I've just revisited this having had a Blues Cube for some time. The reason for doing it is that after lots of messing about with effects, I have realised I can get all the tones I need from the amp. All I use now is an MXR eq pedal but maybe I don't even need that. These are really great amps.
I think the price comments are relevant but what's nice is that this is not a modelling amp, you seem to be able to use it like any guitar amp without frigging with which amp model / cab / effect and so on. I am also attracted by the different power outputs, makes keeping "your sound" when practicing way easier! It is also way lighter than a tube amp. I will be comparing this with a Fender Blues Deluxe and I already know that the Roland is around 7 kilos (about 15 lbs) lighter. Plus, a lot of my tube owning buddies are telling me that a hard case is essential for transporting a tube amp - that adds another potential 10 kilos to my transport weight. I am 53 and I expect to own an amp for 10+ years. I am not sure if I want to be carrying > 30 kilos from my car when I am in retirement :)
My 80 watt was delivered yesterday, and it is worth every penny. My 335 just SCREAMED and sustained without feedback at any volume. The variable wattage is too good to be true, the reverb is stellar..... I could go on but I haven't had a chance to play my Les Paul through it so I'm heading downstairs here pretty quick. Also, the ability to mix the clean and crunchy channels creates sounds you just have to hear to believe. This is the perfect amplifier. I feel like a kid in a candy store. I'm 67, so that ain't easy. So light an old man can carry it and a guitar at the same time. My only complaint is that Sweetwater didn't have the foot pedal available. Sometime in August they tell me. For $899 it should come with the amp instead of separately for another $99.
I don't get why everyone thinks just because it's solid state it has to be cheaper. Maybe the components used cost more? Just guessing. But that's like saying all pedals should be cheaper if they don't have tubes. If it sounds good-which this does-$800-$900 is a good price. Good combo amps cost $$$. You can't really compare this to a blues jr-the bj is lower wattage and doesn't have the same amount of gain on tap.
People just don't get it... It is not a Modeling amp. It's a true analog SS amp with FET circuitry at the preamp stage and discrete circuitry at the power stage. It is not because there is no tubes in it that it should be priced 300$... Just look at a Classe audio power amp and you'll see how costly a SS amp can be.
Suuuuuuper useful reviews! Thanks. May I ask: How many tone capsule can be installed at once? and, with the tone capsules, the EQ still affects the tone? thanks a lot! :-)
This was an excellent demonstration of this amp. It did make me want to purchase one. The price, for now, is prohibitive. I really want one of these but, I will probably have to wait until the price drops.
Received Blues Cube Hot ,Must say, this is one solid Amp. Tone ,Boost and Reverb are Stellar. My go to practice amp. Dont know what else anybody would need . They nailed it, modeling as a Tube. Well worth the dough, Surprisingly versatile
a winner? why? its a modeling amp (not necessarily a bad thing now a days) that cost as much (maybe even more) then many good tube amps out there..the whole point of modeling IMO is making it cheaper then tubes...so why this price?...i can get so many good tube amps for this price...sure its seems to sound great, but still, very pricey..
Pe Peroni why this price: no tubes! lately to many companies using tubes and many suck and are unreliable. Why this price: hi tech required to make a non tube amp sound good. Its a great sounding amp and its simple!
Ruben Trevino i think you are missing the point..."why this price, no tubes!", dude, its exactly because it has no tubs that it should be at least half the price it is..tube amps are not expensive because of "hype", they are expensive because tubes circuits are expensive! and thats why this amp should cost half as much, i dont care how good it sounds, for its price i can go with for example a HK Tubemeister or an Ibanez TSA15 and hav real classic blues-tube tones for half the price of this Roland..of course none of those have 85watts, but then now a days with as good as hell PAs who actually needs anything more then 40-50 watts?...specially coming out of a single speaker little combo...it just makes no sense at all..
Pe Peroni excellent point and point well taken. It will come down to personal preference and those players who have the cash to spend. Most of us have to stretch our money as far as it can go!
I like the no maintenance factor ever and no worries about it deciding to take a crap in the middle of a show. Plus 30 pounds compared to 45 pounds (or more) for an equally powered tube amp.
I really appreciate this video sweet water put out! I've been trying to understand my amp and I'm glad there was a guy to explain it to me. I just got it back today and I never knew how to use it. It works well with my Telecaster. I love the tone consistency! I found a couple reviews on line also, that gave advice on settings to attain certain sounds. I needed a basic clean sound to run a tube screamer through it, but I think I will be fine with the external footswitch and my chorus. It can be a very complicated amp for the technically challenged individual like myself. Nevertheless, I can spend hours self investigating and swimming through the super powers this amp delivers. The fact that it is lightweight is a plus. I hate to ask the guys to schlep my gear around. Thanks so much.
