Which amp is the rockman x100 based on?

Paulzx

Paulzx

Experienced
When Tom Scholz created the rockman, he presumably based it on a Marshall of some sort. Does anyone know, specifically the x100, which amp it was based on?
Or which amp model in the Fractal is closest to it?

There are various rockman cab IRs knocking about, I've got some, they're decent enough, but if you pair them with an amp model, which would be closest to the original sound and how much gain did the x100 really have?
 
Rockman had an XP100 combo for a while that had 2x6" speakers, followed by one that had 2x12" speakers. One of those might be the basis.

As far as an amp model, the XP were solid state IIRC so I'd look at the Jazz 120 amp, which is based on Roland's Jazz Chorus.
 
Paulzx said:
When Tom Scholz created the rockman, he presumably based it on a Marshall of some sort. Does anyone know, specifically the x100, which amp it was based on?
Or which amp model in the Fractal is closest to it?

There are various rockman cab IRs knocking about, I've got some, they're decent enough, but if you pair them with an amp model, which would be closest to the original sound and how much gain did the x100 really have?
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I was under the impression that the original Rockman was largely based on ideas Scholz had about keeping parts out of each other's way, hence it being all midrange.
 
Will Chen said:
No, the JC120 was absolutely nothing like the Rockman OD tone, the original JC120 sounded great clean but the OD sounded like a broken speaker.
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The JC is merely for the solid-state model. From what I remember the modeled version does not have the distortion, reverb, or chorus that the original had. To get the Rockman sound a distortion block will be needed.
 
Paulzx said:
When Tom Scholz created the rockman, he presumably based it on a Marshall of some sort. Does anyone know, specifically the x100, which amp it was based on?
Or which amp model in the Fractal is closest to it?

There are various rockman cab IRs knocking about, I've got some, they're decent enough, but if you pair them with an amp model, which would be closest to the original sound and how much gain did the x100 really have?
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The first two Boston albums were recorded with stock early 70s 1959s if memory serves. They were dimed and had the front-end slammed with an MXR 6-band EQ; he cut some lows and ran 800Hz pretty far up which is what's responsible for the signature Boston tone. The Rockman stuff uses op-amps and LEDs for clipping in conjunction with some aggressive EQ which I personally think is a very specific, dated sound that hasn't aged gracefully. If you want the Boston sound it's pretty much just goosing the front-end of a cranked Super Lead with an 800Hz peaking filter then adjusting to taste from there.

If you want the Rockman sound then the FAS LED Drive model should do it in conjunction with some PEQ blocks to replicate the above.

**EDIT: I found a thread with a picture of the EQ settings. There's a bit more to it but 800Hz is the most important part in my experience.
 
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Greg Ferguson said:
The JC is merely for the solid-state model. From what I remember the modeled version does not have the distortion, reverb, or chorus that the original had. To get the Rockman sound a distortion block will be needed.
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No offense but someone getting a JC120 recommendation when asking for a Rockman OD sound since they're both solid state circuits is like recommending a Twin to someone asking about a JCM800 as they're both tube circuits. The Rockman was clearly a multistage distortion with some heavy filtering on it. I bet one could get close using filter blocks and the 2 drive blocks though it would take a lot of experimentation without some knowledge of the circuit.
 
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You guys are amazing. Even though Greg and Will are disagreeing lol, there are a lot of ideas here as to how to do it which is very cool
 
Dave Merrill said:
I was under the impression that the original Rockman was largely based on ideas Scholz had about keeping parts out of each other's way, hence it being all midrange.
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I think you're right, which is why that tone always cuts and bites so well. On a side note, Def Leppard moved from traditional Marshall's to the Rockman for Hysteria because the Rockman was a clearer tone better for layering
 
alexjplant said:
The first two Boston albums were recorded with stock early 70s 1959s if memory serves. They were dimed and had the front-end slammed with an MXR 6-band EQ; he cut some lows and ran 800Hz pretty far up which is what's responsible for the signature Boston tone. The Rockman stuff uses op-amps and LEDs for clipping in conjunction with some aggressive EQ which I personally think is a very specific, dated sound that hasn't aged gracefully. If you want the Boston sound it's pretty much just goosing the front-end of a cranked Super Lead with an 800Hz peaking filter then adjusting to taste from there.

If you want the Rockman sound then the FAS LED Drive model should do it in conjunction with some PEQ blocks to replicate the above.

**EDIT: I found a thread with a picture of the EQ settings. There's a bit more to it but 800Hz is the most important part in my experience.
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Fantastic Alex.. I'll try these out. I remember seeing that EQ setup photo somewhere years ago, I think it was quite hard to do before but I'll see what that produces
 
Being a huge Leppard fan I had an X100 at some point, now I understand nostalgia and everything but the Rockman sound is objectively terrible and completely outdated.
 
Amplitube does a pretty good rockman - sounds a lot like Boston to me, which, imo, is one of, if not the, greatest guitar tone even done, that still holds up today against anything past or present - the way I've always heard the legend told is that Tom Scholz designed the rockman gear to mimic his complex Marshal Plex rig used on the first album and for the early tours. I try on and and off to replicate it - as mentioned above 800hz is key, but imo there's more to it than that. For the finely tuned long time Boston fan ear, just boosting 800 doesn't do it.

1729789203244.png

This guy's one of the Scholz tone nerds I follow for Boston sound exploration - here he compared the Amplitube plugin to a real rockman.


The legendary MXR 6b eq pedal settings are shown / mentioned here at 6:47
 
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WhiteRoom said:
I can't relate to anyone who doesn't like Hysteria or the tones on those songs. They are iconic and amazing, no offence... :laughing:
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It's interesting, i was thinking more about the early Boston tones, which aren't a Rockman, they just sound like one, or vice versa, and I really don't care for them, though the album is great.

I wasn't ever a huge DL fan (ducks). Think i know and like Pyromania best, and it does sound good. I've heard it's a Rockman too, but it doesn't have as much of that 800 hz thing going on.

Seems it's not just the modeler that makes a record :)
 
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