The Steel Guitar Forum

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

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.

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.
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.

Do you have a Rocco pedal?

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.

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

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.

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

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...

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.