I think the Roland MicroCube is probably the best practice amp ever made.

Steve G · March 30th, 2008, 01:32 PM

Well, its pretty damn close anyway.

Goes without saying this is no 1960's tube driven classic. But it has a really cool tone with a tele, is very cheap, will go anywhere with you and...

mine is red!

ruger9 · March 30th, 2008, 02:15 PM

I totally agree, with one change:

The Vox DA-5 is the best practice amp ever made! :)

NewOldStock · March 30th, 2008, 02:49 PM

I think it's the best automobile practice amp made, for sure! I head out an hour early to get to construction sites and beat the Minneapolis/St Paul rushhour in the morning. Batteries last for weeks/months, even when played every day.

These do sound great through a PA, and will work live. Some wouldn't even consider it, but look at all the coverband guitarists that use the Boss/Roland multi-effects systems directly into PA's on the weekends. I know 3, and did it myself a few years ago when the GT-6 first came out. The Cubes have the same COSM modeling circuitry. So think of the Cubes as a condensed version of one of these, but with a speaker!

I've never tried the Vox variant, but they look equally promising.

neocaster · March 30th, 2008, 03:14 PM

The Roland and the Vox mini-modelers both rock. I've heard some great sounds coming through that Boss floor modeller (DI to PA) and have the Vox Tonelab SE. I've never heard one of those DI to PA, and play mine late at night with headphones. The biggest issue I have with any of them is the inability to combine effects. The best modeller for this is still the Line6 stuff (pod & spider)

tdu · March 30th, 2008, 03:20 PM

To make them perfect, it would be cool if they included a tuner and a metranome. The Roland at least has the chime on it.

I am very happy with my Microcube. One thing I prefer over the vox is that is takes AA batteries. I have way more things in the house that run on AA.

bender-freak · March 30th, 2008, 11:10 PM

i have two of the little beasties in case on drops dead on me....lot cheaper an easier than hauling around all the floor stomps that would be needed to do what can be harvested from the amp as it is...and the price is stupid low, when you consider how much a delay pedal, reverb pedal, tremolo pedal, chorus pedal, flange pedal, and a pedal that would give you 6 or 7 amp simulations...does the spkr. fart out a little?....yep, it does, but it is a non-issue if you use it and run a cable from the "record out" to your PA...

i am waiting for one of the Roland "RX" series guitar amps to show up locally...has everything the "M-Cube" has, but full stereo, 5 watts, and a built in drum machine....absolutely what i would love to have for just sitting around and "noodling".....and Mrs. bender-freak said if i could find one...go ahead..!!!!

JamonHamon · March 31st, 2008, 12:25 AM

I have both the Street cube and the Microcube at first the street cube was harsh sounding
but after the speakers broke in its quite nice sounding and its built in PA its nice too
This is not me http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1LE50vTX_Q

Gilamnstr · March 31st, 2008, 03:49 AM

Quote:

I think the Roland MicroCube is probably the best practice amp ever made.

Another +1 here. Pretty hard to beat the portability and versatility. It goes with me almost everywhere and is great for late-night noodling at whisper levels in hotels and places where you've got to keep the volume level low. Fun for jamming on camping trips where you're miles from the nearest outlet, and it doubles as an amplifier for an mp3 player too.

popthree · March 31st, 2008, 08:43 AM

the m-cube also makes a great, lazy mans guitar line in for recording. perfect for making fast demos...usually for me, its the best sounding part of my fast demos.

tdu · March 31st, 2008, 10:51 AM

RE the 'speaker fart' you read a lot about in reviews. If you play the amp at the volumes it's mean to be played at, it's not really an issue. I see reviews from 'metalheads' all the time who dime the amp then complain about it farting out. Well, ya. That's not really what it's designed for. Playing at reasonable volumes with it, I never hear it fart out.

postjob62 · March 31st, 2008, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdu

RE the 'speaker fart' you read a lot about in reviews. If you play the amp at the volumes it's mean to be played at, it's not really an issue. I see reviews from 'metalheads' all the time who dime the amp then complain about it farting out. Well, ya. That's not really what it's designed for. Playing at reasonable volumes with it, I never hear it fart out.

FWIW, mine only farts in the blackface model, and then only when my Tele is on the neck pickup. Bridge PU is fine, as is either PU in any other model. Volume doesn't have to be up all that high.

