Anyone tried the Blues cubes???

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

My mate at the store was pleasently surprised by this amp...
I was too late to try it.
But got curious....
Sometimes you need to save on the tubeamp...
Tubes will get harder to get someday, and something useful is badly needed!

 

[Matt42]

Re: Anyone tried the Blues cubes???

I'm very interested in giving one a try. I really like the demos I've seen, and could see my self picking one up as a backup/practice type amp (currently using a Cube 60 for that).

 

[HALENisking]

Re: Anyone tried the Blues cubes???

They blow me away for what they are! Tried one once at a gig. Not an ideal situation on the stage to really get acquainted, but was suitable in the mix. The videos I've seen are very impressive to me though.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Anyone tried the Blues cubes???

They blow me away for what they are! Tried one once at a gig. Not an ideal situation on the stage to really get acquainted, but was suitable in the mix. The videos I've seen are very impressive to me though.

I have one of the old 60 watt Blues Cubes that's probably 15 or 20 years old. Decent, not great. But the new ones are totally revamped and a big improvement.

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Anyone tried the Blues cubes???

Have tried it some more by now!!
Neat amps!!!

 

[JOLLY]

Re: Anyone tried the Blues cubes???

Nah, I'm more into Blues Clues.....lol

 

[HTT]

Re: Anyone tried the Blues cubes???

I'm very interested in giving one a try. I really like the demos I've seen, and could see my self picking one up as a backup/practice type amp (currently using a Cube 60 for that).

I'm right there with you. I have not seen any at the shops around me. I would love to give one a try. It would be nice if Roland could/would send a demo unit to a forum member, or a few, for (a) thorough review(s).

I have a warm place in my heart for Roland/Boss products.

 

[aleclee]

Re: Anyone tried the Blues cubes???

IMO, Roland/Boss has made some nice-sounding non-tube amps (e.g., the GA series) but hasn't been able to hit the right price point. I think that the current Blues Cube follows that pattern. $700 is a lot for that amp given a Hot Rod Deluxe is only $30 more.

 

[HTT]

Re: Anyone tried the Blues cubes???

Johnny DeMarco is the god of guitar facial expressions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=77&v=578clk808uM

:werd:

 

[IM4Tone]

Re: Anyone tried the Blues cubes???

IMO, Roland/Boss has made some nice-sounding non-tube amps (e.g., the GA series) but hasn't been able to hit the right price point. I think that the current Blues Cube follows that pattern. $700 is a lot for that amp given a Hot Rod Deluxe is only $30 more.

..........implying that the HRDlx is a better value than the Roland Blues Cube because of Tube vs SS??? I don't buy that. If it's a better sounding, more reliable, equally dynamic, more versatile amp, it doesn't matter if it's SS or Tube. That's a mental block. Why would it matter?

 

[blueman335]

Re: Anyone tried the Blues cubes???

IMO, Roland/Boss has made some nice-sounding non-tube amps (e.g., the GA series) but hasn't been able to hit the right price point. I think that the current Blues Cube follows that pattern. $700 is a lot for that amp given a Hot Rod Deluxe is only $30 more.

I may have missed it, but I haven't seen Eric Johnson endorsing a Hot Rod Deluxe or it's tone quality.

 

[astrozombie]

Re: Anyone tried the Blues cubes???

I may have missed it, but I haven't seen Eric Johnson endorsing a Hot Rod Deluxe or it's tone quality.

Yep, there it is.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Anyone tried the Blues cubes???

They look interesting. Id like to try one.

 

[aleclee]

Re: Anyone tried the Blues cubes???

I may have missed it, but I haven't seen Eric Johnson endorsing a Hot Rod Deluxe or it's tone quality.

Now you're comparing apples and pineapples. That model is $900 and a limited edition.

..........implying that the HRDlx is a better value than the Roland Blues Cube because of Tube vs SS??? I don't buy that. If it's a better sounding, more reliable, equally dynamic, more versatile amp, it doesn't matter if it's SS or Tube. That's a mental block. Why would it matter?

