XL, at first I pulled a pair of tubes, then after getting familiar with it, I fitted a pair of TAD JJ EL34s to replace the stock ones, on the preamp I put a EH 12AT7 on PI, EH 12AY7 on V1, the rest TADs 12AX7s. This thing became a raging monster when cranked and something special when boosted and with an EQ on the loop! It is virtually noiseless regarding buzzing sounds under tons of gain unlike I have experienced on plenty of other amps, it makes less background noise than my pc sim plugin rigs. Just because something seems cheap it doesn't mean it's crap. Bugera somewhat managed to make pretty good amps for low cost, these years of perfecting production might have paid off, note that they barely changed their line up for years now. I've been power cycling my amp every day, letting it cook the valves for the past 6 months, playing the crap out of it whenever I can, if it doesn't break until warranty is over I guess the only test left is to throw it through the window 🤣🤣🤣

[@JohnWiku]

I have tried the Bugera 1990 before settling with the 333xl, I did like it as it's a good amp to run pedals and effect processors but I needed a bit more gain. This Plexi clone really seems interesting, I surely want to try it!

[@richardmahan6888]

If you run a distortion or overdrive pedal otherwise it's just a basically clean amp with a clean Boost sound when cranked tryed all inputs the cascade the both volumes are up pretty high and master on back at five and left front volume at five the right volume starts to sing at about seven so sounds more like a clean boost so are pedals the secret and maybe a alternator to get this amp to sound like what I hear on KZbin.

[@phillamoore157]

I think as long as Ceriatone is making the amps at the price/quality they’re making, then they are the go-to amp for people on a budget. And, the Bugera is the perfect amp to hold you over while you wait for you Ceriatone :-)

[@actionjackson5535]

Love your playing, but I especially love the way you use a whammy bar. Especially when you get the massive sustain it's wonderful

[@paulkielt9301]

If I had to buy one, I'd go for the Bugera. The only reason to buy a Marshall, is to find an old one. There's no reason to spend so much money for cheap components, just because it's a Marshall. The quality of the parts, is a total bullshit! Nowadays, most of the components are made in few places in Asia.

[@MrPolevaulter]

True. On the other hand I remember A/B testing one of my reissue Plexis with an original, and there was really no difference.

[@kingpossie]

Tasty playing dude ! Bugera 1960 for the win - always have a back up for your tube amp when gigging. I use a preamp pedal, cab sim pedal, and a 30W Baby Bomb that fit in my guitar bag as back up. Audience won’t care if you play over tube gear anyway.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Thanks! Yeah, I always have a spare.

[@RobSol]

Elmo, what delay did you use there? i actually find the bugera sounding pretty good (i'm alone owner of 71 1987x).

[@MrPolevaulter]

I used the Strymon Timeline.

[@MikeHansen1970]

Well, both are great sounding amps. The 1987x sounds more modern to me, if that makes any sense? The Bugera sounds almost like an early Scorpions tone. You are a pretty versatile player.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Cheers Mike :)

[@StillLivinginthewoods]

The wattage output in the Bugera is determined by what tubes you have in it and how many. 120-150 watts is the top rated wattage that it would put out with 4 6L6 or 5881 tubes installed. It puts out around 100 watts with 4 EL34 tubes installed, as it came stock. Pulling 2 tubes will half the wattage. This is all ONLY for the Infinium models, of course. It's an incredible amp for what it cost.

[@rolandbujold4641]

Sorry but all parts of the marshall was made in china and assembly in uk ...

[@JedNadin]

I run a JCM 2000 DSL 100 with a 1936 2x12. I get a more convincing Malmsteen tone than a lot of people with actual Plexis. But, for $450, I could justify that Bugera as a little selfish gift for myself to mess around with in the studio. Especially considering the master volume.

