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Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | And I'm pretty it'd be hard to speak with Mr. Roland |
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April 2008
Posts: 2336
Location: Brighty in Blighty | Thanks everyone. Very helpful. Its down to the AC60 and AAD Cub. That's a start but...
Hard to choose between the two. The AC60 has the effects plus the extra channel which is a major advantage but the cub is smaller, lighter and seems to have a better sound.
As I mainly want it for practise purposes the 2nd channel isn't sooooo important. But the effects is quite handy else I've have to get a small outboard effects unit (only want reverb, chorus, delay).
ARGH! Not an easy choice. Now there must be a ton of really small, decent effects units out there but thats a minefield in itself.
For those that own a cub: what's the bass handling like, it's got smaller speakers and a small cabinet, does it have a small sound? |
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Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | The trick is in the design. Phil Jones speciality is getting a huge sound from small speakers in compact enclosures. Hi bass gear is tiny too, and is renowned for it's sound.
Find a Boss AD5 and use that in front of the Cub. |
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Location: Brighty in Blighty | The CUB is designed for acoustic guitar no? Why do I need a Boss AD5 too just for the effects? |
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Location: Scotland | The Cub has no effects whatsoever just 3 band EQ. The AD5 is an acoustic guitar processor that has piezo and mag inputs each with their own gain control, 4 band EQ, a feedback notch, microphone and body resonance modelling, digital reverb and digital chorus plus stereo balanced and unbalanced outputs. It's one of the best sounding acoustic processors/DI boxes on the market. It was discontinued some time ago, but they crop up occasionally on Ebay for not much money. I have one that I no longer use since I got the Bose T1 Effects Engine, but it's not going anywhere. |
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Location: Brighty in Blighty | still undecided!
i think the only thing to do is go down to GAK and try a Roland AC60 then order a CUB and see whats that like and sell on if i don't like. |
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Location: Brighty in Blighty | Cubs on it's way!
Will test drive a AC60 over the weekend.
The joy of distance buying is that I can send back within 7 days and get a full refund. Postage is going to be minimal as it's so light. Will report back. |
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Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Sound of the Cub is huge for it's size. Effects aside, I think the sound of the Cub is clearly superior to the AC60.
Glad your trying them both and it will be good to hear your review and which one you keep. |
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April 2008
Posts: 2336
Location: Brighty in Blighty | Originally posted by Paul Templeman:
It was discontinued some time ago, but they crop up occasionally on Ebay for not much money. What's a sensible amount to pay for one?
The thing is the Roland AC60 must have some sort of pre amp in build as it accepts a piezo pickup input. The AC60 and Cub are priced the same but if I have to add another £100 for the AD5 then it might sway my desicion. Are you suggesting the AD5 just for the effects and better EQ or for the plumped up sound it produces for Ovations? |
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Location: Brighty in Blighty | Also how do these compare to a GENZ BENZ SHENANDOAH |
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Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | All amps have preamps, the difference is that the Roland has reverb and chorus and a few other tricks while the Cub is basic, just 3-band EQ. The crucial aspect of any preamp designed for piezos is the input impedance, which needs to be ultra-high to work properly with passive pickups. But as all Ovations have an onboard preamp they'll produce a healthy signal into pretty much anything. The Cub has dual input impedance with a setting for active pickups, which can be switched to 4meg ohms for passive piezos.
I've seen AD5s go for as little as £40, but £80 is a reaonable price. They listed at around £240. The Cub will work fine by iteself, just depends if you must have reverb and chorus and the extra EQ |
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Location: Brighty in Blighty | Thank Paul,
so you're just suggesting the AD5 for the EQ and reverb/chorus? So any basic effects pedal will do then?
Reverb/chorus/delay is essential yes. |
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Location: Cicero, NY | Coincidentally, here\'s the recent Acoustic Guitar review of the Cub. |
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April 2008
Posts: 2336
Location: Brighty in Blighty | Hmm,
now I'm thinking Zoom A2 --> Cub!
http://www.zoom.co.jp/english/products/a2/
Anyone tried one of these? |
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October 2005
Posts: 4028
Location: Utah | Take a look at the Zoom A2.1U with the expression pedal. I've not tried one yet but it looks interesting and it gets rave reviews. It is on our short list for Xmas gifts this year.
