Vintage Tom Scholz Rockman Demo (Edge and Dist. sound)

Focus on the crunch and distortion sounds of this legendary sound toy. :) Upon public request you can find the last backing track in this video for jamming-along here: / theme-for-kevin-play-a...

[@foreheadlstudios2936]

I came for the Rockman demo. I stayed for the playing! Fantastic.

[@Bowietrope]

What wonderful tasteful playing, showing the warmth that can come out of a Rockman.

[@jeffschoppers9732]

It was just an inspirational sound. When you played through one you could feel the energy it gave you to even want to pick up the guitar.

[@equalsql7508]

Man! You are one tasty guitar player. Lovely melodic soloing. I've never heard the Rockman sound so good.

[@StratmanDarrell]

You've proved us older guys can still rock! Great tone! Clear & defined.

[@aliefjauhari]

I've watched this video many times and never get bored, love the rockman tone and your guitar playing is so entertaining...👍👍👍

[@DamianCounsell]

Such slick, tasteful, *witty* playing. Nice work!

[@Frankiez220]

As a fan of Boston in their day I recently had a little listen again and then looked up Tom Scholz and ended up finding you. You make a great sound there. It’s fucking great actually.

[@ikemyzon]

Sounds absolutely fantastic and so does your playing!

[@dongpedroyi]

I admire Tom Scholz for his analog electronics wizardry (he is an electronics engineer beside his career as a musician with Boston). He created his own signature guitar tone and many other professional guitarists adopted his arsenal. Then the digital processing took over the effects market. Tom Scholz's products are now considered collector's items, they are rare and expensive, and still hold organic analog magic.

[@archer1483]

Super awesome video! Love that you chose that tom Schulz sound.incredible player!

[@josephslotnick4516]

Awesome. You seem very laid back and I wasn't expecting this much intensity.

[@Rockstar-lx2li]

Wow.. great sound and great guitsr playing, very melodic and tasteful.. :)

[@kirbymurdstone4925]

I toured in 1984 with a guitar player that used one of these for most of his electric guitar sounds. We DI'd the headphone output into the sound system. I haven't heard one since. As soon as you started playing my mind went back to those wonderful 5 weeks in 1984. Thanks so much.

[@michaelbarber590]

You're an awesome player. I had an X100 about 33 years ago and I could nail tones from Boston, Megadeth (Peace Sells), and Def Leopard. I used to run it through both my home and my car stereo systems (with 3.5mm to RCA and cassette adapters) and it was the most useful peace of gear I've probably ever owned. Sure wish I still had it.

[@ReductioAdAbsurdum]

I remember I had a little $20 practice amp, less than 1 foot tall, with an 8 inch speaker. Sounded like absolute garbage, but it has an effects loop. I tucked a Rockman inside it and put it in the loop. I brought it to a guitar less and the teacher was completely blown away by the tone I was getting out of that little amp.

[@bobruede2900]

ReductioAdAbsurdum I did the same. They were amazed. Cheers.

[@janusstokes2382]

Outstanding truly a breath of fresh air and a masterful demonstration and performance.

[@effdpaul1815]

It's so much more enjoyable when the guy doing a demo can actually play. Very nice technique Mike. Thanks for the vid. I resisted buying this device when it first came out because everyone else was using it, or so it seemed. It fell out of vogue, but amazingly, it is now hot again.

[@matthewwhitton5720]

I’d like to not only congratulate you on your exemplary skills ( to say the least ) on the guitar, but, also, on how incredibly fluent and solid your English language ability is !

[@zombiezilla]

I got one when I was 15 and ran the line out to the inputs on a mega-sized boom box that I kept in my room. It sounded awesome, and had stereo ambience like all hell. I loved it!!!

[@ERMAV]

Great video man seriously! Wow Fantastic playing and great to hear the rockman!

[@kevinkuhagen1272]

I used to record guitars on professional demos in CA, and often would just run my Rockman into a vintage Tube-Tech EQ, and it was glorious. As good as the Rockman sounds on its own, it came to life through the Tube-Tech.

