Fender Twin VS Roland Cube

Edward Byrne · Post by **Edward Byrne** » 28 Aug 2012 12:54 pm

Tony, Yes i stand corrected, on recollection the fender that i owned with Jensens in was the modern 'twin amp' a switchable channel guitar amp, your quite right, my re issue 65' twin reverb did have gold eminence speakers, nether the less what ever was in that amp it was a huge dissapointment to me, and i did try everything, bass full on, bright switch off, back in the 70's i owned a fender pro reverb, 65 watts rms, 2x12, that was such a sweet amp, rich sounding, way better than the re issue i owned,in my opinion, i reckon this cube 80xl would easily blow away the pcb laden fender 65 re issue,

Micky Byrne · Post by **Micky Byrne** » 28 Aug 2012 1:19 pm

Ken...re price increase...also Diesel and Petrol as you know. Crazy Government!!

Edward ... yes get 4 of them

When I see some of the so called Boutique amps in our shops I wonder who the hell buys them.You could literally buy 4 Cubes for the price of 1 of them.

Back to heritage..I've learned something from you. I've never been to Ireland, but my Ancestors were from there, and were all navel men who settled in the Far East...intermarried to Far Eastern women and along came me (Born and bred in Singapore)

Well...enjoy your Cube ... one heck of an amp

BTW ... I just use an old ZB pot pedal...1 in and 2 outs.

Micky Byrne U.K.

Edward Byrne · Post by **Edward Byrne** » 28 Aug 2012 2:26 pm

Ha ! ill get them one at a time micky, you should come over to Dublin in October for the steel fest, you would be so welcome there with your surname, you would be 'home' i promise you,
hey this Cube can certainly 'rock' too, just spent some time with strat and female singer belting out the cranberries 'Zombie' awesome! how have Roland come out with such a brilliant all rounder? had they any idea in developing this amp, that they would win over so many steel guitar players ???

Micky Byrne · Post by **Micky Byrne** » 28 Aug 2012 2:50 pm

Edward....I'm sure Roland have got an idea by now.I put a thread in a few pages back under electronics, titled "A new toy I just got" Apparently about 36 steelies went to buy one. There were only 2 negatives..(Can't please everyone)..A friend of mine contacted a guy he knows well at Rolands and told him to look at the page, so as I said, they do now know how popular this little beauty is. I also tried my Acoustic through the Acoustic "model" ....pure bliss

...Re Dublin...something I can think about and ponder

Micky Byrne U.K.

Steven Finley · Post by **Steven Finley** » 28 Aug 2012 7:40 pm

Micky,after several weeks with the cube,I must say
the cube is the best amp I have ever owned as far
as tone,and Micky thanks for the favor for turning
all us steel players on to such a great sounding amp
these are great folks,Micky was 100 per cent right
on this one!!!!!!!!

Micky Byrne · Post by **Micky Byrne** » 29 Aug 2012 1:15 am

Thanks Steven...All I did was to share a good product, and I like to see others sharing too.

I'm enclosing a very short clip here from Sunday's Jam session. Lots get up to play or play and sing. I used to work with the Bass player/singer here. He's originally from Liverpool. The lead player on this short clip, took the whole solo....I nearly threw my bar at him

... I did however do one later in the song. I usually have the amps side by side, but I had to make room for later as it got really busy. Hope you like the clip..."Black face" settings

Micky Byrne U.K.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=398025070260142

Brad Malone · Post by **Brad Malone** » 29 Aug 2012 6:03 pm

i think the goodrich ldr 2 is winning<<

Edward B, I'm also using the Goodrich LDR VP..I plug in the Normal input...sounds good to me...Good luck with your Roland Cube 80XL

Steven Finley · Post by **Steven Finley** » 29 Aug 2012 6:08 pm

Micky,you have superb tone,thanks for the clip.

Chris Harvey · Post by **Chris Harvey** » 8 Aug 2013 9:50 am

I received mu Cube80XL and, like many players, are more than surprised! I plugged in my JBL with it and that really pushes some air. I have a twin right next to it and of course only a twin sounds like a twin, but the cube sounded, to my ears, fantastic. Now, if I want to get really picky I'll plug my Fingertip into my Twin and sound like a hack plugged into a Fingertip and a Twin! HA! Kudos to Roland..I was VERY skeptical. Now I'm trying to dig to the thread about settings.

Micky Byrne · Post by **Micky Byrne** » 8 Aug 2013 11:52 am

Chris....welcome to the Cube 80XL club

..You are yet another person to tell the skeptics that there are "other" products that are good for a steel, and not break your back or your bank account

Micky "scars" Byrne U.K.

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 8 Aug 2013 11:59 am

The amazing thing about Fender Twin Reverbs is no matter what music forum you may visit and participate on, there is a crowd who really likes them and then another crowd which is not a fan of them at all, too much weight etc...

I just happen to think this thread, Roland Cube 80 vs Twin Reverb should win an award , if for nothing else, concept !

Smart Car vs Suburban...

Jeep vs Bulldozer ...

I am having too much fun on another forum where it is "15 watts is all you need vs the Twin Reverb" !

truth be known I like the Cube 80's I think they are pretty good , but I would not part with the 71 TR I have to acquire one..I also have a 15 watt Blues JR which I like as well, but I am not telling the 15 watter club.... it would ruin the whole thing !

