Roland MicroCube Combo

I'm the guy who's coming up with mods for this amp.

This amp is a wonder! Inside this little 2 watt beauty is not only a 2 watt amplifier, DSP effects but all is controlled by it's own CPU!

So far, I've added a speaker out, and a footswitch jack that allows me to switch between the Vox, Marshall and Mesa Dual Rectifier models. I chose those three because they are close enough in volume to be useful.

The CPU has a 7 pin pad that the service manual calls "for ONBOARD PROGRAM". Hopefully someday I'll meet a computer wiz that can tell me how to access this. There is also another 3 pin pad that is called "for DSP Edit." This might just take a pot...I'm not sure. It might be a midi port. I'll experiment with this.

It is also possible to mod this to be able to use the internal power amp even when using the headphones/record out. Stock, plugging into the REC OUT/PHONES turns off the power amp.

It also looks like it would be easy to add footswitchs to the modulation and delay effects.

I'm having a ball with this amp. The AC30 model is great!

I may put in a 20 watt power amp chip.

I use:

A Les Paul Standard, with stock pickups and a Christian acoustic bridge pickup.

A heavily modded '68 Tele with a Duncan Hot Rails in the bridge, a Duncan Classic Strat Stack in the middle and a Lace Sensor Tele pickup in the neck, along with series/parallel switches for the Duncans and a Fishman Power Bridge.

A Westone with a Fishman power bridge tremelo, Duncan Trembucker and two EMG passive humbucking strat pickups.

An old Harmony with tremelo and two experimental PJ Marx humbuckers that never made it to market. In parallel they have a Gretch vibe.

A 12 string I made out of a 70's Epiphone acoustic bolt on neck, maple body, EMG pickups, a Hot Rails in the middle and a Christian acoustic bridge.

This amp is just great! The only criticism is that the models are different volumes. I hope to crack the CPU someday and remedy this.

I break it...I fix it...I don't need no stinking repair department!

It has held up to my rewiring...that's saying alot.

Roland/Boss has been great. I bought the service manual, and when I called about the schematic being unreadable, they e-mailed me the manual on pdf.

I void the warranty of anything I buy with the first hour of ownership.

I've been playing since I was 14 in 1960 something or other...(the use of non-prescription, recreational pharmacuticals may have altered my memory.)

If lost or stolen, I'd use my GPS system to locate the amp, and would not only recover it in short order, but will reward the thief with his/her choice of a 9mm hollowpoint, or a .45 slug through the palm of their left hand. (My sweetheart just bought me a nice .45 Ruger Vacquero...a cowboy style pistol.) Thieves have to be taught a lesson.

Don't you all agree?

This amp is unlike all other practice amps, be they current or old designs. This computer controlled wonder ain't your mommie's Pignose!

Roland could have used a LITTLE more power. But for 2 watts it's absolutely great. We have a Pignose, and the venerable Pignose is old news.

I've had the amp for six months or so. I bought it because I hoped it would work well as a portable PA--it has a "microphone" input setting. And I thought it would probably also be a good, portable practice amp.

I've used it with a variety of guitars. As a practice amp with headphones, it is great. I take it on trips for practicing in the hotel room. It provides a satisfying sound without external effects or stomp boxes, so it's very easy to set up and use anywhere--particularly since you can use it with battery power. I have some awesome tube amps (I particularly like the THD Univalve), so I don't play guitar through it that much.

BUT, I particularly want to say how useful it is as a very portable PA system. I am a professor, and I use it for lecturing in large classrooms where my voice would be strained talking loudly enough to be easily heard in the back of the room. It has a microphone setting that provides a clean, very balanced, natural sound, and it is loud enough to do a good job in a big room. I use it with a Shure wireless mic with a Beta 58 capsule, and I am really enthusiastic about it. It has transformed my teaching experience--like moving from a truck with manual steering to a sedan with power steering.