[@danwilhite]

Great playing!! My guitar back in the 80's bought an original Rockman. I ended up buying it from him in the early 90's. Still have it! Still fun to play!

[@slapitman]

Firstly, love your demo. Your playing is very interesting to the ear and your note selection spot one. Secondly really like the way you used the instruments pick up selection to demo the versatility of the Rockman. It was a very clever little piece of gear and as others have pointed out often used by big name players to capture a really sonically interesting recorded tone. Great work

[@massapower]

No words are necessary... TOM SCHOLZ is a Masterful genius and here we are 21st Century and nothing has matched it😎👊

[@williampercival7662]

Nice demonstration. It doesn't matter what guitar you use, it's in the hands of good players like yourself that makes the difference. William Percival Gardenia Band New Zealand Kia Orana.

[@godbyone]

wow great tones, and playing very tasty satch tones, I was one of first people to receive one from tom my boss got the contract to sell to stores on east coast , i sold over 350 ,in a few days, for Christmas, tom was building himself, my co-workers sold 550,so 900 altogether, we recieved 6 ,but he was trying, I actually had a demo before anybody, it was unreal experience, in a apartment put on headphones and was felt like I was at concert ,

[@teresathomley3703]

Very good playing, Mike!! I'm sold on the Rockman for sure.

[@MontyDeane]

Dude are you kidding me? That was the "BEST" Supermarket Music I have heard. Got to pick up groceries more often. Playing was awesome and the rockman sounded sweet and raunchy! Thanks for sharing

[@miroslavtabyashki]

Awesome...But what I am really like are the positive vibes you are spreading, mate!! A person who are follow the dreams, the music and joy!! Very important for one musician.....Keep On Rockin'

[@chrisdaviesguitar]

just love this guys playing.

[@super63strat]

Enjoyed your playing , strat and Rockmsn is savage sounding goodness , thanks Mike

[@eddiestclair-im5wm]

I could drive down the highways jamming out on this! Outstanding!!

[@rustyshackleford2380]

I got mine when I was 13. I still have it.

[@spamwagon]

Wow. You shred my friend. I've had an original Rockman sitting in a drawer for years. I'm gonna pull it out, throw in some new batteries and play with it this weekend. Thanks for this!

[@niptodstan]

I used one of these in the 80's for a studio session. It worked great. I've still got one now.

[@philf4086]

Yes, your rig sounds great! Very entertaining.

[@DougB]

Oh gosh! What a throwback... wish I still had mine. It was horrible and I loved it to death.

[@harrytuttle8161]

back in the 80's a friend had a mini Marshall stack a Gibson explorer and a Rockman ....it nailed that Boston tone . I enjoyed it .

[@Matthew_Eitzman]

Harry Tuttle, we’ve never heard of you. If that Marshall mini stack was solid state, you would have sounded like some wanker trying out the cheap guitars at Guitar Center on a Saturday afternoon.

[@harrytuttle8161]

@@Matthew_Eitzman ya hurt me big guy , I do love cheap guitars , why you gotta hate on people , I've never heard of you before either , but with modern DAW you have every thing now from Pro Tools , Amplitube , Garage Band ect. Small amp recording is a thing now . I bet you sound like a wanker playing a PRS SilverSky through a Kemper Profiler in to a 4/12 boogie ..... .......Ha Ha . My main point was that the Rockman nailed the Boston sound .

[@MrRocktane]

I've seen these hang'n in my local music store over the years but I was in there for something else and would say to myself, next time. Now I'm think'n it's time to get one. Sweet licks 'n chops Mike, I like the way ya play!

[@jeffhodge7272]

I had one.With headphones on the stereo chorus and max distortion sounded amazing. It's so versatile.One could record an entire album with it.

[@weaponizedmath4369]

I don't even play and I can see the value in having this, great job Tom

[@craigpennington1251]

Great video about the rockman and your playing is right up there - outstanding - loved every minute, thank you.

