Colombo: ROCKER 83 - 80s Distortion (Heading to Boston..?)

Рет қаралды 21,210

2 жыл бұрын

colomboaudioelectronics.it/pr...
I own a mint Rockman X100. I only bought it a year or so ago because I wanted a reminder of the device that I used to record a lot of records back in the 80s. I was one of thousands, probably. Def Leppard, ZZ Top, KISS, David Gilmour, Jeff Beck... Lots of people ran a Rockman for a while back then. And many of them have fond memories of those days and those tones. There are now a couple of pedals on the market that aim to emulate the distortion character of the Rockman and the SR&D Distortion Generator; some more elaborate than others. Luca Colombo's contribution is straight up rocking - which is why I love it. Three knobs and two levels of gain - Edge and Distortion. It has the right crunch and the right snarl to put you back in the DMC DeLorean days, that's for sure. More magic from the man in Milan. Check it out.

Пікірлер: 79

@gdawgs101 9 ай бұрын

They nailed the distortion sound, but the lack of delay/chorus in the pedal is a real head-scratcher, particularly for the prices they're charging for these

@LightWingStudios 7 ай бұрын

I just found this video and was blown away by this pedal. It's the Holy Grail of 80's guitar tone. At 8:00 I thought to myself "There it is! That Big Assed KILLER Tone and Sound.". 10 seconds later you said the same thing. SOLD! :)

@heavybrett-al4082 2 жыл бұрын

Now that's a distortion that feels like a warm hug in my ears.

@michael_caz_nyc 2 жыл бұрын

Every pedal Colombo-make, sounds phenomenal. I've always loved that Boston-sound. Brett "Nailing it" as usual.

@exterC0ffx 2 жыл бұрын

Schulz territory! I was 13 when I bought the LP. My folks got used to hearing that album at reasonable decibels. A sound that always motivates thanks Mr BK Rockman

@Instagrump_330 2 жыл бұрын

I’ve still got my XPR, and other than the obvious lack of chorus/echo, this thing nails it. Nice!

@danstringer7610 2 жыл бұрын

They nailed the sound! I want one!!

@giancarlopaolini7529 2 жыл бұрын

It seems that a really good job has been done here ....incredible that I listen to a demo done 14000 kmtrs. away while I'm living 100 kmtrs from the factory where this pedal is produced. I'm gonna get one for sure. :-) Brett, think about this pedal plus a Keeley Halo .....bbbbrrrr..... :-)

@Dlokey4315 Жыл бұрын

Nice build🎉 I can't wait to make mine.

@rjh1469ii 2 жыл бұрын

Great demo as always! Love that sound!!!!

@BrettKingman 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks, @Rockett5150!

@hevyglow5661 2 ай бұрын

Damn that sounds hot

@buzzcrushtrendkill 9 ай бұрын

Great demo. High quality audio which many don't seem to capture well. Nice pedal, they are not cheap tho.

@philsolomon512 2 жыл бұрын

OMG. Brett you are the best on KZfaq. You nail those licks seamlessly and don't try to be Mr. superfast, although, I know you ca be.. I have always tried to get that Boston Sound to know evail. May have to sell some pedals to get this one because it is pricey and you can only buy it from the manufacturer in Italy. Thanks for a great demo.

@francescocagnacci 2 жыл бұрын

More for us Italian folks ahahah :D

@buzzcrushtrendkill Жыл бұрын

Great demo. It has a great tone. You adding the chorus and delay just shows what it is really missing tho. Cheers.

@MarcCoteMusic 2 жыл бұрын

I had 2 Rockman Sustainors and a Distortion Generator as well as the MIDI Octopus... That sound really was something new and special, if a little limiting. I gigged that rig for probably around four years and used it on three or four tracks on my first album, too, back in the mid to late 80s. EDIT: Just watched the rest of the video... this pedal sounds great... In a way, more usable than the Rockman stuff. Good demo, Brett.

@bluessumlin...7067 2 жыл бұрын

80’s sounds nailed great pedal!🎸🙂

@robertclarkguitar 2 жыл бұрын

Man that's a very good usable set of tones man!!!!! I dig it!!! Love the 80s. Hahah Hello bro!!! Great to see you as always. Jamming away and getting every ounce out of each product. Beautiful !!!

@BrettKingman 2 жыл бұрын

Cheers, Robert! All the best.

@robertclarkguitar 2 жыл бұрын

@@BrettKingman Yes Sir Brett !!! You too brother !!!

@stephanwnuk9398 11 ай бұрын

Sounds awesome

@aangtonio5570 Жыл бұрын

Sounds good, but... the GOAT Generator is the only one that NAILS the authentic Rockman sound.