I guess "reasonable" varies from one person to the next, but I'm surely no metalhead. Thought it was something wrong with the amp at first, but then discovered others have similar symptoms.

Stiil a small compromise for me given the amp's other virtues.

Stratsrgood · March 31st, 2008, 11:29 AM

Yup, best little amp ever!
It does fart out with my Les Paul though.

bender-freak · March 31st, 2008, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by postjob62

FWIW, mine only farts in the blackface model, and then only when my Tele is on the neck pickup. Bridge PU is fine, as is either PU in any other model. Volume doesn't have to be up all that high.

I guess "reasonable" varies from one person to the next, but I'm surely no metalhead. Thought it was something wrong with the amp at first, but then discovered others have similar symptoms.

Stiil a small compromise for me given the amp's other virtues.

mine only seem to have the fartiness in the "blackface" mode, and i am a country Chet style thumb and finger guy and i don't like "loud"....i never "max" out any amp...i think the m-cube works best with single-coil pups....none of my LP's or other humbucker equipped guitars seem to get along with the m-cube as well as my teles, but then i'm mainly a tele guy any more, so i ain't complaining about the amp...it's great for my at-home killin' time needs.....i have "gigged" with one of mine but only by lining it to the PA...if there was more control over the delay settings, it would be all i took to jams or the infrequent gig....

Radspin · March 31st, 2008, 01:20 PM

+1 on the Vox DA-5--I am amazed at how good some of the amp models and effects sound.

Unkie Al · April 1st, 2008, 02:03 PM

I'm loving my Micro Cube as well but there's a new kid on the block that sounds mighty interesting: the Micro Cube RX!

ruger9 · April 1st, 2008, 03:04 PM

I think we may be seeing a redesigned DA5 soon... it seems to be "discontinued" everywhere...

I would LOVE if they put a tuner in the thing, even just a tone like the MC has. A speaker out would be great (I modded mine to have a speaker out...sounds GREAT thru bigger speakers.)

And make it in that Cream tolex the Heritage models come in!

ReddRanger · April 1st, 2008, 03:05 PM

+1. I love my Microcube.

cryan · April 2nd, 2008, 10:38 AM

ruger9 I was wondering if you still have the ability to play the original speaker as well as the speaker out. Would like to know how you wired yours. thanks Cliff

Doug Ferguson · April 2nd, 2008, 10:41 AM

Yep. I really love mine, and have 4+ years now.

Rick J · April 2nd, 2008, 10:47 AM

Love my microcube, but wasn't impressed with the sound through headphones, (Sennheisser HD25's). Used the line out socket, - couldn't find a dedicated headphone socket. Seemed short of volume and top end. These are high quality phones, but maybe thats the problem, as in how youwouldn't put a hi-fi speaker in a guitar amp. Any ideas?

Rick J

androo · April 2nd, 2008, 01:17 PM

Mine lives in my classroom....I love it! I get to school early, and get a chance to get some practice time in before work. The kids like it too (first graders).

droo

ruger9 · April 2nd, 2008, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cryan

ruger9 I was wondering if you still have the ability to play the original speaker as well as the speaker out. Would like to know how you wired yours. thanks Cliff

No. When you plug in an external speaker the internal speaker is disconnected. You use a 1/4" switching jack to do it. So BOTH speakers are not on together.

But just in case I don't understand your question, YES I do still have the ability to play thru the internal speaker. The internal speaker is ON until you plug an extension cab into the switching jack I installed on the back.

cryan · April 3rd, 2008, 09:57 AM

ruger9 you answered my question better than I asked it. thanks Cliff

Cross Roads · April 3rd, 2008, 10:01 AM

Great AMP.
Keep a red one in the office at work.

Hoodster · April 3rd, 2008, 02:06 PM

Big +1-- mine sits right next to my computer and gets used way more than any of my other amps, including the awesome Silverface Champ that sits next to it.

Try plugging the line out into your computer's microphone input -- you can record right into any software (I use the free Audacity recording software). Great way to make quick backing tracks or demos with surprisingly good tone.

Hoodster · April 3rd, 2008, 02:07 PM

I have to add agreement that the Cube sounds best with single coils, and in my opinion the Vox setting rules with the gain set at 12 o'clock, reverb or delay to taste. I hardly ever use any of the other settings, except the JC clean for superclean picking.

