Reverend Rocco

Made in the U.S.A., this 22-fret, hard tail, double humbucker model comes with a three-way pickup selector and a coil splitting switch for each pickup, and one master tone and volume knob each. Mine is the older phenolic top and back rather than the newer metal line. Mine was a factory refurb due to a comsetic blemish. I have to commend Joe and staff here: they were very forthcoming about this guitars cosmetic flaw. And when I received the guitar, I could barely detect where the blemish had been! Most people would never notice it, and I got a GREAT deal because of it!

I rate it highly on features due to the wide range of tones available from the 8 pickup options provided with the coil-taps. Please be aware that this guitar's body is made from non-traditional materials. That will be enough to turn some people off, right there. To me it makes no difference, as it is the tone and playability that I am after.

I like playing everything, as long as it is classic rock and Clapton/SRV blues. This guitar is great for me, as I find the variety of truly musical and appealing tones to be amazing! It will provide a fat humbucker sound, and with a flip of the switch it is a very usable single coil sound. I don't experience the over-brightness that some have referred to in these reviews, but then again aging ears tend to lose some responsiveness to those frequencies. To me the guitar sounds very clear, focused and precise. I have my favorite settings, e.g. the bridge in humbucker mode with overdrive is a sizzling lead rock/blues tone. And, like someone else mentioned, the neck pu in humbucker and the bridge in single coil through a clean tube amp is so pretty I can lose an hour just strumming chords and listening to it!

This Reverend is, quite simply, the most user-friendly guitar I have ever picked up. It was set up great straight from the factory (I purchased factory direct), the neck is superb and felt to me like an old friend immediately. It is the most playable guitar I have experienced without having to adjust it first.

I don't abuse my stuff, so I am not worried, but the guitar does not have the same feel as a solid wood instrument. I am expecting it to do just fine, but I could see where a concern could be expressed in this area due to the nontraditional building materials.

This is the icing on the already tasty cake! If he ever tires of building guitars, Joe Naylor could earn a living teaching the Big Boys a lot about how to treat the customer. He has responded to every email I have ever sent him within 24 hours, and often much quicker. He is very friendly and informative. I have to admit I am a sucker for company that provides good quality service. That is one reason I have purchased three Reverend products.

I have been playing for 30 years, and own/have owned/played all of the stuff put out by the Big Boys. This guitar beats them all. If it were stolen, I couldn't blame the thief for being tempted, but would still have to run him/her through a wood chipper and set the gooey remains ablaze. Then I would call Joe and have him overnight express me another. If you are not a die-hard traditionalist that must have a wooden bodied instrument, I highly reccomend these guitars.

Mine is a Lava Swirl, front and back, with the older Zerbra humbuckers. Others have done a good job listing the features. The individual coil taps add some nice tone options you don't normally get with humbucker guitars. Price included a Reverend Two-Tone HSC. Both the guitar and the case have very cool retro look to them.

I play mostly blues/clean tones, with a little high gain stuff thrown in. This guitar is great for versatility. Both the volume and tone pots are not linear. By turning the volume knob you can reduce/increase your gain without much change in volume. The tone reduces treble wihout reducing clarity until at 20% and then you get that nice muffled jazz tone. The p/u's are simply amazing. You can get a very nice clean sound from the humbuckers, and a great clean sound when the coil taps are used. Not quite a strat, but very close. In contrast to a Strat, the bridge p/u has a wonderful tone, bright, but not shrill. Each of the eight different p/u configuration are useable. The sustain is good and the guitar produces great clarity with chords. The neck is easy to play and move around on. When "shredding" you can easily produce feedback, but its very controlable. I haven't found any tone that I don't like and the Rocco can be used for virtually any style of playing.

I bought this used on ebay. It is well built and shows no signs of abuse. The neck and frets are great, straight and no wear. The neck has a satin finish and nice grain. The body is semi-hollow, with a metal layer top and back.

The guitar is a hollow body, so it requires some care in handling, but I wouldn't describe it as fragile. The components seem to be top quality. I would gig w/o a back as far as electronics go, but broken strings require a backup.

Joy Naylor and his staff at Reverend are very helpful and stand behind their instruments. No warranty for this guitar as it was purchased used.

This is my third electric guitar (G&L Legacy and PRS McCarty are the other two). This guitar makes it possible to cover the bases that I needed both the Legacy and McCarty to cover before. Based on this experience, I'm planning on getting two more Reverends--the Avenger (3 single coils) and the Slingshot (2 or 3 P-90's). I would definately buy another Rocco if this were lost or stolen. If I had bought this first, it would have been my only electric.

