Roland Blues Cube Artist 80 Watt Guitar Amp in Blonde

You know that look that some amps have that immediately tells you what they're going to sound like?

You're not going to be disappointed...

I don't think that anyone other than Roland themselves can explain where the magic in their Cube amps comes from but even though there's no valves in it the Blues Cube screams and sings alongside some of the best blues combos out there!

If you've owned a valve combo then you'll know all too well that they can weigh a tonne and are actually way more fragile than something so heavy should ever be. So it makes perfect sense to replace a valve amp with a solid state amp right?

I'm guessing your skin crawled a little when I said that but you know need to hear why I stand by it.

Technology has come a long way since transistor amps first hit the scene and even back in those days it was the Roland JC-120 that set the standard for solid state amps that we chosen over valve amps because they sounded that good. And that is why you need to sit up and pay attention to the Blues Cube, because even side by side with a true valve amp the Blues Cube kicks some ass in a way that only a Roland can! The technology is called Tube Logic, which is just marketing speak for a tone that's up there with all the creamy, saggy, crunch tones that you associate with the blues!

So besides sounding kick ass, being significantly lighter than a valve combo and looking the absolute business, what else is up with the Blues Cube?

What you need more!? Ok well here's a quick run down: You get 2 channels (clean and crunch) each with a powerful 3 band EQ, Presence, Boost, Tone and Master Volume. Combine that with built in FX, extensive power output options and lots of control from an option extra footswitch and you get the picture!

Here's what Roland say about the Blues Cube Artist Guitar Amplifier

The reinvented Blues Cube series launches the classic 1x12 combo amp into a new era, combining genuine tube sound and response with modern reliability and easy portability. Going far beyond modelling, Roland’s Tube Logic design philosophy starts with carefully reproducing the inner workings of the revered tweed-era tube amp in every way, from guitar input to speaker output. Versatile clean and crunch channels can be used independently or combined for a complex range of tones, while variable output power modes let you dial in burning, full-throttle sound at any volume. Road-tested and fine-tuned with feedback from top players, the gig-ready Blues Cube delivers the sweet, magical tone and satisfying feel that makes a great guitar amp a highly expressive musical instrument.

Features

• Performance-ready 80-watt combo guitar amplifier with authentic tube tone and touch response
• Roland’s comprehensive Tube Logic design delivers the interactive tonal behaviours of famous fine-tuned vintage tube amps, including preamp and output tube distortion characteristics, power supply compression, and much more
• Independent Clean and Crunch channels, plus unique Dual Tone mode for blending channels to expand tonal possibilities.
• Master volume, three-band EQ, and Presence control, plus Boost and Tone switches on each channel
• Four-way Power Control (0.5 W, 15 W, 45 W, Max) allows for cranked-amp tones at any volume
• Onboard high-quality reverb and tremolo effects with vintage sound character, plus effects loop for external devices
• Classic open-back design with custom 12-inch speaker and poplar cabinet for enhanced presence on stage
• Stylish, modern look with a vintage vibe
• Efficient, lightweight design provides easy portability without sacrificing tone quality
• USB output for high-quality direct recording to a computer
• Optional GA-FC Foot Controller for Channel Select, Dual Tone, and Tremolo/EFX Loop 

Musical, Highly Responsive Amp Tones with Tube Logic
Warm, bouncy, responsive, dynamic, elastic…these are all terms that guitarists use to describe the satisfying experience of playing their favorite tube amps. Thanks to Roland’s Tube Logic, these words can be applied to the Blues Cube Artist as well. Dramatically evolved from the first-generation sound of the original Blues Cube amps from the ‘90s, today’s Tube Logic accurately provides the complex, highly interactive behaviour of classic tube designs in meticulous detail, providing the magical “it” factor that takes a guitar amp from a simple sound system to a living, breathing musical instrument. Great feel, distortion control with touch and volume, bloom, sparkle, power supply “sag,” and more—everything that players love about a finely tuned vintage tube amp is present in abundance with the Blues Cube.  

Performance-Ready Amp for Pro Players
Ready for live playing, the Blues Cube Artist is equipped with 80-watts of power, plus a custom 12-inch speaker that’s been specially designed for maximum tonal response with Tube Logic. The open-back cabinet features poplar plywood construction, which offers acoustically vibrant tone for solo or group performances.