It has been very reliable. Most Roland stuff seems sturdy, and this little amp feels very solid. The case is well designed with heavy molded protection at the corners and edges, and the metal grille provides complete protection for the speaker. The controls on top are easy to get to and not likely to get banged up.

I have several Roland products, and they have all been so reliable that I have never had to deal with the company.

Been playing 40 years. I have tons of gear. I don't know of anything better for my purposes, so I would replace it with another one if something happened to it.

I love the sound, the portability, and the rugged design. No complaints. The only thing I would change would be to have the wall wart built in so I could use a regular power cord for AC power.

Bought this little guy new in 2005 to use as a practice amp. I have 2 large Fenders but can't use them in my apartment.

Controls are all on top. It has 1 tone, 1 gain, 1 vol and 1 reverb control. It has a 7 selector switch for the amp model you want to play. They are: Acoustic, JC Clean, BF Panel, British, Stack Classic, R-Fire and mic. It also has a single control knob for Chorus, Flanger, Phaser and Tremolo. It runs in AC power or 6-AA Batteries. I believe it has either a 6" or 8" speaker.

Amp, Record and Hphone jacks are on the back with the power switch. I wish they had placed the power switch on the top or up front but there really isn't much room.

I would like to see a stomp box to enable or disable the effects. I don't like stopping to twist a knob to another position. It's just a practice amp so I guess they wanted to keep the cost down.

I checked out several other practice amps but none had the modeling effects and range this one has.

It's a practice amp so I will judge it as such. It's not a vintage Marshall.

I like the COSM amp modeling. I get a good tone at low volume which is what I wanted in a practice amp. It can be as clean as glass or as nasty as any distortion you can imagine. Bypass the speaker and go with some good headphones and you'll take a second and even third look at it when you hit your first note. It;s like a completely different amp. It's that good.

The amp models are fair but the effects are much better. The reverb can be turned up to create a sound that is pretty wet. Turning up the gain at about two thirds with the amp selector to BF Classic or British does a respectable job of reproducing that tone.

I just got it so I can't say anything about reliability. It's about the size of a car battery and feels very solid. Corners and sides show no weakness and the controls are either smooth or positive dependng on which one you are on.

Have had no reason to contact them but I did check out the amp and some sounds clips at the Roland website. Hearing the clips helped me with my decision. I'll give them a score for providing the info I needed to help with my decision.

I've been playing on and off for a few years and I'm a long way from being ready for prime-time. I needed a small amp I could practice on and still get my tone. I checked out this amp at a local store and then checked many other practice amps, Fender, Line 6, and a few more that I can't remember. I found nothing that suited my needs better than the Micro-Cube. I could care less about the battery option but for anyone wanting to jam out in a park someplace this would be the one to take. It's plays super clean for acoustic or down and dirty if you want to go that route.

I bought it first because I wanted a practice amp, then because it had the best tone and features to go with it. I give it a ten as a practice amp.

In my review I never referred to it as a toy or beginner amp, although it would be fine for that and I saw many of those those as well. They had volume, tone, gobs of distortion and not much else. The Roland Micro Cube has many of the same features someone with more advanced skills would want to have and carry along with them on the bus or take to a hotel room.

This amp is a little wonder! Being two watts it should be compared to amps like the original Pignose, and not to practice amps using 8" speakers and a 10-15 watt amp chip.

This amp has 6 amp models and a mic model. The headphone jack doubles as a frequency compensated record out. Looking at the schematic, the frequency compensation is also sent to the speaker. The speaker is interesting as a second ceramic magnet has been added to the speaker's magnet. Anyone taking the speaker out will see the added ceramic donut.

I have added a speaker out jack which switches out the internal speaker when used. I will be adding a line out (that will leave the internal speaker on) and a jack for an external footswitch to access the 6 amp models. Stay tuned to Chad's mod website http://www.maggiemedia.com/microcube/ for any mods I come up with.

Forget about changing the levels of the different amp models or adding additional tone controls. These features are part of a propriatory digital chip and aren't user changeable.

