| Author |
Topic: Roland Cube Street - my new travel steel guitar amp |
Gerald Ross
From:
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
|
Posted 8 Oct 2007 10:45 am |
|
I picked up my new Roland Cube Street at Elderly on Saturday.
So far I like it. It has a much beefier tone than the original Microcube due to the fact that it has two 6.5" speakers as opposed to the MC's single 5".
Compared to the Vox DA10 which also has two 6.5" speakers the tone is very similar. The Cube street has a built in tuner, a separate channel for a microphone (XLR or 1/4").
So far I like the "British" amp setting for lap steel. This is basically a modeld Vox AC30. I set the gain low and I get a nice full tone.
The Street weighs in at 11.5 pounds with batteries installed. The DA10 is about 17 pounds with batteries installed.
Since I throw this amp into my suitcase when I fly, the 6 pound difference mattered a lot to me.
I'll have the Cube Street at HSGA Joliet this week.
_________________
Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'
A UkeTone Recording Artist
CEO, CIO, CFO - UkeTone Records
Gerald's Hawaiian Steel Guitar/Ukulele Website |
|
|
 |
Scott Thomas
|
Posted 8 Oct 2007 11:31 am
|
|
Say, you didn't happen to try that amp out with an old A-22 frypan they have hanging on the wall, did you?  |
|
|
|
Gerald Ross
From:
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
|
|
|
|
Andy Sandoval
From:
Bakersfield, California, USA
|
Posted 8 Oct 2007 12:31 pm
|
|
| Gerald, does this amp have any effects? I really like the delay and reverb in the MC and I found that the batteries really last a long time. |
|
|
|
Gerald Ross
From:
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
|
|
|
|
Gerald Ross
From:
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
|
|
|
|
Papa Joe Pollick
From:
Swanton, Ohio
|
Posted 8 Oct 2007 5:05 pm
|
|
| Gerald,do you think it might work for acoustic electric guitar?? PJ |
|
|
|
Gerald Ross
From:
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
|
Posted 8 Oct 2007 5:13 pm
|
|
It just might work Papa Joe.
I suggest you take your guitar to a Guitar Center near you and give it a try. Go into the acoustic room where its quiet to really see if it works. You live in Pontiac - so the closest GC to you is in Southfield on Northwestern Highway near 12 mile.
Guitar Center should have these amps any day now.
What I've found with ALL these battery powered amps is that they really need to be mic'ed if you are playing with a band or performing in a large room. By mic'ing it you won't need to turn the volume to 11 to get a listenable level.
_________________
Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'
A UkeTone Recording Artist
CEO, CIO, CFO - UkeTone Records
Gerald's Hawaiian Steel Guitar/Ukulele Website |
|
|
|
Gary Boyett
From:
Colorado/ Lives in Arizona
|
Posted 8 Oct 2007 5:19 pm
|
|
I also would like to know how it sounds with acoustic and solid body guitar. You said earlier that you were not happy with the microcube for regular guitar.
It looks pretty cool though. I may have to check it out at the local crack house, er,,, I mean music store...
Oh, and by the way- Buy Gerald's new CD!
shameless plug...  |
|
|
|
Gerald Ross
From:
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
|
Posted 8 Oct 2007 6:39 pm
|
|
Well I just got done playing with the amp for about an hour.
I had my Aiellicized 1947 Bakelite T-Logo Rick plugged in. I tried all the settings and here is what I found.
I got the fattest fullest tones plugging into the microphone channel and the non-modeled amps in the "Guitar/Instrument" channel.
On the "Guitar/Instrument" channel I got the nicest tones out of the "Instument" amp setting (amp selector set to the far left indent. Roland says this is for use with a keyboard or acoustic guitar - little, if any tone coloration) and the Mic setting (amp selector to the far right, again little if any tone coloration).
The best steel tone I found using the modeled amps was the Brit Combo (like I mentioned in my above post).
So to my ears the Cube Street sounds best when you use it as a straight ahead amp and bypass the modeled amps. This suits me fine because I still have use of all the EQ and effects.
So far... I think I'll keep it.
_________________
Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'
A UkeTone Recording Artist
CEO, CIO, CFO - UkeTone Records
Gerald's Hawaiian Steel Guitar/Ukulele Website |
|
|
|
Harry Sheppard
From:
Kalispell, MT USA
|
Posted 8 Oct 2007 7:11 pm
|
|
Gerald,
Do you think you could use this amp for 2 guitars using one guitar plugged into the mic channel and another plugged into the guitar channel (rather than using an A-B Box)? Can you get similar volume levels and tone from both channels as the mic channel does not have a gain control? Does the overall tone of the guitar channel sound similar to the micro cube or does it sound like they changed the circuit?
Thanks |
|
|
|
Gerald Ross
From:
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
|
Posted 8 Oct 2007 7:32 pm
|
|
I never like plugging two instruments into one amp at the same time - any amp, even a big Fender with two channels. I think the sound is muddy when you try this.
They do say the street is a stereo amp. So I don't know if each channel get's a separate speaker when both channels are in use. Look at the pix.
Roland is touting this amp as the Busker's dream. Hence the two channels - one for mic (vocals) and the other for instrument. Then also have a stereo input (mini plug) so you can play along with your Ipod.
Both channels are loud enough and compliment each other nicely.
I think Roland changed the circuit from the Microcube. The MC has a single tone control, the street has separate Bass, Treble and Middle. So, yeah the tone is bit different from the MC.
