Roland Blues Cube

**abelljo** · 07-14-2016, 10:54 AM

More great players hopping on the Roland Blues Cube bandwagon. I've been considering the JC40, but...

Roland Blues Cube-roland-blues-cube-jpg

**zephyrregent** · 07-14-2016, 11:30 AM

I recently got a Blues Cube Hot and was impressed by how much it sounds and responds like a tube amp.

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 07-14-2016, 11:42 AM

Originally Posted by zephyrregent

I recently got a Blues Cube Hot and was impressed by how much it sounds and responds like a tube amp.

How does it work for a clean jazz tone? Can you set it to stay clean?

**zephyrregent** · 07-14-2016, 12:42 PM

Originally Posted by BigDaddyLoveHandles

How does it work for a clean jazz tone? Can you set it to stay clean?

Yes, it gets a good clean jazz tone. (That's all I used it for, no effects, not even reverb.) I set the power level at 30W and volume level about 1/4, with the master volume all the way up. It gives my guitars, with DeArmond 1100, floating KA humbucker, P90 and built-in humbucker pickups, a full, rich tone. It compares favorably with my Henriksen 112ER, in fact I prefer the tube tone and mostly play the Blues Cube. I use it to play at home at not very loud volume. I like the simple controls and don't need the extra power and features of their other Blues Cube amps.

**Generalmojo** · 07-14-2016, 01:21 PM

Just got one and love it. I like to have it for gigs where there is questionable power or for gigs like small restaurant dinner music. This thing may see more like of day than even that. In fact, it may be used for some recording when appropriate. You have to remember than most of it is analog. I'm sure there is a lot of digital control, but this baby is up there with the Roland JC series in my opinion. The cleans are amazing. So if you guys like the regular Cube series, or JC, or even polytone or JazzCat, pure probably gonna love this amp.

A lot of people are complaining about the price. But it's not a substitute amp. It's its own thing. No question. Highly recommend.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 07-14-2016, 03:35 PM

I forgot to ask: what's the difference to you between a Blues Cube and a Blues Cube Hot. What makes you prefer one over the other?

**zephyrregent** · 07-14-2016, 03:58 PM

Originally Posted by BigDaddyLoveHandles

I forgot to ask: what's the difference to you between a Blues Cube and a Blues Cube Hot. What makes you prefer one over the other?

The Blues Cube Hot has 30 watts, one channel and fewer effects. The Blues Cube Stage has 60 watts and the Blues Cube Artist has 80 watts, both with a clean and crunch channel. I haven't tried either the Stage or Artist models but have heard good things about them from archtop users. Roland says the current Blues Cube models are "Dramatically evolved from the first-generation sound of the original Blues Cube amps from the ’90s," The Blues Cube Hot has the same Tone Logic design as in the Stage and Artist models that makes it sound like a vintage tube amplifier. I got it because it is less expensive with simple controls and I don't need the extra wattage.

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 07-14-2016, 04:04 PM

Thanks! I like less expensive, too!

**Greentone** · 07-14-2016, 04:42 PM

I would gladly jump on the Cube bandwagon, if I had one of these:

Roland Blues Cube-roland-cube-60-jpg

This is the old Roland Cube 60 that came out in the 1980s. I remember the first time I heard someone playing into one at my local music store. The guy was using a Gibson ES-175d he'd pulled down from the wall. The fellow was a pretty good jazz player. I was stunned by how good the rig sounded. At that point, I was a dyed in the wool ES-175/Polytone MiniBrute snob. Well, I had to admit to the guy from my jazz combo that I was in the shop with that (1) the guy on the guitar was awfully good, and (2) the brand-new Gibson and Roland amp rig sounded fabulous.

I later learned that Ed Bickert used this little Roland Cube 60 all the time. I admired Bickert's sound (Telecaster/Cube) greatly.

THIS is the Cube to get. They are a little scarce, but they are no frills and EXCELLENT sounding jazz amps.

**snoskier63** · 07-14-2016, 08:16 PM

I have the Blues Cube Artist (80 watts, 35lbs). I also have the JC-40 (40 watts, 35lbs). The JC stays clean to 10, and while I haven't tested the BC to that level I suspect it has plenty of clean headroom. The BC is also more versatile with a very good gain channel. Either amp is an excellent choice, you just need to determine your power needs, and your needs for the second channel on the BC. The gain control on the JC is actually fairly useable, and the JC takes pedals very well. I love them both!

**Fidelcaster** · 07-16-2016, 12:35 PM

Originally Posted by BigDaddyLoveHandles

I forgot to ask: what's the difference to you between a Blues Cube and a Blues Cube Hot. What makes you prefer one over the other?

Another important difference imho is that while the bigger BCs have both a high gain and a low gain inputs, the BC Hot only has a single input (comparable to the others' high gain one).

**snoskier63** · 07-16-2016, 02:17 PM

Originally Posted by snoskier63

I have the Blues Cube Artist (80 watts, 35lbs). I also have the JC-40 (40 watts, 35lbs). The JC stays clean to 10, and while I haven't tested the BC to that level I suspect it has plenty of clean headroom.

My house is empty, so I took the opportunity to test out my BC Artist for clean volume.

I tested all power settings with all pickup settings. The settings on my amp on the Clean channel were as follows:

Bass: 7
Middle: 6.5
Treble: 5
Presence: 5

Boost: Off
Tone: On

Master Volume: 12

Guitar: Guild American Patriarch Aristocrat (hollow without F-holes, the size and shape of a Les Paul, ~5.5 lbs)
Pickups: Franz repro's (think lower output P-90's)

All three pickup options were tested.

