Top 6 | Budget Tube Combos | Part 1: Bugera, Blackstar | Thomann

Tube Combos under 400 bucks - what can you expect? Do they sound good enough despite the low headroom? Can you use them at home to practice without annoying your neighbours? Let's find out!
Gear in the video: tho.mn/da7fr
Check out Parts 2&3 of this shootout:
• Playlist
Interesting bits and pieces:
0:14 Introduction
0:22 Setup for today
1:19 Bugera V5 Infinium | Talking
4:35 Bugera V5 Infinium | Playing | Clean, Singlecoils, Bedroom Volume
5:05 Bugera V5 Infinium | Playing | Dirt Pedals, Singlecoils, Bedroom Volume
5:47 Bugera V5 Infinium | Playing | Dirty, Humbucker, Bedroom Volume
6:16 Bugera V5 Infinium | Playing | Clean, Humbucker, Bedroom Volume
7:04 Bugera V5 Infinium | Playing | Dirty, Humbucker, Stage Volume
7:37 Blackstar HT 1R | Talking
9:05 Blackstar HT 1R | Playing | Clean, Singlecoils, Bedroom Volume
9:57 Blackstar HT 1R | Playing | Dirt Pedals, Singlecoils, Bedroom Volume
10:27 Blackstar HT 1R | Playing | Dirty, Singlecoils, Bedroom Volume
11:12 Blackstar HT 1R | Playing | Dirty, Humbuckers, Bedroom Volume
12:21 Blackstar HT 1R | Playing | Dirty, Humbuckers, Stage Volume
12:58 Blackstar HT 1R | Playing | "Clean", Humbuckers, Bedroom Volume
13:13 Blackstar HT 1R | Playing | Dirt Pedals, Humbuckers, Bedroom Volume
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[@southamericanrocker]

For those who don't care about "the talk" 4:35 Bugera V5 9:05 Blackstar HT-1 R

[@VladimirGolev]

That's how all amp videos should be done. With DB meter and showing amp settings all the time.

[@photoguy4212]

The Bugera sounds like a real amp. The Blackstars are alright but the Bugera is raw. Seems like something you can connect with.

[@nyacoustics8373]

Bugera sounds the best! Others were all missing or had too much of something

[@frantisekvtelensky820]

That dB meter behind Kris is really awesome idea! Very cool, guys! \m/ :)

[@AirplaneStudio]

awesome but sad that you cannot see it all the times, would be great to see it all the time just aside the square showing the amp controls

[@coolcat3918]

Andertons have it in their music room as well, always on display.

[@Jamoca5020]

A very good tip for Burgers since it hasn’t an EQ (middle, treble and bass). It’s more mid focussed. Get an Equalizer and you can also take your own settings. Then you can set up Middle, Treble and Bass or better said different frequencies. My personal favourite is the Boss GE-7. I love it because you can set up 7 different frequencies and get very detailed in your personal set up. Also it’s in my opinion affordable (costs new around 89€/100-110$ and used 50-60€/60-65$). I believe an equaliser with the buyers V5 or a budget tube amp is a very good starting point.

[@coolcat3918]

Agree. EQ pedal made such a difference to my Bugera V5. It's bigger siblings don't need it that much, they are more open and brighter.

[@coolcat3918]

Agree. EQ pedal made such a difference to my Bugera V5. It's bigger siblings don't need it that much, they are more open and brighter.

[@HaraldEngels]

The Bugera V5 is a great modding platform. The Internet is full of optimization tips for the Bugera. Four great mods are: a) speaker swap (if you want more punch), b) replacing the 12AX7 with e.g. a 12AT7 (if you want more clean headroom), c) adding a treble bleed to the tone control poti (if you want more treble), d) stabilizing and dampening the enclosure (for less boomy basses). The sound you get than from such a compact amp is amazing - and yes, the Bugera can deliver more than bedroom practice level and makes your guitar sing. If small size matters for you, the Bugera is a flexible, quite sweet option.

