Roland Cube amp

[Nick Bidmade]

Ha s anyone any views about the suitability of the Roland Cube amp as a steel guitar amp? There's one in my local pawn shop.
I'm currently using my guitar amp, a Laney, which is ok at low volume and lower down the fretboard, but doesn't really hold up in higher registers, which I guess is typical of guitar-only amps with pedal steel. The sound becomes muddy and distorted.
Of course, I'd like a Peavey 112 but as I am likely only to be a 'hobby' steel guitar player and playing solely at home for my own pleasure, the expense of a Peavey may be hard to justify.
Is the Cube likely to improve things?
I'd appreciate your nthoughts on this.

[Malcolm]

Believe the model you want is the Cube80 or Cube 100, perhaps Zumbilly can advise as he has one.There was also posts on b0b's forum talking about them.

[Malcolm]

Nick since no one else has jumped in, I tried Billy's Rittenberry through his Cube (think it is 100watt model) at Billy's house and then listened to him play, and my words to him were " that's the best tone I have heard you get, very "American" and I STRESS that he does have a good tone normally, this just somehow sounded better.Considering he usually has top of the range gear (Telonics pre amp/lexicon/TC Furlong) this shows how good this little amp seems to be.Have not heard it in a gig situation, but have been told by two good steel players that they tried it at Billy's regular Thursday night gig that it sounded good.Hope this Helps

[Zumbilly(Murdoch)]

Thanks for the plug Malcolm,I guess You'll do anything for a cup of coffee and a slice of cake
I have the Cube 80 xl which has been spoken about in another post on this Forum.
I cannot compare it with the other Cube models. I do'nt know if the tone structure has been modified but since the Cube 80XL is a modelling amp with on board effects I would guess it to be completely different from the earlier Cubes,as I said in the other post,the 80XL is a great amp for home and stage use.
best regards
Billy

[Ken Byng]

Nick
I have a 80XL too, and it is very impressive. The Laney amp is very similar to Marshall amps, they are designed to break up (in a good way) for lead guitar. Steel guitars generally speaking sound better with a clean pure sound and lots of headroom, unless you particularly want the over-driven sound for steel.

I don't use the modelling side of the Cube, it just feels as if there is an element of latency when you pick quickly. The clean channel however is very good for steel guitar. I have the bass set around three quarters on.

My main steel amp is a very expensive Bradshaw Webb with adjustable sound ports, which is just outstanding for steel. However, I do like the Roland very much. It is very portable, better than the PV Nashville 112 in my humble opinion, and delivers a consistent tone at all levels. I have used it in a pub environment in quite a loud band and it had plenty of poke and doesn't break up. One of its biggest attractions for me is that it is very affordable.

[Nick Bidmade]

Thanks Malcolm, Zumbilly and Ken for your replies.
It was with high anticipation I tried the amp out - but was slightly disappointed. It was a slightly older version of the Roland line, the 80X - which seemed to have all the whistles and bells the XL has - but at home I found the tone to be slightly muddy. Not sure if there were 'hidden' faults with the amp itself, and I'm not enough of an expert to know if the speaker had been damaged, for example. It could have been 'rode hard and stabled wet' as a Forum member once described a steel that had seen better days.
On comparing it with the guitar amp I'm currently using, a Laney GC30, the 80X lacked clarity even through the clean channel with no effects added.
The pawn shop had agreed to 'loan' it to me for an hour or so (for the full price, refundable if not completely satisfied) so I'm back to square 1.
I think I'll try out the 80XL to see if there is a difference - otherwise, for a 'hobby' player, I'll stick to the Laney. The Peavey 112 seems to be a cost I can't justify.

[Ken Byng]

Nick
Why don't you take your steel to your local Roland dealer and check out the 80XL. I can tell you one thing, it is nothing like muddy. It is a very clean amp.

[johnbudding]

I have a previous model Roland Cube 60 on its way to me. I'll let you know how I get on with that.

John