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Post by Deleted on Feb 8, 2019 15:30:31 GMT
The more I read about Blackstar HT and Bugera G series the more I feel the urge to send this amp back to where it once belonged! They seem to use a solid state Op-amp to drive the preamp tubes which gives it that cold tone.
Most people find them lackluster ... except the heavy metal dudes which love the hi-gain nonsense.
Why again did I buy this amp? Ah yes, because the V22 head was out of stock and my GAS just needed anything. Ok, ok, yet to do some tube swapping and see if that gives me a more positive feel ...
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Post by Deleted on Feb 8, 2019 19:31:28 GMT
Indeed this amp shines when Drive channel is cranked. This one is built to be a mean machine and the clean tone is ... well, boring as f...
Hm, not sure any valve swap can remedy the Hi-gain nature of this amp.
I'm also not sure I'm willing to unscrew the black screws at the back as this might void guaranty. Impossible to unscrew without leaving scratches on the screws. Visible ones.
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Post by blindwilly3fingers on Feb 8, 2019 19:37:10 GMT
Indeed this amp shines when Drive channel is cranked. This one is built to be a mean machine and the clean tone is ... well, boring as f... Hm, not sure any valve swap can remedy the Hi-gain nature of this amp. I'm also not sure I'm willing to unscrew the black screws at the back as this might void guaranty. Impossible to unscrew without leaving scratches on the screws. Visible ones. Use a widish rubber band between the screw and screwdriver, it should act as a gasket and prevent mark or slipping.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2019 20:23:28 GMT
Actually its time I made a list of Pros and Cons and have a clear picture. Pros; 1. Clean and Drive channels are well balanced with each other, or rather offer the knobs to adjust them so they fit well once switcing back and forth. They do go hand in hand and feel very ... balanced is the right word here I think. I love the natural feel when switching between the OD and Clean. They just belong with each other. Not sure I make sense here but this aspect is so very important to me. 2. The Drive channel has lots to offer and I find myself using it without my trusted CKK Lunar Drive. The Drive channel sounds good with or without OD pedal up front but OD does round up the sound a bit more so this can be an extra boost or color. 3. This amp LOVES the Guitar's Volume Knob! It is very responsive to the pots changes. I never really use volume knob but with this G20 amp I keep working the guitar's volume to get into growling lead tone or back off into the rhythm zone. Very cool indeed. 4. as I menioned before this G20 has an "immininent" feel in tone , nothing to do with in-your-face solid state tone! There is a reason why Metal heads love ths amp The notes are ready to pop and rock and THIS makes me play differrnt riffs than I would otherwise play on my V55 combo. This IS a positive. Also to mention the drive channel when cranked has that lovely sizzle on the high strings e, b, g and this tone you can often hear on Marshall amps when hitting the whole chord (also on Bassman '59) 5. the reverb is a Digital Room reverb and sounds good when cranked all the way. It will not get you into the Surf area as its not that wet, meaning its not an overwhelming verb. 6. Im yet to test the FX Loop as it is a MUST for Delay and Reverb pedals. This is a gainy amp and the delayed notes will crap out into utter distorted shoit My Tremolo sounds good up front though. Im placing the FX Loop into Pros section. 7. The workmanship is just beyond AWESOMENSS ::)This amp feels and looks the part, even the tiniest details are just awe The new tolex smells of chemicals but that was also the case with Bugera V5 when it came fresh from the factory This smell is usually gone in a few weeks. I dont mind it but folks might so be prepared to open the window every so often Cons; 1. Clean channel is VERY clean and ... transparent would be a good word here as it doesnt add much to it. On its own I find it boring as it doesnt have that sizzle to it that my V55 has (vintage voiced 6L6 amp). It is clean and it offers it self well to pedals to give it some flavor. Not sure if 6L6 and JJ 12AX7 would soften it up (will need to test this). Still it works very well with the Drive Channel that has much more personality to it. I remedy this Clean tone by havning my CKK Lunar Drive always on just with a bit of drive to it, so once I switch to Dirt channel it doesnt effect the dirt tone much and I still can work the guitars volume knob there. I made my keyboard play some backing riffs + drums and I played the G20 with a Strat over it, switching between the Clean and Drive (no other pedals at all just the onboard Reverb) and this amp sounds great in the mix even that "boring clean" sounds really good ... IN THE MIX 2. Would be nice if they gave this amp some more Lows. I find it lacks in Lows/Bass but that might be a good thing in the mix (IN THE MIX) I have the Bass on full! 3. the tolex smell of chemicals but this is a brand new amp and this smell will evaporate in a few weeks. Now that I look at these Pros and Cons I actually like this amp! I think its a best for Live as these two channels do work very well together. The overall tone is a bit on the "harder" more "imminent" side but this apparently normal for EL34 tubes. If you a one man singer song writer than this not amp for you but if in the band then this amp can do all sorts of good stuff without many pedals being used. DefJef I do think this amp would suit your LIVE needs perfectly. For recording too if you need a hard feel in your notes but not so if you need chimey softness (that V22 might be better for that).