[@cloudrun654]

Honestly though, you don't need to do anything to them.

[@jpdiddy8876]

Does it work the same for the V22

[@Ndlanding]

I'd like to know more about upping the treble. Where is this info? I've only found stuff about changing the valve(s).

[@coolcat3918]

Just add an EQ pedal instead of swapping/modding things. Definitely brightens amp up and adds more gain/volume.

[@dietmarsimon]

After a hard and entiring 3 years fight with my Mesa TA15 under bedroom conditions, I just went back to my neglected Bugera Vintage 5. Both amps run into a late 70ties 212 Marshall Closed Back Cab. In any direct comparism ( means 5 W setting on Bugera and Mesa) the Bugera is the winner. Bugera also works better with all of my pedals.

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

I love the Bugera stuff. I have a V20 and it always delivers! //Andy

[@douglasdobson8110]

"if it's too loud you can turn down the volume knob and it will get quieter" Wow that's a great tip. . . . . . . .

[@TonyHawkTuah]

Douglas Dobson But what happens if you turn it up ???

[@douglasdobson8110]

LOL Idunno, maybe it will get less quieter :O) Is there a youtube video on that?

[@DraftNutthana]

some amps will be muted if you turn volume down to two or three.

[@officialWWM]

It's an awesome modern innovation :)

[@IsawUupThere]

Knowing some guitarists, I'm not even sure if you're being sarcastic or not.

[@MichaelMacherey]

I like the sound of the Bugera!

[@ckallaher]

I know it’s all personal taste but I owned the Bugera and just found it too dark. I also owned the HT-1R and found it too quiet to get any kind of sparkle in the clean sound. My advice is to spend the extra $240 and get the Blackstar HT-5R. The 5 watts give you a very nice, usable clean sound, the gain channel is awesome with humbuckers, and that plus the other features (effects loop, emulated cab out, foot switch, EQ plus Infinite Shape for the gain channel, 0.5 Watt setting) make it the most useful amp I own. In fact, because of the superior phones out, the 0.5 W setting on that amp sounds way better through phones the the 1 W HT-1R.

[@coolcat3918]

Bugera V5 is darkish indeed, EQ pedal solves this problem, it's so much brighter and more versatile.

[@richharris2864]

I couldn’t agree more. I’ve got the HT5R for the same reason.

[@jamesmarcin4787]

I put an Eminence Patriot speaker in mine and no issues of it being too dark now. Great little amp.

[@HiHello-ku1fl]

Bugera sounds great.

[@snooze0023]

Can you do one of these videos for Micro heads. Micro terror, huges kettner joyo bantamp, mooer preamp pedals,vox nutube ummmm and any others you can dig up thanks

[@nikolanebulus7259]

Good job on this video! I appreciate your hard work. God bless you and your family!!

[@augusto8821]

Der Bugera ist genial, ideal für Blues bei Zimmerlautstärke

[@iliana_b]

i have the HT1R and it kicks ass! would love to see the rest of the amps comparison!

[@rickmiller7884]

That framed pedal setup on the wall is fucking genius.

[@florascent9ts]

I don't know why men dislike talking, it's very good to hear the opinions of our peers. everyone should lend their experiences of their learned ears to those less experienced, such as myself. and others.

[@Colateral29]

@5:49 Cold Gin by Kiss :-D In my opinion the Bugera sounds better than the Blackstar but it has less gain.

[@dancrowell2933]

Good video. Can you do a video comparing 20 watt amps? For example: Blackstar HT 20, Peavy Classic 20, Bugera G20, Egnater 20 watt, etc

[@mattgilbert7347]

I've kinda done that - ended up with the Blackstar HT20. The Egnaters are cool (Tweaker 15/Rebel 20), sound great - but QC is a bit of a problem. The Peavey didn't do it for me. The Bugera is great, I just preferred the Blackstar. It's a good pedal platform in both clean & dirty channels. A well-designed amp. I have the Mk1 with the EL34s.

