Hi,
Im thinking of getting a small practise amp for home practise. So far Ive listed Vox AD30VT and Roland Cube 30 as my top choices.

Any comments/views/advices on the amps? Or any other suggestions? Please shoot. I play rock, Hard rock, pop etc... but not jazz.

Also, for home recording purposes... what amp do you prefer (chugging the guitar -> amp -> pc recording) ... is that possible? Also, I dont know if the above amps have the mic input for sing along. (Wanting to start learning someting on home recording )

EDIT: Forgot to add:- I have Washburn N2 nuno battencourt electric. 2 humbuckers (washburn 621 stock hum at neck + Bill Lawrence L500 at bridge), Alder body


This post has been edited by Banzai_san: Nov 12 2006, 07:44 PM

sweet guitar u have...
what amp u using currently?

Thanks. I really dig the washburn Nuno series
at the moment, I dont have any amp. Just chug the guitar cable jack into my pc sound card.

For amp I vouch for the Vox AD amp.

For recording, you're probably better off with a Toneport UX1, which is about RM450. It has a mic input, an instrument input (With preamps for guitar and bass) and 2 line inputs. It's an USB interface, so you need a comp in order to use it.

I third the Vox amp. It has an amazing amount of features AND gives a fantastic sound........

hey threadstarter,

i vouch for the vox too. because i own it. no seriously, check out both amps and see which one u like most.

for home recording, i wld like to share a gem of a website.

www.tweakheadz.com

brilliant site.

i think recording wise, u can get a PCI audio interface. somewhere along the lines of m-audio/e-mu and so on.

but really. dont take my word for it. visit the tweakheadz website. it'll teach you from ground up.

btw, i wldnt recommend a usb interface...due to it's speed. uhm..a lot is explained at the site on why usb 1 isnt the way to go. unless the toneport is usb 2.0.

This post has been edited by nick_drake: Nov 13 2006, 12:47 AM

Thanks guys/gals for all your replies.

I guess Vox AD30VT wins hands down over Roland Cube 30 (3-0). Just read the thread on Vox ADxxVT owners. Well... what can I say, seems Vox valvetronic amps are very popular with LYN guitarists.

Thanks for the infos on home recordings too. I need to read more and learn (starting from A-B-C of) home recording. Home recording looks like fun

roland Cube 15 and 30 has been discontinued.
there are new models now, Cube 15X, 20X and 30X.

both vox and roland have line-in for recordings.
sound well, that one you have to listen for yourself.
but price wise, the Cubes win.

as for mic input, the small Vox DA-5 is the only one that lets you play guitar, plug in a mic to sing, and have an aux-in from like a mp3 player for your backing track.

i think the vox is very competitively priced too right? around 900 for the 30 watts.sometimes lower. the cube 30 is always above 1k. and now with the 30x.
not too sure tho.

to threadstarter, good that you actually read the thread. some ppl just barge in and demand answers.

VOX is maybe to be considered 'THE' most bang for buck in my book. Roland CUBE is tight, easy to use and not forgeting its size which is like the Ibanez Valbee, its cute...

But then the only complaint is VOX ADxxVT series amp come with a crappy speakers...if you don't believe what I mean...Try getting those Technics or Senheiser headphones and you wont believe the sweet tone coming from a company that had an endorsement from The Beatles..

But then again...Try putting Blue Alnico speakers in it...and you can roar like hell...Forget loudness coz it wont help you much in you playing...And if you are a multiamp kinda person, VOX AdXXVT series has presets to make your amp sound like a Fender Bassman, Marshall JCM 800,900, Soldano, Mesa Triple Rectifier and also its own original AC30CC or AC15 series...

What else do you need on a budget worthwhile amp???

This post has been edited by antonio: Nov 13 2006, 12:45 PM

im using roland cube nw... i think is ok. not bad for home user and oso small hall.

Eh you have placed a Blue Alnico speaker into your amp? How much did it cost?

