Taste Test......The Tale of 2 Rockets......

[Blind Lemon]

I want to preface this post by saying these are my views and the views of one other musician and are totally subjective………and all listening was done after a couple of adult beverages. The test were run through the same speaker cab and using the same guitar with the two amps setting right next to each other. I’m talking real time switching back and forth.

The amps are the same, they are my modified Rocket crct, parallel V1 and a couple of other changes. The one difference between the 2 is in the pair of cathode caps on V1, one amp has a pair of 25uFs and the other has 25/1uF. Personally I like the 25/1uF, seems to be a little more “clear” or more defined. Might be better for Jazz or country.(subjective) The 25/25uF seemed to have more upper mids . BTW the tube complement in both are Saratov power, a TungSolsky 12AX7 in V1 and 12AX7 JJ’s in V2,3 and a JJGZ34.As far as the transformers go, Ms 25/25uf has the Edcore’s and Ms 25/1uf had the Heyboer’s and both used the spect’d Hammond chokes.

Guys we went back and forth between these two amps for better than an hour and to be honest……… if these 2 amps were not setting next to each other all bets are off. I really don’t think we could have told a difference between the 2 or said which we liked more………..and even though I built both and all modesty aside these amps are spectacular…..tone to die for. This crct is very versatile, thank you MR Fischer and my God rest your soul. After experimenting with where to change values it wasn’t that hard to go from AC30 to a warm Fender tone.

Was one better than another……….NO……….did I like the tone of one better than the other…….yes, but I already told you that. BTW, Jason……the player, liked the other one……..his personal amp.

I do want to plug the speakers we abused, a pair of Warehouse Speakers 10s in a combo cabinet. These speakers are very responsive and inexpensive. They are worth a listen and I’ll use them again, in pairs in this amp they are rated at 20w. Celestion also has a new 10 (V10 ?) that I want to try.

BL

[Richie]

if these 2 amps were not setting next to each other all bets are off. I really don’t think we could have told a difference between the 2 or said which we liked more…

Thats the only true test you can do between 2 amps..at least that my opinion. not only the tone or sound but how well it responds to your picking or playing.

[RJ Guitars]

Nice work out there in Okie land... I still haven't heard a bad report on a Rocket build yet.

Where do they start to break up... assuming they break up at all.

I'd love to see pictures and hear clips...

Your a pretty mean builder for a blind man!

rj

[SiriusAbbott]

these amps are spectacular…..tone to die for

exactly why I snagged #001

best tone I have ever got from an amplifier....period

[Blind Lemon]

SA...I thought about you today when we were doing this test, should of had you bring yours over too......you know that was suppose to be my amp. You ever get your maple? You stopped in to see Mr Ricky P?

RJ...I really wanted to do this taste test to pit the Heyboer against the Edcore.....it was a non-issue. I had really thought by reputation the Heyboer was going to come out on top. Like I said it was a non-issue and the Edcores sounded every bit as good as the Heyboer. Thanks for the transformers and it looks like my next order gets here tomorrow. Pics are just more of the same, I'll post some pics after I get the cab built. I do not have a way to record right now and I'm not a player. SA might be able to.
BTW, the Blind Lemon gets his fingers burned picking up the iron by the wrong end from time to time. It hell living only by touch....

Richie...True words.....

[Colossal]

all modesty aside these amps are spectacular…..tone to die for. This crct is very versatile, thank you MR Fischer and my God rest your soul. After experimenting with where to change values it wasn’t that hard to go from AC30 to a warm Fender tone.

and

... I still haven't heard a bad report on a Rocket build yet.

and finally...

exactly why I snagged #001...best tone I have ever got from an amplifier....period

Guys, I've heard nothing but good things about these amps and followed the Rocket group build thread pretty closely. Can you tell me what kind of music you are playing with these amps and/or what styles the Rocket might be best suited for? I know country players like Brad Paisley are fond of Vox and Vox-styled (Z) amps and the Rocket is reputed to be all the things that a Vox <i>should</i> be and more (no slight against Voxs intended). Brian May is a Vox fan and plays a dimed normal channel only with all the other tubes stripped out and his tone is great. I don't however want to lump the [Rocket] amp unfairly into one genre out of ignorance. Any insight would be appreciated.

Thanks.

[SiriusAbbott]

SA...I thought about you today when we were doing this test, should of had you bring yours over too......you know that was suppose to be my amp. You ever get your maple? You stopped in to see Mr Ricky P?