_________________
Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'
A UkeTone Recording Artist
CEO, CIO, CFO - UkeTone Records
Gerald's Hawaiian Steel Guitar/Ukulele Website |
|
|
|
Fred Kinbom
From:
Berlin, Germany, via Stockholm, Sweden.
|
Posted 9 Oct 2007 12:35 am
|
|
| Gerald Ross wrote: |
| What I've found with ALL these battery powered amps is that they really need to be mic'ed if you are playing with a band or performing in a large room. By mic'ing it you won't need to turn the volume to 11 to get a listenable level. |
Gerald, in your experience of gigging with the Micro Cube, did you ever use the line out to the PA rather than micing? The reason I'm asking is that I will have to bring my (regular) Micro Cube to a gig soon (sitting in with a band), unless I can borrow an amp locally, and I find that with my (low output) New Yorker, the best sound I get out of the Micro Cube is on the "JC clean" setting with headphones! (Sounds really sweet and is perfect for playing in the middle of the night. )
Cheers,
Fred
_________________
www.fredrikkinbom.com - New lap steel album out now - listen here: fredrikkinbom.bandcamp.com/album/songs-for-lap-steel-and-harmonium |
|
|
|
Gerald Ross
From:
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
|
|
|
|
Dave Sky
From:
Columbus, Ohio, USA
|
Posted 9 Apr 2009 8:01 pm
|
|
Gerald,
What are your impressions of the Cube Street now that you have had the amp for a while?
I noticed that the red model is now $200 and I am thinking of getting one.
I have the Bass RX Cube and use it daily. I was looking for something with 2 channels to use an ab pedal to go from clean to bluesy sounding and the Cube Street seems like it would work.
Thanks for your review. |
|
|
|
Gerald Ross
From:
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
|
Posted 10 Apr 2009 5:14 am
|
|
Hi Dave,
The Cube Street is my primary traveling and sometimes gigging amp. I bought the optional carrying case which was overpriced but necessary. The case is still in great shape after many airplane flights and music festivals.
I use the guitar channel for my steel and I still use the "Instrument" amp selection. This is also known as the keyboard setting. This setting is basically an amp with no modeling added. It's NOT patterned after a Fender Twin or a Vox AC-30, etc. I just EQ the steel with the Bass, Treble, Mid and gain controls and I'm happy with the sound.
I use the Microphone channel, the other channel, for my ukulele. I just dial down the bass and all is well.
Here is a video of me playing my Fender Champion a few months ago through the Cube Street. I sat in with my Klezmer buddies from Cleveland - the band Yiddishe Cup. The soundman simply placed a Shure SM-57 mic in front of the amp and I was good to go.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBcfjr3llkA
_________________
Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'
A UkeTone Recording Artist
CEO, CIO, CFO - UkeTone Records
Gerald's Hawaiian Steel Guitar/Ukulele Website |
|
|
|
Kristen Bruno
From:
Orlando, Florida, USA
|
Posted 10 Apr 2009 8:33 am
|
|
I have the similar little battery powered roland cude with four 5" speakers. Here is a link:
http://www.mattsmusic4u.com/browse.cfm/guitar-amps/guitar-combo-amps/roland/roland-micro-cube-rx-guitar-amplifier/4,944.html
Used with a lap on the roland amp setting with reverb sounds pretty nice. The one I have only has a guitar input, but i could input "backing sounds" from the auxiliary input in the back. (And, ...If i had to use a mike, I would get a little battery powered mixer - so i have a volume control) and send the signal to the aux input)
I have also used this with my acoustic electric.
i plugged the guitar in to the input jack, and sent the output (headphones/mixer) to the PA system. The amp is muted when i do this.
I then controlled my settings going to the PA from the little amp.... so it is sort of a "big effects" box for a pa system as well. it sounded good. in fact, i liked it better than using a few small pedals for effects. (especially since i don't have a reverb - i use it directly from the amp).
Then, on the street, i will use the little boss rc2 looper and get a good jam goin.
These little amps are really great sounding, versatile, portable and light. I only use the clean sounding settings with a lap or acoustic electric. (By the way, the little roland with one 5" speaker is pure garbage ... i had one and after a few days exchanged it for the "bigger" model i have now.)
super kristen |
|
|
|
Dave Sky
From:
Columbus, Ohio, USA
|
Posted 10 Apr 2009 10:14 am
|
|
Thanks Gerald!
The amp sounds just right for me. I will order one.
Now for the big question:
The black model sells for $299.
The red model sells for $169.
Does the black model sound $130 better?
I await your reply, hopefully laced with experience and folly, before I order.
Thanks again,
Dave
Thanks Kristen-I thought about the model you have and if the Cube Street wasn't on sale, I would get the Cube RX. |
|
|
|
Gerald Ross
From:
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
|
Posted 10 Apr 2009 10:17 am
|
|
Buy the red one. It may help you get a gig at the annual Fireman's Ball or even a strip club. 
The money you save could be put towards the carrying case - if you think you need it.
Everyone has a black amp. Get the red one. It will be a good conversation starter.
_________________
Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'
A UkeTone Recording Artist
CEO, CIO, CFO - UkeTone Records
Gerald's Hawaiian Steel Guitar/Ukulele Website |
|
|
|
Dave Sky
From:
Columbus, Ohio, USA
|
Posted 10 Apr 2009 11:02 am
|
|
Thanks Gerald- I appreciate your wisdom and humor!
My wife probably won't let me play at the strip club, but the Fireman's Ball sounds right. |
|
|
|
