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Location: Reno, NV | Anyone have any experience with the Roland Cube 30 amp? What did you think about it?
What's the general consensus on using an "electric" amp with an acoustic guitar?
Id be using it with my 1771LX. |
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Location: SE Michigan | I have a Roland Cube 30, it's a couple years old and I understand the newest ones have some enhancements.
As an Electric amp I'd give it a 6 or maybe 7 out of 10. It obviously doesnt have the warmth of a valve amp. The models are pretty cool and you can get some interesting sounds. But it does have that brittle quality to the sound that most solid state amps suffer, it also introduces wierd low level noises when I plug it into recording equipment or to a PA.
As an acoustic amp I'd rate it a bit lower, maybe 5 or 6 out of 10. It just doesnt do a great job of amplifying a signal clearly and pristinely like a good acoustic amp should do. But it does a pretty good passable job.
Probably the best thing about this amp is that it is very portable and is easy to carry around and set up. For it's size it gets pretty loud. I have used it for basement rehersals with full drums and bass, no problem.
I keep mine around as a good backup. It wouldnt be my first choice for either Electric (I have a Fender Blues Junior) or Acoustic (I prefer to use a PA). But it's versitle and is a great easy to tote backup amp. |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Nothing but good things about the roland Cube 30...
Electric amps aren't voiced for acoustic guitars... but you can use it... Just don't expect acoustic tone. |
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Location: SE Michigan | What's the general consensus on using an "electric" amp with an acoustic guitar?
What are you trying to accomplish? If you want to sound like an acoustic guitar use the PA or a clear channel acoustic amp. If you want to sound like an electric guitar, put down the Ovation and get a real electric guitar with magnetic pickups and an electric guitar amp.
I farted around for several years trying to get my Ovation to sound like an electric (for leads and playing with a band). I tried all kinds of modeling devices and pedals, no real success. The problem is Piezo pickups or acoustic transducers will never give you the drive and sustain of a magnetic pickup coupled to a saturated electric guitar amplifier.
I finally bought a Taylor T5 and the Fender Blues junior. They sound great together. When I want to sound really acoustic I pick up my Legend 1777 and use that through the PA. |
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Location: Rocky River, Ohio | slightly off topic, but my battery operated Roland micro cube sounds great with my 771 balladeers...
if the micro sounds good, i'm sure the cube 30 will sound better with more headroom..
Ernie |
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Location: Reno, NV | Well, Im thinking about geting a solid-body electric and wanted an amp that would work with both my "O" and the new electric, whatver it may be, when that time comes. Im really curious as to how a non-acoustic amp sounds and how the modeling effects sound on an acoustic. Im sure people have done this before right?
The Roland Cube 30 is on clearance at MF right now for $150, so I figured I'd give it a try.
Im not super impressed with my Crate CA15, but I've never compared an acoustic amp to an electric amp, maybe my expectations are not right. At the very worst, I could just keep it for the electric use only. |
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Location: ranson,wva | i had a drive 25 watt electric amp and if i had a long enough amp cord and cranked the gain up on the amp and run the eq on the celb flat i could get pretty good electric sounds fom it..jason |
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Location: SE Michigan | From my experiments most electric guitar effects including modeling sound pretty lame from a Piezo pickup guitar.
The quest for a single amp that does both acoustic and electric guitar well has been discussed numerous times on many of these forums. The closest thing I have heard is those Rivera Amps but they cost big bucks, for the same price you could get a great acoustic and a great electric amp so I guess the only thing you gain is portablility.
If you are just goofing around the Roland 30 is a great bargain and should work well for you. But if you are serious about tone I would get a good acoustic amp like a Genz Benz or the higher powered Marshall or Fender models, then get a really good modeler to use with your electric guitar and the acoustic amp, something like a POD. |
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Location: Rocky River, Ohio | YAK, FYI...
the cube 30 that's on clearance is being replaced by the cube 30X.
the new model is 229..there are some upgraded features, just wanted you to know.
Ernie |
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Location: Reno, NV | Yes..I saw that the 30X is the latest. Im happy with the extra savings and the plain ol' 30.
