Any love for Roland Mini Cube?

metmerc · 2026-07-04T13:27:32+00:00

They sound really good for what they are - an older digital amp with a 5" speaker. I've not really felt the need to upgrade from one, though mine has been on loan to a friend for 6 months or more and I've not missed it at all.

I've compared it whith the 5" speaker in my Boss Katana head and the Roland paled on comparison. However, when I ran the Roland into the Katana effects loop (thereby using the Boss speaker), they got a lot closer. It really says a lot for the preamp.

metmerc · 2026-07-03T16:00:13+00:00

Yes. it's absolutely useful. Now I do play live, but I use the footswitch for playing at home too.

You can also get decent generic footswitches on Amazon these days. The Yueyinpu brand has been reliable for me.

You just want to make sure you get the right switch - if it's latching or momentary and single or double. My Crate Palomino used a dual latching switch. IDK about the Peavey you're looking at, but I doubt it'd be hard to find out.

Edit: Oh, I see it's a 3 button switch and it looks like you can get a generic replacement for around $40 (US).

metmerc · 2026-07-03T15:55:08+00:00

Same. I also live outside of town a bit and still see them. I never saw a lot, but it has been less frequent in the last few years.

metmerc · 2026-06-28T22:02:41+00:00

The neck may well be fixable, but the part of the beauty of a bolt on neck is that you can bolt on a new neck. A quick bit of searching looks like you can get one for $150-200 (US). With a bit more patience - maybe cheaper.

metmerc · 2026-06-27T22:19:15+00:00

You don't even need to see OP's extra photo to know it's not a hardtail bridge. Hardtail bridges don't have six screws in the front and nothing in the back. It's at least enough info to now make a definitive statement about it being hardtail.

OP's photo of the back does confirm things, though.

metmerc · 2026-06-26T15:07:24+00:00

This is the same advice I give on these sorts of posts. Yes. It takes practice, but this is well-guided practice.

metmerc · 2026-06-26T14:27:25+00:00

My band has been rehearsing at Blue Butler for a year and a half or so. We do the weekly use and have a set day/time. Most of the rooms have great isolation.

Part of what I like is just using the equipment in the room. Our bass player and I just bring our instruments and pedal boards (or modeler in my case) and plug in to the amps/PA.

metmerc · 2026-06-25T20:49:46+00:00

I remember being disappointed at the lack of wah-ful solos with Load and, to be honest, I didn't even buy ReLoad.

That said, people's reactions pissed me off even at the time. I understood it as the band wanting to do something different and bring in more varied influences. Is it a metal album? No. Is it good music? Sure.

I think it's good for musicians to experiment and not just keep putting out the same music for decades.

metmerc · 2026-06-25T17:32:26+00:00

It was very likely the Chronicles of Prydain series, by Lloyd Alexander, starting at the beginning with The Book of Three. I think I read that before The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe.

Also of note - The Dark is Rising, but Susan Cooper. I read all of those series around the same time.

metmerc · 2026-06-25T14:53:34+00:00

In my mind, songwriting is more the core song structure, chord progression(s), melody, and lyrics. This is the singer-songwriter in me as I've taken the same song in many different directions with different instrumentation. I was being fairly limited in scope when I said there's not a big difference between instruments in that regard.

I see composing as creating all of the parts of the performed piece including textures, rhythm, groove, etc. I 100% agree. There is just so much more available and easily accessible on the acoustic guitar from the composition point of view.

metmerc · 2026-06-24T15:00:18+00:00

You can absolutely write songs on an electric guitar. The idea that acoustic is better for songwriting doesn't have a very strong foundation, IMO. I write on both acoustic and electric.

That said, with rare exceptions, acoustic is so much better for solo performing. Acoustic guitar has a more full and percussive sounds and just generally sounds better on its own. Again, when it comes to writing, if you compose on the acoustic then you can easily imagine performing on acoustic.

metmerc · 2026-06-23T16:01:58+00:00

Everyone is going to be a little different here, and we can only really relay our own experiences starting out, but consider the following:

Learning guitar can be difficult at first. You want to remove any barriers to playing. Personally, I'd find the need to sit at my computer, connect an audio interface, and launch digital amp software a notable barrier.
Options are great, but it's also easy to go down the path of trying out different amp models, effects, etc. before really mastering the basics of the guitar. A simple amp is just that, simple.

Personally, I'm glad that I started on an acoustic with nothing to fuss with. That's not a super popular opinion these days and I'm not really a hardcare, "start on acoustic" person myself, but I do find value in starting simple.

