Tom Scholz Rockman And Stereo Echo - In Depth Review And Recording Demo

In this video I demonstrate the sound of the Scholz Rockman and Stereo Echo. The two vintage items are from the glory days of the 80's and were designed by MIT graduate and Boston guitarist and leader Tom Scholz. The Rockman has been on countless albums and used in studios all over the world. To this day, these little devices are still impressive and command quite a bit of money on the second hand market. If you are a fan of Boston, or simply want this iconic sound, I recommend you get some of the Rockman products while you still can. They are a lot of fun, sound great.... and are a vital part of music recording and performance history. I hope you like the video. Please subscribe!
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[@HeRacesTheSun]

I still have my Rockman X-100, rack mount Sustainor & Chorus Delay, and Bass Rockman, the only guitar amps I use in my recording studio. During Boston's 1987 Third Stage Tour, I found out where the band was staying, we decided to go there for Brunch on Sunday. I felt so silly, but I took the face plate off my Sustainor and brought it with me. In the restaurant lobby I met and talked with Boston drummer Jim Masdea, and showed Jim the Rockman face plate, he laughed and said... "Oh wow, Tom would love that, that's his fun!" Then we walked out back where all the condo's were, we didn't go far, we didn't see anybody out there. We were just about to turn & leave, and in the distance I see a tall thin man with long dark hair walking with a little boy. I teased my girlfriend saying that's Tom Scholz, she hit me, stop teasing me that can't be him. We got a little closer, me still talking her into that it is Tom, her hitting me more but starting to believe me that it was Tom even though I knew it wasn't. Then as they were slowly walking toward us, nobody else around, my God it actually was Tom Scholz. Longer story shorter we talked a bit,i I thanked him for his music saying we were big fans, he was polite but reserved saying thank you. As I turned to leave, I almost forgot, and said... "Oh, and Tom, I'm not just a fan, I'm a customer also. He looked confused like what? Then I pulled out my Rockman face plate, and he got this huge smile and started laughing. We talked for a while, and I got my picture with him, still with his huge smile on from the crazy Boston fan who decided to bring his Rockman face plate with him, in the rare chance he might meet him, and meet him I did. I still have that awesome picture of me & Tom in my recording studio. Rockman still lives! All 3 of mine still work & sound like new.

[@simonsmith2642]

So ahead of his time, what a brilliant creative mind.

[@josephrodriguez2764]

This effects box was used by so many guitar players back in the day. One of the coolest things from that time. Hell yeah Marty!!!

[@814Taylor]

I remember my friend having a Rockman in the 80's. He played a Gibson Les Paul Custom Heritage Cherry Sunburst with flip out speed winder tuners that he ordered in the 80's for $1200 LOL. That Rockman sounds awesome.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks!!! I have an 81 Cautom (black) with the flip out tuners. They're cool! 😎

[@rvk5150]

Man...love Boston and always have such respect for inventors like EVH and Tom Scholz. Being an Electrical Engineer myself it was so cool that he was an EE as well and made this gear. I have a Power Soak and for previous set-ups it came in handy to be able to play at a reasonable volume without losing all the tone. Cool gear Marty!!!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

You're welcome! I have so much respect for you guys that understand all this electrical stuff. It makes absolutely no sense to me lol! I would love to have a power soak.

[@mike42441]

These Rockman units sound completely bad ass !!! Perfect replication of those legendary Boston & DefLep tones !!!

[@johnsmith-ug5tp]

Many other big name bands used Tom's products too. Craig from Jefferson Starship is just one of many.

[@runningfree4606]

It is always good to try those vintage tools that made history. Sholz was an inventor and a visionary who inspired many musicians around the world. Great video, Marty!

[@godbyone]

I worked for a company that sold to music stores. And somehow. My boss got contract. With Tom sholz to sell to. Music stores. I got the first demo. I sat put on headphones. Couldn’t believe it . I felt like I was in the future !There was 7 sales people. We each sold over 1,500 of them for the Christmas rush to stores ( we were commissioned sales. ). We were celebrating. We were rich. !!!Then the box came in. November. . It Had 6. Of them. That’s it !tom was making them himself. He was not prepared. To make thousands we kept looking In the box in case we missed one. . It took “a long time “ before. He was able to make a lot of them. Seemed like over a year. Or two a few here and there would roll in But at least I had the very first one .

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Dude! 6???? Lol. I wonder if he was making them in his house hahah. That's a great but sad story.

