Cube 15X Review

Roland’s famous CUBE amp lineup expands with three hot new models: the Cube 15X, 20X, and 30X. With great new features such as Power Squeezer for maximum sustain without maximum volume, a mini-jack aux in for playing along to MP3 and CD players, and of course that incredible CUBE sound, these amps are built to rock!

Features:	8.7
Sound:	6.7
Reliability:	9.7
Impression:	8
Overall rating:	8.3
Users rating:	7.9
Comments:	10

overall: 9.3

Featured review by: burntomato, on august 06, 2007

Price paid: $ 103

Purchased from: Tom Lee Hong Kong

Features: This is Roland’s famous new Cube 15X amp. I bought mines a few weeks ago. It has great features like the Power Squeezer, which allows it to achieve the maximum gain and sustain without maximum volume, which is very useful when playing in a bedroom so you can have a better gain sound without putting the volume higher. The Cube 15X also features a mini-jack aux so you can play along with an MP3 or CD player. The Cube 15X (15W) has a 8" speaker, 1 input, treble middle and bass EQ, 2 channels, and a Switch which includes the four different sounds: overdrive, distortion, metal and metal stack. This 15W amp is enough power for a regular room, I play it in my living room and normally I don't put the volume past 1/3 without Power Squeezer. // 9

Sound: I use a Fender '72 Tele Deluxe with 2 humbuckers on the Cube 15X. It suits my style, heavy, punk, rock. Even on clean it gives a really country sound. However on Overdrive and Distortion the sound seems to be very think and flat which is alright for playing stuff like power chords but playing harmonics don't achieve a good result. The overdrive, distortion, metal and metal stack only give a good sound when turned on louder volume (over 1/2 way) even when gain is put on max. This is where the Power Squeezer is useful, it is simply a push button, once turned on you can turn on louder volume so there is better gain and sustain sound, but the real volume given off will be much more quieter which is suitable for environments such as bedrooms when you don't want to play that loud. // 9

Reliability & Durability: The amp is very reliable, but I don't think I'll move it around too much. The amp has never broken down since I bought it a few weeks ago, but everything seems very durable and I think there won't be much problems with it in the future. If it does I'm sure I will post it up to let you guys know. // 10

Impression: I play pop, heavy, punk rock. It's a very good match with the variety of different sounds the Cube 15X gives. I've been playing on another 15W amp which only offered a Drive sound, and the Cube 15X definately sounds much better than that. If it was stolen or lost, I will buy it again. I really love the variety of sound it gives, and the Power Squeezer feature, but I think the sound is sometimes very thick and flat since I use humbucker guitars on it, but I think it would work better with other guitars which has more tonal range. Thanks for reading this review, I hope you guys enjoyed it. // 9

overall: 8

Reviewed by: restless_thrash, on january 07, 2008

Purchased from: International Musicland

Features: This little all-in-wonder has many great features. The most prominent is the power squeezer. It allows you to play with high-gain and sustain at low volumes (if noise is an issue). It has two channels operated by a foot switch (clean and lead). The lead channel features four different distortion levels: overdrive, distortion, metal, and an excellent feature: metal stack. It also has a 3-band EQ, a recording/headphone output, and a mini-jack aux in for playing along to mp3 and CD players. This 15W amp packs an intense punch at top volume, and is quiet when it has to be thanks to the power squeezer. I only wish it carried the many other spectacular features of the Cube series, such as effects (chorus, flanger, phaser, tremolo). This amp is great for metal, rock, and jazz playing. It switches easily over between the channels. // 8

Sound: I use a BC rich Metalmaster warlock with the factory pickups. Playing heavy metal (mostly), it is great for both lead and rythm. The metal stack distortion is very crunchy, and the plain metal setting is well suited for the rythm postion. It's not incredibly noisy, but it can be when it has to. The clean channel is more suited for a bass, though, as the only way to get good treble is with all the settings put towards treble. In a gymnasium or other soundchamber, the amp has quite an echo. In a bedroom or basement, it has very little. It is best used as a practice amp. // 7