Clean, Crunch, and Dual Tone
The Blues Cube Artist has two independent channels—one voiced for cleaner tones, and the other for crunch. Each channel has its own Boost and Tone switches to shape the character. The Clean channel’s single volume control dials in natural tube fullness and bite as the volume is cranked, while the Crunch channel’s variable gain control provides a range of grit flavours from mild to aggressive. With the press of a switch, the unique Dual Tone mode lets you blend both channels together for an endless array of rich tones. And just like a vintage tube amp, the Blues Cube loves stompboxes, allowing you to further shape your personal sound by hitting the amp’s front end with your favourite gain pedals.

Wide-Open Sound at Any Volume
Every tube-amp player knows that you really need to turn up the volume and push the output tubes to get the amp to sing at its best. The downside is that the sound simply becomes too loud for playing anywhere but the biggest stages—though that’s certainly never stopped guitarists from trying! With Tube Logic, the Blues Cube authentically delivers the complex distortion characteristics of output tubes and their interaction with the output transformer, with the sound getting richer and the feel becoming more dynamically responsive as the overall volume is increased. But with the Blues Cube’s variable Power Control, you’re able to enjoy this musical, cranked-up tone while matching the volume to any situation, from recording to rehearsals to nightclub gigs and beyond.    

Maintenance-Free and Easy on Your Back
With its modern approach, the Blues Cube eliminates two of the big drawbacks found in all tube amps powerful enough for stage playing—they’re extremely heavy, prone to vibration damage, and they require frequent tube replacement and other costly maintenance to keep them going strong. In contrast, the Blues Cube is basically maintenance-free, and has been carefully designed to reduce weight in every area that doesn’t affect the tone. With the Blues Cube, you’re able to enjoy great tube sound at every gig, but with much easier load-in and no actual tubes to worry about! 

Effects, Foot Control, and Direct Recording Via USB
The Blues Cube Artist features onboard reverb and tremolo, plus an effects loop for patching in any external effect that you like. The rear panel has jacks for connecting an optional footswitch such as the GA-FC Foot Controller, which provides remote switching for channel selection, Dual Tone mode, and on/off for the built-in effects and effects loop. And with the USB jack, it’s simple to capture the Blues Cube Artist’s rich tones directly into your favourite computer recording applications.  

Specifications

• Rated Power Output
  80 W
• Nominal Input Level
• INPUT HIGH: -10 dBu (1 M ohm)
  INPUT LOW: 0 dBu
  EFX LOOP RETURN:-10 dBu
• Speaker
  30 cm (12 inches) x 1
• Controls
  POWER switch
  DUAL TONE switch
  CH SELECT switch
• [CLEAN channel]
  BOOST button
  TONE button
  VOLUME knob
• [CRUNCH channel]
  BOOST button
  TONE button
  GAIN knob
  VOLUME knob
• [EQUALIZER]
  BASS knob
  MIDDLE knob
  TREBLE knob
• [EFFECT]
  TAP button
  EFX LOOP button
  TREMOLO knob
  REVERB knob
  PRESENCE knob
  MASTER knob
  POWER CONTROL switch
• Indicators
  CLEAN CHANNEL
  BOOST
  TONE
  CRUNCH CHANNEL
  BOOST
  TONE
  TAP
  EFFECT
  POWER
• Connectors
  INPUT HIGH/LOW jack: 1/4-inch phone type
  LINE OUT jack: 1/4-inch phone type
  PHONES jack: Stereo 1/4-inch phone type
  FOOT SW (TIP: TREMOLO, RING: EFX LOOP) jack: 1/4-inch TRS phone type
  FOOT SW (TIP: CH SELECT, RING: DUAL TONE) jack: 1/4-inch TRS phone type
  FOOT SW (GA-FC): 1/4-inch TRS phone type
  EFX LOOP SEND jack: 1/4-inch phone type
  EFX LOOP RETURN jack: 1/4-inch phone type
  REC OUT: USB type B
  AC IN jack
• Accessories
  Owner’s manual
  Power cord
• Options (sold separately)
  Footswitch (BOSS FS-5L, BOSS FS-6)
  GA Foot Controller (GA-FC)
• SIZE AND WEIGHT
  Width: 592 mm, 23-5/16 inches
  Depth: 260 mm, 10-1/4 inches
  Height: 485 mm,19-1/8 inches
  Weight: 16 kg, 35 lbs. 5 oz.