Roland Micro Cube GX

This brand has been a top seller for over 10 years and is the most popular
battery-powered amp of all time. They have their foot in the music industry,
having been the first brand to introduce these tiny practice amps. They
provide outstanding quality and convenient sound features all at an
affordable price.

Have you seen anything this tiny that can make such a massive impact?
The Roland Micro Cube GX is one of the best practice amps on the market
and we will tell you exactly why. Street performers will tell you this is their
go-to amps, because of their durability properties and compact, portable
use. You can take this anywhere you going and it will perform.

The original Micro Cube GX had 2 watts of power and this one has a slight
upgrade to 3. That being said, the loudness of the amp surprises even the
most experienced busker performing artists. The sound is perfect for
outdoor and indoor events. Some guitarists reported using this device with
a full band, so it has a bang for the dollar. There are some onboard effects
settings on this amp with amp modeling. Use the Micro Cube GX for up to
25 hours on only 6 AA batteries.

The Micro Cube GX produces a very versatile sound. The forcefulness of

the tone is great for blues and rock. If you lean towards the more mellow
jazz sound or the hair-raising metal distortion, this mini amp will deliver
thanks to the COSM amps.

The panel on the top is easy to use for any beginner. It is easy to switch
between the 8 COSM or known as the 8 Composite Object Sound
Modelling amp models. The COSM metric is a type of Digital Signal
Processing or DSP used for replicating the sound of different amplifiers.

You can pick up the Micro Cube GX in black, white, and red, making the
variants perfect for any setting.
Features

If you look at the Roland Micro Cube GX, you will be surprised how many
features this little bad boy has.

Here is what lies in the top panel from left to right: i-Cube Link/ Aux-in, Amp
type, EFX, Delay/Reverb, Tuner

Here is what lies on the bottom half: Input, COSM amplifier that houses the
gain, volume, and tone controls, Master tuner, and the power switch.

One feature we love is what they call the 8 COSM amps. These are 8
different models of settings you can use to play different genres of music.
This makes it such a versatile little amplifier and the very best in
battery-operated amps.

The 8 COSM the Roland Micro Cube GX provides:

● Jazz Chorus Clean - If you want a smoother tone with a clean sound,
then this is the way to go.

● Acoustic Simulator - This is a mode for that distinct acoustic sound.

● Black Panel - This mode comes with rich lows and a bright high end.

● British Combo - If you feeling like you want to pull back time to the
60s then this British invasion gives you a wide variety of tones.

● Classic Stack - You want that in your face rock sounds perfect for any
occasion.

● R-Fier Stack - If you are a fan of metal and grunge, then tune it to this
setting for higher gains.
 ● Extreme - Is death metal your favorite? Rock out with this very high
gain setting and deep distortion

● Mic - Use with a vocal microphone

Others features settings you will see on the amp include:

Delay/Reverb settings

There is a separate control for these options that will help with your sound
quality. It is time-based effect musicians use to thicken up the vocals
throughout the phrase.

Chromatic Tuner

A useful feature when it comes to tuning different guitar tunes. This takes
the signal and tells you exactly what note it is, enabling you to tune the
string to the desired note.

Memory Feature

This is one of the newest features to hit the Micro Cube GX model. You can
save a sound set with a click of the button to use for another time. It likens
to that of a dual-channel amp where you can flick between the saved
setting or having it in the normal mode.

EFX

There are more effects that add to the reverb and delay section.

You have a chorus effect that copies and thickens them by playing them
back with a slight delay.

There is the flanger effect that is similar to the chorus effect but with more
modulating delay times.
Phasers effects are like that of flangers but the phaser comes with a core
sweeping function.

A tremolo effect is useful for variations in volume. It creates the sensation

of motion.

Heavy octave effects can be used to make them sound more aggressive or
convert the guitar to a bass-like tone.

iCube Link

This features boats a welcome use to the more modern-day era. You can
connect our IOS device whether that is an iPhone, iPad,iPod, etc. This is
done using a 3.5mm jack. There is room for other music players as well
depending on what you may use such as an Android device. What better
way to control your device than by getting your FREE app known as CUBE
JAM available for IOS devices. This allows you to record your music and
post-produce using the Roland Micro Cube GX.

Pros

So what are the advantages of owning this beautifully crafted amp?