[@MrPolevaulter]

It sure is cheap :)

[@DCWelker]

I have a Bugera Trirec Infinium. Trust me, If you get a good Bugera, they are built like tanks. They gig well. I have had mine for years and have had no issues. I retubed it with Sovtek preamp and power tubes and electro-harmonix rectifier tubes and it screams. Some have issues, but, if you get a good one, they are solid

[@MrPolevaulter]

Nice :)

[@guitarandgames1386]

I own both a Peavey 6505 and a bugera 6260 (5150/6505 clone). I will say this. For 300$ less the bugera sounds a little more compressed but that's nothing for a 300$ discount. I buy Peavey more though because I like supporting American manufacturers like Peavey if they're good. And peaveys are built to last.

[@jareds9863]

Came here for the amp comparison, but left telling myself to practice more cus this dude rips. Cheers!

[@audioware1]

Both are good, Bugera is a bit fizzy but, an OT upgrade would pretty much take care of it

[@NINEWALKING]

Good video. Great playing and proper recorded sound. Thanks for the info. I don’t know why people insist to repeat that Bugera 1960 has 150 watt in default setup with quartet of EL34. Quartet of EL34 makes 100 Watt power period. Bugera lies? Not exactly, while they say that amp can work with other tubes as well and 4 other tubes could reach it. But as a stock it 100 Watt modded Plexy Superlead and as such is a steal. I think I will get one and use it as a donor. I would trash all but chassis, box and few little things and install proper turret board and make proper hand wired version with proper full size components. I bet that even with the stock iron it is going to be epic let alone if I use proper output transformer. Part will cost few times more than amp it self but end result promises a lot. Also leaves me space to work my twist on it as well.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Thanks! Should be interesting :)

[@NINEWALKING]

@@MrPolevaulter I have ordered it by Thomann. It should be delivered today if the UPS does their job good. Package has arrived in my city but I am always worried they will mix something up as they all do now days. BTW it will take tome to finish it. Before I start I want to reverse engineer the schematoc used and compare it to original Superlead plexi. Then I will decide on my schematic and order the parts needed. I think I will do ppi master volume and some form of the cascaded inputs. For the rest I think I will lean towards the original. I am very curious about their Infinity technology. It sounds impossible to me to be honest. 20x longer tube life and no need for biasing? Most of my amps use cathode biasing and that is closest thing to self biasing and it is simple. More cathode current more negative grid voltage and amp will balance it self if everything stays in the proper range and if nothing is broken. Infinity marketing sound like AI is applied and I doubt that us a case specially in low cist models. We will see. This project doesn't have highest priority but I am going to build it for me personally. This amp looks like seriously good donor to me. Time will tell. To be honest for my amps I pay more for just few parts than for this complete amplifier. So it has huge potential to make big savings when building plexi clone.

[@pongtanung7370]

I will. Buy. BUGERA1960

[@TheJMan1K]

Now all you need is their 6505+ and JCM900 clone. I’d really like to see what the 1990 sounds like compared to the 1960 in a metal/hard rock context. Also plug into the lower left corner, you get a Randy Rhoads modded plexi kinda sound.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Cheers!

[@Evowar05]

Hey Elmo, great review and comparison but I'm personally more amazed by your magical hands. Do you do lessons or offer any tips to increase sync between hands and speed and cleanliness like you have at, for example, 7:02?

[@MrPolevaulter]

Hi Sebastian! Thanks :) I have a guitar academy with a whole bunch of lessons. It does cost a bit however. www.ejkguitaracademy.com/

[@MrPolevaulter]

One thing is just taking it slow, and when you hit a wall, go even faster, and then slow down again.

[@MrEMann]

They both sound good but the plexi is more musical, rounder tone. I can also tell that you like it better because of the way you play it. Thanks for the comparison 👍

[@MrPolevaulter]

Cheers!

