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Miscellaneous => ADA Sound/Audio Clips & Bits => Non-ADA Amps and Preamps => Topic started by: rnolan on May 10, 2015, 06:06:41 AM

Title: Rockman XL100
Post by: rnolan on May 10, 2015, 06:06:41 AM
Ok, these are very old but RG was asking about this unit (I still have one). This track IIRC the guitars are all XL100. Recorded on a Tascam 688 (8 track cassette).

Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: rnolan on May 10, 2015, 06:09:57 AM
And another one.

Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: rnolan on May 10, 2015, 06:40:26 AM
to give some context (this was a long time ago). Although I suspect some of you are familiar with these (or the better rack versions)
The XL100 was like a sony walkman, it was designed to clip to your belt for practicing and had a bunch of AA batteries (power supplies for it came later). It had guit in, 1/4 TRS stereo in (to come off a headphone out so you could play along with it), and 2 x 3.5mm headphone outs, it's own (tweaked headphones), 4 sounds (slide switch, clean 1 and 2, edge and dist), also stereo chorus/delay. Had the Tom Schultz boston sound, very compressed but the bees knees in it's day, so many adds/jingles from that era are XL100. I used it for recording quite a bit back then, sounded great just line in. A mate of mine got one and modded it to be foot switchable (the sliding switch was a pain live). He also got an old fridge and mounted 6 x 12" speakers in it, So he had XL100, SS poweramp, fridge speaker cab. So early version of what ADA did. Sounded great but not as good as MP1/2.
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: rabidgerry on May 10, 2015, 06:52:15 AM
Ok, these are very old but RG was asking about this unit (I still have one). This track IIRC the guitars are all XL100. Recorded on a Tascam 688 (8 track cassette).

not keen on the rhythm sound in places, but the lead tone for me is f**king brilliant.  I like it anyways.  Good song man.  Singing is very good.
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: rabidgerry on May 10, 2015, 07:00:22 AM
to give some context (this was a long time ago). Although I suspect some of you are familiar with these (or the better rack versions)
The XL100 was like a sony walkman, it was designed to clip to your belt for practicing and had a bunch of AA batteries (power supplies for it came later). It had guit in, 1/4 TRS stereo in (to come off a headphone out so you could play along with it), and 2 x 3.5mm headphone outs, it's own (tweaked headphones), 4 sounds (slide switch, clean 1 and 2, edge and dist), also stereo chorus/delay. Had the Tom Schultz boston sound, very compressed but the bees knees in it's day, so many adds/jingles from that era are XL100. I used it for recording quite a bit back then, sounded great just line in. A mate of mine got one and modded it to be foot switchable (the sliding switch was a pain live). He also got an old fridge and mounted 6 x 12" speakers in it, So he had XL100, SS poweramp, fridge speaker cab. So early version of what ADA did. Sounded great but not as good as MP1/2.

I really like this guitar sound Richard, it reminds me of late 80's Judas Priest.  They were not using rockmans!!  they had

Pete Cornish custom pedalboard with overdrive unit, flanger, MXR distortion unit, MXR Phase 100, MXR digital delay, MXR 12-band EQ, Maestro Echoplex, line boosters between each effect to preserve the signal from input to output, and a RangeMaster-based custom treble boost connected to the bass channel of Marshall 50 and 100 watt heads with no master volume Roland Chorus pedal
.

check this Richard.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_1hLiqwq7c (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_1hLiqwq7c)

ok how I know about Rockman stuff is purely because I was researching Judas Priest sounds back then, and I stumbled upon some guy on youtube with a rockman devise (forget the model now).  Anyways he had used it to try and replicate it on of their songs and I thought he did a good job.  It was the rocknman into his computer and nothing else if I remember correctly.  Sounded great to me.  Yes very 80's, so very f**king good   :banana-rock:.
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: rnolan on May 10, 2015, 08:37:14 AM
That's a really similar sound to what the XL100 does out of the box, Live I just used it for lead (so Dist setting in stereo  >:D ) and the '72 Marshall for rhythm. But for recording, it was great straight into desk (688). We had an Atari computer running notater (so sequencing) with Alesis drum machine and Korg M1 keyboard (bass, keys), we'd stripe a SMPTE track on one of the 8 tracks and this locked the 2 together so all the analogue (vox, guitars, sometime bass guit)  were on the other 7 cassestte tracks. Vocalist is my friend Neil Young (his real name LoL), he's also quite a good guitarist (you should be able to pick us apart on those clips, he's more clinical than me, likes to practice his lead, I just go for it LoL). Been playing with him for over 30 years now I spose (though he doesn't touch it these days (I keep nudging him though...maybe one day)). I primarily  wrote Babylon, he primarily wrote continental shelf (well they were both a collusion....).

Rockman were the first IIRC to get such a great sound from SS (albeit very compressed so have to be so careful placing in the mix), there were other pedals, but nothing like this thing  >:D cost over $800 AUD back in 1987 (ish), we (The Queue) won a bttle of the bands comp. Part of prize was $800 at Pro Audio, I got XL100, and paid the others their 5th LoL. I haven't used it in years, I'll get it out and do some clips (nostalgia plus LoL). BTW MP1/2 crap on it IMO but it had its day...  Never got to try the rack versions though, and they look very interesting (one of our guys here has them IIRC, maybe he could do some clips for us). They made a bunch of stuff, preamp, FX (half rack width I think, so you'd put 2 together). Actually, you could probably credit Rockman with the whole rack thing. I'm pretty sure they were the first.
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: rabidgerry on May 10, 2015, 12:52:43 PM
That's a really similar sound to what the XL100 does out of the box, Live I just used it for lead (so Dist setting in stereo  >:D ) and the '72 Marshall for rhythm. But for recording, it was great straight into desk (688). We had an Atari computer running notater (so sequencing) with Alesis drum machine and Korg M1 keyboard (bass, keys), we'd stripe a SMPTE track on one of the 8 tracks and this locked the 2 together so all the analogue (vox, guitars, sometime bass guit)  were on the other 7 cassestte tracks. Vocalist is my friend Neil Young (his real name LoL), he's also quite a good guitarist (you should be able to pick us apart on those clips, he's more clinical than me, likes to practice his lead, I just go for it LoL). Been playing with him for over 30 years now I spose (though he doesn't touch it these days (I keep nudging him though...maybe one day)). I primarily  wrote Babylon, he primarily wrote continental shelf (well they were both a collusion....).

Rockman were the first IIRC to get such a great sound from SS (albeit very compressed so have to be so careful placing in the mix), there were other pedals, but nothing like this thing  >:D cost over $800 AUD back in 1987 (ish), we (The Queue) won a bttle of the bands comp. Part of prize was $800 at Pro Audio, I got XL100, and paid the others their 5th LoL. I haven't used it in years, I'll get it out and do some clips (nostalgia plus LoL). BTW MP1/2 crap on it IMO but it had its day...  Never got to try the rack versions though, and they look very interesting (one of our guys here has them IIRC, maybe he could do some clips for us). They made a bunch of stuff, preamp, FX (half rack width I think, so you'd put 2 together). Actually, you could probably credit Rockman with the whole rack thing. I'm pretty sure they were the first.