March 30th, 2008, 01:32 PM	#1 (permalink)
Steve G Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: LeeK (England) Posts: 1,409 54 Photos	I think the Roland MicroCube is probably the best practice amp ever made. Well, its pretty damn close anyway. Goes without saying this is no 1960's tube driven classic. But it has a really cool tone with a tele, is very cheap, will go anywhere with you and... mine is red! __________________ "He was a drinkin' man with a guitar problem..." http://www.myspace.com/stevegiddings http://www.myspace.com/hiandlonesome

March 30th, 2008, 02:15 PM	#2 (permalink)
ruger9 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Hackettstown, NJ Posts: 1,570	I totally agree, with one change: The *Vox DA-5* is the best practice amp ever made! :) __________________ "I've got callouses, from all those nights, spent playin' a Telecaster, 'till my fingers bled Bud Light" - Travis Tritt

March 30th, 2008, 03:20 PM	#5 (permalink)
tdu Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Age: 32 Posts: 2,378 9 Photos	To make them perfect, it would be cool if they included a tuner and a metranome. The Roland at least has the chime on it. I am very happy with my Microcube. One thing I prefer over the vox is that is takes AA batteries. I have way more things in the house that run on AA. __________________ Torn Down Units brand Rock n' Roll My Solo Stuff:

March 30th, 2008, 11:10 PM	#6 (permalink)
bender-freak Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: springfield, missouri Posts: 1,150	i have two of the little beasties in case on drops dead on me....lot cheaper an easier than hauling around all the floor stomps that would be needed to do what can be harvested from the amp as it is...and the price is stupid low, when you consider how much a delay pedal, reverb pedal, tremolo pedal, chorus pedal, flange pedal, and a pedal that would give you 6 or 7 amp simulations...does the spkr. fart out a little?....yep, it does, but it is a non-issue if you use it and run a cable from the "record out" to your PA... i am waiting for one of the Roland "RX" series guitar amps to show up locally...has everything the "M-Cube" has, but full stereo, 5 watts, and a built in drum machine....absolutely what i would love to have for just sitting around and "noodling".....and Mrs. bender-freak said if i could find one...go ahead..!!!! __________________ bender-freak

March 31st, 2008, 08:43 AM	#9 (permalink)
popthree Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Tulsa Posts: 2,526 44 Photos	the m-cube also makes a great, lazy mans guitar line in for recording. perfect for making fast demos...usually for me, its the best sounding part of my fast demos. __________________ sent from my computer thingy (i don't have an iPhone)

March 30th, 2008, 02:49 PM	#3 (permalink)
NewOldStock Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Northern Minnesota Age: 35 Posts: 560	I think it's the best automobile practice amp made, for sure! I head out an hour early to get to construction sites and beat the Minneapolis/St Paul rushhour in the morning. Batteries last for weeks/months, even when played every day. These do sound great through a PA, and will work live. Some wouldn't even consider it, but look at all the coverband guitarists that use the Boss/Roland multi-effects systems directly into PA's on the weekends. I know 3, and did it myself a few years ago when the GT-6 first came out. The Cubes have the same COSM modeling circuitry. So think of the Cubes as a condensed version of one of these, but with a speaker! I've never tried the Vox variant, but they look equally promising.

March 30th, 2008, 03:14 PM	#4 (permalink)
neocaster Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Chester County, PA Age: 35 Posts: 3,403 11 Photos	The Roland and the Vox mini-modelers both rock. I've heard some great sounds coming through that Boss floor modeller (DI to PA) and have the Vox Tonelab SE. I've never heard one of those DI to PA, and play mine late at night with headphones. The biggest issue I have with any of them is the inability to combine effects. The best modeller for this is still the Line6 stuff (pod & spider)

March 31st, 2008, 12:25 AM	#7 (permalink)
JamonHamon Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 1,245	I have both the Street cube and the Microcube at first the street cube was harsh sounding but after the speakers broke in its quite nice sounding and its built in PA its nice too This is not me http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1LE50vTX_Q

March 31st, 2008, 10:51 AM	#10 (permalink)
tdu Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Age: 32 Posts: 2,378 9 Photos	RE the 'speaker fart' you read a lot about in reviews. If you play the amp at the volumes it's mean to be played at, it's not really an issue. I see reviews from 'metalheads' all the time who dime the amp then complain about it farting out. Well, ya. That's not really what it's designed for. Playing at reasonable volumes with it, I never hear it fart out. __________________ Torn Down Units brand Rock n' Roll My Solo Stuff:

March 31st, 2008, 11:29 AM	#12 (permalink)
Stratsrgood TDPRI Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Hampshire,UK Age: 56 Posts: 94	Yup, best little amp ever! It does fart out with my Les Paul though.

