Excellent Amp. Sound is every bit as good as my tube amps. With the GAFC switch I don't even need pedals. For gigging, home, rehearsal... it's fantastic. As long as it's digital however, would love to see a built in tuner and delay - but that's asking a lot. The Dual channel, I have not yet found it to be that useful.

Seriously just buy this amp (or any of the Blues Cube amps), especially if you can find it used. I cannot stress how incredible this amp is. Much like a good tube amp it is very touch responsive and rewards dynamic playing, has some sag, and gets warmer as the saturation increases. It is genuinely difficult to get this amp to sound spikey. The cleans are so beautiful and crystal clear. The edge of breakup tones are wonderful and the overdriven sounds are very natural sounding and don't get overly compressed that they get mushy. If you purchase the footswitch you can easily get away with no overdrive pedals by using the two different channels, the tone button (which adds a really nice soft upper mid hump and ever so slight increase in drive to help you cut through a mix), and the boost. Other than the perceived loss of treble at super low volumes that is inherent to almost every audio source, the tone it produces is the exact same at whisper quiet "my child is sleeping in the next room" volumes as it is at stage ready gig volumes. This thing can get LOUD. Probably louder than anyone would need with quieter stages becoming the norm. It takes pedals just as naturally as any tube amp i've owned. It responds to guitar volume-knob changes just as naturally as any tube amp I've played. The onboard tremolo and reverb isn't my favorite but it is absolutely usable, and something I do sometimes use live when I don't want to bring pedals. The tap tempo function, which can also be controlled via footswitch, is a very nice feature. It also has an effects loop if you don't want to run your effects into the front of the amp. The feature that takes it to the next level is the tone capsules. Yes, they are expensive, but they give you an entirely different amp. I have the ultimate blues one designed in conjunction with Kirk Fletcher and it changes the amp from a '59 Bassman to a black panel high headroom amp. It really does change the amp but maintains all of the aforementioned positive characteristics such as responsiveness, sage, warmth, etc. I promise you will not regret purchasing this amp.

I suspect that Most guitarists have a story similar to mine... I purchased the Blues Cube Artist not long after it first came out, sold it, and regretted doing so ever since . I recently purchased another one , and told myself not to make that mistake again. I have always loved this amp! The Fender-like tone is excellent! I do not use a pedalboard, I connect straight into the amp and use the two channels to provide both clean and edge-of-breakup tones. I do not use the channel blended mode. The reverb is lush and beautiful. I do not use the tremolo very much, but it does the job. The power selection switch works very well and I use 1/2 watts at home. There are no menus! Everything can be controlled from the top panel. The Artist version has an effects loop, which I really appreciate. The GA-FC (which must be purchased separately) is a very useful addition, and I recommend it. I no longer use tube amps. The Blues Cube delivers a wonderful tube-like tone. It is not a perfect amp, however. It is heavier than I would prefer. I suspect this is due to the cabinet. The price is too high. Between when I purchased the amp the first time and the second time, its price rose about $! The various tone capsules are a nice feature, but they are not inexpensive. From a blindness perspective, The original knobs were easier to feel the direction of, than the present ones. Being a Blues guitarist, this really is exactly what I look for in a Blues amp.

Kudos to Roland, this amp is outstanding! I bought it used and I've tried two of the Tone capsules, and they add different characters to the sound. The amp really got interesting when I installed an Celestion 90 watt Cream back Alnico speaker! Truly awe inspiring difference and well worth the money!

Cream16--celestion-cream-12-inch-90-watt-alnico-guitar-speaker-16-ohm


These amps are almost indestructible, but I wonder who would repair them, in case of failure?

I recently purchased this amp. I am a working guitarist playing in many different sized venues a month on a regular basis. I have owned many , many, high end tube amps throughout my career, and this sounds like a tube amp. I have been using this amplifier in large outdoor situations and small clubs with incredible results, due to the wattage switching. Crisp, Clean tones to the perfect snarly lead crunch. I am using no pedals except the Roland pedal made for this amp. It weighs 35 lbs and is easy to carry from gig to gig. The secret is to turn the master volume all the way up and leave it there, then adjust separate clean volume and crunch channel. Do yourself a favor , buy one of these , you'll love it.

Great clean tone with the versatility of multiple power settings to fit the venue. Reverb and Tremelo both sound great despite minor inconveniences with both (more on that below). Crunch channel yields a good gritty/dirty overdriven tone. The boost for each channel is just right. I highly recommend the Boss GA-FC foot controller to go with. It allows access to channel switching, channel boost, tremolo on/off and efx loop on/off without walking over to the amp. The Artist comes with high quality heavy weight stickers to relabel the GA-FC according to how it works with the Artist. You can also connect a Boss FV-500H volume pedal to the GA-FC, enabling volume control without the pedal being in the effects chain. The volume pedal interacts with the amp post effects loop but pre master volume. Unfortunately, the reverb cannot be switched off via the GA-FC. I would have preferred to have this option instead of effects loop on/off or dual tone switch. Initially I purchased the Roland Sparkle Clean tone capsule based on the reviews, videos and the involvement of Jeff Baxter with its development. However, to my ear, the result was a harsh and brittle sounding tone. It also altered the relationship between the clean and crunch channels. In order for the output levels to match when switching between the channels, it was necessary to significantly increase either the individual volume or gain of the crunch channel, which resulted in an unpleasant increase in noise. So - tone capsule returned. Amp is better without it, especially after exploring Jeff Baxter's recommended tone settings (somewhat modified). The amp set flat is mid forward so the following makes sense to give more body and sparkle to the tone - Bass all the way up. Mid all the way down. Treble all the way up. Presence set to taste (I like it at 2 0'clock). I set the crunch channel for light break up. Amp has plenty of power. I generally use it at the 15w setting. Though the 15w setting is not as beefy as 15 tube watts, I haven't needed the master volume above 5 and there remains the 45w and 80w settings. Minor grievances... the aforementioned inability to turn off the reverb with the foot controller. Oddly, the tremolo comes on automatically when the amp is turned on and must be switched off on the amp or via foot controller if it is not wanted. The "dual tone" setting is meh. I think maybe it was an attempt to mimic the channel jumping technic used with Marshall amps but it isn't a usable tone to my ear. Overall great amp and I highly recommend it. Sweetwater service was awesome as always. Shout out to sales engineer Mark Bruhn.

