Roland BC-30 BluesCube

Pretty light on features. This is a basic solid-state 2 channel amp, with no reverb and no effects loop. It's designed to be a straightforward small gig amp, giving mainly blues tones or clean jazz rather than all-out rock. What it does, it does very well.

There are times when I miss having amp-based reverb, but this little amp makes you concentrate on what you play. I sometimes use this amp live for pub gigs, often miked up into the PA. Otherwise it's for rehearsals and at larger gigs I go direct with a POD 2 and no amp.

I use a Godin strat, a PRS soapbar, and a Yamaha AES. They all sound great through the BC30, but especially the Godin which totally nails the strat blues thing.

Not at all noisy (this is solid state although it gets close to tube sounds especially on the clean channel). Very good a crunch sounds where you can break up the clean channel with heavy picking, or control your sound with the guitar's volume.

Because this is only a 30 watt 1x12 it's hard to keep the clean channel from breaking up at high volumes. You're not going to keep up with an acoustic drummer going at full bash.

The 2nd channel can get pretty dirty in a typical Boss fashion if you want it. It's not a metal machine but will do classic rock very nicely.

Roland and Boss are the BMW of the music world. This stuff doesn't break often, and if it does, you get top-level support from them. After a couple of years the speaker in my BC-30 blew. It's a custom made Roland cone from California and Roland UK got me one within a couple of weeks. I considered using a Celestion Greenback or something instead, but figured the original had sounded great, so why change? Cost about #70 for the new one I think, and I've had about another 3 years out of it so far. One event in 5 years - not bad.
The little metal inserts to the amp knobs keep falling out, and I lost a couple. New knobs only a few quid from Roland UK - easy.

See above - top support.

Bought this one new from Soho Soundhouse when they were on special after being discontinued.

Would probably replace with another Roland amp if I needed to. Might get a different model as these are no longer made.

Found this baby on Ebay still with the tags still on it. It is brand new and I'm hoping to wear it out for years to come. Came with all of the manuals and a foot pedal. Pedal works well for switching between clean and dirty channels. This thing is loud. It's nice to find an amp though that has a resonable scale for the volume switch.

1 is quiet, 3 is louder, 5 is loud 7 is crazy loud, haven't gone any higher than that.

Basic Feature but everything you need (except reverb)

I have a Yamaha Pacifica 521 with a Dimarzio AirZone in the bridge and a Dimarzio PAF in the neck position. I have only just purchased this amp but have found that for Blues, Jazz or classic rock, it has many combinations. Others here have mentioned that they love the clean sound but don't like the dirty channel. I feel the same about the clean channel but I also love the dirty channel. It actually breaks up a low volumes and is solid state ! I've never heard that before on any other amp. I have 4 different amps and this one might just be the new king of the hill. I have a Fender Super 60 Tube amp that also sounds great but for smaller venues, it blows everyone out of the place. The BC-30 is just right ! I really love this amp.

I'm guessing that it will be bullet proof. It is solid state. Time will tell.

Roland seems pretty good. I have a GT-5 and they provided some information for me.

I'm just getting serious about my guitar playing over the last couple years but do gig weekly in church. Being a small venue, it will fill the bill nicely. I've been a serious musician (horn player) for about 35 years playing jazz/blues/rock and have played with tons of different guitar players and different rigs.

For what I'm doing, this is going to do the job nicely - Nice amp Roland. Why did you discontinue it ?

Really it doesn't have a lot of features. What it DOES have is great tone and great response.
The clean channel is fantastic. I sounds at least as good as any old Fender tube amp of equal power. The overdrive is good...not fantastic, but good enough to make me happy. No reverb, but don't let that get in the way of auditioning this amp because it is a diamond in the rough. Nice cabinet. Vintage Roland (Eminence) speaker handles 45 watts and is mucho excellent.

I use clean mostly but I sometimes get a little boost from the overdrive channel with the gain at 3, using an old Fender footswitch. Playing a Fender Stratocaster mostly but I sometimes borrow our bass player's PRS and noodle around. I was going to purchase the Peavey Classic 30 but the Roland absolutely blew it away in all categories. I also thought I had to have reverb but to tell you the truth this amp is so warm and sweet that i'm already over the no reverb thing. For 200 dollars from Musician's Friend this was the best deal I ever got on a damn fine amp.
My Strat is heavenly sounding through the clean channel. On the overdrive with gain on three it still sounds unmistakeably like a Strat. Turn up the gain and you can get into Hendrix, SRV territory pretty easily. Go higher still and you can get some real Marshall tones if you like that sort of thing. The PRS sounds better than the Strat on the overdrive channel. Seems to be better for humbucking pickups if you use a lot of gain. Compresses like a tube amp, too.
Good feel and response to picking. DAMN! This is an unbelievable amp for such a small solid state wanker. It's plenty loud too.

