Roland BC-30 BluesCube

Bought new in 2004. Clean channel w/bright switch, dirt channel w/gain and level. Passive (according to the manual) three-band tone section + true presence control and master vol. 30 watts and one 12" speaker. And that's all.

For my anticipated application, few features and simplicity are a plus, but since there aren't many features, I rate it a 6.

My main guitar is an old Ibanez PF300 w/Rio Grande pickups. Depending on the gig, I sometimes play a Peavey Reactor (tele). My band plays classic and modern rock, blues and "progressive" blues. I also sit in with a few bands and attend a lot of open mics and jams. The latter is my main reason for picking up this amp, 'cuz it's compact, reasonably loud, and pretty good tone for the styles I like to play.

The clean channel can be very warm, and it breaks up a little when cranked. The breakup is smooth, but there's not quite enough gain to do the Fender Blackface blues thang. Too bad, cuz the breakup has a nice character, just not quite enough of it. Works nice with a Tube Screamer, though.

The dirty channel has a pretty wide range of distortion. To me, it's got plenty of gain. I set the "pre" volume a little less than halfway up, and that gives me a good "plexi-on-10" tone with the guitar cranked, and cleans up nicely with the guitar turned down. I got a footswitch when I got the amp, but I currently don't use it. I can get all the variety I need just from the guitar volume.

The speaker is a major factor in the tone of this amp. It's got a very strong low-power Celestion vibe. Lots of that upper-mid "crunch" which is either good or bad, depending on your preference. It's easy to nail that Duane Allman "Live at the Philmore" tone, or early ZZ top tone, but hard to do a Robben Ford or Larry Carlton kinda tone.

The breakup on the dirt channel is also very natural and smooth. Notes decay very smoothly without the solid-state "gating"-type breakup at the edge of distortion.

The amp is nice and loud for 30 solid-state watts, and still sounds good at fairly high settings of the master vol. Plenty loud enough to gig with, in that it will keep up with even a loud drummer. Warmer with more "push" than most solid state amps. Can keep up with a Peavy Classic 30 tube amp. Probably can NOT keep up with a cranked 35w Fender Vibrolux Reverb, but still adequate for club bands at sane volume levels.

Haven't had the amp long enough to have an opinion worth anything in this regard. I've played a couple gigs with it so far, and was happy with the way it sounded. Hung with a bass player and guitarist who were both using full stacks in a small-to-medium-sized club, although of course they weren't pushing their gear at all.

I will say that to the eye the amp appears to be of very high quality, and very solid construction. Kind of a small thing, but the handle is really heavy-duty for all the bigger the amp is, with four mounting screws. Kinda makes you all warm and fuzzy about the design ethic, if that notion carries over to other aspects of construction.

Based on my experience with other Roland and Boss gear, I expect reliability to be pretty high.

While I've had no problems with the amp, I did have to call Roland customer service regarding a Roland synth I have. Found them to be very responsive and willing to spend time on the phone working through my problem.

Instrument amps may have a different support group, I dunno.

I've been playing for over 30 years, and I'm a full-time professional musician. I wanted something small, simple and decent-sounding to use on pick-up gigs and for casual open mic and jamming situations. This amp is perfect for that. All I need is my guitar, a cable, and this amp. Sounds great on stage, and makes a good backup for my main gigging amp (Tech 21 Trademark 60).

While I still prefer the tone of the Trademark 60, (primarily because of the "bluesy" breakup of the clean channel, and the "throatier" tone on the distortion channel), I think the Blues Cube is just as good at having "tube" character, and I've owned a number of quality tube amps in my career. While the Celestion-style "rasp" of this speaker is not my favorite tone, it's still a good tone, and as I stated earlier,it nails that cranked-plexi tone pretty well, in my opinion. In the converse of the usual experience, I like the sound of this amp BETTER on stage than I do in my rehearsal studio.

These amps are a real bargain. Good tone, good responsiveness, more volume than 30 solid-state watts might lead you to believe, and solid construction.

2003 Blues Cube Two channel one clean and one crunch. Twelve inch speaker.

I'm playing a G&L ASAT with duncan pickups and can get a very bluesy/tubish sound out of this solid state. I love the harmonics and sustain in the lead channel but like the other reviewers I miss just a little reverb.

Only had the thing a short while but seems reliable.

n/a

Been playing 35 years and owned many different amps both solid state and tube and would highly recommend this amp for the older player not for metal.I've got tinnitus in my left ear from playing too loud for too long and you young guys are'nt gonna like it any more than I do.
I would definitely buy another if lost or stolen, you cant beat the price for this kind of tone.

Basic 2 channel amp. No effects loop, headphone jack, speaker out,etc. Just a basic guitar amp. Like the 60's Fenders. Volume, bass, mid treble, presence, master plus a lead channel. Mine is the 2 x 10" version.

