Roland Bass Cube 100, Hartke Kickback 12?

[momo]

I tried the lowdown 110 and had suprisingly results gonig straight in with my underwood to the "fliptop" setting. I still think I will get rid of it due to some wierdness in the behavior of the amp, but I was suprised. ANy other DB experience with these?

[RHayton]

I'm currently using the Cube 100 with URB in a swing big band, works very well. I've played with all kinds of combinations of amps and pickups looking for the best sound; I have a 10" Peavey, 15" Crate, and the Roland, and the Roland overall gets the best sound and most versatility. I bought it because I sometimes double on BG and I wanted the modeling and built in effects, and because in addition to the modeling settings, there is a flat setting for acoustic. however, I find the best sound comes from the "flip-top" modeling setting. I've played with the BP-100 and also have the Revolution Solo II.

( I know the BP-100 gets bad press, but between it and the Revolution Solo, I get better results with the BP-100. I attached the piezos with Super Glue HandiTack I got at Walmart for 97 cents. It's noticeably better than those clamps.)

My best sound so far is to mix both pickups with a simple y-connector and send the signal into my Fishman Platinum Pro Equalizer preamp, then to the Roland. I have all the equalizers on Roland set at zero, the Platinum Pro gives me all the adjustments I need. so far I am satisified with the sound. But I just ordered the K&K two channel preamp; want to see how that might work to blend the two pickups with separate equalization.

[eadg52]

Originally Posted by RHayton

I'm currently using the Cube 100 with URB in a swing big band, works very well. I've played with all kinds of combinations of amps and pickups looking for the best sound; I have a 10" Peavey, 15" Crate, and the Roland, and the Roland overall gets the best sound and most versatility. I bought it because I sometimes double on BG and I wanted the modeling and built in effects, and because in addition to the modeling settings, there is a flat setting for acoustic. however, I find the best sound comes from the "flip-top" modeling setting. I've played with the BP-100 and also have the Revolution Solo II.

( I know the BP-100 gets bad press, but between it and the Revolution Solo, I get better results with the BP-100. I attached the piezos with Super Glue HandiTack I got at Walmart for 97 cents. It's noticeably better than those clamps.)

My best sound so far is to mix both pickups with a simple y-connector and send the signal into my Fishman Platinum Pro Equalizer preamp, then to the Roland. I have all the equalizers on Roland set at zero, the Platinum Pro gives me all the adjustments I need. so far I am satisified with the sound. But I just ordered the K&K two channel preamp; want to see how that might work to blend the two pickups with separate equalization.

I look forward to your comments on the outcome. I have a Solo and a Bassmax (fitted but unused atm) on the bridge, a new present to myself of a Platinum Pro pre and a Roland DB500 (no modelling like the Cube alas but the inbuilt chorus can have it's moments...).
Never thought to use a splitter to use both pups, good idea, thanks for the heads up. I'll give it a try.

Steve

[trounsontime]

Just bought a secondhand SWR Workingman's 12. It's heavier than I expected but I just know it means it'll be able to cope with day to day wear and tear something my Ashdown struggles to do. I got it for less than the Kickback or the Cube would've cost me new and it's in superb condition. Sounds great for double bass and bass guitar without having to mess around with the EQ which is great. Thanks for chipping in everyone.

[HoDog]

i have the Roland Cube .... I think it is very reliable and good, it's got the potential to attach an external speaker ... you can also mess with it alot, I was also comparing the Cube to the Kickback 12. I thought the Kickback had it's only individual sound which had a lot of Highs, while with the Cubes, you can dial anything depending on the modelling and what you want, which is what made me decide to buy it

here it is

[bolo]

Originally Posted by momo

I tried the lowdown 110 and had suprisingly results gonig straight in with my underwood to the "fliptop" setting. I still think I will get rid of it due to some wierdness in the behavior of the amp, but I was suprised. ANy other DB experience with these?