If the MP1/2 crap on it then drum me up a patch that can do that lead tone.  I f**king love that man. 

I hear what your saying, one trick pony of sorts.  I personally love that lead tone though, think it's awesome.  The rockman isn't trying to be all an MP1 is or marshal so I'm not comparing the two.  If something can be used for something good it's good in it's own right in my opinion.  I just find it cool that that little thing has a whole unique tone.  I'm sure it can be copied with other stuff but it's still cool.

Wish I could find the clip of the kid on Youtube doing the Priest song using it.  He is pretty close to this song

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WS6-vI70oc0 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WS6-vI70oc0)
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: rnolan on May 11, 2015, 05:35:56 AM
Hey RG, cool track  :thumb-up: enjoyed it (that tone has lots more dynamics than a Rockman BTW). The XL100 has a great tone, but it's very very compressed (so if you wanted to try to emulate it on MP1/2 turn up the compressor), so dynamically it's difficult (I think the rack versions were better dynamically (though didn't get to use them), and probably (sort of) the SS version of what MP1's were (in some ways) slightly later). It was the 1st thing I could plug in directly to the desk and get a decent tone. But also was a great lead tone for live (particularly combined with '72 Marshall). Squealed like an ban-chi though BTW, so much gain AND compression = squeals LoL...
When I get a chance I'll post some new audio of it, gives me an excuse to plug it in  >:D
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: rabidgerry on May 11, 2015, 06:59:26 AM
why the hell not, let us hear what it sounds like 30 years later :)

Anyways yeah not quite the same as the Priest track but it has the mid rangey hum I like somewhere in the range.  It's not exact same but you get me.

Compressor on MP1???  Where is the compressor on the MP1?  Perhaps MP2?  I could stick a compressor on MP1 with me effects unit.  I only ever do if I want to change the attack and make it a little more spongey feeling.
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: rnolan on May 11, 2015, 07:30:51 AM
Hey RG, just read the MP1 manual, I forgot MP1 has compressor only in SS mode ?, MP2 has compressor and no SS mode..
Ok so I got out the XL100 and plugged it in, f%ck it's not bad at all  :thumb-up: , I set it up to make you a clip, but then I (discovered) I have an issue with one input channel to pro tools, so I have to sort that out (and it's very late here LoL). But I wound back ~600k (maybe the low mid you like ?) (9 o'clock) and added some 10k (2 o'clock) on the desk, and it sounded pretty good. So when I sort out the input, I'll do some clips for you.
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: Dante on May 11, 2015, 10:28:54 PM
I love that ol' Judas Priest tone. Believe it or not, I used to get that sound out of a JCM 800 with a Boss ME-5 in front of it. I used the overdrive + EQ + Compressor to achieve a gain stack. Now, that seems like flying to the moon with 1970s technology, but it really did sound frickin' good.

I ran it through that JCM800 on one side and a Carvin X100B on the other side in stereo. That was just before I got bit by the rack bug.
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: rabidgerry on May 12, 2015, 02:54:46 AM
I love that ol' Judas Priest tone. Believe it or not, I used to get that sound out of a JCM 800 with a Boss ME-5 in front of it. I used the overdrive + EQ + Compressor to achieve a gain stack. Now, that seems like flying to the moon with 1970s technology, but it really did sound frickin' good.

I ran it through that JCM800 on one side and a Carvin X100B on the other side in stereo. That was just before I got bit by the rack bug.

You mean the late 80's tone?

I love all their tones though the years but my fav is that 87-91 tone they had.  For some reason I reckoned boss stomps would get that tone or their about as well.  It's that weird mid hum that I can't quite put my finger on.  Here is another example of it, but completely different band and guitars so it will sound a bit different but similar flavour.....................you'll know what I mean I hope

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwAlZa35ZFE (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwAlZa35ZFE)
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: rnolan on May 12, 2015, 07:41:24 AM
Hey RG, got the input issue sorted. Here's a doodling clip using the Dist sound and the eq I mentioned earlier (and tiny bit of reverb from MOne).
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: GuitarBuilder on May 12, 2015, 08:43:34 AM
Are you referring to the Rockman X100?  I've never heard of an XL100........... :dunno:
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: DaveM on May 12, 2015, 09:23:57 AM
I still have my old Rockman X100 I bought in spring 1989.  I was really into Boston back then, and I thought the X100 nailed the tones from "Don't Look Back" quite well.  Made an excellent practice tool.  Couple of years later I bought the Zoom 9002, which was based on the X100 but had more bells and whistles.  That Zoom came and went, but I wound up keeping the Rockman.
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: Dante on May 12, 2015, 12:08:04 PM
I love that ol' Judas Priest tone. Believe it or not, I used to get that sound out of a JCM 800 with a Boss ME-5 in front of it. I used the overdrive + EQ + Compressor to achieve a gain stack. Now, that seems like flying to the moon with 1970s technology, but it really did sound frickin' good.

I ran it through that JCM800 on one side and a Carvin X100B on the other side in stereo. That was just before I got bit by the rack bug.

You mean the late 80's tone?

I love all their tones though the years but my fav is that 87-91 tone they had.  For some reason I reckoned boss stomps would get that tone or their about as well.  It's that weird mid hum that I can't quite put my finger on.  Here is another example of it, but completely different band and guitars so it will sound a bit different but similar flavour.....................you'll know what I mean I hope

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwAlZa35ZFE (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwAlZa35ZFE)

Yeah, around the time i was playing Judas Priest (British Steel, Screaming for Vengeance), Scorps (Blackout), and lots of Def Leppard (High & Dry, Pyromania). That's the sound I was after...until my band opened for Primus, who was using ADA gear...the rest is history
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: rnolan on May 13, 2015, 01:52:22 AM
Are you referring to the Rockman X100?  I've never heard of an XL100........... :dunno:
Yeah sorry, it's an X100  :facepalm:
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: rabidgerry on May 13, 2015, 02:32:33 AM
I love that ol' Judas Priest tone. Believe it or not, I used to get that sound out of a JCM 800 with a Boss ME-5 in front of it. I used the overdrive + EQ + Compressor to achieve a gain stack. Now, that seems like flying to the moon with 1970s technology, but it really did sound frickin' good.

I ran it through that JCM800 on one side and a Carvin X100B on the other side in stereo. That was just before I got bit by the rack bug.

You mean the late 80's tone?

I love all their tones though the years but my fav is that 87-91 tone they had.  For some reason I reckoned boss stomps would get that tone or their about as well.  It's that weird mid hum that I can't quite put my finger on.  Here is another example of it, but completely different band and guitars so it will sound a bit different but similar flavour.....................you'll know what I mean I hope

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwAlZa35ZFE (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwAlZa35ZFE)

Yeah, around the time i was playing Judas Priest (British Steel, Screaming for Vengeance), Scorps (Blackout), and lots of Def Leppard (High & Dry, Pyromania). That's the sound I was after...until my band opened for Primus, who was using ADA gear...the rest is history

ok well you can't say that then and not tell me what way to get similar sounds out of my MP1's


I dunno why I bother asking for other peoples settings.................I always end up sounding like me anyways hahahhaa but that's a good thing......may be ;)

a lot of good rockman demos onyoutube.  I'd buy one of these fuckers is I could use it as a stomp box, but I can't so I wont ahahahaha  I think it sounds f**king great by the way, solid state or no solid state!
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: rabidgerry on May 13, 2015, 02:35:33 AM
Hey RG, got the input issue sorted. Here's a doodling clip using the Dist sound and the eq I mentioned earlier (and tiny bit of reverb from MOne).
Richard!!  It's amazing sounding!!  I love it!!  I LOVE IT!