FWIW, the Roland AC60 doesn't sound quite as natural as I would like. We auditioned a lot of different amps before buying a Crate 60w. It had the best most natural sound of all the ones we tried. (We didn't try a Genz Benz or CUB). Katie (the daughter's band partner) has the AC60 and we've been able to mess with it quite a bit. It is not nearly as loud as other amps of the same wattage, if that is important. She can play a restaurant at comfortable levels just fine. I don't think it would suffice for rocking the house Saturday night at the bar.
The sound is OK, just not as naturally acoustic as I would like. Maybe I need to fiddle with the eq more. It does have an input selector switch for piezo only guitars, so if you have something with no onboard preamp it is a good feature. There is a tilt-back stand built into the bottom, a nice feature. (the Crate 60w also has a tilt up feature). The size is perfect for us more seasoned folks, with a nice carry case. The DI out on the back is a handy feature, so you can use the amp as a personal monitor (and tilt it up), while still DIing into the house system. The amp has some nice features and effects. One channel has a dual XLR and 1/4" input with phantom power if you want it. The amp makes a super personal PA system with your guitar into one channel and your mic into the other.
The Crate 60W and the Roland AC60 are very comparable in all ways except for size and acoustic-ness. Of all the amps we tried, I would place these two at the top of the heap. |
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Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Originally posted by dweezil:
Hmm, now I'm thinking Zoom A2 --> Cub!
Anyone tried one of these? Yep. Been using this combo twice a week for the past year or thereabouts along with a few other pedals, but primarily the Zoom A2.1u. |
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April 2008
Posts: 2336
Location: Brighty in Blighty | Yeah looking at the A2.1U it seems to do everything!
And can record direct to PC, now that is cool!
I really think this is the way to go. Sod the Roland and the AD5. |
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Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Dweez, after playing with the A2 for a month or two, I spent one entire evening going through all the options and settings and created five presets in the A bank. Over the next six months, I added two more, and now use these seven presets 99% of the time along with the expression pedal to control volume. You'll probably find that this unit does way more than you'll need. |
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Location: Brighty in Blighty | Nice. Seems to be a better option than getting a AC60 and Boss AD5.
I like the option of emulating (though probably won't use that) just want the effects and option to record to PC. It's a cool unit and hoping to get one for half price 2nd hand on Ebay! |
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Location: Cicero, NY | Dweez - lookee here |
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Posts: 2336
Location: Brighty in Blighty | Indeed! Thanks... |
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April 2008
Posts: 2336
Location: Brighty in Blighty | The Cub arrived today, not had a huge chance to play with it yet but briefly tried the Elite 5868 Walnut and 03 Collector and boy that thing does the business.
Great tone and plenty of power, amazing. The A2.1U is coming tomorrow then I'll have some real fun! |
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October 2005
Posts: 5327
Location: Cicero, NY | Very interested in the side by side analysis, dweezil - let us know what you think. And were you able to grab that pedal off the 'bay? |
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January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Originally posted by dweezil:
Also how do these compare to a GENZ BENZ SHENANDOAH Against the Shen Jr., darn well. The Jr. is a terrific amp for the money, with very nice effects for the acoustic player. It isn't quite as powerful as the Cub (although I don't need the power of either of them), weighs three times more than the Cub, and is bigger in every way. Over time, that weight and bulk will get to you. The Cub is more like a boutique amp that is built like a tank. I replaced the Jr. with the Cub as a powered monitor, but still use the Jr. at home. |
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April 2008
Posts: 2336
Location: Brighty in Blighty | probably won't be doing a A/B comparison with the Cub as I won't be trying the Roland.
The Roland is bigger and cannot have reverb and delay on at the same time!
Plus the A2.1U allows me to record direct to PC.
The CUB sound really terrific (despite the dry sound), so adding the effects from the A2.1U and I have a better combo than the AC60 and AD5. |
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AER Compact 60