I'm a long-time player who started in the 60's. I live in Utah these days, not far from Digitech. I teach at the university here and jam on weekends with students at a local coffeehouse for fun. I have a Strat and the Blues Cube now but I have owned a lot of different Fenders over the years. For $200 bucks from Musician's Friend I feel this amp is a fantastic bargain. It sounds like a tube amp, acts like a tube amp and feels like one. I'll find another one on ebay and buy it as a spare! If you like old rock tones from the 60s and 70s then this is the one. It is perfect for me.

I just bought the roland bc-30 blues cube in germany - before I read all comments on this website - AND REALLY THIS is for the little money (about 80 $ !!!) the best amp I heard - about the features - an amp has to give clean sound first and the bc 30 is clean and so pretty loveley !!! After all - I dont miss any features on this amp - becaus what you play is what you hear - nothin more - nothing less - and this is the most important - I use the bc30 too connected together with a fender hotrod (1x12") fantastic sound couple - fender has to think about it !! Only with this small bc 30 (stereo panorama) the sound becomes magic !

I use two fine guitars - one fender strat usa and a taylor ce 914 -
the fender strat give full sounds for all kind of music - in combination with POD XT live pedal - you realize all your sound dreams - on the other hand - connect just the taylor directly to the bc 30 - without any effect - WONDERFUL HARMONICS - even the much more costful fender hotrod can't give this warm and full sound - really -
very nice and clean.

I see the high quality of the components and I'm shure this amp will working 100 years without any problem.

I bought it used for only 80 $ - repairing ? I dont think that this amp need some intervention and if - I'm shure that roland will give any help possible - as I've experience with other roland equipment - the assistance was fast and professional.

I'm playing more than 20 years with all kind of equipment - this amp give me full satisfaction - I use it to warm up my playing and in small clubs - here the bc 30 is better than the fender hotrod because he is smoother and give a full warm tone at a lower sound level! If stolen - I would buy next corner the same. I love his practical size and the sound - he goes anywhere with me not any problem to transport. I choose this amp because I know that roland make things allright - and I read the critics on this page - people says here - that this amp has a tube sound - IT IS TRUE - search for a tube amp for this price - no chance - THANKS TO ROLAND to make things like that for small budget but with a great TUBE SOUND !!! (its almost solid state ...)

FEATURES: This model is discontinued. I don't know when mine was produced, as I bought it second hand. It has channel switching, shared 3 band eq, pre and post on the dirt channel, bright on the clean. Master Volume. No reverb. Active presence. Weighs in at about 33 pounds. Nice cab-no rattles. Looks very retro-cool in tan tolex with the oxblood grille cloth. Mine has the Eminence-made-for-Roland Vintage 12-75 speaker, removed from my BC 60. The original speaker is essentially the same but with a lower power rating, which is to say it sounds great and is the PERFECT match for the amp. The Roland Vintage 12 speakers are modeled after the famous Celestion Greenback 25. The eq section is very lively. Channel switching is quick and has no annoying glitches or pops. Not an amp with a ton of whistles and bells but then a nice old Fender Deluxe is fairly bare-bones, too. Don?t hear too many players whine about it though!

SOUND: Without a doubt this is the best sounding solid state amp out there for warm cleans crunchy blues and old school, hard rock tones. I know it?s been said waaay too many times but here goes; IT REALLY DOES HAVE THE TUBE-TONE THING NAILED! I guess it?s the overall balance and warmth that makes it shine so well. No harshness on either channel. I would compare the clean to lower wattage Fenders and the overdrive to older Marshall amps from the plexi era. It is not an aggressive, modern sounding amp and it is not at all suited for metal. Forget about it! If you like solid cleans crunchy overdrives and nice harmonics then this is the amp to have unless you just absolutely have to have real tubes inside. Experienced players would have trouble picking this one out of a crowd of tube amps?no, really.
First and foremost this really is an old-school player?s amp. It can get some pretty heavy distortion going for hard rock but it does its best at slightly-to-crunchy overdriven and clean tones in my opinion. I use a Les Paul and the BC 30 seems to be made for humbucking PUPs. Single coils are just fine through it (I have a strat-syle Ibanez, too) but humbucking PUPs really match up to the BC 30 in a very, very pleasing way. By the way, it?s pretty loud and responds well to picking dynamics for a 30 watt solid state amp, too.
For boost I use the Digitech Screaming Blues pedal. It is perfect for this amp and it actually adds some depth, bite and clarity to an already fine sounding machine. Although I miss the lack of reverb, the BC 30 is so warm and fat with the Les Paul that I almost don?t feel I need it. Can?t say that about any other solid state amp I know of, can you?

