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Hey all...
Most people agree on the Roland Cube series providing a good, portable and affordable jazz tone. The 60 is being discontinued and the 80x has recently come out. I'm trying to decide whether to get a 60 or 80x and could use some opinions/help.
I should say I'm very familiar with the Cube having owned a 60 in the past and currently owning a 30.
From what I can tell (without playing one), the 80x has these pros/cons:
Pros
Little more power (20 more watts than Cube 60)
Separated Reverb/Delay
Two types of reverb (spring/plate)
Two types of delay (warm/clear)
New model (Dlx Combo = Deluxe Reverb)
Looper
Built-in tuner
Solo/memory channel
Cons
Little more weight (~3lbs more than Cube 60)
More expensive ($399 vs $299 of Cube 60)
Anything more I've missed?
I'd love to hear from people who have played both to see if the 80x is worth it. Some of the additions they have I probably don't need (like the looper for instance).
Cube 80XL
Cube 60
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06-23-2009 03:31 PM
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I have decided on the Cube 80x for my next amp I have played it in the store multiple times and have taken it home and fiddled with it at my friends house also it sounds really nice on a gig, if you are looking for versatility get the 80x it also has a awesome jazz sound, my dad also owns a Cube 60 I think they sound just about the same but the 80x has more features and sounds thicker I would say to get the 80x, it is amp you can rely on,
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I played both, in the same shop, the same day. They sound very very similar. I didn't need any of the additional features of the 80, and the 60 is just about as heavy as I think is comfortable, so the choice was easy for me.
In fact, the 60 would have been just perfect without any effects or amp models, simply as a "small JC". But that's me
Per
EDit: I bought the 60.
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I played with the two(cube 60 and 80) and with the same settings I found that the 80 had more lows.But both sounds really nice.I bought the 80.
I played with a Asat G&L(telecaster hollowbody).
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I was thinking about weight too. The 80x is only about 3 more lbs heavier than the 60 and about 1 inch wider. Doesn't seem like much at all, but that brings the 80x to 35 lbs, which isn't heavy but is now closer to one of my tube amps (my Carvin Nomad is 40 lbs).
Originally Posted by perfischer
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Well, an offer I put into an ebay auction for an 80x was just accepted to my surprise! So I have an 80x coming my way for a good price (especially with the 8% coupon ebay has going on right now).
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Cool! Congrats. Originally Posted by martinopass
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I brought my new 80x home today it sounds great
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I've had the 80x for about a month now and love it. I played both the 60 and 80x and decided on the 80x. It seems to me to have more headroom. I play it clean with a little reverb and delay. I use an Epiphone Reissued ES-175.
P.S. I even used it on a gig and it sounded great there too... Small setting...
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Cool, glad to hear. I would expect it to do well on a gig. I've done small restaurant gigs with my Cube 30, so the 80 ought to work well in both that and much larger/louder settings. Originally Posted by afbcpa
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martinopass, from your avatar I take it that you own the Ibanez AK105SM, as do I. I'd be very interested to know how it sounds on the 80x. Do you consider the amp a compromise, although a good one, do you miss tube harmonics? Have you tried other guitars like a Strat or Tele with it? And is it possible to play at bedroom volume levels?
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You own an AK105SM too? Very cool, I just love mine. I think it's a very underrated guitar. I preferred it to a couple Eastmans I no longer own (805ce, el rey). Originally Posted by Drifter
Anyway, I literally just got the amp this weekend and have only used it for a couple hours so far. Have you ever played a Cube 30 or 60? The tones are basically the same, except the 80x has more options and tweakability. For jazz, I'm always between the JC and Black Panel models. The JC model gives you a clear, high headroom clean with no distortion, that you usually cannot get from a tube amp. The Black Panel lets you add in a small amout of gain, which does add the compression you feel from a tube amp. Because of this model and a couple others (Tweed, Dlx Reverb) I don't feel like it is a compromise at all. The Dlx Reverb model is a new one to the 80x by the way.
I've played my Les Paul with it and find similar results. I do generally prefer tube amps when it comes to my rock band playing though. Some of that might just be a mental thing though. But for jazz, I'm completely satisfied with the Cube series, between the JC and Black Panel (and other) models as it gives you any type of clean tone you'd probably be looking for. I should add that I have a couple tube amps too, a Fender Princeton Reverb RI and a Carvin Nomad.
It is certainly easy to dial it in to a bedroom playing level or a loud level (80 watts is a lot of power). You also have the option of plugging headphones into it. One thing I will say, is it's not as small/light as I expected. It's 35lbs, which certainly isn't heavy, but it's not as grab and go as the Cube 30. The 60 is about 3 lbs less and 1 inch not as wide. But the 80 certainly gives a fuller, bigger sound than my 30.
I have a gig tonight that I'll probably use the 80x on. I'll report back to let you know how it goes.Last edited by monkmiles; 06-29-2009 at 01:20 PM.
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Thanks for your reply. I love my AK105 too although it keeps going out of tune these days. But I guess that's due to the humidity at this time of the year. Still, I even had to adjust the truss rod today. I just hope the neck will find its peace some day, it's a fine guitar otherwise, stunning finish quality, great playability and it has a very nice sounding neck pup. I still wish I had compared it to the Hagstrom HJ-800 for that must be a stunning guitar, too. Maybe I'll try that one later.
