New Roland Cube 120-XL

[Modulus1906]

This new Roland Cube 120-XL sounds great. I might have to pull up on one. I'm a Roland fan after owning the D-Bass 210. Not sure why they didn't catch on more.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKYP3...71DE48B21D7D26

[natw42]

Cool vid - that guy's got some chops. And that bass is beautiful and hideous all at the same time.

I love my D-Bass 210 - the reason why it didn't catch on? Too expensive. I got mine as a factory B-Stock for like 1/2 price. Otherwise, I probably wouldn't have gotten it.

[Modulus1906]

Originally Posted by natw42

Cool vid - that guy's got some chops. And that bass is beautiful and hideous all at the same time.

I love my D-Bass 210 - the reason why it didn't catch on? Too expensive. I got mine as a factory B-Stock for like 1/2 price. Otherwise, I probably wouldn't have gotten it.

My man, I've seen that too expensive comment quite alot and have never really understood it. Expensive relative to what? Low expectations from Roland? From my auditioning before I got mine. I didn't find anything that remotely touched it for the $1,100 or so I paid. However, I found quite a few more expensive rigs overrated by comparison. Not the most dramatic example, but I went in to buy an SWR Super Redhead at $1,600+, and it was no comparison. Completely walked away from a separate GK setup that had a much higher power rating. Also, I traded an Eden Combo. More recently, I bought an EBS 650 head with a 410 EBS cabinet that I love, but I find that the Roland is no slouch compared to the waaaaay more expense EBS setup. In fact, I find myself playing through the Roland more actually. Folks, don't sleep on this newer Roland stuff. At the moment, the only rig I'm more excited about is perhaps some Glockenklang stuff. Otherwise, no amp gas and I'll probably spring for one of those new Cube 120s and run it into my D-bass 210/115x for kicks.

[natw42]

Of course expensive is a relative term. I don't think they were over-priced per se. It's just that Roland never really had a smash hit in the bass world for larger wattage amplification, so if they really wanted to penetrate that market, they probably would have best been served by coming in at a lower price point.

Most Roland 210 combos I saw were selling for $1200-1400. I picked mine up for $800 5 years ago and have been loving it since then.

Btw, just a cursory glance on ebay shows someone blowing 3 of them out for less than $600!!! (no affiliation)

http://cgi.ebay.com/Roland-D-BASS-21...#ht_2729wt_808

If anyone ever wanted one of these (and ya should, because they sound great) pick one up now!

[Modulus1906]

Wow, $600 for a new D-BASS is crazy!!!!

[jnewmark]

Originally Posted by Modulus1906

Wow, $600 for a new D-BASS is crazy!!!!

That is an incredible price, no doubt, but as Roland has discontinued the DB line, you might see more dealers blowing them out. I have one of the older ones, DB 700, that I have used for years. It is bulky and heavy to schlepp, and not that powerful ( 300 watts ), but I love the tone for small-medium volume gigs. I was hoping they might go to a rack mount bass preamp. They used to make one years ago.

[Modulus1906]

I would love to see Roland incorporate the tones of the D-Bass series into a separate amp/ cab configuration at high wattage. I bet it would kill. For those who'd be inclined to criticize the amp modeling that Roland does as too gimmicky, perhaps they could separate the COSM modeling function into a separate optional component if one prefers (I would). I would go for that for sure. I think Roland's marketing department would be on to something if they could figure out how to "repackage" their amps. I don't view the modeling as gimmicky like some. After all, what's the difference between modeling built into the amp and footpedals? My hunch tells me they are working on "something"

[natw42]

^^

That would definitely be interesting. I've always enjoyed the one-hand schlep factor of the D-Bass 210, but a semi-modular setup could be really cool, especially in the whole new mini-amp world we live in.

[Rattle Head]

I'm considering buying that amplifier, but I'm not sure if it's loud enough in a basement to play with my mates (also live drums). Its just a small room in a basement. Would the 120 watts do it?

[masturbasser]

I had a Roland bass cube 100 for a long while. I hated everything about it's natural tone and amp emulation. The ONLY setting I came close to liking was the Trace Elliot with the tone button on.

[Nedmundo]

I dig it, and might get one. I've had a Cube 100 for about six years, and I love it, and Roland has addressed many of my complaints with this one. They've made octave an effect instead of a model, and added an on board tuner and aux in.

