My Scholz X-100 Rockman has tripled in price.

  • Thread starter Thread starter Samhain
  • Start date Start date
Had a Soloist back in the day…don’t miss it really. Sold it when the Zoom beltpack deal came out, way better. The Stereo Echo and EQ were pretty excellent though.
 
I sold off a pair of Rockman Smart Gates a few months ago. I had people responding from out of state to my Craig's List posting as if it was the Dumble of rackmounted noise gates. I ended up selling them for a profit compared to what I bought them for back in the 1990's.

Guitar George
 
Lost my Rockman in a move late '80's. I take care of my stuff and basically don't trust anyone.To this day I can't believe I tossed it out. I'd actually feel better if someone basically stole it from me. I used to work 2nd shift and it came in handy using headphones silent jamming with whatever hair band I was rock star fantasizing playing with at the time.
 
Samhain said:
50+ years it was bound to happen.
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The patents have been in the public domain since they were awarded 35 years ago.
However, it’s only in the last 15 years that online searching has made them easily accessible and for free.
 
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Well all "schematics" aside good luck sourcing parts if you were going to make one.
People can't even get original replacement parts the way it is.
You can't even fine the original ABS type battery doors. Yes i know there are composite replacements but not the same.
 
My original Live Rig was a bunch of those rockman units running into a fender super 60 plus a blue metal flake les paul deluxe. Distortion, sustainer, chorus unit and delay unit. I think the delay unit had a feedback generator on it. Good times.
 
Samhain said:
wssbhly55iowuzpumfsg.jpg


Well all "schematics" aside good luck sourcing parts if you were going to make one.
People can't even get original replacement parts the way it is.
You can't even fine the original ABS type battery doors. Yes i know there are composite replacements but not the same.
Click to expand...

A 35 year old Rockman is actually quite serviceable.

The main issues that plague the average Rockman X100

1) scratchy switches and jacks -> Clean all switches and jacks with DeoxIT D5
2) no power ->clean/replace battery contacts or replace power supply
3) floor noise/dull chorus -> Replace ALL capacitors
4) alkaline battery leakage -> in minor cases, soldering some jumper wires; in more serious cases the damage may require a donor board
5) EMI/RFI issues -> clean/repair the shielding tape at battery PCB ground pin (both sides)

The ICs and other components in the photo above are all easy to identify. Except for the electrolytic caps that dry out in just about every electronic device these days, the other components have proven to be very stable thanks in part to robust engineering.

If you do need a new headphone amp IC for example, the LM386N-1 audio amplifier (2x) is still available from suppliers like Digikey. The same goes for the TL072CP op-amps (10x) used throughout the design. Note that he first generation Rockman used a different op-amp which was a noisier component. I'm not sure about the IIB...

NEW Replacement parts ( available as of Nov 2021 )

Flex cable: https://www.ebay.com/itm/384339964285
Metal "Activator" Switch plate: https://www.ebay.com/itm/194358179443 (not for X100)
Headphone jack: https://www.ebay.com/itm/384291897450

Power jack: https://www.ebay.com/itm/384291986430

Battery PCB springs: https://www.ebay.com/itm/194357945001
Battery door contacts: https://www.ebay.com/itm/194357950162
Battery door ( complete ) https://www.ebay.com/itm/353779889893

Power Supplies

Re-capped Regulated Power Supply: https://www.ebay.com/itm/384539828447
Upgraded Power Supply: http://www.b5amps.com/B5_Amplification/Rockman_Solutions.html

OEM Switches from CW (Charles Wirt) Industries

2-position (ON/OFF)

Original: https://switches-connectors-custom....iniature-slide-switches-swidget-2/gi-152-0081 (Mouser# 629-GI-152-0081)
Longer knob: https://switches-connectors-custom....iniature-slide-switches-swidget-2/gi-152-0079 (Mouser #629-GI-152-0079)

3-position (CHORUS & ECHO, "VOL")

Original: https://switches-connectors-custom....iniature-slide-switches-swidget-2/gi-154-0007 (NLA)
Longer knob: https://switches-connectors-custom....iniature-slide-switches-swidget-2/gi-154-0006 (Mouser #629-GI-154-0006)

4-position (DIST EDGE1 CLN 2)

Original: https://switches-connectors-custom....iniature-slide-switches-swidget-2/gi-159-0024 (Mouser# 629-GI-159-0004)
Longer knob: https://switches-connectors-custom....iniature-slide-switches-swidget-2/gi-159-0004 (Mouser# 629-GI-159-0024)