I do not give a flying f*ck how 80's it sounds.  Is this your Les Paul Richard?  I like the playing mate, no mistakes :)

run down how you hooked this up and what you recorded this with?   :bow:
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: rabidgerry on May 13, 2015, 04:45:26 AM
told

this kid nails it for me!!  Some d*ck on the comments disagreed though

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsgDGS1jnqg (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsgDGS1jnqg)

Sounds a little out of whack but that's because it's loud in the mix, but that's so you can hear it for the video!!

Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: MarshallJMP on May 14, 2015, 01:56:44 AM
Wow listen to all 3 clips and i must say sounds good!!

Dante used the same setup in the late 80's,Boss ME5 into 2 marshall heads.The ME5 was amazing back then.It was like a poor man's rack but on the floor  :lol:
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: rnolan on May 14, 2015, 02:27:17 AM
Hey RG, I used the Anderson so Ultrasonic PUs, I used neck and bridge in the clip just to show the different sounds.
Setup: Guit > X100 in > HP out (the only outputs on X100 (2 x 3.5mm stereo HP outs)) > 2 channels (line in) on desk (~600hx -9 o'clock, 12khz + 2 o'clock) a hint (not much) of TC MOne delay/reverb, desk direct outs > Protools Digi 001 in (1,2,3,4), 2 stereo tracks (1 X100, 2 TC) 48k 24bit, record doodle, bounce to disk (still at 48k 24bit), convert to MP3.

The X100 has stereo delay and chorus, you can have both (as per clip) or turn either delay off or chorus off. I used the Dist setting, it has a slide switch to pick between Dist, Edge, Cln 1, Cln 2. I'll post the other sounds soon (probably go through the Ivory tube preamp next time). It also has a level slide switch Max, -5dB, -10dB, I used Max.

They went on to make rack mount versions (I used to drool over them pre ADA MP1), made for stage/recording use (preamp, FX, eq), but I couldn't afford them, Guitar Builder has them so maybe he'll post a clip, pic or 2.

The original clips I posted (Babylon, Continental Shelf) were straight into Tascam 688, no eq.

(I like the playing mate, no mistakes (http://adadepot.com/Smileys/default/smiley.gif)) Thanks  :wave: I tried to do some faster stuff at the end for you, but I wasn't really in the mood so it didn't quite turn out like I'd intended LoL
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: rabidgerry on May 14, 2015, 04:15:48 AM
I have been researching these units'  Hard to make up my mind what to which one to chase.

I think one of these might be worth having for studio use possibly as that's a tone I fancy having in the bag.  Seriously nice clips Richard.  They are bloody dear!!!  Any of the ones I saw on ebay.

here is the wikipedia for em

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockman_%28amplifier%29 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockman_%28amplifier%29)
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: rnolan on May 14, 2015, 04:56:23 AM
Hey RG, so my X100 is the same as the original model, I got a plug in (plugs into the battery compartment) power adapter with 12v wall wart as these things chew batteries very quickly LoL. It's a good tool to have around. Great sounds out of the box (which is good as you can't change them much). They've never been cheap, I paid heaps for mine (IIRC they were like $800 AUD), I think mine was 2nd hand for $500 AUD. I bought my '72 Marshall 50 for $250

Been talking to Mike re how you'd get a X100 tone from MP1, as no compressor on OD in MP1 would probably be easier in MP2 (this is for you BTW, I have one so don't need to LoL). If you like the Rockman tone that much, I'd go for the rack models (if anyone is parting with them). The X100 is great, but it's fundamentally a headphone amp. The rack models are much better and more tweakable.
@GuitarBuilder, your more the expert here ??
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: rabidgerry on May 14, 2015, 05:07:03 AM
If there was a rack version I'd grab one.  I have not seen a rack version though.  I only have come across delay units sustainers, compressors chorus, no actual rack model of the rockman.

I think you'r right, the right kinda overdrive could get you something similar.  I have already done this with my stock mp1.  I think you'd need some funky eqing before the MP1 as well though.
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: rnolan on May 14, 2015, 06:46:00 AM
Hey RG, it's a very specific tone, good candidate for an impulse. They had a preamp module as well. They were all half rack but went into a single RU (2 units) so the preamp setup was 2 RU IIRC, Preamp, FX, More FX (probably reverb) and stereo eq, and foot switchable, this is before and the SS version of where ADA went with MP1 (well in many ways).
Hey @ GuitarBuilder, chime in here ? you have and use some of these IIRC.

Anyways here's another.
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: rnolan on May 14, 2015, 06:49:40 AM
And a clean (Cln1) X100  :)
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: rabidgerry on May 15, 2015, 06:03:58 AM
Hey RG, it's a very specific tone, good candidate for an impulse. They had a preamp module as well. They were all half rack but went into a single RU (2 units) so the preamp setup was 2 RU IIRC, Preamp, FX, More FX (probably reverb) and stereo eq, and foot switchable, this is before and the SS version of where ADA went with MP1 (well in many ways).
Hey @ GuitarBuilder, chime in here ? you have and use some of these IIRC.

Anyways here's another.

again, sound awesome Richard.  i LIKE IT A LOT as you have guessed.  Good clip man.
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: rnolan on May 15, 2015, 09:16:29 AM
Hey RG glad you like it  :wave: . I haven't used the X100 in years, I'd forgotten how amazing they are, if you can get your hands on one, even better the half rack preamp for a decent price, good tool for the studio (in particular).
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: rabidgerry on May 17, 2015, 05:32:53 AM
Yeah Richard, sure we aint comparing to MP1/2 but it's a special sounding little unit in my opinion.  May be it has taken you to dust it off to appreciate it again?

I am eyeing up something for the kill Richard!  Just waiting on someone getting back to me!  finger crossed, it's not x100 but a rack brother of it.  I'll say no more fingers crossed!! 

If I bag it I'll be very pleased.....my bargain hunting skills have went into overdrive!
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: GuitarBuilder on May 17, 2015, 09:40:17 AM
Hey RG, it's a very specific tone, good candidate for an impulse. They had a preamp module as well. They were all half rack but went into a single RU (2 units) so the preamp setup was 2 RU IIRC, Preamp, FX, More FX (probably reverb) and stereo eq, and foot switchable, this is before and the SS version of where ADA went with MP1 (well in many ways).
Hey @ GuitarBuilder, chime in here ? you have and use some of these IIRC.

Anyways here's another.

Hey Richard - sorry about the late response.  Yes, I've got a nice Rockman setup - here it is:

(http://i1240.photobucket.com/albums/gg481/GuitarBuilder/IMG_0699_zpsc343e557.jpg)

Note the other small head on top of my ADA head - that's the Rockman Superhead clone I built from their XP100 portable amp.  It's essentially an X100 on steroids!