Handmade in Eastpointe, MI which is aout 40 miles away from my front door. It has a metal "BUG EYE" top & back. Ithas 1 volume, & 1 tone with 2 humbuckers. There is a coil tap switch for each pickup. The pickups are apparently a secret Joe Naylor design, but they sound great!!!! The body style is kind of a Strat, Jaguar hybrid. It has a string thru body hard tail Fender type bridge. Also has Strat style tuners. The neck feels just like thew neck on my 197? Strat, just a little thinner. Mine came with a two tone hard shell Reverend case that is awesome!!!!!

I play somewhere between Blues and rock. This suits my style perfectly! I currently use it through a Plexi clone that was made for me by Trace at Voodoo Amps in NY. This guitar is dead quiet! Being a Strat user Iwas in search of a usable brige pickup. The bridge pu is richg and full sounding, whether used as a HB, or tapped. Not shrill like most LP or Strat bridg pu's. With this guitar I can go from clean blues to balls out distortion tones. The semi hollow design really makes this guitar resonate and adds to the tone. There is nothing I dislike about this guitar! My strat has been in it's case since I got my Rocco!

I bought this guitar used on consignment so I don't know who had been messin' with it. I lowered the action and pickups to my liking which wasn't much of a problem. Everything was just right except for the few minor adjustments I made.

There i nothing on this guitar that I don't trust. I live in Joe Naylor territory so his reputation is well known to me and it shows in the quality of this instrument. I always gig with a back up guitar. You can never completely trust your strings.

Joe Naylor is very easy to deal with. He's responded to every e-mail I've sent him, no matter how stupid the question! Since I bought mine used there is no warranty.

I've been playing for 17 years, an have owned Strats Les Pauls, and this guitar keeps up with all of them IMHO. It's very light weight which I love! If you've ever carried a Les Paul strapped around your neck for 3 to 5 ours then you know how important this is!
If it were stolen I would track down the Mother F***er who stole it and beat him over the haed with the case(that would probably kill him)then I would wash his brains off the case and play my Rocco while stomping the rest of his body into a pulp that I could use to feed my neighbors dog.
I was initially looking to get a Les Paul when I discovered the Reverend line. Once I found out that it was Joe Naylor's company I had to give them a try! I tested a Rocco in a local music store and then picked up a Les Paul, and the Rocco felt better than the Paul in every way! The price diference of $2500 was also a factor in my decision! If you have a chance you need to try one of these!

"Phenolic laminate body" (read: plastic), two tapped HB's, master vol and master tone, 25.5" scale, maple neck w/ rosewood board, string-thru body 6-saddle bridge (a la hardtail strat). The twin tapped buckers help the score, the plastic body hurts the score

Plugged in, the guitar sounds very good and there are lots of usable sounds. I found it to be very bright...I turned the tone down about halfway regardless of which pup(s) I had selected. Tapped neck sounds pretty close to a strat, tapped bridge sounds pretty close to tele. Acoustically, it sounds VERY strange, due to the plastic body. It sounds as different from a conventional wooden guitar as a flat-top acoustic does from a resonator. Of course, this doesn't mean much because no one really plays electric guitars without amplification.

The plastic body thing...what sounded good in concept didn't work out too well once the thing had been built. On the bright side, the neck was very well done and the fretwork was immaculate. The hardware did'nt seem especially hardy but didn't malfunction during the 10 days that I owned the guitar (ha, ha). Except for the neck, the quality of the guitar reminded me of something from Asia

I can't imagine a plastic guitar aging gracefully and tone-fully as would as guitar made of mahogany or ash or (fill in your favorite tone wood). I imagine the sound of the guitar will get worse as the plastic becomes more brittle or warps over time. I liked the sound of the guitar but I attribute that strictly to the pickups. I don't belive the materials/construction contribute anything to the guitar (in fact, I think they are a hindrance). So, I didn't waste any time getting rid of the thing

Didn't have occasion to deal w/ Reverend, although I hear lots of good things about Joe Naylor and co. and lots of people say their amps and effects are good.

Some people really dig these...I don't. I'll stick to guitars made of real wood, that I know will continue to sound good (and progressively better) as they age. It felt like a toy, the neck was the only solid thing on it. I think, in general, these guitars get good reviews...maybe I just don't get it, but I wouldn't even pay $200 for one of these again.

This one was made the first year of production, the number is 0004. It has two chrome covered humbuckers, coil taps for each, phenolic top... you know the rest.

This is a really cool guitar as far as sound goes. Since it has coil taps, you can coax a ton of different sounds. The body makes the guitar very bright sounding, probably not the best for death metal, but would do a good job. The humbuckers are second to none, and sound better than my Duncan Customs in my high end Ibanez

I bought this guitar used and the center tone block was loose. I called Joe Naylor at Reverend, and he fixed it for free. I find the neck very comfortable and the action to be of medium height. I use 10's on it, and they seem perfect for most applications. No obvious flaws. NICE NECK..... best I have ever played. I just cant put the damn thing down.