I am here because even though I love Loud Rock, even a bit of Heavy Metal at age 68 I also like Jazz and the Blues. I have suffered hearing losses from my old Marshall and Ampeg rigs and maybe enough is enough. Well maybe shooting guns and riding my Triumph and Harley-Davidsons for so many years with half helmets that expose my ears to the wind also contributed to my hearing loses (but I could hear everything around me and the noise of the wind when I was racing put the fear of injury right in the forefront of my mind which in the end kept me from ever crashing. I'm not deaf, I'm not impaired it's just that sometimes I can't understand people when they talk. I have no problems hearing any instrument even the acoustic World Instruments like my Sitar, Veena, Sarangi, Sarod, Oud, Rabab, Pipa, Erhu, GuQin, Bouzouki, western style 6-string and Classical Nylon stringed guitars, banjo's. Anyway, I tend to play not so loud these days and listen and feel the Jazz and Blues with a Rock accent as I play. Mitch, even though you played well I'm not completely convinced, as even my second hand Fender Frontman 212R costing me only $200 (Reverb with a long tank, 4 coil spring reverb) 100 watt S.S. 212 combo amp (yes an old inexpensive Fender FM212R. When I play it stand alone it sounds very good. Then with a couple/three of my tube preamps in front there is a wonderful tube tone and tube second order harmonics and tube sag and sustain and sensitivity and all with plenty of reserve volume. I run it at "2" volume. I think the music is in your "feelings" and I like my new $109 cracked neck Bullet Strat (really they sold it "NEW" with a cracked neck that had been glued to fix it. I had to use fine steel wool to make the neck feel good and level). I like that Strat as much as my 2017 Gibson SG Standard HP that cost $1,899 before a sale price. I mean when I'm in the groove they both sound fantastic and are equally capable of producing good tone. The fit and playability of each is a little different but I can get good tone and volume from either of them What's not to like. I run several tube preamps in front of all my amps (when the mood strikes me). I have 6 guitar tube amps and 8 S.S. guitar amps and a couple of S.S. Bass amps. In the past I had a Marshall hot rodded JCM 900 MkIII and a full stack of Marshall JCM 900 1960A and 1960B speaker cabs! I also had a Full stack of 4 Ampeg speaker cabs and a Crate 810, but the rest were all Ampeg. A 410 w/horn and the 15E along with a spare 210. I ran an Ampeg SVT Classic tube amp at 2 OHMS - 300 watts with 6 power tubes, it could get deafening loud. I credit the 15E speaker with most of my hearing losses. Anyway, I suffered an injury that permanently disabled me, man, I could not even hold a guitar or my Fender Fretless Jazz P-Bass so all of it went. Sold my KKK V with a wide and flat ebony fingerboard, EMG 85/81 active pup's, neck through design with Canadian Cedar wood and a Kahler Tremolo with brass grooved wheels or rollers for each string to ride in, that is to eliminate friction/binding. The entire studio, drums, two P.A. Systems, 6 mic's, electric piano, all sold, well except for my upright acoustic bass and cello and viola and violins (I could only play the acoustic bass after my injury) Also kept my Saxophone and Flutes and my Strat. Fast forward and under Dr. care, and doing yoga twice a day and Pain Killers now I can play again, but w/o a strap and sitting down only. Still I can play and I am building my second studio. Just ask Joe Secu as he's my sweetwater sales engineer/rep. Yes I purchased my Fender Hot Rod DeVille 410 and Fender EC Vibro Champ and EPI Wildkat guitar elsewhere but that was before I discovered Sweetwater. Well I cheated on Joe and purchased 2 months ago my Cracked Neck Strat and a wonderful Acoustic G35FX S.S. amd 35 watts and 1a 12" speaker for $89. I would laugh in anyone's face for what I am going to say next, but that Acoustic G35FX sounds like heaven, great Jazz and Blues tone and Marshall rock overdriven tones. It has reverb, delay and chorus on the clean channel and a gain knob and seperate volume knob on the second channel. I recommend it to you and anyone. I may get another to have 70 watts and (2) 12" speakers for less than $180. That G35FX has got to be the best "sleeper" amo in the world. I run my guitar through Fender EC Champion 5 watt then run the signal into any of my amps to achieve real tube Tremolo. I "was" interested in the Head and the matching Roland 410 speaker cab, but when I saw that the head only has one speaker out and cost $1,500 I realized this is high end "Hobbyist" gear and not actually professional gigging equipment. Heck the 410 alone costs $1,399! So then the rig costs $2,900 and it's not a full stack. You would have to purchase two heads and of course two 410 cabs at a total cost of $5,800! These expensive pieces of gear have no "Professional" Touring track record whatsoever and that would be an expensive gamble. Now tell me who would do that? You can get a professional tube amp and a full stack of quality 412 cabs from Marshall, Mesa, or You could get a brace of Fenders and or Vox professional amps for that same $5,800. So realistically for the same money you can have any dream amp and speaker cab on the market. For which I am currently shopping for at Sweetwater. My credit line is now $8,200 which should be enough. As I already spent over $15,000 at Sweetwater and another $2,500 elsewhere. My studio is coming along with 3 recorders and 2 loopers, a large mixer and a small mixer and I play for many hours every day. I never skip a day and I can't imagine ever doing that. I still can't play Happy Birthday as I was an artist (painter) for much of my life and it is ingrained into me not to ever copy anyone else. So all my music is my own and I think finally, since playing since 1972 that I'm getting somewhere. I even leave open a chord book to flush out my playing using real chords as well as my made up chords. I love rhythm and also lead so depending on with whom I am playing with I take the part that the other player can't do. Sometimes I play both as it is allowed you know after all it's an art not a science. Long Live the Arts! Longer than this POST!!!!