I love the AC30 model in this amp. The compression mimics the cathode bias of the actual Vox well.

I have many guitars including a Les Paul, heavily modded Tele, Explorer, 60's Harmony, and several others. My girlfriend and I build guitars and I mod every guitar I get my hands on for maximum versatility. All guitars have humbuckers with series/parallel capabilities and piezo bridges. This little amp is amazing. The clean tones DO distort at high volumes, but what do you expect from a 2 watt practice amp. The distortions are great. We own most of the amps modelled, including the Mesa Dual Rectifier and the amp is close enough.

I haven't had it long, but it is servicable. I purchased the service manual so I'm ready if it breaks down. It is largely digital and there is a service sequence to test the operation which would pinpoint the problem area. It is so compact and tough, I doubt I'll have any trouble with it.

I purchased the service manual ($14 including shipping) from Roland. The schematic was unreadable so I called Roland to complain. They immediately e-mailed me the service manual in pdf. and the schematic there was readable once blown up (at Kinko's).

I do my own repairs, thank you.

(FWIW, I was asked not to pass on the pdf manual. They sent it to me because I PAID for the hard copy and the hard copy was unreadable. I will respect their request not to give out the manual as I don't want to jepardize any future dealings with Roland.)

I've been playing since 1967 and have been repairing, building and modding amps for 25 years or more. If stolen or lost, the chip I added will allow me to find the amp and if stolen, I will treat the perp to a 9mm hollowpoint through his hand to teach him or her a needed lesson. I can locate any equipment of mine within minutes of finding it gone. I had too much equipment ripped off over the years and won't take it anymore. If you steal from me, expect to get caught, expect to be prosecuted, and expect to be taught a life changing lesson. Please don't test me. I'm too good a shot as is my girlfriend.

I love this little amp. The features including the amp models, separate reverb/delay and modulation effects are an unbelievable value. Most of us have spent far more for effects pedals that aren't as versatile.

I do wish it were a little more power, but I'm not complaining. I look forward to sharing mods for this little gem with other owners.

I've just bought this amp (aug 2005) and cannot complain about the features at all. I won't list all the features it has as this has been said in many previous reviews. For ?69 I think it would be churlish to complain about the quality even if they were only passable but the features on this amp are absolutley fine for this PRACTICE amp. I don't know what some of the reviewers expect from this little box. Its a practice amp. Simple as that and a dammed fine one at that. Its certainly loud enough for personal practice or even with a mate or two. Probably would struggle a bit against a drum kit. I can't agree with the comments about this being a toy. This is good musical equipment. Its solid, very solid. My Marshall MS4 stack is more of a toy.

I play various styles from rock to pop and loads in between. This amp covers the lot. OK so its a little boxy but its only got a 5 inch speaker for Cliff's sake. Of course its going to be boxy! Not even Roland can alter the laws of physics. I keep coming back to this, ITS A PRACTICE AMP. Noise wise, its quiet at low to middle volumes but gets a bit noisier at high volume / distorted settings. As far as I am concerned, all the amp settings do as they say. I've owned many amps over the years so please believe me. I linked the output from the Cube into my Marshall AVT and the JC 120 setting sounded brilliant with a touch of chorus.

I've owned a few Roland things in the past and they've all been fine. Hope this keeps up the good work. I wouldn't gig with it as its a practice amp but its going on holiday with me in two weeks time and I fully expect it will be working when I get back.

Never needed to contact Roland.

In the 30 years I've been playing guitar, I've owned many many types of equipment so I feel that my experience is worth taking note of. Only a few years ago you would have paid a fortune for this quality equipment. At this price I'm astonished at what's been achieved. OK, so it doesn't have multi channel switching, in depth FX editing, sound exactly like a Boogie / Marshall mega watt multi stack on 11 etc but for a ?69 small box with a 5 inch speaker its bloody marvellous! Go get one. REMEMBER, ITS A PRACTICE AMP.

