I’m looking at Rockerverb MKIII 50 watt head as a do-it-all rock amp. Looking for that big thump and reasonable headroom that a bigger EL34 amp can provide. Gain up to 90s levels rather than modern rock and a clean tone with reverb that’s not too sterile or stiff feeling.
In an idea world I’d have a CS50 but they’re too expensive and I’d really like a second channel, though I can get by with volume knob cleanup if I have to.
I’d be using an H&K CC212 cab with - probably - creambacks in it, though I might throw in the Fane A60s I have too.
Any feedback from Rockerverb owners welcome…
Comments
I guess there’s a lot to be said for sticking with something until you really figure out how it works for you.
I started down this road after playing a CS50 and being really impressed with it, but also thinking that easy access to a cleaner sound would be good, rather than rolling off volume. That put me onto the Rockerverb and it does
sound good in reviews…
@pedalo it seems like a bit of a flaw if the volume between channels is not balanced. I'd want to go from one to the other without massive volume differences.
I love it. It's such a unique sounding beast. It doesn't sound like any of my other amps. I almost sold it once, and then very quickly changed my mind one night in the studio when using it, and had to let the buyer down (well.... if giving them a handful of pound notes for the gear I was gonna swap for is a let down!)
The III is much more flexible than the I and II as well. The built in attenuator is just about the best I've used. I love using it to add more punch and sparkle to the clean channel (attenuator up to bring the amp volume down, the crank the clean channel to turn it into a saturated driven channel) and this works for the gain channel too.
Very nice FX loop, built in reverb is decent enough if you just need a bit of moist. I don't use it often though myself - I prefer my pedals.
I use an EQ pedal in the front so don't feel I need another band on the clean really.
I just love it.
Absolutely love it. I have it so I can use the clean channel with pedals for spanky clean, to fairly saturated. The dirt channel is in your face and super growly. I like the fact it's just 2 channels. Had a JVM410h which sounded great but I just got lost in the number of options. Keeping it simple really does pay off, especially playing live.
I had a Zilla closed back 2x12 made for me with a Celestion Heritage 55Htz in the top and an Alnico Cream in the bottom and it sounds glorious.
Haven't tried the FX loop yet as I don't really like too many cables about the place....have a bad habit of tripping over stuff.
Use the reverb on the clean channel a bit, it's fine but I prefer my EQD Avalanche run overal.
What really makes this amp is the attenuator. I absolutely love it, I can drive the amp hard and knock it down a bit if it's too loud for the room I'm playing in. Get a nicer note bloom for me with using the attenuator over just running at a lower overall volume.
There was one for sale with a cab too for about what I paid for the head so a decent deal https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/284489854078?hash=item423ceaac7e:g:LfAAAOSw~pNhaWvG
That is a cracking deal actually imho.
I like the sound of the attenuator and getting the clean channel mildly saturated but does that then mean you’re not able to balance that with the volume of the drive channel? Could you setup the clean channel as a mildly overdriven / cleanable with guitar volume and use the drive channel for a heavier rhythm sound then kick in a boost for leads?
I wonder if I might end up using it as a single channel amp in which case there may be cheaper options…