I'm interested in buying this amp. but the smaller version {60w Stage} Does anyone know if this will be ok for a live setting with drums etc ... can this compete ?
+triplejudy It can easily compete with drums and be used for smaller gigs. You may want the larger version though if you want the extra power, effects loop, and tremolo.
I played mine in a fairly large Guitar Center and it easily delivered at 60w covering the whole store with plenty of customers inside playing as well. I also practice with it in my apartment using only 0.5w and it's got plenty of beef to it. You still also have the 15w and 45w options as well for practice so yes it will deliver where you want!
Sounds great and Mitch always does some of the best reviews on RUclips. However, these amps are incredibly overpriced. Roland seems to be in a strange mode lately. They're producing amps that are at price points that can get you a high-end true tube amp. Example is the GA 212. Originally this was around $1000. Now the retailers are trying to get rid of them for $349. The Blues Cube is the same. If I'm spending $900 on an amp, it's not going to be a solid state Roland. Change this to a $399 amp and they'll sell all day long. Just my opinion.
I agree entirely. I would love to own one of these, but $700 and $900 is just asking too much for a product that won't be accepted to be worth that price by the mainstream guitar-playing audience. I think even if they brought them down to about $500 and $650 they'd find a lot more people willing to part with their money for one.
Donald Gray Is an all-tube amp really suitable for playing in the house when there are other people around? Some people want the quality tone, but at a lower volume and with the option of headphones.
Jamie Wharton I think there are some all-tube amps that are bedroom-suitable. I'll tell you this, since writing my original comments, I actually picked up a Peavey Bandit Silver Stripe (USA, TransTube). I've had a couple of Bandits in my day and I'm super satisfied with this Bandit. It was really cheap (Craigslist) and it's just a fantastic sounding amp. I'd still love to grab that Blues Cube but man, I can't see spending the coin.
@@VintageRandom I bought my Stage version 2nd hand for $300 less than retail and to be honest I'm glad I did. Is it a tube amp? No. Does it sound like a tube amp? Pretty damn close to mine and a few other friends ears, yes. And while you may be able to get a tube amp that's bedroom suitable, you're still going to have to crank it to get that breakup, I can lower my volume to 1 and still get the same tone and reasonable breakup without sacrificing everyone elses ears or mine for that matter. And at 30 pounds it's very manageable as well. Also don't have to worry about tube matching, tube bias or temperature issues. It sounds the same at startup as it does at shutdown. And best of all it's a simple amp to use, I don't have to worry about a ton of modeling patches that may or may not quite replicate what I'm trying to get for the ears. I understand the price aprehension from many but given there will be no maintenance necessary over the life of the product and Roland's reputation for building some of the most bullet proof amps I think it's a very worthwhile investment. 4 different power amps also give me the ability to use a literally stage ready amp in my apartment at a reasonable volume. Then there's the cost of tubes (good ones) and getting them matched properly. No thanks. My Roland easily does what I want and won't let me down in the middle of a gig.
Hi, McCambira! Thanks for your message, hope you’re well and safe. Tone capsules are add ons that modify the tone and response of the stock Blues Cube amps. No capsules are included with the amps unless part of a promotion. Please contact us direct with other questions as you have them! Robert Williams, Senior Sweetwater Sales Engineer, (800) 222-4700 ext. 2371, robert_williams@sweetwater.com
Indeed. A question that I too want answered. My theory is that there was a dedicated foot controller designed for the two Bluescube amps but the GA series foot controller would also work but in a kludge way. The latter has too many channel buttons, no dual mode switch etc. When the sales of the GA amps crashed Roland was left with huge stocks of the GA-FC and are no not making the correct Bluescube FC in an attempt to get rid of the GA-FC stock. In other words purchasers are being conned!
