old Roland Cube 60 as steel amp?

[chris hillman]

Anyone out there using the old Orange/Tan Cube 60s as steel amps?
I bought one recently for Guitar & Steel but, noticed the Steel tends to overdrive it quite easily if i'm playing with a band. Then again even on a lower volume (channel vol high, master lower) it distorts a bit. I've just been recording with it from home which is how i noticed it at low volumes.

I don't mind a bit of crunch as i like valve Amps but, is it worth putting a neo speaker in it at all? I thought i'd be safe with the 60 watt version for steel.

[mandosteve]

If the neo is more efficient/sensitive than what's in there already then you will get some more headroom. Hard to say how much though. If you have the channel volume high you are probably overloading the input. Steel guitar pickups are way hotter than most electric guitar pickups so it's very easy to do that (particularly if you're using an active/powered volume pedal). I guess it's up to your ears if you think you can get enough headroom from it with the master on full and channel volume kept lower than distortion point? If you think you are close to what you need then a more efficient speaker could make the difference.

[chris hillman]

Cheers Steve, Yeah to be honest i'm not sure. its very close to what i want sound wise for the portability of it.

Can't quite decide if it would distort anyway regardless of buying a Neo speaker (say the 100 watt one) . The other day i had my Rickenbacker 6 string with a bunch of effects running through it in a loud practice room and it will stay clean. With the steel straight in at that level, its just distortion.

Chris

[mandosteve]

I think it sounds like the input of the amp is what's distorting to me. If you turn the master right up full and have the channel volume right down with the steel does it clean up at all? Or try a passive volume pedal (if you haven't already) and see if that makes any difference?

[henry]

[quote="mandosteve" Steel guitar pickups are way hotter than most electric guitar pickups so it's very easy to do that [/quote]

that's interesting to know.. explains some problems I've had with amps and pedals..

Chris - I've got an 80s SuperCube with a 15" speaker and not had problems like you describe, it's been pretty clean.
I am no expert but if you're getting break up with low volumes I think it's unlikely to be the speaker

[Ken Byng]

Chris
The lead guitarist in our band has the same amp as you, and he has put a Weber neo speaker in it. The difference was amazing, as the Weber was far more efficient. 60 watts should be enough at low to medium level, provided there isn't a fault in the amp.