Micky Byrne · Post by **Micky Byrne** » 8 Aug 2013 12:15 pm

Tony...how's your back

you may be one of the lucky people. I've had "F" twins... with and without JBL's...then later the "P" session 500 hernia amp.

Years later guess what...yep, 4 worn lower disc seen on a CT Scan, so now I HAD to go lighter, and luckily discovered the little Cube

Micky "scars" Byrne U.K.

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 8 Aug 2013 12:25 pm

hey Micky...Well my back is a 65 year old back ! I have learned how to deal with gear and the aches.....if it's a stairs gig it's a Showman head and one or two 1x12 cabs, if it's a wheels gig it may be the Twin...but I am also 50% or more on Guitar all night...my needs are a bit different I am thinking...

If it's a guitar only gig it may be a HR Deluxe or perhaps a Blues Jr....

cheers !

Micky Byrne · Post by **Micky Byrne** » 8 Aug 2013 12:55 pm

66 year old back here Tony

...plus all the stuff on my website. I often wonder why I'm still here!! and why some call me the bionic man. Still the good Lord ain't quite ready for me yet!!

Cheers Pal.

Micky "scars" Byrne

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 8 Aug 2013 1:32 pm

Micky...truth be known I bought a 2 lb Gallien Kruger MB200 head not long ago and plan to use that on the next Steel gig..so it is possible the Twin, as much as I love it... may end up in the "tony museum"

Micky Byrne · Post by **Micky Byrne** » 8 Aug 2013 1:46 pm

Good idea Tony. I'll have to bid you good nite as I'm probably several hours ahead of North Carolina here. 11.45 pm here. ADIOS

Micky "scars" Byrne U.K.

Chris Schlotzhauer · Post by **Chris Schlotzhauer** » 9 Aug 2013 5:47 pm

I think I can settle this debate.
Get a Nashville 400, un-modded and never look back.

Hahaha!!!

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 10 Aug 2013 12:40 am

Chris Schlotzhauer wrote:I think I can settle this debate.
Get a Nashville 400, un-modded and never look back.

Hahaha!!!

I've got one - had it for 30+ years. Very reliable and has seen a few thousand gigs and a lot of sessions. It does not have anything approaching the sound of my Webb 614E, and therefore is slightly redundant these days.

When I got my NV400, I was so impressed that it out-performed my Session 500 in every way (including tone and weight). However, I would say that tonally I prefer the Fender Twin w/JBL's to the NV 400. As with all Peavey amps (and I have 8 of them) they all have very heavy mid range, and you tend to spend time trying to dial it out. Get a NV 400 with a Neo B/W speaker, and you have a decent steel amp that is the epitome of reliability. Nashville's Mike Johnson still uses one for live gigs with the stock Black Widow.

Jerry Tillman · Post by **Jerry Tillman** » 10 Aug 2013 8:06 am

I like the 80xl for the reasons already mentioned.I am a fender twin nut and play through a real 65 twin with original jensens.A bad ankle has taken me down a few notches and the roland has helped a lot with loading and unloading.I did find the mids and highs to be harsh and lowering the knobs didn,t help like I wanted it to.I started using a few items in front of the center of the speaker as a beam blocker and it has helped a lot to breakup the harsh highs.So far an old cd really sounds good.Today I,m going to a second hand store to get some 45,s.I think they will be perfect and add a little karma.Jerry

Len Amaral · Post by **Len Amaral** » 10 Aug 2013 9:17 pm

I play in my studio with a Morley triple switcher that I can choose any or all three amps. I have a Ken Fox amp directly in back of me with a 15" NEO speaker, a Roland Cube on the right of the fox and an Evans 150 with a 12" speaker on the left. The Cube and the Evans going through a TC stereo Chorus a delay & Reverb pedal in line also.

I don't play out any longer so the amps just sit there and I enjoy all of them. Now what do I do with multiple rack systems, speakers and gear up the wazoo?

BTW, what is a wazoo???? $:\$

Johnny Thomasson · Post by **Johnny Thomasson** » 11 Aug 2013 1:13 pm

I spend a LOT more time playing through/listening to my amps than I do carrying them. There are casters, 2-wheel dollies, etc. I believe I'll just hang on to my Twin. And my Session 400. PSGs aren't what I'd call light. When weight gets to be a problem for me, I'll take up the b*njo.

John Davis · Post by **John Davis** » 27 Aug 2013 11:01 pm

Hey Micky, Have you got your Telonics speaker in your cube yet????? it is the iceing on the cake!! Get in touch with Dunny..... it really does get better

Micky Byrne · Post by **Micky Byrne** » 28 Aug 2013 2:16 am

John...How much are they?? and are they lighter, and also are they 8 Ohms?? This old sod finds it hard even to lift a thumbpick

Micky "scars" Byrne Somewhere in U.K....oh yes "Essex"

Don Griffiths · Post by **Don Griffiths** » 28 Aug 2013 2:43 am

The last time I took my late 70's Twin in for servicing the bill came to more than $550. More than I paid for the amp almost 20 years ago(when my back was 20 years younger). It sounds great! I'm still thinking about a Cube 80 just for a lighter, dependable grab and go amp just to get the job done.

Micky Byrne · Post by **Micky Byrne** » 28 Aug 2013 4:04 am

Don you won't regret it when you get one...that I can promise you. The "black face" setting I now use on the lead Channel is so like the "twins" I had many years ago, plus the fact there are so many built in effects on it.....and they are LOUD!!

Micky "scars" Byrne U.K.

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