(http://i1240.photobucket.com/albums/gg481/GuitarBuilder/SuperheadXP100_zps292edecd.jpg)
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: GuitarBuilder on May 17, 2015, 09:47:57 AM
If there was a rack version I'd grab one.  I have not seen a rack version though.  I only have come across delay units sustainers, compressors chorus, no actual rack model of the rockman.

I think you'r right, the right kinda overdrive could get you something similar.  I have already done this with my stock mp1.  I think you'd need some funky eqing before the MP1 as well though.

Here's the rack version, Gerry:

(http://i1240.photobucket.com/albums/gg481/GuitarBuilder/Rockman%20XPR_zpszuvmfopn.jpg)

Unfortunately they are a collector's item and command around $1,000 today.
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: GuitarBuilder on May 17, 2015, 09:52:57 AM
Yeah Richard, sure we aint comparing to MP1/2 but it's a special sounding little unit in my opinion.  May be it has taken you to dust it off to appreciate it again?

I am eyeing up something for the kill Richard!  Just waiting on someone getting back to me!  finger crossed, it's not x100 but a rack brother of it.  I'll say no more fingers crossed!! 

If I bag it I'll be very pleased.....my bargain hunting skills have went into overdrive!

Hey RG - There's also something called the Rockmount:

(http://i1240.photobucket.com/albums/gg481/GuitarBuilder/Rockmount_zpsks43hyf6.jpg)

You can put the X100 into it and rack mount it!
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: rabidgerry on May 17, 2015, 11:29:35 AM
Holy shit guitar builder!  I'll say that again "HOLY SHIT"  :poop:  :poop:  :poop:  :poop:  :poop:  :poop:  :poop:

Now I'm over that haha

Where do I start!  Well the thing I'm looking at aint that rockman XPR.   I'll pm ya.

What do you need all that for?  What style of music do you play?

You must be a mega fan on Rockman stuff?
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: GuitarBuilder on May 17, 2015, 02:08:53 PM
Holy shit guitar builder!  I'll say that again "HOLY SHIT"  :poop:  :poop:  :poop:  :poop:  :poop:  :poop:  :poop:

Now I'm over that haha

Where do I start!  Well the thing I'm looking at aint that rockman XPR.   I'll pm ya.

What do you need all that for?  What style of music do you play?

You must be a mega fan on Rockman stuff?

In all honesty - I don't need any of it!  I play a fair amount of Boston stuff, but the Rockman gear is quite useful for other genres as well.  There are quite a few shredders out there (Satriani, Ethan Brosh, etc.) who used these, as well as ZZ Top and Def Leppard.  I just love the variety of tones you can get.

Being all analog (no A/D, no DSP, no modeling) the Rockmodules just sound amazing.  The Stereo Echo is still one of the best in the business after 25 years.

And yes, I am a mega-fan of Rockman and ADA stuff (and Marshall, Gibson, Fender, Mesa, and many others).
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: rabidgerry on May 17, 2015, 02:31:28 PM
Holy shit guitar builder!  I'll say that again "HOLY SHIT"  :poop:  :poop:  :poop:  :poop:  :poop:  :poop:  :poop:

Now I'm over that haha

Where do I start!  Well the thing I'm looking at aint that rockman XPR.   I'll pm ya.

What do you need all that for?  What style of music do you play?

You must be a mega fan on Rockman stuff?

In all honesty - I don't need any of it!  I play a fair amount of Boston stuff, but the Rockman gear is quite useful for other genres as well.  There are quite a few shredders out there (Satriani, Ethan Brosh, etc.) who used these, as well as ZZ Top and Def Leppard.  I just love the variety of tones you can get.

Being all analog (no A/D, no DSP, no modeling) the Rockmodules just sound amazing.  The Stereo Echo is still one of the best in the business after 25 years.

And yes, I am a mega-fan of Rockman and ADA stuff (and Marshall, Gibson, Fender, Mesa, and many others).

In your opinion is their rockman devices being used here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGhIHogEhn4 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGhIHogEhn4) to me it sounds like it.  There are two of my all time fav guitarists playing here, known for metal music so yeah I defo think the rockman goes beyond Boston for sure.  This why I am interested  :whoohoo!:
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: rnolan on May 19, 2015, 04:08:43 AM
Hey RG, definitely sounds like Rockman to me (sounds "exactly" like my X100 when I recorded those 2 songs I posted). And it was good to get it out and give it a run  ;) . I think I've powered it up maybe twice in 20 years. I did lend it and a guitar to a friends son a long time ago, glad they gave them back LoL.

@GuitarBuilder, Nice  :thumb-up: :thumb-up: If the MP1 hadn't happened, I would have probably gone that way too, although affording them (back then) was a major problem, I was busy paying off the Anderson IIRC.  From the wiki article, the full rack mount version was pretty rare, they didn't make that many of them, I never saw one here in Oz. If you get a chance to do some audio clips of them  :thumb-up: particularly the full rack version (XPR), I'd like to hear the difference (which I imaging is huge) between it and X100. It has soo many more options (the down side to X100, but it was only ever supposed to be a headphone amp).
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: rabidgerry on May 19, 2015, 07:22:43 AM
i bagged this for under £100, cheapest one going at the moment, I bargained them down from 119euro to 100.  That in GBP is about £91 and that is with the extra 20 euro in for shipping so not bad!!  Lets hope I like it.  I'm worried I can't get enough distortion!!

http://medias.audiofanzine.com/images/normal/rockman-sustainor-125325.jpg (http://medias.audiofanzine.com/images/normal/rockman-sustainor-125325.jpg)

Yeah Richard sounds like Rockman all over that clip.  The whole album is like that.
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: GuitarBuilder on May 19, 2015, 08:52:07 PM
Holy shit guitar builder!  I'll say that again "HOLY SHIT"  :poop:  :poop:  :poop:  :poop:  :poop:  :poop:  :poop:

Now I'm over that haha

Where do I start!  Well the thing I'm looking at aint that rockman XPR.   I'll pm ya.

What do you need all that for?  What style of music do you play?

You must be a mega fan on Rockman stuff?

In all honesty - I don't need any of it!  I play a fair amount of Boston stuff, but the Rockman gear is quite useful for other genres as well.  There are quite a few shredders out there (Satriani, Ethan Brosh, etc.) who used these, as well as ZZ Top and Def Leppard.  I just love the variety of tones you can get.

Being all analog (no A/D, no DSP, no modeling) the Rockmodules just sound amazing.  The Stereo Echo is still one of the best in the business after 25 years.

And yes, I am a mega-fan of Rockman and ADA stuff (and Marshall, Gibson, Fender, Mesa, and many others).

In your opinion is their rockman devices being used here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGhIHogEhn4 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGhIHogEhn4) to me it sounds like it.  There are two of my all time fav guitarists playing here, known for metal music so yeah I defo think the rockman goes beyond Boston for sure.  This why I am interested  :whoohoo!:

I like the tone, but I don't think that is Rockman.  But then again, I could be wrong!  One can EQ the Sustainor to sound very different from Tom's tone.
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: rabidgerry on May 20, 2015, 01:59:55 AM
can it go heavy metal though?  Is there lots of distortion available?