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Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2019 23:19:39 GMT
No boost and no presence. I dislike Boost on amps! And Presence I keep on minimum and none at all if using distorted sound.
Im now thinking of maybe buying the V22 head as well and buy a cab somtime in the future as I can use all these amps into my V55 combo speaker for now.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2019 11:10:51 GMT
I am really interested in it, particularly with 6L6s. Since I have decided to keep this amp I will do the tubes swap and see how that sounds. I was thinking to swap all pre and power tubes at the same time but maybe you would like me to only change the EL34 to 6L6 first and see how that sounds? Im asking as it will take time for the tubes to cool down again for me to also swap the Bugera pre-amp tubes for JJ, as those JJ are know for generally softening the sound. Both pre tubes, JJ and Bugera are eec83/12AX7. I would prefer to swap them all at once but if you insist I can only swap the power tubes and find time to test the JJ in pre-amp later. This is happening tonight!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2019 14:26:39 GMT
It's unusual to have an amp where these changes are so easy and cost free to do swaps. What mean you dear sir Not sure what means cost free ? Tubes are easy to swap if the sockets match and I think EL34 and 6L6 have the exact same socket/jack/connection. Its not free. It just happens my V55 has 6L6 and JJ pre-amps to borrow and I also have the old eec83 and 6L6 I changed in my V55, and all are still functional.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2019 18:02:05 GMT
Long story short; swapped the tubes, took out the EL34 and placed in the TAD6L6 (they have same connection, except 6L6 has 2 pins less). Warmed up the amp in Standby Mode for a few minutes ... all good ... then out of Standby and hit a G bar chord in Clean channel ... indeed, a HUGE difference (nice creamy, warm, round tone). BUT! The Drive ch. is not that nice with 6L6 tubes! Not as chunky as on my V55 amp but still chunky and flubby bottom end. Also not responding as nice to the guitars volume pot as the EL34. My conclusion is next; This amp has a very nice drive channel, very dynamic and also responds very well to the guitars volume knob change. The EL34 Clean is on the cold side of things but still useable especially if one has a low gain drive pedal always on to just give it that little push. Sure 6L6 make the Clean ch. sound warm and round but then you loose the lovely EL34 Drive ch. ! I prefer to keep it stock and maybe , just maybe opt for JJ in the preamp to maybe soften that part of the signal. That will be the next test!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2019 19:05:03 GMT
Some shots from under the hood Bugera EL34 and TAD 6L6 The EL34's are back in the amp and the difference was again very evident as soon I've hit that first chord. Cold feel was there again but the Drive channel had its tightness again and was mre responsive to the change of guitar's volume. Will see if I have the energy to test the JJ pre-amp tubes tonight otherwise will do it some other time. The drive channel needs these EL34's so they are here to stay but the over all coldish feel could be maybe remedied with JJ tubes, maybe even in the power amp section (got this info from a review).
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2019 21:39:11 GMT
Did the pre amp tube swap and there is a slight break up (not a sweet shimmer but sligtly harder clipping) on the clean channel with the JJ tubes. Also a bit rounder tone but this could also be due these tubes being used for some time now and the Bugera eec83's are brand spanking new. If this G20 is based on Blackstart then the Op-amp in the preamp circuit is creating this coldish and hardish tone. Even with the 6l6 there still is a bit of that hardness present. But the more you crank it with EL34's the more the signal becomes linear/compressed. After all this swapping I think the G20 sounds best with its own stock tubes! Not sure what the JJ EL34 would do but hey, they cost money and Im not willing to invest more than I already have. Any way, I feel rather stressed now after all this swapping and then cooling off the tubes before swapping them again etc ...
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