Opinions,,,NV 112 vs. Roland 80XL

Sonny Jenkins · Post by **Sonny Jenkins** » 21 Sep 2014 8:55 am

Looking for ways to lighten the load,,,need opinions comparing the NV 112 to the Roland 60 or 80XL (42 lbs vs 30lbs). Seems to be several people switching.

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 21 Sep 2014 10:34 am

I made the switch about eighteen months ago and, so far, have had no reason to regret it.

The first gig I did with the Roland 80XL was in a small hall situation and I wasn't in the PA at all. Two people expressed surprise that all they'd been hearing was my tiny little amp and that my signal wasn't being boosted in any way.

Since then, though I've played theatres and (for the last three months) a huge outdoor amphitheatre when I've been going to the front-of-house via the PA. Again, all has been perfectly satisfactory.

I love the Roland's compactness and lightweight as well as its very acceptable on-board effects. No more external bits-and-bobs for me.

To be hypercritical I find the tone here in my practice-room somewhat sterile but it's been my experience that this hasn't been a characteristic of my tone whilst in the workplace.

I have three Rolands now - all identical - and they take almost no space in the Town Car. I can lift them with ease, too.

Would a Webb sound better? Undoubtedly, but I can live with the compromise.

John Davis · Post by **John Davis** » 21 Sep 2014 12:16 pm

I keep looking for something better than my two 80x cubes F/W E120 JBL's it does not exist IMHO.
It was a small amount of agro. to rebuild the boxes 60mm taller to accomodate the E120's but so very worth doing..... anyone want a twin reverb with Telonics speakers

Lee Baucum · Post by **Lee Baucum** » 21 Sep 2014 2:02 pm

Roger Rettig wrote:To be hypercritical I find the tone here in my practice-room somewhat sterile but it's been my experience that this hasn't been a characteristic of my tone whilst in the workplace

I agree. The 80XL really sings at higher volumes. On the bandstand I crank it up between 12:00 o'clock and 2:00 o'clock. If it's a large venue, I play through two of them.

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 21 Sep 2014 3:14 pm

Exactly where I set my volume for the best results, Lee. Maybe I should try that at home when I'm practicing (and see how long the neighbours tolerate it!)

Steve Hitsman · Post by **Steve Hitsman** » 22 Sep 2014 4:12 am

I recently played Always... Patsy Cline with a 112/Black Box and found the combination acceptable but not really what I was looking for. Switched to Cube 80/Black Box and that was it. ALmost everyone in the production commented on the improvement.

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 22 Sep 2014 5:36 am

The speaker in the Nashville 112 appears to be a weak link, and several of the players on here have swapped it out for an Eminence EPS 12" Neo speaker with good results. The Roland 80XL is not perfect - especially the noise gate at low volume keep kicking in - but overall it's an excellent little amp with a very nice stock speaker. I do 2 - 3 gigs a week, and I use mine on a weekly gig on lead guitar every Sunday in a small bar with a very loud band, and the thing can keep up with the sound levels of the other musicians. For quality gigs I use my Telonics TCA-500 combo or my Webb 614E. The Telonics is just unbelievable, but I could buy 18 80XL's for the price that I paid for the Telonics. They (the 80XLs) are now incredible value for money as they are a discontinued line..

Sonny Jenkins · Post by **Sonny Jenkins** » 22 Sep 2014 12:07 pm

Looks like the 80xl is no longer available,,,replaced by 80gx,,,,anyone tried these???

Samuel Vance · Post by **Samuel Vance** » 23 Sep 2014 9:14 am

I have only limited experience with Nashville 112. However, in terms of value, the 80XL is hard to beat. Built in effects (including a decent reverb for a digital in-built) and distortion. You may never use some of the effects, but you may have some fun playing some slide rock licks. Additionally, the 80XL is lighter. I love mine. Just my two cents..

Ron Pruter · Post by **Ron Pruter** » 23 Sep 2014 12:19 pm

I know of a new XL for sale for $350. Is that a good deal?

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 23 Sep 2014 12:44 pm

I paid $339, $369 and $379 for my three. It depends on what deals are available at the time.

I'd say that's pretty good.

Bill Moore · Post by **Bill Moore** » 23 Sep 2014 12:59 pm

I had an 80x, and didn't care for it too much. Probably just me, lots of people, better players than I am, seem to like them. I always thought it had a kind of hollow, tinny sound, and I thought the built-in effects were pretty useless. Just an opinion, of course. I posted this before, in one of the other Roland threads; I recorded a little bit of me playing the same thing with the NV112 and the 80x. I used the same guitar, same microphone, same effects, delay and reverb from the Digitech RD155.