At first not overly impressed right out of the box at bedroom levels. I did not like the shared eq for both channels although the blending of the two channels is a nice feature. After a short time of knob adjusting I was able to get great tones for both my Les Paul and G&L ASAT. I took it to my band playing outside for a session and was really impressed. Without walls to to knock the acoustics around I found the true sound to be incredible. I mainly used the clean channel with a pedal board. Low channel volume with a high master setting gave plenty of head room and clarity. Turning the master down and the channel volume up to 6 and above gave it a sweet compressed edge. Really impressed. Love the weight as well. Love my tube amp but this one will get plenty of play time!

I want a tube amp but, my circumstances don't allow for a tube amp. I love tube amps and I have had a number Fender amps over the years. I've moved into an apartment and tubes are just too unwieldy. Not to mention too expensive especially the Tone King I really want. I've tried a few solid state amps and they always left me disappointed. After reading review after review. Listen and watching videos on this amp I decided to try one more time. WOW! Color me impressed! I purchased the amp in March 2021 so, I have spent some time getting to know the Blues Cube before writing this review.

The output is astounding. At full wattage this amp moves some air and retains the tone when you select .5 watt. This amp will keep up in a band and make the perfect practice amp. This amp truly sounds and responses like a Tweed Bassman (Which is what it's based on). It's very touch sensitive - It has a good amount of head room and will overdrive beautifully when pushed. The reverb is quite good and very usable. The 2nd channel overdrives nicely as well although I mainly use the clean channel and push into overdrive with the Catalinbread Formula 5F6. Which brings me to my next point. It takes pedal nicely. The boost feature is awesome and sounds wonderful. It's a nice addition. The build quality is top rate. True wood construction and the speaker is a great match.

The negatives: I'm not crazy about the channel blending, it's okay but I don't use it and I don't care much for the tremolo. I prefer the tremolo from the Wampler Terraform. It sounds much better and easier to access while playing. The other down side is the cost of the separate foot-switch (It's a must if your going to truly get the most out of the amp). The other minor issue: I wish they had put the controls on the front of the amp instead of on top. I use my amp on an amp stand that pitches it back making the controls difficult to read and adjust at times.
*** Even with the negatives this amp deserves 5 Stars - The Blues Cube has changed my mind on solid states amps and may be the future on amps. ***

I bought one of the Blues cube artist amps when they first came out. When I was looking for another amp I had the chance to do a side by side comparison of the Blues cube artist against a Quilter Aviator and a Quilter micropro. To me the Blues cube just sounded better. I have gigged with it through all kinds of conditions and it had proven to be reliable. One gig was an outdoors show where the temps were pushing 100 degrees and the backline was in the sun. Something like that would have fried my old Marshall but the blues cube just took it in stride. Love the variable power feature so I can get my tone in any size room. The thing takes pedals like a champ and just sounds great. I have owned Marshalls, Fenders, Mesas, Dr.Z, Tophat, Budda, Peavey, Vox, Victoria, and Two Rock amps. No have been this reliable and none have sounded as good. I have since sold off my tubes amps and have now added a Roland Blues Cube Stage. The just work for me and I highly recommend them!

I like others that have written a review have played through many tube amps, and some of them were very good but the weight and heat and the unreliable variation of tone was frustrating. I wanted a new amp and stumbled across the BC artist on YouTube. A couple of British guys were demonstrating the artist (Think it was called "The Tone Lab") anyway I was blown away. Read all kinds of positive reviews and decided to pull the trigger. I was well pleased. I've been playing guitar off and on sense I was 6 I'm now 64. Never what you would call a professional but have played with several different groups and lots of musicians, no other amp that I can remember has inspired me like this. Pricey but absolutely worth it.

Transistor amps I've owned in the past include Kustom, Pignose, Acoustic, Marshall, Sansamp etc). I can safely say that none of them come close to the Blues Cube Artist. Is it the perfect amp? ....no. My personal preference is that my Morgan SW22 has a warmth that can not be recreated by transistor..yet.

However, the tones on the Blues Cube Artist are pleasing and the ability to change the sonics with "tube logic" is impressive. (I also purchased the Robben Ford Capsule...for a slightly grittier sound.)It's price point is another major plus...you get your dollars worth when you buy this amp.

What you get is a very portable, listenable, flexible amp in the BCA. No I am not employed by Roland or Sweetwater.

This amp is flexible but probably will not appeal to death metal aficionados. It should work with most other genres of music.

Full disclosure: I have only played the amp for a few hours but my confidence is high on this amp being a "keeper".

Ben Robinson (my Sweetwater rep) was as usual a fantastic source of information regarding this amp, and I owe him big time for his advice (as usual). It is of note that I delay making purchases until I have spoken to Ben.

So kudos to the artisans that created this amp. As tube production becomes more sketchy over time, I expect this amp will flourish and will become more and more popular.

Amp was demoed with a Gibson Les Paul Tribute guitar and a Sire S7.

Wonderful tone even when you add the tone capsule. Highly recommended.

I am almost 60 years old and I have been playing guitar since I 6 years old. I have played just about every genre from country to rock'n roll, to jazz and fusion. Mexican music, Brazilian music and the classics. I have recorded with many bands and done much session work. I have had many tube amps as well as a Kemper, two or three different fractal audio products and much more. Never in my life have I enjoyed an amplifier more than this one. The clean channel is so sweet and dynamic. The crunch channel is just as sweet and growls. When dialed up correctly, the sweet even harmonics along with the natural sag that you would get out of a tube amp are almost too hard to explain. I bonded with this amp in less than a half an hour and every amp I have tried sense leaves me longing for this one again. It doesn't sound almost like a tube. It sounds like one of the sweetest tube amps you could ever come across. If you have a strong pickup I recommend a compressor on the input between the amp and guitar set up very lightly. But I love all the rest of my pedals in the effects loop, believe it or not even the distortion pedal. It sounds like a million dollar guitar system. I now own two of them and run a stereo rig. All my musician friends say my tone has never been better, sweeter, clearer or more jaw dropping. The notes from my distortion pedal are so transparent and sweet. I even use my distortion pedals with the combination Channel 1 and 2 together. Roland has made some great amplifiers like the Katana and others, but this one in my book is by far the most professional. I simply can't put the guitar down and that's what we want isn't it? An amplifier that truly inspires and compliments anything you put with it. Everybody talks about the light weight and the lack of maintenance. These are all great attributes but they are no substitute if you have to compromise your sound. My sound is better now through this amp quite frankly than any other system I have ever had... tubes included. Learn the amp and fall in love. It is not a great metal amplifier. But for Rock, Country, Jazz, Jazz fusion, and just about everything else, I think it's the best! I would rate it 10 stars if I could, but I guess you get the point! Thank you Roland. I am amazed every time I pick up the guitar!

