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Roland Micro Cube Bass RX Cube Amp

StringThing

StringThing

Dec 6, 2007
168
24
San Diego
www.myspace.com
#1
So cool! I wanted a little practice amp. I always take a guitar and a Micro cube to the beach and such, quite often. But the bass was way so much for it and left behind. But not on the new Bass RX micro cube. the B string is right there! I looks very cool with four 4" drivers. Has a tuner, It's light and has a strap. Battery powered, has more than enough volume for solo with stereo practice. You can run a iPod into it in stereo, with tight bass. the killer is the drums. Enough to be quick and effective but not enough to get hung up. It has a tap tempo setting too. Really helps in practicing to have it right there. No more boring acoustic jams... bring the bass and the drummer too! It has a flat and a mic setting to. The true stereo chorus on a semi hollow-body guitar is Fing amazing! Probably same for an acoustic. I could see stand-ups using these for a healthy dose of of volume too.

Simply a great job. Really thought through well. People may niggle on this and that, but it really is a FUN entertaining piece of equipment. I got my 4x10,1x18 Ampeg head rig replaced by a 41 lb 2x10 Markbass Combo, and now this portable wonder replaces my SWR working man 15 for practice duties and newly acquired outdoor sessions. I can wait to haul my gear everywhere!
 
#3
StringThing said:
So cool! I wanted a little practice amp. I always take a guitar and a Micro cube to the beach and such, quite often. But the bass was way so much for it and left behind. But not on the new Bass RX micro cube. the B string is right there! I looks very cool with four 4" drivers. Has a tuner, It's light and has a strap. Battery powered, has more than enough volume for solo with stereo practice. You can run a iPod into it in stereo, with tight bass. the killer is the drums. Enough to be quick and effective but not enough to get hung up. It has a tap tempo setting too. Really helps in practicing to have it right there. No more boring acoustic jams... bring the bass and the drummer too! It has a flat and a mic setting to. The true stereo chorus on a semi hollow-body guitar is Fing amazing! Probably same for an acoustic. I could see stand-ups using these for a healthy dose of of volume too.

Simply a great job. Really thought through well. People may niggle on this and that, but it really is a FUN entertaining piece of equipment. I got my 4x10,1x18 Ampeg head rig replaced by a 41 lb 2x10 Markbass Combo, and now this portable wonder replaces my SWR working man 15 for practice duties and newly acquired outdoor sessions. I can wait to haul my gear everywhere!
Click to expand...

I agree. It is a great little amp. I bought it for the ability to run on batteries which is very convenient. I really like it!
 
#4
I just got one about two hours ago and can't stop fiddling with it. I think it's absolutely brilliant! I was surprised at how loud it is and how great it sounds. For $200, I think it's a steal! If this is as reliable as all of the Roland electronic drumming gear I have, I'll be happier than the proverbial clam.

I have tried it with my Ric and my new Sterling 5, and they both sound great through it.

Highly recommended.
 
#6
But just how loud does this thing really play? Will I get a pleasingly high volume when listening to loud music at the same time?

I was thinking of getting one to practice with but most people seem to be thinking it's not loud enough?
 
#7
Daftom said:
But just how loud does this thing really play? Will I get a pleasingly high volume when listening to loud music at the same time?

I was thinking of getting one to practice with but most people seem to be thinking it's not loud enough?
Click to expand...

Right now I am using mine with my Ipod plugged into it to learn some songs. The Ipod and bass are plenty loud.

This is great little amp. I am definitely more than happy with it.
 
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#8
vcs700s said:
Right now I am using mine with my Ipod plugged into it to learn some songs. The Ipod and bass are plenty loud.

This is great little amp. I am definitely more than happy with it.
Click to expand...
So you think I'd be pleased with it? There's no chance I'll think it's not loud enough when playing on my own? Not even if I got some quite loud music playing simultaneously?
 
#9
The best thing to do, if possible, is take an Ipod or CD player to the store and try it out. All you need is a cable with 1/8" stereo plugs on each end. Play and bass through it with the MP3 player and see what you think. I can't even get mine past half way up as I live in a townhome.
 
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#12
Daftom said:
There's no chance I'll think it's not loud enough when playing on my own? Not even if I got some quite loud music playing simultaneously?
Click to expand...

"No chance"? Nah, I guess that depends on your definition of "quite loud". If you mean 100 dB-SPL in your room's reverberant field, then no, it's not going to be loud enough. My experience is that it is plenty loud if you're practicing at conversational level.

I must admit, the one feature I didn't care about when I bought it (the mini drumbox/metronome) is something I find very fun to use. I select a pattern, tap in a tempo, and just come up with something that sounds nice against it. It's actually a nice exercise and it's right there- no separate box.
 
#13
JimFiore said:
"No chance"? Nah, I guess that depends on your definition of "quite loud". If you mean 100 dB-SPL in your room's reverberant field, then no, it's not going to be loud enough. My experience is that it is plenty loud if you're practicing at conversational level.

