Roland GC-408X

60 watt combo with 4 x 8 speakers. 1 - 4 x 8 extension speaker to make a odd little stack. Has clean/dirty channels. Bright on clean. Boost on dirty. Power Squeeze (50% or 80%) which affects volume and tonal character. The Power Squeeze is kind of like the Peavey T.Dynamics except this one has a more noticeable affect. Reverb.
The back has ext.speaker out, effects loop, and inputs for footswitches. The footswitches are optional.
I use this amp for its clean channel, the gain comes from a processor. I give this amp a 7 because of the Power Squeeze but footswitches, which I wouldn't use anyway, should come with the amp.

I use a Mex Strat with a Tom Anderson humbucker (HN2+) into a Boss GX-700 signal processor. I play clean chorused stuff to downright brutal. Frankly, my sounds come from the Boss but I will say this about the GC-408: no other amp has made my Boss sound so good. The amps simulated in the Boss now sound like the real thing. I kid you not. I read some of these reviews where they claim a particular amp is raunchy. You haven't heard raunchy until you plug in this Boss through this GC-408. I'll take this over the Triple Rectifier I played last week--maybe not since I could sell the Boogie and buy at least four of these!
Without the Boss? Clean's okay, gets dirty at high volumes especially with my Tom Anderson. Dirty? Good crunch but no violin-like sustain. If you like old Marshalls, you'll like this. It's a shame Roland discontinued this amp, however. Their TubeLogic is probably the best emulation yet. I can't give it a 10 since the amp actually complements my Boss.

No question: it's reliable. Solid State + Roland = long life.

I never contacted Roland about a problem with this particular amp but I have called their product support and customer service departments before. They gave me the names and numbers of their larger retailers and answered questions about TubeLogic generally.

I've been playing for a total of about 16 years. I would definitely buy this again. In fact, I am searching for another to run stereo. I would love to see this technology in a power amp or a stereo combo. My problem with stereo combos is that they rarely have an input for EACH side. They normally only have stereo returns.
I returned my Bandit for this. I tried out the ART RulesBreaker and a Jazz Chorus before I bought this.

I'm unsure of this amp's production year, but the manual is dated 1997. After having my GC-408X for five days, I find it capable of covering any style of music, from country to metal. Of course, this involves a few trade-offs, as no tool is perfect for every task (more on that later). It's a basic two-channel amp with solid-state circuitry called Tube Logic Technology, which, to my ears, provides tone that surpasses most solid-state guitar amps. The two channels, Clean and Lead, share a passive EQ section (Bass, Middle, & Treble), Reverb, and the power amp controls for Presence, Low Cut, and Power Squeezer. The Clean channel is idiot-proof -- only a Volume knob and Bright switch. The Lead channel provides controls for Pre Vol (gain) and Post Vol (volume), as well as a Boost button that accents the "edge" and makes distortion sound tighter. It's not an actual volume booster, like on some amps by Peavey and Crate. I wish this button provided more of a noticeable volume boost. The Boost effect is much more noticeable with Pre Vol set below 7. There are high- and low-gain inputs, as well as a nice big, red Power switch that glows when the unit is powered on. Next to that is the Power Squeezer button, which is also large (but doesn't illuminate). When set to Active, the Power Squeezer reduces output the power by 50 or 80 percent (set with the adjacent Squeeze Level button). The back panel features Effects Send and Return jacks, an 8-ohm Speaker Out jack for the GC-408S cabinet, and 1/4" footswitch jacks for Channel, Boost, and Reverb. I like the novelty of all the knob numbers going to 12 instead of 10.
Unfortunately, Roland doesn't include a single footswitch with the amp. Major points off for this! They probably could have bundled the optional FS-5L footswitches at very little cost. I would have paid an additional $50 for the three footswitches, but instead I had to go buy two at $30 each. (I don't know your area, but these switches were very hard to find where I live.) Anyway, I bought the last three in stock, only to find one of the three was defective. It's red LED wasn't lighting up, so I thought it was shipped with a dead battery. When I removed the battery door on the botton, I found one of the two molded plastic AA battery cradles was broken at the end, so the negative (-) end of the battery couldn't make contact. Anyway, I was refunded my money for the broken switch and kept the other two for Channel and Boost. I probably could have bought cheaper switches, but these molded steel housings seem extra durable, they have the handy light to show when their active, and their also compatible with my BOSS ME-6 processor to activate Bypass and Manual.
The top portion of the amp is actually a fully funtional 60-watt combo amp with four 8" speakers. I bought the unit as a stack setup with a matching bottom cabinet for a total of eight 8" speakers running at 80 watts RMS. Nice big sound, better than the two 1 x 12" combos I've been using in tandem.
I have to knock off Features points for the single EQ section and lack of footswitches.