March 31st, 2008, 01:20 PM	#14 (permalink)
Radspin Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: East Northport, NY Age: 53 Posts: 137	+1 on the Vox DA-5--I am amazed at how good some of the amp models and effects sound.

April 1st, 2008, 02:03 PM	#15 (permalink)
Unkie Al Tele-Holic Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Denmark Age: 40 Posts: 668 26 Photos	I'm loving my Micro Cube as well but there's a new kid on the block that sounds mighty interesting: the Micro Cube RX! __________________ My girlfriend always laughs during sex - no matter what she's reading. -- Steve Jobs

April 1st, 2008, 03:04 PM	#16 (permalink)
ruger9 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Hackettstown, NJ Posts: 1,570	I think we may be seeing a redesigned DA5 soon... it seems to be "discontinued" everywhere... I would LOVE if they put a tuner in the thing, even just a tone like the MC has. A speaker out would be great (I modded mine to have a speaker out...sounds GREAT thru bigger speakers.) And make it in that Cream tolex the Heritage models come in! __________________ "I've got callouses, from all those nights, spent playin' a Telecaster, 'till my fingers bled Bud Light" - Travis Tritt

April 1st, 2008, 03:05 PM	#17 (permalink)
ReddRanger Tele-Meister Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: California Posts: 223	+1. I love my Microcube.

April 2nd, 2008, 10:38 AM	#18 (permalink)
cryan NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Tucson Age: 53 Posts: 5	ruger9 I was wondering if you still have the ability to play the original speaker as well as the speaker out. Would like to know how you wired yours. thanks Cliff

April 2nd, 2008, 10:41 AM	#19 (permalink)
Doug Ferguson Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Indianapolis, IN Age: 55 Posts: 1,177	Yep. I really love mine, and have 4+ years now. __________________ If you get hung up on just guitar players, you've missed something.... Don't ever get to a point where you just gotta be a guitar player. You hear something, go try to get that note and sound as much like that as you can.-Buddy Guy

April 2nd, 2008, 10:47 AM	#20 (permalink)
Rick J Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: North London, UK Posts: 412	Headphones Love my microcube, but wasn't impressed with the sound through headphones, (Sennheisser HD25's). Used the line out socket, - couldn't find a dedicated headphone socket. Seemed short of volume and top end. These are high quality phones, but maybe thats the problem, as in how youwouldn't put a hi-fi speaker in a guitar amp. Any ideas? Rick J __________________ "If you want to know what an electric guitar is supposed to sound like, just listen to this." - British DJ John Peel introducing a Roy Buchanan track on BBC radio in the late 60's.

April 2nd, 2008, 01:17 PM	#21 (permalink)
androo TDPRI Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 79	Mine lives in my classroom....I love it! I get to school early, and get a chance to get some practice time in before work. The kids like it too (first graders). droo

April 3rd, 2008, 09:57 AM	#23 (permalink)
cryan NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Tucson Age: 53 Posts: 5	ruger9 you answered my question better than I asked it. thanks Cliff

April 3rd, 2008, 10:01 AM	#24 (permalink)
Cross Roads Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Idaho Age: 47 Posts: 179 5 Photos	Great AMP. Keep a red one in the office at work.

April 3rd, 2008, 02:06 PM	#25 (permalink)
Hoodster Tele-Meister Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Oregon Posts: 262	Big +1-- mine sits right next to my computer and gets used way more than any of my other amps, including the awesome Silverface Champ that sits next to it. Try plugging the line out into your computer's microphone input -- you can record right into any software (I use the free Audacity recording software). Great way to make quick backing tracks or demos with surprisingly good tone.

April 3rd, 2008, 02:07 PM	#26 (permalink)
Hoodster Tele-Meister Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Oregon Posts: 262	I have to add agreement that the Cube sounds best with single coils, and in my opinion the Vox setting rules with the gain set at 12 o'clock, reverb or delay to taste. I hardly ever use any of the other settings, except the JC clean for superclean picking.