[@farber2]

So many guitars not in tune or needing intonation work, very common on a clean sound, so many people add distortion that they never really have to bother with it.

[@ebatgmail]

Finally someone which shows dBAs 🙂

[@JGAbstract]

This morning: I'm buying a Marshall MG30GFX. Right now: I'm buying a bugera 5w.

[@scott9628]

I've owned a few and they work great. There sound best with pedals and a Les Paul. Loud and really powerful! Hook it up to a 4x12 cab omg!

[@coolcat3918]

What did you go for in the end?

[@waltwilcutts37]

bonus points for the Cold Gin riff

[@wls64]

Haah... was wondering if any1 would catch that, it was fairly quick. well done

[@Slovy_]

I prefer G&L Strats to fenders. I like the chunkier necks and the 12” radius fretboards and the alnico pups compared to the ceramic pups in the lower cost MIM Strats. And the G&Ls are less expensive. That’s just my opinion

[@jfrbcelloguitar]

BUGERA Excelent 👌

[@mediastarguest]

Excellent review. Very informative. Both are nice little amps that offer various sounds. I prefer the Black Star: seems to me to have a little more "oomph."

[@TwistedIdentity]

Bugera V5 crushes the Blackstar IMO. Played both, owned the HT1R and hated it, returned it a week later. Too fizzy, sounds muffled and scooped no matter what. I had a Peavey Envoy 110 at the time and it sounded almost the same as the Blackstar side by side, 'cept of course you can EQ the Envoy.

[@garycooks]

This would be cooler if you just played directly into the amplifiers only.

[@RGMDG]

I agree. The Amp alone. Cleans and then dirty. No additional effects. Maybe a looper if they want to lay a base track and jam over it. I guess we can always do our own demos.. LOL if that is what we want.. Other than that, I appreciate the effort involved in making a video series like this KUDOS for that.

[@tihomir7]

He played directly into the amp if you watched carefully. He also showed how it sounds with pedals because not every amp acts same with pedal use. Some are not pedal friendly and some are

[@redseadiver43]

Disagree. Some cheap amps work horrible with distortion pedals ( like a good quality overdrive ). Imagine that you buy one of this amp and once u plug your pedals, does not sound correct.

[@redseadiver43]

@@tihomir7 Hi Tihomir. Any recomendation for a low budget amp to work with distortion pedals?

[@tihomir7]

@@redseadiver43 that's what I said. Not all amps are acting the same with pedals. No matter cheap or expensive.

[@yngwerhappen]

DHL is on the way from Thomann to me with the Blackstar combo :-) I hope that is it not too loud with hardrock gain, because I don´t like headphones. But If it not breaks up enough the tubes for practicing it will not more worse than a Spark mini from sound. I wanted an amp for practicing, easy too use with best sound and not a feature amp with smartphone. I can later buy a distortion pedal or another effect. My chorus is also for guitar that I have. The Marshall DSL with 1 Watt was also an option, but not available. Maybe I could need a delay later.

[@sussezqt.1439]

Love my v5!

[@michaeldorrenbacher8977]

you are such an amazing player and your explanations are superb! Love this videos, specially about bedroom level. Because that is what most of us probably need!

[@Ndlanding]

Speaking at bedroom level, [NO! I can't continue this comment.]

[@1961jscofield]

Nice Ace Frehley riff!

[@HIGHNORTHSOUNDS]

My biggest concern is how these amps sound with headphones. Will it sound good with high gain pedals with headphones? Can anyone comment on this?

[@esticaandres3169]

Today you can get any of those used for about 100 dollars. Still there are better options for a small amp such as the YamahaTHR

[@stevejohnson7002]

Very helpful review!

[@hs1607]

12:35 that's some steve vai stuffs

[@superelectic45]

Hmmm, Blackstar sounds a bit thin for a valve amp to me.

