#1939426 - 05/08/08 06:25 PM
Blues Cube Amp
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Dave da Dude
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Registered: 05/15/02
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Loc: Charlotte, NC
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Now that I have an Eeee...lectric geetar... I'm in the market for an amp.
I liked the Peavey Valve King Royal 8, nice 'n clean... some nice crunchy stuff with the Gain... but overall, not much else.
I like the idea of the Roland DP Micro Cube... but haven't heard it yet, and not sure of that one.
I've heard a fair amount about these Roland Blues Cubes (in 30 and 60 watt, I'm lookin' at the 30 for monetary reasons). Since they don't make it anymore, I can't audition it, hafta' buy it off ebay, probably.
Anyone here ever play through one? Any good?
I 'preciate any help all ya'all can give me.
_________________________
Gotta' geetar... need an amp.
One step at a time... burp... GAS... burp... GAS...
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#1939432 - 05/08/08 06:32 PM
Re: Blues Cube Amp
[Re: Dave da Dude]
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soggybomb
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Registered: 08/03/07
Posts: 625
Loc: Gainesville, FL
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how much $$$?
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#1939445 - 05/08/08 07:05 PM
Re: Blues Cube Amp
[Re: soggybomb]
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Dave da Dude
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Registered: 05/15/02
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Loc: Charlotte, NC
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$200
_________________________
Gotta' geetar... need an amp.
One step at a time... burp... GAS... burp... GAS...
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#1939465 - 05/08/08 08:15 PM
Re: Blues Cube Amp
[Re: Dave da Dude]
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Caevan O'Shite
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Registered: 04/05/02
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I tried one out (the 60-watt model, IIRC) years ago in a store, playing a Les Paul Custom and an Epiphone Shereton II through it. Sounded surprisingly tubey and springy touchy-feely, nice tight bounce, if that makes any sense to you... Overall, I was impressed with what a nice sounding and feeling amp it was for a total SS design. Not too far off par from a Pearse SS amp, for example. I've played tube/SS hybrids (Legends, MusicMan, etc.) that weren't quite as nice and tubey...
_________________________
~Caevan James-Michael Miller-O'Shite~
_ _ ___ _ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _
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#1939501 - 05/08/08 11:27 PM
Re: Blues Cube Amp
[Re: Dave da Dude]
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Bluesape
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Registered: 06/13/05
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These amps are still around - great SS amps, ya may wanna look at a used JC 40 or 60 as well.
_________________________
Never a DUH! moment! Well, almost never. OK, OK! Sometimes never!
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#1939706 - 05/09/08 08:11 AM
Re: Blues Cube Amp
[Re: Bluesape]
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Danzilla
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Registered: 01/09/04
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Loc: Baltimore, MD
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I've got an old Roland Super Cube 60 watt combo; don't know the difference between that and the Blues Cube. I've got a love-hate relationship with it. The clean channel is great; the drive channel is overly loud and well, driven- not fuzz, not tubey overdrive (IMO), yet not quite total thrashy distortion either. Kinda 80's but not quite, if you know what I mean (probably not). Unfortunately, no channel switching on it. It gets a little bit noisey when cranked, and something in the mids just kinda rubs me the wrong way when it get's too loud or overdriven. The spring reverb is really nice, though. takes pedals rather well, too. I wonder if it's worth replacing the speaker or if that would help with that mid harshness.
I've been looking for a new amp, as I've got a little bit of money squirrelled away. Trying to stay under/around $500. I've been looking into some Peaveys, and finally got the chance to try them out together. I demo'd the Valveking 1-12, a Classic 30, and the Windsor Studio. Used an Ibanez John Scofield and a PRS SE.
The Classic 30 shocked me. It was rather bland. breakup was ok, but not overly driving. The EQ wasn't very useful, at least not very dramatic shanges. There was also a lot of tube rattle. The salesman checked into that, and found there was at least one bad microphonic tube; he apologized and said he'd have it changed out by the next time I come back. Maybe that will change my opinion some, but I'm just not thrilled with it.