RELIABILITY: I own a Roland BC 60 112 and some other BOSS equipment along with a micro-cube. Over the years the most serious problem I ever had was a loose solder joint in a BOSS pedal board. ROLAND / BOSS is renowned for their durable, tough-as-nails build quality. I pulled this amp out of the wood to inspect it before buying. Pretty typical of Roland products in general. Clean, well laid out circuit boards and an adequate power supply section. The cab is pretty stout and stable with big fat rubber feet. The original speaker has a smallish magnet, but it?s well made and it?s loud. This thing has a very impressive carrying strap too. Quality everywhere. About what you?d expect from Roland.

OVERALL RATING: I think it?s the best in its class to be honest. If you?ve ever tried the Tech 21 amps you have an idea of the kind of gain and tone the BC 30 has going for it, but it?s much simpler in its approach to achieving those kinds of sounds and way cheaper than the Trademark 60, which is a pretty good sounding amp too. To me, it?s kind of like a Fender Deluxe from the 70s. Although I own and gig with a Roland BC 60, I actually find myself playing through the BC 30 more often at home and at jams with friends. I also play smaller venues with it because it has that ?magic? that just makes you want to play and listen. It?s loud enough (about as loud as the BC 60 actually!) and it?s versatile enough to cover country, jazz, classic rock, hard rock and blues styles quite well in clubs, halls and smaller outdoor venues. Roland managed to balance the solid state reliability / low maintenance features with a great sounding amp / speaker combination in the Blues Cube line. No doubt in my mind it will be on the list of ?classic gear? for many years to come. I?d buy another one in a new-york minute if it were lost or stolen.

I never write reviews but this amp is worth bragging about.
Very basic bare bones amp with just a ton of character. I really miss having a direct out or headphone jack but when an amp sounds this good for such an affordable price...it's worth the sacrifice.
Oh yah, reverb would be nice too but don't we all want everything for nothing.

I use a Yamaha SL 550S and an Ibanez RS 140 (modified) which both sound amazing through this beige baby.
I play everything from Sabbath to George Benson and it covers all the bases. Put a pedal in front and it shines. I've played other amps with pedals and they make the amp sound artificial.
Hard to believe this is a SS amp with the warmth it delivers. Get the Boss foot pedal for switching between clean and dirt...it will make your life so much easier.

This amp stays in the studio so I can't comment on roadworthy reliabilty. If it is anything like other Roland products, there will be no issues. I also have a JC 77.

I'm sure I won't be calling them

Been playing awhile. Girlfriend at 16 taught me to play Cat Scratch Fever and The Zoo (Scorpions). I was sold. Got lots of toys but have finally found an amp that I will keep.
Most of my gear is Japanese made because Japanese rule with design and value (their work values are the best in the world). Sorry North America but when I'm spending my hard earned money, I look for the best possible deal (price and quality).
In my opinion, Peavey U.S.A is the only other company that gives us such great deals (price and quality).

Just the basics. One 12" speaker, Clean and O/D footswitchable channels, Bright channel switch, Clean channel volume control, Pre and Post volume controls for the O/D channel, 3 Band E.Q, Presence knob (which I love), and Master volume.
This is a real amp not a toy so don't expect Aux in and all that kind of stuff. Having said that, it still bothers me that it doesn't have an FX Loop and individual channel E.Q. I know that if it had all that the price would have been different but it would also make it the perfect amp.

I use it with an American Fender Strat.
I liked this amp from day number one. Very nice sounding and no noise problems at all.
After owning it for nearly a year, I love it even more now. Whenever I play with a different amp (even with some very good tube ones that I had the chance to get my hands on) I always get to appreciate even more what the Blues Cube has to offer. It does sound amazing at any volume level and you don't have to be always loud to get the good tones out of it.The clean channel is phenomenal. I would say that this is definately where this amp shines. Warm and clear sounding all the way up. From bedroom volume level practicing to full volume giging, the clean channel of the BC30 always delivers pure tone heaven.
The O/D channel does some things really well and some others not so well. It'not my favorite distortion, but the amps that have my favorite distortion don't have my favorite clean sound so....it's probably unreasonable to ask to have everything in one package. Maybe amp modelling would be able to offer us this option one day, but even then I will still use my Blues Cube a lot.
Another thing that I like about the Blues Cube is it's response to pedals and processors. I've tried different kinds of stuff in front of it and it always delivers. With the right chain of pedals or FX processor in front of it, you can go from cool jazz/funk rhythms and solo lines to total mayhem.
As far as power goes....if this amp is not loud enough for you,... you have to check out your hearing dude. At the end of the day this one goes beyond 11. It goes up to 12!

If I can depend on it? Well, what is there to break? This amp is built on an old school kind of philosophy where less is more. No tube maintenance either.

I have dealt with Roland regarding other products of them that I own.
They might not be a small "boutique" kind of amp manufacturers that you always get "Joe" on the phone to personaly answer all your questions, but I always had a positive experience dealing with them.

