Roland Micro Cube Bass RX

[Ibanezbass671]

I tested one today at my Local Music shop and I had to say, I'm impressed with this little amp. It's a great practice amp and I score one today for $230 bucks new! (cheaper than online too)

Just wondering, has anyone tried to used this on a medium scale gig by connecting it to the PA via headphone jack??? Just a thought

 

[popstarrobot]

Got mine two days ago. I LOVE it! I agree with chad about the amp's portability and tone! I've yet to try it out as a pre-amp, I'm very glad to hear it carries over so well!

I've gone busking with it at a New York Subway platform with a drummer and a sax player and I was surprised it could be heard. I used an US Fender Jazz, and I rocked the treble at 3 with mid and bass at 12. It loses its low end but like chad said, its not a gigging amp. However, I was astounded that I could still groove in that situation.

I'm actually thinking about opening the back and drilling 3 round holes to allow more air to push through....

Is there an engineer in the house to advise me if this is a big mistake?

Otherwise, I'm super happy with my purchase!
For travel its great, and if you or your band are mobile it makes for a great dynamic. If you're a street performer or have aspirations to, this amp is ideal!

 

[Artman]

Have any of you tried running external stompboxes between your bass and the BassRX? For example, an octaver or overdrive?

 

[Joe Nerve]

Absolutely. IMO of course.

I think the amp models, 3 band eq, and compression really give you a lot to work with. I've been getting some pretty deep, thick and warm sounds out of it. I must reiterate though - at low volumes. Just enough volume actually to get the neighbors mentioned above to complain.

As I already said, I'm happy to be keeping mine. Will definitely handle the acoustic jams, is the best sounding practice amp I ever had, the lightest, and it runs on batteries. That's all I really wanted it for anyhow.

@VWbug just "liked" this post , so I figured I'd chime in again after almost 15 years of use.

This amp is still my most used piece of equipment. Its my practice amp, and I absolutely love it.

Strangest thing that I'm a little embarrassed to admit... The amp is in a spot that's difficult for me to get to (fit into a shelf space), so turning it off is a hassle. Its been plugged in and on for about a decade straight, and still works perfectly. I keep a bass plugged in and just pick it up and play it when I need/want to.

This amp is an animal. And watch it burn out tonight cuz I bragged about it ...

 

[VWbug]

@VWbug just "liked" this post , so I figured I'd chime in again after almost 15 years of use.

This amp is still my most used piece of equipment. Its my practice amp, and I absolutely love it.

Strangest thing that I'm a little embarrassed to admit... The amp is in a spot that's difficult for me to get to (fit into a shelf space), so turning it off is a hassle. Its been plugged in and on for about a decade straight, and still works perfectly. I keep a bass plugged in and just pick it up and play it when I need/want to.

This amp is an animal. And watch it burn out tonight cuz I bragged about it ...

Hi Joe,
Haven’t been on here for a while and I’m thinking of going for one. I put the new upgraded version “Boss dual bass cube” on my Christmas present list and my wife says it’s possible I may get it. It’s just little more than a month away, I can be good for that long.

while I was researching… I found the Roland Bass cube Rx you wrote about for sale nearby. Guy says he bought it and used it for an hour or so and then put it away and just uses his regular amp, so I’m pondering getting that for almost 1/2 it’s original cost. He still has it in the box. I practice in 2 areas of the house depending on where’s quieter /less busy so thought I might go for it but concerned about it having a decent nice warm tone. I’m not looking for loud, I have other GK amps for that..
The YouTube videos of the drum machine made it look like it could make practice less tedious.
Any more thoughts on it?
I appreciate your thoughts on it from such a long time ago!

 

[Joe Nerve]

Any more thoughts on it?

Yes, actually...

If volume isn't a concern and you're not dying to have that looper, you might want to save yourself some money. I think those are the only tradeoffs, really.

A few things I may have not mentioned in my earlier review (I didn't re-read it)... I'm assuming both amps will have similar components:

The 3 band EQ leaves a bit to be desired. There's not as much range as I originally expected or hoped for, but there's enough to do the job. The drive (gain) doesn't really color the sound much either. Its more like just another volume control, at least on mine. It gets gritty if I dime it, but I have no need to ever do that.

2 plusses on the RX are 1. That it runs on 6 as opposed to 8AAs. And 2, that it offers 8 as opposed to 5 amp models. There ARE big differences in the amp models, so there's a chance the RX is a bit more versatile.

Iffin I were you I'd pull up both pages on the Boss website, compare the specs, watch as many vids as you can on both amps, think about the space you'll want to keep it in (that might be a deciding factor) and then decide.

I'd love to hear how it works out for ya. Either way, so long as you're not expecting to rattle the furniture or feel it kicking you in the chest, I think yer gonna be very happy . Hope that helps some.

 

[Marko 1]

Strangest thing that I'm a little embarrassed to admit... The amp is in a spot that's difficult for me to get to (fit into a shelf space), so turning it off is a hassle. Its been plugged in and on for about a decade straight, and still works perfectly. I keep a bass plugged in and just pick it up and play it when I need/want to.

My studio monitors are set up like that, and I just leave them on.

What you're doing isn't even that rare.

 

[LBS-bass]

My studio monitors are set up like that, and I just leave them on.

Same. I can't remember the last time I turned them off.