Another great informational video of a great sounding amp… But at this price point is too expensive and most people will tend to choose a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe… This amp will kill and sell like Hot Cakes at the $400 price point segment HANDS DOWN…!
I completely agree. I had a Roland Blues Cube BC30-210, which was my first amp. I liked it, but it didn't have reverb and it didn't have the tube sound/feel that I wanted, so I ended up with a Twin Reverb years later. BUT...that BC30-210 was something like $340, which was very reasonable for a solid state amp of that caliber. These look like slightly beefed up versions of those older BC60-112 amps, but for almost 3 times the price. Just to be clear, I don't blame Sweetwater, but rather Roland.
Kenny Carlile I'm talking about Sweetwater, prices are different in shops but they are rather close unless gear is discounted or out of production. I'm living in Europe, instruments and amps are even more expensive here, plus salaries in Poland are very low despite same or even higher prices then in western Europe : 0.
You must work for Roland really , you didn't say whether it is actually a spring reverb , you said "what you get here is an authentic spring reverb " , which leaves me questioning in my mind , is it or isn't it an actual spring reverb . But other than that it was a very good review with a very good sounding amp , thanks .
What are Roland thinking? 700€+ for a 1x12 transistor amp??? As stated below, for half that price this would sell like hotcakes. At this price, though... so many other options!!
Ridiculous price which you pay for "new Technology" Yes, well F that - just compare this amp with the Hot Rod demo and all is revealed one is alive and living and full of tone and the other is just a cloned attempt to fail to match Fender tone.A waste of time Roland and for THAT price ?? you have to be joking !!!!!!!!!
+grahamt33 I think this sounds a lot better than a HRD. Those sound pretty bad compared to the real Fender amps. The selling points for HRDs are the price and that it has a master volume, is channel switching and has an effects loop. But it doesn't sound anywhere close to a blackface, tweed or silverface amp. This has all of those features of a HRD and more. And it's the closest amp in the sub $1000 category to a tweed bassman in terms of tone, compression, and feel. And you can get it with master volume, power scaling, an effects loop, channel switching, reverb, and tremolo for 20lbs less. It may not sound as good as a Bassman, but it's close enough for $550 less and with more features and flexibility. These amps are winners in my book.
We will happily agree to differ,certainly on the HRD versus Roland.I could not afford a premium Fender amp and you obviously know a lot about them but,for me the HRD has That Fender sound,full, rich, powerful and clean [i only use the clean channel] for ready to hand use,I bought a Laney Cub 12 all tube 12 inch celestion and although for 15 watts, it is ridiculously loud, it does not come remotely close to my fender on richness of tone, at ANY volume. I LOVE talking Amplifiers - you can take a crap guitar put it thru a HRD and it will still sound good, but not on the Laney or any Tranny amp. In closing, thank you very much for your input !!!!! PS I still notice that many pro's still use the HRD worldwide !!
i have been checking UK prices an HRD is £642, the cheapest classic -custom deluxe is nearly £1000 and THAT is why I bought the HRD[2nd hand half price] STILL I hope one day to be able to afford a premium Fender amp, of course !!!! Keep on rocking !!
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I've just revisited this having had a Blues Cube for some time. The reason for doing it is that after lots of messing about with effects, I have realised I can get all the tones I need from the amp. All I use now is an MXR eq pedal but maybe I don't even need that. These are really great amps.
Which model did you get and do you still have it? I have the Artist 212 and love it.
I think the price comments are relevant but what's nice is that this is not a modelling amp, you seem to be able to use it like any guitar amp without frigging with which amp model / cab / effect and so on. I am also attracted by the different power outputs, makes keeping "your sound" when practicing way easier!
It is also way lighter than a tube amp. I will be comparing this with a Fender Blues Deluxe and I already know that the Roland is around 7 kilos (about 15 lbs) lighter. Plus, a lot of my tube owning buddies are telling me that a hard case is essential for transporting a tube amp - that adds another potential 10 kilos to my transport weight. I am 53 and I expect to own an amp for 10+ years. I am not sure if I want to be carrying > 30 kilos from my car when I am in retirement :)
My 80 watt was delivered yesterday, and it is worth every penny. My 335 just SCREAMED and sustained without feedback at any volume. The variable wattage is too good to be true, the reverb is stellar..... I could go on but I haven't had a chance to play my Les Paul through it so I'm heading downstairs here pretty quick. Also, the ability to mix the clean and crunchy channels creates sounds you just have to hear to believe. This is the perfect amplifier. I feel like a kid in a candy store. I'm 67, so that ain't easy. So light an old man can carry it and a guitar at the same time.