I would say that with the construction being of a phenolic resin that these guitars are not as robust as some guitars. I wouldnt play anything without a backup, but that is just me. It hasnt failed me yet though. These are definitely not the guitars that you give the neck a good push on to make up for no trem.

Second to none....

This is my favorite guitar..
I have been playing it for 3 months so far, and it has a sound I cant get from my other guitars. I researched the guitar for a long time and it was a no brainer when I did buy it. If it were lost or stolen, I would hunt down the guy that did it and make him play a Kramer for the rest of his days. I would buy it again in a heartbeat. I am currently looking for a Reverend Slingshot and maybe a Bass to compliment this instrument.

READ CUSTOMER SUPPORT!!!

READ CUSTOMER SUPPORT!!!

READ CUSTOMER SUPPORT!!!

READ CUSTOMER SUPPORT!!!

Hey there. My name's robb, and i posted the very first rocco review on this page. I just wanted to update w/ a quick story.

This past weekend, while practicing w/ the band, my low E string started to go flat. When i tried to retune it, the tuner broke (some internal part snapped). I was pretty distraught, and contacted Reverend via e-mail to see what they would do about it.

Joe Naylor contacted me the next day (that would be today, in fact) and is fixing the problem free of charge.

I don't know if Reverend's customer service is matched anywhere in the music instrument industry, save private luthiers, makers of really fine acoustic and classical guitars, and violins and such. I just wanted to let you all hear that. And Joe, if you're reading, THANKS! You do a great job.

Can't i give this guy an 11?

Phenolic semi-hollow body with brushed "Lava Swirl Aluminum" top, chrome arm rest, white mahoghany center block with steel "sustain bar", locking tuners, graphite nut, rosewood fretboard, chrome covered humbucking pickups, 3 way selector switch, coil tap switch for each pickup. I was most surprised at how light weight the Rocco is.

I play rock, "alternative", and some blues through a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe & Fender Blues Junior amplifiers(no effects, except the occassional wah pedal). Theis guitar is pretty much suited for anything from jazz to hard rock(super versatile). The pickups don't get muddy regardless of the amount of gain/distortion, and despite the semi-hollow design, I had to COAX feedback out of it when I needed it. Clean sounds shimmer, and overdriven chords retain definition: you can hear every note of the chord clearly. When you tap a pickup, you get some hum, but FAR LESS than you would from a Strat or similar instrument. I haven't pulled a bad tone out of my Rocco yet, and I doubt I ever will.

I'm REALLY picky about small details, and the Rocco passed my scrutiny with flying colors! Came from the facory BEAUTIFULLY set up with SIT strings gauge 9-42(I usually use 10's, but I'm gonna stick with the 9's as there are no tuning or tone issues), and ready to play! The fretwork was gorgeous, and the guitar felt like an old riend RIGHT AWAY. The Lava Swirl finish is fantastic. Flashy but classy. The hardware, switches, etc., are first rate. The Rocco is balanced like any other good guitar, despite the light weight construction.

I haven't played out with it yet, but the Rocco seems VERY sturdy. Treat it with the respect a high end instrument deserves(don't baby it, but don't use it as a hockey stick), and it should last close to forever.

Joe Naylor never fails to answer my e-mails personally. I had faith in his product before I evevn played it. It's obvious he cares about what he does, and his customers.

I've been playing 15 years. I own an American Series Strat and a G&L Legacy. I mentioned my amps above. The Rocco is the most unique, exciting instrument I've ever owned or played. I hope we're friends a LOOOOOOONG tome. I've never been happier with an instrument purchase.

A space guitar from the future.

I agree with the posts below about the brightness of these guitars. I'ts one thing to have a nice punchy Clear tone but the Reverend takes this to extremes. The pickups seem to be all mids and highs. These pickups are not my bag. The guitar plays and looks cool but you may want to consider replacement pickups.

I'v seen better but for the price range it's good.

No idea !

I asked Joe about a few things before I bought the guitar. Seemed alright,but did'nt go out of his way to help. He gave very Short non specific answers. I don't know, maybe He was having a bad day but it left a bad taste in my mouth.

You may like it but I'ts not my bag. Pickups are all mids and treble. Could not get a sound I liked. With good pickups this guitar might be a winner but I would not recommend a stock reverend Rocco. I have been in bed with a bad cold for the past week and I just want to "get over it already" so I can get out and try some new pickups.

