Roccaforte Rockie Report

[LSchefman]

A few days ago, the UPS guy delivered a Roccaforte Rockie 30. I'd heard good things about this amp on the forum, mostly from LeonC when he had one, and I thought the amp would be pretty cool: 4 EL84s, cathode biased, two channels (each with its own input), and only two controls for each channel: volume and tone. No effects loops, no master volume; simplicity itself.

Most of my friends know that one of the amp topologies I am addicted to is the classic 4 x EL84, 30 watt Brit style amp. There's always room for one in my studio when the creative urge takes me in that direction.

When you pull a Roccaforte Rockie out of the box and check it out, you are looking at a jewel. This thing looks like someone cared quite a lot about getting the details right.

You can't miss the heavy gauge perforated stainless steel vent covers, the stainless steel logo, the stainless steel front panel, the machined knobs, and the very clean chassis. I didn't pull the chassis to look at the wiring, but pics of it are on the Roccaforte website, where you see a very tidy hand wiring job. The tolex is perfect. Highest quality construction everywhere you look. Even the power switch and controls feel nice and solid.

The amp has two channels, each with its own input. There are only two controls for each channel: volume and tone. No master volume, and you don't need one.

Around back, there's an IEC power cord jack, a fuse, and 4, 8, and 16 ohm taps.

The Rockie sounds so spacious and big that I played it for an hour before I even came to the realization that it doesn't have reverb. The tones are rich and juicy. You can get lots of different Brit-influenced flavors effortlessly. This is a serious rock and roll amp with inspiring classic tones.

Turn up the volume, and you get gainier, at reasonable volumes. One channel is bright, great with buckers, and the other is a little darker, great with P-90s and single coils. Both channels will give you a wonderful "edge of crushed glass" with excellent articulation and string-to-string separation on chords. Lead lines are present and what I'd call nice and fat, no mush, no honk. It's warm sounding, but at the same time, it cuts.

The lower notes have a nice clear quality on single notes, and chords don't mush out either. "Touch sensitivity" is stellar.

I tested it with what I have on hand, a 3/4 back Mesa with the Black Shadow 90, and that's a pretty good match, but I'd love to hear it with some Cele Blues. My son grabbed his guitar while I was taking a break, and got absolutely perfect tone for the opening lick to the Beatles "Drive My Car" without even twiddling a knob.

I haven't tried any pedals with it yet, nor have I recorded it at this point. That will happen this week, and I will report back.

This is a very exciting amp. While it's not cheap, what you get for your money is great tone, great quality, and a very cool amp. I love it!

[Roccaforte Amps]

Originally Posted by LSchefman

A few days ago, the UPS guy delivered a Roccaforte Rockie 30. I'd heard good things about this amp on the forum, mostly from LeonC when he had one, and I thought the amp would be pretty cool: 4 EL84s, cathode biased, two channels (each with its own input), and only two controls for each channel: volume and tone. No effects loops, no master volume; simplicity itself.

Most of my friends know that one of the amp topologies I am addicted to is the classic 4 x EL84, 30 watt Brit style amp. There's always room for one in my studio when the creative urge takes me in that direction.

When you pull a Roccaforte Rockie out of the box and check it out, you are looking at a jewel. This thing looks like someone cared quite a lot about getting the details right.

You can't miss the heavy gauge perforated stainless steel vent covers, the stainless steel logo, the stainless steel front panel, the machined knobs, and the very clean chassis. I didn't pull the chassis to look at the wiring, but pics of it are on the Roccaforte website, where you see a very tidy hand wiring job. The tolex is perfect. Highest quality construction everywhere you look. Even the power switch and controls feel nice and solid.

The amp has two channels, each with its own input. There are only two controls for each channel: volume and tone. No master volume, and you don't need one.

Around back, there's an IEC power cord jack, a fuse, and 4, 8, and 16 ohm taps.

The Rockie sounds so spacious and big that I played it for an hour before I even came to the realization that it doesn't have reverb. The tones are rich and juicy. You can get lots of different Brit-influenced flavors effortlessly. This is a serious rock and roll amp with inspiring classic tones.