I must admit, the one feature I didn't care about when I bought it (the mini drumbox/metronome) is something I find very fun to use. I select a pattern, tap in a tempo, and just come up with something that sounds nice against it. It's actually a nice exercise and it's right there- no separate box.
Click to expand...
Volume is really quite impossible to "describe". I'm looking for a practice amp that is somewhat portable but still competent for solo jamming. Am on the fence between getting a Peavey Microbass or the Micro cube. It seems the local music store doesn't sell the latter so I can't try it live either.

When I'm pickin' the volume level is always conversational.

And yeah, I figure that drum box, in spite of perhaps not being of top-notch quality, will definitely be inspiring.

Edit:

Hmm, I went with the Micro cube. It's heading my way now. :)
 
#14
I've been looking for something like this for a while now. At least a couple of times a year I'm at a cottage with a bunch of guys playing acoustics and, though I'm a reasonable guitar player, I'd rather play bass. Acoustic bass guitars just aren't loud enough.

Well, the Roland Micro Cube does the trick. I was playing an outdoor gig backing up a buddies acoustic band this past weekend, and they wanted to add a last minute song that I didn't know. Found a corner of the field, and worked out the song courtesy of the Cube. It's plenty loud enough to overpower acoustic guitars, sounds pretty good, and the drum machine is actually helpful.

For a laugh, I stuck a guitar strap on it to see if I could carry it while playing bass. Yep. So, now I'm thinking of bringing it to a gig, getting the guitarist to bring an acoustic, and serenading the smokers outside...

In all seriousness, it sounds like a real bass amp, unlike most tiny cheap bass amps. I'm having a blast with it.

js
 
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#16
I got one when they just came out... this was mine and other's impressions:

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=436710

I love mine, use it all the time basically cuz it sounds real sweet at low volumes. And as far as the volume thing goes - to say it's LOUD, by just about any definition, isn't really fair. I was disappointed because I was expecting more when I got mine, but once I accepted the capabilities of the thing - I fell in love. It's got enough power to jam with a couple of guitars - mine even did ok with 2 slightly amplified acoustics in a friends living room - but I've a feeling that outdoors the sound might get a little lost. It does push out a lot for the amound of wattage it has - but don't by any means expect to bring this thing to a rehearsal with a drummer. Unless they're using brushes.

I think it's totally worth the money, and the batteries last about what they say they do.
 
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#17
js1 said:
I've been looking for something like this for a while now. At least a couple of times a year I'm at a cottage with a bunch of guys playing acoustics and, though I'm a reasonable guitar player, I'd rather play bass. Acoustic bass guitars just aren't loud enough.

Well, the Roland Micro Cube does the trick. I was playing an outdoor gig backing up a buddies acoustic band this past weekend, and they wanted to add a last minute song that I didn't know. Found a corner of the field, and worked out the song courtesy of the Cube. It's plenty loud enough to overpower acoustic guitars, sounds pretty good, and the drum machine is actually helpful.

For a laugh, I stuck a guitar strap on it to see if I could carry it while playing bass. Yep. So, now I'm thinking of bringing it to a gig, getting the guitarist to bring an acoustic, and serenading the smokers outside...

In all seriousness, it sounds like a real bass amp, unlike most tiny cheap bass amps. I'm having a blast with it.

js
Click to expand...

Do you think it could work in a parking lot picker situation with multiple guitars, mandolins and a banjo or 3? I know I might be asking too much of it but curious what your initial thoughts since you have actually played one outside.

Thanks
 
#18
Joe Nerve said:
I got one when they just came out... this was mine and other's impressions:

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=436710

I love mine, use it all the time basically cuz it sounds real sweet at low volumes. And as far as the volume thing goes - to say it's LOUD, by just about any definition, isn't really fair. I was disappointed because I was expecting more when I got mine, but once I accepted the capabilities of the thing - I fell in love. It's got enough power to jam with a couple of guitars - mine even did ok with 2 slightly amplified acoustics in a friends living room - but I've a feeling that outdoors the sound might get a little lost. It does push out a lot for the amound of wattage it has - but don't by any means expect to bring this thing to a rehearsal with a drummer. Unless they're using brushes.

I think it's totally worth the money, and the batteries last about what they say they do.
Click to expand...

+1. I had the same reaction, hoping it would be a little more louder without farting out, but, afterall, it's only 5 watts. I use the effects loop to send the signal to my Roland DB 700, where it gets loud enough to use at a gig. The drum machine especially gets loud when run through a more powerful rig. I'm actually thinking of removing the amp itself from the box, and using it as a preamp. Somebody on TB did exactly that a few months ago with great results.
 
#19
hahaha, great idea, someone removed the preamp section of the Cube RX ... well, makes sense, i also scored great recording results routing the preamp signal into my DAW.

roland_bass_preamp-jpg.jpg
 

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