[@today_what]

gooooood review . DB meter!!

[@benmaguire4098]

Hey Kristof .. nice guitar playing .. I hope all at Thomann having good Holiday times .. So much is changing with things in the world right now But I would put the Bugera on my wish list with the vox MV50 clean . Let us hope next year is better for everyone . I am really enjoying the guitar Tech tips .. No need to reply .. Best wishes for the New Year . Bye

[@RobertEMason]

So in the end of the comparisons can you list all the amps as you liked them from best to least? Thank you!

[@tommydahill437]

Thank you; this is a great review and very helpful, esp the db meter! I have a micro terror (which I really dig) but am looking for something for recording that is quieter but still sounds good at 11 p.m.

[@idanshahar]

Great Idea for a video! listening now.

[@symphotronix3725]

4:57 crawling in my skin, these wounds they will not heal, fear is how I fall, confusing what is real..

[@kiko2129]

finally i was searching for this kind of video for years :D tnx :D greetings from macedonia :D

[@aleksandarangelov6572]

Keep talking man! A little theory part doesn't do any harm 😉

[@rodrigomiranda9698]

Blackstar THE BEST!

[@thomasr.5443]

A Thomann Video about entry level tube amps and no Harley Benton amp? 😳

[@metalliholic]

Excellent video! Thank you!

[@alexandert696]

I heard that 20 watts is half as loud as 100 watts but the sounds is also way more clear.

[@ezer0923]

johno doh 10 watts is half as loud. To double the perceived volume you multiply the wattage by 10 :)

[@MaxFreist]

in theory :P

[@Ndlanding]

@@MaxFreist Yip. My 100W Marshall (4x12) was tons louder than my 50W (2x12 combo). The stack could send sandwiches flying across the room and make bras fall off. Never, ever turned it past about 5.

[@MaxFreist]

@@Ndlanding What I had in mind is that wattage of your amp is one thing - the speaker(s) and their wattage and EFFICIENCY is immensly important regarding volume output ;)

[@edibleresidue]

What a cool dude!

[@phenixreturns]

one guitar addict :)

[@MrBossei]

Really great demo!! 👍

[@elusivelyexclusive79]

nice review(s),thanks!

[@moimeme7839]

Randall RD1 or vox ac4 tv, since the Marshall one watters are all sold out

[@CaliforniaBrowngrass]

Nice--thanks!

[@scottclydesdale1674]

Hi, just learning about amps so might sound silly, but wondering if one channel of the blackstar could be used somehow as an effects loop?

[@luchopons1897]

Best reviews vids I've watched so far, keep it up!

[@tiagogalvao654321]

Would love too see a bugera g20 and v20 in here and other 20 watts amp for comparasion

[@wls64]

Yes, me too I have a V22 infinium combo [which I lurve], and just ordered the G20 head this morning. I cant #*%@& wait! >=]

[@martinus19]

@@wls64 still have the v22? I plan on buying one. Is it reliable? Or does it break alot. And is it good for a bedroom amp or to loud

[@wls64]

@@martinus19 , yes i still have it. its stil awesome... even after getting the G20 and a marshal DSL40, I mostly play the v22. The G20 is good but too high gain for me and runs hot as it is not well vented. It actually blew a tube, which i have not yet replaced. But v22 = yes... OMG yes. get one NOW! take care

[@martinus19]

@@wls64 did you ever tried the v55. Is the v22 better? I need it for clean tones. Fendery tones.

[@trmbtwo]

Is it me or the Bugera wins this one on clean, and overdrive too?

[@wls64]

trmbtwo yes... and yes >=]

[@officialWWM]

Yes, it's just you. It sounds like crap.

[@cdreid99999]

i came here to check out the bugera but theyre all behind 3 pedals so who the hell knows what the amps sound like

[@HaraldEngels]

Yes, I thought the same ...