[@Tele30blu]

Wow! loved your playing! I liked the lead parts a lot. I just might have to get me one of these "toys" for my rig. Thank you sir...Keep on jammin!

[@CaptainKirk007]

Thank you 🙏 You rock for even having the original! Great demonstration sir.

[@christopherecatalano]

Really great tones, but this demo is all about the fingers and the musical playing. Really great licks and tone tweaking there. Master.

[@gracekennings]

thank you! i learned alot today. the rockman is truly a symphonic tool.

[@sethmaven6924]

Dudes! This guy is friggin Statriani in a German grandpa disguise!

[@hammerofgodminiatures]

Very tasteful playing sir!

[@AtomicGarden68]

Nice playing sir! and great tone!!!!

[@steveg219]

Another great video thanks! It's great to see the Rockman brought into a modern context, it really holds up!

[@teacoop1]

I was lucky enough to by a used one back in the 80's and it's one of those treasures that I've kept, You can't by that these days.

[@axe2grind911a]

Wow! Incredible tone and incredible playing. You have a very unique type of phrasing that I would like to study.

[@FrodeP]

Nice demo, Sir! I had two of these back in the glory days. They sounded very different from each other and very different from one that one of my friends had. One of mine was an absolute killer, it sounded just awesome, the other was rather bad. My friend's box was quite decent but not anywhere near my good one. Can't remember what happened to my bad one but, of course, I sold the awesome one because I was a total idiot already back then. Lasse Wellander, legendary Swedish session guitarist with a legendary tone, used a Rockman for all the guitar tracks on the album Chess - The musical. A Rockman fed through a Music Man 4x10 amp. I simply love listening to his playing on that album. Killer sound!

[@lynspyre]

Nice mix of styles, some Vai, a little Satriani... Loved it...

[@freddycookjr.2164]

CAME FOR ROCKMAN NOSTALGIA STAYED FOR THE BURN GREAT PLAYING NEW SUB

[@philf4086]

I can hear so many familiar tones with the Rockman: Lifeson, Satriani, Vai, even EVH. Great video, demo, and playing especially!

[@Hue_Nery]

Fantastic playing. Tasteful.

[@JMark-zk5pj]

A lot of good memories with that thing.

[@lostinpa-dadenduro7555]

I have one. Bought it as soon as I got done with basic training. It followed me to my first duty station in Korea next. Now my sons are asking who will inherit it. lol.

[@scootergreen3]

Man that sounds Incredible! Perfect sound I want that sound.

[@neilslade]

WONDERFUL PLAYING so musical!

[@smpmusicstudio77]

What a great throw back in the 80th :-D Played that hot stuff the first time in the 80th on Musik Messe Frankfurt/M.. It was mind blowing

[@akaThaJordan]

wow man! lovely demo for a great vintage piece of kit. But also very impressed by your playing. Supremely melodic, and such an unusual, but very cool right hand technique!

[@hutcheffect]

Thank you so much for this wonderful video sir! I just now discovered your channel after purchasing a rock man x100 which has been recapped and fully restored! Your playing is amazing and I love how you can get YOUR own sounds and not necessarily sound like Boston :) I love the tone you are getting here its inspiring. It sounds a lot like you are playing through an analog amplifier. I think Tom Schultz created a cab simulator effect built into the rockman is why. I read somewhere that the rockmans with the REV 10 boards are the best sounding as well...

[@jimmymarchisotto8152]

Ja is goot! I missed that sound! Your playing sounded great! I'm subscribed!

[@anyhoot47]

Great video. It's nice to see someone that appreciates the genius of Tom Scholz. Years ago I had the Soloist and remember playing an outdoor gig in Korea. I quickly realized that the Soloist was not shielded very well and was picking up a Korean radio station. A few years later I upgraded to the Rockman but never used it outside. My favorite however was the Rockman XPR 19 inch rackmount unit. My guitar would go into a Heughs & Ketner Cream Machine for the preamp, then into the Rockman XPR and then into an Ampeg B15-XY. I still regret selling the XPR.

