Rockman Soloist

I bought my Soloist in the late 80's, and I really liked it. There's only a few different sounds you can get from it, but they sound good.
I lived in a 6-plex apartment at the time, so powering up a regular amp and cranking the stereo was out of the question.
By plugging the cd player into the Soloist and playing along, I was in my own little world, rocking out.
For the next 15 years, I was out of playing music... lost interest, I guess. The Soloist, along with most of my other stuff, sat in a box somewhere upstairs.
Last summer I was bit by the music bug again, and started playing.
I use the Soloist as a pre-amp into my Randall Stereo Chorus 60 watt amp. It works pretty good, but I wish I had the optional AC adaptor.

It has a great sound. There aren't too many different sounds you can get out of it, but I don't really care. When switched to Distortion, and the Stereo Chorus turned on, it has a really cool sound.

The only issue I have with it is a strange one. When I put in a set of new batteries, it doesn't want to power up. I actually have to give it a good slap to get it to go. It'll crackle a little bit, and then it's just fine.

never contacted the company.

I play rock from the late 70's, quite a bit of 80's stuff, and some newer music. Like I said earlier, I use it as a pre-amp and it works pretty well for that. When I was using just the distortion channel on my Randall amp, it sounded restricted at low volume. Using the Soloist as a pre-amp works great.

I've been playing guitar on and off for quite a while. I started in high school, and played regularily up until 2 years out of school.
My playing tapered off from there, and I pretty much hung it up in 1992, and only played once or twice a year.
Last summer I got the urge to play again, and set up across the room from the computer.

I have a few pedals that I'm using as paper weights right now, most of which were bought in the mid-80's.
I have a 1979 Les Paul Custom, and an old Lotus that has more invested in hardware than the damn thing is worth. I have it tuned a half-step low, and it sounds great with the Soloist.

Simple to use.

Used with a vintage Kramer Pacer with humbuckers and a Japanese Strat Clone with single coil pickups. Sounds good clean and distorted, but not very versatile. The effects act like presets that cannot be adjusted. If you want the Boston sound, this is the box to get. Generates a little noise.

I purchased the Soloist back in the late 1980's. It worked fine for about 10 years then I began having problems with the input jack and effects switches. I don't think it would last very long on the road and would not recommend giging with it.

I play my own rock, blues and experimental music. I have been playing for over 20 years, but I am not a proffesional. I own lots of gear including two other headphone amps the BOSS HA-5 PlayBus and the ZOOM 9002. The Soloist is not as versatile as the HA-5 or 9002, but it does have its own sound character (That Boston Sound) and is fun for practicing.

ez to use even for a 13 yr old blues wanna be as myself. very ez to get a clean solid sound out of! The manual is friggin awesome it shows how to hook it up to your amp, stereo, to record, and so forth.

My axe is a 1981 Yamaha SBG200 thru a 1982 Peavey BackStage. It has a crappy distortion but the chorus is beautiful! I can get the Boston sound w/ ease so playing Boston at gigs sounds exactly the same!

Considering this things 20 some yrs old I ve had few problems except the input and output jacks need to be adjusted every once in a while. The headphne jacks don't always work smoothly either. I use it in gigs when playing clean Eric Clapton and also use it for my bands Boston songs. Works dependably during gigs.

N/A (im 13 yrs old)

I play classic rock and blues and the clean is real purtty when I play. I ve been playing for 4 yrs. If it were lost I would try to find another immediately. All I can say is rock on!

This unit is very simple to use.

On/Off switch
Volume switch: -10dB/-5dB/MAX
Mono/Stereo/Chorus switch
Clean/Edge/Distortion switch
Guitar input jack
Output jack
Two headphone jacks

If I'm just tooling around with my guitar and don't want to hook up to my entire rig, I'll just grab a pair of headphones and plug into the Soloist. I have a Les Paul Standard and a Gibson ES-333.

The clean channel is extremely crisp and trebley...just like I like it. The edge and distortion settings have a very classic Boston sound, so if you like that you'll like these settings.

There's some noise to it, but it's not too bad.

I'm having a problem with the output jack. Haven't tried popping this thing open yet, but I probably will once I have a desire to hook this unit into my rig (if ever).

Never dealt with the company.

I love the Boston sound, though it's pretty type-cast. As I said before, the sounds are quite nice in that regard. If I lost this unit, I'd miss it but probably would not bother replacing it; it's a nice-to-have toy. I like that it's so portable. Too bad I can't get the output jack to work.

This unit is very easy to use. The manual is very helpful. I use mine for practicing and for direct recording.

While you are only limited to the effects provided, I do think the sound is great. As I have said I use it for recording.

I purchased it new in 1992. As I was reading the other reviews I could not beleive what I was reading. I have never had a problem with it. If I was to use this on a gig I would feel completely at ease without having a backup. I did not have a power supply for this unit until purchasing one off ebay one week ago. This unit did very well on batteries. I often replaced them before they got very low but still received 40 plus hours with each set.

I have never needed support.

I started playing in 1992. I use a 1980 Les Paul. Two classic pieces. I play classic rock. I would get another one off ebay. Looks like you can purchase a good unit for about $70.

