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Rocco needs a new head - what should he use?

T

tubster

Feb 5, 2003
471
46
77
Southwest Spain
#1
Just returned from the excellent Tower of Power rhythm section workshop at Jazz Alley in Seattle - a lot of fun and a lot of great info.

Rocco was using his Conklin bass, an Eden 8x10 and an SWR 8004 which was clipping quite a lot. I had the pleasure of chatting with him after the show and asked him why he favored the SWR and wasn't using an Eden. He replied that he knew that it was inadequate for the Eden cab but "it's all I have". I don't actually believe he was completely joking, he is just not a gearhead at all and seemed fairly bewildered when other bassists asked him technical questions about pickups etc. He uses what he's got and right now it's an SWR.

Anyway, I think a bass manufacturer could get a lot of mileage with having him use their gear......at least send him a new head!

You guys probably all know his sound - so which manufacturer should step up to the plate and offer which model to suit him?
 
#2
I could be wrong but hasn't Eden just made a signature Rocco Prestia head? Am 99% sure I saw a review of eden gear from NAMM and that was one of the heads they reviewed. Think its on youtube.

Edit there is definetly an eden sig head for Rocco, its the "ROC 1500" as seen on the youtube clip below:

 
#6
rocco has had a few amp deals. the head you saw @ the clinic was a signature model of his w/ SWR, the SWR WORKINGMAN'S 8004 T/O/P head. this head also had a matching 810 Workingman's Tower. after that was the Eden ROC 1500 w/ matching 810RP cab.
 
#7
Eden discontinued the ROC1500 head before it ever hit the stores. It may have been related to David Nordschow's departure from Eden if it was his personal development project or there could have been other insurmountable production issues. In any case it isn't going to be produced.
 
#10
One of the greatest bass players of all time should have one of the greatest bass amps of all time. He should have either:

A) A WALL of IP112/HT112ER's - four/eight pairs should do (I'd go with eight)

or

B) 4/8 IP310's

or

C) 2/4 xIP153's with subs

or

D) the Vengeful return of the magnificent IP2x12, and Rocco should have at least 8 of them.

They should all be covered in Tom Bowlus patented memorial carpeting. Also, Rocco should be given the Cameron Hood memorial rack of Summit Audio gear; A couple of TPA 200Bs, TLA 100's, EQP-200's, EQF-100's, and a couple of Everest strips just in case. And all the screws in every piece should be replaced with gold ones. And Victor Wooten should have to tighten them all with his teeth. And he should be followed around by legions of breathless Talkbass groupies willing to polish the knobs for him.

And lastly, and most importantly, I think Barack should immediately appoint him as the PRIME MINISTER OF FUNK FOR LIFE!

Rock on forever, Rocco man! We love you!

Cheers,
Cameron

tubster said:
Just returned from the excellent Tower of Power rhythm section workshop at Jazz Alley in Seattle - a lot of fun and a lot of great info.

Rocco was using his Conklin bass, an Eden 8x10 and an SWR 8004 which was clipping quite a lot. I had the pleasure of chatting with him after the show and asked him why he favored the SWR and wasn't using an Eden. He replied that he knew that it was inadequate for the Eden cab but "it's all I have". I don't actually believe he was completely joking, he is just not a gearhead at all and seemed fairly bewildered when other bassists asked him technical questions about pickups etc. He uses what he's got and right now it's an SWR.

Anyway, I think a bass manufacturer could get a lot of mileage with having him use their gear......at least send him a new head!

You guys probably all know his sound - so which manufacturer should step up to the plate and offer which model to suit him?
Click to expand...
 
#13
I saw a sign on a small club here in LA that said
"Tonight-Rocco Prestia"
Maybe 5-6 years ago, or a few more???

I wondered "WT...heck?"

So the show starts with a quintet, drums, sax, guitar, keys, and NOT Rocco on bass- and they do a few numbers, and sound very good-real tight.

Then they bring up a "special guest" Rocco, and things change-
For the better.
First off, "A Real Mother for You", a cover by Johny 'Guitar' Watson...
I've heard some of the greats live-
Jaco, Ron Carter, Ray Brown, Neil Stubenhaus, Jeff Berlin,
Jamaldeen Tacaluma,(sp?), many many others, Fender bass, and Double Bass.

But I've never seen ANYONE play as totally funky in-the-pocket as Rocco Prestia-on the Fender Bass. Wow,
He elevated a very good rhythm section to a level that very few players indeed could reach.

And at breaktime, so humble, so cool-
Super person.

I know he was using either a Jazz or P, bass, can't recall, and no clue remembering what amp, or whether it was even his own- but truthfully-

Outside of, well, working, it wouldn't make one bit of diff what amp this guy plays outta-

Just might hold true for you or me too.
I could accept that...:hiding:
 
#14
i used to play one of the swr 8004 rocco sig amps. that was a pretty good amp, but i was also just learning to rock then...
roccos the man, i think its pretty cool that he was rocking that amp.

too bad about his eden sig amp, its looked pretty damn cool. were any of those made? or was it shut down before they started making them?
 
#18
JimmyM said:
Phew! I thought you were thinking one of us should buy him an amp!
Click to expand...

'cause the two that have had his name on them have totally sucked! The Eden's dead in the water, and that SWR thing; that was embarrassing, man. Nice that he's promoting 'less expensive' equipment for the young folks, but unfortunately that means he had to play through it...200 watts, maybe, through 8x10's...

:help:

That didn't last long, did it?

Cheers,
Cameron
 

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