Roland Cube 80x Review

Cube 80x

Information

Original Author: MonkeyDAthos

Weapon: Guitar Amplifier

Make: Roland

Model: Cube 80x

Price: 350€-400€

Introduction

Well today we are going to review the mighty Cube80x.

"I own this amp for over 1 year now, and I am extremely happy. The clean channel just blows my mind and you can also play pretty much everything with the right EQ" - MonkeyDAthos

But before my opinion above about this little friend, I'll just make some copy-paste about its "skills".

Specs

Successor of the Cube 60, Cube 80x is the most powerfull amp of the Cube series.
Delivering over 80 watts of power through a 12 speaker, it makes Cube 80x a perfect amp to jam in some small gigs and wake up all your neighbours.

The Cube80x has 10 COSM® amp models (JC Clean, Acoustic Simulator, Black Panel, DLX Combo, Brit Combo, Tweed, Classic Stack, Metal, R-Fier, Dyna Amp), making it a very versatily amp.

Beside the JC Clean channel and the Lead, Cube 80x features a Solo Channel.
It has over 4 built in EFX (Chorus, Flanger, Phaser. Tremolo)

Tired of jamming alone? well don't worry, Cube 80x brings a new weapon in the World of Cubes , a Looper!!
Cube 80x also give you acess to 2 types of Delay (Warm and Clear) and 2 types of Reverb (Spring and Plate)

Last but not least, Cube 80x come with a (Bass, Middle, Treble and Presence) Equalizer and a Chromatic Tuner.

10 COSM®

Clean Channel

JC Clean - JC Clean models the Roland JC-120. This is a sound that really extends up to the treble range, it's ideal to create sounds using multi-effects device over. (JC Clean also comes with a Bright Switch, which makes your mid and high ranges to become more brilliant, for a crisper sound)

Lead Channel

Acoustic Sim - A.S transforms the sounds from your guitar into a clear, refined acoustic-guitar sound

Black Panel - B.P transform your Cube into a classic Fender Twin Reverb amplifier, it can be used in wide range of musical styles, from country to blues, jazz, and rock.

DLX Combo - DLX is modeled on the Fender Deluxe Reverb amplifier, this amp finds use in a full range of genres, such as surf music, blues, country, jazz, soul and hard rock,

Brit Combo - This is modeled after the Vox AC-30TB, a rock amplifier that created the Liverpool sound of the 1960s, it can produce a broad range of sounds, from clean to overdrive.

Tweed - This is modeled on the vintage Fender Tweed Bassman 4x10” Combo, it produces a clear mid to upper range with a fat low end, and its unique crunch tones with persistent distortion have earned it a loyal following among blues and rock guitarists.

Classic Stack - This is modeled on the features of a Marshall JMP 1987, it was used extensively in hard rock in the 1970s, this is truly the perfect amp for the “top rock” guitar sound.

Metal - This is modeled on the Peavey EVH 5150. This is a high-gain amp, so you can get heavy distortion and sustain even at low volumes.

R-Fier - This super high-gain amp is modeled on the Mesa/Boogie Rectifier. This is a super high-gain amp. It’s capable of producing slash metal, grunge, and a wide range of other lead sounds.

Dyna Amp- This is an original amp type that lets you obtain unprecedented tonal changes according to your picking dynamics. Soft picking produces a transparent clean amp sound, whereas hard picking yields a deeply distorted high-gain amp sound. Once the sound is distorted, the tone then changes according to the force used in picking, greatly expanding your range of expression, and it's the one that I use most :D

Solo Channel

Solo Channel, is kind of a memory channel, where you can record one tune from Lead Channel with any EFX/Delay/Reverb in it. Its cool to use for exemple when you want to creat a certain tunality to solo a song without wasting time messy around with the bottuns in the amp.

"taken from http://www.rolandus.com/products/productdetails.php?ProductId=999"

Effects

EFX:

Chorus This adds a slightly detuned sound to the original sound, giving the sound greater breadth and fullness.

Flanger This creates a flanging effect that creates a sort of spinning sensation with the sound.

Phaser This adds a phase-shifted signal to the original sound, giving the sound a swirling sensation.

Tremolo This effect produces cyclical changes in the volume level.

Delay/Looper

Delay:

Warm This is a feedback delay with a warm analog-delay feel.

Clear This is a delay with one to two repetitions.

Looper:

This allowed the player to loope a melody for over 40 seconds, it also allowed yoi to record infinite tracks over the first looped melody.

Reverb:

Spring It produces the distinctive reverberations of a spring.

Plate This reverb features high-end sustain.

Accessories

Cube 80x

FOOT SW : As you may see in the image, Roland Cube80x has 3 foot sw channels although in the image it shows the FS-6 this amp works with any kind of dual foot sw. I have tried a marshall dual foot sw and a randall one and it works perfectly. If you want to use a normal foot sw instead of a dual, you have to turn the foot sw type button to FS-5l, but I warn you that this may limit the functions of the amp. For example, if you use a foot sw type FS-5l on the 3rd channel you will be only able to use the Clean and Lead Channel and the Solo will remain unavailable until you unplug the foot sw jack or until you plug a FS-6 type foot sw.

EXT SPEAKER: Can't say much about this, only that it works perfectly (due to my crazy experiences of connecting bass amps and guitar amps together)

Recording out/Phones; Line out- Cool features if you are like me, and play something really really cool and 4 min later you just forget it. The phones channel is also pretty good, not only does it allow you to play at any time hearing a decent sound, but also prevents your neighbours from calling the cops at the middle of the night ;D

AUX IN: Allows you to jam over you fav tracks, want better?

Demos

Overall

MonkeyDAthos:

Well like I said before, I have been using this amplifier for over a year and I am pretty happy with it. I love to go to my rehearsal room and put the clean channel on and jam untill 2,3,4 AM. The looper function also helps a lot.

If you are looking for a versatile amp, I definitely recommend it!, you can play pretty much everything, BUT if you are one of these EFX freaks I also recommend not relying on the amp EFX and get pedals or something like that to replace them. Ok, you could say they are better than nothing, but they are just crappy, ans it's probaly the only drawback I see in this amplifier,

How does it work in rehearsal you ask?

Well just perfect, I have been doing rehearsals with him for over 3 weeks so far and I'm quite happy. (Ps: I use Dyna amp with Bass around 6.5 - 8; Middle around 2 - 4.5; Treble around 7 - 8; Presence around 4 - 5, Gain around 5 - 10)

How does it work in gigs?

Haven't played one with it yet, but as soon as I do I'll let you know.