My typical setup is Ibanez RG470 w/stock Infinity humbuckers --> Crybaby wah pedal --> BOSS ME-6 floor preamp/processor --> GC-408X. I play mostly alternative, instrumental, and heavy rock in style of Offspring, Jane's Addiction, Rush, Joe Satriani, and Creed.
* I'm still tweaking my BOSS ME-6 presets to complement this amp, so my ratings here are a little unreliable. I use the ME-6 inline as a preamp, not in the effects loop, through the Clean channel with Power Sqeezer at 80%. The Power Squeezer makes the amp sound "beefier" at low volumes. Very cool if you don't wanna blow your windows out or disturb your spouse or neighbors. When using inline effects on the Clean channel, I've found it helpful to back off the the Treble and Presence (set to 5 or 6) and set the Bright switch to On. This gives you a lot more headroom and tonal flexibility. I wish I could tell you more, but because so much of my sound comes from my ME-6, I'm still tweaking.
Now for the amp on its own with no pedals in front of it:
As I said before, you can get any kind of clean or distorted sound from this amp, but it won't be the best for that type of tone. For example, the Lead channel lacks the gain needed for searing overdriven leads, but it has enough for solid rhythm crunch tones. And it's very responsive to my guitar's volume knob and my picking intensity. Even with the Pre Vol up all the way, this amp has very little hiss like a lot of solid-state models. :)
The Bright switch, Presence, and Power Squeezer are more effective in shaping your overall tone than the EQ knobs. For example, when using the Lead channel, the Middle knob is practically useless. You have to turn it all the way up or all the way down to notice any tonal variation. Same for the Treble knob; I have to boost the Presence to create any dramatic high frequency change. Ordinarily this would be a problem for me, but the designers at Roland Corporation did an outstanding job "voicing" this amp and matching its speaker/cabinet configuration. I'm very pleased with its tone, especially considering that it's not a tube amp. Instead of thinning out when cranked up, this amp's tone becomes more full bodied, which really impresses me. Really nice controlled feedback at high volumes too, when using a touch of reverb. I like the reverb a lot. It isn't brittle or too bright.

I've used BOSS gear for nearly ten years, and I've never had a problem with any of their products (except the dud footswitch I mention above). I wouldn't say this is built "like a tank," but I know it'll hold up as long as I don't abuse it. I baby all my gear. I can't wait to gig with this amp when my band finishes reorganizing. (Know any good singers?) I'll have to use it without a backup because I sold my other amps to pay for it. I've never heard of a solid-state guitar amp crapping out during a gig.

I ordered my GC-408X from a mail-order retailer and it came with no warranty documentation. I checked Roland's Web site, and they say amplifiers get 3 years coverage for parts and labor (one year on speakers). The mail-order retailer said this is typical of Roland. The guy I spoke confirmed the 3-year coverage and to told me that my shipping invoice is all Roland would need. Oddly enough, Ian at Roland told me only 1 year parts, 90 days labor, which is going to hurt this rating. Their Web site tell me otherwise, so they get their story straight.