Easy - plug in, run a line out (if you want), select clean, crunch or lead, and whether you want (stereo) chorus or reverb.

I used this jewel for 10+ years in a gigging Christian rock-n-roll band. Used it as a pre-amp into an old Peavey Renown 1x15" amp. Gave great saturated lead sound (that fed back nicely at moderate levels). Since Boston was one of my favorite bands, I loved the sound. It caused me to play more inspired guitar (whether through the 'phones or amp)! I began to realize, though, that the sound is so thin - no bass to it at all - then I went back to listen to Boston's 1st, & realized, their sounds are just as thin (and just as smooth). After years, I kinda got tired of the sound. Still use it from time to time. Oh - the clean chorus sound is great - still thin, but a great stereo chorus. Echo is enough to get you by, but sounds kinda cheesy once you hear "the good stuff". Give it a 9 due to the thinness.

Same probs everybody else has noted, input & line out jack - had it repaired twice. Finally just wrapped a rubber band around the plug ends to pull them together & it kept on ticking. Hey, I'm not proud. Giving it a 6 because it was used hard.

N/A

Used it for straight ahead rock-n-roll (still do occasionally). Clean/chorus sounds pretty good on an elec/acoustic if you want a really bright sound. Like sombody else, I WISHED it had had a foot controller to go between sounds. Now I play an Ibanez & BC Rich Mockingbird through a Line 6 Flextone, which I love. Only knocks against the Rockman is the reliability & lack of bass. Otherwise, I loved playing through it!!

So easy to use a stoner like me could sound like one of the best rockers of all time

awesome still have still use it want to buy it?

Never had a problem dont understand all the reviews that list propblems bought mine in chicago, Evanston actuially

I would like to know where I could buy another set of headphones.

I have a buddy Scott Hallen who would feed his MouseTM from Albuquerque the soloist for a sound even ozzy would be scared of.

Dued it not a stack of MArshalls or POlytones but from Boton to the California Ventures it way clean to tuben

It couldnt be any simpler to use.

It has great tone for a headphone amp. Nice smooth distortion for leads. Wasnt big on the crunch for rhythm. The new models are trash in comparrison. It was so fun to play this headphone amp, i took it everywhere.

Too bad it broke, the inputs came unsoldered from the board and i made it worse trying to fix it. it ended up junked after 3 years. too bad.

I dont know why they discontinued it, they should at least make one with some reverb or chorus. the dry "ace" has nothing but volume and gain, and it sounds like trash. no wonder its only 75 bucks.

It would be a ten if it hadnt broken so soon. I wish they hadnt disontinued it, i would buy another, guess ill get a pod or a zoom.

Very simple to use, wish they would have made an optional foot switch for the unit.

Great sound! Try using through a Marshall, it's great (note: only try it through the low input jack, the headphone's out is too powerful for it and will feedback tremendously). This little bugger has tone, and emulates Tom Sholtz's tone perfectly. Smooth sound, nice chorus as well. Also good for recording directly in the console.

As most people have notice, the unit can't really stand the test of time. I've also had problems with the inputs and the battery compartement. Inputs get de-soldered easy from the main circuit board.
Of course, my unit has been used gig after gig for 10+ years.

Great for many styles of music. Wish they still made them!

This is one of Tom Sholz headphone amps made in the 1980's. It has a disorted channel and edge channel (mild distortion and) and a clean channel. It also has chorus and stereo effects. Very easy to use.

I usually use the soloist while practicing late at night through the headphones. The clean sound is incredible. Chrystal clear! I never use the edge setting. The distortion more or less aproximated Boston's sound on third stage. Its a great rhythm sound but its not so great for soloing. Another thing I've used this thing for is recording. You can get a nice rhythm guitar sound if you plug the soloist directly into a four track. In a nutshell the distortion is a very good but not very versitile distortion.

My soloist isn't very reliable. I've had problems with the connections with the input jacks as well as the battery connections. I don't know the problem is a manufacturing defect specific to my soloist or an over all design defect. Plus it is over 10 years old and not very durable.

Tom Sholz folded up shop with Rockman in 1995 (I think it was '95). Rockman was bought out by Jim Dunlop. As of now Dunlop produces a Rockman Acoustic Pedal, which I have not heard good things about, but I've never tried it so I will not pass judgement and a newer version of the headphone amps marketed as the Guitar Ace. I know nothing about this either.

I like the Soloist. Its a good device for practicing and recording. But it is poorly designed and a bit to fragile.

THIS UNIT IS NOT MADE ANYMORE AND SHOULD NOT BE LISTED UNDER DUNLOP ROCKMANS. DUNLOP TOOK OVER PRODUCTION AND NOW MAKE ONLY THE GUITAR,METAL AND BASS ACE. SOLOIST HAS CHOURUS,STEREO AND DISTORTION EFFECTS. DUNLOP DOES NOT HAVE THIS. HAD A GREAT SOUND WITH PHASE EFFECTS THAT SOUNDS LIKE BOSTON BECAUSE IT WAS MADE BY TOM SCHOLZ.