Thanx for lookin' out though. |
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Location: CT | I have the Cube 30 and 60, and like them both. (also a Mesa, Fender and Carvin). Decent features, easy to move and pretty good buck bang. Not really a good acoustic amp, but it will amplify your guitar. I don't have an acoustic amp, and when I play acoustic I plug into the console and use the Cube as a stage monitor (I've given up on the sound guys here, all I need are the piano and lead vocal anyway. I can hear the bass and drums already, and I don't need the whole mix in the monitor). The discontinued Cube 30 is a steal at $169.00 The acoustic Cube is probably da-bomb, but its also 400 bucks or more. |
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Location: Reno, NV | Originally posted by brainslag:
The discontinued Cube 30 is a steal at $169.00 So it must be even better at $149.99!!! |
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Location: CT | OUCH! |
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Location: Reno, NV | Did you stub your toe? ..Ouch what? |
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Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | Yak, I have the exact combo you are interested in, the Cube 30 and the 1771LX. If you want an amp that you can also use for an electric, go for it, it is quite useable. Leave it on the clean channel, or put it on the dirty side and set it to "acoustic" or "blackface", put in some chorus and reverb, and it is sweeeeeet......
If you're not going to use it with an electric, I'd move on to a real acoustic amp. This ain't it. I have a Crate Taos 30-watt that I really like and would recommend.
Roger |
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Location: Flushing, MI | Well, from my limited use of the Cube 30, I'll give it an 8 in the sound category for electric. I'd never even consider it, or any other electric guitar amplifier, for use with an acoustic guitar - they're just not designed for that purpose.
I own a few Fenders (69 Deluxe Reverb, 73 Pro Reverb, Champ) and other cool stuff (such as Sovtek Mig 50, which is like an early 50 watt Marshall), so I'm quite familiar with various tube amp sounds. I think the Cube 30 does an admirable job, compared to the Line 6, and other digital modelling amps out there. The DSP effects are decent, as long as you don't use too much of anything - just a pinch.
I know of several other players that also own fine tube amps that have purchased the Cube 30 or 60 for rehearsal, or small venue gigs and are quite happy with them. I've even considered one for my own small gigs.
For plugging in acoustic guitars, I just go straight to the PA. If I was looking for something more portable, I think I'd go with a small keyboard amp, as opposed to a dedicated acoustic guitar amp. The keyboard amp is more like a portable full range PA, and can take a vocal mic nicely as well. The acoustic guitar amps that I've tried never seem to sound quite as good IMO. YMMV of course. |
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Location: Utah | Yak, have you made a decision yet? If you are interested, I could record my 1778 Elite T through our Cube 30 so you can hear what it sounds like.
I find the "clean" side of the amp to be much better for the Ovation than the "Acoustic" model on the amp. It still doesn't sound like an acoustic amp either way, though.
Despite that, it is a pretty good amp. The effects are fairly good, and it is a pretty darned good value. An electric guitar sounds quite good through it. |
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Location: Reno, NV | FlySig,
I appreciate the offer. I've already bought it, just waiting for it to be delivered. I figured with all the good reviews, I couldn't go wrong. Can't wait to try it out. Even if I don't like it with my 1771LX, I'll just keep it till I get an electric "axe"
Thanks, Yak |
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Posts: 347
Location: Reno, NV | FYI...
Got my Cube 30 earlier today. That thing is SWEET! The effects combinations are virtually limitless on this thing.
4 Different Shapers
7 DSP effects
Delay
Reverb
All can be blended an any combination. I've been spending the last few hours trying different interesting combos. Im suprised how "Metal" I can get the ovation to sound. Only real problem is the sustain just aint there like an electric.
Im suprised at the acoustic setting as well. I was expecting absolute crap, but in reality its not too bad. Its a litt;e thin and muddy compared to my true acoustic amp, but it would definitely be acceptable in an emergency. So yep, my acoustic amp is quite a bit better still, even for the budget item it is (Crate CA15). Im so thrilled with the versatility of the Cube 30 though. Im forcasting several hundred hours of fun in my future. Now all I need is a decent SB electric. |
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Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | Strat, Strat, STRAT!!!!!!
Roger |
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Location: Rocky River, Ohio | glad you got it Yak, just checked MF, they are sold out of the original cube 30's.
ENJOY !
Ernie |
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Location: Utah | Yak, glad you like it. My son plugs in his violin and cranks in the effects. He has hours of fun with it. |
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Roland Cube 30
