Highlander and Micro Cube/Cube Street question

[gaucho]

I have both a Roland Micro Cube and Cube Street (excellent, cheap battery powered amps for Busking and playing out!). When use my Estralita with a Highlander, should the amps be set on "acoustic" or "Mic". I've seen several other Buskers using them with pickups that have "microphonic" qualities and setting them to the "Mic" setting. It sounds good both ways, but the "mic" is much more powerful, so much so that I was afraid I might be hurting something. Anyone else using this set-up?

[mitchfit]

lib.roland.co.jp/support/en/manuals/res/1811450/M-CUBE_e1.pdf

after scrolling down through a typical post-tort world 33% disclaimer section, got to the actual goods on page 6.

i had suspected it would be just a "low" and "high" input as found on proprietary electric instrument amps, to avoid microphone feed back--

but:

"ACOUSTIC
This original amplifier model gives you a
dynamic acoustic guitar sound using a
standard electric guitar."

makes me think there is probably digital electronic trickery going on there to emulate "sound box" guitar sounds/tones.
likely a "harmonizer" type circuit to add harmonics to solid body signals.

perhaps others who actually have used/owned these will be more help.

mitchfit

[Deleted]

Definitely use the mic setting, especially when using a pick-up. It sound way better than the others.
Set the volume to max, and gain between zero and half depending on the output of the pick-up.
The acoustic setting is too trebly. Actually, the r-fier or classic stack is OK for a real beefy sound, as long as the gain is very low.
I always use a microcube live now - either DId straight into the PA, or more usually running into a 'slave' acoustic amp (using the CD input).
TT

[gaucho]

Yeah, I really like the mic and cube street and it does seem like the Mic setting sounds best with all of my pickups (KK pure on my acoustic parlor, Highlander on the Estralita Delux and a National Slimline on a Republic Hwy 61). I don't use amps a lot but I've had several high end electric and acoustic amps and I got rid of them all except the Rolands. I know they are "audiophile" amps. but they work great for what I'm doing!

[Deleted]

Interesting... I hadn't thought about using the Microcube as an actual performance amp. What about the bass response though?

This is a big issue for me because for the moment, I'm in a guitar/drums duo -- I'm playing through a bass amp with a 15" speaker to beef up the low end, but if I can avoid lugging that monster around, that'd be nice!

[Deleted]

On its own its not loud enough, but through another amp or DI'd, its really excellent (when using the mic setting anyway).
Excellent bass response, although the tone knob would be better split to treble and bass rather than have it as a variable blend.
Also, the effects are difficult to keep low. I usually have the chorus on its lowest setting, but even that's more than I'd like.
If I had available cash, I'd get a street cube (with mic setting) as a gigging amp for sure .
TT

[bryanbradfield]

I DI'ed a Micro Cube in performance once, just to use the phaser on one selection. My guitar was a dobro. The previous and subsequent tunes were acoustic through a Shure SM57. When I did the electric thing, my dobro's humbucker was already plugged into a switcher foot pedal and the Micro-Cube and the DI. I simply side-stepped the SM57, and switched to the Micro Cube. Aside from the front tables, the audience was unaware of what I had done, The headliner was further back in the audience, and is a musician I greatly respect, and he commented favourably on the phaser sound.

[gaucho]

I like them for busking. Sound good and are plenty loud in a solo setting. Sometimes, just for kicks, I take my Cube Street and plug in the National w/Highlander or Slimline pickup and then I also use the Micro Cube with a SM57to mic the resonator and mix 'em. Sounds good but isn't really necessary. They are great little amps for using without being plugged into an outlet. The 6 AA batts last a long time. They both also have an aux input that I use to plug in a little stomp box that I made with a little $2 piezo tab.

[bryanbradfield]

I also busk with the Micro Cube. It gets very little use otherwise, now that I've gotten the Roland Cube 40 XL amp, which is what I use on larger (for me) gigs. I change the Micro Cube batteries at Christmas time every year. Occasionally they have not lasted an entire season, but usually they do, & I feel that I busk a lot. Mind you, I keep the volume low to avoid noise bylaw arrests.

[Deleted]

So, microcube versus pignose anyone???
TT

[Deleted]

My guitar teacher had a pignose -- it was more of straightforward amp, but it kicked the microcube's butt soundwise. Solid little bugger too.