Roland KC-500

I picked up the KC-500 to use with the Roland VG-88 System.
The KC-500 has a 4-channel input system, with a selectable line-out so you can listen to either the speakers, headphones, or both at once. It also has the ability to link-up with another KC-500 to be a true stereo rig where you can control the volume from one location, rather than running back and forth between amps.
It is full-range (it's really billed as a keyboard amp), so it works o.k. for synth sound as well as acoustic and bass guitar.

I'm using it with a Stenberger Guitar that has a GK-2A divided pickup, through the Roland VG-88 System. I also run a BBE Sonic Maximizer between the VG-88 and the amp. The KC-500 seems to be very good for the clean guitar sounds (stratocaster) and acoustic guitar simulations. I haven't really experimented with it much on the heavy sounds.
When I first became interested in these amps, I tried out both the KC-300 and the KC-500. The KC-300, with it's 12" speaker, had better response in the mid area, and was much better at producing a natural guitar sound, but it distorted easily at fairly low volume (Why don't they put a better 12" speaker in that one?!). The KC-500 has plenty of power (for me, at least), and didn't distort, but is kind of heavy in the low end, and I guess it could be a bit "boomy" if not properly equalized. No surprise that the KC-500 reproduced bass-guitar sounds better than the KC-300.
I use the EQ in the VG-88, and set the amp's 3-band EQ flat.
It is a little noisy around different kind of lighting, although no more so than other amps I've used.

I've never had a problem yet. I'm sure the speakers would be the only weak point of an amp like this.

I've never had to contact the company.

I have owned many solid-state and tube amps including Mesas (Trem-O-Verb, Dual & Triple Rectifiers, Strategy 500), Fenders (Twin & Quad Reverbs), Gallien-Krueger, Peavey (Classic Chorus), and other Roland (JC-120).
The KC-500, for people using the guitar synths and V-Guitar systems, is an alternative to buying a separate amp and P.A.-type setup. I think it would be an excellent amp for acoustic guitar.
I will probably buy another one eventually, to run a stereo setup.
I wish that either the amp, or the VG-88 had an effects loop (Are you listening Roland?)

Lots of inputs, 3-band EQ, output volume for stereo XLR outs, headphone out and routing for 1 input...

Pretty good sound, although in high volume conditions, high frequencies don't carry as well as the mids and lows. Fairly noisy at high volumes, but not out of control. The funny thing about the 3-band EQ is that I turn the low and mid all the way off, then the treble is set to almost all the way up. Makes me wonder if the amp could've just had a better 10" speaker and a larger tweeter. It tends to distort pretty badly in the high-mid area of the keyboard.

I think my output control pot has gone bad because the signal out of the XLR outs is now VERY hot and turning the output pot all the way down doesn't seem to solve this problem. This has become a real pain in the ass for most sound engineers. I also believe that the tweeter has some type of damage due to consistant loud volume gigs.

Haven't tried anything yet. I imagine I'll just have to fix the problems when I get the money. If I was going to do it again, I'd do some research into the Barbetta amps, as they seem to cost about the same and may be built more reliability. Unfotunately, I've never even seen a Barbetta, but according to some reviews I've read they do sound to be built pretty well and sound good. Obviously the KC-500 has more options than the Barbetta's, though.

I've been frustrated more and more by this amp. It's definitely been helpful in a pinch because it has so many inputs and routing options. The sound is so-so after two years of heavy touring in loud situations. The output knob breaking is a real bummer, because although I have used it a lot, I do try to baby the thing. For playing around town in medium volume situations, I'd recommend it. For touring, there's got to be a better amp. The distortion is pretty rough. Like I said, I'll definitely be looking into the Barbetta's in the future. I've also been considering SWR combos like the Redhead or Workingman.