The 10" speakers break up nice when cranked. The clean channel goes from nice clean to a good tube OD when cranked. That classic Fendery breakup sound when cranked. The amp spanks tone with the blues. The lead channel is voiced like a Boss DS-1. I compared the two and the Bluescube is bassier than a DS-1, but the sound is pretty much the same. The only time it sounds Solid State is when the presence is maxed out,it adds to much fizz. The amp is dead quiet. No hiss.

This amp takes what your fingers and guitar produce and amplifies it beautifully.

If you are familiar with the DS-1, it does not do nu-metal. Classic Rock, Blues,Country and Jazz are this amps forte'

It's a Roland.

When I called them once they were nice and helpful

Very underated amp. I guess haveing no reverb, effects loop and other extras scare people away. I look at like an old Blonde Fender Deluxe. Basic but Toneful.

Straight forward two-channel amp -- clean and gain. Bass, Mid, Treble, Presence, Volume for each channel, Gain for gain channel, bright switch on clean channel, Master Volume, 1 12" speaker & 30 watts in a nice, portable package.

This amp is quite impressive on its own and I have used it live many times like that -- just plug in and play. Currently, however, I run a Boss GT-6 into it because of the wide range of tones I need during a performance. This combination allows me to get basically any sound I desire -- many of the Boss' presets are quite good and the Blues Cube produces them quite nicely.

I have a tendency to use a ton of low-end as well as gain in some of my sounds and unlike a previous reviewer, I get no cabinet rattle what-so-ever. This amp is a Gem and has been completely reliable even though it has been through a war!

I think I just said it -- has fallen down stairs, been knocked over, etc... has its share of bruises but still sounds like the day I bought it.

Never had a Roland product fail, so I've never contacted them.

A great amp -- especially for the money. I have been playing for many, many years. I am a first-call support-musician/keyboard player for a national band when they are in town, though guitar is my main instrument. I have a music degree, have taught music for many years, etc. I have owned many tube amps and many solid state amps in my time. The BC-30 is by far the best SS amp I have ever owned.

If it were lost or stolen, I'd get another in a heartbeat. There's nothing that I do not like about it -- I love it's portability coupled with its big sound. If you're worried that 30 watts won't be enough, this amp is louder than many 100 watt SS amps that I have owned.

If you're thinking about a Line 6, you might consider this coupled with a GT-6 instead -- much better sound plus equipment redundancy... What I mean by this is that I do not need to bring a back-up of either. If the amp fails, the GT-6 can be run direct and still sound good; if the GT-6 fails, I can plug straight into the BC-30.

Once I get this unexpectedly hot sounding amp dialed in, in the clean channel with the volume about halfway up, I never touch it. So any "features" it might have don't matter. I thought it looked like a piece of garbage, but I play it onstage and used it for my last recording session.

I'm an odd case. I play a 1952 Gibson L-48 archtop with a Fischman bridge pickup. I've always had terrible impedence and feedback problems with amps and PA systems. For some reason nobody seems to understand, my guitar plugged straight through the blues cube produces a wall of warm, slightly clipped, tube-like tone which sustains forever. The fat tone has become the backbone of my bands country-rock ( think Gourds, Steve Earle, Wilco) sound. It produces more stage volume than you have any right to expect, and sounds delicious through the PA.

Been treated rough and keeps on rockin. It's used, maybe early 90's. Solid.

My only other experience with Roland is the BOSS line of effects pedals (indestructible) and the ubiquitous 2-12 Jazz Chorus (heinous!). But roland seems to stand by their stuff.

I have been playing out for 10 years. I also own a Fender 4-10 Blues DeVille, but I like this amp better. People giggle at the tiny solid state amp with one speaker, but when I strum an open chord that reverberates with overtones and just a little slushy distortion, jaws drop. Get one.

Brand-new, 2003 kick-ass little combo. Two-channels, eq, gain, master and presence. This little beauty is the BOMB! I use an Ampeg 100-watt SRT-212 tube amp on stage, and this little monkey can certainly produce the tone, if not the volume. I have been half tempted to use it to gig with, and I do bring it as a backup. No effects loop or reverb, but so what?

I play funk in an eight-piece, all-teacher, horn-driven funk machine, and use this for practice. I sold my 130-watt, mid-80s Fender M-80 Chorus, because I didn't need two big amps. This sucker sounds even better, though I do miss the reverb a bit. Quiet as a mouse, loud enough for clubs, it gives me that funk jangly-jangly and a screamin' Carlos-y blues sustain. Distortion might not be enough for metal, but at 42, I probably won't be playing that again. I run either a 1970 Gibson ES-335 TD or a 2003 PRS Santana SE w/trem>1970 Crybaby>2001 Dgitech RP-200, and I can pretty much do what I want. It not only cuts through the mix of the horn section, but has enough headroom for those screaming Prince leads!

Since I just bought it, I can't tell how long it will last, but Roland has a great rep, and the thing seems to be built like a tank.

Again, Roland has a great rep, so I don't really expect any problems!

