Pete Downes plays new tune on Gibson CS-356 through Roland Cube 20x

[classic005465]

Hi Pete!

With respect to the CS-356, how would you characterize its' tone? Is it's tone balanced from lows to highs? Pronounced Mids? I trying to figure that all out by listening to your videos. Is the success you've have with the 20X a "happy accident" between the 356 and that particular Roland edition of the Cube?

[guitarsnguns]

Absolutely love your tone on this song! In-fact I just took delivery of a 20XL 2 days ago and plugged my 356 into it and was very close to your tone within a couple minutes (thanks to your explaination above). Not sure what you are calling "tube drive" though, I don't see this setting on my amp (the controls are the same on the 20X & 20XL). Maybe you could tell me what that is. Also, do you have tab for this song? I can play a quarter of it by ear but tab would get me there sooner. Thanks!

[PD3withDP]

@guitarsnguns Thanks. Actually the 20XL dropped the 'TubeDrive' setting. It's only on the 20X. I've not done a tab of the track, only chord sheet. If I do one I'l let you know. There is a new version on the new recording with the band which is better. 2 min sample is on the website.

Thanks again. Pete

[RickNPhx]

Pete - V-E-R-Y nice! You said there were some minor imperfections? If I may say, you see, it was the nuancensations; the imperfectious soundolacious happenstances that make it so sweet. Be well. - RickNPhx

[VintageGuitarsNGear]

Great playing, excellent sound - thanks for this video! I'm interested in the guitar, this helps a lot!

[123rushfan1]

Great playing man! Amazing tone as well! I thought that the cube 20x's were pretty bad amps. I guess this is because my church's guitar player sounds pretty shambolic with his (he scoops his mids to 0 though.) But you make it sound great!

[intune1234]

Pete you're such a tasteful player! Great tone and phrasing. I really enjoy listening to you play. You treat your instrument like a human voice, which is the whole idea behind soloing I think. Keep up the great work!!

[PD3withDP]

@intune1234 Thanks very much. Will do my best to keep it up. More on the way soon.

[RedStrat]

Sounds great. The only way I can tell that it's a digitally-modelled tone is because of the compression. Great playing too, sir!

[PD3withDP]

@RedStrat Cheers. Like your 'oh s***, improvise' line! Wish I'd thought of that.

[RedStrat]

@PD3withDP

Haha! I get a good laugh whenever I see that line as well. Thanks for watching!

[GuStereo]

Good =)

[bossfrog]

What settings are you using for the overdriven lead tone?

[strwy2hvn94]

do you think you could provide the chords for this?

[strwy2hvn94]

does the bigsby affect tone/sustain?

[PD3withDP]

Hard to answer that as I tried only the Bigsby model as I wanted one. Tone and sustain are good though.

[awesomejohnnet]

Beautiful Tune,

great tone,

sweet touch,

the poor guy just looks ready for straight jacket,

looks like hes been through hell...

Well thats how one graduates to a level where one can play that well..

you pay your dues then you can play the blues...

He sounds great!

God bless him!

[philgar5]

@awesomejohnnet What a ridiculous thing to say re straight jacket ! Who are you then ? Let's see you post something as good as this. I'll look forward to it !

[leepetersonuk]

Im on a guitar course and need to take a practise amp, this would be perfect. Great track too BTW

[topperspoppers]

this is fantastic! excellent tone too!

[Jack1685]

nice dude.

[Tbonetardis]

Nice - puts me in mind of Al Di Meola. Great tones for the Roland, the whole range has great sounds, including the micro-cube!

[chappahx]

hey Pete, I've been considering buying a Cube 80X for recording. Your tone just sealed it for me. I love your playing bro. Inspiring.

[powerfull499]

This amp is really good. Quality. It costs the same in the USA as Europe! Everything is cheaper in USA, but not this amp. Buy it, it's really worth the money, and it can play amazingly loud for a 20 watt.

[classic005465]

Pete, is this a composition of yours? Do you compose from the guitar? Just how do you go about learning great music as this surely is? I'm trying to improve my sight reading skills, but it is a slow process, for me, anyway.

[PD3withDP]

Hi. Yes, this is my own tune so I didn't have to read it, but did write down the chord progression so I could solo on it

I'm not a great reader but I've improved since I started teaching. I think the best way is to do a bit each day, starting with simple pieces. It's practice just like playing is. One day you will find you can look at a piece of notation and 'hear' it without an instrument in your hands. That's a good feeling! A good theory reference book helps too.