Reliability & Durability: This amp is incredibly reliable. It has never borken for me, and the parts sill remain in new condition. I would use this amp at a gig without a backup because there is no way that this thing will break. The parts look like they will withstand quite a bit of punishment. There is no worry of dropping the amp, because it has a very solid construction. It is very durable and reliable. // 9

Impression: I play jazz, rock and metal, and it's suits my styles quite well. I have played for four years, and this has been my best amp for it's size. I wish I had asked whether or not I can add effects before I bought it, because I can't. If this amp was stolen, I would hunt down and kill the person responsible. If I lost it, I would buy a larger model. I love the distortion on this model, and I hope for an improvement in the clean department. This is a great guitar to practice with. // 8

overall: 7.5

Reviewed by: Scorpexv, on december 25, 2007

Price paid: $ 167.2

Purchased from: Allans

Features: 15 watt amp with clean or lead, lead has 4 modes: OD, dist, metal and metal stack. Power Squeezer (which manual indicates takes it from 15 to 2 watts, also helps with clarity.) Aux in (3.5mm) and headphone socket. Classic Roland Styling and my first amp. Standard 3-way EQ (bass, mid and treb). Lead has gain also. Feature rich for what it is. // 9

Sound: I'm using this with a Squier Fat Strat Standard. Maybe just me, but I don't like it a all. Clean is clean, but wherever I go this amp just seems to lack character. I liked it when I bought it, but have since tried many amps so maybe my opinion has somewhat waned. OD is flat, Dist is crunchier OD, although metal and metal stack do what they do very well. Also, I found that the clean starts to pop after about 12 o'clock. in volume. Very much a practice amp. Power squeezer adds a lot of quality to Lead channel, but cuts volume to about 1/4. Good for practice for metalheads maybe, but not being one, doesn't serve me much purpose. // 4

Reliability & Durability: Would not gig with it (c'mon) but seems pretty sturdy. Roland = Boss so I would probably use this as a bullet shield if it wasn't my amp. Seems very well built and would last decades if I intended to keep it that long. I want to upgrade, so I'll have to think about what I'm going to do with this one. Otherwise bulletproof. // 10

Impression: I'm a grunge monkey, whom dabbles in psychedelic rock, prog rock, and occasionally some blues. The Roland, while an attractive package, should only be considered by up and coming metalers. I found it very digital like in sound (it is a modelling amp to a degree) but the clean sounds just too flat for me. It's a solid beginner's amp, but will never, ever reach any good volume for practice or gigging. A true bedroom amp. 7 because I know people use these (and like them) I am not one of them. Oh well. // 7

Comments

[bigMaor]

Its a great amp for practice!
my firts amp . and it worked well with a few guitars I tryed.
I like the effects on this thing, Boss sound is great

[screenaged]

Not loud enough for practice? Where do you practice, on a building site?

[screenaged]

Not loud enough for practice? Where on earth do you practice, on a building site?

[bigMaor]

its loud... I dont get him.
I think its the guitar, thse pickups sucks so you dont get a good sound out of it.
I have the same problem with my Squier (and whats why I need a new guitar lol)

[fretburn]

this amp is really awesome i manage to get allkinds of tone from it to suit any style.The four distortion effects are very good the dist effect gives classic santana,gilmour tonesand every thing else you can even pla metallica on this amp.the 3 band eq is very useful
you can set it using the ultimate guitar setting thread at.i use a strat

http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/forum/showthread.php ?t=294480

[dean749]

its loud... I dont get him.
I think its the guitar, thse pickups sucks so you dont get a good sound out of it.
I have the same problem with my Squier (and whats why I need a new guitar lol)

I have squier as well i think its black and white haha
and i have the same problem
i need new amp and guitar

and im going for this amp
and a Epiphone les paul studio
because my squier if thats what it is sucks =P

[fretburn]

check if the guitar cable your using contains resistors

[Baasoromyuu]

Can you use a footswitch with this like one of the reviewers said? I've heard elsewhere that you can't.

[Astronnilath]

This amp rocks. I don't use the power squeeser, because I think, it makes the sound go a bit muddy....

[Roven31]

This amp rocks, it gives off great sound for my guitar. I love it :3