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Author Topic:  Best Roland Cube for Pedal Steel gigs?
Christopher Hillman


From:
Manchester, UK
Post  Posted 4 Nov 2016 11:41 am    
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Any thoughts on what Roland Cubes could be good for Pedal Steel or somebody who goes from Steel and Guitar on the same shows?
I've been playing a micro cube all week and thought if the bigger ones are as good as this, in response and sound then i'd happily have one.

I've noticed an old 80s orange Cube 60 for £100 locally.. are these any different/ better or worse? its beat up and looks cool but, if the new ones are better, i'd go with a new one.




Cheers,
Chris Mr. Green
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Frank Welsh

 

From:
Upstate New York, USA
Post  Posted 4 Nov 2016 12:15 pm    
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I use a Roland Cube 80 GX for my U12 pedal steel and a Remington D8 non-pedal steel as well as with standard six string guitars.

Although I also have a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe tube amp and a Poyltone Mini-Brute IV and like both of them for regular guitar, neither of them comes close to the good sound I get with the steel guitars through the Roland. If I had to have only one amp for all my instruments, it would have to be the Roland Cube 80.
It has plenty of clear headroom for both types of steel guitars and, with the proper settings, can also nearly match the Polytone for that warm jazz tone with archtop electric guitars.
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Roger Palmer


From:
Rossendale, UK
Post  Posted 4 Nov 2016 1:03 pm    
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I have a microcube and a cube 40xl
They are pretty similar but the microcube sounds slightly better
Lots of people use the 80xl for gigs....it has a handy socket for an external speaker cab
No idea what the older ones are like though
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Bob Carlucci

 

From:
Candor, New York, USA
Post  Posted 4 Nov 2016 2:57 pm    
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Cube 80XL.. Really nice little amp with a lot of power and a big sound for its size,, Sounds like a Roland, which is a compliment.. Good little guitar amp too.. not sterile, plenty of punch, and a ton of flexibility with the very good onboard effects,, Just don't lean on the effect knobs too hard... Its all most players need for a gig these days... bob
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Roger Rettig


From:
Naples, FL
Post  Posted 4 Nov 2016 3:50 pm    
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I can't speak for the old Roland Cube 40 but I have three Roland 80XLs - they're inexpensive, lightweight, compact and deliver reliable performance. They're not the greatest steel amps I've ever used but they're very good.

I'd take some convincing to haul one of those heavy Peaveys around these days.
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Glenn Demichele


From:
(20mi N of) Chicago Illinois, USA
Post  Posted 4 Nov 2016 7:18 pm    
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I have an 80's super cube 40 for bass I got years ago.it sounds great for Steel. No effects, and never used it solo on a gig, but a couple times I used it as an amp for the other output of my reverb for a very cool stereo sound (on stage anyway).
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Bob Watson


From:
Champaign, Illinois, U.S.
Post  Posted 5 Nov 2016 12:08 am    
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The Roland Cube 60, the modeling amp that came out before the Cube 80 , IMHO, is a better amp than the newer ones. You can find used ones for a great price too!!
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Dave O'Brien


From:
Florida and New Jersey
Post  Posted 5 Nov 2016 5:00 pm     Roland cube
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I played my first show with a Roland Cube 80XL today and was very pleased with it for pedal steel and banjo (magnetic pickup) the sound guys micked it.
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Dave O'Brien
Emmons D-10, CMI D-10, Fender Deluxe Reverb, PV 112, Fender Pro Reverb
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Bruce Meyer

 

From:
Thompson's Station, TN
Post  Posted 6 Nov 2016 7:08 am    
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I have a 80xl and 80gx. Both sound great. And the band members all agree. The plus with the xl is the speaker jack and a slightly better way of storing and accessing the one and only preset. Paid $200 for the xl via Guitar Center used. Use them on the Zum, Godin mandolin, and acoustic. All sound good. Plenty of power for the small gigs and practicing I do.
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Richard Alderson


From:
Illinois, USA
Post  Posted 6 Nov 2016 9:18 am    
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Isn't this a topic for Electronics ?
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Bruce Derr

 

From:
Lee, New Hampshire, USA
Post  Posted 6 Nov 2016 6:54 pm    
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The 80X is a nice amp for steel, pretty much the same as the 80XL. I have two of them. Sometimes I bring both to a gig, but usually one is plenty.

I also have a Cube 60. It's just a tad smaller and lighter than the 80X. I found it to be pretty good for steel but I like the sounds from the 80X a little more. In fairness, when I first got the 80X it took me a fairly long period of knob twiddling before I found some settings that worked consistently for me. I haven't given the 60 the same amount of experimentation.

I've heard that some guitar players prefer the 60 over the 80X/80XL. One of my guitarist friends used to play through two 60s and he/they sounded great.

I like the 80X's reverb more than the 60's.