@deltawhiskey1398 3 ай бұрын

Both over priced...most people looking for this sound already have a delay and a chorus...spend $100 on a Rocker 83 clone...and you've that sound without spending $500.

@GabeHelma 2 ай бұрын

Who makes a rocker 83 clone though?? @deltawhiskey1398

@musicmann1967 2 жыл бұрын

If only that cocked wah sound was included on the pedal. That was when it sounded the most like a Boston to my ears.

@BillDerBerg Жыл бұрын

that was from the cabinet sim on the original and x100

@willgrady9621 Жыл бұрын

I love it!...To me it's like the Ultimatum distortion pedal.

@willgrady9621 Жыл бұрын

Natural Marshall overdrive without sounding Muffled up...

@billybaru82 2 жыл бұрын

Wow! Now for the clean /chorus tone :). Great job !

@evanharnett 2 жыл бұрын

Yes, is there a pedal that copies the clean chorus rockman model?

@BrettKingman 2 жыл бұрын

@@evanharnett None that I've encountered - yet. I'll betcha someone's strapping one together now, though!

@danstringer7610 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

@0megalul309 2 жыл бұрын

Best sounding rockman style distortion

@BrettKingman 2 жыл бұрын

I have to agree. It has tons of weight.

@harrisfrankou2368 2 жыл бұрын

@@BrettKingman I had a Power Soak awesome. Another goody... I've got 3 products from all your reviews. I'll pass this as I have a Riverside setup for boost and expression it's pretty limitless with a Fuzz as well. But damn that bit at 4:47 was sweet and so authentic of the era. It would be a great guilty pleasure though,

@daveydohrman2241 Жыл бұрын

Boston in a box

@johnmcevoy3598 2 ай бұрын

That's it.

@lorenzo-agnes 2 жыл бұрын

Just ordered one. Thanks for the demo Brett - I'll let you know how it sounds through my setup once I've tried it out.

@brianmersmann76 4 ай бұрын

How’s it sound? Do you still have it?

@lorenzo-agnes 4 ай бұрын

@@brianmersmann76 Hey man! It's truly fantastic. I do have it but am selling it - along with a bunch of other pedals - coz I need to make some room.

@elvinsanchez7453 2 жыл бұрын

The best pedal 🤘😎🤘

@graemero5532 2 жыл бұрын

The sound I grew up on

@Shred_The_Weapon 4 ай бұрын

After having owned a Rockman X100, I figured out that I was less interested in that “third stage” of the Boston sound and moreso in emulating the tone of the second Boston album, *Don’t Look Back* (loved hearing you play the title cut). This pedal appears to make that happen. I would be interested to get one if I hadn’t purchased (in Feb. 2024) a Boss GX-100 and somehow managed to approximate that tone.

@glenn3914 10 ай бұрын

omg, it sounds exactly like the x100,...gotta get me one of these, thnx for the demo

@Fender420 2 жыл бұрын

Nice! 👍👍

@belmontdrew1 Жыл бұрын

Great video, thanks! Also, what is your pedal chain for chorus and delay in relation to this pedal in the video?

@LeStraTele Жыл бұрын

I have an older SRD Distortion Generator. The Rocker 83 sounds pretty close. The SRD isn't as sizzling in the treble.

@650thunderbird5 2 жыл бұрын

👍🏻👍🏻

@Klaus80804 Жыл бұрын

As always a great demo Brett! Thanks so much for it. You recently showed the "other" Rockman simulator "Goat Generator", too. Which pedal do you think nailed the Rockman distortion sound better? I'm aware of the differences in the features, but it's all about the sound for me. Which pedal would you prefer if you are looking for the authentic "Rockman" sound?

@BrettKingman Жыл бұрын

The Rocker is a tougher take on the Rockman sound, Klaus. It's easier to operate and to get something satisfactory from in my opinion, so I'm giving it my first vote.

@Klaus80804 Жыл бұрын

@@BrettKingman Thanks a lot Brett for your quick answer. That sounds good to me - as does your demo - so I'll get a Rocker 83 pedal. In the 80's I played and recorded a lot with the X100. I would love to have that sound again. I tried to imitate it with my Helix, but that did not nail it. That's why I'm now looking forward to this pedal from Colombo (I always have to think of the TV series when I hear the name, even if the one from the TV series is spelled with "u", i.e. Columbo).

@brianmersmann76 4 ай бұрын

@@Klaus80804did you order one?

