Fender Twin VS Roland Cube

Micky Byrne · Post by **Micky Byrne** » 11 Aug 2012 1:37 pm

Thanks Brad...it's just a little experimenting which did it. I remember years ago listening to a live performance of Buddy Emmons...he set his delay the same way...pretty fast, this was "before" he started to play, so I remembered it from then on. I know he used an Echoplex but I could hear the timing of the delay. Ok we have another negative. As I've mentioned I've had all the "BIG" boy amps...Valve twins Reverbs,some with JBL's some without, and every steel amps Peavey produced. Firstly there is no way I want to go back to lifting 80 plus pounds of amps. None of them had the facilites built in like the Cubes...built in effects like...tuner...line out...adjustable delay...spring or plate reverb, etc etc etc....and they sound bloody good. Ok so some hear things different, and it's their perogative, each to their own. I'm staying with the affirmative on Roland gear...be it "flouresent" compared to sun light

Micky Byrne U.K.

Sho-Bud and Carter universals. 2 Cube 80XL's...... Nashville 400 in split cabs with Neo speaker. Ovation Viper electro acoustic. Telecaster B-bender. Gianinni hand made Brazillian electro classical. Yamaha acoustic. Lots of Boss pedals...they're the best...reliable and built like tanks....plus more various toys

Steven Finley · Post by **Steven Finley** » 11 Aug 2012 2:58 pm

Micky, you're right, I did like you, now I have two cubes--the undisputable ultimate amp.
The peaveys, fenders, and webbs I have offered to the cruise lines for use as boat anchors.
Until now most amp manufactures thought they had to put us in the hospital lifting their equipment;
not any more, like you, I am not looking back!

I expect to be crossing the pond in the near future for Tom Bovine's tour. I sure hope the back line provides Cubes
so I won't need to bring stomp boxes, delays, etc. The Roland Cube really has it together there.

Micky Byrne · Post by **Micky Byrne** » 11 Aug 2012 3:09 pm

Steve...G.S.O.H. Boat Anchors

I do agree with you though ... Regards your tour, I very much doubt the back line will be what you want. Perhaps you can stipulate it in the contract?? .. it usually comprises of Peaveys and Fenders....and road crews with bad backs

...Let me know where you will be playing.

Micky Byrne U.K.

Tommy Boswell · Post by **Tommy Boswell** » 13 Aug 2012 6:35 am

Tim Marcus wrote:no comparison. Two totally different animals.

I agree, it's like apples and oranges and bananas. The Cube is a good solid-state modeling amp. The NV112 is a good solid-state pedal steel amp. The Fenders are good tube amps. None of them can sound like the others, they are what they are.

I would choose the Cube for a light-weight do-it-all package. But I can't make it sound like my Fender Bassman/EPS-15C.

J J Harmon · Post by **J J Harmon** » 13 Aug 2012 6:59 am

Too many other variables but a peavey SS always has a certain sound.

admin · Post by **b0b** » 13 Aug 2012 7:06 am

The title of this topic is an amazing boost for Roland. Who'd have thought to compare the lowly Cube to the mighty Twin?

My 2 cents: they both sound great, but they are different. Go with the sound you like today. Feel free to change at any time.

Steve Schmidt · Post by **Steve Schmidt** » 13 Aug 2012 3:34 pm

I have been playing a silver faced twin (actually started out in life as a super 6 reverb) that about a couple of months ago made a new baffle and put a single 1203-4 black widow in it. I am finding I don't miss notice any real difference in bass response but a big difference in clarity and presence as well as I play my tele thru the normal channel and the 12 is a nice fit for that too. I am not missing the 15" speakers at all.
Probably like most, I started out with a twin, sold it to go down the Peavey road, and am now back with 2 twins of which one currently has a D130 but soon will get converted to a 12" and the other is a 12". I still own a N400 and a 76 Session 400 with JBL as well as a N112 but I can't remember the last time I plugged in any of the Peaveys. I'm really enjoying the Fenders.

Micky Byrne · Post by **Micky Byrne** » 15 Aug 2012 2:22 am

Steve how's your back lifting those heavy amps?

I may have asked you this years ago...are you the son of Clem who had the Steel Guitar Emporium in Minneapolis and then later moved down to Nashville??

Micky Byrne U.K.

