Roland Cube Hiss

**jasaco** · 10-26-2015, 08:04 AM

With mine, I found that the hiss was only present when I had the lights on that are on a dimmer/rheostat switch. Check to see if that was the case for you and, if so, trying turning off that light and see if it helps.

**orri** · 10-26-2015, 08:09 AM

Originally Posted by jasaco

With mine, I found that the hiss was only present when I had the lights on that are on a dimmer/rheostat switch. Check to see if that was the case for you and, if so, trying turning off that light and see if it helps.

I've had similar issues with my cube and other modelling amps.
Some mains sockets in my house seem to give more hiss than others, and dimmers make it worse.

**Desafinado9** · 10-26-2015, 08:29 AM

Originally Posted by jasaco

With mine, I found that the hiss was only present when I had the lights on that are on a dimmer/rheostat switch. Check to see if that was the case for you and, if so, trying turning off that light and see if it helps.

Originally Posted by orri

I've had similar issues with my cube and other modelling amps.
Some mains sockets in my house seem to give more hiss than others, and dimmers make it worse.

Hi guys! and thanks for your replies!

I'm afraid I won't be able to try that as I haven't bought it, just tried it at the store. Anyways I'm wondering, if it depends on the local electric installations, how could I overcome it in places where I don't have control over that.

Btw, is that hiss you experience the trailing like one I mentioned? and have you guys used yours for gigs?

**jasaco** · 10-26-2015, 08:34 AM

I don't know about 'trailing hiss' but I have used it in gig situations and never noticed it there. Either the hiss was too low to be noticed or, without a rheostat on the circuit, it wasn't even there.

Can you ask the store for a 24-hour return privilege and then take it home to try? Or see if there's a light on a dimmer that they wouldn't mind turning off temporarily...?

**orri** · 10-26-2015, 10:28 AM

Originally Posted by Desafinado9

Btw, is that hiss you experience the trailing like one I mentioned? and have you guys used yours for gigs?

Yes (on the trailing hiss), it reminds me a bit of a snare drum being in the same room with the snares on.

I haven't used my cube for gigs, but I'd guess that in almost all gig and playing in a band situations it would be drowned in background noise (unless you heard much more hiss than I've ever heard).
Perhaps it could be heard if you have a really dynamic and sensitive gig where people hessitate to breath to not ruin the silence.

**Desafinado9** · 10-26-2015, 11:41 AM

Originally Posted by Peter Alton

Just a comment here. Correct about light dimmers, and beer pumps too. They can interfere with the hiss levels. I do recall in the 1960's,the first 'Transistor' amp to hit the U.K. market was the Burns 'Orbit' series. I tried one at our local store, and the first thing I noticed was the aggressive hiss. The weight of the amp was great, the hiss was dreadful. Now, things have moved on considerably, and mostly the hiss has been reduced. I have used a Fender 'London' reverb amp for nearly 30 years, a Rivera designed solid state amp, and the hiss levels are very low, so low I don't hear them. I've not seen any new Roland Cube amps recently, so I can't really give a constructive answer. Having worked in music retail, many of the amps with lots of gain & effects, hiss merrily away in the background, annoying if you're solo, mostly unnoticed in a band.....until they adjust the light dimmers !

Yeah I guess I could live with the background noise/hiss that's always on, it wasn't that noticeable/intrusive; although the Cube has a few amp models which I tried, all the effects/delay/reverb were turned off, not sure if you meant that just by being in the circuit these can impact the sound (disregarding if they're on or off). Anyways the trailing hiss was what felt more annoying..

Originally Posted by jasaco

I don't know about 'trailing hiss' but I have used it in gig situations and never noticed it there. Either the hiss was too low to be noticed or, without a rheostat on the circuit, it wasn't even there.

Can you ask the store for a 24-hour return privilege and then take it home to try? Or see if there's a light on a dimmer that they wouldn't mind turning off temporarily...?

I didn't notice dimmed lights but I could ask if that's the case; OTOH, on the 24-hour return, unfortunately I don't think that's an option here in Argentina: usually it's take it or leave it; customer care/service is still in caveman age here IMO.

Originally Posted by orri

Yes (on the trailing hiss), it reminds me a bit of a snare drum being in the same room with the snares on.

I haven't used my cube for gigs, but I'd guess that in almost all gig and playing in a band situations it would be drowned in background noise (unless you heard much more hiss than I've ever heard).
Perhaps it could be heard if you have a really dynamic and sensitive gig where people hessitate to breath to not ruin the silence.

Yes! it was a bit like a snare drum sound.. asides that, I don't think I'll have such a sensitive gig in a long long while. But not too far in the future I want to try getting a solo gig at a bar or restaurant and I want my sound to be as professional as possible, hence why I was asking if the hiss would make me look amateurish.