I ordered this guitar in jet black with a silver pickguard

The construction was excellent, frets we're dressed flawlessly, the necks had a great feel to it...almost broken in like. It's light as hell but you have to be carefully with it or could break it because the phenolic base body with a block mahogany core.

The guitar unplugged sounds excellent with an acoustic sound. Plugged it you get an array of quality sounds from each pick up. Even using the 3 way selector and toggle switches you get some very usable tones.

I played this into my carvin mts and through my pa. I must say that it does sound pretty impressive but since it's not a solid body guitar there will be a difference in tone.

I compared it to my american deluxe strat....the clean on the rocco sounds excellent but didn't have a the depth and shimmer of the strat but what do you expect it's got two humbuckers as oppose to single coils....and those humbuckers are hot!! whew!! lots of output. when i compare it using the distortion channel it sounded alittle too full for me and again lack the warmth of the noiseless pickups.

the strings are kinda thin....but as far setup and the quality of setup are topnotch.

no problems during my encouner......from the way it's constructed....it seems to be very solid.

Joe Naylor has excellent customer service and support. If you have any questions concerning his products....he's the man

I returned my Rocco guitar cause the sounded alittle to airy and not full sounding ......if this was a solid body guitar.....either with alder, maple, or ash. This would be one kick ass guitar!! The pickups are very balance and ballsy.....has alittle bit of the Lindy Fralin characteristics and feel. I love my american deluxe strat and those noiseless pickups are just outstanding!

The standard features of the Reverend guitars have been pretty well covered. Mine is a navy/silver, bone-stock Rocco: rosewood board and fixed bridge. A solid eight for straightforward, quality essentials.

The Rocco is an amazingly versatile guitar. The coil-splits, in particular, are praiseworthy: I have yet to come across another instrument that delivers so much tone and so little noise from a split humbucker. As has been mentioned, there are eight possible pickup settings between the switch and splits. While you won't find eight true, distinct, and usable sounds on any given amp setting, you *will* find that some combinations work great clean, some dirty, some driven. And those settings are fairly intuitive. For instance, I'm a great fan of the two split pickups in the middle switch position (think in-between Tele) for a clean, near acoustic sound, and the full neck humbucker for a fuller clean/jazz sound (with the treble rolled off slightly). For mild to medium OD rhythm, I favor the neck single by its lonesome or the two humbuckers in combination. And for the genuine, driven rock tone, the bridge humbucker is the obvious choice. The beauty of the Reverend is that you can get *all* of that in a single instrument without compromise.

The only thing I can think of that you won't get here is the straight, overwound "Texas" single coil sound. The splits are more akin to true singles (think about a stock 62RI Strat). I'm considering a Slingshot Custom for that purpose (three P90s and a five way switch).

But the absence of a particular tonality doesn't lessen the inherently fine sound of the instrument or its remarkable versatility.

The guitar was sold as used/mint, and came nearly so. A smudge on the pickguard and another on the headstock and slightly higher than factory action kept it from being so, in my opinion. Note that this isn't a reflection on Joe Naylor or Reverend, but upon the shop, which had all but guaranteed shortcoming (mint is a target, folks).

Nothing that couldn't be cleaned or adjusted.

The Rocco *does* withstand live playing. I've been playing the Reverend weekly for 10 months or so. I usually have a backup on hand, but haven't needed one. The saddle and nut are wonderfully devoid of burrs or sharp edges, which is *not* something to be taken for granted, and that attention to fit/finish contributes directly to string life and real world practicality.

The tuning machines are a touch loosely fitted, and so the guitar is prone to a *slight* tuning instability. I don't see any difference between these and other quality, non-locking tuners.

Everything is simple and solid, which is, IMO, what a professional instrument should be.

Great, quick, to the point responses. The best measure though is a great product that doesn't lead you into negative interaction with the company.

Nine for the simple reason that my contact has been limited: Joe Naylor has a sterling reputation for support of his players.

The Reverend is an exceptional instrument, period. The meager outlay simply reinforces that fact. I'd have bought one new at the same time had this one not been available. I've owned new and old offerings from Fender, a 73 LP Deluxe, and acoustics from Taylor, Tacoma, and Larrivee. I've never had the money to spend outright on what I've wanted, and have consistently bought for value. The only instrument I'd like to have back alongside the Reverend was an early 90s 62RI Strat that I was particularly fond of. However, as I mentioned above, my next electric purchase will likely be another Reverend to compliment the Rocco. It is absolutely solid and a patently comfortable guitar to play: the light weight and *great* neck make for an easy show.

I have great respect for Mr. Naylor and Reverend, and a pronounced fondness for his instruments. I couldn't be happier.