SOUNDED GREAT WITH STEREO, FUZZ, CHOURUS AND A GREAT PHASE SHIFTER SOUND WHEN USED WITHOUT HEAVY DISTORTION. WITH DISTORTION IT SOUNDS LIKE ANY BOSTON RECORD. MEDIUM AND HARD DISTORTION AND SOUNDED GREAT THROUGH AMP. THIS IS OUT OF PRODUCTION AND DIFFERENT THAN NEW DUNLOP MODELS. DON'T HAVE NEW ONE YET SO CAN'T COMPARE BUT WISH IT WAS BACK

THIS ITEM SOUNDED GREAT BUT WAS MADE VERY POORLY. PARTS FELL OFF CIRCUIT BOARD A WEAK JACK INPUT THAT WAS EASILY BROKEN BY MOVEMENT. I TOOK VERY GOOD CARE AND DID NOT ABUSE BUT WAS CONSTANTLY FALLING APART. AC INPUT AND HEADPHONE JACKS ARE THE SAME TYPE AND CAN BE CONFUSED AND YOU WILL FRY UNIT LIKE I DID. MANUFACTURED POORLY

AS I SAID THIS WAS MADE BY SCHOLZ AND OUT OF PRODUCTION. I AM ONLY WRITING THIS BECAUSE I SAW THIS ITEM LISTED UNDER DUNLOP. DUNLOP DOES NOT MAKE THIS MODEL. TO BAD BECAUSE IT SOUNDED GREAT BUT WAS MADE POORLY. DUNLOP GUITAR ACE IS A DIFFERENT PRODUCT AND SOUND AND RELIABILTY IS NOT THE SAME AS NEW....GOOD OR BAD I DON'T KNOW

LOVED THE SOUND HATED THE WAY IT WAS ASSEMBLED. WISH THEY STILL MADE IT ONLY WITH BETTER QUALITY CONTROL. GREAT FOR SPACEY AND ROCK SOUNDS. REMEMBER THIS IS NOT DUNLOP ROCKMAN BUT THE ORIGINAL..LOOKS THE SAME BUT DIFFERENT..YOU CANNOT BUR A DUNLOP ROCKMAN SOLOIST..MAYBE I CAN FIND A USED ONE THAT WORKS......I DOUBT IT.....

3 3-position switches: clean/edge/distortion, nomo/stereo/chorus, 3 volume settings, plus ON/OFF switch. Doesn't sound too hard for me. ;-) It took me no time to figure it out, although this was my first effect.

I think it is all right, at least for the kind of setting I play, i.e. at home in headphones. The distortion is fine, but there is no way you can adjust it and listening to the same sound for months is somewhat boring. ;-) In fact, I would give it a higher mark if it had an adjustable distortion. Sometimes, in bigger phones with the volume on my Strat at 5, it sounds almost like some sort of fuzz (or is it the way it is *supposed* to sound? Maybe my crappier phones just add a bit of their own distortion :-). The chorus is...ahem...odd. I can hear no delay whatsoever!!!! The is a change in the tome, it's a bit warmer (but not fatter) and quite pleasant, but what about delaying??!! I usually play with the chorus turned on just to have that nicer sound. For chorus proper I use my CE-2. As for noise, it is present. The is a very faint "wah-wah" sound, but as soon as you pluck a string, you can't hear it any more, so I don't care. I use a standard Start, so the level of noise largely depends on electric devices in vicinity. :-) Nevertheless, when I use 1/2 or 2/3 setting, the noise is negligible.

It's hard to say. I have it for just 4 months and I don't know for how long it was used before. Phone output jack sometimes loses contact somewhere but I never cared to take a peak inside. Otherwise, it's fine.

Never had to deal with them

I personally think that it's a very decent piece of electronics. For someone who like me doesn't have a lot of money (I doubt the thingie is too expensive) for a proper amp and effects, and who can't play through the amp for some reason (I live in an apartment building and I just learn the guitar, so I don't want to be thrown down from my 14th floor by angry neighbours ;-) it's a good deal. You got your basic setup (i.e. amplification and distortion) and even some frills (that...err...let's call it "chorus" ;-) , so concentrate on what music is all about: PLAYING. IMHO it's great for a beginner, although I greately doubt it's any good for any kind of professional use. After all, that's why it was presented to me. Feel free to agree/disagree with me, just don't kill me if you buy it and in your HO it sucks. :-)

piece of cake- chorus or echo (not both), two clean sounds, two distorted sounds.

i always LOVED rockman chorus and clean tones, but hated the distortion. still, i'd always heard Tom Scholz based its tone on a mic'ed Marshall thru a 4 x 12 cab. much to my amazement, when the chorus and echo are off, this pedal almost nails it. i had the original rockman and the sustainor rack module, which were both pricier than the soloist, but its distortion was easily the best. great for home demos, even though solos still sounded canned and overcompressed.

started shorting out after 6 months or so, and dead entirely in a year.

good question.

as much as i've slammed my sustainor (and i've taken heat for my review), i LOVED my soloist. it's been dead for 5 years, but i still have it in a box, hoping...........