Made in '98. Bought two of 'em (there's a stereo-link feature on the amps whereby you can slave one to the other). The amplifier features stereo ins and outs (the outs are both balanced and unbalanced and have pot dedicated to their attenuation), but the speakers output in mono. If you want to go stereo, you can purchase another KC-500 and link the two using the feature I described above. Unfortunately, you only get one three-band equalizer for all four channels. That's a weak point, in my opinion. However, the fourth channel can output to only headphones (w/ speakers off), speakers on, and speakers on with output from the amp. If you're confused about this, I'm sure that someone else explained it more thoroughly. Oh, you also get one XLR in on channel four. One 15" and one tweeter, tuned port. Nice fuzzy covering, cool grill, tight and compact package. Removable casters--big plus!

I play keys in a variety of settings, but mostly in small clubs. The amp provides a flat response and fair volume. Nowhere near as loud as I hoped for, but I'm not playing with obnoxiously loud people. If anything, I can just plug the outputs into the PA for more juice--no DI boxes needed. Really, the amp can ultimately serve as a monitor to the person using it, with the real boost coming out of a PA. You'll make the people around you a lot happier this way. The amp itself sounds smooooth. My gigging setup is my tried-and-true Roland JV80 synth, a Voce V5 organ module running through a Motion Sound horn assembly (bass rotor simulated and amped via the KC-500), a Korg MS2000 and a variety of effects. I've almost found the perfect setup with all the sounds I need. The KC-500 performs its duty almost perfectly for me.

Here's what has broken (and I do try to take good care of them): tweeter diaphragms needed replacing on both amps, the little gold-colored knob-tops mostly fell off--poor glue job. I've rectified and improved on this by using white-out (or white paint) and painting the knob indicators both on top and on the sides. Makes a big difference when you're fumbling around back there. Also, one of my KC's seems to have a dysfunction with channel one, but I haven't really looked into it yet. Otherwise the thing is as reliable as you'd expect from solid-state amps and Roland.

Roland has a bad rep here. Can't say I've talked to them in years, so I don't know if they've improved or not from my last experience with them. I'll give them a mediocre "5".

Another meat and potatoes amplifier. If you don't want to pack a personal PA for every gig, take a look at this amp. Its competitors are Sona Barbetta amps, Crate, Fender makes some weird keyboard amps too. The Sonas are louder and lighter, but the Roland has more options to it. I like mine!

My benchmark for volume is a mere Fender BXR100 bass amp(100watts/15" speaker); the Fender is at least twice as loud as the Roland; I have never turned the BXR100 past 6 (usually keep it from 3-5) to play with a heavy handed drummer(with unamplified drums). I play blues and funk mostly, and jazz (as much as my current chops will allow me to), and rock and whatever else other musicians play who I am fortunate enough to jam with (I try to stay away from heavy metal though). Slap/pop sounded nice; very articlate and clean. I was easily able to distort the Roland's woofer with all controls at full, by plucking the strings a little harder than usual.
I need a good amp that will handle bass and guitar tasks. I was hoping that the Roland would be it. Rather dissapointing was the lack of volume before distortion. It is billed as a keyboard amp, so I was expecting that it could put out higher volumes with the bass frequencies, especially since full size keyboards give lower frequencies than 4- tring bass guitars. Probably would be fine for guitar, and most keyboards as other reviewers have noted. I give sound an 8; only fair for bass guitar; I would worry about vol./dist. using keyboard amp in lower registers. Nice clean Roland sound overall.

Don't own it.

Never contacted Roland.

Been playing guitar and bass for a little over 3 years (really just learning the whole time; self taught mostly). As mentioned, I own a Fender BXR100 bass amp; also a Danelectro Nifty Fifty (cool sounding amp for the price), a Fender Fretless Mex Jazz, an inexpensive Samick copy of a Squire Strat(decent tone for the price), and a new Danelectro DC Bass (extremely cool tone for the price). Just to reiterate: I would not suggest the Roland KC-500 for any bass player who needs to play with a drummer. Other than that, it seemed a well built, clean sounding, versatile amp.

made in 99. Very versatile--I bought this amp for acoustic guitar, the dedicated amps that I looked at sounded very confined and clipped--not to mention that few of them performed at high volume levels. I play folk, funk and worship music mostly on acoustic guitar. The amp has four "channels" it's basically a mixer and does not include any tone shaping controls for the individual channels. The fourth channel can be routed just to the headphones, just to the amp (not the line out) and to all three. The third channel takes mike level signals, but isn't set up to accept a mike w/out an adapter. This would have been easy for Roland to change and is a little disappointing. There is no effects loop, which I would have liked, but was willing to live without. It also has two balanced outputs for going direct. It sounds very loud and full. It also has great definition and clarity.

