Bugera 333 Guitar Amplifier Head (120 Watts)
No longer available at zZounds




zZounds Gear Experts Say...
Hand-built 120-Watt amplifier driven by 4 x 6L6 valves (convertible to EL34).
Overview
The Bugera 333 is the go-to guitar amp head for any rock, metal or hardcore band due to its raw tone, massive power and road-worthy reliability. Whether you want crystal clean punch, sultry smooth classic rock lead tones or that bone shattering metal crunch, the 333 provides extensive tone shaping abilities with virtually unlimited dynamics in a three channel configuration.
The 333's brutal power comes from 4 hand-selected and matched Bugera 6L6 power valves. The 4 Bugera 12AX7 valves in the preamp add up for terrifying punch and mind-rattling gain.
Each channel features Volume, Bass, Mid and Treble, while the Crunch and Lead offer additional Gain control. We added Impedance switching to match virtually any speaker cabinet, from 4, 8 to 16 Ohms. Plus you'll love the detail in the fine reverb tails. The amp comes with a four-way heavy-duty metal footswitch for channel and effects loop selection to tap your favorite effects.
This boutique-style amp is constructed using precision manufacturing, blended with our artisan hand assembly, so you can be confident it will stand the test of time. The next time you wield your axe, feel the Soul of Valves with the Bugera 333.
Features
Hand-built 120-Watt amplifier driven by 4 x 6L6 valves (convertible to EL34)
Classic 3-channel preamp design (Clean, Crunch, Lead) featuring 4 x 12AX7 valves for terrifying punch and mind-blowing gain
Integrated high-class reverb with dedicated Reverb control
Independent Equalizer sections for each channel… read more with dedicated Bass, Mid and Treble control
Damping switch (High, Medium, Low) for total sound control
Impedance switch (4, 8 and 16 Ohm) to match virtually any speaker cabinet
FX Loop with independent Send and Return level controls also serves as Boost function
Heavy-duty footswitch for Channel selection and FX Loop/Boost function included
Line output with dedicated Level control
High-quality components and exceptionally rugged construction ensure long life read less
The 333's brutal power comes from 4 hand-selected and matched Bugera 6L6 power valves. The 4 Bugera 12AX7 valves in the preamp add up for terrifying punch and mind-rattling gain.
Each channel features Volume, Bass, Mid and Treble, while the Crunch and Lead offer additional Gain control. We added Impedance switching to match virtually any speaker cabinet, from 4, 8 to 16 Ohms. Plus you'll love the detail in the fine reverb tails. The amp comes with a four-way heavy-duty metal footswitch for channel and effects loop selection to tap your favorite effects.
This boutique-style amp is constructed using precision manufacturing, blended with our artisan hand assembly, so you can be confident it will stand the test of time. The next time you wield your axe, feel the Soul of Valves with the Bugera 333.
Features
Hand-built 120-Watt amplifier driven by 4 x 6L6 valves (convertible to EL34)
Classic 3-channel preamp design (Clean, Crunch, Lead) featuring 4 x 12AX7 valves for terrifying punch and mind-blowing gain
Integrated high-class reverb with dedicated Reverb control
Independent Equalizer sections for each channel… read more with dedicated Bass, Mid and Treble control
Damping switch (High, Medium, Low) for total sound control
Impedance switch (4, 8 and 16 Ohm) to match virtually any speaker cabinet
FX Loop with independent Send and Return level controls also serves as Boost function
Heavy-duty footswitch for Channel selection and FX Loop/Boost function included
Line output with dedicated Level control
High-quality components and exceptionally rugged construction ensure long life read less
Specs
Preamp Section
Valves
Type: 2 x 12AX7A, 2 x 12AX7
Preamp high-gain input
Impedance: 470 k
Clean channel
Nominal input level: -20 dBV
Min. input level: -30 dBV
Max. input level: 0 dBV
Crunch channel
Nominal input level: -80 dBV
Min. input level: -90 dBV
Lead channel
Nominal input level: -80 dBV
Min. input level: -90 dBV
Effects send
Impedance: 47 k or higher
Min. output level: -10 dBV, 300 mV RMS
Max. output level: 0 dBV, 1 V RMS
Effects return
Impedance: 470 k
Min. input sensitivity: -10 dBV
Max. input sensitivity: 0 dBV
Line output
Impedance: 47 k or higher
Adjustable output level: +/- 20 dBV