I heard the Sustainor 200 are best or the very latest ones.  My one is a 100A "blueface".  Looks in really good nick.

Anyone ever heard of British Rockman clone "Nomad Axxeman"?  Gary Numan uses one :)
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: rnolan on May 20, 2015, 06:01:13 AM
Hey RG, the Sustainor looks great. Allot more tweakable than the X100. You need to add similar X100 style stereo chorus/delay/reverb (maybe eq) to it, should bring it to life I recon. It's capable of a much wider range of tones than my X100 (as it is what it is, a relatively simple headphone amp but sounds great  >:D ). And definitely worth it for the money (IMO).
Never heard of the Nomad Axxeman (well maybe I did back then and don't remember  :banana-upsidedown: LoL).

Look forward to some clips (in a new thread ?).
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: rabidgerry on May 20, 2015, 08:12:35 AM
Hey RG, the Sustainor looks great. Allot more tweakable than the X100. You need to add similar X100 style stereo chorus/delay/reverb (maybe eq) to it, should bring it to life I recon. It's capable of a much wider range of tones than my X100 (as it is what it is, a relatively simple headphone amp but sounds great  >:D ). And definitely worth it for the money (IMO).
Never heard of the Nomad Axxeman (well maybe I did back then and don't remember  :banana-upsidedown: LoL).

Look forward to some clips (in a new thread ?).

Yeah man it does indeed!!  I dunno if I can afford a delay chorus module.  Hopefully I can bag another good deal!!

I only paid for this thing yesterday!!!  And BAM!  It arrived today!!  It came from Italy which is not next door to Ireland!  Talk about service!!  I am impressed.  Not only that but I  didn't even pay the full amount, I offered 100euro as opposed to 120 euro cause I'm cheap like that!
It's in very very good condition.  Not a mark on the casing really or the front!!

The NomadAxxeman has a chorus and delay on it also, and thing that allows double tracking ????????????
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NOMAD-AXXEMAN-80S-ANALOG-INSTRUMENT-GUITAR-EFFECTS-RACK-PROCESSOR-OD-COMPRESSOR-/221687784908?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_15&hash=item339d9f25cc (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NOMAD-AXXEMAN-80S-ANALOG-INSTRUMENT-GUITAR-EFFECTS-RACK-PROCESSOR-OD-COMPRESSOR-/221687784908?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_15&hash=item339d9f25cc) two signals out at the one time, like a clean and distorted sound.  Anyways that Nomad thing is rack as well.  Someone is selling one in Australia.  But I saw one cheaper than that again hahahahhaha  I dunno if I'm going to buy it though.  Not enough info on it for my liking.

Anyways I'll test the sustainor tonight!!! 
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: GuitarBuilder on May 20, 2015, 09:07:47 PM
RG - here is a shredder who definitely is a huge ADA and Rockman fan:

https://youtu.be/E9ZsC_dgS8U (https://youtu.be/E9ZsC_dgS8U)

Check out all the gear in his promotional video:

https://youtu.be/t1Zm6Y5iCD4 (https://youtu.be/t1Zm6Y5iCD4)
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: rabidgerry on May 21, 2015, 12:54:13 AM
RG - here is a shredder who definitely is a huge ADA and Rockman fan:

https://youtu.be/E9ZsC_dgS8U (https://youtu.be/E9ZsC_dgS8U)

Check out all the gear in his promotional video:

https://youtu.be/t1Zm6Y5iCD4 (https://youtu.be/t1Zm6Y5iCD4)

checked them out!!  Great videos!!



Problem!!!  Sustainor turns on, no sound!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Not Happy!!!   >:(

@guitarbuilder  should the clip light remain on constantly?  I tested the bypass, that worked so sound is getting into the unit from the input.  It just aint getting out.  Possibly a dodgey output?  I detected minimal intermittance.  I couldn't get even a bit of a sound when wiggling the jack, you know the cutting in and out stuff.  Just dead.  Zero output.

I should have tested the send on the loop to see if I'm getting any processing at all.  Really pissed off this doesn't work.  The deal of the cenutry was too good to be true!!
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: rnolan on May 21, 2015, 03:58:12 AM
Hey RG, major bummer my friend..., no clip light should stay on constantly, only when it clips and here I don't mean the clipping that makes cool/nice guitar distortion, but too much signal so seems something isn't right ( :facepalm: obviously, as it's not working). Did you paypal ? in which case you should be able to get your money back, if so report it strait away as it takes time.
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: rabidgerry on May 21, 2015, 06:17:24 AM
Yeah I bought it off ebay man.

Majorly bummed out!!

I was paranoid it was something to do with the power supply I was using but I fail to see what is wrong with my power supply.  It states 12v ac 500MA

the power supply I used was 12v ac 1.5A

So bizar that it flat out makes no sound.
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: GuitarBuilder on May 21, 2015, 06:50:26 AM
Yeah I bought it off ebay man.

Majorly bummed out!!

I was paranoid it was something to do with the power supply I was using but I fail to see what is wrong with my power supply.  It states 12v ac 500MA

the power supply I used was 12v ac 1.5A

So bizar that it flat out makes no sound.

I'm confused, RG:  there is no AC adapter for the Sustainer - it should have a cord that plugs into a wall outlet.  If not, then yours has been doctored!
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: rabidgerry on May 21, 2015, 08:57:06 AM
Yeah I bought it off ebay man.

Majorly bummed out!!

I was paranoid it was something to do with the power supply I was using but I fail to see what is wrong with my power supply.  It states 12v ac 500MA

the power supply I used was 12v ac 1.5A

So bizar that it flat out makes no sound.

I'm confused, RG:  there is no AC adapter for the Sustainor - it should have a cord that plugs into a wall outlet.  If not, then yours has been doctored!

I was about to say no way, but I just did an internet search and came up with this right away.  Must be European Sustainors use adapters

check this
http://medias.audiofanzine.com/images/normal/rockman-sustainor-142260.jpg (http://medias.audiofanzine.com/images/normal/rockman-sustainor-142260.jpg)
mine is the same only I had to use my own adapter



clipping light stays on even with nothing plugged in  :dunno:
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: GuitarBuilder on May 21, 2015, 07:50:03 PM
Yeah I bought it off ebay man.

Majorly bummed out!!

I was paranoid it was something to do with the power supply I was using but I fail to see what is wrong with my power supply.  It states 12v ac 500MA

the power supply I used was 12v ac 1.5A

So bizar that it flat out makes no sound.

I'm confused, RG:  there is no AC adapter for the Sustainor - it should have a cord that plugs into a wall outlet.  If not, then yours has been doctored!