I'm playing a Taylor 514ce w/ Fishman onboard blender through a Danelectro chorus and a Boss CS2 compressor. I wanted an amp that gave me the sound that was coming out of the mains--no fancy pants gizmos. The kc500 does that well. It's very quiet. The EQ is pretty versatile, but not to the point where you'd use it to shape your tone. I haven't been able to distort the amp at any volume level. It has a great, huge clean sound.

Only had the amp for a week.

I've been playing for twelve years, mostly in church, but also in coffehouse settings and a few other gigs here and there. I would buy this amp again. I really love the size of the sound. You can't beat it for really carrying your signal well. I compared this to the Fender SFX and the Crate 125 and 250 and liked the sound better--it just sounds big--like a pipe organ. I also liked the idea of shaping my own sound, and not having it altered by an amp designed to modify, rather than just amplify my signal. The other amps sounded pretty, but I want to hear what's coming out of the mains as clearly as possible, and I decided that this amp was the most honest of the three. My only complaint is the lack of a real mic input. I know that I can just stick an adapter in there, but I don't wanna.

Solid State, 150 watts RMS, 15" full-range speaker, 2" horn driver, Four channel, stereo input per channel, XLR and 1/4" stereo output. Stereo inputs can be used as mono to connect up to eight instruments. Assignable output from channel four - line out, speaker out, and headphone out means you can have a separate custom stage mix playing out of your KC-500's speakers or headphones while you play. Stereo Link In/Out for chaining two KC-500s for a stereo stage sound using one cable. The Stereo Link function can be used as an effects loop. Headphone jack with a volume control. 3 band rotary EQ and a master volume control. Billed as a Keyboard amplifier, the KC-500 is a perfect "Do Anything" amp. I play all forms of music and this amp is perfect for reproducing bass, clean guitar, electronic drums, keyboards, vocals, you name it.

Roland says this amp is designed for hi-fi sound quality and flat frequency response and I belive them. It is one of the cleanest solid state amps around. You can turn it up to max and it won't distort. I am a midi guitarist and I use 2 KC-500s(16 mono inputs!)with my rig. This amp reproduces bass so tight in a small package, it's scary. The mids and highs have great presence. Because a horn is used, the high end can be a little harsh if not EQ'd right, which is typical of horn tweeters. The KC-500 brings out the best of my Digitech RP-20 effects processor connected to my Strats and Roland guitar synth and sound modules. The stereo linking feature turns two KC-500s into an 8 channel stereo or 16 channel mono 150w per side full range stereo sound system suitable for most any small to medium sized gigs. There's plenty of headroom and I suspect the amp's rated output is modest.

When I bought the two KC-500s, I went to a rehearsal studio to see how the amps stack up. I played them full blast for 6 hours (one half hour break) with midi music and my guitar. The verdict: These amps rock! The heat sinks never got hot, the cabinets never buzzed, the sound quality was so tight, other musicians came in the room thinking I was an actual band. I also played a large venue running guitar, midi, and vocals through the amps for 4 hours no problem.

Called Roland before on other products and must say they're inconsistent. Some days you get a knowledgeable and helpful person, other days you get someone who doesn't have a clue. Since the KC-500 is built like a rock, I doubt I'll need to contact them about the amp.

I have been playing for over 20 years and have had many amplifiers. For Midi players, acoustic guitar, keyboardists, electronic drums, even vocals, this is the best self-contained amp period. This is what the Roland Jazz chorus series should have evolved into. One of the few amps around that the cabinet does not vibrate, even at full volume. Well designed and versatile. Wish it had an extension speaker output, and perhaps some effects. For the money, You cannot find an amp that can truly be used as a P.A., clean guitar amp, bass amp(yes), reproduce electronic drums, and perform well as a keyboard amp.