Actually no experience with it, but for $250 street, and after reading the favorable review in BP recently, I am tempted to pick one up and check it out.

Maybe better suited for EB, but who knows ... Looks like it measures 12"x12"x12", and weighs 24 lbs.

[Showdown]

I have a Roland Cube 100 and really like it. It works great for DB as well as electric bass. It also has a high input impedence (over 1M ohm) so it will work with piezo pickups without a preamp. I use it with a BassMax straight in and it sounds great. I also (more often actually) use it with EB and it is an amazingly loud amp for 100w, and always sounds great. My two bands play a lot of small rooms, and it is plenty powerful to play EB with a full rock band in a small setting with no PA support. I'll be using it Tuesday night with DB accompanying an acoustic guitar. Very versatile, I can use the same amp for EB and DB with just a few adjustments when switching between.

[wps]

I have a Cube 100 for DB and am very pleased with it. To me the flat setting sounds more natural than the GK 150 although it's been a few years since I've used the latter.

I wanted to add that although the models and effects aren't much use for DB, with the Fender model and a little reverb it also makes a nice jazz guitar amp if you like a clean sound with lots of punch.

[RHayton]

Originally Posted by RHayton
I'm currently using the Cube 100 with URB in a swing big band, works very well. I've played with all kinds of combinations of amps and pickups looking for the best sound; I have a 10" Peavey, 15" Crate, and the Roland, and the Roland overall gets the best sound and most versatility. I bought it because I sometimes double on BG and I wanted the modeling and built in effects, and because in addition to the modeling settings, there is a flat setting for acoustic. however, I find the best sound comes from the "flip-top" modeling setting. I've played with the BP-100 and also have the Revolution Solo II.

( I know the BP-100 gets bad press, but between it and the Revolution Solo, I get better results with the BP-100. I attached the piezos with Super Glue HandiTack I got at Walmart for 97 cents. It's noticeably better than those clamps.)

My best sound so far is to mix both pickups with a simple y-connector and send the signal into my Fishman Platinum Pro Equalizer preamp, then to the Roland. I have all the equalizers on Roland set at zero, the Platinum Pro gives me all the adjustments I need. so far I am satisified with the sound. But I just ordered the K&K two channel preamp; want to see how that might work to blend the two pickups with separate equalization.

I look forward to your comments on the outcome. I have a Solo and a Bassmax (fitted but unused atm) on the bridge, a new present to myself of a Platinum Pro pre and a Roland DB500 (no modelling like the Cube alas but the inbuilt chorus can have it's moments...).
Never thought to use a splitter to use both pups, good idea, thanks for the heads up. I'll give it a try.

Steve


I got the two channel preamp from K&K--each channel has miniature pots inside for gain, treble, mid and low equalizers. I put the RS II and the Fishman BP100 into the two channels, tweaked each one separately with gain and equalizers until I got an acceptable sound, then plugged into the Cube 100 and blended them using the individual volume controls. It sounded pretty good, and I probably would have been satisfied if I did not have and already know about the Fishman Pro Platinum pre-amp. The two pickups blended with a simple Y connector into the Fishman PP are superior to the K&K dual channel because of the Fishman's better 5 band equalizer, the depth control, compression and the phase control.

I get a very nice sound with the RS II by itself direct into the Roland Cube 100, but not enough volume for the very loud band I play in. Running either or both of my pickups through the Fishman Platinum Pro gives me an additional volume boost.

I'm going to keep playing with the stuff, If I discover anything exceptional I'll post. My next experiment is I've ordered a Shure vocal mike--I'm going to try mounting it with foam rubber between the feet of the bridge and run it with the RS II through the K&K dual channel preamp into the Cube 100.

[fradubio]

I've used my Roland DB-500, which does have modeling, and the quick flip between vintage sounds and flat for doublers. It has worked quite well for URB, but clearly is not light. It is quite loud enough for small-medium gigs with a drummer, electric guitar, and keyboard.