Steve Schmidt · Post by **Steve Schmidt** » 15 Aug 2012 3:27 am

Hi Micky
I'll continue to carry the twin as long as I can. I'm 55 now so I'd be pulling you leg to tell you that the twin is light, but I've never found anything that sounds as good. I'm a believer in the 2 wheelers and asking for help if it is available. Going to a single 12" speaker has helped a bit for sure as well as I'm sold on the single 12" anyway.
I get asked the Clem question frequently. Clem's last name is Schmitz where I'm a Schmidt, so, no relation, however I did buy a new Emmons S10 from him in the 70's. Sure wished I'd never sold it. I understand Clem is back living in the Minneapolis area again.
Thanks for asking. Enjoy your Cube
steve

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 15 Aug 2012 8:13 am

b0b wrote:The title of this topic is an amazing boost for Roland. Who'd have thought to compare the lowly Cube to the mighty Twin?

It is kinda interesting, to the point where I couldn't actually type a response !

I wanna drive fast with lots of power and handling , should I get a Miatta or a Corvette ?

Rich Hlaves · Post by **Rich Hlaves** » 15 Aug 2012 10:58 am

Tony Prior wrote:I wanna drive fast with lots of power and handling , should I get a Miatta or a Corvette ?

But you said lots of power.....Vette hands down!

Only cubic money can beat cubic inches. Same deal with amplifiers. Give me the iron and tubes all day long.

Steven Finley · Post by **Steven Finley** » 16 Aug 2012 6:35 pm

There is no comparison betwean a fender twin and
roland cube 80xl the cube has lots of effects its light weight its affordable it uses modern technology,the fender twin uses old technology,its heavey and has no effects,but if you like a twins sound and you like hooking up effects and you like
lifting 75 to 100 pounds then go for it,its your choice,oh buy the way be sure to buy plenty of extra
tubes.

Tim Marcus · Post by **Tim Marcus** » 20 Aug 2012 2:32 pm

Twin has reverb and Tremolo - those are both real analog effects!

you should not need extra tubes, either. Just make sure you get good ones. Also, the life time of a Twin is 45 years and counting (we know this because many are already that old). Lifetime of a cube? No way its going to last even close to that.

Twin was made in the good old USA - owning one generally supports US technicians and businesses. Cube is outsourced and good luck finding a tech to work on it.

Lee Baucum · Post by **Lee Baucum** » 20 Aug 2012 2:49 pm

...good luck finding a tech to work on it.

The same could be said about an old Fender amp, in many parts of the country.

Stephen Cowell · Post by **Stephen Cowell** » 20 Aug 2012 3:01 pm

The Roland is light and cheap enough to carry a spare...in fact, it's cheap enough to be disposable. We have yet to hear from someone that has burned one up... Or had one fail in any way. Even if it just sounded 'ok' that would be a solid recommendation.

I'm a Fender collector from way back, been playing them since I could afford one, 1978. For straight guitar I still play tubes, but for steel Roland has all my business hands down.

Tim Marcus · Post by **Tim Marcus** » 20 Aug 2012 3:20 pm

Lee Baucum wrote: The same could be said about an old Fender amp, in many parts of the country.

this is very sad

admin · Post by **b0b** » 20 Aug 2012 7:59 pm

A Fender tube amp is a fairly simple device. Any electronic tech should be able to service one. It's like working on a Volkswagon bug - everything is easily accessible and obvious. Your mechanic doesn't need to be a VW specialist to figure it out.

Digital solid state equipment is something else. In many cases, it's cheaper and easier to buy a new unit than to fix the original.

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 21 Aug 2012 4:55 am

Uhmm..I wonder if Dumble, Marshall, Matchless , Fox etc...are thinking this same thing, Fender Tube amps are old technology....Roland Cube's are where's it's at !

Just so you all know where I am coming from..The Fender Twin Reverb is the ICON of Tube amps, the ICON of Guitar amps...the amp every other manufacturer has been modeling and chasing for 50 years...and many of us are still using these same amps that are over 40 years old...I am the worlds # 1 fan of the Twin Reverb, whether I use it on the gigs or not..I know my place ! I know IT'S place !

I think it is reasonable and possible to assume that my 71 Twin, which is in excellent appearance and operating condition, will probably still be in use in 25 or 30 years from now...sure a good tech, if they still know what a tube is...can bring it back to 100% life , should it need it, in short order....

I can't believe we are comparing a Roland Cube to a Fender Twin Reverb...!

The R Cubes are nice amps,but I am wondering how they get into the same sentence with a Twin Reverb!

Leo would probably say..Good luck with that !