[@godbyone]

Yes he actually was. By himself .And those 6 went to owners girlfriend that sold. We were all bummed. I couldn’t say a word because I got the demo. ( and he let me keep it. And he was not a type person to give away stuff. . I kept my mouth shut. I thought if I complained. The owner would say. Ok big mouth Sell you’re demo ! And there was nothing anyone could do . I don’t think Tom was prepared for the sales. He had to hire help ,and them teach Them etc to his standards which was extremely high. That’s why they still work. If they were not banged up .

[@jimmyz2098]

Wow! Great stuff, Marty! I remembering being with a couple of my cousins up in Delaware on a road trip - not long after Third Stage came out, and I could NOT wait to get my hands on the cassette tape. I had only heard maybe one or two songs. My Mom and Dad gave me $20 or $30 bucks, and one of my cousins ran me up to the Mall where we were all visiting. I grabbed it, along with another tape (I think it was KISS - Asylum... also awesome), and holy crap!! Boston absolutely blew me away. What a sound in 1985. We BLASTED that thing in Billy's 82 (ish) Montecarlo! Black with Tee-Tops. We thought we were so cool ! Hahaha.

[@brianhutson2337]

I sure miss and loved my Rockman 1988. Would plug into my Kramer Focus and would just walk around the house with it. Great video, as usual!

[@johnsmith-ug5tp]

I bought the dunlop made rockman in 2002 and that thing was a freaking POS.

[@OwenVickersGuitar]

Nostalgia activated! I had a Rockman x100 in the late 80's and stupidly sold it at some point 🤦‍♂ I used to sit with my headphones on playing the clean part of Hysteria for hours on end. These days I have to make do with the Satriani add-on for AmpliTube that has a Rockman emulator. Awesome video Marty!

[@benburnett8109]

If you are a fan of ZZ top or Def Leppard you should love this equipment. The ZZ top sound was a modified Rockman that eliminated the "Chorus" feature. This sounded amazing thru my studio monitors. The delay had incredible stereo seperation. AND I think that this was possibly the first system that would easily do a wet/dry/wet sound. Those pickups sound amazing in that guitar! Do you have a link on where to get them so an average joe like me could get some? Just kidding. Thanks for the upload. Appreciate all you do.

[@io3010]

Vintage 80's electronics, wow, still sounds amazing! Killer playing on the demonstration, thank you!

[@roger1475]

Thanks for the video. The Rockman has an awesome sound that so many people used back in the day. I’m looking forward to some more Rockman videos in the future.

[@Maxreverse]

Great video Marty. You nailed the Boston tone. Grew up in Boston in 76 when the first album came out. An amazing debut album and band.

[@tassobear]

That is so cool! Billy Gibbons used in Eliminator as well. Sound was amazing.Still is! Thanks for this great videos you direct and produce. We the people of rock love them..

[@truthtobehonest]

Great demo Marty! Thanks for sharing

[@josephrodriguez2764]

Radio Shack was awesome brother. I love your videos my dude.

[@Mossy5150]

Always love your gear rundowns!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks Timothy 😎🥂

[@BigPerm2004]

Fire content as usual!!! Man, that sound brings back so many memories

[@MartRockCafe]

Thats sounds amazing mate....more of that please! 👍🤘

[@r.llynch4124]

I have the echo unit , had it for years now and out of all the echo/delays I have ever used it's by far the best. It's not very pedalboard friendly but It is simply amazing!

[@mike42441]

Awesome video !!! Love those Steve Clark sounds !!!!!

[@screamengine]

I had the Distortion Generator years ago and sold it. Not quite my biggest mistake ever, but a close second or third. :) Correcting mistakes of the past are so costly these days! But I'm on the lookout for a deal. Anyways. a fantastic demo, friend! I love your demos and delivery! All the best to you! Don't change a thing!!! :)

[@zsrmx1]

I always loved the multi guitar sound of Boston. I just picked up a boss ps6 harmonist pedal, not just to get Boston tones, but also for some Van Hagar stuff. Great video as always!!

[@jac5344]

Fantastic video! I have been playing thru a Rockman XP100 for over 30 years and when it comes to big sound, I haven’t found anything that beats it. Sholz was a genius!

[@johnsmith-ug5tp]

Ya lucky....

[@davedennis6042]

When you play that little bit of "We're Ready" it just blows my mind. That sound is amazing. A lot of memories come back. Thanks for the demo. I also like how you mix a little VH with your Boston. Thanks cool 😂😂

[@ajmpatriot4899]

Dude!!! I have that Kramer picture behind my drum kit!! Great minds, man! 👍

[@coregeek]

I have the Rockman XP100 Stereo amp. My buddy got it new as a b-day present in the 80’s. Last year he gave it to me. I had no idea they were made in such low numbers and are fetching around $2K per unit nowadays. I love that thing so much fun to play with.