Roland's Cube does a pretty fine job at modelling its own JC amp too. And I find the Mesa setting for the Cube pretty good too, can't really comment on the Plexi and Class A model though.

well i really wanted the vox DA-5, until ck said the list price was RM615 IIRC.
20% off will bring it to RM490, still more than the microcube.

I wish I wish that they brought in the Epiphone Valve Junior amp.... er.... ish.

Question - can you actually play the Vox ADXXVTs clean, bypassing all of the models/effects?

bypassing the effects of course u can. bypassing the models? i dont think you can. cause u hv to play through one model.

If you try out the FX loop mod on the AD30VT, you can bypass the preamp models by going straight to the valvereactor poweramp, if you plug a modeller into the FX return

http://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopic=286876&st=220

Look for my post on that page.

Thanks for the replies.

This post has been edited by Diazepam: Nov 14 2006, 11:03 AM

I think Vox ADxxVT owners are quite passionate about their amp. I guess its because stock Vox ADxxVT are good but not the best (quality wise.. tone, build, esthetically, etc) but can be modified to potentially become one's dream amp. Also, I often read a common phrase "best bang for you buck" when refering to Vox.

I dont know if there's other amp owners/users that talk about modifying their amp as passionately as Vox owners/users. Its a LOVE-HATE relationship...

On Roland Cube, my impression is that the factory stock Cube is a darn good amp. However I dont hear people talk about modifying theirs. Any forum where Roland Cube owners usually lepak?

This post has been edited by Banzai_san: Nov 15 2006, 09:56 AM

Blue Alnico would cost around RM 1kplus each...so expect to spend on RM2.5k on the mod alone...Summore Blue Alnico only 30w...So 2x only 60W and if you have the 100W version....KABOOMMM...Maybe you can put four and that'll make your ADxxVT cost more than JCM2000 selling list price at Bentley...Muahhahaha


Yeah me too....wanna hear the Eminence's speaker quality also...soem say good, some say darn good....


Vox quality is ok lar...Not to tough but still can take on some beating...In the speaker box all need to insulate or give it some dampening to give some kick...Like i said previously, speakers are crap need to change to a better one...

Other than that I just cant find anything else...maybe some would complain about the limited 2 user banks, some would complain about those steel grills that looks ugly...but then like I say before....change speaker or get yourself a good headphnes and start playing your guitar...

Gain is ok but maybe can achieve more with gain boosters or external effects pedal....but clean is just perfect for me..From nothing else matters to jimi hendrix...all ok so far...

hi Banzai_san, have you bought ur amp yet? I'm curious of which one you chose to buy. The Vox or the Roland?

Hi Blue,
I got me a Vox AD30VT due to the fact it has more features . Saves me some money buying pedals for home practise
Tone wise I think I would go for the Roland cube 30.

But Im waiting for my Philips SHP8900 headphone (just ordered from Davis lowyat bulk seller) for $190/- + $10/- shipping. Should arrive by today. Maybe my opinion on my Vox amp will sway away from the Roland

i went to see the Roland Microcube just now. The lady boss was nice enough to open the box and let me touch touch. I am a sucker for good sellers. Hehe... but then again, one of our moderators is selling the vox pathfinder 15r. so i'm torn between this two. Any suggestions?

Philips SHP8900 headphone... are they monitoring headphones by any chance?

...I'm still looking for a pair of Senheiser HD280 Pro... <sigh>

the 'practice' word gives just one hint .... that is the 'micro cube'

can explain more soulfly? I'm not good in these things.

Roland MIcro-cube is the best ever 'micro' pratice amp....very powerful indeed equiped with several effect and amp modelling...very highly reconmended...

I dunno. I always prefer the DA5.... I guess it's the Green color.

i'll go roland, ever since i found out vox uses the korg toneworks modelling circuit in all its valvetronix amps.
nothing wrong with korg, just that i got a korg already

What's the price for the Roland Microcube. The lady boss said it's RM450 but she can give me less if i really want it from her.