I was about to say no way, but I just did an internet search and came up with this right away.  Must be European Sustainors use adapters

check this
http://medias.audiofanzine.com/images/normal/rockman-sustainor-142260.jpg (http://medias.audiofanzine.com/images/normal/rockman-sustainor-142260.jpg)
mine is the same only I had to use my own adapter



clipping light stays on even with nothing plugged in  :dunno:

Well, one way or the other you should return it.
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: rabidgerry on May 22, 2015, 01:05:59 AM


Well, one way or the other you should return it.

yeah absolutley man.  I wonder what the hell it could be?  Seems really strange to me.  I thinking these guys sold it to me and only turned it on and didn't try getting sound out of it.  I asked before I bought it and they said it was working.  f**king angry about it!  Particularly when I could have bought a Gallien Krueger 2000cpl instead!!
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: rabidgerry on May 22, 2015, 03:24:24 AM
well.............................................. :dunno:

The seller being a totaly f**king legend!!!  Give me a full refund and said I can keep the unit and try and fix it!!!

I actually felt bad because they didn't want it back.  They did say it was working before it left Italy.  So I guess it worked out kinda.  I have the dough back and broken Rockman lol

Anyone know how to fix 'em?  MJMP? (hahaha I torture you man)
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: GuitarBuilder on May 22, 2015, 08:34:40 AM
There are at least two good Rockman repair shops in the US.  It may not be cost-effective to send the unit across the pond.......

I suggest you look for another one!
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: rnolan on May 22, 2015, 10:08:46 AM
Hey go RG, at least your not out of pocket  :thumb-up: . Hey not that I'm the expert here but I'll throw some ideas in (as is my way), so a clip light on with nothing plugged in is sounding like a short to me... Well it can't hurt to give all the connectors (jacks) a good clean, and plug in/remove jacks to open/close jack plug shorts etc (spray/cleaning in between). If it was working before they sent it, then it "may" be just a gummy jack ?
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: rabidgerry on May 23, 2015, 02:53:32 AM
There are at least two good Rockman repair shops in the US.  It may not be cost-effective to send the unit across the pond.......

I suggest you look for another one!

Yeah I found both of them.  One is about $10 cheaper than the other for a complete refurb.  To be honest it would cost as much as I paid for it to get it refurbed by these guys.  Since I am getting all my money back I guess I could afford it.  Still it does seem like an awful lot of money.

@Richard, I think it is worth taking a look myself.  I have already looked inside, it is immaculate looking.  The jack looked fine to me but I will give it a clean for the hell of it.  Not sure if I can be bothered to look for a different unit as they are so expensive.  May be I will may be I wont, I'll wait and see what appears out there.
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: rnolan on May 23, 2015, 05:59:21 AM
Hey RG, always worth checking, sometimes it's simple... Since you are getting it for free, if it were me, I'd get it fixed. The one that attracts me is the full rack version, so I wouldn't mind one of those, otherwise, I prefer the MP2, I like the Rockman modules, but as you say they are expensive and for me, a MP2 and decent FX unit is better IMHO. The Rockmans were before MP1/2 and awesome in there day, but always over priced, even now... They are also heavily compressed, makes them hard to place properly in a mix (if its got any dynamics).
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: rabidgerry on May 23, 2015, 11:32:12 AM
Hey RG, always worth checking, sometimes it's simple... Since you are getting it for free, if it were me, I'd get it fixed. The one that attracts me is the full rack version, so I wouldn't mind one of those, otherwise, I prefer the MP2, I like the Rockman modules, but as you say they are expensive and for me, a MP2 and decent FX unit is better IMHO. The Rockmans were before MP1/2 and awesome in there day, but always over priced, even now... They are also heavily compressed, makes them hard to place properly in a mix (if its got any dynamics).

Yeah defo gonna do summit with it.

I know you keep saying MP units are better but I'm not committing to the Rockman sound.  I do want it in my arsenal though as it's something that appeared on many records I love and it's always been a sound I admired and never knew what the hell it was until like a few weeks ago.

I get what your saying about compressed sounding but hey!!  It was stuck on a million records man and it sounded pretty f**king good to me compressed or not.  The sustainor has a compression control anyways so I could always dial that down to suit.

I wouldn't get the full rack version myself as I have no need for the extra effects.  As far as I'm concerned my "extra effects" are covered by Boss.  All I want is it's distortion and extra little phasey gizmos and gadgets.  I think the effects are pretty limited anyways.  I would never buy this bad boy for example

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rockman-XP100-Guitar-Amp-chorus-delay-reverb-compression-midi-sustain-distortion-/141673855057?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20fc6b7851 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rockman-XP100-Guitar-Amp-chorus-delay-reverb-compression-midi-sustain-distortion-/141673855057?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20fc6b7851)
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: MarshallJMP on May 23, 2015, 05:43:45 PM
Hey Gerry,are you sure your adapter has an AC (not a DC) output??Just checking.
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: rnolan on May 24, 2015, 04:04:19 AM
Man the X100 was a godsend it its day, I really like the tone also. Unfortunately, I never got to try their more tweakable units. I'd forgotten how good they are until I got it out to play you some bits. Now I'm thinking for uses for it  >:D , but a great gadget to just plug into anything and get a great tone. So hope you get your sustainer going !!
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: rabidgerry on May 24, 2015, 04:56:16 AM
Hey Gerry,are you sure your adapter has an AC (not a DC) output??Just checking.

ok you have me paranoid now  :lol:

here is a picture of the adapter I used, now all the lights came on but not a f**king peep in terms of sounds
see attached

now I'm pretty sure this is AC, however I just realised it has a polarity indicator on there.  I thought AC adapters don't have polarity variants?

What I mean is I thought you can only have polarity on ac/dc adapter?  So why the hell does that AC adapter have a centre pin positive?  ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!   :poop:
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: MikeB on May 24, 2015, 05:02:46 AM
Hey Gerry,
The symbol which is a solid line with the dashed line underneath means DC which means your adpter isn't the right one for the job.
looking forward to hearing how it goes with AC.
Mike
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: rabidgerry on May 24, 2015, 05:26:29 AM
Hey Gerry,
The symbol which is a solid line with the dashed line underneath means DC which means your adpter isn't the right one for the job.
looking forward to hearing how it goes with AC.
Mike

I feel a little stupid but I'm going to stick up for myself by saying that adapter only said AC!!  Any adapter I have that is ac/dc, say's ac/dc on it!!!  Any adapter I have which is AC, only says AC on it.

What give it away for me was the polarity thing, that's something that's only on AC/DC right?

Shit I ripped that guy off then........................................ :facepalm: :facepalm: :facepalm: :facepalm:

thanks Mike for confirming that!!!  I did not know what the dashed line symbol meant, I was acting purely on the "AC" mention and lack of the "DC" mention!!

well Rockman is back in business with RabidGerry then............unless I f*cked it using the wrong f**king adapter!!! 

I have a 12v500ma AC only adapter at home, but I need to get an adapter to change the plug to fit the rockman.

This AC adapter was bought for my boss NS-50 and is the only thing I have that is AC only!!

@MJMP did you ever get an NS-50?  Its the half rack version of the Boss NS2.
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: rnolan on May 24, 2015, 08:30:09 AM
Well again good news for modern man  :thumb-up: I didn't know about the symbol either (go Mike !!), but as you say RG, with AC polarity shouldn't make a difference (except for absolute phase) so a good indication it's an AC adapter to DC... Hope that's your issue and you haven't accidentally fried it..
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: rabidgerry on May 24, 2015, 10:16:17 AM
Well again good news for modern man  :thumb-up: I didn't know about the symbol either (go Mike !!), but as you say RG, with AC polarity shouldn't make a difference (except for absolute phase) so a good indication it's an AC adapter to DC... Hope that's your issue and you haven't accidentally fried it..