[@luginonluginon2602]

Bugera make amazing amps saying this as el engineer and musican..also since they are the only one who have factory in Asia - they can control things, others and ghost built except maybe Laney if it is UK made? People hate Bugera due they kick ass to far more expensive amps ☺☺☺.

[@fredrodnick2881]

People don't only listen to high gain amps. What about the clean tones and slightly driven tones?

[@thelordofdarkness141]

I bought a brand new harley benton 2x12 loaded with v30's from Thoman £150 delivered what a bargain you can't find two v30 able for that money

[@jaystudio6970]

wow i surprised with the tone youre getting from bugera

[@doba7301]

Hi man u play pedal more expensive than amp! And u making review of amp.....

[@ctcards2636]

Nice G&L guitar :-) I use to own a white Legacy (USA). I own a 93 Legacy and a 2002 G&L Commanche. Amp wise i just bought the T5 Infinium head, look forward to trying this lil amp out. ;-) Thanks for the video.

[@jasondorsey7110]

The t5 is an amazing value, but I had to set it up with a bright speaker compliment, I've been running mine through an 8in jensen and a 12in ev alnico for some chime

[@ctcards2636]

@@jasondorsey7110 I put 150pF caps on the gain and volume pots (Solder the caps to the inner two lugs on the pots) and it brought out the brightness it was lacking. They really needed a bright switch on the front. My only complaint is its a darker sounding amp. Even with the bright caps its not too bright, you can still get the amp just as dark as it was before. But if you adjust the EQ right you can now get more sparkling cleans, brighter. Easy mod. Also try a 6p14p power tube in this amp.

[@asimidrizovic9386]

So what would you recommend to me : Blackstar HT1R used for 150 Euro or Bugera V5 Infinium new one for 210 Euro

[@schipbreukeling3]

Harley Benton TUBES 15

[@williambock1821]

Well you’re semi-good lookin’..😂

[@dorielementary]

What brand is that decibel meter?

[@reggie9245]

guitar playing starts at 4:36

[@carmenhaymon4148]

Awesome sound for 5w amp! Nice riffs, if your ever in Michigan look us up.

[@gorimus]

Thanks for the demo. Bugera V5 sounds really nice. Can this be "miced" up into a mixer/PA for a live gig?

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Hey, I have a V5 and it works great mic'd up! //Andy

[@gorimus]

@@ThomannsGuitarsBasses Thanks for your pormpt reply. I was a bit confused between V5 and V22 (althogh V22 is above my budget currently). Since my main use is home playing but at times it might be used for live shows of upto 100 people, in which case V5 (mic'd up) should suffice as you say. Have you compared V5 with Laney Cub8? If I do decide to increase by budget, then I'll consider V22 and Laney Cub12R. I liked the Laney Cub10 (featured in part-2 of the video), so I check out the one with reverb. Any thoughts on how V22 and Laney Cub12R compare?

[@steviesteve750]

Missed the bit about 2x12 benton cab....

[@survivor030406]

I had the original version bugera v5 and the heafphone only worked on one side. Did they fix it with the infinium version?

[@oldguy3255]

My B v5 Infinium has both sides through some old Realistic stereo headphones.

[@chriscolabella880]

This vid convinced me that Adio Air GT is perfect for practice and Peavey Triple X perfect for gigs. The honest truth is they all sound terrible.

[@mojojojo1095]

Purchased this amp HT 1 mkII In June 2020. 36 days ago, just started making popping noise when headphones plugged in. Check headphone cable. It’s the amp. Of course returning something after 30 days is a big hassle. Cheap Chinese junk.

[@hadeseye2297]

KISS!!!

[@neogeoriffic]

Mic and a few pedals??? How does that help us hear the damn amp?

[@joshuastephenkingsly]

Can we use pedals with all these tube amps? I thought it's obvious until I found comments about fx loop and all that...