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Added on February 7, 2007, 7:10 pmhey Banzai_san, can u tell me how much u got ur Vox AD30VT?

This post has been edited by BlueSilver: Feb 7 2007, 07:10 PM

microcube lists at RM430 in bentley, usually they can give RM380 after discount.

ah thanks for the tip everdying. I'll try to get it here for RM380. what about the vox? any idea?

AD30 isnt really worth it as a bedroom practice amp.

if you want something bigger than the microcube, theres the new roland cube 15x.
also somewhere around RM400+.

and that's the nett price they can give to their customer.....my place here selling RM400...should be reasonable....

oo.. if u could choose which one would you choose? the microcube or the cube 15x?

the microcube of cos is easier to keep.
and it has more sound options.

but the 15x has the new power squeezer so apparently you can get full saturated distortions at low volumes.

i would take the microcube anyway.
for travelling, microcube also uses AA batteries so very easy.

woo... what about the vox pathfinder 15r? one mod is selling it... sorry ya i ask too many questions

basically the only amp under RM500 that you should consider is the roland microcube.
nothing else

ah i see, i got ur advice... haha... ok then once i get all my angpow here i come

damn you ppl get so much angpow
microcube here the only color is white.
dunno if can still get the red, black also must wait for stock here.

the one i saw is also white and the lady boss told me that it's selling like hot cakes. i think i saw another black one in another shop. But i think white looks better no?

Why lar go for the Microcube? Yeah, it's great if you're seeking portability. Personally, I would have gone for the Cube 15 unless I want to bring my amp whenever I travel, just for the little bit more headroom & volume.

aiyah, i still haven't buy yet ma...

i remember i saw a red one. all 3 colors available. must be in penang, the one at gurney, Evolution Music House

i wanted to try out those roland amps, the 15x, 20x and the 30x. but i cant find any shop selling them. not in bentley and mighty music

woo penang is nearby hehe.. maybe i'll get the red one then black is definitely dull

Where could i get the Red colour one..? Red is labeled as limited edition...true or not? Music Shop's staff told me that the colour change depending on every batch....

I prefered the white one to the black & red.

I was refering to Everdying's post actually... sorry, forgotten to quote :
This post has been edited by led_zep_freak: Feb 7 2007, 11:55 PM

wah really wan ah? then i better quickly grab the red one when i see it. maybe i can ask the lady boss whether she can order for me.

white boring.
black, like henry ford once said, you can have any color as long as its black.
red, can put liverpool logo on it

but what he said is true is it? i mean roland's microcube is the best for the budget less than RM500.

Because black one is too common....i would prefer a white one with chromed side protectors....but need to DIY then...

hmm.. i need to wait for gong xi fa cai to end first before i can get it

Like everything else you buy, it all depends on your preference and needs, so I can't say if it's the best. That said, it's definitely one of the best amps under RM500. Since it could run on battery & portable, you could bring it virtually everywhere.

but then, if soundwise i tink the roland 15x is much better. and the price isnt much difference. the 15x is only RM490, below RM500 too

yes, u gotta go check out that store. there are all 3 colors available over there. the guys there are friendly, esp the big chinese guy name David, but he wont recomand u microcubes, he'll ask u to go for Marshall 15dfx

ps: sad to say, i went there during december 2006

portability is definitely good since i travel quite often. (2 months once, often ma?! ) besides that i also need it to sound good.

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Added on February 8, 2007, 12:02 amhmm.. the roland 15x isn't much bigger than the microcube is it?