I think we should stop making gasoline engines too....those spark plugs are out dated...

Jerome Hawkes · Post by **Jerome Hawkes** » 21 Aug 2012 5:44 am

i have a new rule:
from here on out i will be paid per pound of cartage i have to lug around.
you dont even have to pay for me to play - i'll do that free - just $1 per pound.

i find it amusing that some old die hards have no problem lugging 200lbs of vintage equipment to a gig that pays $50. i think a great deal of this is "for looks" and impressing the 1-2 other musicians that may be at the gig....and hey, i have been just a guilty of this...in the past.

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 21 Aug 2012 6:13 am

Jerome Hawkes wrote: i find it amusing that some old die hards have no problem lugging 200lbs of vintage equipment to a gig that pays $50. i think a great deal of this is "for looks" and impressing the 1-2 other musicians that may be at the gig....and hey, i have been just a guilty of this...in the past.

Thats quite the stretch Jerome....

just for looks ?

Old Folks ?

200 pounds ?

Impressing other Musicians ?

Good grief...

How about I use a Twin Reverb and I have for the better part of 40 years because it performs...for both Steel and Guitar..

How about it weighs just about the same as a Nashville 400, and less than a Nashville 500

How about I can sell it for more than I paid for it...

How about it is the most reliable amp I have ever owned and used...for 40 years...

How about the reason the Twin Reverb is still famous and popular is because it IS a great amp and proven in performance, tone and reliability...and dollar to dollar for today's money it is still perhaps the best deal on the planet for an amp that performs...

Oh yeh..we must really like to impress ourselves, we use 2 for every gig and the backups are '67 Showmans ! Because they are great amps !

Good grief...

this does not imply that the Cubes are not nice amps, they are...

PS..and not $50....and when I play duo or trio gigs on guitar, the amp is a Fender SS Princeton 112...seriously not impressing anyone with that amp !

John Davis · Post by **John Davis** » 21 Aug 2012 6:32 am

I have loved my twins over 40 years up to a couple of weeks ago I had 3 of`em all mid sixties no pcb junk or pull out master volume gismo ...the real deal...my main gigging amp was the one with the JBL E120`s in it and everyone that heard it loved the sound from that heavy beast.... I will never part with it (but only for sentimental reasons) The cube 80XL is giving a new clarity and string seperation that I could not get from my twins but unlike most non valve amps I have tried it still retains some warmth and tone very close to the twin.... The only thing I have to keep is my E120 in a full range cab to go with it (this part IMHO very important)the addition of this speaker in the right cab has done it for me!! the other two twins can now go>>> oops ones gone already>>>
I have two other JBL E120 in mid range cabs I have tried to use them with the cube it does not work the same.... I have also used 2 cubes, one and full range speaker seems to work best for me.
Next project is to make cube into a "Head" and sling the speaker roland fitted......wheres my saw....

Jerome Hawkes · Post by **Jerome Hawkes** » 21 Aug 2012 8:49 am

Tony - from reading nearly every pro-cube post in this thread, nobody disputes your arguments - i have both a garage full of classic amps and an attic full of them to the point of i cant even move around without moving amps out of the way. most of them have been sitting for 20+ years unused - thats my fault for living in the pawn shop capitol of the south.

i own 2 small 5watt travel amps with modeling, but thats the whole point.

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 21 Aug 2012 9:15 am

Jerome, as do I, a room full of amps including two Super Beatles and vintage Fenders, but I use the Twin Reverb on all double duty gigs as I have been for over 40 years...because it's a good amp, it delivers, it's the amp I choose to use ,not for the reasons you mentioned above...it is my GIG amp. Others may very well enjoy the Cube...thats fine by me...I don't dispute that it's a good amp.

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 21 Aug 2012 10:08 am

A brand new Twin reissue goes for around $1350-$1400. Are these worth it?

On eBay right now there is a 1967 Twin that is well-used with the bids still coming in for around $1000.

And there's a "mint condition" 1965 for around $4900. Man, that's a lot of money for an amp. It's going to take a lot of $50-$100 per gig paydays to recoup your money on that one. Well - you probably wouldn't bring that to a gig anyway because of the value, but if you're not a studio musician that's a lot of money for living room playing enjoyment.

Earl Foote · Post by **Earl Foote** » 21 Aug 2012 10:40 am

Tony, I bet that would turn some heads if you showed up at a gig with those two Super Beatles for a steel rig.

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