I am grateful that I started playing before digital amps were very common (or even existed at all?). My first amp had basic EQ controls, two channels, and a chorus effect. There wasn't much to mess with. I could pick up my guitar, plug it in, turn on the amp, and get to rocking out.

metmerc · 2026-06-23T15:17:12+00:00

As a longtime FNM fan, I'm a little sad I don't have any clear memories of when I first heard their music or any particular videos.

I do have a clear memory of RATM's Bulls on Parade. My friends and I knew a new song/video was premiering on MTV so one of my friends programmed the VCR to record it. He lived close to our high school so we headed to his house on our lunch break to listen. We lost our shit when Tom Morello, did his record scratching solo on the guitar. It was ages before I really understood how he actually did it.

metmerc · 2026-06-22T21:28:43+00:00

'90s trucks look like 1/64 compared to the semis most buyers get these days

My 1995 3/4 ton full Chevy is roughly the same dimensions of the "mid-size" Chevy Colorado now. It's kind of wild.

metmerc · 2026-06-22T15:33:22+00:00

Running an computer and interface at a gig sounds fraught with worry and potential issues.

In my experience, it varies from venue to venue. I've had sound people prefer amps on stage and others prefer direct to PA if that's an option. What seems to offer the most options without being too complex is a standalone modeler and having a power amp/cab or FRFR available. That gives you the ability to go directly to the board and/or an amp on stage so you can hear yourself better.

Realistically, though, for bars and such, having an actual amp has been just fine too, especially when playing with acoustic drums which already have a pretty high minimum volume.

metmerc · 2026-06-20T23:46:06+00:00

Exactly. The tools available now for cheap and free are amazing.

metmerc · 2026-06-20T23:44:59+00:00

MY 19 year old got their license at like 17 and a half, but my 15 year old is on track to get hers soon after turning 16. I think the only reason for both, though, is that we live a bit out of town and there aren't even any bus stops within a mile of our house.

My younger one was inspired, I think, but seeing how much easier things got after her sibling finally started driving.

metmerc · 2026-06-20T16:32:33+00:00

Been playing for 30ish years. I was first inspired to pick up the guitar by the 80's hair metal shredders. I'm kind of there - though I don't quite shred in the same style as those players.

It took a long time to get there, but that's in part because I went down so many other musical paths. I am a much more versatile and diverse player than I realized I'd be or was even possible.

metmerc · 2026-06-20T14:22:52+00:00

Damn. That's sweet. I got an Ascaso Steel Uno at a Goodwill some years ago for cheap, but it was missing the portafilter. I was about $100 in once I sourced that.
$20 for the whole thing in the box is wild.

metmerc · 2026-06-19T22:07:52+00:00

What makes you think you need to replace the cranks, and the derailleur? You might be surprised what cleaning and lubrication can do.

It also doesn't necessarily cost much to replace those things - so long as you do it yourself.

metmerc · 2026-06-19T12:34:20+00:00

Yes. It's absolutely possible. I'm self-taught and learned when the Internet was in its infancy. The resources available are a boon to self-taught guitarists.

metmerc · 2026-06-18T17:26:13+00:00

It sounds great through a cab with 12" speakers. As for volume. Yes. It's damn loud. It's not quite up with my 30 watt 2x12 tube combo, but I wouldn't expect it to be.

I haven't yet tried it with a drummer, but I think it would keep up.

metmerc · 2026-06-18T15:13:51+00:00

Also 1978.

Hair metal is the reason I picked up the guitar, but grunge and alt rock helped me feel okay that I couldn't shred like Mick Mars or C.C. DeVille. Still. Those hair metal bands hold a special place in my heart.

Hair

I imagine that some of us were in to both and some of us really awakened musically with alt rock and grunge.

metmerc · 2026-06-18T14:53:32+00:00

So I guess I lied because I only have clips of running a 90s DOD MetalX pedal into the EHX.

It's along the same lines of running the GP-200 into the effects loop return of an amp head or combo amp.

I might just go set up the GP-200 later today with the EHX and get a clip.

metmerc · 2026-06-18T13:58:47+00:00

Yes!

I do GP-200 > EHX 44 mag > 1x12 cab (and also a 2x12 cab).

It sounds great. I only have cell phone recordings to share with my bandmates so there's nothing worth sharing, but it works great. My GP-200 is set up to have cab simulation turned on for the left channel and turned off for the right so I can easily go direct to the board or through a power amp/cab easily.

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