You're kidding, right? If it's that simple, why would Google return 2,400 pages from SeymourDuncan.com with both tube and solid state? If guitarists gave half a crap about value over tone/quality, we'd see a lot less Gibson, Fender, and Marshall sales.

How many guitarists do you know who play anything not based on a LP, Strat, Tele, or 335? Guitarists are the ultimate Luddites in that respect, fetishizing designs that are at least half a century old. To think that there are enough guitarists give half a toss about tone more than aping their heroes to move enough of these things to make Roland money is a losing proposition.

It's not that I'm even a traditional guitar/amp guy. I play my Parker through either an AxeFx or Atomic Amplifire--my #1 amp hasn't had tubes in it since 2009. From that non-traditional gear perspective, i'm pretty keenly aware of the prejudices most guitar players have when it comes to straying from the "tried and true" gear formulas.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Anyone tried the Blues cubes???

Now you're comparing apples and pineapples. That model is $900 and a limited edition.

There's several models in regular production for the new Blues Cube line that Eric Johnson endorses, starting at $700.

 

[IM4Tone]

Re: Anyone tried the Blues cubes???

..........implying that the HRDlx is a better value than the Roland Blues Cube because of Tube vs SS??? I don't buy that. If it's a better sounding, more reliable, equally dynamic, more versatile amp, it doesn't matter if it's SS or Tube. That's a mental block. Why would (<==should) it matter?

.....You're kidding, right? If it's that simple, why would Google return 2,400 pages from SeymourDuncan.com with both tube and solid state? If guitarists gave half a crap about value over tone/quality, we'd see a lot less Gibson, Fender, and Marshall sales.

How many guitarists do you know who play anything not based on a LP, Strat, Tele, or 335? Guitarists are the ultimate Luddites in that respect, fetishizing designs that are at least half a century old. To think that there are enough guitarists give half a toss about tone more than aping their heroes to move enough of these things to make Roland money is a losing proposition.

It's not that I'm even a traditional guitar/amp guy. I play my Parker through either an AxeFx or Atomic Amplifire--my #1 amp hasn't had tubes in it since 2009. From that non-traditional gear perspective, i'm pretty keenly aware of the prejudices most guitar players have when it comes to straying from the "tried and true" gear formulas.

:scratchch Did we just agree, or disagree? :dunno: :biglaugh:

 

[stef89]

Re: Anyone tried the Blues cubes???

The demo andertons did on youtube makes it sound wery good.

The difference I usually hear between ss amps and tube amps, is that ss amps sounds "cleaner" or more pure sounding. Wile the tube amps sounds more edgy and a little bit wilder.

 

[voggin]

Re: Anyone tried the Blues cubes???

I really like the idea of these.

I have a Mustang III that I leave at a drummer friend's house for jamming. It's lightweight, loud and does a pretty good job at what it attempts.

However, I've always found my big problem with modellers is that they try to do too much: 40 different amps!! 100 speaker emulations!! 9 zillion effects!! And the construction always seems to be geared to a low price point, rather than to the best possible design and materials.

The presets all seem to be designed to impress you with the range of sounds, rather than trying to get one or two really great ones. Granted, with a lot of tinkering, you can get some great sounds out of modellers, but what I like about the Blues Cube is that it tries to be a great amp on its own. I'd rather if Fender had made a more usable "Modeller DRRI" rather than trying to please everyone.

I really want to try this new Roland. I think $700 is a fair price, give or take, if it delivers what it promises. But I agree it will have to deal with the instinctive, "for that price I could get an x tube amp."

 

[aleclee]

Re: Anyone tried the Blues cubes???

:scratchch Did we just agree, or disagree? :dunno: :biglaugh:

I personally agree with your statement but I believe enough guitarists "hear with their eyes" that I predict the BC won't sell well at its current price point.

 

[IM4Tone]

Re: Anyone tried the Blues cubes???

I personally agree with your statement but I believe enough guitarists "hear with their eyes" that I predict the BC won't sell well at its current price point.

I fear you're probably right!