I found one used, but in like new condition. Been using Fender Blues Deluxe since I bought it new around 1990. This Cube is astounding! it's easily 10 lbs lighter than the Fender and has such a phonemail tone that I no longer use any pedals. This sounds better ,IMO, than what I was using in the past and I can leave my pedal board at home. I purchased the Roland foot switch for this amp and am able to switch channels, add the boost or engage the Tremelo. Also I bought a Fender amp cover that fits almost perfectly and is less pricey that the Roland cover. I use it at the 45 watt setting and it's got plenty of balls for any venue indoors or outside that I've played at. Still, it's nice to now it's got a full 80watts just in case! Did I say that I like this amp? I believe it was Howard Dumble ( Dumble amps) that said 'one day soon solid state amp technology will equal or surpass tube circuitry'. Yup, it has.

I've been playing for 30 years - used all the tube names (Fender, Boogie/Randall, Marshall, etc) and I'm super happy with this amp. If you're a metal player you'll still want tubes - but for blues, classic rock, country, and funk - this gets it done. Takes my 3 OD/Dist pedal very well and gets a great tone.
Why did I go solid state? 1) Was tired of tube amps weight (this thing is very light to carry), 2) tired of tubes crapping out on me at a gig because of the heat or cold, or weird power voltage at the venue (pretty common).
I got the GCFC foot controller because it allows both channel switching and boosts for both both channels. Just what I need.
It is definitely the best sounding solid state amp out there right now.
One last thing -- very loud. NO problems with volume -- cuts through the drummer just like a tube amp. I am only playing it at 1/2 power - tons of headroom left.
Nice job Roland! My only feedback would be to include the darn amp cover for the price and maybe one of the tone pods so we can A/B the difference (It would help sell the other tone pods).

I’m an active musician in my area and was tired of seeing my hard earned cash go out the window for amp repairs, tune ups and tubes so I started looking for alternatives.
The problem is I am, or was a die hard tube amp user for more than 35 years....
I have owned Mesa, Orange, Fender, Fuchs ODS, Friedman Amps and many others over the years and I’m kicking myself for the money I’ve spent on Ampification..
I ordered the Blues Cube based on months of research and review readings and all I can say is I am very BLOWN away at the tones that I’m getting out of this amp!
I am now using it as my main gigging amp, why? Because it sounds FANTASTIC!
Musician friends said don’t do it man, you’ll regret it but those friends after hearing it dialed in are buying a Blues Cube, or adding it to the Christmas list! LOL
Well done Roland!
And thanks again Sweetwater for your always wonderful customer service!

Bought this from Sweetwater last month along with the Ultimate Blues Tone Capsule. I have no idea what the amp sounds like without the Tone Capsule, since I installed it before powering it on.

I also own a Vox AC-15 and a Mesa Boogie Mark IV, and the other guitarist in my band has a Fender Twin Reverb. It sounds mostly like the Fender. Does it sound exactly like it? No. But it is very close, and in the mix, you wouldn't pick it out. Very articulate, amplifies everything, like a good tube amp, and "sags" when you load it up. The is a Tone Capsule for the Vox sound--might have to try that next.

The real value is that it retains its tone at very low volume. On the 0.5W setting, I can play it in my house at 5 a.m. and it won't wake anyone up. The 15W setting is as high as I go at home-- very loud! The 45W and Max (80W) settings are screaming loud.

The Clean channel is very nice for slow blues and jazz, and the crunch channel is great for louder stuff. The Dual Tone is great for a "pick attack" tone to vary in and out of the gain with pick technique.

All who have heard it thought it was a Tube amp. At 35 lbs it's much lighter. the only give-away is a very low volume SS "hiss" that you can hear if you listen close. No hiss on the clean channel at low volume.

I don't use any pedals with this amp, because I get all the tone I want from the amp. I play a variety of guitars through it; Les Paul, 335, Gibson Tal Farlow, PRS, Tele, Strats--all sound really good. The Reverb is good, not great--sounds like a cross between a spring unit and a digital plate reverb--more than adequate for my needs. If I want to get serious with the reverb, I'll go to the Strymon.

I should also say that I own the Katana Head and 2x12 cab, which I believe is better for rock. But for Blues and Jazz, this BC Artist 80W 1x12 is excellent!

After 55 years playing, I've got my "forever amp". (I've gone through Twins, Supers, a Deluxes, a Marshall, Traynors, Tech 21's, Quilters.. I'll stop now, getting depressed...))You know how it goes: You get a new amp and it sounds "wicked pissa". (as we New Englanders say!) THEN you start diddling with the controls and within 2 weeks you've managed to make it sound just as bad as the turd you replaced it with!
This thing doesn't have a crappy sound in it. The only feature I find totally useless is the power scaling control. Leave it up! It's not as if you are trying to maximize power tube distortion, cuz you don't got any! I got the deluxe foot switch, but the 2 button would work just as well. You also have the option of spending way to much for "tone modules". I got the "Ultimate Blues" module as it touted "more clean headroom" from the clean channel. Not sure if it was worth the $... but I haven't taken it out!
Only things I would add to this amp is a Second speaker out and an XLR direct out instead of the 1/4", but that's a small niggle. Interestingly, the direct out volume stays the same when you adjust the amp master volume! Neat!