**vinlander** · 10-26-2015, 11:42 AM

I also have a small amount of hiss on the clean (JC-120) channel on my 80XL even at living room volume.
In the 90s I had 2 different Roland JC-120; both having a certain amount of hiss maybe I expect it to bet there, in any case it is not really bothering me.

**Woody Sound** · 10-26-2015, 12:17 PM

My Cube 60 did the same thing. But I only used it as a store-on-location amp with a weekly big band, so the noise threshold was enough to cover it.

**Desafinado9** · 10-26-2015, 01:54 PM

Originally Posted by vinlander

I also have a small amount of hiss on the clean (JC-120) channel on my 80XL even at living room volume.
In the 90s I had 2 different Roland JC-120; both having a certain amount of hiss maybe I expect it to bet there, in any case it is not really bothering me.

Hi Vinlander, and thanks for your reply! may I ask if you're talking about the background hiss or the trailing one that appears/disappears when playing? and do you use your Cube for gigging (including jazz gigs)?

**wzpgsr** · 10-26-2015, 02:08 PM

Originally Posted by Woody Sound

My Cube 60 did the same thing. But I only used it as a store-on-location amp with a weekly big band, so the noise threshold was enough to cover it.

Woody Sound, how is the hiss level on your Pearce G2Rs? I scored one these amps a few months ago--very versatile--but the hiss is a little distracting at low volumes. It sounds a bit like the hiss coming through a PA system. Once I'm absorbed in playing I don't notice it. I was wondering if this is normal for the Pearce amps.

**vinlander** · 10-26-2015, 03:22 PM

Originally Posted by Desafinado9

Hi Vinlander, and thanks for your reply! may I ask if you're talking about the background hiss or the trailing one that appears/disappears when playing? and do you use your Cube for gigging (including jazz gigs)?

I mean the background hiss, unfortunately I am just a living room musician at the moment so can't comment on Gig level.

**Longways to Go** · 10-26-2015, 11:10 PM

My Cube 60 did the trailing hiss too. I couldn't bear it for quieter practice.
That's why it's gone. Cube 60 gets lots of love around here, but it's not perfect IMO.
I still have my Microcube RX though

**cosmic gumbo** · 10-27-2015, 05:00 AM

I had one and thought the fizz/hiss was a defect, so I returned it and got another. Same "trailing" hiss, buzzy/fizzy snare noise. I think it has to do with perhaps a built in limiter/noise gate thingy that can't be turned off? Fact is, even though the amps have a jc120 clean channel, they are basically built for metalheads who are the main market that buys them, and for which they are mainly designed for in the last 15 years.

**Little Jay** · 10-27-2015, 06:40 AM

The hiss and the built in limiter/noise gate that can't be switched off were the reason I sold my Cube 30x.

**Desafinado9** · 10-27-2015, 08:25 AM

Originally Posted by vinlander

I mean the background hiss, unfortunately I am just a living room musician at the moment so can't comment on Gig level.

Originally Posted by Woody Sound

My Cube 60 did the same thing. But I only used it as a store-on-location amp with a weekly big band, so the noise threshold was enough to cover it.

oh, I guess I could live with the background buzz, but with the trailing one not sure..
I'm a bedroom musician as well, been playing some rock with a few friends for a while and we are hoping to play at a bar before this year ends.. on the jazz thing I think I'll go solo at first or in a duo maybe, who knows? I'm still learning the arpeggios and the basics of a few tunes but there's something that doesn't click on my mind about playing chord by chord, guess I'm still trying to get a grasp of something that's beyond me at this point...

Originally Posted by Longways to Go

My Cube 60 did the trailing hiss too. I couldn't bear it for quieter practice.
That's why it's gone. Cube 60 gets lots of love around here, but it's not perfect IMO.
I still have my Microcube RX though

Originally Posted by cosmic gumbo

I had one and thought the fizz/hiss was a defect, so I returned it and got another. Same "trailing" hiss, buzzy/fizzy snare noise. I think it has to do with perhaps a built in limiter/noise gate thingy that can't be turned off? Fact is, even though the amps have a jc120 clean channel, they are basically built for metalheads who are the main market that buys them, and for which they are mainly designed for in the last 15 years.

Originally Posted by Little Jay

The hiss and the built in limiter/noise gate that can't be switched off were the reason I sold my Cube 30x.

Hi guys! and thanks for your answers!
That nobody's gigging the Cubes because that trailing hiss spoils the amp clean sounds steers me away of these amps then, at least based on the comments made here so far.

IMO it's really a shame for Roland because the overall package would be very good otherwise. I don't care for too many flavors of overdrive/high gain, even less if the amp is a good platform for pedals. Wish they'd make 2 different Cubes, one for metalheads and one with no hiss for people with broader tastes/needs.. I'd happily have 2 clean sounds and 2 OD/dirtier ones, or even just one of each, and no on-board effects (ok, I'd keep the looper, and maybe a reverb, although I rarely use it) if this could kill that trailing hiss.