@assetdeveloper 2 жыл бұрын

Just ordered mine. @Burgerman666 Any chance you can share out the Fractal preset you are using with this pedal? I have an FM3 I plan to place the pedal in front of. This is a killer tone!

@brianmersmann76 4 ай бұрын

@assetdeveloper Do you still have it? Do you like it?

@TheTubeDude 2 жыл бұрын

Brett, sir, you are so very very good. Are there any video's of you back in the 80's? On stage or studio. Thanks

@BrettKingman 2 жыл бұрын

Haha. Thanks, Larry! Here's one for you. About late '86 I think. Guitar built by Grover Jackson and it's all Rockman. Solo and stuff from around 2:10 - kzfaq.info/get/bejne/nNJ7naeGyMWqlYU.html

@TheTubeDude 2 жыл бұрын

@@BrettKingman Thank you sir. Much appreciated.

@TheTubeDude 2 жыл бұрын

@@BrettKingman Just watched it. Loved it Brett. Now I know what to look for. Oh and beautiful guitar. Hope you still have it.

@thewilythylacine 2 жыл бұрын

I just saw your GOAT video, and I think I’m leaning toward this pedal as a better pedal for getting a good solid flavor of distortion that can also nail that Boston sound, if you want it. I’m more interested in getting that Satriani “Always..” or Holdsworth “3Sheets” sound and this seems closer to that than the GOAT. This one seems a little bit fatter sounding than the GOAT. What do you think?

@BrettKingman 2 жыл бұрын

I think you're leaning the right way.

@kenmasters007 2 жыл бұрын

They just need to introduce a version with chorus and delay

@eddiecancelmusic 2 жыл бұрын

Agreed. It’s Almost a Rockman, good effort though. Needs the chorus and delay.

@kenmasters007 2 жыл бұрын

@@eddiecancelmusic yes.. i checked their website and they do sell separate chorus and delay pedals, but they are not the same as the original rockmans

@These_go_to_eleven_1959 2 жыл бұрын

The 2008 Charvel "So cal" came with Dimarzio DP-155F TONE ZONE(not a super distortion DP-100)) in the bridge and a Evolution neck pu.

@stefanbukcev2249 Жыл бұрын

You're assuming he didnt swap pickups

@andrewplant9206 Жыл бұрын

does this pedal nail def leppard hysteria tones?

@bbyju001 Жыл бұрын

Where you get it

@formercakid Жыл бұрын

This is more of a preamp pedal than a stomp box. Best used into a power amp or amp return. To be honest for the money you are going to spend on this pedal you may be able to search out a used "Rockman".

@jamesflack8624 2 жыл бұрын

Tom who? Cheers 🍻

@cybersixx 2 жыл бұрын

I wonder how does it compares to the goat you reviewed not long ago

@MadHatter-cu5op 2 жыл бұрын

I was wondering the same thing. I've casually had my eye on the GOAT Generator, also reviewed by Brett. Sound-wise, they're very similar, but the Colombo pedal seems much simpler and requiring less tweaking. What do you think, Brett?

@chaggasfernandes 2 жыл бұрын

The demo was better than the pedal. Nice job.

@jamiemorgan4146 2 жыл бұрын

I love Boston’s sound.... The Pedal Rocks! Unless you’re in a Boston Cover band... Why would you want to sound like them? 😉😉

@InFRA_BLaKK_AMBRA_isTrueMetal 2 жыл бұрын

Because the ROCKMAN Unit Sounded like So Many other Bands Guitar Sounds that Really DID NOT Sound AT ALL like BOSTON!!, Not only this, but MOST of the Famous Boston Guitar Tone's We're actually EL34 Power Tube Amplifier Marshall Amplifiers, the Tom Scholz Rockman stuff was MFG 1983 really many Years after those 1st TWO Boston albums(1976&1978), so really only the 1986' Boston album "Third Stage" was the actual Rockman Stuff In the Recording Studio

@jamiemorgan4146 2 жыл бұрын

@@InFRA_BLaKK_AMBRA_isTrueMetal 👍🏻

@thewilythylacine 2 жыл бұрын

Joe Satriani and Allan Holdsworth each recorded some iconic tracks using the Rockman, and while, if you listen carefully, you can hear the underlying Rockman sound, neither of the guitarists sound anything tonally (and obviously not stylistically) like Boston on those respective albums. That’s without the chorus. However, once you add the chorus, then it’s hard not to sound like Boston. Lol.

@stevenlott8103 10 ай бұрын

tom Shultz , who is the inventor of the rockman, created tat sound in the 70s . so the sound is not from the 80s. he just copied the sound and made the rocman in the 80s