Roland Blues Cube Hot

november 2016 ToTal GuiTar
105
FiNal VerdiCT
Which amp is the right one for you?
W
e’ve had our wicked way with
four great amplifi ers here.
We love the fact that although
they are similar outputs and
price points, they actually
sound quite di erent. That’s makes your
search for the perfect blues amp way more
interesting. We obviously have our favourite
and so will you; and it might not be the same
amp we’d plump for.
Alas, as good as the Roland Blues Cube Hot
is, there is a certain type of blues player, and
guitarists in general, that will blank this little
gem simply because it has no tubes onboard.
That’s their loss. For those of you less
prejudiced/set in your ways, who are looking
for an easy-to-lug, great sounding amp for
small gigs/rehearsals/home recording, the
Cube should be on your must try list.
Those looking for heavier blues and rock
tones - think Gary Moore and Joe Bonamassa
- will be better served by the Peavey
ValveKing II and Fender Bassmaster 15. The
Peavey in particularly has enough volume to
take on a drum kit on a non-mic’d stage yet
the Bassmaster 15 has more tonal character
thanks to its harmonically rich overdrive.
A side-by-side comparison is recommended.
So why do we like the Blackstar Artist 15
so much? Well, in short, it makes us want to
be a better, more precise, emotional and
dynamic guitarist. Sometimes, we forget
just how important an amplifi er is to the
sound we make. A great amp releases the
soul of your guitar and that’s essential when
you’re playing the blues.
overall ratIng
SuMMarY
value For money
buIld QualIty
Features
sound QualIty
usabIlIty
overall ratIng
SuMMarY
value For money
buIld QualIty
Features
sound QualIty
usabIlIty
overall ratIng
SuMMarY
value For money
buIld QualIty
Features
sound QualIty
usabIlIty
overall ratIng
SuMMarY
value For money
buIld QualIty
Features
sound QualIty
usabIlIty
th
e g
as
s
t
a
t
i
o
n
rolaNd BlueS CuBe HoT
FeNder BaSSBreaKer 15
PeaVeY ValVeKiNG ii 20
BlaCKSTar arTiST 15
best For
blues-roCK
best For
gIgs on
the go
best all-
rounder
best For
Features
TGR286.gear_test.indd 107 10/10/2016 11:03