[@vox1966]

Hello Elmo last Sunday using my friends new hand wired plexi also using a Marshall power break with my EVH stripe Series had Marshall on 10 with power break half way blew a power tube to hell At home I have my Bugera 1960 set up the same way with out a problem with power break set the same way . I don’t know but for the money this amp already has all the mods and holds up better than the Hand wired Marshall plexi

[@DeWittPotts]

I think both amps sound very good. I have had Bugera/Behringer products for years and they hold up very well. Where I live and gig there are really mostly small club venues and it would be hard to use a 100 watt or greater amp without having some type of attenuation on the output. I have a DSL40C that I mostly use for my gigs and it works very well. I am also a fan of the Marshall Studio Classic series where you can get the 'Plexi' sound in a 20/5 watt package.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Yeah, the small Marshall is great :)

[@turkoviola]

Hi, Elmo, I saw that you used the two volumes to the maximum in the bugera, it is as if the 2 channels were bridged you have to lower channel 2 to use only channel one. greetings, very good your video as always

[@MrPolevaulter]

Thanks :)

[@SirVicc]

Yup, the Bugera was jumpered and had the normal channel all the way up. The 1986x was running the bright channel. That would explain the difference in bass and clarity.

[@roberteffler3382]

Marshall hands down, the Bugera was splatty to my ears, that said, amazing bang for the buck!

[@rhkendall]

I've just found mine today, I'm moving house, last I gigged it, I had being gigging my Jvm for ages and took the bugera along for the ride, I figured mhh give it a blast, man it sounded like arse, it was packed away and was hidden from sight until this very morning.. there you go a story!!!!!!. I'll go now...

[@MrPolevaulter]

Nice story :)

[@reneotten7376]

Whahaha

[@claudiosarra2889]

Hello Elmo, just rewatched your video about the Bugera 1960...great video and playing. By the way, at this moment Thomann is selling it for 314 €, which is insanely good...a real steal!

[@MrPolevaulter]

Yeah, dirt cheap :)

[@iplaymytele]

Screw the Amps ....I just like to hear you play....🤘🤘

[@MrPolevaulter]

Thanks!

[@samueltractorton2088]

Kickass!! That Bulgera kicks ass! I want one!

[@ultravirez]

Just buy a spare Bugera. Really the days of 100w amps are fading into the distance for non rock stars.

[@Kadotus]

I think they're both very good but I also think the Marshall is a bit better overall. Maybe it's just in my head because it's a Marshall Plexi after all.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Might be :)

[@MagisterTuomo]

Elmo, you tall beatiful sod. This one was really interesting. I have no experience of the Bugera-amps. Always heard good things though. This one sounds good to my ears, but I don't see it challenging the Plexi.

[@MrPolevaulter]

I'm sure sticking with the Plexi.

[@brianburke808]

Have a trirec and a v22 and looking to add this to the bugera cuddle puddle >.

[@bumlebubbi]

Tubes Change output volume, not the sound signature. The circuitry determines that. Pre amp tubes and Power tubes are only responsible for the power section, therefore only being responsible for volume.

[@brianburke808]

@@bumlebubbi uhh. wow... it's clear you have no experience here and absolutely no idea what you're talking about. kzbin.info/www/bejne/i6uyfJJom6pgqsk

[@brianburke808]

@@bumlebubbi you could also buy a blackstar id:tvp or silverline and see for yourself. The amp models power sections with different tubes. Either way, stop talking out of your a**, please.

[@bumlebubbi]

Here's a proper test done using the scientific method. Don't be so butthurt about your magic fairy dust tubes that run on princess farts.

[@bumlebubbi]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/jJKyaICjnM2ip6M

[@andreadonisbrasil]

Killer tones! Killer hands!

[@MrPolevaulter]

Thanks!

[@otavioaguiar8009]

Amazing review as ever, I wish I could have an original Marshall Plexi, but I'm very motivated in purchase the Bugera 1960, thanks for the great job!

[@MrPolevaulter]

Cheers!