This post has been edited by BlueSilver: Feb 8 2007, 12:02 AM

havent seen one, been searching for it. all the shops in kl i went are not having them, but if you want they can get it for u, thats y i was told. and the quote me the price.

the size should be bigger, a little. u can check the size at www.rolandus.com, i tink its specified over there

aiyoyo roland microcube or roland 15x? tsk tsk... tonight i'm going to dream about these two amps

the microcube can go loud.
do not be misled by its 2w rating.
the cube15x may be 15w, but how often will you play it at full volume?

microcube like mentioned, has more sound options, more amp models to choose from (7 compared to 4), including a acoustic simulator which may be cheesy but better than nothing.
you can put a mic in it, also has a built-in tuner.

if u wan travel one, then microcube. microcube comes with more features. the 15x has no functions beside the 4 sounds, metal, metal stack, distortion and overdrive i tink

okla, set then microcube. whooppeeee... can't wait for it

Go to YouTube and search for it....Useful demo videos there....If i got money now...i'll get one prepared for college life instead of brining my Cube30...

actually, can we play it at full volume? i tink even at 4 its already blowing up for such small amp, unless its ur tube 12

btw, i tried the tube 12, and its really good. the sound is nice, and the price is affordable. RM598, u can think bout it too bluesilver

my pocket hole is getting bigger and bigger

Personally think that impossible to play at full volume for small amp....you won't know what you're playing on..just messy sounding...i'll only put until 11o'clock max on my Roland....but then...one thing is...you won't regret buying Roland stuff....

woo.. thanks for the encouragement criptonox89

i wanna try roland cubes!!! anyone know which shop does have the stock in selangor? (kl, pj, setapak......)

LAst year when visit Bentley....they still displayng Cube 15, Cube 30 and Cube 60 as well....but when i visit them recently...no Cube there anymore....most of them are Marshall now right..?

yeah, marshall, ibanez, fender, and roland microcube
i havent been to ck yet, coz the last time i went to bentley was sunday, and ck is closed. but i dont think they have roland products

i don't know how to help you oh. Do you want me to go scout around penang for you?

i thought ck is open on sundays? i know they're closed on mondays.

as for roland, go call the distributors, 03-78053263 and bug them on which shops have stock.

sure, i'll be in penang during cny. so if ur free, scout them for me
thanks in advance, hehe

CK doesn't have Roland stuff...most of them are Line 6, Vox, Line6 TonePort, Washburn, but i prefer CK since their stuff is prepared to be tested by customer....

my fren told me a shop, i 4got the name of it, and tat fren is one busy guy to ask him again where the shop is. he told me somewhere, i 4got where. i dont tink its cheras... a name that i havent been to b4

ok i think my next trip to penang would be soon. If it's before chinese new year then i'll scout around, if it's after then u can scout also ma. Meanwhile i'll try to look around at the local shops here in Kedah ya. I'll let you know if i spot any.

alor star dont have ledi confirm. alor star got marshall, hehe... but i cant really scout during cny, esp when shops dont open durin cny. just wanna try the sound, comparing every amp b4 getting one

last last sunday when i went to bentley, and while i drive pass ck i saw it was closed. so last sunday i didnt go there, assume it was close. i'm too shy to call them to ask which shop to test, coz i'm not gonna buy it

This post has been edited by skydancer: Feb 8 2007, 12:35 AM

kedah got guitar shops?

btw, i posted this before.
a popular hendrix clone from UK using a microcube busking.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSImMlrCXIo

dont look down on kedah wei, haha.. later that guy wutver name warning you (like he did in another thread)

well, alor star have few music shops.
music system and sze chan are the more famous ones, and their supplier is bentley. u can check them at bentley's dealer page. but then, their stock there looks the same always, and only open for training classes. (thats becoz even kedahans like me are buying guitars from kl)

just check out, seems like JS music has roland products

This post has been edited by skydancer: Feb 8 2007, 12:49 AM

Perak having same situation too...'largest' music shop in Perak is under Bentley too.....they get most of the stuff from there.....price would not vary too much.....RM30+/- .....unless Bentley having promotions....then varies would be bigger...

JS is major in Drums, DW, Pdp, Gibraltar, Vic Firth, Pro Mark, Gretsch and much more...I got my Planet Waves circuit breaker there.....JS selling Roland V-drums only i think.....

This post has been edited by Criptonox89: Feb 8 2007, 12:56 AM

I paid RM820 (inclusive of postage to KKinabalu). But that was during CK Music's end of year sale (December 2006).

