Roland Blues Cube 60

[Fidelcaster]

Hi all,

I have the opportunity to buy online an "ex demo" Roland Blues Cube 60 (ss, two channels, Accutronics spring reverb, 1x12" speaker) from a shop. The price isn't very tempting (they ask the same amount as for a new Cube 80X), and I can't try it.

What do you suggest? Is the (analog) Blues Cube a better amp than the (digital) Cube 80X, or than the (digital) Cube 60 I can get new for 2/3 of the same amount?

Does anybody know when the Blues Cube went out of production?

Thank you!

[henry b]

Didn,t know there was a "blues " cube 60 .

[Fidelcaster]

Originally Posted by henry b

Didn,t know there was a "blues " cube 60 .

Here it is (was)!

[peterk1]

I've bought one of these for jazz a couple of years ago.

I wish I could write a better review since I usually love Roland's stuff - it worked well for a number of weeks and then my Master Volume started acting weird and I replaced the amp and haven't used it since. I figure it's not worth getting fixed due to it no longer being in production. If I slap it really hard a couple of times, it sometimes wakes up and starts working properly again for a couple of minutes.

I recorded a couple of tunes with it, so I can pass on a link if you'd like to hear it in action.

It did sound decent while it lasted. I didn't like the reverb at all. It was fairly quiet but could have been better in that department. It weighs a frikking ton - I still can't figure out how something so small can be so damn heavy! You would not be able to carry this one around easily on the bus or anything.

My little JazzAmp is much more convenient and sounds much better for clean jazz sounds.

[Fidelcaster]

Originally Posted by peterk1

I wish I could write a better review

An unbiased review is what I was hoping to read!

I usually love Roland's stuff

Do you happen to prefer the current digital Cubes to the BluesCube?

I recorded a couple of tunes with it, so I can pass on a link if you'd like to hear it in action.

I'd appreciate it, thank you!

[peterk1]

I've never compared them head to head, and I've only actually heard the newer Cubes with bass, not a guitar. The ones I've seen did a wonderful job. Cheap. easy to carry around. Good value for the money.

For the sample of the Blues Cube, go here....

SoundClick artist: Peter Kossits - page with MP3 music downloads

the tune Lullabye Of The Leaves is with the Roland amp. It's a sax tune, but there's an intro and a solo.

I remember having to do a bit of work to get the noise out (Rolands have a habit of hissing a bit - they're not the quietest amps around).

If you haven't done so yet, go to Harmony central and check out the ratings there for the Blues Cube. They're very, very good. I may just have gotten unlucky with mine breaking so soon after getting yet.

[Fidelcaster]

Thank you very much, Peter!

I like the sound, since I wasn't expecting anything overwhelming, but I'm wondering if it's worth the price (390 € = 526 US$), given that it's an old amp, and in the past I had a bad experience with an used piece of gear I bought online, and that you say it's very heavy. Probably no.

(I had already seen the reviews on harmonycentral.)

[peterk1]

In North America that's would be too expensive - about twice as much as it should be. If I was looking for another one, my target price would be about 300$ US for a used one in good condition.

There is one up on Ebay right now and the auction is ending in 2 days. You can keep an eye on it and that will give you an idea of what the market price is - it's at 126$ right now.

Originally Posted by Fidelcaster

Thank you very much, Peter!

I like the sound, since I wasn't expecting anything overwhelming, but I'm wondering if it's worth the price (390 € = 526 US$), given that it's an old amp, and in the past I had a bad experience with an used piece of gear I bought online, and that you say it's very heavy. Probably no.

(I had already seen the reviews on harmonycentral.)