[@Steven-zg5bq]

good job Elmo! I need to get you one of my les Pauls though

[@MrPolevaulter]

Cheers!

[@Thesodaisinfactblue2]

Does it have master volume? Before the neighbors find me.

[@MrPolevaulter]

The Bugera? Yep.

[@Timman57]

It doesn't help lol

[@maxmustardman298]

@@Timman57 can attest to that, plus where's the point if you can't use the thing to its full tonal possibilities. Get a loadbox plus cab emulation and you're good to go, for everything else there's a recording studio and a live setting

[@MrPolevaulter]

Check out more of my amp reviews here: kzbin.info/aero/PLNaLwTdlpQNHNo5bubVjV1OW04gkqU8rM

[@JustAdude291]

How could they make the bugera 150w? (And so ugly?) Why would you want so much headroom for a "marshall" when old school Marshall's rely on power tube saturation/breakup. I know there's more to the amp other than power tube breakup, but you see marshall _now_ making 20w versions of plexis, JCMs, etc. So you can get the classic marshall breakup without cranking it to 10.

[@Steven-zg5bq]

the Marshall is behind times...the Bugera is self biasing, no matching tubes needed, at this price its a no brainer, my marshall was a little bit better at the crunch side, although chords got real nasty.....the Bugera clean channel was just that, at any levels, reverb was superb too. why spend the extra cash?

[@PeterDad60]

Steven, you must be a newby. Self biasing has been around for decades. Don't you realize with self biasing you have no control over the bias and your tone? Biasing a tube amp to the tone you like is another thing that separates them from Digital/ and Solid State amps.

[@misakiyoshida]

@@PeterDad60 I got plenty of control over my tone... the knobs on the amp and my guitar's fretboard.

[@johnnorth9355]

The sound of both is great but having sold my head and cab some time back (and recovering from the trauma !) I can honestly say that I can get suitable results from my combo's - especially my early 1980's Custom Sound Cub 30 valve combo which is a beast when cranked. So loud that I have to wait for my neighbours to go on holiday before I can give it an outing :-) . What all of these amps prove is that simple is best as long as you have Elmo's levels of skill - sadly not me.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Neighbors are a bother :D

[@fastacesus8499]

Do my ears deceive or was there more clarity from the 87x?

[@MrPolevaulter]

Probably a bit, but the difference isn't huge.

[@gabriel_santana_86]

Hi there Elmo, love your videos! I have a question about this tryout-video where you mention that you have a "volume pot" in the effects loop to be able to run the power amp at full with manageable volume. I've thought about this solution a lot and I use this with my Katana 212 where the master knob has simulated power amp saturation if you turn it up. Therefore I can use a volume control in the effects loop with the master all the way up and get the "amp on full"-effect without the volume. But in your video you're playing an all tube head, and how can you get the power amp tubes "cooking" without a lot of signal going through them. Is your "volume pot" an attenuator like a hot plate? Cheers! :-)

[@MrPolevaulter]

It's something like that. www.ebay.com/itm/Volume-Box-guitar-amp-effect-loop-touchy-master-volume-taper-fix-attenuator/200925904844

[@k.t.5864]

Marshall has THE sound.

[@richardmahan6888]

Elmo what the chances of me finding one of the 1960 Bugera 150 watt amp head

[@MrPolevaulter]

Don't know.

[@bcwCherry]

Thank you for valuable information)

[@MrPolevaulter]

Glad it was helpful!

[@TheRosswise]

Wow nice playing brother.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Thank you very much :)

[@levijessegonzalez3629]

Which one sounded better in the room live?

[@MrPolevaulter]

I seem to remember it being the Marshall. But that may just be that I knew it was the Marshall. Anyway, it was close.

