ratherdashing
Kablamminator
Don't tell this to anyone with a 100W all-tube half stack! They might get jealous! 
Here's the secret:
I found an amp that has tons of volume, will make your modeller sound amazing, has a stereo line out, is very portable, and best of all ... it can be had for cheap!
The amp in question is the Roland Cube 60 Keyboard Amp.
Please note that this is NOT the Cube 60 guitar amp currently produced by Roland, nor is it the KC-60 keyboard amp also currently in production. The Cube 60 Keyboard amp was produced in the 80's (the age when synths were king) and has the following features:
- made in Japan
- 60 watts solid state power
- two channels with seperate input, volume (with push pull for "attenuate"), and reverb on/off switches
- master treble, mid, bass, and reverb controls
- spring reverb
- single 12 inch speaker and small tweeter horn
- output jacks: Record Out (two RCA), effects send, effects return, ext. speaker out (ohms unknown)
- super sexy silver tolex w. nailed-on black plastic corners, black grill cloth, "Keyboard" logo on front (top left), "CUBE 60" logo silkscreened on back.
There is also a Cube 60 for bass from the same era. The differences are the tolex color, the single channel, and the lack of a tweeter horn. This review focuses strictly on the Cube 60 Keyboard.
I bought a Cube 60 Keyboard yesterday from Not Just Another Music Shop, and tested it in rehearsal last night. Prior to this, I was using a rented Traynor 200W Keymaster to amplify my POD. My complaints with the Traynor were that it was not loud enough (which I found incredible due to the power rating), and that it was lacking in the low end.
I was amazed to hear that the Cube 60 was SIGNIFICANTLY louder than the Traynor. This definitely goes to show that power rating is not the only factor in determining volume. The Traynor must have very inefficient speakers. I had it cranked, and on some songs I had trouble overpowering the drummer. The Cube 60 drowned out everyone and everything when I got it up to 7.
I also noticed that the Cube 60 has a trememdous amount of low end for such a small amp. I suspect the secret to this and the volume is a very efficient 12" speaker. This is something I have found very absent in a lot of keyboard amps, not just the Traynor. It reminds me of the Atomic Reactor 112 in that regard. The Cube responds to the Pod XT's frequency range exceptionally well. You'd think they were almost designed for each other.
Best of all, I got it for $300 CAN used. What a deal!
If you have a stand-alone modeller, and you need an amp, have a look for one of these. If you see one on the used market (they were quite popular in the 80's, so there's bound to be quite a few out there) buy it without hesitation. I guarantee you won't be disappointed.
Here's the secret:
I found an amp that has tons of volume, will make your modeller sound amazing, has a stereo line out, is very portable, and best of all ... it can be had for cheap!
The amp in question is the Roland Cube 60 Keyboard Amp.
Please note that this is NOT the Cube 60 guitar amp currently produced by Roland, nor is it the KC-60 keyboard amp also currently in production. The Cube 60 Keyboard amp was produced in the 80's (the age when synths were king) and has the following features:
- made in Japan
- 60 watts solid state power
- two channels with seperate input, volume (with push pull for "attenuate"), and reverb on/off switches
- master treble, mid, bass, and reverb controls
- spring reverb
- single 12 inch speaker and small tweeter horn
- output jacks: Record Out (two RCA), effects send, effects return, ext. speaker out (ohms unknown)
- super sexy silver tolex w. nailed-on black plastic corners, black grill cloth, "Keyboard" logo on front (top left), "CUBE 60" logo silkscreened on back.
There is also a Cube 60 for bass from the same era. The differences are the tolex color, the single channel, and the lack of a tweeter horn. This review focuses strictly on the Cube 60 Keyboard.
I bought a Cube 60 Keyboard yesterday from Not Just Another Music Shop, and tested it in rehearsal last night. Prior to this, I was using a rented Traynor 200W Keymaster to amplify my POD. My complaints with the Traynor were that it was not loud enough (which I found incredible due to the power rating), and that it was lacking in the low end.
I was amazed to hear that the Cube 60 was SIGNIFICANTLY louder than the Traynor. This definitely goes to show that power rating is not the only factor in determining volume. The Traynor must have very inefficient speakers. I had it cranked, and on some songs I had trouble overpowering the drummer. The Cube 60 drowned out everyone and everything when I got it up to 7.
I also noticed that the Cube 60 has a trememdous amount of low end for such a small amp. I suspect the secret to this and the volume is a very efficient 12" speaker. This is something I have found very absent in a lot of keyboard amps, not just the Traynor. It reminds me of the Atomic Reactor 112 in that regard. The Cube responds to the Pod XT's frequency range exceptionally well. You'd think they were almost designed for each other.
Best of all, I got it for $300 CAN used. What a deal!
If you have a stand-alone modeller, and you need an amp, have a look for one of these. If you see one on the used market (they were quite popular in the 80's, so there's bound to be quite a few out there) buy it without hesitation. I guarantee you won't be disappointed.
