Roland Cube-60

As always, Roland delivers a great product, which does its job according to the description of the product. In this case, you get a great amp with a 12" (inch) speaker thrown into a combo amp, capable of modeling different styles of amplifiers.
The amp features two different circuits: a clean and a drive channel, that shares a four band equalizer. You do, however, get independent gain and volume controls for each channel. The modeling is done by a COSM processor, like in their other pedals in general.
For your bedroom practice needs, they give you a combined headphone/line-out jack connection.
If you don't have any pedals of your own (yet), Roland gives you some of their effects along as well. Build straight into the amp itself, with bypass switch connections on the back of the amp.

UTILIZATION

The amp is extremely easy to use, even though it is packed with extra effects and other features. The clean channel is just as it is. Plug in the cord and turn op the volume - you have sound! When it comes to the lead channel, you choose what type of amp you want to use (model), adjust the gain and volume and your up and running here as well.
The effects only has one dial to use, which reduces the use of them slightly, but the sound of them, if used properly are actually good.

SOUNDS

It's been a while since I've used this specific amp, but the tones that I remember from it, is great. Not as great as the models it tries to model, but still very useful. This combined with the four band EQ, gives you options to shape the tone as you want to.
I've always used the build in reverb of the amps I've owned, and this is no exception. Just use it subtle. Remember - everything can be overdone. This also applies to the rest of the effects available in the combo amplifier.

OVERALL OPINION

All in all you can't go wrong with this Roland amplifier. It's a great beginners amp and used properly, you can get some serious tones out of it. Of course it will never sound like the models modeled on the drive channels, but you get a sense of how they sound, for when you should decide to upgrade to one of those.
As a home practice amp it does a fine job as well. And besides that, you can't really break a solid state amp like this.

I had not been playing for a long time and found myself one day on the doorstep of a shop in Kristiansand, Norway (Dipner Musikk) looking for a new electric guitar. This was in 2004. I wanted a platform to start playing again, I like the blues, Hendrix, SRV mostly.

When I left I carried a brand new Squier Tele and a Roland Cube 60.

I paid about 3500 NOK, about 540 USD for it. Now they sell them for about 3000 NOK, but still I think I got a damn good amp for the money.

The combination of the Tele and this amp is great. It's amp is 60watts and a 12 inch speaker. I took the bigger model as I want to play loud, and so it does. The COSM modelling is just great with tons of different sounds. Also the clear channels sounds linke an old JazzChorus, meaning it is bright and has loads of power in the highs.

The over drive channel sounds warm and still kicks ass.
And off course there is size. It is small to store and big to play.

What I have not tested yet, but is going to, is to let it drive a bigger cabinet with two or four speakers. I heard that it could be a great combination.

Now I am to change the guitar, but the amp stays.

I miss these things on the Cube 60:

A switch controlled effects loop.

A switchboard with 3 switches should be included. I built my own switch board of and old derby cover from the -62 Harley I used to own. The Roland switches are 3 individual that just mess up the floor with more cables to trip on.

Effects should have a level control, some effects are not loud enough.
An onboard tuner would also be great.

When you turn the beast up really loud, the speaker makes venting noise like a horse's breathing mouth.

Cube 60 is small and tough built mostly.

I have though had one pot knop fall off and the cable storage on the rear to break. This happend when I sent it by air without a flight case.

I glued the knob with PL400 and it has stayed there since.

Apart from that it is built like a tank. No problems at all. Jap quality at its best.

I liked the amp when I bought it, and I like now. I would definately buy one again if this one fell off the plane. For a small amp it is acting like a big gun.

I would recommend getting this 60 watts version over the 30 watts as this one has a bigger sound, is more versatile and plays loud with control.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

This is a digital modeling amp from Roland, it has the following features:

- Two channels with shared four band EQ

- Independent Volume and Gain controls for each channel

- Eight COSM amp models on the lead channel: Acoustic, Black Panel, Brit Combo, Tweed, Classic Stack, Metal Stack R-fier Stack and Dyna-Amp

- Bright switch on the JC clean channel

- Six built in effects: Chorus, Flanger, Phasor, Tremolo, Delay and Reverb

- Headphones/line out jack

- Footswitch jack to control channel changing or effects bypass



UTILIZATION

Despite having lots of features I find this amp really easy and intuitive to use. The clean channel is very simple to use as it's only got a volume control. The lead channel you just set the selector dial to the model you want then adjust gain to taste and volume to the level you need. The effects are simple to use as it's just one knob to control one parameter for each, this does limit the effects greatly.

SOUNDS

I think this amp sounds pretty good. I have used lots of the different models regularly but my favorites are the Acoustic simulator, Tweed and R-fier models. While they don't sound like a perfect copy of the original amps they still have a great useable tone.

The four band EQ allows lots of tone shaping capabilities so you can tailor your sound to how you need it.

I personally don't like the effects on this amp other than the reverb and only being able to modify one parameter makes it pretty poor in my opinion.

OVERALL OPINION

Overall I think this is a great amp which can be used for home practice, band practice and is even loud enough for gigging purposes from my experience. It has a large range of tones which means it's useful for someone who plays a large range of styles and genres or someone who hasn't decided on what sound they're looking for.

My least favorite thing about this amp is the effects. I'd rather just one effect with more parameter control available than the six with such limited control.

-12 inch speaker
-numerous amp models, each with clean and drive channels
-global EQ for both channels, and volume per channel
-built in effects
-line in for playing along with tracks
-speaker out for pushing external speaker cabinets


UTILIZATION

I use this amp as my practice setup. The Roland Cube is quite easy to dial in. The EQ offers enough range to be effective over each of the amp models. Having effects built in is a great addition for a compact, all-in-one package. The line-in makes it easy to play along to your favorite songs with an MP3 player and proper hookup. When I needed something quick to take to band practice, I really appreciated the speaker out, allowing me to plug into a 4x12 cabinet.

SOUNDS

The Cube 60 offers many tonal options across the varying amp models. As one would expect, the models of clean amps are optimized on the clean channel, and likewise for the high gain models on the drive channel. As I said before, the amp serves me as a home practice amp, and it gets me great tones at these reasonable levels. I was never quite happy with my tones running tube amps at bedroom levels (no surprise there), so this was my solution. At these low levels, the Roland Cube 60 is the perfect solution. Even if you don’t believe you need the additional wattage, I highly recommend the 60 watt model, as it has the 12 inch speaker, which really helps in achieving great tones and holding up in the low end department.

OVERALL OPINION

As my only amp, or gigging amp, this would not be my choice. There are much better solutions depending on your needs. As an all-in-one practice solution, this is a great amp, offering amazing tones at even the lowest output settings. I tried many other ‘small amps,’ and I simply did not enjoy the sounds, which made practice a chore.