One thing bums me out though: it looks like the XLR output is DI only. On my Cube, it can be switched to a line out, so the effects and models go into the PA or recording device. This is great for recording IMO.

I also wish Roland would make a powered extension cab specifically for the Cube, like the D-115x in the D-BASS line. The combo with a 200 watt 1x12" extension would rock.

[seamonkey]

I was kind of wondering why Rolands weight so much. I know now it's MDF
Just seems surprising for the perceived quality.
Sure MDF can sound good, my home theater speakers are mdf, but so can well braced plywood can sound just as good, be lighter, and more durable. In this small of package mdf is probably not saving them much.
But then I like molded plastic cabs also.

[bmc]

Originally Posted by Nedmundo

I dig it, and might get one. I've had a Cube 100 for about six years, and I love it, and Roland has addressed many of my complaints with this one. They've made octave an effect instead of a model, and added an on board tuner and aux in.

One thing bums me out though: it looks like the XLR output is DI only. On my Cube, it can be switched to a line out, so the effects and models go into the PA or recording device. This is great for recording IMO.

I also wish Roland would make a powered extension cab specifically for the Cube, like the D-115x in the D-BASS line. The combo with a 200 watt 1x12" extension would rock.

You and I often appear in Roland threads because we both love our CB-100's. I made an impressive discovery that I think you should give a whirl. Try and track down a Yamaha BBT110-s cab. The 4 ohm 1-10 cab. Slip that under your cube and listen without it, and with it. Stunning amount of additional girth.

FWIW...just started playing six string guitar and I'm using this bass amp with the Bassman modelling. Nice guitar amp.

[Nedmundo]

Yes, a good 4 ohm cab should be a great match for the Cube 100. I've thought about the Hartke Hy-Drive 1x12, which can be switched between four and eight ohms, and is very compact. Even then, however, I'm not sure it would outperform my G-K 700RB-II/Neo 112 rig, and yet it would be bulkier and heavier. I'd like to try it though.

I've also found the Cube is a decent guitar amp. It sounds really good with a clean Strat, but of course not as good as my Cube 60 guitar amp! (Seriously, I don't think modestly priced SS guitar amps get better than the Cubes. The Jazz Chorus-derived clean tone is a great starting point for intense pedal usage, and the on-board effects are much better than the Cube 100 Bass's effects.)

By the way, I just checked Roland's site, and the Cube 120's DI can be run as a line out, so I'm no longer concerned about that. The new Cube has gained a few pounds, which is a bummer, but with the ports and additional power it should deliver more volume than the Cube 100.

[steveksux]

Originally Posted by natw42

Of course expensive is a relative term. I don't think they were over-priced per se. It's just that Roland never really had a smash hit in the bass world for larger wattage amplification, so if they really wanted to penetrate that market, they probably would have best been served by coming in at a lower price point.

Most Roland 210 combos I saw were selling for $1200-1400. I picked mine up for $800 5 years ago and have been loving it since then.

Btw, just a cursory glance on ebay shows someone blowing 3 of them out for less than $600!!! (no affiliation)

Roland D-BASS 210 Amplifier 400 Watts 2-10"spk NEW | eBay

If anyone ever wanted one of these (and ya should, because they sound great) pick one up now!

I've been looking for a good deal on the Dbass 210 for a couple of years now after trying one in a local store.

I got one of these about a week ago, this listing. Its brand spanking new in the box, never been opened, works like a charm. I want desperately to ask why so cheap, assuming its a store that went bankrupt and they're liquidating the inventory.

Randy

[oldcatfish]

Quote: "I also wish Roland would make a powered extension cab specifically for the Cube, like the D-115x in the D-BASS line. The combo with a 200 watt 1x12" extension would rock."

I have a Cube 100 and I found the next best thing. I run the line out of the Cube into a 12 inch powered PA speaker...it fills up a room more than you'd think, you can position the speaker at a different angle than the amp, and if you need more, you can daisy chain into even more powered PA speakers.

[russtolium]

I just got the 60XL version of the Cube Bass last week and I love it. One feature it has that the 120XL doesn't (and this is more relevant if you want to be able to use this as a practice amp) is the power squeezer function, which is basically a 'midnight mode' for the amp that lowers the volume output while still letting you get a high volume sound. Really really handy for an apartment dweller like me.