My only complaint is that Sweetwater didn't have the foot pedal available. Sometime in August they tell me. For $899 it should come with the amp instead of separately for another $99.
Sweet playing Mitch! 👍
Giggled a Blues Cube for years. Welcome back!
Dude this is a serious review no giggling 🤭
David C
😃
EXCELLENT review!! Systematically and efficiently demonstrates all the key features and sounds. Thanks!
I don't get why everyone thinks just because it's solid state it has to be cheaper. Maybe the components used cost more? Just guessing. But that's like saying all pedals should be cheaper if they don't have tubes. If it sounds good-which this does-$800-$900 is a good price. Good combo amps cost $$$. You can't really compare this to a blues jr-the bj is lower wattage and doesn't have the same amount of gain on tap.
I have this amp! I use it out and get a lot of compliments! Add a Boss MD-2 and it has a Marshall tone!
Great video, Mitch. I'm interested in this amp...and that's saying a lot given my Fender tube amp orientation.
People just don't get it... It is not a Modeling amp. It's a true analog SS amp with FET circuitry at the preamp stage and discrete circuitry at the power stage. It is not because there is no tubes in it that it should be priced 300$... Just look at a Classe audio power amp and you'll see how costly a SS amp can be.
Actually it is a modeling amp. And a really good one at that.
Mitch, thanks for posting this. It's a really articulate and well crafted demo with loads of relevant information. I found it really useful
Paddy Moore Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching!
Suuuuuuper useful reviews! Thanks. May I ask: How many tone capsule can be installed at once? and, with the tone capsules, the EQ still affects the tone? thanks a lot! :-)
@@cesmcmyth One at a time.
This was an excellent demonstration of this amp. It did make me want to purchase one. The price, for now, is prohibitive. I really want one of these but, I will probably have to wait until the price drops.
I'm glad Mitch played that with a strat. I judge "blues amps" by how they sound with a strat. Humbuckers are okay but they're not as dynamic.
Received Blues Cube Hot ,Must say, this is one solid Amp. Tone ,Boost and Reverb are Stellar. My go to practice amp. Dont know what else anybody would need . They nailed it, modeling as a Tube. Well worth the dough, Surprisingly versatile
This guy is so damn professional in his reviews. Congratulations
How well would this work using the BOSS GT100 by Roland ? Can this be used in a 4 cable method with this amp ?
ROLAND HAS A WINNER HERE: FINALLY!
a winner? why? its a modeling amp (not necessarily a bad thing now a days) that cost as much (maybe even more) then many good tube amps out there..the whole point of modeling IMO is making it cheaper then tubes...so why this price?...i can get so many good tube amps for this price...sure its seems to sound great, but still, very pricey..
Pe Peroni why this price: no tubes! lately to many companies using tubes and many suck and are unreliable. Why this price: hi tech required to make a non tube amp sound good. Its a great sounding amp and its simple!
Ruben Trevino
i think you are missing the point..."why this price, no tubes!", dude, its exactly because it has no tubs that it should be at least half the price it is..tube amps are not expensive because of "hype", they are expensive because tubes circuits are expensive! and thats why this amp should cost half as much, i dont care how good it sounds, for its price i can go with for example a HK Tubemeister or an Ibanez TSA15 and hav real classic blues-tube tones for half the price of this Roland..of course none of those have 85watts, but then now a days with as good as hell PAs who actually needs anything more then 40-50 watts?...specially coming out of a single speaker little combo...it just makes no sense at all..
Pe Peroni excellent point and point well taken. It will come down to personal preference and those players who have the cash to spend. Most of us have to stretch our money as far as it can go!
I like the no maintenance factor ever and no worries about it deciding to take a crap in the middle of a show. Plus 30 pounds compared to 45 pounds (or more) for an equally powered tube amp.
I really appreciate this video sweet water put out! I've been trying to understand my amp and I'm glad there was a guy to explain it to me. I just got it back today and I never knew how to use it. It works well with my Telecaster. I love the tone consistency! I found a couple reviews on line also, that gave advice on settings to attain certain sounds. I needed a basic clean sound to run a tube screamer through it, but I think I will be fine with the external footswitch and my chorus. It can be a very complicated amp for the technically challenged individual like myself. Nevertheless, I can spend hours self investigating and swimming through the super powers this amp delivers. The fact that it is lightweight is a plus. I hate to ask the guys to schlep my gear around. Thanks so much.