Power Amplifier Section
Valves
Type: 4 x 6L6GC
Output power
Peak power: 120 W / 16, 8, 4
Loudspeaker connectors
Type: 1/4 in. mono jack connectors, unbalanced
Load impedance: 4/8/16 switchable
Power Supply
Power consumption: Max. 350 W
Fuse:
T 3.15 A H 250 V (100 - 120 V~, 50/60 Hz)
T 1.6 A H 250 V (220 - 240 V~, 50/60 Hz)
Mains connection: Standard IEC receptacle
Dimensions/Weight
Dimensions (H x W x D): Approx. 9 25/32 x 27 x 9 11/16 in. (249 x 687.3 x 246 mm)
Weight: Approx. 47 lbs (21.5 kg)
Valves
Type: 2 x 12AX7A, 2 x 12AX7
Preamp high-gain input
Impedance: 470 k
Clean channel
Nominal input level: -20 dBV
Min. input level: -30 dBV
Max. input level: 0 dBV
Crunch channel
Nominal input level: -80 dBV
Min. input level: -90 dBV
Lead channel
Nominal input level: -80 dBV
Min. input level: -90 dBV
Effects send
Impedance: 47 k or higher
Min. output level: -10 dBV, 300 mV RMS
Max. output level: 0 dBV, 1 V RMS
Effects return
Impedance: 470 k
Min. input sensitivity: -10 dBV
Max. input sensitivity: 0 dBV
Line output
Impedance: 47 k or higher
Adjustable output level: +/- 20 dBV
Power Amplifier Section
Valves
Type: 4 x 6L6GC
Output power
Peak power: 120 W / 16, 8, 4
Loudspeaker connectors
Type: 1/4 in. mono jack connectors, unbalanced
Load impedance: 4/8/16 switchable
Power Supply
Power consumption: Max. 350 W
Fuse:
T 3.15 A H 250 V (100 - 120 V~, 50/60 Hz)
T 1.6 A H 250 V (220 - 240 V~, 50/60 Hz)
Mains connection: Standard IEC receptacle
Dimensions/Weight
Dimensions (H x W x D): Approx. 9 25/32 x 27 x 9 11/16 in. (249 x 687.3 x 246 mm)
Weight: Approx. 47 lbs (21.5 kg)
Documents and Manuals
For support or warranty questions, please contact the manufacturer:
Reviews
Reviewers gave this product an overall rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars.
(8 ratings)
Submitted August 28, 2010 by a customer from yahoo.com
"This is a good amp. Save your money, and be brave. Try a Bugera."
Verified Customer
zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
I hope this amp lasts for a long time. I'm not abusive towards any of my gear, so I expect a good life span from this amp. I do plan to retube it very soon. Perhaps I'll post another review once i retube it. The amp seems solid, and aside from the horror stories about this brand, this is a good amp. I would buy another Bugera--In fact, I'm eagerly awaiting the patent for their Tri-Rec, which is supposed to be their take on the Mesa line of amps.
Sound
This is a great all-around amp. Having owned Mesa's (Double and Triple Rec's, and a Roadster) Peavey's (Valvekings, Classic 50's, Classic 30's, 6505+'s, and a Triple XXX) this amp stands in a class all of it's own. When I first opened the package, and looked this amp over,I was pleasantly surprised to the attention to detail, and the top notch construction. I was aware of the cheaper parts used on the face of the amp--the knobs are plastic, as is the logo, and it requires a gentler touch. However, as with any investment, if you take care of it, it'll take care of you. I immediately pulled out the chasis and checked the bias on the tubes--it was actually correct after suriving a hellacious ride with a less than aware UPS driver. (He had the box sitting upright, and was pretty much kicking it up my steps. I gave him a stern talking to...) **You can check the bias point for all of the Bugera line of amps at their website. So far, having only owned the amp for a week, I'm pretty impressed for the price… read more and the amount of tonal options this amp provides. The three channels will keep you busy, if you're a tone geek like myself. The clean channel is superb--it really is. It brings up a certain Fender-esque cleaness--kinda reminiscent of the older sounds that a deluxe reverb can conjure. However, it may just be the combination of the head and cab that I'm using. ( A Port City 4x12--loaded w/ Vintage 30's. If you have never heard of Port City Amplification, I highly suggest you look into them--just google search them, and research their line of products.) The crunch channel is great. It has a nice variance of tones, just by tweaking the main eq's, bass, mids, treble, I was able to dial in that sought after old Marshall 50 watt sound, to a more modern gain, akin to some of the modern 'metal' amps of today. The 6L6 tubes break up a little later than your typical EL34, so finding the sweet spot on this channel's