[@brianhartsell4085]

Yes,to the question about Radio Shack. Man do I miss that store. Sounds great. Love that Les Paul, both sounded great. Thanks for sharing this.

[@davidjeffers68]

Brother, man I miss Radio Shack so much! That was my playground for years working on keyboards and computers.

[@johnmcnairy]

Bitchen Marty. Sounds like Tom Shultz too. Great effects and it looks so easy to use. I’m keeping my eyes open for one or both of them. Plus as usual, your playing is awesome. Hysteria is my favorite album by Def Leppard. Thanks dude for the demonstration.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

You're welcome! Hysteria lesson coming Friday (tomorrow) using the rockman!

[@AlienPizzaZombie]

Sounds awesome 🤩

[@haywoodyoudome]

I remember the first time my friend plugged his Les Paul into his Rockman. Mind blown...... I saved up and got myself a Bassman. Damn that thing chewed through batteries. Of course the AC adapter was separate...Scholz was a shrewd business man too. Still have the thing boxed up somewhere.

[@BillyE5150]

Dude, I just posted on social a couple days ago about how I miss Radio Shack… we’re not the only ones. Good stuff! Always been a huge Boston fan. Got to see them a few years back at the outdoor venue on the Biltmore Estate at sunset… man, that was great!

[@TheDeedeeFiles]

Awesome setup 😊

[@robblackmoreofficial]

WOW!! Marty, That's Amazing...Now Why Can't They Reissue This...? Man Sounds Super Great! It Definitely Gives You That "Rock Solid" Sound. 👍

[@AndGuitar]

Funny with all the digital modeling available, none can recreate that exact sound/tone which is the exact sound/tone used for that classic Boston tone and more. It’s instantaneously immediately there with the two SRD products.

[@scoobystap3159]

Man, immediately with the first chords I heard the opening of Third Stage’s Amanda. Thanks for getting the rig together and all the cords to make this Marty. 😅🙏☮️

[@josephrodriguez2764]

Its sounds Amazing!

[@johngregory7329]

Hello Marty, This was really good 👍👍👍👍👍👍. I look forward to hearing about your next video on this set up. Sounded great. Stay safe and well and keep Rocking. Signed John (Zepbass) Gregory from Munster Indiana.

[@eddiejr540]

I used to have one of those soloists…it sounded exactly like Boston…I have no idea where it went…wish I still had it…great stuff Marty…btw…I miss radio shack…they saved my ass many times 👍

[@davecity]

I miss the hell out of radio shack. Didn’t read all the comments but I believe the rock man was also used on Megadeath’s Peace Sells record.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Radio shack ruled! Man, I need to loon that Megadeth tidbit up. I wouldn't doubt it. At least maybe used in sections.

[@davecity]

Yeah I am pretty sure they used it in sections. But they definitely used them.

[@mikedtubey]

Dude!!!! you gave me inspiration to break out my rockman 1/2 racks and run it through my daws. I just realized when you were playing Amanda, I can get perfect tone for take it easy - Jackson brown. i did however get rid of my rockman and x100 both to girls that were taking lessons from me in the 90s, im sure you know how that goes. i still have the sustainor and the eq from my rockman1/2 racks, cant remember why i got rid of my echo. i was thinking of getting the rockman stuff for thu, not sure if its needed, but sure does bring back memories of my 80s day.

[@ocljtc]

Such killer tones. I wish these were still made, and according to the original specs.

[@Shred_The_Weapon]

I bought myself a Rockman at the end of 2001. I loved the sound, but I was no fan of how impossible it would’ve been to integrate it into a standard rig. It also helped me to figure out that what I was looking for was not the Boston tone from *Third Stage* and afterward or the *Boston* debut (though I always love hearing both); the “sweet spot” is *Don’t Look Back.* I was toying with the Goat Generator, a stompbox from a Japanese builder called Rancher. Loved the sound, but the white noise I got when I lowered my guitar volume was annoying. Then, in February 2024, I purchased a Boss GX-100 and almost instantly patched in that distortion tone. The stereo echo sounds excellent. What would make it complete would be if To, had included a pair of expression pedal in’s on the back for controlling delay time and feedback. Then, somebody could’ve turned that beast into a hyperspace pedal.

[@papablue3015]

I've still have my hot-watt, the same kind of thing! Back in the day 70s-80s, I used it for effects running into my amp! I was poor at the time! Lol😅 thanks Marty

[@Rick_Kn]

I've got one of those Rockman. I'll have to dig it out.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Dig it out man! They're a blast. 😊

[@jmartini8875]

Love that guitar. Sounded great Marty.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks so much! I just bought a sustainor on eBay for $300. Can't wait to get it and run a demo!!

[@wjewell63]

So cool..👍

[@Jeff_H_the_Guitarist]

Damn that sounds nice!

[@dorfsteen]

That thing is real cool I want one I can't believe they don't still make it.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

I think digitech or one of those companies bought SRD many years ago and they faded into history. There's a dude making rockman replicas now.

[@jimmcdougall9973]

I love these effects, but never had the pleasure of playing through them myself. They should reissue all the units, update the cable connections and add a rechargeable battery to the Rockman and perhaps wireless connectivity. Someone would make a fortune. There’s nothing like a Rockman that I know of (except the Boss headphones). I’ll just be happy with the Rockman profile pack on my Kemper, from Big Hairy Profiles (Michael Nielsen). Great demo!

[@erikgeiser8226]

Thanks Marty for this video! Sounds great, I love the Rockman tone! Does anyone currently make a pedal that replicates this?

[@andystagger2906]

I had one… it was awesome!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

I love mine. I really want go get a distortion generator and another sustainer. Sold mine a few years ago.

[@scottpeters4401]

This is so cool….I still have my Sustainor,Chorus,and Stereo Echo..Very cool devices…The Sustainor was actually the first Modeler..it was the first unit to mimic a mic’ed up guitar sound in the studio…and it was all analog,even the cab sim..Those things had to be expensive to make,as they were not cheap back in the 80’s…The echo was $225 or so back in 88,which was a lot of money back then……I run my modules thru my AxeFXIII and it’s instant Def Leppard..Great video..Thanks for showing off your Rockman stuff!!!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

You're welcome. Thanks for watching. I really want to get another sustainer and chorus so bad!!

[@scottpeters4401]

@@Ranch5150SkinWalker The Rockman chorus I have is literally the best sounding chorus I have ever used….Tom made some really great stuff…All the Rockman gear was so far ahead of it’s time…

[@StealthParrot]

Cool, I used to have the headphone Rockman back in the day. I have no idea what happened to it. But, the TH-U RockGuy plugin from Overloud does a fantastic job of reproducing the Rockman sound.

[@shawnhedrick3570]

IK Multimedia has a couple Rockman models in the Joe Satriani pack too, which are also very good (for digital emulations). I have the TH-U one too. Also regret trading in (in the late '90s) an original Rockman Distortion Generator I had bought when they 1st came out.

[@DeputyVanHalen5150]

Excellent!!!! 😁🎸 Thanks a million for showing this. I want one! Yes, I miss Radio Shack too man. I just did a gig with this Echoplex Delay that I just got. Ran my EVH Striped Series Strat into EVH Wah, to Phase 90, to 5150 Overdrive, to Boss DS1 disengaged mostly, to Boss Super Chorus, to Echoplex to amp with a little reverb. U think I got the chain correct? 😁 I dial back the super chorus to sound a lot like VH 80s and 90s sound to my ears.

[@kibscott6096]

I got my rockman X100 in either 1991 or 92, it was the second model design that did away with the battery adapter and instead used 8 AA batteries, I did t see the back of yours Marty but on the back of mine there was a sm adjustment screw type thing that let you adjust the overall main gain setting, I never really changed that except to make sure it was on 11 lol, I used mine for about 5 yrs in my band, repaired it who knows how many times cause it got abused. But I loved it, now I want one again, I just looked on reverb and found one for 196.00 which is not bad I guess. Great video Marty 🤘

[@dcdno_one2393]

That was likely the first model which did not have a side adapter and only took batteries or the battery adapter.

[@geoffreylowery9730]

Sounds great Marty. Mine is the lesser Soloist version. It came with the Rockadapter but I'm missing the weird +6, -6 volt power supply. Battery compartment looks brand new though. Doubt it's ever had a battery in it. Oh well, it was a freebie!

[@kennymackenzie4146]

First time on your channel..nice tutorial.. great sound...also looks like a digitech 2120 hiding on the floor...i have one myself loll.from back in the day

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks for watching man! Yep! 2120 from the 90's. Was a stereo setup I ran in tandem with a mono Marshall jubilee. 🤟🏻🎵

[@jameswilson3554]

Great video bud. Sounds like you are tom schultz. Haha sound very authentic 2thumbs up.

[@ronstiers1142]

Hey Marty could you do a video on Triumph? Rik Emmett was so cool

[@TheCleaner6969]

The LED's blink because of the time clock for the Echo & Chorus.

