Alright, so I simply HAD to do it, I simply HAD to get a Bugera Trirec first generation because I was DYING to know what it was like, how it would compare against my Dual Rectifier (yes it is a Road King II and not "just" a Dual Rectifier). How many times did I say I wouldn't buy a first generation Bugera? More times than I can count, that's how many! What did I buy? A first generation Bugera!
So 3 weekends ago she's here! Okay officially she's @ my GF's place so that I have an amp (well amps) there to play through when I'm there.
The good.
On channel #1 the clean sounds nice and has a gain switch to use it as a light crunch channel if I so needed it.
On channels #2 & #3 there are three gain options to cover from a little more crunch than channel #1 up to molten magma.
The clean channel on the Road King, well channels as there are two, they are just beyond compare to any amp with the sheer versatility and tone. Now comparing the gain channels, both are awesome. The Trirec is a little brighter voiced where the Road King II (and Roadster) is a bit darker. The tones available are AWESOME.
The BAD.
So after less than 20 hours on the Trirec, a total of 6 hours the first 2 weekends and 4 hours last weekend and an hour on her this Wednesday, the gain channels went belly up!!!
First they lost volume to where they're whisper quiet and now they're buzz like I'm standing by a fluorescent with one eight the volume of the clean channel.
Easy fix right? Just a bad preamp tube in the gain side of the house?
NOPE. Swapped out all the 12ax7s with ones I know are in fine working condition from my place last night and still the same thing on the gain channels - thin, buzzing and no volume, but the clean is right as paint. I am going to pull the 12ax7s from my 5150 III @ my GFs and try that today, but I am doubtful.
Zzounds doesn't have any in stock to swap it out and direct me to Bugera for a fix.
So now do I bother to see how good Bugera is with their warranty service, know that there is always some sort of infant mortality in electronics?
Or do I simply return it to Zzounds, that this is just a sign of things to come with a first generation Bugera like all their prior first generations?
It is only a $1k amp and it isn't my primary amp, but it still sticks in my craw.
There are other $1k amps out there in the same line of high gain powerhouses like the 3120 & the 5150 III 50 that will do what this amp basically does, that I own and haven't failed in the months (5150 III 50) or years (my XXX) I have owned them.
So go ahead, rip me for buying the Bugera, tell me how you all were right as it is justified. Certainly appears that I completely deserve the ridicule and scorn.
Derek
So 3 weekends ago she's here! Okay officially she's @ my GF's place so that I have an amp (well amps) there to play through when I'm there.
The good.
On channel #1 the clean sounds nice and has a gain switch to use it as a light crunch channel if I so needed it.
On channels #2 & #3 there are three gain options to cover from a little more crunch than channel #1 up to molten magma.
The clean channel on the Road King, well channels as there are two, they are just beyond compare to any amp with the sheer versatility and tone. Now comparing the gain channels, both are awesome. The Trirec is a little brighter voiced where the Road King II (and Roadster) is a bit darker. The tones available are AWESOME.
The BAD.
So after less than 20 hours on the Trirec, a total of 6 hours the first 2 weekends and 4 hours last weekend and an hour on her this Wednesday, the gain channels went belly up!!!
First they lost volume to where they're whisper quiet and now they're buzz like I'm standing by a fluorescent with one eight the volume of the clean channel.
Easy fix right? Just a bad preamp tube in the gain side of the house?
NOPE. Swapped out all the 12ax7s with ones I know are in fine working condition from my place last night and still the same thing on the gain channels - thin, buzzing and no volume, but the clean is right as paint. I am going to pull the 12ax7s from my 5150 III @ my GFs and try that today, but I am doubtful.
Zzounds doesn't have any in stock to swap it out and direct me to Bugera for a fix.
So now do I bother to see how good Bugera is with their warranty service, know that there is always some sort of infant mortality in electronics?
Or do I simply return it to Zzounds, that this is just a sign of things to come with a first generation Bugera like all their prior first generations?
It is only a $1k amp and it isn't my primary amp, but it still sticks in my craw.
There are other $1k amps out there in the same line of high gain powerhouses like the 3120 & the 5150 III 50 that will do what this amp basically does, that I own and haven't failed in the months (5150 III 50) or years (my XXX) I have owned them.
So go ahead, rip me for buying the Bugera, tell me how you all were right as it is justified. Certainly appears that I completely deserve the ridicule and scorn.
Derek