Here's is the NV112:
http://home.provide.net/~wmoore/ampA.mp3
Here's the Roland:
http://home.provide.net/~wmoore/ampB.mp3

Depends on every individual's ears, I guess.

steve takacs · Post by **steve takacs** » 23 Sep 2014 6:56 pm

after having read roger's posts a year and a haif ago, I purchased a roland 80 xl and have been extremely pleased for all the reasons mentioed here. i callit the "hernia preventer" thx, roger

steve takacs · Post by **steve takacs** » 23 Sep 2014 6:56 pm

after having read roger's posts a year and a haif ago, I purchased a roland 80 xl and have been extremely pleased for all the reasons mentioed here. i callit the "hernia preventer" thx, roger

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 24 Sep 2014 3:23 am

And I wouldn't have even considered a Roland Cube for steel guitar had Ken Byng and Micky Byrne not alerted me to the amp's potential.

David Nugent · Post by **David Nugent** » 24 Sep 2014 3:49 am

Anyone looking to upgrade the speaker in their Nashville 112 and cannot justify the $200.00 plus expenditure for the EPS-12C, the Weber 'California' is a substantial upgrade in my opinion and can be ordered in a 4-0hm configuration.Seems to have really opened up the entire tonal spectrum in the unit. Purchased mine used for $60.00 on local Craigslist, but even new they run just over $100.00.

Chris Brooks · Post by **Chris Brooks** » 24 Sep 2014 4:15 am

David does the Weber install easily in the Peavey 112?

Chris

David Nugent · Post by **David Nugent** » 24 Sep 2014 5:06 am

Chris..The Weber was a simple installation, fit in with no problem. Another plus with the Weber, they use the existing speaker wire connections in the 112, the EPS-12C features screw in type speaker posts which require the stock connectors be removed and the speaker wire stripped back.

Micky Byrne · Post by **Micky Byrne** » 24 Sep 2014 5:10 am

I have 2 Cube 80XL's, but just keep one as a spare.I sometimes run one amp and speaker out into a cab with a 15" Neo magnet B/W. Did that a few weeks ago with a 6 piece "loud" band in an "outdoor" gig. They weren't micing up and yet with the Volume on 12.o'clock it was well loud enough, so Lee, I may try it on 2 o'clock one day....and drown the other's out

....serious though, it's a marvelous amp. I always use the "black face" channel. I did have a stock speaker Nashville 112 at one time, and also had a Nashville 400. I really didn't like the Nashville 112, used to quick change to the Nashville 400 at a gig. So glad you're happy Roger.

Micky "scars" Byrne U.K.

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 24 Sep 2014 5:48 am

For steel guitar gigs, since I bought my lightweight Telonics combo amp my Roland Cube has been mostly been relegated to my studio. However, for jobs when I double up in pubs on lead and steel, the Roland is simply perfect. My Telonics amp only weighs 30 pounds and was designed as the ultimate steel amp. With the Telonics, my Webb, my various Peavey amps and my 80XL, I am spoiled for choice.

Value for money wise, the Roland 80XL is the best piece of kit I have ever bought. Never did like the NV 112 - but those who have swapped out the speaker reckon it sounds really great.

Tom Campbell · Post by **Tom Campbell** » 24 Sep 2014 7:19 am

Dave,

Does your Weber have the paper cap or the aluminum cap? I am very interested in the Weber alternative. Do you have a model number? The Weber site is not that user friendly.
Thanks for any info.

Chris Brooks · Post by **Chris Brooks** » 25 Sep 2014 4:00 am

Yes Tom it took a bit of moving around the Weber site. "12sc" gets you to the $200+ speaker.

The site says the name of the speaker is "Ceramic Cali 12." It handles 80 watts, what the 112 puts out. Choice of ohmage but I believe 8 Ohms is what we want, right?

Now choice of 3 domes. It sounds as if the following one suits steel best since we like clean clean clean:

DOME DESCRIPTIONS:
Aluminum: Very bright, almost piercing highs akin to vintage JBLs. Good for crystal cleans, but avoid for even slight distortion.

Dave, does this sound like the speaker you have? It is $112, from Weber.

Chris

Tom Campbell · Post by **Tom Campbell** » 25 Sep 2014 5:59 am

Chris,

I believe it's 4 ohms we are looking for. Weber does offer a 4 ohm option for the "California" 12" ceramic speaker.

Evan Rose · Post by **Evan Rose** » 25 Sep 2014 7:09 am

I play a NV 400 with no external effects, and really like the tone that I have, and plenty of power too...Tried the NV 112 and NV 1000, not a big fan of the active controls....I like the old passive controls like the NV 400 and the old Session amps.....however my good friend and mentor Clyde Mattocks uses the NV 112 (stock speaker) and has for quite sometime.... he uses it in conjunction with an older "A-Lex" Lexicon processor.....gets a great tone out of it...I think the key to the 112 is using a good external reverb processor....

Sonny Jenkins · Post by **Sonny Jenkins** » 27 Sep 2014 5:25 am

Is the cube GX pretty much the same as the XL????

The Steel Guitar Forum

Opinions,,,NV 112 vs. Roland 80XL

Opinions,,,NV 112 vs. Roland 80XL

Roland 80XL

80 xl A-OK

80 xl A-OK

Re: Opinions,,,NV 112 vs. Roland 80XL