I was speechless at how this 80$ amp sounds!
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- čas přidán 25. 03. 2023
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The Roland Cube has been around for years in one form of another.
I've owned, played, and recorded with various different models over the years but always ended up selling them.
The only Cube model which has remained in collection is the 20gx.
In this video I demonstrate how the amp performs as a jazz amp.
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Lovely sound and style Jamie. I like your approach to keeping the gear basic and simple
Cheers it’s simple gear for a simple man 😂
I borrowed a 30-watt Cube, and was surprised how good it sounded. I bought an identical one and a newer 40-watt as well, for gigs with drums. They can be picked up for cheap second-hand and are easy to carry around. Plus you can leave it at a venue without worrying too much.
Bought a used Cube 60 a few years ago, really liked it; except it was too loud for my space, but returned it to the seller because it was damaged, and the seller had described it as "pristine" with a selling price to match that description. I was wanting a Roland Cube 40, but none were to be found where I lived.
So, I finally bought a Toob 6.5 METRO cab, and slapped a Quilter SuperBlock US on top of it, and I'm very happy. I mostly play Blues, and want to start studying Jazz.
I have 6 of these. They are in another universe of anything in their price range (or 10x higher). I use 2 or 3 at a time with MXR A/B/Y switch and the blends of sound are phenomenal!
Sick that's such a good idea, you can have amp every-direction for less than a grand, you can adapt to any stage and room in volume and in directional.
6 is wild! I'd love to see that setup, sounds crazy.
Got it! Just needed to watch a bit more. Thanks again
No worries!
Back in the mid 2000s I bought a Roland Cube 60. With my Ibanez Artcore and a chorus and delay pedal I was playing all over the city of Chicago. When I switched to tele I couldn't get loud enough for nonPA gigs and sold my trusty cube when I left the city. I went tube for a while... only to sell all my tube amps to buy... yet another Cube 60. I actually bought TWO because I love them so much. That's all to say while the blues cubes and katanas are great, there was something special about the 2000s cubes - primarily the fact they were closed back. Also, for strat/tele players who need more umph, buy a Seymour Duncan Pickup Booster (used) or any other "clean" pedal to put first in the chain to match what a humbucker might do. I wish someone had told me that 15 13 years ago. Seriously, the Cubes were perfect and if I ever found myself wanting to get a "new" amp, i'd just buy a Katana head and both a tiny 1/8 cab and a 112 cab and I'd be set.
I love my Roland Cube 40 XL, it's light and loud!
Great amps!
Great sound Jamie!! 😊👍
Thanks Steph! Keith just picked one up. Hope you’re well.
@@jamieholroydguitar I know he told me 😁 can’t wait to try it out when I next see him 👍
Edit: tried it out today! Sounds better than my DV Mark 😂😂😂 for both the tele, the squier bullet and the Gibson humbucker 😂😂 well, the high ends are more rounded off and less sharp. we both found it a warmer sound 👍 on all guitars! I was really surprised!
Just picked up a 40GX. I love 10" speakers so I passed on the 80, hopefully it delivers. I also couldn't decide between the XL and the GX, but the hiss complaints on the XL models kind of scared me off, as much as I would have loved the looper. Of course, the GX version has an additional amp model! So perhaps it balances out.
I do think the GX versions have the edge
I have a Roland Blues Cube which cleans up nicely for 'Jazz sounds'. Nice video 🎥
Thanks Russ!
Good vid! 👍👍👍👍 Jep, the Roland Blues amp is a bit more original for transtube sounds, but the Cube series was one of the first, the best modeling amps nearly about 12 years ago! I love the Cube sounds! Only one time I had difficults with microphone pickup sounds to the PA, the front grill get snarkeling and ratteling because the mike was too near! I played a Line 6 spider IV 75 with a greenback speaker inside. As well now a cheap, good sounding amp with 99 self programmed sounds and 400 presets, a versitale foot pedal and sounds from Fender, Marshall, Engl to Mesa clones! 😂Brgds JB!
Thanks, Jamie - great vid. I picked up a used 40gx for $100 was having trouble finding a nice jazz tone - your settings did the trick. Much appreciated!
