Roland Cube too dark, doesn't cut

**Misty** · 01-02-2019, 08:40 PM

What should i get instead?

Even if i cut the Bass all the way and crank the mids it still doesn't work for me, it lacks clarity and cut. on it's own it sounds 'ok' but in a band situation it's hard to get a satisfying result.

i'm looking at the Quilter 101 mini, but if there are similar options in that pricerange it'd be appreciated, going direct (Pedal preamp/cab sim to DI) is also something i'm considering but i don't know if that would be as good as the quilter

thx

**Gitfiddler** · 01-02-2019, 09:31 PM

Which model Roland Cube are you dissatisfied with? Not trying to sway you either way, but they have many models.

I have an 80GX that can seem dark unless I tilt it back or put it in a chair for better sound dispersion.

Quilter offers great products and have an excellent reputation. Several posters here own and love them.

**Misty** · 01-02-2019, 09:45 PM

Originally Posted by Gitfiddler

Which model Roland Cube are you dissatisfied with? Not trying to sway you either way, but they have many models.

I have an 80GX that can seem dark unless I tilt it back or put it in a chair for better sound dispersion.

Quilter offers great products and have an excellent reputation. Several posters here own and love them.

it's the 80GX

It's on ear level on a chair that sits on top of a table, and it's still too dark!!!

I'm also considering a Tech 21 blonde to go direct with a 160w FRFR speaker if i can pick one up cheap

**JaxJaxon** · 01-02-2019, 09:50 PM

Hook up a Horn tweeter to it see if that will bring out the High's

**Gitfiddler** · 01-02-2019, 10:46 PM

Originally Posted by JaxJaxon

Hook up a Horn tweeter to it see if that will bring out the High's

...or an EQ pedal.

**neatomic** · 01-02-2019, 10:52 PM

sounds like you want a change of amps...nothing wrong with that!....but otherwise, just changing the speaker out would totally change the sound of the amp

luck

cheers

**mr. beaumont** · 01-02-2019, 10:58 PM

Doesn't "cut," or just plain ain't loud enough?

What's the playing situation? How many pieces, what instruments, drummer volume, etc.

**Misty** · 01-02-2019, 11:02 PM

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

Doesn't "cut," or just plain ain't loud enough?

What's the playing situation? How many pieces, what instruments, drummer volume, etc.

Volume is not the issue, it's the EQ perhaps because of the speaker, i'm not sure, but it's waaaaay too dark/scooped/muffled

**Cunamara** · 01-03-2019, 12:22 AM

Weird. Has it always been that way or is it malfunctioning in some way? I have Cube 60 COSM (prior to the X, GX, suffixes) and it can be downright shrill. It can cut through a quintet pretty well. Mine had an aluminum dome 12" speaker and that tended to sound very crisp to my ears.

You mention the bass and the mids settings, what is the treble knob set at? Are you using the modeling channel or the clean channel? If the modeling channel, which setting are you using?

Of course, also one person's "muddy" is another's "ice pick."

**feet** · 01-03-2019, 12:59 AM

an eq would be my first solution, assuming you like the amp and want to keep it. i tend to like eqs with sweepable mids, but that's me. eqd tone job was pretty straightforward and effective, being voiced well for guitar. cut some bass, maybe add a little more mids.

or maybe a compressor if you're into that.

that said, something does sound amiss.

**Misty** · 01-03-2019, 09:21 AM

Originally Posted by Cunamara

Weird. Has it always been that way or is it malfunctioning in some way? I have Cube 60 COSM (prior to the X, GX, suffixes) and it can be downright shrill. It can cut through a quintet pretty well. Mine had an aluminum dome 12" speaker and that tended to sound very crisp to my ears.

You mention the bass and the mids settings, what is the treble knob set at? Are you using the modeling channel or the clean channel? If the modeling channel, which setting are you using?

Of course, also one person's "muddy" is another's "ice pick."

well it seems to either get drowned out or be too shrill, but even when it's shrill it still doesn't have clarity.

it's like the EQ knobs are set at the wrong frequencies

**Alter** · 01-03-2019, 10:04 AM

Sounds like you 'd enjoy a tube amp! The biggest difference i find between them and solid state is on stage projection..

**Misty** · 01-03-2019, 02:46 PM

Originally Posted by Alter

Sounds like you 'd enjoy a tube amp! The biggest difference i find between them and solid state is on stage projection..

I'm not sure, tube amps are heavy and usually break up pretty soon, unless they are 50-100w but in that case they are waaaay too heavy for me.

i can pick up a Tech 21 blonde and a 140w RMS FRFR speaker (17lbs total) for under $300, does anyone have experience with the tech 21?

**mr. beaumont** · 01-03-2019, 02:53 PM

Big fan of the blonde. I use it to "fender up" solid state amps all the time.

**Longways to Go** · 01-03-2019, 03:33 PM

Cubes have a lot of pretty good sounds in them.

I'm curious about what guitar you are playing too . . .

**Misty** · 01-03-2019, 03:54 PM

Originally Posted by Longways to Go

Cubes have a lot of pretty good sounds in them.

I'm curious about what guitar you are playing too . . .

they sure sound good on their own, but doesn't seem to work in a dense mix

**pauln** · 01-03-2019, 03:55 PM

Have you considered that were it to sound right to you on stage it might be punishing the audience?

**sgcim** · 01-03-2019, 03:56 PM

I liked the sound of the old orange Cube 60s, but when they started making them again, I didn't like them at all when i tried them out at music stores. Unfocused tone.

**mickmac** · 01-03-2019, 03:57 PM

I get regular jobs with aloud r&b band . The Cube 40 i have does not have this problem. Even with my Tele it requires a reduction in mids and treble . If your amp is too dark its broken...mickmac

**Gitfiddler** · 01-03-2019, 04:42 PM

Roland's customer support might be able to assist with the OP amp issues. They offer apps to further modify the 80GX tones.
This is addition to the amp's built-in amp models and other tone stack adjustments.

Roland - Support - CUBE-80GX - Owner’s Manuals

If there is an issue with your amp, Roland will work with you to solve it. If the 80GX simply isn't the amp for your needs, then that's another story. I have several amps that each have something different going for them depending on the situation. The GX stays in my trunk, at the ready for jams or rehearsals...but NOT for any gigs or recording. My tube rigs get that call.

Good luck.

**mr. beaumont** · 01-03-2019, 05:38 PM

We still don't know the OP's playing situation...

**Misty** · 01-03-2019, 05:47 PM

Originally Posted by mickmac

I get regular jobs with aloud r&b band . The Cube 40 i have does not have this problem. Even with my Tele it requires a reduction in mids and treble . If your amp is too dark its broken...mickmac

The 80GX is a lot darker, as pointed out by another user, you don't even mention which type your cube 40 is

**Misty** · 01-03-2019, 05:51 PM

Tech 21 blonde is on it's way here, Cube has been sold to someone in the UK.

looking forward to it.

**vinlander** · 01-04-2019, 04:44 PM

I don't find my 80XL particularly dark but I don't need really to cut into anything being mostly a living room player...
However, the 80GX was reported as darker sounding than the 80XL or even 80X by some owners apparently because of a change on the DSP.
New Roland Cube GX Amps (Compare to old Cube 80 XL)

**Subfeeder** · 01-07-2019, 06:21 AM

I have a Tech21 Blonde that I have run into bass amps with varying degrees of success depending on the voicing of the bass amp/cab, but it's a great pedal (I also use it for bass, but that's another story). I'm interested to know what your experience with it will be. What FRFR speaker are you planning to use?