As has been said, good deals do come up for these. I got my 60 for $150 and my second 80X for $100, both on craigslist.
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b0b


From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
Post  Posted 6 Nov 2016 7:21 pm    
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http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=308340 Mad
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James Holland


From:
Alabama, USA
Post  Posted 8 Nov 2016 3:51 pm    
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Cube 80X or 80XL. the Cube 60 is good too, but the 80's have a slightly better voicing (and possibly slightly adjusted special speaker) for the low end, which is flattering to a pedal steel and the low strings. I do agree the Cube 60 seems voiced better for a tele/guitar though - either is great for either instrument - and good for fiddle too.
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Will Cowell

 

From:
Cambridgeshire, UK
Post  Posted 10 Nov 2016 8:46 am    
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I'm a happy Cube 80XL user, and the onboard FX are handy, although I usually prefer to use my Earthquaker Devices delay/reverb pedal. It's hard to beat the Cube, a very good amp for the price, good headroom, and handles the low notes well.
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Williams 700 series keyless U12,
Sierra keyless U14, Eezzee-Slide & BJS bars
Moth-eaten old Marshall 150 combo
Roland Cube 80XL, Peterson Strobo+HD,
EarthQuaker Despatch Master for reverb / delay
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André Sommer

 

Post  Posted 16 Nov 2016 6:30 am    
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I'm another happy Cube 80XL user. Here's a recent example of how it sounds playing my old ZumSteel (first Stage One version) at a festival here in The Netherlands:

https://youtu.be/vIgNZJuxmRg

And part two: https://youtu.be/LYieJ3cZwKY
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Will Cowell

 

From:
Cambridgeshire, UK
Post  Posted 16 Nov 2016 8:19 am    
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Da's leuk zeg Andre - nice pickin' and lovely to hear that little Cube holding its own.
_________________
Williams 700 series keyless U12,
Sierra keyless U14, Eezzee-Slide & BJS bars
Moth-eaten old Marshall 150 combo
Roland Cube 80XL, Peterson Strobo+HD,
EarthQuaker Despatch Master for reverb / delay
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John Sluszny

 

From:
Brussels, Belgium
Post  Posted 16 Nov 2016 10:29 am    
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I didn't know Roland Cube 80 XL sounded so good.
Good steelin' too.
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Jim Cohen


From:
Philadelphia, PA
Post  Posted 16 Nov 2016 11:02 am    
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I like the 80XL, especially when I use a 15" extension speaker.
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André Sommer

 

Post  Posted 16 Nov 2016 3:05 pm    
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Thank you, Will Cowell and John Sluszny!

BTW, I do have an ancient Boss SE70 inbetween my steel and the amp. It only has a very slight EQ correction and I mostly use it as a tuner. Although I did turn on the "speaker simulation" in the Boss because I like the sound I'm getting from it.

The delay and reverb are from the Cube but even without the SE70 this amp sounds very good, imo.
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Pete Woronowski

 

From:
Saskatchewan, Canada
Post  Posted 16 Nov 2016 5:13 pm    
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I have been playing around with the 80 GX and when you get it dialed in it is a very nice amp.
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Peter Leavenworth

 

From:
Madbury, New Hampshire, USA
Post  Posted 26 Nov 2016 7:40 pm    
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I recently bought an old Super Cube 100 which comes
with a 15" speaker. Very nice, clean sound with plenty
of headroom, acceptable reverb and can hold its own in
somewhat loud situations.
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banjo......and way too much more
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Chris Schlotzhauer


From:
Colleyville, Tx. USA
Post  Posted 28 Nov 2016 3:18 pm    
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I'm having trouble finding Cube 80 GX in stock anywhere.
Aren't they the newest model?
I see them on Amazon for $399+shipping......is that the right price?
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Bob Carlucci

 

From:
Candor, New York, USA
Post  Posted 28 Nov 2016 5:31 pm    
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Chris.. it seems Roland has discontinued most of that entire series, and now are pushing tube "Blues Cubes".. You might find one thats NOS.. I see them online new from $369-399... If you want one, put a feeler here on Wanted To Buy... They sell cheap used.. Maybe $250-275 or cheaper... Also check Guitar Center.. They always have really clean used ones in the $175-225 range, and they take trade ins. I bought one from them, and traded in a Fender Princeton Chorus on it, and paid peanuts,, Its a nice amp, still have it upstairs.. Buy a used one, there are a LOT of them out there and they run cheap.. they seem pretty reliable as well... LOT of stuff on these amps.. They are super light, you can stick them in a pocket almost.. Big sound and a lot of flexability in a tiny box.. Good guitar amp too- i get a nice natural sound for my electrics.. Not an authentic tube sound, but still warm and nice...bob
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I'm over the hill and hittin'rocks on the way down!

no gear list for me.. you don't have the time......
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Chris Schlotzhauer


From:
Colleyville, Tx. USA
Post  Posted 28 Nov 2016 7:10 pm    
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Thanks Bob...I already posted in Want-to-Buy here.

....I'll keep lookin'
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Bob Carlucci

 

From:
Candor, New York, USA
Post  Posted 29 Nov 2016 6:12 pm    
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Chris... check your PM my friend, -have I got a deal for you!... bob
_________________
I'm over the hill and hittin'rocks on the way down!

no gear list for me.. you don't have the time......
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