BL,still waiting on the maple from both Rick(MLP) and Gerry(Reno cusom guitars) and no,been too busy lately to drop in on the good Wizard,soon as I clear my paint schedule I'll go and pester him about something

Guys, I've heard nothing but good things about these amps and followed the Rocket group build thread pretty closely. Can you tell me what kind of music you are playing with these amps and/or what styles the Rocket might be best suited for? I know country players like Brad Paisley are fond of Vox and Vox-styled (Z) amps and the Rocket is reputed to be all the things that a Vox should be and more (no slight against Voxs intended). Brian May is a Vox fan and plays a dimed normal channel only with all the other tubes stripped out and his tone is great. I don't however want to lump the [Rocket] amp unfairly into one genre out of ignorance. Any insight would be appreciated.

well,I play what could best be called hard southern rock....maybe southern metal or perhaps even country metal .this particular amp is my "butter" sound,cranked enough to begin to break up,but the breakup is smoother and warmer kind of similar to an old AC30 but with a tad more grind.
that being said,my Peckerhead has been used mainly for cleaner rhythms(chorused) and for some "dimed" leads using either a boost pedal,or a distortion pedal with the gain down and the output cranked.
also,I run my Peckerhead through a Zinky 2X12 w Celestion G75s,this is amp 3 on my selector,1 being my modified Marshall JCM 900,and 2 being my Ampeg VL-1002...all cabinets(4X12s) loaded w Celestion G75s
main guitars are solidbody Gibsons sporting aftermarket electronics and humbuckers(modded Seymour Duncans or Dimarzios)and custom G.H.Reno Tele style solid-body guitars(also with modded p'ups)
I should also add,Brian May was a HUGE influence on my playing and perception of tone

[Blind Lemon]

What SA said and I'll add that I've got another musician that gigs 2 to 4 times a week and he uses his for anything from chick'in pick'in country to classic rock.

BL

[RJ Guitars]

Colossal - I actually get to gig in addition to build amps and keep a regular job... so my gig skill and opportunity probably suffer the most because the other two items get so much attention....

The Band I play in does almost everything... it's a supper club band and I must say that I play way more pop than I ever meant to. I am a blues player, but for some reason have been able to hold the gig with these other geezers trying not to make people choke on their steaks.

We do several Steeley Dan tunes, Louie Armstrong, Queen, Beatles, etc.. on those tunes I use the Rocket just straight and maybe add a little reverb from a box. We also do Sheryl Crowe, Green Day, Allman Bros., Doobie Bros... etc.. on those tunes I try to push the amp a little for rhythm tones (which is hard since we are not a loud band) and I use a bad Monkey pedal for my crunch and lead work. Occasionally I use a compression sustainer, but only because I can't turn up the amp and play loud.

I run a 2x10 cabinet with one alnico and one ceramic speaker in it.

rj

[Richie]

I like the Rocket alot with a nice pedal in front of it..

here is Rocket i built a few weeks ago. a few things different, the gz34 is turned so you can come off pin 8,shorter run. I use a 470k bleeder,and 2 watt screen grid resistors. Also in one pic is the express i built the same time..

[Colossal]

well,I play what could best be called hard southern rock....maybe southern metal or perhaps even country metal .this particular amp is my "butter" sound,cranked enough to begin to break up,but the breakup is smoother and warmer kind of similar to an old AC30 but with a tad more grind.
that being said,my Peckerhead has been used mainly for cleaner rhythms(chorused) and for some "dimed" leads using either a boost pedal,or a distortion pedal with the gain down and the output cranked.
also,I run my Peckerhead through a Zinky 2X12 w Celestion G75s,this is amp 3 on my selector,1 being my modified Marshall JCM 900,and 2 being my Ampeg VL-1002...all cabinets(4X12s) loaded w Celestion G75s
main guitars are solidbody Gibsons sporting aftermarket electronics and humbuckers(modded Seymour Duncans or Dimarzios)and custom G.H.Reno Tele style solid-body guitars(also with modded p'ups)
I should also add,Brian May was a HUGE influence on my playing and perception of tone

What SA said and I'll add that I've got another musician that gigs 2 to 4 times a week and he uses his for anything from chick'in pick'in country to classic rock.

BL

We do several Steeley Dan tunes, Louie Armstrong, Queen, Beatles, etc.. on those tunes I use the Rocket just straight and maybe add a little reverb from a box. We also do Sheryl Crowe, Green Day, Allman Bros., Doobie Bros... etc.. on those tunes I try to push the amp a little for rhythm tones (which is hard since we are not a loud band) and I use a bad Monkey pedal for my crunch and lead work. Occasionally I use a compression sustainer, but only because I can't turn up the amp and play loud.