[@renewijgh8859]

Excellent! Great timing, sound and melodic solo's.

[@hasrinmacintoshjawie]

Impressive performance & ideal sound👍🇧🇳

[@markartinVA]

At first I was disappointed you didn't use a les paul, but you're right, it sounds great on the strat... But mostly I quickly found out I suddenly didn't care about the rockman anymore. That was eclipsed by the fact that I was hearing this incredible guitarist. Love your very mature melodic style. I call it mature because it doesn't sound like the players who just want fast and flashy. I liked flashy when I was a kid, but I'm not a kid anymore. You actually have some interesting and tasteful music. Loved it. Great stuff!

[@anyhoot47]

The Rockman...back in 1987 I owned one and remember spending hours practicing for a USO gig in Korea. The gig was outside and we were excited to perform. Little did I know that the Rockman was lacking shielding. As soon as we set up outside my Rockman picked up a Korean radio station. The show was a disaster and the Rockman was never used again for future gigs. A few years later I picked up a 19 inch rackmount unit, think it was an XPR or something like that and it was a vast improvement.

[@SBTCam]

And...Immediately You Rock

[@robertikedo8826]

I had one in in 1986. Somebody stole it . Tom was a fn genius . What do you get when you combine an uber talented guitarist , and a M. I. T. engineering degree? Tom Scholz / Boston . The Rockman was ahead of it's time . Thanks Mike! Nothing like the retro flashback with a modern twist . There are still a few X100's floating around on Ebay. Guitar Center and a few others sell the Rockman Guitar Ace for about . The reviews and number one complaint , was that the Guitar Ace did not produce the same classic Tom / Boston tone as the x100.

[@rmax5150]

interesting and very cool playing style! amazed that you're getting that kind of tone going directly to the board. Think I want one of those.

[@kirkbolas4985]

Well played and demonstrated sir. I was in between middle school and high school the summer the first Boston album came out here in the US. Besides being a significant inspiration for me to pick up the guitar, that was the tone I chased...until that little Rockman headphone amp came out in the early ‘80s. As you demonstrated, there’s several useful guitar tones inside that little box. I came for the signature Tom Scolz sound and found a handful of other tasty tones in the SR&D Rockman. How useful & tasty? In 1983 the ZZ Top album Eliminator was released. I found out about a year later that Billy Gibbons tracked his guitar through a Rockman for many of the electric guitar tracks on the album. I’ve never heard anyone claim that ZZ Top & Boston guitar tones sound alike. They just don’t. There’s some of the proof, e.g., that ZZ Top album I noted, of just how versatile the Rockman is for those who cannot hear the difference in your playing demos.

[@rodgerdodger856]

I saw him last time he was out touring, truly a masters.

[@ShaggyDawg]

I like how the tone/twang character of the Strat can still be heard along with the overdrive.

[@margix1172]

Tom Scholz and Boston ...simply the very best in rock!

[@mikelee1906]

I still have a couple of these stored away along with the half rack modules. Distortion,Chorus, Echo? I will have to dig them out of the basement to see what exactly they are called. I bought them in early/mid eighties so I can't remember exactly. They were a little too noisy for my studio to use to record with. Would be ok to jam with or live.

[@TheodoOle]

If you don’t want em I’ll take them!

[@Shred_The_Weapon]

I have always enjoyed the sound of the X100 and its variations. Still on a quest to model it using inexpensive tools. The only time I’ve heard single-coil pickups (it is associated with humbucking guitars), uo to now, was when I plugged in my first cheap Strat. Yours definitely works with this teeny box. It rocks, and so does your playing. I could listen to you play - and talk - all day, Mike. New subscriber from New York, New York, USA.

[@7775Kevin]

Still have mine from 1979, Works fine. Fun to play through from time to time.

[@jaseman32]

Very nice, I could listen to you play all day.