Congrats and glad the setting’s helped!
Greetings from Montréal, Québec, Canada !!! Sadly, I haven't touched my guitars in a while because of the numbness in my fingers due to diabetes, but still enjoy watching your videos and learning about Jazz...Thank you and stay healthy !!! Cheers !!!
Thank you sorry to hear that and hope your fingers feel better soon!
@@jamieholroydguitar I forgot to mention that in my youth (I am nos 62 yrs. old) I played Guitar and Bass and I too have an old Roland Cube 60 Watts for Bass (The Orange one) and YES it is HEAVY !!! Ha Ja Ha I
I saw a video a while back and basically the Jist was turn the amp up to 5 or 6 and dial the guitar back for a clean jazz sound, from Jens Larson channel take the tone off the amp and control it on the guitar!...Seems to work, great video....✌🏼😎🎸🎸🎶🎶🎶🎶🎵🎵🎵🎵
Thank you! Yes that’s a great tip.
I just picked up a little 3W GX cheap as it was faulty, it just needed a new switch, i was surprised how good this little thing sounds 😮 takes 6 AA batteries or a wall adapter..
Cube amps are great amps for the money. Everything you need in one amp!
I agree!
I have the street cube that is a super little amp and very light
I like them.
Hi Jamie, could you please list your settings on the amp for this video. Thanks
Thanks, Jamie, a useful and informative video. You certainly made the amp sound good! Just wondered whether you had tried the Cube-40GX, as the increased power and larger 10" speaker might lend a bit more depth, punch and warmth to the sound (as you say about your other amps, most or all of which appear to have 10" or larger speakers(?)). More clean headroom too, I expect. The features of the Cube-40GX appear almost identical to the Cube-20GX and it weighs less than 2kg more than the 20GX, so should still be fairly portable.
I know you use the Cube-20GX for jazz, but also wondered whether you had ever tried putting any (overdrive/distortion) pedals in front of it, and if so, how well it took them?
Hi Richard, thanks for your comment. I haven’t tried the 40GX but I bet that you’re right, especially for louder gigs. That said I do like having more control of lower volume levels for recording and practise situations. You need a surgeons hand to adjust the volume knob of louder amps at low volumes! I haven’t use my Boss overdrive pedal but it’s worked well with every I’ve tried.
Hi Jamie, thanks for the reply. Fair point about adjusting the volume knob of louder amps at low volumes; I have that problem with my Boogie Mark IV, which is incredibly sensitive between 1 and 2 on the master output level knob. Maybe manufacturers sometimes use the wrong type of pot for this sort of adjustment (log vs linear or vice versa)? Hopefully, the Cube-40GX doesn't suffer from that problem!
I had an '83 Roland Cube and that was a workhorse. Every tone you could imagine.
My small Roland Cube 20 watt must be a lemon, because it's junk. I just figured you get what you pay for. Dang.
If your 83 was an orange model then I agree, nice amps! Depends what model your 20 watt is from.
I've had a newer cube for about 5 years. Seems fine to me.
Jamie, I really enjoyed this presentation.
A while back I believe I emailed you asking if you had ever used a Roland Cube 60, and if so, what settings you would recommend to achieve that "warm" Jazz Tone. I have two electric guitars, one is a Epiphone Joe Pass and the other is Guild DeArmond Les Paul. I've been playing classical guitar for years but I am somewhat new to Jazz and electric. I just need a starting point on what setting to make on the amp and also the guitars. I think I will try the settings you have shown here and maybe roll back on the tone and volume on the neck pickup. Your thoughts..?
Hi Buzz good to hear from you again! I find the amp settings here work well for any guitar which I have. I understand that classical guitarists focus on producing a good tone from the instrument and jazz is the same,
@@jamieholroydguitar Jamie, Thanks for getting back to me on the Cube.
Curious as to whether you use Round, Half-Round or Flats...?
Hey Jamie, do you have any advice on getting Jazz tone with a Strat, Boss GE-7 EQ, and Roland Cube? I have a modern cube 30 and an "orange" cube 60.