[@steveoverdrive55]

Oh yeah 😎

[@markfrye4723]

Marty, what is the difference between the stereo echo and a digital delay and can you get the same affect out of the digital delay pedal is you’re getting out of that stereo echo? I have a Keasley reverb delay pedal.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

The stereo echo is a delay. The main differences would be in the length of delay you can use and other things, for instance on the front panel of them rockman you can place the delay left or right and balance out the MS left and right. There are so many options out there. Some delay pedals have a 100 settings in it. The rockman has several that are very usable and sound great.

[@petergardelli6502]

very nice can tou tell us with a video about guitar rig 6

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Which one is 6?

[@TylerJohnstonGuitar]

Marty is that your blue Pacer at the Nashville Sam Ash? Thought the pickup covers looked familiar lol.

[@truckerkevthepaidtourist]

🤠 blue Pacer that the Garth mobile?

[@dorfsteen]

You should see if you can find those two Jacks and replace them it's easy you know how to solder get some solder Wick or solder sucker and suck the solder out of the holes and put new ones in. some tuner cleaner and clean up all the pots and stuff it'll be like brand new🤔😐😁😀

[@donsmith5385]

Phil Collen used the Digitech GSP21 Legend on Adrenalize

[@NatureOkie]

It's not Rock-mun, with the emphasis on Rock. It was a riff on Sony's WALKMAN line. I was Rock- MAN, with the emphasis on Man. (As in Isle of Man)

[@NatureOkie]

BWT, Nice guitar work...

[@buzzcrushtrendkill]

Great demo. It is so unfortunate that the current Rockman Guitar Ace being sold by Dunlop sounds nothing like the X100. I made the mistake of buying one.

[@bobbymchone7359]

Yes I miss radio shack !

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Me too!!! It was so handy!!

[@thomasturner8064]

Absolutely miss Radio Shack.

[@mattlockgator2317]

How do those components get to the amplifier?

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

The rockman was designed to use headphones so I ran a stereo out cable split to mono left right into the quarter inch inputs left and right on the stereo echo. From there I went left and right out to my recording console. You could use a clean power amp head like a mosfet or hafler stereo head and run direct into that. I wouldn't recommend running to it a guitar amp. Since a guitar amp designed to sound like a guitar amp.

[@mattlockgator2317]

Thanks Marty. I have three of those Rockman components. I'm trying to plug in them through the back of a Frechette Power Station but no success yet.

[@ronstiers1142]

Do you ever play in Louisville

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

I have several times. Trying to get back up there with my current project. Any suggestions nowadays for good clubs?

[@ronstiers1142]

I'm not from Kentucky. I am from Indianapolis, In. I am sorry I couldn't tell you a club. I definitely want to meet and see you play. I really enjoy your videos. Please keep them coming. Could you play Triumph

[@jovanvanheckers9224]

he really lost me when he wanted to switch from echo and chorus all the time whilst switching the volume knob lmao! i just heard him being confused and didnt know why

[@mikeolivieri6491]

I have alot of rockman stuff 2 sustainer, distort gen, eq, chorus echo, power soak. Rockman. mine is in better shape though. wish they sounded as good as those

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Rockmans so cool! Part of it is nostalgia for me as well as my love of Boston. The other part they sound great! Amazing how this stuff has held up so well.

[@dorfsteen]

Wait a minute can you still get them?

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Used market. Reverb and eBay. $400-700 depending on what you want. The rockman amp (xp100) is like 3500-4500 bucks asking price these days.

[@johnsmith-ug5tp]

Awesome demo Marty! IK Multimedia Amplitude 5 Max has the Boston 100/Rockman and the tones I am getting from it are freaking awesome and it nails all of Tom's incredible guitar tones.

[@dotkennedy7443]

So funny. I threw one of those away because I lost a PC of it.

[@muleblues71]

Coax some VH F.U.C.K. tones?

[@spacefieldtime]

Babe tomorrow’s so far away…

[@alanjacob8542]

Those arent cheap on ebay!!!

[@nassirabd9045]

Boston band unfortunately They became from past Scholz stopped the carrier

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

I miss the mighty Boston

[@metalheadmaniac8464]

I definitely want to get some

[@dcdno_one2393]

"Almost sounds like there's compression in there" 16:20 while playing one of the (greatest) and most compressed units to ever be manufactured :) Super funny

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

😂😂😂

[@slagmaggot]

I had the power soak attenuator running on my 72 super lead 100w marshall, it sounded pretty good I should have kept that rig, and the 78 with the master volume the, 2 full stacks were the setup for a hardcore band in the early 80s. It's all good I have 2 2204 full stacks and 2 carvin 100w full stacks mixed in with 4 solid state stacks pretty sonic.