As I said already I wished it had an FX loop and individual channel E.Q's like it's big brother the BC60. I will probably install an FX Loop one day myself.
As far as sound goes this is a true plug and play and an amazing all around amp that you can use from practicing at home to giging and it will always sound great. Guitar on one hand the Blues Cube on the other and you're ready for your staight ahead jazz trio. Place your favorite FX chain in front of it and rock out!
I am still comparing it with whatever I get my hands on and it always keeps its place as one of my absolute favorites and beloved pieces of gear. It's a real workhorse.
When I'm in my studio recording I plug my guitar through a quite complicated, mostly digital (and unfortunately quite expensive) set up of preamp, souncards, computers, amps and cabinets modelling simulators, FX and the rest of the junk. Programability and the pre-sets etc that I can have using those devices, make this option the fastest and most reliable way to get all the different sounds I need to get on the hard disk. Most of the times, after I finish, I switch off everything and plug directly to the Blues Cube where I find heaven.

Made in 200?? Quite versatile -- clean channel has a nice grainy breakup to it, which I like quite a bit... not a sterile clean-tone like a JC120. Bright switch -- may as well call it a "shit" switch on any amp... will instantly make your tone suck!

Headphone jack? CD inputs? Are we looking for toy amps -- pro-gear amps do NOT have headphone jacks and CD inputs... get a nice, cheesy crate if that's what you want!

If you need reverb or an effects loop, try the BC-60... At this price-point, it just has the basics: two channels, shared eq, presence, bright "shit" switch. No external speaker out... doesn't really need one. Plenty of power for any gig!

I've played all types of guitars through this: Strats & Various HB equipped guitars. All my OD/distortion units work well with it: SM-9, SD1, DS1, Tubeman, TS9, and a few others...

I've played pretty much every style at one gig or another -- jazz, fusion, rock, metal, blues, disco, funk, R&B... The BC-30 works for them all, but you have to use your mind a bit and find the right outboard gear to compliment each style.

The clean channel, like I said earlier, breaks up a bit even at low volume -- which adds character and makes the amp sound better.

The distortion -- for some things its great, for others, not so great... just like anything else. The good news is that pretty much any OD/Dist/preamp works well through its clean channel.

Not at all a noisy amp! For what it is, it is amazing... the only solid state amp I've ever owned that I would consider recording with.

I own lots of Roland/Boss products and never an incident as far as function. If you gig alot, you will lose the little metal things on top of all the knobs -- they just fall off over time.

-1 for those damn knobs!

I've never dealt with them????

I've been playing for 30 years or so. I have a collection of tube amps in my studio -- they don't go to gigs... that's is why I have two BC-30s... Great gigging amps. They sound great and weigh in at 32 pounds! Put your favorite pedal(s) or processor in front of it and it can do many things well.

I would definitely buy it again! I love its tone, portability, and reliability. Nothing bad to say about it... I'm not crazy about its distortion, but that is so subjective -- I don't like a Soldano's distortion either... or a Matchless (eww!). That's why they make so many distortion pedals -- use what you like!!!

Very basic, but as others have said, functional.

The best combo ever. Forget Marshalls, Twins, Boogies, this is the best sound ever. You don't need reverb to mask the sounds of others and the presence is simply, to die for!!
This is the guitarists best kept secret ever.

It's Roland, it'll last longer than me.

Unknown, this thing is so sturdy.

If you have doubts about this thing, play it, leave it, go play somthing else, then come back to it after about a year. That's what I did. WOW!!! What a tone. Forget valves, tweeds, twins, mesas, this is where tone heaven exists. A Strat into a BC30 is the holy grail, like Les Paul to JCM.
If you can find one - buy it!!!!!

Made in early 1900's. has a volume, 2 gain volumes, 3 eq knobs, and presence and master volume

I use a gibson les paul special faded w/ this amp. this amp gives a voxy / orange amp sound to it. this is probably one of hte most versatile sounding solid state amps i have ever worked with. i currently own a vox ac30, and comoparing to the 2 amps, i have to say that the blues cube blew the ac30 away in sound. one thing thatyou have ot be careful about is the volume. keep the volume below 5 and you'll be okay. caue beyond that, it gives it a really distorted sound. the only thing i don't like about this amp is that it has no reverb. that's probably why i use both ac30 and this amp. but it's nothing a electro harmonix or a fender reverb unit couldn't fix.

This amp is great. it's never broken down on me. it's also very tough. i've enjoyed it very much

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This amp is great for a low budget. using this amp, fender reverb unit, and an ac30, it's probably the best amp i've ever had. If you want to spend 200 (how much they sell it for on musicians friend), then you should add about an extra 100 bucks and get a holy grail or a digitech digital reverb. if you got that, you're good to go. best amp. GOOD JOB ROLAND. I'm actually not a big fan of roland amps either. =O