I haven't played for over a decade and I bought this guitar to make my personal comeback. Now I'm looking for the right amp. I thought a tube amp would be best and tried the Epi VJr head + cab but decided to resell it only yesterday. It's incredibly thin sounding. I now play through my old Fender Princeton Chorus (early 90s ss) and the sound has just the body I am looking for but it could be a little jazzier. I might try an EHX Tube EQ in the effects loop and if that doesn't suit me, maybe the 80x would be an affordable alternative. I've never tried a Roland, maybe even the smaller ones would suffice. Although from the experience with the VJr I figure that you just can't get that Jazz tone from smaller amps. At least I can't. The Jazzkat might be one of the few exceptions but it's hard to get over here in Europe.
If you don't mind and have the possibility to record, I'd very much appreciate a short sound sample AK105 + 80x... It might help me to make up my mind. On the other hand, it's my fingers I have to train instead of worrying about amplification. But I'm glad to hear that you're happy with the 80x. I'll definitely keep it in mind.
How was your gig?
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Based on the input here and on other posts, picked up a new Cube 60 today. Apparently, they are discontinued in favor of the 80. (Someone mentioned that above.) Anyway, Daddy's Junky Music gave it to me for $240 US and a 2 year extended warranty at no additional cost. Not sure if that is all that great a price, but it looks on the low end. But, if you want a new one, they are much cheaper than a month or two ago. Other than the delay loop, other additional effects, and price, I didn't notice much of a tone difference between the two, but I am pretty much tone deaf
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Last edited by msr13; 06-30-2009 at 03:40 PM.
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That's what most owners and reviewers say. But there are a few that swear that the 60 sounds very different, better in most cases. I wonder if there's a quality control problem with the 80x.
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Gig went well, thanks. I did actually record some of it. I'll make a couple mp3s of a couple tunes from it, if you'd want that for a sound sample? Originally Posted by Drifter
Yea, that's a good price for a new Cube 60. I tried to cover all the differences between the 80x and 60 in my earlier post. Originally Posted by msr13
Based on the input here and on other posts, picked up a new Cube 60 today. Apparently, they are discontinued in favor of the 80. (Someone mentioned that above.) Anyway, Daddy's Junky Music gave it to me for $240 US and a 2 year extended warranty at no additional cost. Not sure if that is all that great a price, but it looks on the low end. But, if you want a new one, they are much cheaper than a month or two ago. Other than the delay loop, other additional effects, and price, I didn't notice much of a tone difference between the two, but I am pretty much tone deaf.
I don't hear much, if any, basic tone difference between them. I did mention the reverb which I prefer on the 80x though.
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As a Polytone MiniBrute IV and Henriksen Convertible owner, am I missing something by never trying a Roland Cubes? I feel my amps make my guitars sound great, already. They--the Cubes--- seem to be the most popular amps around here, by a country mile..what's the attraction? Price for what you get?
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If both of your tube amp were broken would you do a rock gig with the cube 80X? My tube amp is giving me problems fender HRD ,so I'm looking for something new but not sure if the cube 80X would cut it...my Fender has a very big sound to it and fills a small hall does the cube fill a large room?Thanks Originally Posted by martinopass
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Yes, it would you might have to put the volume knob a bit higher but it would
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I bought my Cube because of the price. I may return it in a couple of days. It was a impulse purchase based on the recommendations I've read (not just here). In my opinion, it doesn't compare the the Polytone I recently tried, or the Henriksen. Both, however, were significantly more money, and my DRRI works pretty darn well. I liked the Cube for its weight, price, and it does have a nice tone, but not great compared to other, more expensive options. Originally Posted by NSJ
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Ok, give me a couple days or so to put the recordings on my computer and whatnot and I'll post a couple. Originally Posted by Drifter
I think the attraction to Cubes is from a few things. They're readily available, well priced, versatile, portable, and most importantly have good clean tones that cover both types of cleans; 1) the clear, high headroom of a JC model and 2) the grittier, pushed cleans of the Black Panel/Dlx Reverb/Tweed models. I haven't played a Polytone or Henriksen to give a direct comparison. But I have a hard time believing they sound that much better to live with the higher price and lack of versatility. Originally Posted by NSJ
Certainly I would use the Cube if my tubes amp failed. In a rock context, I would use the Black Panel, Dlx Reverb or Tweed model. I don't bother with the more distortion based models as I get most of my dirt from my pedals. So I'd set one of those models to a pushed clean setting. Originally Posted by bluemood
The 60 or 80x can definitely fill a room. Both have the option of adding an extension cabinet as well to spread the sound if you find you really need it.
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It's available for under 400 Euros over here in Europe. If my Fender broke down and had to be replaced quickly, the 80x would be my first choice. As long as the Fender does its job, I'm thinking about saving for an Evans. The clips on youTube are stunning...
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bought a 80x yesterday, looks and sound great!
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I'm considering buying a 60 or an 80x, among other choices. I found a thread in another forum where they were ranting about how much better the 60 sounds. They point out the 60 is ported (look closely through the grill and you'll see two round ports below and to the sides of the speaker). One guy drilled his own ports on the 80x and claims it gave it more bass and a clearer sound.
They also claim the 60 has more clean head room -- the 80x may be a little louder, but it breaks up earlier.
Me? I've played them in different stores so I can't compare them closely. They sound very similar to me. I'd hate to do a blindfold test to distinguish them. And I didn't crank them up to max head room.
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One thing I just discovered with my 80x is there are what look to be two small ports in the 80x. There are two 2" width, 3/4 inch height oval shaped holes right above the speaker. You could barely see them from this zoomed in pic from zzounds (zoom in above the speaker if you can):
Secondly, I have a Cube 30, an 80x and used to have a 60. In terms of headroom and basic tone, I don't notice much difference between any of them. Yes, the 30 has less power than the 60, which has less than the 80, but in terms of basic tone and headroom...I'm not hearing much difference. Though the 80 and 60 do have more tonal shaping options than the 30, which can make tonal differences.
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