Roland Blues Cube - I Want it now! - GuitarTalk Community

Roland Blues Cube - I Want it now!

Jayhell

http://guitarnoize.com/summer-namm-2014-roland-announce-blues-cube-combo-amps/

This made my day! Roland just released this little baby. I never liked the Cube amps due to the way they look and I don't need all those models and whatnot. This might be the answer to all my questions. I recon it looks a bit cheap, but hopefully it makes it cheap and hopefully it sounds so good! I like the simplicity of the controls and the features. I want 60W! If it sucks I still have a real tube amp and a Marshall as backup, but if it's anything as good as the current Cube series I'm sure it will kick ass. Too bad there is no release date or expected price. It's also going to be so much lighter to carry than a tube amp. Let's hold thumbs that this one is a winner and not a gimmick.

On another note Boss is releasing some interesting reissue later this year on some of their top sellers. I want them all too...

http://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/summer-namm-2014-roland-introduces-new-boss-waza-craft-pedals-603519

AlanRatcliffe

Looks like a much simpler and more traditional approach. They'll sell a ton of these if they sound OK and aren't overpriced.

...yup. ...looks like Roland have woken up both to customer demand and modern marketing.

[EDIT: OZ pricing is AUS$799 for the stage and AUS$1099 for the artist. So no, they are not cheap...]

Jayhell

Outch, 8 grand for a solid state, it better perform!

AlanRatcliffe

Depends on how well they are modelling the various amp stages. It certainly reads like a step forward for them.

It's very interesting that they have modelled only one style of amp, which hints at higher resolution, more detailed modelling. However, rather than an exact copy of a specific vintage amp, which is the norm for modelling, they've made something with a vintage character, but with a few unique twists to make it it's own beast.

Looks worthy of investigation. I'll certainly spend some time with it when I run across one.

Charlie4

My first amp was one of the newer Roland Cube 60's and I liked it a lot. Sold it to fund something else and a few years back I bought another one, this one the dad - a 1981 Roland Cube 60. The guy I bought it from used it for nearly 30 years as a pub muso and it is still performing well. Albeit a one trick pony, I like that pony a lot.

Seems I always own some Roland gear, one time or another. ?

Stoner-Riff

I saw the Blues Cube a few days ago, on another Guitar Forum, and stated then that :

. . . i wonder if Seasick Steve's success has anything to do with the sudden appearance of these ?

As we all know, he made his debut with a 60W (i think) Roland Cube, back then.
Yes, he is a convert now, and looks like he is only using vintage all-valve amps NOW, but lets not forget his humble beginnings.
Maybe someone at Roland took notice ?

<--- when almost no one knew what a Seasick Steve was.

Cannon

I owned a blues cube many years back and it was absolutely awesome!
The only solid state amp i would play live!
I see the new reissue has a lot more trims though. YUMMY!!!

chris77

Ja that's nice, but at that price it better be more than just good looking....

Looks kinda like the lovechild of this:

and this:

Cannon

The blues cube was around before both of those mate.
8)
....sorry i'm a bit sentimental as mine was stolen at a gig... :'(

AlanRatcliffe

Cannon wrote: I owned a blues cube many years back and it was absolutely awesome!

It seems like the new version is quite different under the hood.

Still, that price is not going to do the amp any favours. Then again, when Roland do a higher priced unit, they generally do it right. Look at the Jazz Chorus, the GP100 or any of their synths or pianos.

Keira-WitherKay

yep lots of new "cubes" hitting the scene ....the one i like and will most definitely buy is the NEW street cube EX ....

roland have gone to town on this one too .... also expected to be same price as blues cube about 7 K

but 50W ...25W side stereo into 2x 8 " with 4 channels and fx for vocal and guitar plus all in a 7 kg package and the best is it can run on 8 penlights ....apparently all new battery technology with 50 W output that can run on penlights for 15 hours ... wow thats everything most solo artists need in one box .....

can't wait to her one ..... and i guess this is the tip of the iceberg as it seems portable/mobile technology is improving so fast so who knows whats being released next year

and yes Roland technology tends to be real tough and gig ready .....

Stoner-Riff

Now that i think about it.

For 8K, i would rather look for a 2nd hand Fender Hotrod Deluxe.

http://www.gumtree.co.za/a-musical-instruments/bellville/fender-hotrod-deluxe/1001153497770910036914209

But that is just me ?

Jayhell

You could probably get a tube amp for the same price, but I'm thinking of the practical implications of the Blues Cube. No tubes that can get damaged, weight (I assume), flexibility. But, yes, it has to go through some trials. If the sound is good the amp is good. I'm also very interested in the layout of the controls as never seem to find an amp with the controls I want. Maybe we are looking at a solid state revolution, maybe it's an epic fail.