Rockman Tone in 2017

[Sirion]

Re: Rockman Tone in 2017

I have a modded MP1 (more Fendery, higher headroom) and a stock one. I don't think an MP1 can get a Rockman sound really. Not without extensive prefiltering.

Agreed. I think it was a bit of exaggerated advertisement on their part, which again shows the ubiquity of the Rockman in this period.

Was the MP-1 usually used as a pre-amp hooked up direct into the board, or did most people run it into a power amp/cabinet/mic setup?

Nominally it could do both, but I don't think it did direct into the board very well. It could probably work well with a modern cab simulator, but the technology was not yet there at the time.

 

[Securb]

Re: Rockman Tone in 2017

Was the MP-1 usually used as a pre-amp hooked up direct into the board, or did most people run it into a power amp/cabinet/mic setup?

When they came out everyone was using them ad nauseam. The 800 was the amp of choice typically with a RAT back then. When the MP-1 came out most of the guys replaced their RAT with the MP-1, some opted for the matching ADA power amp and ditched their 800's. Can you imagine going to a show and all five bands on the bill have the same compressed, scooped preset sound. By the end of the night, it was a headache inducing. I will say the matching midi controller was pretty cool. Very streamlined and straightforward, I used one with my midi rig for years.

 

[Sirion]

Re: Rockman Tone in 2017

When they came out everyone was using them ad nauseam. The 800 was the amp of choice typically with a RAT back then. When the MP-1 came out most of the guys replaced their RAT with the MP-1, some opted for the matching ADA power amp and ditched their 800's. Can you imagine going to a show and all five bands on the bill have the same compressed, scooped preset sound. By the end of the night, it was a headache inducing. I will say the matching midi controller was pretty cool. Very streamlined and straightforward, I used one with my midi rig for years.

Surely it can't have been that bad if the 'compressed, scooped preset sound' came from an MP-1? (Or, I stand corrected: if they ran their MP-1s as a RAT, that is, before the preamp of their Marshalls, that probably sounded pretty bad.)

 

[LLL]

Re: Rockman Tone in 2017

I have a modded MP1 (more Fendery, higher headroom) and a stock one. I don't think an MP1 can get a Rockman sound really. Not without extensive prefiltering.

They can get in the ballpark, but no amp will get a true Rockman/Boston sound without some sort of Eventide H910 emulation.

(although the MP-1 has a schweet analog chorus with it)

Aside from the mid-boost and notching, that doubling effect is key to the tone.

The Rockman Stereo Chorus is very much like an H910 in a little box; wonder where Tom got the idea from? (LOL)

 

[LLL]

Re: Rockman Tone in 2017

Surely it can't have been that bad if the 'compressed, scooped preset sound' came from an MP-1? (Or, I stand corrected: if they ran their MP-1s as a RAT, that is, before the preamp of their Marshalls, that probably sounded pretty bad.)

No, no, no... haven't you heard? All gear prior to the year 2000 is crap and makes crap tone; especially during the 1980s. :18:

See, the 2000's is when guitar tone really started to shine. :laughing:

 

[LLL]

Re: Rockman Tone in 2017

Was the MP-1 usually used as a pre-amp hooked up direct into the board, or did most people run it into a power amp/cabinet/mic setup?

It has the capability to switch between line & instrument signal, so you could do both.

However, if running straight to the board, you'd want to EQ after to emulate speaker cab.

 

[Sirion]

Re: Rockman Tone in 2017

No, no, no... haven't you heard? All gear prior to the year 2000 is crap and makes crap tone; especially during the 1980s. :18:

See, the 2000's is when guitar tone really started to shine. :laughing:

Of course; how could I ever have been so foolish as to think otherwise?!

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Rockman Tone in 2017

It is because it was truthfully and religiously bypassed with holy fervor.....click click....
Now where is that old Brockman at?? So I can shoot into pieces!

 

[Sirion]

Re: Rockman Tone in 2017

Shoot it? Let me send you a recommendation in the form of a song featuring a guitarist known for using Rockmans:

t

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Rockman Tone in 2017

^:duck::haha::doh:Could they get more chorus on the guitars???? hahaha waaarrrrbllleeee deeeooouuurrrwwww
Haha it is long since deceased....
Got thrown out as garbage in the 90's at some point, was utterly dead and done.

 

[Sirion]

Re: Rockman Tone in 2017

Yes, I think that was the fate of many of them. Like them or not, it is a fact that they were less solidly built than a Plexi.

 

[Sirion]

Re: Rockman Tone in 2017

So, Rid, as the resident Scandinavian pedalster: do you have any suggestions for getting righteously gnarly 80s chorus guitar that will send grungers and hipsters into hiding, that are readily available in 2017?

 

[BriGuy1968]

Re: Rockman Tone in 2017

Shoot it? Let me send you a recommendation in the form of a song featuring a guitarist known for using Rockmans:

t

Wow... was that really the best you could come up with?

I'm a big 80s rock fan, but that was the perfect example of why so many people hate the music of the 80s!

 

[Sirion]

Re: Rockman Tone in 2017

Wow... was that really the best you could come up with?

I'm a big 80s rock fan, but that was the perfect example of why so many people hate the music of the 80s!

The title might be a clue, dude. As for the haters, I never catered to them. I doubt that any of them are still reading five pages into a discussion about the Rockman in any case!

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Rockman Tone in 2017

Hmm old yellow MXR stompbox, or if you like refined old Lexicon PCM 80.
The Digitech Luxe could be fun one too!

 

[Mincer]

Re: Rockman Tone in 2017

Most really good modelers these days can do the 80s chorus thing- the Line6 M-series, the Helix, the Fractals, etc. You can always just layer up 4 chorus guitar parts to get that sound, although I have no idea why. In the 80s I used chorus once in awhile, ut I did and still hate that kind of music, though.

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Rockman Tone in 2017

......can't stand modelers...they are so fake...

 

[GilmourD]

Re: Rockman Tone in 2017

No, no, no... haven't you heard? All gear prior to the year 2000 is crap and makes crap tone; especially during the 1980s. :18:

See, the 2000's is when guitar tone really started to shine. :laughing:

To me it's made in 1968 but used on recordings from 1978 to 1982.

LOL

Sent from my VK810 4G using Tapatalk

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Rockman Tone in 2017

With vintage Line6 boxes

 

[Securb]

Re: Rockman Tone in 2017

No, no, no... haven't you heard? All gear prior to the year 2000 is crap and makes crap tone; especially during the 1980s. :18:

Who said that? There is plenty of gear that was made in the 70's and 80's that were legendary and stand the test of time. People are still buying Tube Screamers, MXR D+'s and DOD 250's. Those pedals were the cornerstone of guitar tones in that era. The Rockman, unfortunately, is not one of those pieces of gear. There is a reason for that, supply and demand. Most guitarists do not find the tone generated by SR&D useable or pleasing. If they did the gear would still be produced today.