Well, I have enjoyed the Cube for a year and a half now.

barrymclark · #1 02-02-2012, 03:04 PM

It is a great amp but.. such is my way... I am moving on to a new amp.

I picked up a 20w Jet City head yesterday and loving it. I am sure in a couple of years, this one will go by the wayside too.

All that being said, I have really, really dug the Cube and it is great, great amp. I will be selling it still just shaking my head at the rolled-eyes looks it gets. Even after they tell me love the tone I get... they just follow it with I'd sound better if it were tube. I am by no means a tube hater. I am not a gear hater of any sort. I do my best to accept an amp for what it is. I don't care how it makes the sound or how much it costs. If it brings it... it brings it.

Anyways, it is a fond farewell as I post 'er up on the bay. I am keeping my MicroCube though!

zigzag · #2 02-02-2012, 03:16 PM

I've had my Cube 80XL for a couple of weeks now. Like most everbody else, I think the clean sounds are very good. I like the effects okay, and the amp models are not great for the most part unless you take the time to really work to dial in a useable tone. I haven't used the looper yet. For what I use it for and what I paid for it, I really like that amp.

barrymclark · #3 02-02-2012, 03:20 PM

The thing with the modeled tones is.. don't use it as a modeler. I know it sounds like you are using it against the way it is intentioned.

I just look at them like flavors and not a 65 Fender whos-i-what-i. I really don't care about that crap. haha. Does it get me in the ballpark of the genre for that kind of amp. Yes. It does. I have been able to make a usable tone out of every setting on there. But, yeah, the JC setting alone for the price is worth it.

zigzag · #4 02-02-2012, 03:29 PM

I'm with you on that Barry, but I noticed if I set it to R-fier and leave everything else flat, there is no sustain and the sound breaks up and decays quickly- really awful finish. Throw a little chorus and delay in there and the sound is sweet.

mr. beaumont · #5 02-02-2012, 03:36 PM

Hmmm...the Jet City and the Cube are apples and oranges...I wouldn't sell the cube yet...

I'm a fan of the cubes, but admittedly, for my needs, about 95% of it's bells and whistles are never being rung or blown...

AlohaJoe · #6 02-02-2012, 03:48 PM

I'd love to hear a review of the Jet City once you've settled in with it. I haven't seen reviews from Jazz players yet but a wise man once said 'if it brings it, it brings it'. Let me know what you think... in a separate thread if more appropriate.

barrymclark · #7 02-02-2012, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zigzag

I'm with you on that Barry, but I noticed if I set it to R-fier and leave everything else flat, there is no sustain and the sound breaks up and decays quickly- really awful finish. Throw a little chorus and delay in there and the sound is sweet.

With a hollow body? I ask as I had the same experience but the for the same reasons. I really didn't like the Rectifier setting as I just thought it sounded ratty. You know like those little 4-cylinder cars the kids hop up these days and that have that exhaust that sounds like a perpetual razzberry? That. OH I hated it. haha. The hollow sounded great on the JC, all the Fendery setting and the Vox setting. The 5150 setting didn't sound bad with the hollowbody but only at low volumes as, aside from the howling feedback, the hollowbody just had a thickness that just got thicker. haha. The Marshall setting wasn't bad.. but had little to no use for it with the hollow. Now... when I borrowed a buddy's solid body, NOW that rectifer setting sounded good! The Marshall did too. I mean that all without any effects of any sort.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

Hmmm...the Jet City and the Cube are apples and oranges...I wouldn't sell the cube yet...

I'm a fan of the cubes, but admittedly, for my needs, about 95% of it's bells and whistles are never being rung or blown...