Whether you choose Roland Microcube (2W), Cube15 (15W) or Vox DA5 (5W), DA15 (15W), AD15 (15W), Pathfinder 15R (15W with reverb)... IMHO all are great practise amps.

For portability (small, powered by adapter or dry bateries) consider Roland Microcube or Vox DA5
( http://www.roland.com/products/en/Micro-CUBE/specs.html <-- Microcube )
( http://www.voxamps.co.uk/daseries/da5.asp <-- Vox DA5 )

If portability is of no concern, and you have more cash to burn, consider Cube15 or DA15 or AD15VT or the Pathfinder 15R

ermmm not much help in getting you to decide which...

but, choose carefully. Try them out and decide. Any which one you choose, I think you are getting good practise amp.

p/s: Here's some sound clips for Roland Cube amp (Flash player required)...
- Cube-XX demo sound clip
http://www.bosscorp.co.jp/demos/en/CUBE-X_IT/index.html <-- click on "Sound Check" menu at the top

- Microcube demo sound clip
http://www.bosscorp.co.jp/demos/en/CUBE-Series_IT/index.html <-- click on "next" button to bring you to the sound clips page.

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Added on February 8, 2007, 1:29 am
I dont really know. Any difference between normal and monitor headphones?

Still havent received my Philips SHP8900
Hopefully tomorrow... opsss... its already "tomorrow"
I hate waiting



This post has been edited by Banzai_san: Feb 8 2007, 02:17 AM

Kedah used to have so many. It's like mushrooms. Everywhere there is a music shop. But now most have them had to close down. Only left 2-3.

I think I'm going to get myself a little portable DA5 for emergencies.... since I like the effects on my TonelabSE so much. Does anyone know if CK Music has 'em in stock? Recently? will try to call them later in the week.

Portable amps are quite handy come to think of it

Post a review when you've auditioned the DA5 btrix...

haha....Good Luck on finding it....didn't think of campur'ing Roland with Vox?

i'm going to sell one of my guitars to buy the small amp oh

yaayy !!! Just received my Philips SHP8900 headphone. I chugged it into my Vox AD30VT ... lo and behold, Im hearing sweet & nice sounds. Though the SHP8900 has not help in my guitar playing, but at least Im hearing nice sounds out of the Vox AD30VT. WOW !!! ...

But I still have to go through the "burn-in" period to get the best sound out of the headphone.

Good buy I'd say . Im extremely pleased and satisfied (until I can afford a better headphone / speaker at least... )

Only complaint is that its a little heavy (compared to my other crappy ~rm20/- headphone)

DA5 is not exactly little

Well, small enough for ME........
Sigh.... will try to get it this weekend....

rite b4 cny ei, to bring back to kampung?

Yup. Hopefully..... but I'm still weighing the needs.... RM400 is ALOT of cash for something I might use once or twice.

This post has been edited by blacktrix: Feb 8 2007, 06:34 PM

RM400? the DA-5 lists at RM620-630.

*gulp*... forget it then. No DA5 for me!!!!!!

kamonla btrix, micro cube lah!

yalo, microcube is poratable, aint that bad. its actually really good

Don't want my Marshall MS-2? Just let me know and I'ill try arrange a meetup so I could pass it to you.

Anytime you can Led_zep.... best if maybe Sunday or Monday.......

But anyways.... Back to the topic..... Was THINKING of the MicroCube.... but I prefer the Vox crunch over the microCube's Growl.

This post has been edited by blacktrix: Feb 8 2007, 09:43 PM

blacktrix i'm thinking of a microcube too..maybe we can find a good deal if you decide getting one..

currently the price at bents is 380 after discount

rm380 already is good enough.
sweelee sells it for RM100 more.

i was thinkin of one, but there's no black in stock around here.

wah so many want the microcube ah... anybody can buy in bulk ma? I want the red one.

maybe we can all decide on one day and go buy ones..I'm sure they'll reduce the price more