Once again, thank you to John for exceptional service. Sweetwater is the best!!!
The Blues Cube is an incredible amp. I played an outdoor show with my Quartet, and ran the direct out to a monitor, mixed with the amp. At 45 watts, this thing is loud!!! What's more, this is the first time I didn't use an overdrive pedal, instead, using the crunch channel; which sounds better than most overdrive boxes. The FX loop is very transparent to the audio signal, the reverb and trem are superb. The sound character of the Cube is very close to a Tweed Bassman, one of my favorite Amps of all time. The difference is that it's more even across the audio spectrum. It doesn't suffer the EQ spikes that sometimes occur with a Bassman. And it's portable and light. Anymore, there's no reason for a working guitarist to carry a big, heavy amp. The 1x12 is perfect for virtually any venue. it's very elastic and organic, behaving like a tube amp, without the hassles. I believe that if a guitarist heard or played this against a tube amp that they couldn't tell the difference, or would choose the Cube. It's really that good.
I think there is the potential to get any classic tweed/blackface sound out of this. Guitarists would do themselves a big service by checking this amp out. The only thing that Roland needs to make for this is a 1x12 extension cabinet.
Once again, thank you to John and everyone at Sweetwater. Exceptional customer service from start to finish. I won't buy from anyone else.

I"ve been playing tube amps for all of my career, but was looking to purchase a new amp for a better country tone. I was originally looking at purchasing an AC-30, and was about to pull the trigger when I stumbled upon this amp by complete accident. I was simply blown away. The tone is EXACTLY what I was looking for and more. This amp was supposed to be for country music only, but has now become my #1. I do everything from Jazz, to Classic Rock, to Metal, to Country on this bad boy. The dirt channel is great as an overdrive to spice up the distortion pedals, but the clean is where this baby shines. The tremolo and reverb are very nice, and I find myself leaving the reverb around 3, and the tremolo around 6 when I need it. The Presence control is very useful, giving me the top end boost my rig may be lacking. I love the Boost and Tone switches on both channels, and even find myself using the Dual Channel mode for complex rhythms. The wattage adjuster is flawless, allowing me to play in my apartment without driving my neighbors crazy. The Effects Loop is useful, as well as the headphone out for late night practice. The additional USB out is great for those wanting to record their tone, though I personally use the Line Out function directly into my Apollo Twin. To sum this up, I can"t say enough about this amp!!!!

I wasn"t able to try this amp before buying, so I was a bit nervous. I own a tube amp, and many in my past, but wanted a good quality amp that wasn"t so heavy.This amp is 1/2 the weight of my other amp, but I like this amp better! Right out of the box, I set the EQ to 12 o"clock, 15 Watts, and this this simply impressed me. If your concerned about buying this without trying it first, like I was, I hope this helps.
Cheers!

I was really looking for an amp that would have vintage tones, a higher gain channel ( to eliminate need for dirt pedals), be versatile, and not have tubes. The types of venues I am finding myself in, having a heavy, hot, finicky tube amp surely sounds good, but is very frustrating. I do have a nice fender deluxe reverb and am familiar with tube amps, but this blues cube is nothing like anything ive experienced before. The sensitivity to pick attack and technique is stunning, harmonics leap of the strings, the dynamic range is killer, and this thing just responds to your playing in a way that makes playing your guitar extra fun. The amp also is extremely responsive to the volume control on the guitar. There's a crazy difference in the tones achieved by rolling through the volume on your guitar from warm clean jazz tones to off color fuzziness with a little volume adjustment. The gain channel is the same, going from slight crunch straight into heavy hard rock tones just from one setting on the amp and just varying the guitars controls. While the amp has enough EQ to tailor the sound, i find myself paying more attention to the controls on the guitar because it seems like they are so much more effective when playing through this amp. I tried to test as many pickup styles as possible too(gretsch style bucks, single coil sensors, p90s, vintage buckers, and HOT passive buckers with tapping.) With a few knob twists on the amp or the press of the tone switch, every guitar sounded great through the amp.

Also this thing is LOUD. In all the videos ive seen, the .5w setting seemed anemic and super quiet. In reality, .5w can be pretty darn loud. Clean channel on vol 5, and master vol at 9 sounds as loud as my deluxe reverb on 3.5 ish. When i flip the attentuator to 10 w, im more than loud and clean enough to play over a drummer and bass player for my jazz/funk band. Out of curiosity i flipped it to max volume briefly and I almost wished I had a fresh set of pants with me.

In case it actually isnt loud enough for you, the direct out and usb out BOTH sound fantastic. I recorded a couple of riffs simultaneously through the usb and through the direct out. When I reviewed the tracks, neither track sounded overly harsh or brittle. The direct out DID seem slightly crispier in the high end, however, I avoided doing any eq from the mixer on either signal. The usb when compared to the live amp sound is almost entirely identical. The USB may be a little bit warmer than the amp, but I was thinking the USB may actually be mimicking a cube with a worn in speaker, and mine is only a few days old still.

If you want an amp that is warm, versatile, light weight, powerful, and maintenance free look no further. The blues cube is pretty darn near a perfect product. Playing through this amp has been an enlightening experience, I understand what players are talking about now when they talk about their favorite amps with a twinkle in their eye. I bought the Cube because I wanted a functional amp that would make my life easier and would help me keep my deluxe reverb working well. I instead got an amp that is helping me hear the sound I was hearing in my head. I love the blues cube.

BTW I forgot to mention this thing looks way better in person. Nice cabinet, the vinyl is super sharp looking. The metal corners and front plate give it a true vintage vibe. Roland also knows its trying to win over tube purists so.... this thing BARELY even says roland on it. The handle has the name pressed into it, and the control panel has their name (but its one of the tiniest things on there too) Anyone on the fence thinking that at this price why dont get just get a tube amp.... I would seriously urge you to reconsider, playing through this amp adds to the joy that is playing an electric guitar.

This review is specific to the Artist model. I also have the EJ Tone Capsule (see separate review), so some comments pertain to that option vs the stock setup.

All my amps have been tube, and I currently have a Rivera Venus 6 tube amp which, at 65#, is a beast to haul around. I was looking for something lighter that behaved and sounded like a tube amp, but without the need to have multiple amp sounds and f/x like most modeling amps.

I found the Blues Cube reviews online and road tripped to Sweetwater to try it out in person, as I was skeptical, but cautiously optimistic.

As most of the reviews can attest, Roland really nailed not only the tube sound, but, most important, the tube feel and response. This amp is a sheer joy to play! All the controls are responsive and provide the ability to shape the tone to your liking.
I added the footswitch unit, which seamlessly switches between channels, as well as offers separate boost for both channels, tremolo, f/x loop and "dual tone" (both channels simultaneously).

The clean channel runs from crystal clear to gritty, depending on the volume. Overdrive provides that classic Fender sound.

Both reverb and tremolo are fantastic.
Clean channel is great for incoming f/x. I only use overdrive and wah.

I find the different output settings useful for the different places I use it.
At 35#, I can easily carry with one arm.

The only reason I didn't give it a full 5.0 rating is that the line out doesn't sound good. The manual says it's supposed to sound like the speaker, but I disagree. Thought I would be able to bypass a mic and run it direct to our pa, but still use a mic, which is fine.

But the main objective is accomplished: outstanding tube tone and response in a lightweight and reliable solid state amp.
Roland set the new standard.

I've had a lot of trouble gigging with my tube amps lately, such as looking over at my amp wondering why it was so quiet and seeing smoke coming from it (true story!), so out of desperation and frustration I ordered the Roland Blues Cube (BC) Artist 1X12".

I believe it uses a blend of solid state and DSP technology to emulate an old tube amp. It then adds a lot of tone shaping controls, modern amp features, reverb and tremolo.

The Sweet Spot: Tube amps tend to have a certain volume where the amp is doing all the right things - just enough compression, sag and saturation while maintaining clarity. Unfortunately, it's rarely the correct volume for your gig - usually, it's much too loud. The BC solves this issue with the different power modes (0.5, 15, 45, Max) and a master volume to allow you to hit that sweet spot at any volume. I find that I'll use the half watt mode at home and the 15 watt mode at the gig since I also have guitar in the monitor. It's nice to know there are two higher settings if I need the extra juice.

Tone Shaping: The Boost and Tone switches, along with a standard three band EQ, allow you to further shape the tone. The designers went to a lot of trouble to make sure that every possible shade of dirt was possible to dial in, from almost pristine (but never actually pristine) to very crunchy, though never in the realm of heavy distortion. Don't expect to get cranked Marshall tones from the standard amp. It firmly remains in classic Fender territory. You may want to check out the tone capsules if you're bent on getting a non-tweed sound out of your Blues Cube. There is also a very useful master presence control.

Sounds: I'm happy with the Clean Channel. It stays fairly clean, maintaining a nice attack with single coil pickups, even with the boost on and volume cranked. It gets fairly crunchy with a humbucker when you turn the volume past 6 or turn on the boost. The Tone switch boosts mids and highs, kind of the equivalent of a bright switch, and is useful for darker pickups such as passive humbuckers or the neck pickup of a Strat.

Switching to the Crunch Channel is slightly jarring for me, since there's a noticeable shift in the mids which is hard to describe. Still, it has that cranked Fender overdrive that I like. I'm not crazy about the Boost on the Crunch Channel - I find it a bit "honky" pushing mids in an unpleasant frequency to my ears. Fortunately, I don't normally need a lot of gain, so I leave the boost off.

You can use the Boost on the Clean Channel as a volume boost, but on the Crunch Channel, the boost only adds saturation.

Effects: The reverb is kind of spring-like, but doesn't really sound like any spring reverb I've heard. It's fairly smooth and can go from subtle to over the top with a nice taper in the control.

I'm not sure if the tremolo is supposed to emulate the vibrato on a classic Fender amp, but it definitely sounds different from the one in my '65 Deluxe Reverb. It's a bit smoother, but seems to be more than a simply sine wave - it has character. I like it. The tap tempo works fairly well, though I would have preferred a speed control since I don't tempo sync my tremolo.

More Features: There's an effects loop that seems to be operating at guitar level, so you should be able to run pedals in the loop without issue.

I ordered the GA-FC footswitch along with the amp. It can switch channels, go into Dual Tone mode (both channels), kick in the boost, switch on the tremolo and FX loop. The manual says that it can turn on the reverb, too, but I think that's a misprint. I'm not sure I would have designed the footswitch the same way - it should have used only one switch for switching channels. The usefulness of the boost switches is debatable since only the clean channel boost increases volume (along with gain) and only by a set amount.

I was disappointed that it doesn't include an amp cover or even have one as an optional accessory. I had to order one from an amp cover company.

Summary: This is an excellent choice if you want a combo that has sound of a tube amp, but you need it to be reliable night after night. Roland Cube amps are famous for being reliable, but of course, we'll see in time. For a solid state amp, it's not cheap, but well worth it, in my opinion. It's small, light and loud when it needs to be.

Also, I wouldn't hesitate to record as I would with any tube amp. I've done some sample recordings and they sound very good. It's a great addition to my small amp collection and adds another flavour. It's also my new go-to amp for gigs.

Whether you like the sound of the Blues Cube or not, it's hard to deny that the technology has arrived.

I have owned the Artist for 3 years now, and could not be more pleased. If you are looking for a great gigging or basement amp that sounds and feels like classic Fender tubes, but without all the bother, heat, weight, unreliability and expense, you will love this! It does not emulate 1000 amps, and it does not have a gazillion effects, but if you want an ideal match for Blues, Jazz and Classic Rock, you can not do better. Better than the real thing!

If spending $300 on a Robin Ford tone capsule seems like a bridge too far, then don't despair, because the Blues Cube Artist is wonderful right out of the box. The cleans are very accurate, which is all I wanted. Then I started playing with the built in tones, and Wow! I can't get enough of all the possibilities. The Tremelo is the only thing I use sparingly, everything else is equally engaged. My favorite settings are either 9 or 12 o'clock on everything. So, good job Roland for having such a good ear, and making it easy to tune up your Blues Cube Artist. When I get board with stock, I'll see if there are any good deals on tone capsules.

I have been watching these on Youtube for a while. I have had other Roland products and they all have been better than average for sure. But, I bit the bullet and bought the Blues Cube Artist 1x12 I also bought the tone tube New York blues. All I can say is, This amp is better than I could imagine. It will be my full time gigging amp.

I've been playing guitar since the British Invasion days and have owned a truckload of tube amps - multiple Fenders and Mesas, Matchless, Bad Cat, VHT, THD, Fuchs, Marsh, Mojave ... The few solid state amps I tried were sterile and had no soul. When I read that Robben Ford had done a tone capsule for the Blues Cube and saw the video of him playing through one, I figured that if it was good enough for Robben it had to be worth a try. I've had the Artist model for a couple of weeks now, and it lives up to its billing. It sounds as good as most of the tube amps I've owned, the variable power switch makes it suitable for anything from practicing in a bedroom to playing a large club or outdoor gig, and it's light enough to carry without risking a trip to the E.R. Solid state technology finally seems to have arrived.

Right out of the box this amp delivers creamy good tone. The option of adding a tone capsule later is a nice option I will probably get around to but for now, as is this ROCKS! Feel free to add you favorite pedals either upfront or through the effects loop. You'll probably want to purchase the addition foot controller for optimum live usage.

I've played both tube and solid state amps in the past and the nice thing about this amp is having the warm yet true tones of a warmed up tube amp rig yet not having the weight or tube replacement issues. It has plenty of abundant clean headroom which I think is the first place a guitarist should check when searching for a new amp. You can always dirty up a clean amp but you can't always get the "MUD" out of a high gain amp.

This is a simple straight clean machine that can pack a punch when pushed! I highly recommend it especially if you want something that can go from bedroom to bar room with power attenuation options. Compared to a Fender Blues Jr./Fender Hot Rod Deville or similar amps this amp wins hands down for clarity and presence. Buy one now!

Shout out to my Sweetwater rep, Mike Picotte for the awesome service as always!

while i'm still getting used to it and discovering all that it can do, thanks to Jason Koons, i am the proud owner of a BC Artist.
i've owned several tube amps before and always felt the need/urge to change tubes and speakers, costing hundreds of $$. no need to do this with the Artist, or any Blues Cube for that matter. this is my 3rd BC. i've owned an older BC 30/210, still own a BC60 and now my Artist.
while i don't gig much and mostly play at home, i have to say that i have had no occasion to crank it up to the full 80 watts. it's played at the .5 watt and is plenty loud. the amp has plenty of juice.
an interesting and well used feature is the dual channel. when engaged, it employs settings from the hot and the clean channels. i like this and it's on more than off.
cleans are very clear and bright. hot gets as crunchy as you like. headroom. yes. as i have not really cranked it and i'm still experimenting, i have yet to get that tube breakup. i'm sure it's me and not the amp.
haven't tried the USB out to the computer yet. it would be a plus if the cable were included, but it is not. as well as a footswitch. i happen to have one from my other BC amps and haven't used it much. if the footswitch is plugged in, the dual channel option is negated.
handles pedals very well. i use a keeley compressor>wampler tumnus>wampler ecstasy>gfs delay. i get as clean as i want to as fat and dirty as i want. we're all tone freaks. this amp is very satisfying in that regard.
all in all, a really great amp. very pleased with my purchase and the service from Jason and SW.

This amp just can do anything my tube amps did. And to be able to add a tone capsule....just awsome. Some yap about the price, but honestly its worth the money hands down. My only gripe...if its to be mentioned, would be that I wished it came with a pedal. I'LL compare it to any amp I have ever played or owned and it could take there place any day, anytime. I also hope thy come out with more tone capsules and maybe a little cheaper in price.

That's right, a 5 star rating. Years of loving, repairing & building tube amps, I bought & gig with this Solid State amp. Why, because the Artist has the most warmest, sweetest and versatile sound. Not only that, it is super light weight, no strain on the back. Now for the twist, I did add the Eric Johnson Tone Capsule. It is well worth the expense because gigging requires the extra tone to cut through the mix & add an extra character to the total sound. It's when you couple your gear with pedals. So you think. Oh my, that's a lot. Well the last amp I bought was a Kendrick 4-10 custom tube amp.
Sweetwater.com was great to deal with. They had an offer I couldn't refuse. 48 months at 0% interest. You can't ask for more.

As a guitar player for almost 60 years now as well as a guitar amp technician for well over 50 years and a one time music store owner, I have always been a tube amp snob. The only other solid state amps I ever was fond of were my Roland JC-120 and a Roland Cube 60 COSM (there is a trend here). That said, I still never expected to be able to replace my tube amps with one amp that not only "sound like a tube amp" but exceeds the tonal and sonic textures of the finest tube amps I've ever played through or serviced. The folks at Roland have found the magic for sure. There is nothing simulated sounding here to my old ears. The cleans are pure and crisp and the blues tones vary from clean to thick and musky as they are intended to be. The versatility of this amp is amazing. I can think of few purchases I've made in retail music gear that have been more satisfying at any price.

Oozes TONE. Lots and Lots of options.!

I ordered this last minute and Cody Kraus went the extra mile to make sure the amp was on the truck in time for next day delivery. The amp sounds wonderful and is the only amp I'll need. I still have a VOX AC15 and a Roland Jazz Chorus. Although, the clean channel sounds very Fender like while the crunch has a VOX vibe to it, this amp has it's own unique sound which I love. Sounds great with my pedals as well.

I've had only a week with this amp but it's a winner. The features on this amp are incredible --power scaling, two channels, boost functions, tone switches, presence knob (amazing feature), FX loop , etc etc.

The clean channel is full of great tone and is a great platform for pedals as well. I do find the Lo input to work much better with pedals --especially with fuzz and overdrive.

The crunch channel is serviceable but it's pretty low gain even with the gain knob cranked. The tone is still quality but I would've liked a little more gain here.

Reverb is actually quite nice and the tremolo is pretty good as well. I typically use pedals for these sounds but they are good enough to use on their own if needed.

I'd recommend the GA-FC footswitch if you plan to use both channels frequently.

I also just ordered the Ultimate Blues Tone Capsule which I've read increases the gain of the crunch channel and supposedly is even better for pedals on the clean channel. So I figured I'd give it a shot --review will come later.

Some may think this is a lot to spend on a non tube amp--but it's worth it . Especially when you consider changing of tubes/maintenance costs over time. The tone in this amp is the real deal and it offers more features than just about any tube amp in this price range.

Roland got this one right.

And for the record--none of my local shops had one to try so I bought one blind based on a lot of reading from other users and I am 100% satisfied.

4.5 stars instead of 5 simply because the gain on crunch channel and only one knob and tap tempo switch to control tremolo instead of two knobs (personal preference).

And props to my sales engineer David Means for the help in purchasing this amp. Solid guy.

This amp does everything it is advertised to do. The sound is certainly bluesy and the overall tone and feel of the response is wonderful. I wouldn't compare it to many other amps as it is a combination of features most important of which is the tone capsules. I purchased the Eric Johnson capsule with the amp and the tone is dead-on right. It doesn't feel like a solid-state amp but provides a light chassis that you can use as a practice or gigging amp with no problem. I'm usually a Mesa or Fender guy but am really pleased with the fit, finish and build of this amp.

So as not to be too redundant, I'll agree with the other reviewers that this amp is outstanding. Whatever you know or believe about solid state amps is all out the window with this one. It sounds and reacts so tube-like that it even exhibits some subtle sag and note-blossoming if you want it. The amp's selectable power levels are very useful and it takes pedals exceptionally well. At the max power setting this amp is clean! The crunch channel is superb. The features are abundant (direct out, sub, effects loop, etc.). The only down side is that the foot switch is sold separately. Sweetwater gave me a good deal on shipping. I've bought 3 of these they're so good!

I won plenty of great tube amps; I've got a Marshall 1974X, A Peavey Classic 30, A Mesa Mini Rectifier, A Mesa Rectoverb, an Orange Rockerverb. I have a fairly good idea what good "tube sound" is. This Amp literally blew my amp.

I was skeptical like anybody - another amp that promises to sound "just like tubes" - how many times have we heard that? I came into this expecting to be unimpressed and walk away. I was wrong - very wrong.

While I was playing it at sweetwater I compared it to the Fender Hot Rod Deluxe III, Marshall DSL40C, Several Supro Ams, Fender DRRI, and several others - this amp was easily the sweetest sounding of the bunch. Its tuned to sound like a '59 bassman out of the box [which I have played several times] and the tone was truly authentic - right down to the bass response, the top end, the amp volume affecting gain, the response to the guitar's volume - everything! I was so blown away I bought it on the spot!

Since then I've gigged it a LOT and I truly discovered what a joy this amp is;
-lighter and more portable than all my other amps
-The emulated direct out saves a XLR slot on the board, and TRULY sounds like a mic [many do not]
-the direct out is not affected by your amp volume - you can have the amp volume 'off' and have a silent stage!
-the reverb and tremolo are both good sounding units
-picks up a little girth and hair as your volume goes up - just like a tube amp
-need that at a lower volume? the built in power scale lets you do that too!
-at 80 watts, you have more power than you'll ever really need if you aren't playing arenas
-takes pedals AMAZING; even better than most of the Fenders I tried
-no more worried about someone jarring your amp while the tubes are hot, or tubes going out at a show

As amazing as this amp was right out of the box, I was blow away again when I installed the Ultimate Blues Tone Capsule - see my review on that too!

The only complaint I can offer about this amp; the tolex is pretty soft. It doesn't take bumps very well and can get dinge dup pretty easy, so I highly recommend getting a GOOD cover for it, like a double padded cover from studio slips.

ALL my expensive tube amps have sat unused for weeks now - not even been turned on once, and I haven't missed them at all! I was a sceptic abut now I'm a convert - believe it; this amp is truly amazing.

I've had this amp for several months now and I am completely satisfied with it. Great tube like tones and feel with a ton of features. Light and easy to transport. Looks cool. Loud, but attenuator makes it manageable for various venues. A special shout out to my Sales Engineer, Aaron Rom. Always extremely kind and helpful. Thanks, Sweetwater, for being best on=line music retailer.

I watched all the demos I could find, before buying this amp. The clean tones Eric Johnson demoed, really got my attention. I initially bought the 60 watt version, which I was really happy with, except using a delay, in the crunch channel, was problematic. So, I gigged with it a few times, using only the clean channel, and a dirt pedal, for driven tones. This worked fine, except that I wanted to be able to use the crunch channel, with a delay, because the crunch channel delivers some really good driven tones, So, i sent the 60 watter back, and bought the Artist, because it has an effects loop, and i knew it would remedy the problem. (which it did )
For me, this is a good alternative, to a tube amp. It delivers great tone, it's lightweight,dependable, and affordable. I was gigging with a mid-seventies Princeton, which sounded great, until the third set, when it would start farting out. The tube amp I really wanted, ( a FDR clone ) was more than twice the money, so I guess what i would say, is it's a well made piece of gear, and hard to beat for the money.
Regarding Sweetwater, my sales engineer, Robert Williams was great to deal with. He is very knowledgeable , and easy to talk to.No complaints!

After years of playing my acoustic I decided to get back in the electric game but wanted a 2 channel amp with a true vintage crunchy creamy tube sound and a nice full clean tube sound without spending 2k to 3k. My price range was from about 500-1300 dollars so I tried an orange ac30, mesa 5/25, marshall dsl40 and dsl15 head, all ok but just couldn't get "the sound" Decided to take my es335 to a music store in a larger city with many tube amps to try. Tried the dsl40 again a few blackstars and both ss and tube fenders. Roland's were not on my radar but they had some so I tried a 80W cube GX and then this one and couldn't believe my ears, I always thought the blues cubes were tube amps until looking at the tag. I Only left this review to maybe help some of the tube snobs out there like me who are looking for this kind of sound in a combo to look outside of the cheap tube amp market and check this thing out, do your homework, this is brand new ss technology. I found the 30 and 60 watt versions sound the same just not as loud. 5 stars is just over doing it on anything, theirs always room for improvement.

Been chasing a nice edgy blues and rock tone for many years with lots of disappointments along the way. This amp really works! Breaks up real nice and musical without the cheap brittle noisy highs. Nice clean tone that can be set to break-up nice as you dig in. Lots of control. Sounds great loud or low. I mostly use the 1/2 watt output setting in the studio and it's plenty loud. Nice and stable and no tubes to mess with. The only amp I need.

When you first start playing this amp you'll probably think that it doesn't sound any better than any other amp you've had. Then you start tweaking knobs and bam! you're in tone heaven. The Eric Johnson tone capsule makes this thing a rock monster with tons of head room. I highly recommend it if you're a rock fan. I could rant forever about this amp from just an hour and a half of playing. However, I'll leave you with an awesome clean setting I found. Vol-3, Bass-5, Mid-6, Treb-9, Trem-2, Rev-5 1/2, Pres-6 1/2, Master- 5 1/2, Pwr- Max. Enjoy.

this amp has it all light weight great price using different effects units you can get heavy sounds i used a tc electronic g natural to produce a acoustic guitar sound usually on a electric guitar amp your hi end sound would be harsh not on the blues cube wheather you have been playing for years or are just starting to learn this is the one im a uad apollo user so im keen to use the friedman amp plugins through it and the new marshall plug in so i will write another review once i have

Received this amp, and was not convinced at first, as I thought it sounded a little to zingy/sharp. However, after at little tweaking with the amps knobs, and the guitars tone control, I found that you can really squeeze pretty much any tone you like out of this amp.
I am a big fan of John Mayer, and you can go all the way from "Heart of life"-soft, to easily replicate his sweet solo tones both sound and attack-wise, just with the dual tone function! I was really blown away when realizing that.
I have owned a Fender Twin, Fender Superchamp XD, Epiphone Blues Junior, Yamaha THR-10C and a Hughes&Kettner Puretone, and can easily say this is the most versatile amp of them all. While the SCXD is a modelling amp, it does not have the response like the Blues Cube.
The THR is a really nice amp, and I would recommend it as an alternative traveling amp to the Blues Cube, but on driven tones, the THR doesn´t stand a chance compared to this one.

I was looking at the internet for comments before purchasing this amp, and there are lots of comment on the price, that you can buy a full blown tube amp for the same price.

True, and while I would have expected a lower price, these people have misunderstood rolands intention with this amp. This amp can do it all. It sounds like a tube amp, it has got an attenuator so you can play it both home and on stage, it is packed with features, it is light and reliable, and even got an USB out for recording and firmware updates.

The spring reverb is also great, it blends in without sounding muddy.

It gets my thumbs up, I will sell my SCXD and Puretone now, and only keep the THR for traveling.

I just unpacked the amp today. I was very impressed with the quality of this amp. This is a well built piece of gear.
I plugged several guitars into it and put this amp through a thorough testing. Overall it gave me what I had hoped for an amp that responds more like a real tube amp than a modeling amp. With the optional foot switch I was able to control the amps features in a way that makes sense for playing live. The amp takes pedal effects with ease either in front or in the effects loop. I also used some rack effect units through the effects loop. I was able to get a clean chime like sound that had a nice ring to chords as well as a well articulated single note run. I could get a nice crunchy rhythm by using the boost. Switching to the crunch channel I was able to get a nice sustaining thick sound or push it harder like a high gain amp. Having used many amps over that last 45 years I can safely say this is a keeper. This amp will now be one of my "Go To" amps. I will never get rid of all my vintage amps. But now I have something I can gig with that gives me the kind of sound I want without the expense of tubes. I can retire my vintage tube amps from playing live without feeling bad about it. I am also current with the times I do own several Line6 products including my original Variax (I got it before it even had a model number). I also have a Tyler Variax that I love to play. In ending this review I can safely say this amp is a quality product at a fair price that anyone will enjoy using.

This is an outstanding amp. Came in two days ago and I can't stop playing. The clean tones are as pure as any tube amp I've ever heard, and at half the weight. The crunch channel produces a nice thick tone. I've had a blast the las 48 hours dialing this amp in, and can't wait to get back to it each day. I have the GA-FC foot switch already, and am looking forward now to adding the Eric Johnson Tone Capsule. Construction is top shelf with solid wood and a flawless cover an appearance. Fit and finish is everything you would expect. Sweetwater's sales experience is also flawless, and the shipping was basically two days to get here. Excellent service start to finish. If you're looking for a good clean amp with plenty of power, this is the unit you are looking for. Light, powerful, clean, punchy, thick, this amp has it all.

I received my BC Artist last night and absolutely love everything about it!
I am a seasoned hobbyist and own many fine tube amps. This one is very special due to its versatility and excellent tones! I definitely recommend purchasing the optional GA-FC to get the most out of this amp. The first three switches from the left are dedicated to Clean Channel, Crunch Channel, and Dual Channel. The 4th and 5th switches control either the Boost for Clean and Crunch Channels OR select the tremolo effect built into the amp (4th switch), and enables the Effects Loop (5th switch) depending upon which mode the Function is set to (6th switch). When function light is blinking, switches 4 and 5 turn on/off tremolo and effects loop. When function light is not illuminated, switch 4 toggles on off the Boost for Clean Channel and switch 5 toggles on/off the Boost for the Crunch Channel. Whatever your last settings were in either function mode are "remembered" which is a very useful feature! BTW....I connect my Flash delay pedal in the effects loop and it sounds great! Overdrive pedals in front of the amp sounds fantastic too.

This amp design is versatile, light weight but solid construction, looks great and most importantly sounds incredible!!

Just received this Blues Cube Artist, and spent an entire night dialing in and playing through it! I am absolutely amazed by the tone. I've had full blown rigs from Marshall stacks to Mesa Boogie, as well as a few Fenders. I've even gone the Fractal route. Combined with the Boss GT100, I can get Eric Johnson'esque tones, to John Petrucci. I still need to experiment with the effects loop a bit on this, as I'm torn between driving the front of the amp, or using the loop. Driving the front end sounds REALLY great...just be careful with the delays! I would highly recommend this amp. It's well constructed, and only weighs 40 pounds, so it won't kill your back. I haven't cranked it up yet, but I have switched the output settings, and the tone is not lost on the lower wattage settings. For anything from blues to metal, you'll be very happy with this. For a while, I regretted getting rid of my Fractal Axe FX II XL, but not anymore...I will simply never go back!

Solid wood construction and great looks are the first things that grab your attention when taking it out of the box. Sound wise this is one versatile amp from sparkly cleans to bluesy overdriven goodness. With an additional boost pedal or tube driver out in front it can produce some very good rock tones. The power scale knob is great for home playing. At 80watts full power this amp can get very loud. Very happy with my purchase. Now bring on the EJ tone capsule.