Roland MicroCube - anyone try one yet?

[trag-o-caster]

If you haven't, be prepared - you won't believe the BIG tones coming out of it's little 5" speaker! I think it's rated at 2 watts. It has some barebones digital effects, using the same rotary style controls as the Line 6 Spiders. Of the four amp models, I preferred it's clean tones (Blackface, and JC120 models). It has a crunchy AC30 model which sounds pretty good, but the Marshall/Mesa death metal tones are...... well.......... death metal tones.

I compared it side by side with one of them Behringer Trademark 10 copy's with digital effects, and was more impressed with the Roland. The Behringer sounded OK, but it rattled relentlessly when you turned it up.

I then took a cord from the line out of the Roland into the clean side of the Behringer - ah now THAT was cool!

At about $125, I just about left with it, but decided to wait. I highly recommend that you give 'er a whirl.

[Ben Harmless]

Before spending the money, I reccomend you turn it up and point the speaker in your direction. The little beast can't handle volume at all - not even enough to drown out the direct acoustic sound of me hitting my strings. Also, if you plan on using it for simple and cheap direct recording, (idea capturing) the tones through the line out/headphone out are vastly different than those from the speaker, even though they're supposed to be fully modeled. All the gain dissapears from the Marshall model, and the others don't fair much better. I returned mine the next day.

I know things sound very different in the store than they do once you get them home, but I've never had such a major difference.

[trag-o-caster]

You could be right Ben. I never really put it through it's paces, except that I did turn it up all of the way. It's not very loud at all. You could have someone play rhythm on an acoustic guitar, and sing over top of it all with no microphone - and that's with the MicroCube cranked! Actually, that doesn't sound like a bad idea, for that use. I didn't have an opportunity to try out the line out to a PA, or recording device, so I wouldn't know until I actually got it home.

I went to Elderly's yesterday with the intention of buying that Valco made "English Electronics Tonemaster" 1x10 amp. I used to have one years ago, and always loved it, but sold it off several years ago when I was broke. I've always regretted that. After trying the one at Elderly's, I passed on it, because it just didn't quite sound the same. A buddy of mine has a SF Champ that's been modded with a 10" non-descript speaker that he'll let me have for $150. I think I'll go for that instead.

[trag-o-caster]

I was wondering, since this amp also has RCA in's and out's, if it would sound better using the RCA out for recording, or going through the PA? Anyone try that yet?

I'm still really intrigued by this thing, can't ya tell?

[Ben Harmless]

I suppose it's entirely possible that I got a defective unit. I di remember getting great tones in the store, but they just didn't translate at home.

I didn't try the RCA outs for recording. That's a good point.

I've been eying a SF Champ at a local store for a little while. It's tagged at around $150 I think. The Bassman there might get the best of me though. BF, AB165, and $339. Some guy's got money on it, but apparently he's sometimes a little flakey. This doesn't help me with my practice amp woes though.

I really am curious about the new Vox Valvetronix 15 watter that Musician's Friend has for $179. The local Guitar center doesn't have them yet though. 11 amp models and 11 effects sounds good for that price - especially when it's from Vox. My how the Vox name has changed...

[Guy from Idaho]

I returned mine after two days, couldn't find a sound I liked very much, very wimpy thru headphones. Musician's Friend was great about the return & refund, as always. It was kinda cute though, and many folks dig 'em. Guess I'll stick with a champ, at least to me that sounds real. ymmv, -Guy

[trag-o-caster]

I was looking for something with a good direct out for silent recording, and for going direct into the PA for gigs, plus a little delay/reverb, so I don't have to hook up any extras. Almost all of the smallish practice amps sound wimpy on their own, but pretty decent hooked to something bigger. The MicroCube seemed to buck that trend - it sounds fabulous by itself. Just not very loud.

Does the Valvetronix have a decent direct out? Can you switch the speaker emulation off? Sounds like the price is about right.

I know, I know, I should pick up that Champ, and I probably will.

[Bopcat]

I just got one of these, and no it doesn't sound as good as my SF Champ or SF Princeton...but, it's battery powered and I can sit out on my patio, drink a beer and noodle around without annoying anyone and that's all I plan on using it for. Better than a Pignose and cheaper than a Mountain...it's by Roland and should last forever.

[Rob DiStefano]

I spent a 1/2 hour with one last week ... interesting li'l bugger. At low volumes, the large sound belies the small speaker.

Personally, I see no use for this kinda amp other than it's small, can be battery powered, and works fine for a bedroom practice amp - too small for any kinda jams, even at low volume, and cranked it just fizzes. YMMV.

Now if Bose would only come out with a super mini guitar amp ... !

[David Rolling]

...I demoed at the store, but after playing thru' it for awhile, it really improved. It just had to be broken in or something. I think it's about as loud as you can expect for 2 watts pushing a 5" speaker. As far as this "modelling" business goes, to my ears it sounds like very good transistorized distortion that just increases as you flip from JazzChorus to BlackFace to Vox to Marshall to Mesa. Of course, the preset eq is also heavily adjusted from model to model. My old Pignose died years ago, and I wanted something I could take down to the river with a thinline and just wail - the ducks seem to love it.

BTW, Guy from Idaho, if you're reading this, I've always enjoyed your informed posts and gear reviews, but I've gotta ask - Do you ever keep anything?

[chris m.]

Hey, Ben,

If you buy that Bassman head, why don't you just get a small cabinet with something like 1 12" speaker, or even 1 10" speaker? Then you could run the head through that and have acceptable practice volumes, right?