Those that sold/ditched their Cubes, can please comment which alternative have chosen or recommend?
Need to meet these requirements for my intended uses (both practice at home & gig -rock & jazz-): sturdy/rugged, powerful and lightweight (under 15 kg), very good clean sound, decent OD, or at least nice to pedals; aux in, line out & speaker out are desirable. Speaker can be 10" or 12".
I'll open a new thread asking this so this one doesn't strays off topic.

**Longways to Go** · 10-27-2015, 09:29 AM

I don't think the hiss/noise is an issue in performance, only bothered me at low volume practice level.
Despite the noise, these amps are popular workhorses of the jazz world for good reason.

My collection of amps includes a Quilter Aviator 8", Henriksen 110er, Fender PRRI, and a DV Mark Little Jazz.
I enjoy them all.

I am a bit of an amp junky!

**Woody Sound** · 10-27-2015, 09:38 AM

Originally Posted by wzpgsr

Woody Sound, how is the hiss level on your Pearce G2Rs? I scored one these amps a few months ago--very versatile--but the hiss is a little distracting at low volumes. It sounds a bit like the hiss coming through a PA system. Once I'm absorbed in playing I don't notice it. I was wondering if this is normal for the Pearce amps.

It's pretty minimal. I'll have to give it another listen this evening and get back to you.

**Little Jay** · 10-27-2015, 03:21 PM

I replaced my Cube 30x with a Session Rockette:30, but outside Europe those are hard to find. Later also an AER Alpha (extremely portable) and a Session BluesBaby 22 found their way into my amp-arsenal :-)

(And since I played an old Polytone on a session I really want one of those too :-)

**Desafinado9** · 10-27-2015, 06:23 PM

Originally Posted by Longways to Go

I don't think the hiss/noise is an issue in performance, only bothered me at low volume practice level.
Despite the noise, these amps are popular workhorses of the jazz world for good reason.

My collection of amps includes a Quilter Aviator 8", Henriksen 110er, Fender PRRI, and a DV Mark Little Jazz.
I enjoy them all.

I am a bit of an amp junky!

Yeah, I've read they're popular workhorses as well but so far nobody has chimed in here to say they use it to gig. Did you actually use it for this purpose before you sold it?
Btw, nice collection of amps! I only have one and although I really like its sound I think I made a mistake since its not portable at all and I don't have a car, but well I've learned that lesson now.

Originally Posted by Little Jay

I replaced my Cube 30x with a Session Rockette:30, but outside Europe those are hard to find. Later also an AER Alpha (extremely portable) and a Session BluesBaby 22 found their way into my amp-arsenal :-)
(And since I played an old Polytone on a session I really want one of those too :-)

Yeah, the shops usually just bring the big brands here (Vox, Fender, Marshall, Roland, Orange, Mesa, etc), I won't find those amps here, if I do it'll be a 2nd hand one and the seller will be asking too much for it.

**jasaco** · 10-27-2015, 06:33 PM

Originally Posted by Desafinado9

... so far nobody has chimed in here to say they use it to gig.

I use mine to gig. There has never been enough hiss to notice on any job I've ever played. However, I do not play solo guitar gigs to quiet coffeehouse audiences... but with a jazz combo, it's just never even been a question in anybody's mind.

**jasaco** · 10-27-2015, 11:20 PM

Originally Posted by Desafinado9

If you had one of these gigs, do you deem this amp as suitable?

Yes, I do. But if you will insist on dead silence at all times, then your mileage may vary.

**Desafinado9** · 10-28-2015, 10:38 AM

Originally Posted by jasaco

Yes, I do. But if you will insist on dead silence at all times, then your mileage may vary.

Thanks again for your reply! I've been thinking about going back to the store to test drive the Cube for another while and give it another chance to see if I can cope with the hiss.

Best,

**0zoro** · 10-29-2015, 06:57 AM

I have a cube 80xl and a cube 30xl. The 80xl has been plagued with the "trailing hiss" intermittently, some that reoccurred last night. I believe now that it turned up again as I was experimenting with sound quality through amp settings when I pushed in the "bright" button to turn it on and at the same time turned the "presence" knob up to 12o´clock from its usual position of 7 o´clock (ie off). Both of those controls seem to initiate the hiss, but each will produce some individually. The amp is never absolutely quiet (is there an amp that is?), but the minimal amount of noise in the background does not bother me who practices at bedroom levels. I find that I get the best sound with least background hiss with amp settings, bass and mid at 12 o´clock and treble at 9 o´clock. I mostly modify sound through my POD HD.