Everything you'd need from a practice amp. Nothing else in the price range comes close... phenominal modeling. I cannot understand anyone not being able to clean up the distortions by merely turning down the volume on your guitar. Learn how to play, then review. I wouldn't expect a 5 watt amp with a little speaker to be loud... just run it out to a big amp to hear what it can really do.

The COSM modeling is so good that I'm using this as a preamp for the distortions. The R-FIER setting is the bestest over-the-top crunch I've ever used in a processer. I play a lot of styles, and this amp is amazing. Although the effects section is limited, again, what can you expect for this price?

No problems. On batteries it only lasts a few hours. So get some rechargables if you have to. Otherwise use the AC adapter.

Never had a problem. Roland has been responsive for me in the past.

Been playing 30 years. I suppose that saying that I'm using it as a preamp says enough. I run it into a Behringer GMX212, which is 50 watts RMS per side in stereo. As a practice amp it's spot on perfect with headphones or just sitting on a desk in front of me. I went on a hunt to see if Roland puts this COSM modeling in any rack unit - yes, if you want to spend $800! Forget that. It's doing everything I need as it stands. I would like a rack unit as I use MIDI to switch my gear's patches between songs. But, for now, this is golden, diamond gear.

This is just a fun amp I have used at home a bit, but I really got it to have for NGW workshops I have attended the last two summers. I have cared for it well. It is just a fun amp with some COSM modeling and some effects with pretty good output for such a toy looking amp. I like the Brit Combo setting. Though I acquired an extra power supply, certain that would fail quickly, mine has not failed in over a year. My rating is based on the amp's intention....fun toy.

The Micro is pretty good if you play with distortion, but it just will not clean up...at least with anything left. That makes it fun to mess with, but not of much sound versatility. I guess the emulations are OK, but no one could really expect anything more than what you get. It is cool though.

Mine died last night which is why I thought I would contribute. I got a year of partial service out of it. Now it is just spastic. Something has failed. I worked on the problem for quite some time last night and I think it is dead. I don't know of any warranty, and what can you really do with a $125 amp? I think it should have been more durable given the care it received and the limited service.

Forget about it. No one would talk to me today. Anyway, remember it is a $125 amp.

Great while it lasted.

Made in 2004. It has all of the features as listed below and on the site. The main things I like are the Brit Combo and Classic Stack modes -- very usable and pleasant sounding. Also, this has an Aux in for a cd/MP3 player to jam-a-long with. The best feature is the line out function. You can run a line out direct to either record or play through a PA wthout the speaker cutting out -- see below.

I use Ibanez SA160s modded with Dimarzio pickups, proco cables, and a Boss SD1 for signal boost into my amp. I have gone direct from guit to cable into the MCube as well. I play primarily rock music and this amp does that well. If you play clean and jack the vol past 2 O'clock, you will get cabinet buzz. It's a 5" speaker, so this is expected. The COSM modeling is something my ears like -- warm and articulate, not trebly and bright like the Korg REMS technology. This amp sounds very passable through a PA. I played a gig with this amp connected via its line/headphone out directly into a keys amp. it sounded phenomenal -- warm, a little bassy, but chunky and thick. The tones of this amp are well worth the $125.00 price. But the versatility is more than worth the price.

It fell over during a rehearsal and the speaker was pierced through the holes in the metal grill. My misfortune, not Roland's fault. Very solidly built, but it is built in CHINA so inspect and beware.

Called ROland for replacement speaker. Very friendly and curteous. The speaker was available for $10.00 plus $5.00 shipping. If they sent the speaker for free, they would get a 10.

I really like this amp AND HAVE OWNED IT FOR ALMOST A YEAR -- NOT A HONEYMOON REVIEW. I have played it through the front end of a Fender Stage 112SE clean and it sounds very convincing. THis is not a tube or tube-sounding amp. It is a transistor amp that sounds very pleasing and passable. I have owned many, many amps anf guitars in the past 20 years. This ranks among the most usable for utility and tone. Very little in this world is a 10!

