Linking a small Cube amp to a PA system

Rab

Hi Folks, Anyone out there know if linking a small Cube amp to a PA system, via the headphone/recording output is feasible?  I have tried this since the manual says it can be done but the result was to overdrive the PA. This PA works ok with computer fed backing tracks, mikes and the like but not with my amp. The rig I used was:Guitar to  Alesis Q2 to Cube to PA. The PA link was via stereo Jack from the amp and into two individual mono inputs on the PA. The guitar was a Godin Multiac Nylon SA and all settings were clean. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, Rab

ESBlonde

What sort of PA amp is it? Does the PA system have a gain control ahead of the tone section? Is there a mic and a line socket or a switch to pad the signal?

 

If not then a simple DI box will do this function for you. At a push you can make your own simple pad/attenuator if you're good with a soldering iron.

 

Screaming Dave

Most PA mixers will have a little trim knob for each input.  The problem is that you're taking an output powerful enough to drive headphones and using it as a line level signal.  The output to that headphone out will be controlled by the master volume control, of course.  Have you tried turning that right down?

Rab

Thanks, as it happens, I shall be at the club with the PA tonight and with a bit more time than I had last time!  You are right, of course, I need to control the signal before it gets to the pa, that was my mistake.

 

Very many thanks for taking the trouble to think about my issue, it is much appreciated. 

 

Regards,

 

Rab Lochhead

Just Tel

Don't know which Cube you have but if it's a Street Cube you can mod it to give a line out ans per

Rab

Just Tel: Hi, only just read this, thanks for the link. This is not my amp but it has enough info to be very helpful, thanks. Mine is a straight Cube mini and I now have it under control.
It's like a lot of things in life, there are always modifications you can come up with once you get to know a product really well. The eventual solution came from reducing the master volume and also, on occasion, simply using a microphone to amp up the sound.
This little amp gives such a distinctive sound to my nylon strung Godin, when played through an Alesis Quad GT, that I have not been able to replicate it so boosting the output was my only remaining choice.
This way I retain the tonality of my set up, whatever volume the PA system is played at.
Never thought such a small amp could sound so good.
Thanks again,

Rab

DaveH-UK

Hmmmm, of course their is the old saying about Roland Cube amps... that the best thing to put through them is a 'chain saw'... I am sure that's not true though!

Megi

DaveH-UK said:

Hmmmm, of course their is the old saying about Roland Cube amps... that the best thing to put through them is a 'chain saw'... I am sure that's not true though!

Perish the thought, I'm happily using a Cube 80XL - sounds good, bags of clean volume (which is all I need) from the clean channel, decent built in effects, can go b*&^% loud if required, and portable. What's not to like?

Kevin Peat

Bum. That video has been withdrawn but I have the Street Cube and am interested in the Line Out modification.

Great little amp

DaveH-UK

Megi... I have three Cube amps (the only solid state amps I have), a Cube 30 (quite nice for late night jammin), a Cube 60 I purchased to run a slab KB through and a white finish Micro Cube (about 5watts I think).

I also have a Boss/Roland DR880, it's sort of a drum machine with guitar effects and pre arranged jam tracks.... but I find that the DR880 and the Cube amps have a definate synthesized sound to them that tends to mask the original guiter sound if you use the onboard guitar and amp simulations. They sound better clean IMO as long as you don't drive them into solid state amp distortion... as that sounds dreadful to me, where-as most valve/tube amps tend to overload with a much sweeter tone (all to do with harmonic overtones etc.) I have'nt resorted to the chain saw... 'yet'

Just Tel

Kevin Peat said:

Bum. That video has been withdrawn but I have the Street Cube and am interested in the Line Out modification.

Great little amp

Kevin the video is still available to watch. Just click on the link to watch on youtube

Megi

DaveH-UK said:

Megi... I have three Cube amps (the only solid state amps I have), a Cube 30 (quite nice for late night jammin), a Cube 60 I purchased to run a slab KB through and a white finish Micro Cube (about 5watts I think).

I also have a Boss/Roland DR880, it's sort of a drum machine with guitar effects and pre arranged jam tracks.... but I find that the DR880 and the Cube amps have a definate synthesized sound to them that tends to mask the original guiter sound if you use the onboard guitar and amp simulations. They sound better clean IMO as long as you don't drive them into solid state amp distortion... as that sounds dreadful to me, where-as most valve/tube amps tend to overload with a much sweeter tone (all to do with harmonic overtones etc.) I have'nt resorted to the chain saw... 'yet'

Ah, so your chain saw comment was maybe a bit tongue-in-cheek Dave - thanks and interesting to know about, and I'm sure you're right about "synthesized" aspect that can affect the sound - I think there is a bit of that quality even on my Cube's clean channel, but I don't really mind it.

All I ever use my Cube 80 for is the clean channel, and I get any drive/distortion or whatever from pedals in front of the amp. Usually other effects are from a Boss MS-3, also on my pedal board before the amp, but do occasionally I use the ones on the amp. But as a clean platform, with pedals etc. in front, I do find it an excellent bit of kit - all I really need from any amp is a nice clean tone which can go loud for certain gigs when needed without distorting - I've never managed to push the Cube 80 far enough to cause solid state distortion, I can well imagine it would be horrible though!