Max (80 Watts): Channel volume was limited to 5 due to feedback, and because it was just too damned loud! All three pickup options were clean.

45 Watts: Channel volume was limited to 6.5 as above. At this level the neck pickup was pretty clean, and the bridge pickup had just a hint of breakup...or was that the windows shaking?

15 Watts: At a Channel volume of 6.5 there was a little grit on the Neck pickup, and a little more on the Bridge pickup, but it was very smooth and quite good.

0.5 Watts: Increased over the 15 Watt setting by a small amount.

Conclusion: At the max setting I suspect this amp will stay clean up to a Master Volume of 12 (max) and a Channel Volume of at least 5, but probably 6 or 7. At this level of volume I can't imagine having any trouble hanging with a loud drummer and several horns. If you don't have the luxury of a P.A. system this should be more than enough for any small gig, and maybe more.

And to think I used to stand next to or sit on my Super Twin while playing a Yamaha SBG2000 at full volume and full output. It's a wonder I can hear at all anymore.

**Bob P.** · 10-05-2016, 03:07 PM

Originally Posted by zephyrregent

The Blues Cube Hot has 30 watts, one channel and fewer effects. The Blues Cube Stage has 60 watts and the Blues Cube Artist has 80 watts, both with a clean and crunch channel. I haven't tried either the Stage or Artist models but have heard good things about them from archtop users. Roland says the current Blues Cube models are "Dramatically evolved from the first-generation sound of the original Blues Cube amps from the ’90s," The Blues Cube Hot has the same Tone Logic design as in the Stage and Artist models that makes it sound like a vintage tube amplifier. I got it because it is less expensive with simple controls and I don't need the extra wattage.

So if you were to play with a 18 pc. big band, which one of these three would work? Or, would they be out of their element in a swing band?

**zephyrregent** · 10-05-2016, 05:59 PM

Originally Posted by Bob P.

So if you were to play with a 18 pc. big band, which one of these three would work? Or, would they be out of their element in a swing band?

I don't think you would need more volume than you can get from a Blue Cube Hot for playing with a swing band, especially for comping. If it's very loud you might need the extra wattage for soloing. Hopefully a forum member with experience playing with a large swing band can answer your question.

**Bob P.** · 10-05-2016, 08:11 PM

Volume isn't my main concern, although one needs enough for the very occasional solo. Mostly inquiring about tone capability. Thanks.

Bob P.

**zephyrregent** · 10-05-2016, 09:12 PM

Originally Posted by Bob P.

Volume isn't my main concern, although one needs enough for the very occasional solo. Mostly inquiring about tone capability. Thanks.

Bob P.

The tone is great. It's clean, with more of a tube sound than digital, appropriate to the swing era. I think it would fit in nicely with a swing band and can get a clean jazz tone at high as well as low volume. You don't need the second crunch/distortion channel and probably don't need the extra wattage. I've tried it at high volumes a few times to check it out and it sounded clean and undistorted. It's loud enough to play in a group with bass, piano, drums, sax and trumpet. The tone is adjustable in a wide range.

**Fidelcaster** · 01-15-2017, 02:58 PM

These are the first generation Blues Cubes of the 90s:

**JCM** · 01-15-2017, 05:57 PM

I'm using a Blues Cube Stage and have noticed that the controls are very subtle. Small adjustments seem to make big differences in tone and response. I'd be interested to hear more about settlings Blues Cube users are using.

**icr** · 01-15-2017, 07:28 PM

Originally Posted by Fidelcaster

These are the first generation Blues Cubes of the 90s:

When I watch that I see the Dual Rectifier

You can actually play an archtop through the clean channel of a dual rectifier. Lee Ritenour did it on the Larry/Lee tour. I have tried it also, sounds good.

**Esko** · 01-16-2017, 01:43 PM

I'm in too, got a BC Hot as christmas present.

Is it good ?

Well, I have sold all the other amps I had, because it does everything I want.

YMMV

**Jim Soloway** · 01-16-2017, 02:26 PM

Is it really quiet (as in does it have any of the jazz-chorus hiss)? Do you get a lot of clean/warm headroom?

**Esko** · 01-16-2017, 03:57 PM

Originally Posted by Jim Soloway

Is it really quiet (as in does it have any of the jazz-chorus hiss)? Do you get a lot of clean/warm headroom?

I use it as home amp and mostly on 0,5 or 5w power. It is pretty quiet, more power and more master volume and it act's like tube amp, more noice.

There is enough clean and warm headroom for my use, and really easy instant KB sound, just find the sweet spot on the volume and use the master.

Esko

**zephyrregent** · 01-16-2017, 04:47 PM

It's quiet and has a lot of clean headroom.

**Fidelcaster** · 03-07-2017, 06:54 AM

**TN Pat** · 08-22-2017, 08:50 PM

We all know how it is…. You buy a new piece of gear, and sing its praises, only to sell it a few months later. Guitar forums abound with tales of essential gear which will never be sold, and which ends up on sale 4 months later. Such is the nature of GAS.

Well for you Blues Cube users, do you still enjoy the amp after having lived with it for a while? Did you sell it?

I am looking at the Blues Cube Hot, which is the only one realistically in my price range if I am to plug in any time soon. I would particularly like to hear from users of this model, but welcome any input on this line of amps.
Thanks!