As someone using it as a practice amp, I also use the line-in constantly, and I kind of wish the line-in had it's own volume knob, since some external sources can be unpredictably loud (and line-in volume is independant of your amp volume settings) so you'll have to be careful when trying an audio source for the first time.

The biggest reason I ended up going with Roland aside from past positive experiences with other products is that it allows for a flat, transparent tone setting which is something many amps don't do without a pricey setup. I like many of the other modeled amps (I actually find myself using the Session amp the most) as well but I really value having that Super Flat setting if I don't want a lot of amp-based coloration of the sound (and it's a really nice setting if you're into solo bass).

The Super Low setting also gives you a really earth-shaking 2 octave down effect (with the bass knob sufficiently cranked). You can also pipe in your signal via the line-in from an external amp modeler like the Line 6 POD if you want to use other tones on the amp without having the amp color the modeled sound much.

The shape button is an interesting feature that offers you a uniquely altered EQ setting for each modeled amp.

The reverb and delay sound pretty good. The delay has more of an analogue than digital sound to it from what I've heard, but I've only used it a little bit. I don't care for chorus, but it's there and seems to be pretty lush sounding.

The polyphonic octaver is probably my favorite effect and sounds great and tracks well. In my experience so far the polyphonic nature of it isn't flawless, but it doesn't blatantly glitch out unless you do things that would confuse any octaver like putting a distortion pedal in front of it.

The compressor works well, I tend to keep it on a medium/lowish setting, and the drive I don't particularly care for, not because it's poorly done but just my personal preference, it sounds a bit too muffled for me (and I have a Boss ODB for that anyway).

The looper is a super cool addition and I can't wait to get or build a footswitch setup that I can use it with. You can operate it with the buttons on the amp itself, but it isn't very practical. This feature really makes the amp feel like a complete practice tool. I haven't had the chance to use the Solo feature yet but I think its a great thing to have, especially since it lets you use the looper and delay simultaneously (which would otherwise be impossible since they share the same knob).

In the end it's a great sounding and absurdly practical amp, and though I've only used it on modest volumes for practice, I'm probably only utilizing a very small fraction of its total power. I can imagine the 120XL being even moreso, but since I'm not going to be gigging any time soon, the 60XL is perfect.

Oh! And one thing most people haven't tried is using this amp for regular electric guitar. I have and it's really, really good. If you tweak the EQ settings you can get amazingly rich guitar tones and the built in effects work just as well on the guitar as the bass. This could be said for many bass amps as they simply have a wider frequency response than guitar amps, but the combination of flat and vintage amp settings give the Cube a versatile edge over other amps. That fact effectively doubles this amp's usefulness making it an ideal all-in-one solution for me.

[Néal Zheimer]

Hi

I'm looking for feedback for the Roland Cuble 120XL in live settings. My main concern being volume. Is it loud enough for a five-piece band in a small to medium club situation with no PA for bass?
I have a tendency to favor the mid-low and low end of the spectrum with a clean signal, currently playing a ABM EVO 500 II + ABM 210 (+ ABM 115 if needed/brave enough to carry the whole shebang).

I'm using the micro cube bass version at home for practice and I found it to sound great. I love the DEEP and FULL sound there is to it with the Super Flat model.

Any feedback would be appreciated.

[Barry Clark]

Originally Posted by Néal Zheimer

Hi

I'm looking for feedback for the Roland Cuble 120XL in live settings. My main concern being volume. Is it loud enough for a five-piece band in a small to medium club situation with no PA for bass?
I have a tendency to favor the mid-low and low end of the spectrum with a clean signal, currently playing a ABM EVO 500 II + ABM 210 (+ ABM 115 if needed/brave enough to carry the whole shebang).

I'm using the micro cube bass version at home for practice and I found it to sound great. I love the DEEP and FULL sound there is to it with the Super Flat model.

Any feedback would be appreciated.

Do you and your band mates eq out of each others way? Does your drummer play like he is tryin to kill his heads on first use? Does your band solve 'not being heard' with turning their amps up?

If you answered yes to anything but the first one, this amp alone may not be for you. For me? Yes. I plan on one.

[oldcatfish]

I have the older version the CB 100, so I can only comment on it.

It sounds great in a band setting with a quiet drummer, but needs to be pushed pretty hard with a moderate one. You'll need an amp stand or tilt back wedge for sure. For anything louder, it'll do ok with an extension cab. I use an Eden EX112 4 ohm extension cab for louder settings, which is a great match for it.