Hi try the EQ settings which I share in this video. I like to take to bring the guitars volume tone and volume down a little. Then I’d probably boost the mids on the EQ pedal and reduce the top end.
Jamie. The sound of that Tele is wonderful. Can you tell me what pickups you upgraded too as I am looking to upgrade mine? Cheers.
Thanks Frank. The pickups are Seymour Duncan alnico pro ii pickups and the pots were also upgraded to the same spec as American Fenders.
@@jamieholroydguitar Thanks for that Jamie. All I need to do now is try and play like you. Many thanks.
Also, check out the Gamma amps. They make a 25 watt version with a 10-inch speaker, and a 50 watt version with a 12 inch speaker. Super heavy magnets in the speakers, killer sound.
Thanks for the recommendation!
sounds really terrific. Do you had any experience with the roland 10 gx and think could be similar in the tone? I would prefer take that especially because i have to use it as a bedroom amp. Or in alternative How is the tone on the 20gx when the volume control very low?
Thank you! I don’t but 20gx is great for home and practice and quiet gigs
thanks man
I’m not surprised, the same tech in the $90 MicroCube I’ve had for 20+ years is terrific.
Don’t knock the spiders mate.They’re not all that bad especially the fives!
It would have been nice to hear the polytune side by side for reference. Do you know about the pedals that gives you polytone sound? there is a thread in a jazz forum , I am intrigued and I cannot find a good demo review. Thanks.
Honestly the biggest difference with amps is how they feel and sound in person I think. They’re apples vs oranges but wouldn’t seem that different in a video. I don’t know of any polytone pedal.
I've had 2 cube 60s at various times, but got disenchanted by them, didn't really suit playing at home. My current JC22 is ok, but i dont love it. Considering at DV Mark Little Jazz, any thoughts on these Amps?
Not tried them but I hear mixed reviews
Is this new GX version better in sound/overdrive quality?
I bought 15X circa 10 years ago and still have it :P
The cleans on both are good, but the overdrives are MUCH better on the GX
Que tal? Saludos desde Argentina. Felicitaciones por los excelentes videos. Has probado el Roland Cube 60? Seria para tocar en la calle solo. O sera mejor el Roland 20gx? Gracias!!
Greetings. Thank you for your comment. Roland actually make a street cube which might be better for your needs.
Jamie, good job !! The Roland Cubes were fantastic for a traditional jazz guitar sound. I don't know how well this is publicized, but I would suspect that there are lots of jazzers using them. They were afforable, reliable, light weight, and great sounding (for a clean sound, at minimum.) I don't use distortion, so I can't comment on the finer nuances of distortion sound. But, for clean, wow, Roland really did a great job with these amps. I've used a Cube 30, for years, when I do small room/patio gigs. I love that amp. The only thing that I can complain about are the plastic bump guards on the corners. They break easily. Roland should have used metal corner protectors (but that probably would have raised the cost.) I love your playing, Jamie. Your choice of a Telecaster guitar, combined with rolling back the tone, dials in a warm, yet clear sound. And, your light, sensititve, musical touch, means that there's no string spank in the sound on that Tele. It's smooth, and easy sounding. Its interesting, we want the chops for playing rapid stuff, but once we get them we have to be tasteful in their use, or the non stop rapid notes, begin to lose there effect, on an audience. It's all about good taste, unless speed is the desired effect (hard core bebop, metal guitarists.)
Thank you for your kind words!!
HI Jamie, I've read that these amps tend to Hiss. Do you run into that? If so how do you correct it. Thanks for the help
I’ve had no problem with mine hissing
@@jamieholroydguitar Thanks again and just to confirm your amp is the 20GX
What settings do you use please
10-46
Are the bigger ones like the 80GX sitting in the "too heavy" range?
Also, the 20GX here is selling for hundreds of dollars :(
Have t tried but I’d probably go for the 40. The older one sounds good too. I’ve heard a few things about the price, not sure why! Keep looking
Jim Hall influence?
Definitely one of my favourites!
The best amp for Jazz is teh DV Mark Little Jazz
Maybe, but it's four times the price
Nope
Polytone is far better
Hums like mad !