Bugera Magician - seriously good?

[hunter]

Can't fault these tones methinks:

 

[noob_pwn]

aren't those things mark series clones?

 

[TheMagicEight]

aren't those things mark series clones?

Yup.

 

[noob_pwn]

aren't those things mark series clones?

Yup.

No wonder it sounds good

 

[Tone Monster]

Sounds ok but at $1099 who would choose that over an actual Mark III or IV?
That thing would have to be priced at $500 to gain any traction IMO.

 

[hunter]

But when I look at the controls it ain't the same as a MkV like many said.

Comparing a NEW Bugera to a USED Boogie ain't really fair I guess. With a new amp you also buy warranty, fresh caps and latest technology. Like the tube protection and auto bias stuff they got in there. It sounds good to me on the vid for sure.

 

[EchelonEngineering]

I guess for what it is, it sounds good. I'd rather have the real thing though.

 

[megamike]

What was sitting to the right of the amp?looks like a rack mount power amp or was it a bass amp?any ideas?

 

[Tone Monster]

I'll take a used EVH over a new me...

 

[steve_k]

I think it will be on the new Axe II. The preset will be called "the amp pretending to be an amp pretending to be another amp".

 

[tjon]

Yeah for 1000 bucks you might as well find a deal on a used real one.

 

[roadifier]

In another video they showed the back of the amp, It had mesa tubes in it

 

[polaris20]

But when I look at the controls it ain't the same as a MkV like many said.

Comparing a NEW Bugera to a USED Boogie ain't really fair I guess. With a new amp you also buy warranty, fresh caps and latest technology. Like the tube protection and auto bias stuff they got in there. It sounds good to me on the vid for sure.

Sure it's a fair comparison. The Boogie won't need a warranty anyway, while the Bugera will.

Yeah, it sounds nice, but I'd rather not support intellectual property thieves if I can avoid it. Especially since they're such arrogant dicks that they don't even try to hide the fact that they're thieves. 6260? A "BC30" with a lit logo? "Trirec"?

I get that the Rectifier and 5150 are based on the SLO, and on and on, but at least they weren't so damn blatant about it. And the Recto and 5150 are actually solid, reliable amps.

 

[Shiny_Surface]

It does sound pretty good imo.

 

[duodecim]

Yeah for 1000 bucks you might as well find a deal on a used real one.

In Europe? Good f'n luck!

While I don't like the shameless copying that Bugera does, it had to happen. Companies like Mesa charge 2-3 times more for their products in Europe. Obviously with those prices, few can afford one and hence the used market is practically nonexistent. Best price I've seen for a Mark V over here is $4133.664 (even considering the low exchange rate). The Bugera is less than a third of that. Now of course everyone would rather have the real thing, but as a teen or hobby player that really isn't an option. I'm not even sure Bugera really eats the market share of other companies – people who get a Bugera don't have money for the real thing and hence wouldn't have bought the product in the first place.

It's like claiming file sharing teens would have bought all 100 CDs/DVDs they downloaded. In reality, it'd surprise me if it would translate into a purchase of more than maybe 5, maximum 10 out of 100 products.

In the US it might make less sense to get a Bugera, but what if someone starts selling ENGL or Diezel copies for one third of the price? I bet lots of those "Made in the US of A" flag wavers would be scrambling in a long line of hypocrites.

 

[Shiny_Surface]

Companies like Mesa charge 2-3 times more for their products in Europe. Obviously with those prices, few can afford one and hence the used market is practically nonexistent. Best price I've seen for a Mark V over here is $4133.664 (even considering the low exchange rate). The Bugera is less than a third of that.

We get hit with high distribution costs as well, you should see the prices of Engl's (Peavey of Europe ) in the States...

 

[TheMagicEight]

Peavey of Europe

Really?!?

I thought Engls were supposed to be good! Never loved the way they sounded, but I guess the high price tag goes a long way....

 

[dpeterson]

it's all brand perceptiong b.s. Close your eyes.. if it sounds good who cares.. big brand name amps cant stay on top forever, lower cost alternatives will surface.

dave

 

[Dr. Swamp]

But when I look at the controls it ain't the same as a MkV like many said.

Comparing a NEW Bugera to a USED Boogie ain't really fair I guess. With a new amp you also buy warranty, fresh caps and latest technology. Like the tube protection and auto bias stuff they got in there. It sounds good to me on the vid for sure.

Sure it's a fair comparison. The Boogie won't need a warranty anyway, while the Bugera will.

Yeah, it sounds nice, but I'd rather not support intellectual property thieves if I can avoid it. Especially since they're such arrogant dicks that they don't even try to hide the fact that they're thieves. 6260? A "BC30" with a lit logo? "Trirec"?

I get that the Rectifier and 5150 are based on the SLO, and on and on, but at least they weren't so damn blatant about it. And the Recto and 5150 are actually solid, reliable amps.

I don't know, I have mixed feelings.

Is it better to rip off a design, and give no homage to the original and put your own fancy logo and look to it?

Or is being upfront about ripping off the designs, and making a lower cost alternative to the amps and making it quite obvious, the more ethical choice?

Companies like Behringer have been doing this for years. I get pissed at them ripping things off, but then always kinda appreciate that they at least make it painfully obvious. Any decently informed consumer knows what is going on.

 

[glassjaw7]

it's all brand perceptiong b.s. Close your eyes.. if it sounds good who cares.. big brand name amps cant stay on top forever, lower cost alternatives will surface.

dave

I agree 100%. And they're not hurting Boogie at all with this amp. Players in the market for a Mark series amp know what they want. It's not one of those amps that all the kiddies want because it looks cool.