volume, in conjunction with the master volume, took some time. From what I've read on the web, this amp is supposed to emulate the Peavey JSX/Triple XXX/3120 line of amps...Having played/owned these amps, I can honestly say I can see the similarities, but this is entirely it's own amp--it actually improves on the design and sound palette of the amps it's modeled after. Moving onto the Lead channel, I found out just how much gain this amp has--it's crazy. I tend to use just enough gain to have enough saturation to make pinch harmonics come out easier, and to make lead runs more fluid--but if you gag out the gain, you'll be impressed by how wild the sound is. However, i wouldn't insist on this...I'll elaborate more in just a moment. The Lead channel is pretty much an extension of the crunch channel, offering a more refined gain, with less grit. It works well for heavy metal, and if you scoop the mids, you get that sound that everybody is so crazy about nowadays. (Personally, I think the whole active pickup and scooped mid sound is cliched, and that if you use actives, you pretty much have no mind for tone. Just an opinion.) On this channel, you can make good use of the mids--i like mine just under 11 o'clock, and it helps bring out the balls of the 6L6's. Also, it took some time to find the sweet spot with the channel and master volume, and to make the master volume work well with the other two channels and their respective volumes. I use a myriad of guitars, mostly with DiMarzio humbuckers/pickups. On my strats, the sound was percussive, tight, and full bodied. On my ESP's and home-made guitars, loaded with humbuckers, the sounds were bold, deep and rich. Using the damping feature on the back of the chassis played a big part. It acts like a resonance control, altering the sound coming from your speakers. I keep mine set on low, and adjust my tone accordingly--it makes your speakers growl without adding too much "woof-i-ness."
Features
The amp came with a foot switch--it seems sturdy, and does what it's supposed to do. There is also a reverb on the amp, but when you switch channels, the rever is dis-engaged. Kind of sucks. However, the reverb is convincingly real, but i would loved to have a real spring reverb installed on the amp. The construction and components of this amp are at best mediocre. By no means am I slurring this amp, but it is what it is. Most likely, in order to cut production costs and bring value to the consumer, some corners had to be cut. The plastic knobs, and cheap logo were the fodder for this. When i looked the chassis over, all the soldering points as well as internal wiring looked superb. Everything looked well assembled, and in place--no loose nuts, bolts, wires, or bad solder joints. My biggest complaint about this amp are the tubes. As i said earlier, I tested the bias, and it was on point, however, two of the preamp tubes are microphonic, and whenever I begin to dime the gain, I hear that familiar squelch of a microphonic tube. I expected this--afterall, as part of the cost saving endeavor, they probably use less than favorable tubes---and stamp them with their name. (Groove Tubes does the same thing--don't be fooled--buy your tubes from Eurotubes.com--they are very knowledgeable, and good to work with.)
Ease of Use
As for ease of use, this product is what you make it. With any amp, it takes time to find "YOUR" sound. Don't be afraid to spend some time turning the knobs...gently. ;)
Quality
This product is very well made for the price. I was very impressed by the craftsmanship for a mass-produced amp made in China.
Value
This is an ideal amp for a beginner looking into the joys of a tube amp, or for a seasoned veteran looking to try something different, without breaking the bank.
Manufacturer Support
I'll give Bugera/Behringer the benefit of the doubt. I've only had to email them a few times about some general questions about the product, and I was lucky enough to have very prompt responses.
The Wow Factor
This is a rather attractive amp, aside from it's plastic components. The blue lights above the power and standby controls are pretty, and remind me of the blue LED's that lit up in my Genz Benz El Diablo. (WORST AMP EVER.) The layout is very neat, and simplistic--and it looks good, and I daresay classy.
Musical Background:
active musician, gear whore, best friend you'll ever have.