[@scriptureexamined4664]

4:46 That moment when you start squinting. XD

[@MrPolevaulter]

:D

[@FrankDoorhof]

Budgera sounds very good Marshall rocks and has more "soul" also I feel it inspired you more when playing ;)

[@abc123gpl]

yeahhh i like both .. think i like plexi in general

[@stringbender11672]

Wow you did an awesome Jeff Beck style there for a second. Great player!!! I am digging the Bugera!!🤘😎👍

[@MrPolevaulter]

Thank you :)

[@marviosantos]

How did you manage to coax those sounds out of the Bugera!? I had one, tried it with Cab's loaded with V30, with Green Backs, Different guitars: Les Paul, Fenders, super strats, just could never get a sound even approaching good... It always had this "high fi" type of sound, not necessarily trebly, but this way too smooth/buzzy type of sound, like you plugged your guitar into a stereo, you know?

[@MrPolevaulter]

I just treated it like I treat my Marshall basically :D

[@levijessegonzalez3629]

Did you have the new infinum version or older style?

[@marviosantos]

@@levijessegonzalez3629 It was the newer Infinium. You know what? Come to think of it, my problem was probably due to me using the built in "power soak" too high (I only tried the amp at home, not a giging volumes), so I may not have been using it "properly", it is a plexi style amp after all. May need to get another one to test! :)

[@levijessegonzalez3629]

@@marviosantos right. Definitely not a bedroom amp!

[@reneotten7376]

@@marviosantos power soak kills the tone unless you use a responsive one.

[@davidjorgenpedersen8010]

I have had Some Luck with Behringer Products. Their Pedals are Cheap some are Plastic! I bought one of Their Powered boards and 10 Pedals for it.I use as a Back-Up or Lend to Guitarists in Need! I had a 45-watt Keyboard Amp with 3 Channel and P.A. Jack was a Good One. I have a 300-watt Bass Head that is reliable,I gave My Brother and Nephew a 60-watt Solid State GX-60 Guitar Amp Each. I got Them on a Closeout for $69.00 each. They Have Tube Simulator Function. I have a Few Behringer Strat Style Guitars that are Very Playable! And I've Had at Least 5 Mixers from Them and Never had a problem. their Small P.A. monitors Crank, and I Have some 270-watt Powered Monitors that are Good Also!

[@MrPolevaulter]

Yeah, I've not had any Behringer related issues either, although I do know a couple of people who have had some trouble.

[@kosycat1]

So I could run my bugera 1960 into a 100 watt cab and not blow the speakers i just have to keep the volume down?... i want a 4x12 with 25 watt greenbacks

[@LarsDJ]

Correct me if i'm wrong but i believe the "150W" rating is said to just be marketing BS. Pretty much all other 4x EL34 amps are labeled 100W: Also it is possible to pull 2 power tubes and effectively half the output wattage. If doing so i believe it might affect speaker output ohm settings so better read up beforehand. I ran my 1960 Infinium and a JCM800 2204 into a 1x12 cab with a single greenback for ~2 years at low to medium volumes. Speaker is fine and actually outlasted the now dead Bugera.

[@qrxtra9397]

Ye sure! I do that with my 50 watt (think it is atleast) 212 and 100w head. Can play it loud as hell without any issues

[@infectionsman]

No you want at least twice as much wattage in the speakers. The bugera 1960 is 100w, so you need atleast 200w of speaker cabs. With a 50w like the 87x you want to use a cab with 100w or more. It is possible to use a single speaker of like 25w but you need some way to attenuate the volume down to extremely quiet levels, something like the PPIMV on the bugera.

[@MrPolevaulter]

As long as you keep the volume down then you should be fine, although I'm no expert on the matter.

[@kosycat1]

@@MrPolevaulter Guess I could pull some tubes too to be on the safe side but I have 4 kt66's in the Bugera right now and I really like its tone

[@FloydColor]

Marshall a little better, more clarity and brighter tone, but the price difference is monstrous as well as interesting

[@MrPolevaulter]

Yep :)

[@richard66754]

You can swap some cap values in the tone stack and voice those amps to better fit your strat.

