Two Rock Rocket

[71model]

Just looking for information on Two Rock Rocket, there's only a few
Thanks

[FYL]

Anyone know anything about Two Rock Custom Rocket amps with 4 EL84's?

AFAICT, a TW Rocket quasi-clone with a passive effects loop added.

How much is one worth? Are they worth 2K?

Dunno. but there's a dozen or two of builders here able to do as well or better...

[bejazzz]

Curious . . . have you ever played a Two Rock or dealt with K&M?

[FYL]

Curious . . . have you ever played a Two Rock or dealt with K&M?

No dealings with K&M - very nice people I've heard; no direct experience of their Rocket clone but some experience with their now out of production Express clone, the Ruby.

[71model]

Hey B,
Got a message from Tag, said they're a swell amp, does the TW thing really well!

[ChrisM]

O our old friend TAG

If he said it, well then it must be true

[dr. who]

Are you looking to get the real rocket sound or some Two Rock take off on Kens sound? It's about as close as the Rocket is to a Vox- well due to the loop the vox may be closer. I think you can get clone with nos components and vintage spec transformers etc for $2k or slightly less. No Trainwreck Rocket was built with a loop because Ken said it would completely kill the tone FWIW.

[71model]

Well, I'll let you know how it sounds soon, they only made 6.
I understand most of your are genuine amp technicians or guru's, I've only taken Navy electronic classes and done motor/PLC's for 20yrs. Have played amps all my life, but don't know the internals that well, except for here-say, needless to say I'm still learning. That said, I come around here with my hat off hoping to learn something from you guys. And when I get some time, I got some ideas of amps I'll be building myself.
Thanks for the reply

[CaseyJones]

I've only taken Navy electronic classes and done motor/PLC's for 20yrs.

Totally off topic: Search "Neil Young Whizzer". Considering your skill set, there's your niche.

[FUCHSAUDIO]

Are you looking to get the real rocket sound or some Two Rock take off on Kens sound? It's about as close as the Rocket is to a Vox- well due to the loop the vox may be closer. I think you can get clone with nos components and vintage spec transformers etc for $2k or slightly less. No Trainwreck Rocket was built with a loop because Ken said it would completely kill the tone FWIW.

FWIW:

I've worked on a few of the TR Wreck inspired amps. The loops were able to be bypassed, which made them closer to a real wreck. Using the loop introduced a gain stage, so you had a master volume effect. Not a bad addition, but not what Ken aspired to with his designs.

They did suffer from instability (they would whistle and oscillate at high volumes with the loop engaged), which I found a fix for, after a few hours of tweaking, shielding, and so forth.

Once you clean up the lead dress, they are actually pretty decent, as the iron was Pacific stuff Ken spec'd out. They were steel chassis, not aluminum, which (depending on your personal convictions, may affect tone).


Didn't realize they made so few ! They also sold kits, after they stopped making them too.

[paulster]

Andy

Didn't they only make kits for the Express-type amp, after they ceased selling it? This is the first I've heard of them doing a Rocket-based amp, but then I've never paid an awful lot of attention to what T-R are doing so I could very well be wrong!

[FUCHSAUDIO]

Been some time, but I know they did sell off the remaining part and chassis inventory when they discontinued those models. Been a few years, and I don't recall what, specifically, was put up for sale.

[M Fowler]

They also used their own spec'd K&M Pacific tranny set rather than what Ken F. was using. Not that important but thought I would mention that.

[71model]

I read an article that 6 of these were made with 4 EL84's. Thanks for the info.
Hey Casey, that's an interesting gadget, never new about that, Thanks

The honeymoon is not over(only cranked it up once in house), but the amp seems to do what it's suppose to. Cleans are not as pretty in my opinion as a F Deluxe, but will sing really nice with controllable feedback. Has a presence also. Very guitar responsive. There's no vol to speak of, it's loud from the get and get's louder.

Take Care,

[paulster]

Has a presence also.

Actually, it doesn't. Well, not in the conventional sense. It has the regular old Vox Cut control that TR has implemented with the pot connected round the other way so that it acts similarly to a presence control in that it gets brighter as you turn it clockwise.

They also use this on some of their Dumble-style amps and call it the Contour control.