Turn up the volume, and you get gainier, at reasonable volumes. One channel is bright, great with buckers, and the other is a little darker, great with P-90s and single coils. Both channels will give you a wonderful "edge of crushed glass" with excellent articulation and string-to-string separation on chords. Lead lines are present and what I'd call nice and fat, no mush, no honk. It's warm sounding, but at the same time, it cuts.

The lower notes have a nice clear quality on single notes, and chords don't mush out either. "Touch sensitivity" is stellar.

I tested it with what I have on hand, a 3/4 back Mesa with the Black Shadow 90, and that's a pretty good match, but I'd love to hear it with some Cele Blues. My son grabbed his guitar while I was taking a break, and got absolutely perfect tone for the opening lick to the Beatles "Drive My Car" without even twiddling a knob.

I haven't tried any pedals with it yet, nor have I recorded it at this point. That will happen this week, and I will report back.

This is a very exciting amp. While it's not cheap, what you get for your money is great tone, great quality, and a very cool amp. I love it!

Thank you, Les.
Do the AB box switching thing with the inputs, you'll dig it. Doug

[gdomeier]

Nice review. I would love to hear some clips if you have time!

[Drowned Rabbit]

I want a Roccaforte soooooo bad...
Congrats on a really cool amp!

[LSchefman]

Thanks guys!

I'm working on a commercial project this week, and when everything is set up for recording, I'll try to do a few clips.

>>Congrats on a really cool amp!<<

Thanks! This thing rocks!

[CNOTE]

I got to play a Roccoforte 100W Purple Head and cab yesterday. All I can say is that amp is a Hotrod. It is an amp for someone who is interested in a High Caliber Barn Burner. Smokin Amp!

[Roccaforte Amps]

Originally Posted by CNOTE

I got to play a Roccoforte 100W Purple Head and cab yesterday. All I can say is that amp is a Hotrod. It is an amp for someone who is interested in a High Caliber Barn Burner. Smokin Amp!

barn burner?

[Leonc]

Congrats Les on a fine amp. The Rockie is a great amp indeed. That was the only EL84 amp I played that convinced me I no longer needed my Matchless SC30--I could get all that great sparkly, cathode-biased EL84 stuff and still have a nice solid low end.

[LSchefman]

Thanks, Leon. I wanted an EL84 amp lately, and your posts about the amp - and if I recall a clip? - convinced me to try this one. I'm really glad I did.

And yeah, sparkly and solid low end are definitely part of the tone of this amp. You can get that wonderful British kerranggg with it, too!

Bottom line, it's a cool amp.

[Roccaforte Amps]

Originally Posted by Leonc

Congrats Les on a fine amp. The Rockie is a great amp indeed. That was the only EL84 amp I played that convinced me I no longer needed my Matchless SC30--I could get all that great sparkly, cathode-biased EL84 stuff and still have a nice solid low end.

You did some great clips with that amp, I still dig them.

[Roccaforte Amps]

Originally Posted by LSchefman

Thanks, Leon. I wanted an EL84 amp lately, and your posts about the amp - and if I recall a clip? - convinced me to try this one. I'm really glad I did.

And yeah, sparkly and solid low end are definitely part of the tone of this amp. You can get that wonderful British kerranggg with it, too!

Bottom line, it's a cool amp.

It also does those "meedly meedly meedly" licks well too!

[Scott Peterson]

Les rockin' out with the Rockie. Too cool man! Nice review.

[LSchefman]

>>It also does those "meedly meedly meedly" licks well too!<<

I've been working on those.

[Mikey Likes It]

Originally Posted by gdomeier

Nice review. I would love to hear some clips if you have time!

Leon's provided some very nice clips here:

http://roccaforteamps.com/customer-sound_bytes.htm

[Roccaforte Amps]

Originally Posted by Mikey Likes It

Leon's provided some very nice clips here:

http://roccaforteamps.com/customer-sound_bytes.htm

This is still one of my favorite Leon clips:
http://roccaforteamps.com/sounds/cus...ckiesBlues.mp3