| Visit Our Catalog at SteelGuitarShopper.com |

Post new topic Addition to Ron Whitfield Post of 4/7/05, on Rocco Steel
Reply to topic
Author Topic:  Addition to Ron Whitfield Post of 4/7/05, on Rocco Steel
C. E. Jackson


Post  Posted 21 Jan 2014 9:06 am    
Reply with quote

While doing a little web research on steels today, I came across this April 7, 2005, topic posted by Ron Whitfield:

The Rocco that got away (to some lucky buyer)
http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum2/HTML/006907.html

Fortunately for me, I was the lucky buyer. I purchased my Rocco from Gruhn in April, 2005. I played the Rocco again recently, and am still very pleased with the tone.

I currently have a posting under Steel on the Web:
Noel Boggs Playing His Rocco Steel with Bob Wills
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=259207

What do you think about the sound of his Rocco? See below the 1944 photo showing Noel and his Rocco, and a photo of Dale Goens with his Electar Rocco.




1944 Photo Showing Noel Boggs with his Rocco Steel
Photo from the book "San Antonio Rose, The Life and Music of Bob Wills"
By Charles R. Townsend
Copyright 1976 by the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
Illini Books Edition, 1986





Photo of Dale Goens with his Electar Rocco model doubleneck.
From: "American Guitars, An Illustrated History"
By Tom Wheeler
Copyright 1992 by Tom Wheeler

_________________
My Vintage Steel Guitars
My YouTube Steel Guitar Playlists
My YouTube Steel Guitar Songs
A6 tuning for steels


Last edited by C. E. Jackson on 21 Jan 2014 12:23 pm; edited 2 times in total
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Mike Neer


From:
NJ
Post  Posted 21 Jan 2014 9:14 am    
Reply with quote

That's a super cool steel, but I don't think he's playing it live in the video. He's just faking it to a prerecorded track. This does pre-date Fenders, though, so he probably recorded it with this. It sounds like Noel Boggs to me, regardless of which steel. This has maybe a bit more body than his late Fender Stringmaster sound.

I used to have a Rocco bar, too. Was a cool bar. I still have my Model M, although it's been to hell and back.
_________________
Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Ron Whitfield

 

From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
Post  Posted 21 Jan 2014 11:36 am    
Reply with quote

Whoot!
Great to know who got'r and that she's part of our lil family here. Congratulations is too tame a statement, C E, you fill in the blank!
Yep, that's long been one of my dream guitars, and one of the very few left for me to get hold of. Actually, a dbl. 8 would be the ultimate but I don't think they made even one. The only time I know I heard a Rocco was in the hands of Big Jim Murphy playing Cocaine Blues behind Hank III on Conan, and the song, Big Jim, and the Rocco were awesome.
Thanx for the cool post, C E, you'll probably outlive me so no sense in begging to be put in the will. Razz
The vids; the steel's tone on both sound similar enuf and not too Fendery so we can safely assume it's the Rocco, and since sustain is usually overrated I'd say it's a chicken dinner winner.
It's also a kick watching ol' Bob and seeing the boys doing songs the way nobody does them much these day's, especially with 6 shooters on the hip.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Chris Lucker

 

From:
Los Angeles, California USA
Post  Posted 21 Jan 2014 2:41 pm    
Reply with quote

Do you have a Rocco pedal?


_________________
Chris Lucker
Red Bellies, Bigsbys and a lot of other guitars.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
C. E. Jackson


Post  Posted 22 Jan 2014 8:45 am    
Reply with quote

Thanks Mike, Ron, and Chris for the comments. You guys are the greatest! Chris, I have SHO-Bud, Fender, and Electro-Harmonix pedals. I don't have a Rocco pedal. What year or patent number on the Rocco pedal? If no year, send me the patent number, and I will look up the patent year.

Thanks again to all.

C. E.
_________________
My Vintage Steel Guitars
My YouTube Steel Guitar Playlists
My YouTube Steel Guitar Songs
A6 tuning for steels
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Todd Clinesmith


From:
Lone Rock Free State Oregon
Post  Posted 22 Jan 2014 11:12 am    
Reply with quote

Beautiful Steel C.E.
I am jealous . I would love to take it for a spin, as i bet it sounds great.
Thanks for posting this.
Todd
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Chris Lucker

 

From:
Los Angeles, California USA
Post  Posted 22 Jan 2014 2:32 pm    
Reply with quote

CE

No patent number on the pedal. There is a "145" stamped on it, which may be a casting number. The decal says Rocco Tone Expressor (sic) Patented Trademark Reg USA Made by Epiphone, Inc New - York (sic) USA.
_________________
Chris Lucker
Red Bellies, Bigsbys and a lot of other guitars.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Mark Tucker

 

From:
Pennsylvania, USA
Post  Posted 22 Jan 2014 5:29 pm    
Reply with quote

Hey, C.E., as a Rocco owner myself I too was glad to finally see the steel that got away in 2005. You are fortunate to have a Rocco bar in addition to that great instrument. I hope I can find one of those bars and a Tonexpressor too someday. To see another Rocco in action and sounding good, check out the video I mentioned in the 2010 Epi Rocco Bar thread--a Curb Records promo video for Hank III that has performance segments featuring Big Jim Murphy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LijJw-0GITk
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Ron Whitfield

 

From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
Post  Posted 22 Jan 2014 5:38 pm    
Reply with quote

Very cool, Mark!

Do we know the whereabouts of Noel's Rocco?
My mind say's it was Big Jim's guitar, but then that's my mind...
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
C. E. Jackson


Post  Posted 23 Jan 2014 7:14 am    
Reply with quote

Todd, thanks for the kind words. The Rocco does sound great to me, but maybe I am biased.

Chris, thanks for the information. Maybe I'll be lucky enough to find me a Rocco pedal in the future.

Mark, glad to know another Rocco owner, and hope you can find an EPI-ROCCO bar. Thanks for the comment and video link.

Ron, I can't seem to find who got Noel's Rocco, but will keep on the lookout, and let you know if I find anything.

You guys are the greatest! Thanks to all.

C. E.
_________________
My Vintage Steel Guitars
My YouTube Steel Guitar Playlists
My YouTube Steel Guitar Songs
A6 tuning for steels
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Jump to:  
Please review our Forum Rules and Policies
Our Online Catalog
Strings, CDs, instruction, and steel guitar accessories
www.SteelGuitarShopper.com

The Steel Guitar Forum
148 S. Cloverdale Blvd.
Cloverdale, CA 95425 USA

Click Here to Send a Donation

Email SteelGuitarForum@gmail.com for technical support.


BIAB Styles
Ray Price Shuffles for Band-in-a-Box
by Jim Baron