I've been playing guitar seriously for about 13 years, gigging for 2. Prior to using this amp, I ran a stereo signal from the BOSS ME-6 to a Peavey Express 112s and Fender Eighty-Five, both 65W 1 x 12" combos. Both are fine amps, but the open-back, single-speaker cabinets made them sound thin at gig volumes. This 8 x 8" configuration gives me huge stack sound and weighs only 90 pounds! I bought this amp because of it's big sound, portability, and tonal versatility. It's distortion is not as gritty/grainy as comparable Crate and Fender models, but it lacks the high gain that comparable Peaveys offer. But its tone, especially the distortion, is smooth and warm. This amp is loud enough for any club gig, and you can always mic it. I don't have much personal experience with tube amps, but I honestly can't tell the difference. In sum, this amp excels at reproducing 60s and 70s rock tones, but with careful tweaking, it can give you nearly any sound you want.
WARNING: I took a risk in ordering this amp without ever having played one first. DON' EVER DO THIS! I only took this chance because did my homework on this amp, such as reading Harmony Central reviews, checking back issues of magazines, and reading old NAMM critiques. Luckily I wasn't let down, but probably only because I researched the amp heavily.

New in 1998. I've had it for one year. Two channels with shared EQ. Channel 1 has volume knob and bright switch, Channel 2 has Pre-gain and Master volume knobs and Boost switch. Master presence knob, spring-reverb, and a low-cut switch. 80-watts. 4x8 enclosed speakers and also another optional 4x8 enclosed speaker cabinet for 8 total speakers. Also has a power-squeezer switch to simulate power amp running at reduced power. Effects loop and three footswitch jacks for channel, boost, and reverb.
Gave it a 6 because it has lots of features but they should have included a footswitch. I had to have an old 3-switch Peavey unit modified to work with this amp.

Use it with an Ernie Ball Axis, EB Silhouette, Gibson Les Paul Standard, and Fender Strat playing in a classic-to-hard rock cover band. I bought this amp to use as a practice/backup amp. I also own Rivera Knucklehead 55 and Soldano Hot Rod 50+ amps. Wanted something very portable and quiet enough not drive my wife crazy every night.
However, I am very, very impressed with this amp. I own what I think are two of the finest tube amps available, and this little guy holds its own. It is really pretty remarkable how well the Tube Logic circuit works. The clean channel really does break up like a real tube amp, and you can get some outrageous Marshall sounds out of channel 2. Tons of thick smooth gain and harmonics on tap. With the closed-back cabinets, you can't help but smile at the huge thumping low-end this little guy puts out. I usually always leave the boost engaged because it adds some nice harmonics but not really enough level to use as a soloing boost. The reverb is pretty nice.
There is the trace of solid-state harshness that is always at the edge of hearing, but to be honest, if I didn't have the real deals sitting right there to A/B it with, I'm not sure I would ever notice. I am seriously thinking of trying it out at a few smaller gigs because it would be SO MUCH easier to lug around than a separate head and 4x12. It can also get plenty loud for gigging. I practice with the entire band occasionally with it with the power-squeezer set a 25% power.
I give it a 6 compared to my more expensive tube amps, but that's not really fair and in no way does it have a bad sound. For this price range and against other solid-state amps I've heard, it's a 9.

Have never had a problem with it in one year of moderate use. It seems to be sturdily built, not as much as my Rivera or Soldano, but I wouldn't be afraid to knock it around a little. I would expect it to be a solid, reliable unit based on the Boss pedals I've owned.

Have never dealt with Roland.

Overall, I think this amp is a _very_ good value for a reliable, versatile, portable, tube-emulating amplifier that you could easily gig with. You could probably spend $500 on a tube amp that might sound a little better, but I have not been personally impressed with the build quality of tube amps in this price range. Against other solid-states, this one sounds better than any I've heard. It really can nail that Marshall sound in a much smaller package. I've noticed that they are blowing out it's little brother, the GC-405, at around $100 in some mail order magazines (a steal!), which means you might be able to get the GC-408 for much less than I paid.