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Ohh absolutely yes! I used some pedals in this video too. You don't even need an FX loop, as long as the amp is set clean. Just plug in all your pedals in front of the amp's input, and you're good. As soon as your amp distorts and you want to use delays, reverbs, etc, you better have an FX loop and connect them there. //Kris

[@carlosmanuelgonzalez310]

Bugera V5 4:35 Blackstar ht1r

[@lal2235]

the bugera doesnt come with fx loop??, so what if I want to use pedals in the effects loop?

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Kris here, hi! You can use delays, reverbs, etc. in front of the amp too, you just have to be careful with your amp gain settings. As long as the amp doesn't distort too much you can stick every pedal in the amp input. Fun fact: most beloved and expensive pedal platform amps don't have an FX loop. Or even if they have a loop, most players prefer not using them. It becomes an issue though as soon as you want some serious amp distortion. //cheers, Kris

[@anindya448]

what is the song played at 12:36? have seen in multiple amp reviews...

[@skeetschuler1859]

I have a Laney Cub 10 all tube 10 watt that kills them both.

[@roaddog7542]

Interested in hearing the amps only during comparisons not pedals. YT audio is bad enough. Bailed from this review.

[@cliffordlaport4322]

Your missing the Monoprice Stage Right 15W 1x12 combo. $200 and sounds better then all of those.

[@CarlitoM77]

Yup.. And it has effects loop and built in reverb. It takes pedals like a champ and sounds great! It's the best 200 I ever spent!

[@pulidomi]

Blackstar winssss

[@pb481]

What is the song at 12.20 ? Good Vidéo

[@wolf6597]

Das Blackstar enttäuscht auf ganzer Linie....finde ich.

[@mathewfoley1531]

I just bought a bugera v5 haven't unboxed it yet cause I ran out of cold gin

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

hmm... You better unbox it then to get back in the New York groove. haha //Kris

[@rveurope]

Does that Ht 1 goes nice with pedals ( has no fx loop though) sounds awsome...love it

[@nfmeola]

No, It has no loop.

[@phenixreturns]

whyu do'nt u play with full gaijn ?

[@andrewlin3284]

that blackstar sounds like a can of bees.

[@souperintros]

what is the song in 6:15 ?

[@dmraley]

Are you running a pedal on it at around the 5:06 mark? If so what pedal(s) is it? Love that fat almost SRV tone! Same question for around 5:28?

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Hey Daniel, I was using this rather awesome overdrive: www.thomann.de/de/digitech_dod_looking_glas.htm Happy you liked it! //cheers, Kris

[@jandoe2576]

Do you think, the Bugera could take some decent High Gain Pedal?

[@VictorVonBelmont]

Yes, it does. I have a V5 since 6 years ago and I basically use it as a pedal platform. I highly recommend using the V5 with an external 12" cab at least. I use mine with a 2x12" Fender Cab loaded with Celestion V-Types and it's a great improvement.

[@scopedope8706]

Would not trade my Roland Micro Cube for any of these. Sorry

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Interesting... Why not? //Andy

[@scopedope8706]

Well maybe I spoke to soon. I picked up a used Bugera V5 and I'm really enjoying it.

[@davidledford6482]

whats he sadang happy about anyway

[@garycooks]

Dang! That's why you need multiple parts for this review - too much talking!

[@Roadking26]

4:35 min of talking before any playing. I hate that shit.

[@lesterfalcon1350]

Channel says 'Guitar and Bass', but what about some bass amp info. So little out there on this, so much contradictory information. Such as the bass amp should be 4 times bigger than the guitars. Then to Guitarist, why 15Watts is enough. So 60 watt bass amp then. Nope, Bass players say 250 minimum to play with a kit, and it will still struggle. So how is a 15 watt amp for guitars and 500 for Bass. Baffling

[@DougHinVA]

I don't want to hear him show off and grimace... I want to see and hear the amps mentioned... OK?