Musical Style:
metal-alt-pop-rock-prog-Christian-everything read less
Sound
This is a great all-around amp. Having owned Mesa's (Double and Triple Rec's, and a Roadster) Peavey's (Valvekings, Classic 50's, Classic 30's, 6505+'s, and a Triple XXX) this amp stands in a class all of it's own. When I first opened the package, and looked this amp over,I was pleasantly surprised to the attention to detail, and the top notch construction. I was aware of the cheaper parts used on the face of the amp--the knobs are plastic, as is the logo, and it requires a gentler touch. However, as with any investment, if you take care of it, it'll take care of you. I immediately pulled out the chasis and checked the bias on the tubes--it was actually correct after suriving a hellacious ride with a less than aware UPS driver. (He had the box sitting upright, and was pretty much kicking it up my steps. I gave him a stern talking to...) **You can check the bias point for all of the Bugera line of amps at their website. So far, having only owned the amp for a week, I'm pretty impressed for the price… read more and the amount of tonal options this amp provides. The three channels will keep you busy, if you're a tone geek like myself. The clean channel is superb--it really is. It brings up a certain Fender-esque cleaness--kinda reminiscent of the older sounds that a deluxe reverb can conjure. However, it may just be the combination of the head and cab that I'm using. ( A Port City 4x12--loaded w/ Vintage 30's. If you have never heard of Port City Amplification, I highly suggest you look into them--just google search them, and research their line of products.) The crunch channel is great. It has a nice variance of tones, just by tweaking the main eq's, bass, mids, treble, I was able to dial in that sought after old Marshall 50 watt sound, to a more modern gain, akin to some of the modern 'metal' amps of today. The 6L6 tubes break up a little later than your typical EL34, so finding the sweet spot on this channel's volume, in conjunction with the master volume, took some time. From what I've read on the web, this amp is supposed to emulate the Peavey JSX/Triple XXX/3120 line of amps...Having played/owned these amps, I can honestly say I can see the similarities, but this is entirely it's own amp--it actually improves on the design and sound palette of the amps it's modeled after. Moving onto the Lead channel, I found out just how much gain this amp has--it's crazy. I tend to use just enough gain to have enough saturation to make pinch harmonics come out easier, and to make lead runs more fluid--but if you gag out the gain, you'll be impressed by how wild the sound is. However, i wouldn't insist on this...I'll elaborate more in just a moment. The Lead channel is pretty much an extension of the crunch channel, offering a more refined gain, with less grit. It works well for heavy metal, and if you scoop the mids, you get that sound that everybody is so crazy about nowadays. (Personally, I think the whole active pickup and scooped mid sound is cliched, and that if you use actives, you pretty much have no mind for tone. Just an opinion.) On this channel, you can make good use of the mids--i like mine just under 11 o'clock, and it helps bring out the balls of the 6L6's. Also, it took some time to find the sweet spot with the channel and master volume, and to make the master volume work well with the other two channels and their respective volumes. I use a myriad of guitars, mostly with DiMarzio humbuckers/pickups. On my strats, the sound was percussive, tight, and full bodied. On my ESP's and home-made guitars, loaded with humbuckers, the sounds were bold, deep and rich. Using the damping feature on the back of the chassis played a big part. It acts like a resonance control, altering the sound coming from your speakers. I keep mine set on low, and adjust my tone accordingly--it makes your speakers growl without adding too much "woof-i-ness."
Features
The amp came with a foot switch--it seems sturdy, and does what it's supposed to do. There is also a reverb on the amp, but when you switch channels, the rever is dis-engaged. Kind of sucks. However, the reverb is convincingly real, but i would loved to have a real spring reverb installed on the amp. The construction and components of this amp are at best mediocre. By no means am I slurring this amp, but it is what it is. Most likely, in order to cut production costs and bring value to the consumer, some corners had to be cut. The plastic knobs, and cheap logo were the fodder for this. When i looked the chassis over, all the soldering points as well as internal wiring looked superb. Everything looked well assembled, and in place--no loose nuts, bolts, wires, or bad solder joints. My biggest complaint about this amp are the tubes. As i said earlier, I tested the bias, and it was on point, however, two of the preamp tubes are microphonic, and whenever I begin to dime the gain, I hear that familiar squelch of a microphonic tube. I expected this--afterall, as part of the cost saving endeavor, they probably use less than favorable tubes---and stamp them with their name. (Groove Tubes does the same thing--don't be fooled--buy your tubes from Eurotubes.com--they are very knowledgeable, and good to work with.)
Ease of Use
As for ease of use, this product is what you make it. With any amp, it takes time to find "YOUR" sound. Don't be afraid to spend some time turning the knobs...gently. ;)
Quality
This product is very well made for the price. I was very impressed by the craftsmanship for a mass-produced amp made in China.
Value
This is an ideal amp for a beginner looking into the joys of a tube amp, or for a seasoned veteran looking to try something different, without breaking the bank.
Manufacturer Support
I'll give Bugera/Behringer the benefit of the doubt. I've only had to email them a few times about some general questions about the product, and I was lucky enough to have very prompt responses.
The Wow Factor
This is a rather attractive amp, aside from it's plastic components. The blue lights above the power and standby controls are pretty, and remind me of the blue LED's that lit up in my Genz Benz El Diablo. (WORST AMP EVER.) The layout is very neat, and simplistic--and it looks good, and I daresay classy.
Musical Background:
active musician, gear whore, best friend you'll ever have.
Musical Style:
metal-alt-pop-rock-prog-Christian-everything read less
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