[@MrPolevaulter]

They fit just perfectly.

[@juanjacob2255]

I can’t believe people are saying Bugera is better. It doesn’t take long after Elmo plugs into the Marshall to hear the difference. Marshall is always going to be better than bugera, no question about it.

[@MrPolevaulter]

I also preferred the Marshall, but the Bugera ain't bad.

[@davidmerlin3344]

I have heard from many music dealers that the Bulgera amps have the most problems and some cheap components

[@MrPolevaulter]

Yeah, that seems to have been an issue.

[@TheRosswise]

I have a Bugera 1990 from 2010 that came from the factory biased 3x hotter than it should have been. Once I fixed that issue, the amp was good and I still play it to this day. I think most problems are related to early model quality control and the fact that these amps are cheap and tend to be peoples first tube amps, before they know how to care for one properly.

[@1thess523]

@@TheRosswise yes i believe you are right and i think that's why the Infinium was created because it's self biasing

[@vinstar2131]

Would you recommend the bugera 1960 for old van halen, norifumi shima (concerto moon), and yngwie tones???

[@MrPolevaulter]

Sure thing.

[@xr8fairmont]

Hey 'this guy' 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 I listened very closely to both the sustains and struggled to hear a difference. Very much agree, the Marshalls have had a long life, but i would NOT change any valves. They develop a character over time unique to the player. You say they've been beaten up, but i think you've treated them fairly over the years and not abused. Nice!

[@MrPolevaulter]

Cheers!

[@eduardokazuo2900]

Hi, great vid and awesome playing, congrats! I have one. It's like a modded Plexi. Don't need to jump the channels. Upper left input does that, channels 1 and 2 in parallel. The lower left input it's channel 1 and 2 in series (More gain), like the Randy Rhoads Limited run of Plexis! Great amp, but too loud! Thanks and cheers from Brazil!

[@MrPolevaulter]

Obrigado :)

[@elitecombatfitnesscentral6170]

the dislike is a grunge fan

[@MrPolevaulter]

:D

[@sundaykeyboardist1096]

why tease me with the micro cube if you don't demo

[@MrPolevaulter]

Sorry? I have demoed it.

[@JohnGalt539]

Marshal sounded like it had a bit more top end slightly more sparkle, Bugera sounded like it had a bit more bass, but really very little difference, I think Bugera will last as long as Marshal, the only corners cut are in branding, Marshal logo is simply worth an additional $1500, wiring pots and tubes in both are most likely made in China anyway.

[@MrPolevaulter]

One difference is production costs, since one is made in the UK where people are actually paid more.

[@chrisdaviesguitar]

Hi Elmo, I do love your posts, but, people paid more in the UK? Now would be funny if it wan't so sad. Unfortunately, that is definitely not the case my friend. Many people in the UK die in winter because they can't afford to heat their homes or eat properly. People are homeless and begging on the streets.

[@JohnGalt539]

@@chrisdaviesguitar they still get paid more, just the cost of living is out of control, the amount of money Asian workers get paid probably goes farther than larger amount in England, let's hope Boris will turn things around, him and Donald should get along well, president with good instincts can create great economy in short time, Trump has proven that, unleash private sector, cut taxes and regulations get brexit finalized, curb immigration and things should improve, now is Boris up to the task??? Time will tell.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Like John said, workers in the UK are paid more than the same workers in Asia. Living costs are indeed different, and of course there is the issue of people who are out of work and homeless. As for Trump and Boris, I beg to differ.

[@samueljett7807]

What kind of strings do you use?

[@MrPolevaulter]

GHS Boomers 9-46. kzbin.info/www/bejne/i3-oanePn8h6gtk

[@jgmopar]

My friend has a 100 watt plexi, I want to take my 1960 to his place to compare like this. In this video the Marshall sounds better to me.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Let me know the results.

[@levijessegonzalez3629]

Have you yet?