Damn Mitch is burning it up on the guitar in this vidjjo
I am here because even though I love Loud Rock, even a bit of Heavy Metal at age 68 I also like Jazz and the Blues. I have suffered hearing losses from my old Marshall and Ampeg rigs and maybe enough is enough. Well maybe shooting guns and riding my Triumph and Harley-Davidsons for so many years with half helmets that expose my ears to the wind also contributed to my hearing loses (but I could hear everything around me and the noise of the wind when I was racing put the fear of injury right in the forefront of my mind which in the end kept me from ever crashing. I'm not deaf, I'm not impaired it's just that sometimes I can't understand people when they talk. I have no problems hearing any instrument even the acoustic World Instruments like my Sitar, Veena, Sarangi, Sarod, Oud, Rabab, Pipa, Erhu, GuQin, Bouzouki, western style 6-string and Classical Nylon stringed guitars, banjo's. Anyway, I tend to play not so loud these days and listen and feel the Jazz and Blues with a Rock accent as I play.
Mitch, even though you played well I'm not completely convinced, as even my second hand Fender Frontman 212R costing me only $200 (Reverb with a long tank, 4 coil spring reverb) 100 watt S.S. 212 combo amp (yes an old inexpensive Fender FM212R. When I play it stand alone it sounds very good. Then with a couple/three of my tube preamps in front there is a wonderful tube tone and tube second order harmonics and tube sag and sustain and sensitivity and all with plenty of reserve volume. I run it at "2" volume.
I think the music is in your "feelings" and I like my new $109 cracked neck Bullet Strat (really they sold it "NEW" with a cracked neck that had been glued to fix it. I had to use fine steel wool to make the neck feel good and level). I like that Strat as much as my 2017 Gibson SG Standard HP that cost $1,899 before a sale price. I mean when I'm in the groove they both sound fantastic and are equally capable of producing good tone. The fit and playability of each is a little different but I can get good tone and volume from either of them What's not to like.
I run several tube preamps in front of all my amps (when the mood strikes me).
I have 6 guitar tube amps and 8 S.S. guitar amps and a couple of S.S. Bass amps. In the past I had a Marshall hot rodded JCM 900 MkIII and a full stack of Marshall JCM 900 1960A and 1960B speaker cabs! I also had a Full stack of 4 Ampeg speaker cabs and a Crate 810, but the rest were all Ampeg. A 410 w/horn and the 15E along with a spare 210. I ran an Ampeg SVT Classic tube amp at 2 OHMS - 300 watts with 6 power tubes, it could get deafening loud. I credit the 15E speaker with most of my hearing losses. Anyway, I suffered an injury that permanently disabled me, man, I could not even hold a guitar or my Fender Fretless Jazz P-Bass so all of it went. Sold my KKK V with a wide and flat ebony fingerboard, EMG 85/81 active pup's, neck through design with Canadian Cedar wood and a Kahler Tremolo with brass grooved wheels or rollers for each string to ride in, that is to eliminate friction/binding. The entire studio, drums, two P.A. Systems, 6 mic's, electric piano, all sold, well except for my upright acoustic bass and cello and viola and violins (I could only play the acoustic bass after my injury) Also kept my Saxophone and Flutes and my Strat.
Fast forward and under Dr. care, and doing yoga twice a day and Pain Killers now I can play again, but w/o a strap and sitting down only. Still I can play and I am building my second studio. Just ask Joe Secu as he's my sweetwater sales engineer/rep. Yes I purchased my Fender Hot Rod DeVille 410 and Fender EC Vibro Champ and EPI Wildkat guitar elsewhere but that was before I discovered Sweetwater. Well I cheated on Joe and purchased 2 months ago my Cracked Neck Strat and a wonderful Acoustic G35FX S.S. amd 35 watts and 1a 12" speaker for $89. I would laugh in anyone's face for what I am going to say next, but that Acoustic G35FX sounds like heaven, great Jazz and Blues tone and Marshall rock overdriven tones. It has reverb, delay and chorus on the clean channel and a gain knob and seperate volume knob on the second channel. I recommend it to you and anyone. I may get another to have 70 watts and (2) 12" speakers for less than $180. That G35FX has got to be the best "sleeper" amo in the world.
I run my guitar through Fender EC Champion 5 watt then run the signal into any of my amps to achieve real tube Tremolo.