I shoulda twigged when I say the centre pin symbol but I was too busy looking for 12volts and the letters AC and the absence of the letters DC.  I suppose it's easy mistake to make.  Defo gonna pay the guy back who I bought it from........................well providing I haven't blew the f*ck out of it  :P
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: MarshallJMP on May 24, 2015, 05:10:50 PM
That's why i asked,you can get the same problem with a microcab if you use a DC adaptor.

Anyway here's some info  http://www.harmonycentral.com/articles/external-power-supply-essentials

Nope didn't fine one here on the second hand market.But if i do i buy it asap.
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: rabidgerry on May 25, 2015, 09:31:09 AM
That's why i asked,you can get the same problem with a microcab if you use a DC adaptor.

Anyway here's some info  http://www.harmonycentral.com/articles/external-power-supply-essentials

Nope didn't fine one here on the second hand market.But if i do i buy it asap.

Ok it works but it's in serious need of switch cleaning me thinks.  Should sound clips of the "Sustainor" go here?

I noticed straight from the off it doesn't need a cab sim!!  Which is pretty good.  Very interesting sounding unit.
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: rabidgerry on May 25, 2015, 03:04:04 PM
it sounds like this (plain clip on distortion setting pretty much maxed)
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: rabidgerry on May 25, 2015, 04:11:07 PM
phase switch engaged
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: rabidgerry on May 25, 2015, 04:26:35 PM
plain with chorus
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: rabidgerry on May 25, 2015, 04:28:38 PM
phase engaged with chorus
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: rnolan on May 26, 2015, 07:29:30 AM
Hey  RG, maybe make a new topic, I'm in Sydney for a few days for work, I'll move them when I get back home, and also then can have a listen, no studio monitors here LoL. Glad it's working now !!!  :thumb-up: :whoohoo!:
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: El Chiguete on February 27, 2016, 08:06:35 PM
...Yes, I've got a nice Rockman setup - here it is:

(http://i1240.photobucket.com/albums/gg481/GuitarBuilder/IMG_0699_zpsc343e557.jpg)

Can you post a rear picture of your rack and explain what are the RMC units in the rights? Are the a power conditioner and distribution unit?
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: GuitarBuilder on February 28, 2016, 12:50:18 PM
A little tough to get behind there right now - I'd have to move a lot of weight!

The RMC head cabs have an AC distribution box on the right; 8 outlet in the top one, 12 in the bottom one.  There's no power conditioning.  They are authorized clones of the famous Rockman head cabs that Boston uses on stage.
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: El Chiguete on February 28, 2016, 03:12:49 PM
Well next time you are up for some weight lifting or is time for spring cleaning remember to take the pics :)
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: Harley Hexxe on March 25, 2016, 05:58:48 AM
Ok, these are very old but RG was asking about this unit (I still have one). This track IIRC the guitars are all XL100. Recorded on a Tascam 688 (8 track cassette).

Hey Richard,

   I just got to this thread and listened to all the clips here. Great demos man! :thumb-up: I love the melody structures and the vocals are a great fit with the music!
  Love it!

Harley 8)
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: rnolan on March 25, 2016, 09:01:46 PM
Hey Harley, thanks  :wave: . Unfortunately we never got around to doing them properly with the band. My friend/colleague Neil Young (his real name BTW) wrote/sang most of the vocals, very talented man (who no longer plays at all  :facepalm: despite my nudging). He and I had a good working process for writing, typically I'd come up with the riffs/ideas etc and he always seemed to come up with great lyrics and melodies.

I wrote the 9th chord middle 8 (Continental Shelf) while he was overseas for a trip, it was one part of the song that was eluding us.  It's quite boppy in the version posted here, actually works much better slow and sparse (I still tinker with it from time to time).  You can also hear that the drums were done by guitarists LoL, Alesis drum machine.
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: Harley Hexxe on March 26, 2016, 05:23:55 AM
Hey Richard,

Alesis drum machine eh? It doesn't really matter who came up with the drums. My version of Music Theory 101: If it sounds good, it's right, If it doesn't then, keep trying.
 Unfortunately, that's true for a lot of talented personalities. They show a glimmer of radiance, then dismiss it as trivial, and don't care to try to take it any further. There is really nothing we can do about it. If their heart isn't into it, then they have to follow the path that seems right for them, just like we do.

   Harley 8)
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: rnolan on March 26, 2016, 07:20:09 AM
Hey Harley, I'm really proud of those tracks and am really glad you get it and like them. As you commented earlier they were demos to go on with, our intention was always to do them with the band (just never quite happened  :facepalm: ), the drums were fine but just not as smooth as maybe a real drummer may have played ??. Guitar wise (those recordings are pre MP1/2) so I recon I can make it sound better (not from an energy perspective though, well who knows LoL), I think I played the bass lines as well ?? (it's along time ago).
I'll keep nudging my mate, who knows, maybe he'll come up for another go at it ?? In the end I'm glad we've got something  :wave:
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: Harley Hexxe on March 27, 2016, 07:08:04 PM
Hey Richard,
   I hear you man! I'd be proud of tunes like that if I had written them too! That's not my style of writing, but then again, it's the uniqueness of each of us that makes us stand out from everyone else. You never know that a drummer might do it differently, but if an actual drummer did something different, that would probably change the feel of the songs. Right now, I think what's there, fits very nicely :thumb-up:
 Keep on him >:D

    Harley 8)
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: vansinn on March 28, 2016, 04:06:37 AM
Now, I wonder.. how come the X100 sounds so Tom'sk..? ;)  I dig your mp3 clips, dude. Aussie sound, gotta love it. (should've kept my SCRA vinyl)

Hehe, the X100 manual is fun. Three way volume switch simply saying Loud - Louder - Blast Off  :lol:
What a pity it doesn't have jacks on the rear for being controlled by the SRD Octopus (which I have).
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: rnolan on March 28, 2016, 11:50:12 PM
I started a bit of a fad back then as I was using the X100 live across 2 Marshalls as a lead boost (Ali (one of our singers used to call it "the beast"  >:D certainly gain central  :thumb-up: ). So friends started a band using X100s and power amps (doing mostly Midnight Oil covers). One guy modified them to use switches from lifts (he's a lift/elevator tech) so they could change settings on the fly. Back then I used the Marshall 50 for rhythm and A/B A+B switched the rockman in and out for leads.

