yeti":3v6giwcd said:
you can buy a 5150 for 500 or less all day. you gotta look for them, but they'r there.
i understand that the bugeras have underrated/weak ass components in them, including but not limited to output and power trannies.
Wait, you can guy the 5150 used all day long, but you gotta look for them? That's pairwise mutually exclusive... it is one or the other as all day long means plentiful and but you got to look for them means to actively search and aren't just buying them all day long.
As the owner of a XXX and 333XL, let me give my first hand experience with the Bugera line.
Both give amazing tones, the Bugera easily matches the sound qualities of the XXX. It should, is a knock off of the Peavey XXX/JSX line. If pressed I'd say that the clean channel is superior to the XXX. As for the gain channels, both amps give crazily awesome gain tones.
The build quality is far higher on the Peavey, which should be expected as the Peavey isn't a Chicom built in near slave labor conditions special like the 333XL. There is a flimsy feel to the controls of the 333XL that isn't there in the XXX, but that is one of the reasons the Bugera costs half the new price of the Peavey.
I've had my 333XL for all but 3 years without a complaint. It got approx 15 - 30 hours a month on it (is just an amp at my GF's) until Dec '12 when I picked up a 5153 50 watt (also kept @ my GF's). Now it gets approx 5 hours a month on it. I spread time over my 5153, my El Diablo 60/30 combo and the 333xl at my GF's.
If I was torn between buying used out of warranty item for the same price as new with a warranty and it was all the $ I have for my only amp/item, I'd go new. Why? Because if it was all the money I had I'd not have the loot to put down on a repair of the used/beat piece.
If it was for $hit$ and giggles, I'd not sweat buying used as it was for what I said, but as my only or go to piece it is always new for me.
Now before everyone gets all defensive about the used gear comment (along with already looking down their noses), think of gear like broads.
Broad X has is 40 years old, has 4 kids with 4 different guys-2 of which (both children and fathers) have criminal records and you guys get along as you love each other's bodies. Broad Y is 20 years, no criminal past, no HARD use on her and you guys get along as you love each other's bodies.
You goan pick X or Y? Exactly, that's why you don't buy used gear if it is going to be your goto/only piece!
Derek