I have been playing since I was six, in metal bands in high school back in the 70s, jazz,fusion and punk in college in the 80s, off to get married and raise kids in the 90s, and now doing 70s funk with horns, overall about 36 years. I did a fair amount of research on this thing, because I wanted to get rid of my M-80, only because I don't need to haul around a 50 lb. practice amp. My Ampeg weighs 75 lbs., and I'm going to start using the Roland in a alt-funkabilly band I'm working on as a side project. It's light (22 lbs.), meaty and tasty on the eyes (retro blonde). This little booger kicks, and I'd buy another in a second. The financier (wife) says the kids gotta eat, so I look for good values.

Don't know the year. Two Normal and Ddrive channels, pre and post gain on Drive channel. Bright switch, Presence Control and master Volume. Mine has two 10" speakers. Solid state, best I've ever heard.
Amp lacks reverb, but the quality and usability of the other features more than makes up for it.

I use strats (standard wiring) an Oscar Schmidt 336 copy and a Johnson jazz hollowbody. The two channels work well together.Unlike some amps the overall EQ isn't radically different between Clean and Drive channels. Three band EQ and Presence Controll affect both channels. EQ is incredibly smooth, effective and tweakable. Presence control is great too.
This amp has the perfect tone for me, tubelike, smooth and extremely adjustable. I tried a Blues Driver into the clean channel just for fun, and was astonished to get exactly the same sounds as the drive channel. Roland ad Boss are related companies, so I suspect the drive channel on the amp uses the same or very similar circuit. The two 10's sound great, less muddy than 12's. Pre and Post distortion adjustments on the drive channel provide a wide variety of tones. Again, the EQ on this thing is fantastic. Distortion is great for blues/rock/jazz. Probably not an amp for metal players.

Don't know about reliability. Hasn't broken yet. Seems solidly built and looks great.

Have never had to contact Roland yet.

Fantastic amp, especially for the money. Been playing for over 30 years and getting back into it heavy again recently. Afer a long and somewhat dissapointing search fo good tone through lots of other amps, including tube amps, I prefer this for sound, reliability and versatility. I'd highly recommend it to anyone who needs good tone and reliability and plays rock, blues or jazz. Great amp.

Don't know exactly when it was made but I figure somewhere in the early ninties.
It has a normal and lead channel (pre and post) with bright knob. Channel switching with footswitch or manual. No effects loops but who cares. No headphone jack but I can live with that. Precense, mid, bass and treble. 30 Watts just sounds like 30 Watts and solid state

Different guitars Fender Strat, Hohner LP with Dimarzio PAF Pro and a Chery (Chevy) Tele with Dimarzio PAF.
It is the best solid state amp for blues and a little rock (with help from my BOSS ME-50. Distortion (Lead) is great also a little mild perhaps. It is the quitest amp I've ever played and I played a lot of different amps. It sounds as good as the guitar you are using and that what's all about. It can get any better. Forget the noisy, heavy and 'the look after' of tube amps.

Any complaints over a period op 10 years now.

Never had to deal with them. But as the amp is perfectly build the CS should be as good.

I've played for more than 25 years now and I've had a lot of gear over the years. Including tube amps by Fender, Marshall, solid states and stacks. But after 25 years you discover it is not really the amp who counts (although you have to get an amp which reflects the true tone and style of your playing but how you play with what guitar you play. It is the ultimate amp!!!!!!!!!

Clean channel, lead channel, 3 band eq, master volume, headphone out.

To get a decent clean sound out of this at any real volume, you need to crank the clean volume and then use the master to get the level you want. that gives you a nice sparkling tone, but if you get it wrong the sound distorts in a very crap way, solid state way...

I don't like the distortion. It's not heavy, it's not tight, it doesn't even give a particularly good overdriven sound. And there's a delay if you're using a foot switch

Never broken, seems pretty damn tough. Survived many gigs and transit, but has now been replaced by a stack.

Rock.

No idea, never used them.

It's okay, it's fine for practicing, it *can* sound okay, and most other amps in a similar price range or not much better.

I ordered this amp from Musician's Friend, it came in the mail, and wow, its great. I was able to get a great Clapton tone, I am amazed how great a simple amp can sound. I mostly use it in my house, and it sound great at low volumes, but really rocks if you want it. I have had tube amps in the past, and the Blues Cube really sounds as good ot better because it is more quiet. Channel switching is great, and the overdrive is mild to wild

I play a Fernandes Strat and a Squier Tom Delonge Stratocaster, both sound great and I can get all kinds of sounds, but I like it bluesy. I can just back off on the Squier and get a sweeter sound, really great.

It works great, I can't see needing another amp unless you wanted a Marshall or Laney rip roaring stack

No manual came with the amp, but they would sell you one for 10 bucks, forget it! Warranty is good, but I have not had to use it.

I have a Tubeworks Real tube, which pushes this amp nicely and you can get all kinds of sounds. I have a Digiverb for reverb, but you know I have gotten used to no reverb, this amp simply sounds great just plain. I sometimes use a dyna comp, but this amp allows you to just plug in and let er rip. Truly amazing amp for the price, retro blond styling, great sound. Roland has really made a great amp with a fat tube tone.