[@chrisdaviesguitar]

I prefer my Blackstar HT Stage 100 :). Try and get your hands on one of them to have a test, superb amp.

[@MrPolevaulter]

I'll have to look into it.

[@chrisdaviesguitar]

I picked mine up from Ebay, came with a Blackstar HTV 2x12 with Celestion Vintage 30's. £400 all in, from a studio that was closing down. Best gear purchase I ever made, other than my 1973 John Birch Custom SG.

[@rickamadeo4187]

Hey Elmo, great playing as always, the Bugera sounds remarkably good considering the price point but the marshall does sound better overall, warmer, more balanced with greater clarity, more zing for want of a better word!

[@MrPolevaulter]

Yep, it has a bit more "je ne sais quoi" :)

[@josephland8649]

The Marshall is much more clear and defined. No surprise haha. Your playing is outstanding as well 👍

[@MrPolevaulter]

Thanks man!

[@jimigrunge]

If I was to go for a budget Marshall sound I would get the Marshall Origin 50. Marshall quality and tone for under $500

[@MrPolevaulter]

Fair enough.

[@tonyr669]

The Marshall is better, but the Bugera sounds great too.

[@rangerdoc1029]

But is is $2000 better?

[@MrPolevaulter]

Good question. For me it is.

[@tonyr669]

Heph333 listen, if you are professional, and music is your livelihood then yes. I own two Bugeras, 1990 Infinium and a TriRec. But I am not out on tour. I love them. And I saved a ton by not buying the Marshall JCM 900 and the Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier.

[@glennnmurphy]

I own both amps !!! The Bugera is much more versatile! The Marshall is awesome but the Bugera is more then a one trick pony !

[@MrPolevaulter]

Cool :)

[@Gohanndes1]

Marshall rules!!!

[@MrPolevaulter]

"These go to 11" :D

[@lesanne2]

Marshall.

[@hoosierdaddy2308]

This was good. 👍👍

[@MrPolevaulter]

Cheers :)

[@BOUZOUKI_PETE]

shouldve ran a loop of your playing and a /b them you’re playing way better through the marshall so theres no accuracy in this comparison

[@bradleestone5344]

I have the Bugera 333XL I used the crunch channel with a tube screamer and a noise gate a boss echo and a compressor. Check the results tap my icon ✌ kick ass shread Elmo ❗

[@MrPolevaulter]

Sorry, sitting in a meeting atm, so I can't now. Please remind me later.

[@nigel900]

Battle if the budgets? A Marshall Plexi 1987x costs $2,500.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Yeah, different budgets.

[@nigel900]

I've got one... they're awesome!

[@Nobody92421]

Just subscribed.... Nuf said.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Thanks :)

[@sixstringbluesify]

7:29: makes a mistake...makes a face to attempt to "hide" the mistake

[@PeterDad60]

cool

[@MrPolevaulter]

Cheers!

[@PeterDad60]

I have never seen the maker of a video respond by saying "Cool" so often. I think this guy is a jerk! A Cool Jerk! Edit I take back my rude comment as know i know English is not your first language and I appolgize for even saying such a mean thing. I learned that you are a nice person.

[@PeterDad60]

Sorry Elmo for the comment I made about you using the word "cool". Elmo, I can be a grumpy old man sometimes. I appreciate your review and I actually like your reviews. - Peter age 72

[@irock4u222]

if you covered both heads you could not tell the difference

[@MrPolevaulter]

I think I could tell the difference, but I'd be unsure which is which :)

[@irock4u222]

@@MrPolevaulter true..if i were there i probably could tell too but youtube compressed videos make everything sound great..and a great player like you untouchable..

[@MrPolevaulter]

@@irock4u222 Thanks :)

[@irock4u222]

@@MrPolevaulter anytime brother..keep posting the awesome reviews

[@tarkett8529]

Stick a treble booster in front of that bugera