X100 caps for DIY'ers

QTY / Value / Rating / Leadspacing / Dimensions (H x D)

(5) 220uF 16v S: 4.0mm H: 12.0mm D: 8.0mm
(1) 10uF 35v S: 2.0mm H: 11.0mm D: 5.0mm
(4) 3.3uF 50v S: 2.0mm H: 11.0mm D: 5.0mm
(1) 22uF 50v S: 2.0mm H: 11.0mm D: 5.0mm

As with any electrolytic cap replacement job, it will go easiest if you select capacitors that:

- have the same lead spacing so the wires can easily go through the holes in the PCB
- have the same height and diameter so that they don't interfere with other components and seat properly

There are hundreds of brands/lines of capacitors to choose from. This kit has already figured out which ones fit and they are the Nichicon brand which is well respected:

Recap kit: https://www.ebay.com/itm/384383023412

Headphones

As with any walkman type headphones from the 80's:

- foam is usually toast and can be sourced via AliExpress, eBay, etc.
- the solder joints at the drivers were poor to begin with. Fortunately they are easy to remove. Use solder wick to clean, and use flux when you re-solder.
- you can cut the rubberized jack open with an X-Acto knife and repair the connections or just replace the jack all together.
- the cable may have a broken connection in the middle from cord wrapping or abuse, so test for that, also.

The original headphones had 32 ohm drivers so that's what you are looking for at the jack after you fix and test their impedance.

Frankly there are a lot of better modern day options for headphones. While, anything will work but the audio will shine if you stick with 32 ohms. 63-250 ohms and even higher will result in a loss of volume.
 
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Why do you act like i don't know all that ? I do.
Caps & jacks don't make a complete Rockman. And none of that is ORIGINAL.
And the "rockman solutions" guy is out of business i heard not that i need him.
My X-100 had a cap job what i bought it with the revision 10 boards.
Good luck finding parts to build a Rockman from scratch like i said.

They're for sale just need to show the color of your money ...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/384529271942?hash=item5987bb0c86:g:lWMAAOSwBblhnwk1
https://www.ebay.com/itm/373700780894?hash=item57024d635e:g:E0EAAOSwzethKbbd
https://www.ebay.com/itm/384229553081?hash=item5975ddb3b9:g:TwQAAOSwGn5gzLD2
 
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Samhain said:
Caps & jacks don't make a complete Rockman. And none of that is ORIGINAL.
Good luck finding parts to build a Rockman from scratch like i said.
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Actually, whether you want to service it or build one from scratch, the Rockman's all analog design using off the shelf parts has led to its longevity. Any recreation using parts you bought today would sound exactly the same as 1986. If you want them in a vintage "SR&D" bag, that's obviously not available from Dunlop.

And the "rockman solutions" guy is out of business i heard not that i need him.
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There are several people offering repair services:

Dwight Baker @ B5 Amplification: http://www.b5amps.com/B5_Amplification/Rockman_Solutions.html
Mike Donzelli: https://www.ebay.com/itm/194338396105
Michael Mavrikakis: https://www.ebay.com/usr/mrmelectronics

No longer working on the headphone amps:

David Ferringer: http://www.rockman-repair.com

Just to name a few...
 
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And i suppose you think all op amps & components sound alike, okay now i know you're high.
 
Samhain said:
And i suppose you think all op amps & components sound alike, okay now i know you're high.
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No two Rockman’s sounded 100% exactly the same after they left the assembly line.

The capacitors on the board are rated 20% tolerance (stamped M on the side) along with most of the resistors being rated at 5% tolerance (Gold) is evidence of that.

If the TL072CP opamps on your board were made by Texas Instruments and you buy brand new ones from TI, then yes it will sound the same. This particular op amp is still active part available in PDIP packaging:

https://www.ti.com/store/ti/en/p/product/?p=TL072CP&HQS=ti-null-null-ds360-invf-store-ds360-wwe
There is no magic ingredient in the Rockman that has been lost to time: it was built with off the shelf components that are still available and only protected from commercial duplication by patents which have long expired. It was an engineering minimization feat for its day.
 
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TheToneDig said:
Like Def Leppard's Hysteria album.
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Also, Megadeth's "peace sells... but who's buying" album. I really like the production on that album, and some of the tones are pretty cool IMO. "The Conjuring" is such a killer tune.
 
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