Understood. I too don't use all that stuff. I barely use the effects. I will use some delay and reverb just to liven up the sound in a dead room. For the jazzier stuff... man it was great. I loved it. Alas, my tastes in jazz tones has shifted with my ever changing tastes in music. haha. My preference in jazz tones is 40's and 50's. So... it was no wonder that an amp that is based on a very simple tube circuit can really bring it. My current focus has moved away from jazz a bit (while not impeding my studies of it) to classic rock and progressive rock like AC/DC and Rush tone wise. haha. I swear I have a problem no one can fix. When playing with friends with these tones, I tend to have a hard time getting through soundwise. So... I have to fight fire with fire. Higher toned rig and 20w if tube sickness through a 2x12. haha. This better suits my live needs. For quiet home tones, I have my MicroCube.

The likelihood I will ever play jazz in a band is slim as I may never get to the point where I am adept enough to pull it off. I'd be more of a hack. Someone that plays previously practiced versions of tunes with very little improv. There would just be some basic imbellishment of the melody and nothing that will get any attention. I tend to shine a bit more in rock stuff. The Jazz... that is for me.

I can say though, this move is after a LOT of thought on the matter. This wasn't a spur of the moment decision. It is a great amp for someone but just not for me and my bigger amp needs.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlohaJoe

I'd love to hear a review of the Jet City once you've settled in with it. I haven't seen reviews from Jazz players yet but a wise man once said 'if it brings it, it brings it'. Let me know what you think... in a separate thread if more appropriate.

I can tell you that my initial impressions are great. I was able to dial in very nice clean (well.. cleanish, haha) tones, classic rock tones and some searing hard rock tones.

I will definitely keep you guys up to date how I feel about it. Maybe even post up videos when I have the time.

Jazzman301 · #8 02-02-2012, 05:19 PM

I agree with Mr.B I have a cube 80XL that I generaly like. Honestly its a bit less refined 1x12 JC120...There is a bit of hiss and I find most of the bells and whistles are not even being thought about let alone blown or rung. I have often told people its like a poor mans Polytone. I don't think its jazz tone is quite as awesome as the Polytone but I can agree that it is much more versatile. I really loved my Cube until I got my Ampeg. I never had a tube to compare it to side by side until a few months ago. I have been thinking about grabbing a Polytone or a Yamaha G series if the price is right and compare it to the Cube and keep the winner and sell the loser.

'Mike

zigzag · #9 02-02-2012, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barrymclark

With a hollow body? I ask as I had the same experience but the for the same reasons. I really didn't like the Rectifier setting as I just thought it sounded ratty. You know like those little 4-cylinder cars the kids hop up these days and that have that exhaust that sounds like a perpetual razzberry? That. OH I hated it. haha. The hollow sounded great on the JC, all the Fendery setting and the Vox setting. The 5150 setting didn't sound bad with the hollowbody but only at low volumes as, aside from the howling feedback, the hollowbody just had a thickness that just got thicker. haha. The Marshall setting wasn't bad.. but had little to no use for it with the hollow. Now... when I borrowed a buddy's solid body, NOW that rectifer setting sounded good! The Marshall did too. I mean that all without any effects of any sort.

Honestly, I'm still putting the Cube through its paces. My main guitar now is a Carvin SH550 semi hollow body. I've also been playing an ES-335 thru the Cube. I know most people when they get a new amp like to explore every setting right away. I'm still going thru my practice regimen and play mostly scales and a couple of jazz-fusion tunes I'm learning, and I'm playing clean. To mess around, I've been playing to a backing track to "Still Got the Blues" by Gary Moore where I've dialed in thru that R-fier model that comes close the the GM tone. In the R-fier mode, the addition of a little chorus and delay makes an amazing difference in the tone and sustain. In another couple of weeks I will probably have more experience with most of the settings on my new Cube.

anothersixstringer · #10 02-02-2012, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barrymclark

. I am keeping my MicroCube though!

Good call! I've had the Cube micro, 15, 15x, 30, 60 & 80x, sold all of them but my micro cube RX is here to stay! Actually, I sold a bunch of pedals, don't need 'em: just plug into the micro cube and take the line out to a bigger amp or cabinet, voila!