General
When it comes to sound, many guitarists still consider vintage Tweed amplifiers the holy grail. Unfortunately, original models are so expensive these days that only few can afford them. What's more, to protect their vulnerable tubes, these type of amps usually have a rugged, cumbersome design. No wonder Roland's Blues Cubes came as such a nice surprise when they were first introduced! With the Blues Cubes, Roland set out to reproduce the vintage Tweed sound in all its glory - and they succeeded magnificently. If you're looking for a bit more power than the original Blues Cube can offer, however, check out the Blues Cube Tour, a 100-watt amplifier head that features Roland's Tube Logic technology.
Construction
Boasting an impressive 100 watts of power, the Blues Cube Tour is Roland's heaviest Blues Cube amplifier to date. It has a beautiful vintage tweed finish and the same Tweed sound and options as the Blues Cube 1x12 and the Blues Cube 2x12 models. Combine this amp head with the specially designed Roland Blues Cube Cabinet, and you'll have a perfect combo that's reminiscent of the vintage 4x10 setups of old, but comes as a much more lightweight and reliable package. Lacking the actual vulnerable tubes, the Blues Cube Tour is much better equipped for a life on the road. Guitarists won't risk any back injuries carrying it around from gig to gig, and thanks to its variable power, this amp head can also be used at home.
Variable power, USB and other connectors
Tube amplifiers sound better if you turn up the volume. The Power Control knob of the Blues Cube Tour enables you to decrease the power of the amp from 85 watts to 45, 15 or even 0.5 watts, so you can play at a low volume without sacrificing the tube-like distortion you get on stage. For quiet practice sessions there's a headphone output and for direct recording to your computer the Blues Cube Tour is fitted with a USB connector and a line output. If you like to work with external effects gear, an FX loop is at your disposal, and you can also connect two optional foot switches or the Roland GA-FC to switch between channels and the Dual Tone option, or to activate the tremolo and the FX loop from a distance. Finally, Roland's Blues Cube Tour is equipped with an XLR connector.
Tips or comments about this product
- Please note: the pictured Roland 4x10 speaker cabinet is not included, but sold separately. The images that show the speaker cabinet serve illustrative purposes only.