Hey Van, glad you like the clips  :wave: as Angry Anderson (Rose Tattoo) says, no one attacks a guitar like an Australian >:D , a heritage I maintain  :thumb-up:
I used to bemoan the lack of remote control, but the were predominantly designed as a practice tool to clip on your belt. I wanted the rack units but they were sooo expensive here. Ahh but then god invented the MP1  :whoohoo!:
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: Harley Hexxe on March 29, 2016, 02:46:15 PM
Hey Richard,

    Don't tell Dave Tarnowski he's a God, You'll give him a big head! O0

   Harley 8)
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: rnolan on March 30, 2016, 04:24:20 AM
Hey Harley, bloody good preamp though, changed my world... then the MP2  >:D :whoohoo!:
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: Harley Hexxe on March 30, 2016, 05:05:10 AM
Hey Harley, bloody good preamp though, changed my world... then the MP2  >:D :whoohoo!:

No argument there. He did turn the whole music industry on it's ear with the MP-1  :thumb-up:
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: rabidgerry on December 29, 2016, 05:21:34 AM
Ok I know this is old  :facepalm:

and if very little difference to anyone........................but for me it's a cool little bit of info since I began my exploration into Rockman rock moduals

So I been searching for a long time to find out if Judas Priest ever used any of them because to me the Rockman sound is present on at least three albums, perhaps combined with other equipment.  Many others agree and many others don't care since two albums are the most hated by the band.  But I finally got a little bit of confirmation that this may have actually been true!

The list below states the gear used and owned by K.K Downing one of the guitarists.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K._K._Downing (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K._K._Downing)

And low and behold!  He has used a Rockman Sustainor!  Glad I bought one of those then  :thumb-up:

way at the beginning of this thread I mention I had a suspicion of the band having used Rockman stuff at some point so it's nice to finally know they did, or at least one of them did.
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: Harley Hexxe on December 29, 2016, 06:17:41 AM
Hi Gerry,

   I believe that was true for a lot of players back then. Joe Satriani used rockmans for clean and clean/chorus tones on at least two albums, and used a variety of other amps in addition to his Marshalls.
   I know Def Leppard's Phil Collen also used some Rockman modules in his rack for at least two albums. I think he may still be using them.
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: rabidgerry on December 29, 2016, 08:15:38 AM
Totally man, I know those you mentioned did use them for sure.

The Priest however, have always been a little secretive about some stuff and I still do not have any of them stating they used the rockman stuff, but for the first time at least one of the guitarists has mentioned he has either used one or owns one.  I have never ever seen rockman gear listed before for equipment that K.K used so it's very interesting to me (at least).

I was watching Macalpine earlier doing some tutorial lessons from back in the 80's and he was defo using rockman also.  It sounded so good as well.  Some hate it, I love it.  It's always been a tone I admired.  Again, people out their really loath it and what ever but I couldn't care less.  Sounds futuristic to me (to the critics it's the 80's though   :lol:   :nono:)
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: MarshallJMP on December 29, 2016, 01:36:02 PM
I always liked the sound of those rockman modules.
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: rnolan on December 29, 2016, 08:19:18 PM
I used mine as my lead tone/boost for ages and it was also great for bedroom/lounge recording.  I ponied up $800 AUD for mine in the day. Which was allot of money back then.

IIRC these tracks have rockman X100 all over them (recorded on a Tascam 688)
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: Harley Hexxe on December 30, 2016, 03:43:33 AM
Pretty good stuff Richard :thumb-up:

    I can pick out the Rockman tones here and there. I think that's why I never got into them back in the 80's. They were easy to spot on a recording. Lots of compressed distortion.
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: rnolan on December 31, 2016, 02:25:13 AM
Hey Harley, thanks  ::) , I used it to do a radio/TV add back then also, after that I heard the rockman sound on lots of adds and jingles.  They are great little gadgets. All you needed was a guitar, rockman X100 (with external power supply, it used to chew the 8 AA batteries in no time  :facepalm: ) and away you went. Plug straight into whatever, desk, poweramp, guitar amp,  I used a lead (I still have it) with voltage divider resistors at the 1/4" jack ends to drop it back to inst level and plugged into 2 Marshalls, that was my lead tone/setup.  I always wanted the 1/2 rack units but they were soo expensive here, then MP1s' came along and the X100 became the (bedroom) studio preamp.  Then came MP2 with cab sim outs... I think I've used the X100 once since (though lent it to a few people along the way, MikeB has mine, it definitely needs the cap/noise change out).
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: Harley Hexxe on December 31, 2016, 04:42:51 AM
Yeah Richard,

    That was another thing I noticed about those Rockman Walkmans as I used to call them. They were cool to listen to yourself with, but I had a hum issue happening when I tried to go direct into a recording desk with one of those. And they did eat AA batteries like candy.
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: rnolan on December 31, 2016, 05:08:59 AM
Ahh yes the hum, pain in the proverbial, thank god for the MP-1  :whoohoo!: Changed my world  :thumb-up: .
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: Harley Hexxe on December 31, 2016, 05:11:48 AM
Ahh, okay. I thought maybe I bought a bum unit back in the day.
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: rnolan on December 31, 2016, 05:28:38 AM
No they all seemed to suffer LoL
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: MarshallJMP on December 31, 2016, 01:54:47 PM
Hey R, really liked the babylon 48k sound, it has that typical boston sound to it.
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: rabidgerry on December 31, 2016, 02:03:58 PM
hum issue?

hahahaha

this is why for the pro they invented the rock modules  :thumb-up:

My sustainor aint got no hum.  Heard a few people stuck an x100 in front of a jcm800, like George Lynch for example.  Love to know how he got that to work.

As for my Sustainor, I might be sending that to MJMP for some pen heart surgery very soon  ;) just for a little examination and refurb

I want to use the Sustainor, I don't want it as an ornament.  I also have the amazing Stereo Chorus :) and the best EQ ever rockman instrument EQ.
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: rnolan on December 31, 2016, 08:19:05 PM
Thanks MJMP, amazing what you can do with a Tascam 688, Korg M1, Alesis drum machine and a X100. Oh and an Atari running Creator or Notator for sequencing.  My how the world has changed since then LoL.

Hey RG, there are kind of 2 choices for X100 up front of a guitar amp(s).  Use the headphone 3.5mm jack into 2 1/4" jacks and use a couple of resistors in each tail to bring it from line level to inst level, which is how I used mine prior to MP-1.  Or you can use the 1/4" TRS aux input as a low level out.  But the switches on the X100 are not stage friendly for changing sounds.  A mate of mine modified his X100 and made a foot switch for it (from an elevator control panel, nice big buttons LoL).  He ran it into a mosfet power amp and used an old fridge for a cab. He mounted 6 x 12" speakers in the door.  Sounded great but was a serious pain to lug.  Though I think they only ever did one gig (supporting my band and it was up 2 flights of stairs  :facepalm: ).
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: Harley Hexxe on December 31, 2016, 08:49:42 PM
So he really did bring a refridgerator to the gig, now that's desperation!  :lol:
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: rnolan on December 31, 2016, 09:06:39 PM
Unfortunately it wasn't loaded with beer  :facepalm: LoL. Took 4 of us to hump it up the stairs, it was an old school fridge, very solid, not like the modern (much lighter) ones. He did remove the motor/compressor though.
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: Harley Hexxe on December 31, 2016, 09:14:37 PM
Good thing it wasn't loaded with beer, your notes would have been slurred :beer:
Title: Re: Rockman XL100
Post by: rnolan on January 01, 2017, 02:36:09 AM
Yes there is that LoL.  I find a couple of double tequila shots gets me going  :thumb-up: