Roland Cube 60 vs. Tech 21 Trademark 60

[fsmith]

I was reading Dennis' post (and didn't want to hijack his thread) about buying the Cube 60 and it really caught my attention. I like the part about having so many options available with just a few turns of a knob.

I have a PODXT, but am getting tired of all the tweaking you have to do on those things. I also have a Mesa Studio .22+ but it's the same there. Tweak, tweak, tweak. I just wanna play damnit...

I just recently picked up the Microcube and love it for what it is, but am thinking about something a little larger to go along with that.

I've always had an eye on the Tech21 stuff, but wanted to know if anyone has done any comparisons between the two, all things being equal... I know the Roland is less expensive, but price wouldn't be a determining factor.

I'm looking for useable tone, ease of use, ability to record, etc. I know Tommy's thrown his opinion of the Cube 60 into a lot of threads and that means a lot to me. I'm just looking for any other info before I go out and buy something else.

Any and all thoughts appreciated.

Oh yeah, there will probably be a PODXT loaded with all the model packs available after everything is said and done...

later,
fred

 

[mbgreene]

Fred - I don't know if either choice is going to simplify things for you, but the tech 21 has less bells and whistles. Both are set up to provide you with different amp model types from tweed through brit stacks to rectifiers, each with its own nomanclature and settings but you will still need to tweak the settings on each one to find the sound you want with each model. They can both make good sounds but you do have to find them.

On top of that the Cube provides several pedal type effects, chorus, flange, phase etc similar to the micro cube, while the tech 21 provides only an accutronics spring reverb. Again you can make about any sound you want you just have to find it.

If you've already figured out what you want from the pod you may want to check out the tech 21 power engine which provides transparent power for those modeler units without "coloring" the dialed in tone without a sound of its own.

I actually just bought a tube amp (Traynor YCV40WR) to go simple and just plug and play. I just sold a tech 21 trademark 10 which was my only amp and was not good at trying to emulate a different sound for everything I played. I'm not that talented so, if the tone isn't letter perfect to the original version of what I'm trying to play, I can live with it. But I am going to pick up the micro cube for some flexibility and portability in practicing and just having fun.

Hope this was somewhat helpful - Good Luck

Oh, and by the way, I believe Les Paul himself uses a trademark 60 at his regular Monday night gig. So I think its an adequate piece of equipment.

 

[tommyindelaware]

the tech 21 sounds very good. (4 solid state)
it's powerful.
it's reasonably light.
it's more difficult to dial in the same sound every time .
the direct recording works great !!!!

the cube 60 sounds very very good (4 solid state)
it's powerful.
it's lighter.
it has much better effects.....no comparason !!!!!
the direct recording works great.

if i remember right.the roland is alot cheaper.....

i have a micro-cube ..& a tech10

 

[GWDavis28]

Tommy, NICE .

I know that there are those that love both amps. Fred how much are you looking to spend?

I can't really talk about either I haven't tried either of them. I've heard things about the Tech 21 and someone told me a few stories about their stuff.

If $ isn't an option, you gotta check out the Zinky Blue Velvets. I've never heard a bad thing about them.

http://www.zinky.com/velvet25.html
http://www.zinky.com/velvet50.html

Glenn |B)

 

[mhorse]

Glenn, I just checked Harmony-Central for BV reviews - 2 people in a row mentioning problems with lack of bass and with effects loop. Bass can be a subjective thing, but what's up with the effects loop?
http://www.harmony-central.com/Guitar/Data/Zinky/Blue_Velvet_112_Combo-1.html

 

[GWDavis28]

Mhorse, I personally haven't had the chance to check them out. There are only a couple of dealer in the New England area. There are a few guys on this board that have them and love them.

I'd love to get one, but I'm not ready to miss a mortgage payment for the amp. Zinky is a small place and they are considered, as OC & Koogie like to say "BOO-TEAK" amps. They crack me up every time they say it man.

I take what I read as advice and try to see for myself.

Thanx, Glenn |B)

 

[mhorse]

I was under impression you owned one, and that's why I asked. I'm looking around for a nice small tube amp myself.
Thanks anyway.

 

[GWDavis28]

Dude, email or pm Kungfu grip, he's got one, loves it if I remember right.

Hey Fred, here's one on EvilBay for you.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Tech-21-Tradema...360868006QQcategoryZ10171QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Glenn |B)

 

[deanmm]

fred,
I have both POD XT and a Tech21 -10. I must say that although the Tech21 sounds real nice (for ss amp) it mostly collects dust or serves as the power amp for XT.
There is nothing it can do that the XT can't.
I too bought it to have a simple plug and play setup but I guess it's not the equipment that's the problem, you can dial and save three Tech21 like settings on XT in a matter of minutes and stop your tweaking there. It's just the matter of discipline.
hope this helps...
Cheers
Dean

 

[Jimi D]

I have a Trademark 60 and it's a fabulous live amp. I've never recorded with it though it has the various outputs required for direct recording, and that is one of Tech 21's fortés... There are no effects in a Trademark 60 excepting the (really nice) reverb, though. I have a Trademark 10 for practice after the kids are in bed as well, and also own a GuitarPort and have had a couple Pods. Personally, I can't stand most digital modellers for the long term - my Pods never sounded like real amps to me, but the Trademark amps' all-analog circuits do. My other combo is a vintage Deluxe Reverb I've had forever, but the Trademark 60 sounds so good that I've been hauling it around lately instead (it's lighter)... No, it's not quite as dynamic, and it doesn't quite breathe as openly, but it's a great solid state amp... I haven't played a Cube and honestly have no intention of bothering - I don't think digital modelling is where it has to be to work for me yet except at very low volumes - but I did have a BluesCube 60 for a while, and I definitely prefered the Tech 21 to that. Also, Tech21 gear is well made and tough, ready to gig, and well warrantied... The Cube 60? I dunno, but I wouldn't be surprised if these things were coming out of the same Chinese factory as the Behringer stuff, and that's not exactly known for it's reliability... Either way, good luck.

 

[edensdad]

I guess you saw what I posted about the Cube 60. I'm still blown away by the sounds. Of course I'm not familiar with some of the original amps - I've owned a few of them: Jazz Chorus, a newer Fender twin, a Bassman - mine was a 1970's bass head with a 2x15 cab & my dad's old 2-ton Leslie cab - I was trying for the SRV sound, Mesa, Marshall, etc.

What I'm not familiar with is the Vox AC-30 and the Peavey 5150 - I've never played through either of those and couldn't tell you if the sound is accurate. I've never liked Peavey - I owned a few in the 1980's and wasn't impressed, but they may be good now.

I don't play out anymore, even though I'd like too, so I wanted something that would sound great a home in my practice room without rattling the earth of its axis - no drummer to compete with.

 

[deanmm]

I agree with Jimi D that modellers lack the depth and feel of an "real" amp. That's why I got a Trademark 10, but after a while I don't find Trademark 10 any more succesfull.

I did extensive A/B of Trademark10 and XT through eff return of Trademark 10 my feeling is that I can get the exact same tone and feel and then some more with the XT. But, tone is as subjective as a thing can be.

I suppose that with the Trademark 60 there's a difference, espacially with the louder volumes, that's where the modellers weaknesses become more obvious.
+1 for Tech 21 is a pro piece of gear.

(I have to find a max 5watt all tube combo for a "proper" bedroom sound though)
Cheers
Dean

 

[fritzreiser]

First post here. I'm new to EBMM guitars but not new to all of the amps that you mentioned.

I have owned the Cube 30 and 60, Tech21 TM10 and 60, PODxt Pro and Live and Traynor YCV20, 40 and 50Blue. I think that they are all very good products, but each has its own merits and uses.

Recording only: PODxt
Practice w/effects: Cube 30
Practice w/o effects: TM 10
Small practice and jamming amp: TM60

Best all-around: Traynor YCV50Blue

2 great channels; no effects, but takes pedals very well; no OD pedal needed on the 2nd channel; used around $500-well worth the money and if you don't like it you will certainly get your money out of it.

If any of you have heard the clip on the HCAF of this amp, it is dead on.

 

[kbaim]

The Cube 60? I dunno, but I wouldn't be surprised if these things were coming out of the same Chinese factory as the Behringer stuff, and that's not exactly known for it's reliability... Either way, good luck.

Hey Jimi,

China's on the phone. Something about a billion of 'em pissed at Canada.

 

[kbaim]

Hey Fred,
On my line6 stuff (flextone II, POD 2.0), you can save the settings once you tweak them to your liking.
I saved mine to Bank1 so when I turn on the equipment it's on my settings.
Then I just adjust volume depending on situation.
With 4 channels per bank mine's set up

BANK1
ch1 distortion+delay
ch2 clean+delay
ch3 clean+delay+chorus
ch4 clean+delay+flange

I sorta depend on delay for my sound for better or worse.

 

[SteveB]

I keep my DigiTech RP-2000 modeling pedalboard configured sorta like Keef.

In the first bank (of four presets) I have my customized patches:

1) Lead guitar sound (lots of gain, some delay)
2) Rhythm guitar sound (decent gain, no delay)
3) Clean 1 (sweet, clean sound with mild chorus, delay and reverb)
4) Clean 2 (same clean with sigificantly more reverb)

Those 4 patches can get me through just about anything. I only use this rig for recording now, though.

My live setup is my Peavey XXX head and a traditional pedalboard. I run the pedals in the amps's effects loop, and I can switch the whole loop on and off via footswitch.

The pedals in the loop are:

Ernie Ball VP Jr.
Peterson Strobostomp Tuner
Boss Chorus Ensemble (CE3)
Boss Digital Delay (DD6)
Boss Digital Reverb (RV5)

That's about all I need. I have a Boss compressor in the loop, but I almost never turn it on.

 

[Pktaske]

Anyone talking about price here?? I do (or did I should say) the POD thing but was tired of having to tweak it at every damn gig depending on the house system. I picked up a Rocktron Replitone on clearance for under $230 and could have got one used for probably under $200. Way louder and sweeter than that amount of money should be able to buy ...but I digress...

All of these digital beasts are about the same...there's a few things they do great (albiet not the same things) and everthitng else you live with for the convienice of not having to lug the world around on your back.

Bottom line - "Tone is truly in the fingers"... buy the one thats easiest to use and you can "make" it sound good.

 

[neastguy]

I had the trademark60 for about a week, I never bonded with it, but many swear by it.... to me, it sounded kida harsh, not very warm and I did the output to my korg d1600 and wasnt impressed..maybe I'm a freak or just to picky, dunno I may have bad ears,... infact my randall rg100es is more tubey sounding in my ears.... and of course I love my zinky black velv head more and more every week...therefore I cant recommend the Trademark60.....

 

[Jimi D]

Hey Jimi,

China's on the phone. Something about a billion of 'em pissed at Canada.

Ah, who cares... last time I looked they didn't have a navy worth spit, and the Pacific's a might too big for a bridge...

 

[edensdad]

China declares war on Canada - film at 11.