I "was" interested in the Head and the matching Roland 410 speaker cab, but when I saw that the head only has one speaker out and cost $1,500 I realized this is high end "Hobbyist" gear and not actually professional gigging equipment. Heck the 410 alone costs $1,399! So then the rig costs $2,900 and it's not a full stack. You would have to purchase two heads and of course two 410 cabs at a total cost of $5,800! These expensive pieces of gear have no "Professional" Touring track record whatsoever and that would be an expensive gamble. Now tell me who would do that? You can get a professional tube amp and a full stack of quality 412 cabs from Marshall, Mesa, or You could get a brace of Fenders and or Vox professional amps for that same $5,800.
So realistically for the same money you can have any dream amp and speaker cab on the market. For which I am currently shopping for at Sweetwater. My credit line is now $8,200 which should be enough. As I already spent over $15,000 at Sweetwater and another $2,500 elsewhere.
My studio is coming along with 3 recorders and 2 loopers, a large mixer and a small mixer and I play for many hours every day. I never skip a day and I can't imagine ever doing that.
I still can't play Happy Birthday as I was an artist (painter) for much of my life and it is ingrained into me not to ever copy anyone else. So all my music is my own and I think finally, since playing since 1972 that I'm getting somewhere. I even leave open a chord book to flush out my playing using real chords as well as my made up chords. I love rhythm and also lead so depending on with whom I am playing with I take the part that the other player can't do. Sometimes I play both as it is allowed you know after all it's an art not a science.
Long Live the Arts! Longer than this POST!!!!
I'm interested in buying this amp. but the smaller version {60w Stage} Does anyone know if this will be ok for a live setting with drums etc ... can this compete ?
+triplejudy It can easily compete with drums and be used for smaller gigs. You may want the larger version though if you want the extra power, effects loop, and tremolo.
Hello. Would you consider the 60 watt to have enough power for band practice and small to medium gigs? The gigs being mic'd? Thanks.
I played mine in a fairly large Guitar Center and it easily delivered at 60w covering the whole store with plenty of customers inside playing as well. I also practice with it in my apartment using only 0.5w and it's got plenty of beef to it. You still also have the 15w and 45w options as well for practice so yes it will deliver where you want!
I'm thinking a Friedman BE Pedal would be a perfect match with this amp. As it would add another 2 channels ( Lead 1 & Lead 2).
It is now 2017, so is there any new upgrades in the 60w Cube since 2014?
When is the demo starting
Hi, I have a Guild Starfire VI and I'm curious to ask this amp could work good also with humbucker or just with single coils?
Sounds great and Mitch always does some of the best reviews on RUclips. However, these amps are incredibly overpriced.
Roland seems to be in a strange mode lately. They're producing amps that are at price points that can get you a high-end true tube amp. Example is the GA 212. Originally this was around $1000. Now the retailers are trying to get rid of them for $349. The Blues Cube is the same. If I'm spending $900 on an amp, it's not going to be a solid state Roland.
Change this to a $399 amp and they'll sell all day long. Just my opinion.
I agree entirely.
I would love to own one of these, but $700 and $900 is just asking too much for a product that won't be accepted to be worth that price by the mainstream guitar-playing audience. I think even if they brought them down to about $500 and $650 they'd find a lot more people willing to part with their money for one.
Joe Faraldi Right, for this price you can get the real thing. Blues Deluxe reissues are actually cheaper.
Donald Gray Is an all-tube amp really suitable for playing in the house when there are other people around? Some people want the quality tone, but at a lower volume and with the option of headphones.
Jamie Wharton I think there are some all-tube amps that are bedroom-suitable.
I'll tell you this, since writing my original comments, I actually picked up a Peavey Bandit Silver Stripe (USA, TransTube). I've had a couple of Bandits in my day and I'm super satisfied with this Bandit. It was really cheap (Craigslist) and it's just a fantastic sounding amp. I'd still love to grab that Blues Cube but man, I can't see spending the coin.
@@VintageRandom I bought my Stage version 2nd hand for $300 less than retail and to be honest I'm glad I did. Is it a tube amp? No. Does it sound like a tube amp? Pretty damn close to mine and a few other friends ears, yes. And while you may be able to get a tube amp that's bedroom suitable, you're still going to have to crank it to get that breakup, I can lower my volume to 1 and still get the same tone and reasonable breakup without sacrificing everyone elses ears or mine for that matter. And at 30 pounds it's very manageable as well. Also don't have to worry about tube matching, tube bias or temperature issues. It sounds the same at startup as it does at shutdown. And best of all it's a simple amp to use, I don't have to worry about a ton of modeling patches that may or may not quite replicate what I'm trying to get for the ears. I understand the price aprehension from many but given there will be no maintenance necessary over the life of the product and Roland's reputation for building some of the most bullet proof amps I think it's a very worthwhile investment. 4 different power amps also give me the ability to use a literally stage ready amp in my apartment at a reasonable volume. Then there's the cost of tubes (good ones) and getting them matched properly. No thanks. My Roland easily does what I want and won't let me down in the middle of a gig.