I run a 2x10 cabinet with one alnico and one ceramic speaker in it.

rj

Guys, thanks a lot for your detailed responses, that's great and very helpful. It sounds to me as if the Rockets are quite versatile and are great for that pristine, chimey base tone which take pedals very well. Sirius you have a killer setup, I'll bet it sounds fantastic. I like the idea that the Rocket is more of a modernized AC30. Probably attributable to the beefed up power supply and KF design.

RJ, I've followed your group builds closely. You've put in a huge effort with all of them and they look great.

Do you guys find any of that EL84 fizz when the amp is cranked or is that pretty much eliminated with kind of design? In other words is the grind kind of that smooth polished Shhhhherrrannnggg of musically ringing sheet metal without the irritating SSSSHHHH fizz on the top end? Or is this amp best used clean(ish) and overdriven with boost and distortion pedals? I know Brian May is all about diming his AC30s (normal channel only) and running a Freyer +30dB boost in front of it. Talk about fat tone.

Anyway, sorry for all the questions. I know tone is very subjective. I read all of the posts on this forum and listen to as many clips as possible to get the flavors of all of these amps. I play a lot of Rush and like a kind of "progressive" sound (love Holdsworth!!) and have mostly been in the Plexi camp for many years but am always thinking about the *next* amp. Just trying to wrap my brain around whether a Rocket would be a good fit for me personally (I know, I know...only one way to find out ). FWIW, I like Joe Bonamassa's rig design a lot: he uses four different amps each with slightly different characteristics. One amp (a Silver Jubilee) is always on and he switches between the other three so always has two amps on for stereo. But there is a certain appeal to the simplicity of using two clean(ish) amps run in stereo and just using pedals up front to color the sound (like Brian May, David Gilmour, Eric Johnson, et al).


Thanks again,
Dave

[M Fowler]

I love the Rocket because it is so smooth, nice clean tone and then when you crank it will come alive for any type of music.

I gig in a variety band and we play oldies first set, then mix it up with classic soft rock/country/oldies and later on we turn it up for the loud rock stuff and blues.

Last weekend I had the K60 and Rocket but mostly used the Rocket. I ran a Boss reverb and Boss Distortion pedal in front of the Rocket only. I used the Distortion only twice. I and my band mates were happy with the tone.

Mark

[Colossal]

I love the Rocket because it is so smooth, nice clean tone and then when you crank it will come alive for any type of music.

I gig in a variety band and we play oldies first set, then mix it up with classic soft rock/country/oldies and later on we turn it up for the loud rock stuff and blues.

Last weekend I had the K60 and Rocket but mostly used the Rocket. I ran a Boss reverb and Boss Distortion pedal in front of the Rocket only. I used the Distortion only twice. I and my band mates were happy with the tone.

Mark

Hi Mark,

Thanks for your thoughts. Looks like it's a good fit for a wide variety of sounds. Additionally, I found a video from Plague (from The Inbetween) where he demos his Rocket:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHEiMZEb ... annel_page

Sounds great! Very classic sounding, kinda Zeppeliny with the Les Paul. You can definitely hear the Brian May underneath though (not so much in Plague's playing, but in the amp). It doesn't seem to have that EL84 fizz on top at all. Very smooth, like a gravy sandwich!

Dave

[SiriusAbbott]

Do you guys find any of that EL84 fizz when the amp is cranked or is that pretty much eliminated with kind of design? In other words is the grind kind of that smooth polished Shhhhherrrannnggg of musically ringing sheet metal without the irritating SSSSHHHH fizz on the top end? Or is this amp best used clean(ish) and overdriven with boost and distortion pedals? I know Brian May is all about diming his AC30s (normal channel only) and running a Freyer +30dB boost in front of it. Talk about fat tone.

I only get that from not setting my pedal properly...if I have any real gain coming off of the pedal I get a high pitched fizz....knock the gain off and push the boost(level) and it fattens up considerably....I humbly suggest the only way to know,is to play one
I literally made the offer to buy it from Blind Lemon within 1 minute of plugging into it
...yes,its that good,after 33 years of playing,and having owned nearly a hundred amps(including vintage Marshalls,HiWatts,etc) it is the best ever....period!

[Blind Lemon]

Thanks for the props SA, it's just using the best parts and having a great crct to work off of.

BL

BTW SA....got my parts in for a KT66/EL34 Rocket, you'll have to check it out when I get finished.