[pmay222]

what settings did you use on the amp if you can remember.? and did you play backing track through the amp as well..? thanks..

[HellsHighwayTrooper]

This is really good, but what if you played this amp to a crap guitar 8-0

[PD3withDP]

Good question. I bought this amp for students to use and get good sounds from a variety of beginners guitars.

[58sqnrockape]

If i can add to that . I have the same amp but a cheap guitar . Would it be a waste of money buying a good guitar to use with this amp ? Or is the amp not good enough to equal it ?

[douker]

is "tube drive" exactly the same as "dyna amp" on the Cube 30x?

[PD3withDP]

No. It has a similar tonal quality but the dynamic response is very different - much more extreme. I found it too unnatural for my taste.

[rawktraccs]

very nice playin', very nice guitar!

[CiccioDimundo]

Very good tune...I'd like to play guitar with you!!! :)

[bcmc418]

Great havnt heard anything as soothing as this

[Stevesynthaxe]

Great Music and great sound well done Pete you just keep getting better & Better

Cheers Steve

[Jazzguitman]

That is some great playing/tones!

Chris

[PD3withDP]

Thanks Chris.

Pete

[Bowtome09]

I got a roland cube 30 gr8 amp imo

[Necrolemus]

wen i played it, the eq did almost nothing for the sound. is it the same 4 u or was it just me?

[PD3withDP]

Hi. I find it does make a difference. My starting point is bass off mid full on and treble off. Then I tweak for what I need. This gives me a good smooth fusion lead tone (not too harsh) on Tube Drive, plus a clean Wes Montgomery-like tone on JC Clean. This suits my guitar well. What guitar are you using?

Pete

[Necrolemus]

hmm, i got like a 20 year old humbucker single coil ibanez EX365(thats wat samash guy said it might be, it had no model number on it) with stock pickups(love the old vintage sound) and a ibanez xiphos XPT700. i go for higfh gain sound but like the nice classic tones like pink floyd solo and well yurs. i guess i need to try it again. btw i didnt think this amp would sound that nice plugged in.

good playin

ty. Necro

[wallofdiffusion]

Whow ! Just came home with my new guitar (my kid sleeps, otherwhise I was playing of course :-) ), typed in es 356 and... whow... is it capable of this ?!! And even on a cube ?! Superb ! I enjoy your clip now for the third time, and it won't be the last, Thanks Pete !

[PD3withDP]

Cheers. Glad you liked it. Enjoy the guitar!

Pete

[Elalameinquota33]

Lovely music and tone, I must get me one of this 356s !

[Kapteinar]

And, by the way, I did'nt mean that you don't sound original, 'cause you do. :)

It's so good I had to compare it to one of my favs :)

[PD3withDP]

Thanks! He's one of my favs too!. Pete.

[Kapteinar]

It's like listening to allan holdworth without the dizzying chromatics :)

Nice! five stars!

[lepruk86]

0_o I'm sold...

Real smooth melody btw - really loved it man; Great Job!....

*goes off to order one*.... (Was between this and the 15x but for the very slight bump in price i'm getting me the 20).

[waylay00]

Man...I'm speechless! Such a relaxing and captivating tune!

[virajrocking]

just bought 20x,ur video was one of the key decision makers,just one thing man

what setting is the amp in and ru changing sound effects in real time or is it

just the 20x?thanx man anyawayz

[PD3withDP]

Hi. I have the treble and bass on zero and middle on full. The lead channel is on Tube Drive with gain at about three quarters. No EFX, touch of reverb on amp. In Logic I added a touch of chorus and short delay and a bit more reverb. It was recorded from the Record Out socket. This works well with the CS-356 which is quite bright. Other guitars might need more treble. For other tunes I've added a bit of top or bass but no more than about 3. Hope that explains it. Great amp ! Have fun! Pete.

[mightybisons]

Oh, man! This is some gorgeous tone! Every time I get in the mood to buy some new gear, I see a video like this showing that the stuff I have is already more than capable of handling what I can dish out. I love my Cube 20X, and Mr. Downes, I love your playing.

[JarekMarekJan]

Excellent! Really impressive! Jump to favorites! :-)

Best regards from Poland!

[ein3738]

are you using a roland 80x or 20x???

[PD3withDP]

It's a 20x. Got 80x on the brain as I'm looking at getting one but they're not in the UK yet. I've corrected the title.

[ein3738]

kool, thanks.

well that sounds mighty good for a 20x.

i cant imagine how good the 80x is