Hi guys, What capsule comes standard with the Blues Cube Stage?
Hi, McCambira! Thanks for your message, hope you’re well and safe. Tone capsules are add ons that modify the tone and response of the stock Blues Cube amps. No capsules are included with the amps unless part of a promotion.
Please contact us direct with other questions as you have them!
Robert Williams, Senior Sweetwater Sales Engineer, (800) 222-4700 ext. 2371, robert_williams@sweetwater.com
@@sweetwater Thanks
Thanks a lot for this!
where can I find this EXACT footswitch??
Indeed. A question that I too want answered.
My theory is that there was a dedicated foot controller designed for the two Bluescube amps but the GA series foot controller would also work but in a kludge way. The latter has too many channel buttons, no dual mode switch etc. When the sales of the GA amps crashed Roland was left with huge stocks of the GA-FC and are no not making the correct Bluescube FC in an attempt to get rid of the GA-FC stock. In other words purchasers are being conned!
Another great informational video of a great sounding amp…
But at this price point is too expensive and most people will tend to choose a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe… This amp will kill and sell like Hot Cakes at the $400 price point segment HANDS DOWN…!
nice
Nice features but at current pricepoint it is too expensive.
I completely agree. I had a Roland Blues Cube BC30-210, which was my first amp. I liked it, but it didn't have reverb and it didn't have the tube sound/feel that I wanted, so I ended up with a Twin Reverb years later. BUT...that BC30-210 was something like $340, which was very reasonable for a solid state amp of that caliber. These look like slightly beefed up versions of those older BC60-112 amps, but for almost 3 times the price. Just to be clear, I don't blame Sweetwater, but rather Roland.
Kenny Carlile I'm talking about Sweetwater, prices are different in shops but they are rather close unless gear is discounted or out of production. I'm living in Europe, instruments and amps are even more expensive here, plus salaries in Poland are very low despite same or even higher prices then in western Europe : 0.
wiziek
wiziek
wiziek
Will they make a metalcube?
You must work for Roland really , you didn't say whether it is actually a spring reverb , you said "what you get here is an authentic spring reverb " , which leaves me questioning in my mind , is it or isn't it an actual spring reverb . But other than that it was a very good review with a very good sounding amp , thanks .
someone should do a comparison with the Peavy amp with trans tube tech:
Or Marshall Valve State.
What are Roland thinking? 700€+ for a 1x12 transistor amp??? As stated below, for half that price this would sell like hotcakes. At this price, though... so many other options!!
tremolo sucks. wave form is too square
Way way too expensive for a solid state amp.
Ridiculous price which you pay for "new Technology" Yes, well F that - just compare this amp with the Hot Rod demo and all is revealed one is alive and living and full of tone and the other is just a cloned attempt to fail to match Fender tone.A waste of time Roland and for THAT price ?? you have to be joking !!!!!!!!!
+grahamt33 I think this sounds a lot better than a HRD. Those sound pretty bad compared to the real Fender amps. The selling points for HRDs are the price and that it has a master volume, is channel switching and has an effects loop. But it doesn't sound anywhere close to a blackface, tweed or silverface amp. This has all of those features of a HRD and more. And it's the closest amp in the sub $1000 category to a tweed bassman in terms of tone, compression, and feel. And you can get it with master volume, power scaling, an effects loop, channel switching, reverb, and tremolo for 20lbs less. It may not sound as good as a Bassman, but it's close enough for $550 less and with more features and flexibility. These amps are winners in my book.
We will happily agree to differ,certainly on the HRD versus Roland.I could not afford a premium Fender amp and you obviously know a lot about them but,for me the HRD has That Fender sound,full, rich, powerful and clean [i only use the clean channel] for ready to hand use,I bought a Laney Cub 12 all tube 12 inch celestion and although for 15 watts, it is ridiculously loud, it does not come remotely close to my fender on richness of tone, at ANY volume. I LOVE talking Amplifiers - you can take a crap guitar put it thru a HRD and it will still sound good, but not on the Laney or any Tranny amp. In closing, thank you very much for your input !!!!! PS I still notice that many pro's still use the HRD worldwide !!
i have been checking UK prices an HRD is £642, the cheapest classic -custom deluxe is nearly £1000 and THAT is why I bought the HRD[2nd hand half price] STILL I hope one day to be able to afford a premium Fender amp, of course !!!! Keep on rocking !!