This was an impulse buy - I already have 2 amps and amp modelers, but thought this amp was too cute. But since I've bought this little amp, it's the only amp I'm using! As noted by other reviewers, for a 2W practice amp, it's quite loud - I haven't turned volume past 5. I just love it. Quite versatile: I play some acoustic songs and mess around with some metal stuff. In the beginning I just used the AC adapter, but the last couple of days I've been playing with 6 AA nimh batteries to see how long it lasts - have been going many hours already! I didn't think the portability is really an advantage in the beginning, but now I think it's cool to be able to move around in the house with my guitar+amp (e.g. to go show my wife my latest attempts etc! :)

I'm using a Strat with EMG pickups. I like the reverb+chorus effects! In contrast to the previous reviewer, I use mostly the Acoustic amp sound + reverb for clean songs, and the Rectifier for the heavy palm muted stuff. Unlike my other amps, this amp sounds good clean AND distorted. Maybe if you're a serious jazz player or something you won't agree, but to me, as an amateur I don't hear much buzz.

Looks strong, but being a tiny amp I'd be careful with it.

Don't know. But I trust the dealer.

I've been playing +/- 2 years - just messing around at home. Other gear: old Torque 50W and Marhsall 15W amps. VAMP2, PODxt. Several strats & an old bass. I originally considered looking for a Pignose portable amp, but I'm glad I found this one instead. To end with at least one negative thing, I think it should've been cheaper.

All the features are listed from previous reviews-great toy. I plug in my CD player to play along with it, as well as a mic. Has built-in EFX, very useful and convenient, don't need to lug half a dozen pedals along with you all the time. This amp is LOUD. Overall, i pretty much use all the features, none of them are irrelevant. I love that there are many options.

I sold my crappy Yamaha GA 10 amp (7watts) in order to get this, which is probably the best thing i've ever done. I use the cube along with my yamaha EG 112 strat copy guitar, which sounds great on all settings. I like to play rock-oriented songs: from Green Day to Nirvana, and this amp suits it well. My favourite amp models would be the JC clean,brit combo, and stacks. The acoustic setting is too soft and the rectifier is too noisy. The only minor 'issue' is the slight buzzing when i turn up the gain, but that isn't too much of a problem. The phaser,flange,tremelo, and reverb are great too.

I think it's dependable, i use it as a practice amp-not for gigs. I've had it for a week now, no problems. It looks pretty solid so i'm not that worried. If you wanted to use it at a gig, the line out is very useful to plug into a bigger amp. At the shop, i plugged the microcube into a Cube 60, and the sound was awesome.

I've never dealt with Roland before, and i don't think i will. I did however, receive the customer support from the store i bought it from-Steves music store in toronto-and the guy helping me was very useful and friendly. The warranty is a year, but steves music doesn't allow refunds-only exchange in 10 days after purchase, which is kinda annoying.

When i told my mom that the amp i was getting was 2 watts, she thought i was crazy-cause i said i wanted something more powerful, and i was trading in a 7 watt for a 2 watt amp. She wouldn't believe that a thing so low in watts could produce so much sound (she doesn't believe her own child), so she insisted on going to the store to hear for herself, which made her cover her ears. So it's not really about the number of watts that matters, but more on how the item was made.

I love that it's portable, i get to play in the backyard, where i'm surrounded by a lot of neighbours who are mostly retired with grand children. I try not to play too loud, in attempt to not cause a heart attack for ppl around me. Compared to my other amp that i just sold to some clueless guy, this is 15X better. I find myself practicing more than i did before-it's more fun and exciting. If it were stolen or lost,i've got a few sets of gold clubs in the garage, along with a few of my grandma's cookies (which are rock-rolid)-and i dont mind using them to my advantage,so back off. I bought it based on these reviews on HC-there are some reviews that aren't too good, only because those people wanted to use it as an acoustic amp for their acoustic guitar. This amp is made for electric guitar, but you can use it for acoustic-if you want an electric-acoustic sound.