The Valveking 112 was very nice. The bottom end on that was great- nice and full, but not boomy. Top end was there, too. The EQ was very functional. Clean channel was pretty good, the drive channel went full range from slight drive to roar. The boost was decent; probably not a much as you'd get with a pedal, but noticeable. The one feature that I didn't like was the power rolloff: on the back of the amp is a knob to roll from full power (40 watts class AB) to half power (I'd guess 20 watts? Class A). Unfortunately, this made little to no noticeable difference. I was hoping it would work well, to make this both a home practice amp, and a gigable amp should the need arise. I think it's a little too loud for home practice. Still, I'm thinking about it.
The Windsor Studio was the one I was most anticipating. The option of swapping tubes without needing to rebias seems like a good feature. Having a single channel is ok with me, as I have no problem using a pedal in front to really drive things. The thing is, this thing is pretty gainy from the get-go. Not metal gain, but enough of it present that I couldn't get it to really clean up super chimey, whether rolling off the guitar volume or turning down the gain. The power soak, however worked wonderfully- it let you get a super crunchy and raunchy tone at a really low volume, with decent tone control. The EQ was functional, too. The bottom end was there, but not to the extent of the Valveking. If it would just clean up a bit more, I'd be super happy with it.
I want something that is portable, less than 50 watts (20 is probably more what I'm looking for), and can go from clean to bluesy drive. I want it to stand out on it's own, or work in the place of the Roland in my "split-stack" (Roland on top of Fender Bassman Ten 50 watt 4x10 combo; both get overdrive/distortion pedals; signal them split so only the Roland gets chorus & delay pedals). And of course, all of this for cheap money!
PS on the way out of the store, i did play for a quick minute through a Genz Benz Black Pearl. Didn't go through all the paces with it, but it was mighty fine!
Sorry if i derailed ya, Dave. want to buy my Super Cube?
_________________________
"Am I enough of a freak to be worth paying to see?"- Separated Out (Marillion) My Band's website
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#1939791 - 05/09/08 10:07 AM
Re: Blues Cube Amp
[Re: Danzilla]
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Dave da Dude
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Registered: 05/15/02
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Loc: Charlotte, NC
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Bluesape, I had a JC55, see the short story below. A GREAT amp, I agree. I am (was) the original owner.
The Valveking 112 was very nice. The bottom end on that was great- nice and full, but not boomy. Top end was there, too. The EQ was very functional. Clean channel was pretty good, the drive channel went full range from slight drive to roar. The boost was decent; probably not a much as you'd get with a pedal, but noticeable. The one feature that I didn't like was the power rolloff: .... .... I think it's a little too loud for home practice. Still, I'm thinking about it.
Yeah, I tried the ValveKing Royal 8 1x8, and liked it pretty well for what it was. Lacks features though (no EQ or Reverb for instance). Not sure if I can get the features that I would like in a small practice amp though.[/quote]
The Windsor Studio was the one I was most anticipating. The option of swapping tubes without needing to rebias seems like a good feature. Having a single channel is ok with me .... .... I couldn't get it to really clean up super chimey .... The power soak, however worked wonderfully .... The EQ was functional, too. The bottom end was there, but not to the extent of the Valveking. If it would just clean up a bit more, I'd be super happy with it.
I have (had) a Randall Tube Pro II (50w) that has (had) all those features... as well as the JC55 that I mentioned above (SUPER clean sound and with echo). They aren't "stolen"... but I can't find the guy that has them... so they may as well be. So I need at least a practice amp in the interim.
It seems as though you and I are looking for kinda' the same thing. I'll keep you updated with what I find out.
Sorry if i derailed ya, Dave. want to buy my Super Cube?
Nah, can never have too much information, fun, money or pretty girls. I've never heard of that one though. I'll hafta' look into it.
_________________________
Gotta' geetar... need an amp.
One step at a time... burp... GAS... burp... GAS...
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