[@jeffhodge7272]

I had one.With the headphones on I was SO immersed. What a great sound it had. Lost it in a storage unit I couldn't pay for. 😪🤷‍♂️

[@Zone9Rock]

Def Leppard reportedly used the X100 extensively on their Hysteria album. There is a good reason why they did!

[@mottosierra1372]

@Kenny H according to Phil collen they use a little headphones amp with more that 100 guitar layers

[@CatholicTraditional]

Most 80's musicians used the Rockman, at least partially.

[@fredycamelo]

Wow fantastic playing and tone!

[@bretonleo8740]

I hear Jeff Beck at 9 minutes !! The rockman is an impressive tool ! Thanks a lot to share it with us.

[@anarchywon4170]

Killer tone and guitar playing my man!

[@2006axis]

Great playing, killer tone

[@mikeparnell178]

Awesome! I had one back in the late 80s

[@jmgmarcus808]

Mike Parnell You must have taught guitar.

[@TimeTraveler66]

Steve Miller meets Tom Scholtz meets this guy. Awesome

[@briansandoval7739]

Cool video ....Thank you !! Like the fender sound...

[@iZephyr6]

Wow, great playing and video, thanks for sharing, it sounds so good..

[@ubiratanguimaraes6996]

I have a rockman 100(the little rack version) and after watch your demo I decided to try putting effects on its send/return, and it sounded great, i have never tried this before, i didnt imagined how good it can sound and how it can get many diferent sounds

[@MikeBurn]

There's nothing better than to discover new sonic possibilities, isn't it? :)

[@ubiratanguimaraes6996]

@@MikeBurn yes!

[@Colhogan06]

When I was in the Army stationed in Germany I used to hear the local townsfolk speaking German and the dialect they used sounded much like this gentleman. I'm not sure of the spelling but when he used the word "bopple" it reminded me of one of my in-Laws neighbors who always wanted me to speak German with her and she would say "Bopple Deutch Mit mir". She would get frustrated because I would try and speak English to her, but I pretty much knew the local slang, and she knew that, so she always wanted me to speak German to her. I am guessing because she like hearing my American accent in German. It was always in good fun. She was a very nice lady. Anyway I bet this guy is either from the Hessen area or from the area that this lady grew up. I listened to the whole video because he reminded me so much of when I was over there. My Daughter lives over their and is married to a very nice German guy. I have a grandson from them that his birthday is the same day as mine, his great grandfather and his great great grandfather. We all have the same birthday. Its pretty cool.

[@MikeBurn]

HAHA You're right! I'm busted! HAHA Thanks for sharing your nice story. I am a Frankfurter from Frankfurt am Main (Hessen) and we say "Babbeln" instead of "Sprechen" in our local dialect (Frankfurterisch) which is very strong. :D :D :D ;)

[@Colhogan06]

@@MikeBurn Thats so awesome! I love that area so much! The people were always so nice to me. I remember going into a gasthaus with a friend early on when I first was over there. A couple of older German gentlemen were at the end of the bar talking about us in a not so nice way. We just listened, because we could understand but they didn't know. Once Maria got us our beer, before we sat down at our table we said in German to them, something like "We Americans are not all bad, you just have to get to know us". They were so embarrassed and from that day on we actually became good friends. When we went in after that, they would always talk with us and Maria would always bring our drinks without us having to order. It became our favorite place! I really miss that. We were always made to feel welcome and part of the regular group.

[@henrychiarkas4415]

Sounds pretty darn good to me.

[@thomashummel6207]

@4:07 picks up really nice .. got me in the mood to listen to some Joe Satriani .. thx for sharing!

[@philbarrows424]

I frigging love this dude👍🏻🎼🎸 Yaaaaa

[@fernandes5986]

Great tune man. Always loved the rockman sound.

[@msmith3407]

I remember those Rockman's were the shit back in the 80's and early 90's!

[@donr2670]

Beautiful work - I dont understand it all but enjoy the sound! Very nice.