1. Rich tones and depth of power considering its small design

If you take a look at the design for the first time, you will never know how
powerful or loud it can be. Many users love the sound quality especially for
the price that you pay

2. There are many built-in sound effects

If you need special sound effects then this is your amp. Switch between
chorus, flanger, phaser, tremolo, or a heavy octane. The variety of the
different sound effects make it a welcome addition to any amp.
 3. A broad range of amp models

This makes it one of the more versatile amps. Set it to any amp model you
like with its variety of playing styles from acoustic sim to extreme rock. This
has everything a player would want in an amp.

4. Easy to use

There are a few knobs and switches but it isn't too complicated. All the
access to the different modes and sound effects is one turn knob away
from working. After a while, even the beginner of all beginners will be able
to operate this device.

5. Compact and portable

The small design makes it perfect for on-the-go buskers. Take it to your
local restaurant or sidewalk for instant playing access

6. Well built

It is built to last. The lightweight design makes it more durable in case of

the amp falling over. Customers are surprised at how long it can last and
this is what made it such a successful product.

Cons

This may be a top-tier product on the market, but like many good things,
there are some slight drawbacks.

1. You, unfortunately, can't connect both a guitar and microphone at the

same time
What many musicians are crying out for is the ability to connect both
devices at the same time. This is one of the main setbacks, as many
guitarists prefer to have that easy access feature in their amps.

2. The chromatic tuner can be difficult to use for your beginner players

This tuner is for finding the right note and tuning that to the desired sound.
For beginners, this may be difficult to find that specific note. It takes time
and knowledge of different sounds to be able to use this function to its
fullest.

3. Although there are some reports of it being used with a full band, we
would advise against it

Some musicians have claimed to use this with a full band but based on our
testing and how it was made, it is for an individual. If you push the
boundaries too far it may very well damage the amp.

4. Some of the sound effects it has can be better

Since there are many sound effects and amp models, the general sound is
quite good but it doesn't specialize in one specific tone. It performs well but
other more specialized amps will perform better.

Specifications

Power Output:

3W

Speaker:

12 cm * 1
Nominal Input Level:

INPUT: -10 dBu/1 M ohm

i-CUBE LINK/AUX IN: -10 dBu

Controls:

-Power switch

-AMP Type switch (Acoustic sim, JC Clean, Black Panel, Brit combo,
Classic stack, R-Fier stack, Extreme, Mic)

-Memory button

-Tuner button

-Gain knob

-Volume knob

-Tone knob

-EFX knob (Chorus, Flanger, Phaser, Tremelo, Heavy octave)

-Delay/Reverb knob

-Master knob

Indicators:

- Memory

- Power
- EFX

- Tuner

- Delay/Reverb

Connectors:

- i-Cube Link/Aux-In jack (4-pole miniature phone type)

- DC IN jack

- Rec Out/Phones jack (Stereo miniature phone type)

- Input jack (1/4-inch phone type)

Power Supply:

- AC adaptor

- Alkaline battery (AA, LR6) x 6

- Rechargeable Ni-MH battery (AA, HR6) x 6

Current Draw:

- 155 mA

Expected Battery Life:

-Rechargeable Ni-MH battery: Approximately 25 hours (When using

batteries having a capacity of 2,400 mAh.)

-Alkaline battery: Approximately 20 hours

Accessories:

- Owner's Manual

- Mini cable (4-pole miniature phone type)

- AC adaptor

- Strap

Size and Weight

Height:

- 227 mm

- 8-15/16 inches

Depth:

- 172 mm

- 6-13/16 inches

Width:

- 247 mm

- 9-3/4 inches

Weight:

- 2.7 kg
- 5 lbs. 16 oz.

Summary

The Roland Micro Cube GX has some of the best reviews you can get on
any music industry product ever. As stated previously, they are leading the
brand for battery operated amps and specialize specifically in it.

This a big positive when it comes to customer satisfaction. Musicians have

been crying out for a battery-operated amp as it is the perfect on-the-go
tool. Buskers love it and you are sure to get every bit of value out of this
product. With not many battery operated amps on the market this is perfect
for those not wanting a full fledged expensive amp they will need a long
extension cord for

If you are looking for a portable, battery-operated amp then I see no reason
why not to choose anything else other than the Roland Micro Cube GX.