Rockinger strat (Robert you may be interested...)

[elavd]

Hello again! I read on Robert's blog that he is interested in finding a good strat.
Here is my story:

I was looking for a nice-looking strat that could produce the STRAT-SOUND that I have in mind (Gilmour, Knopfler, J. Mayer etc...). At the moment I had a Fender MIM Deluxe Super strat which didn't sound right although I have tried different types of pickups on it (first the Vintage Noiseless and then the CS 69s).

I was feeling miserable because I could get twangy and snappy bass notes as also clear glassy highs...

Finally I discovered a German company called ROCKINGER.

They produce strat and tele copies (they call them "kits") at a very LOW price (490€ ~ 620$).
But the good news was that this strat had the perfect specifications for me:
> 2-piece alder wood, 2 tone sunburst (Fender uses 3-4 pieces)
> rosewood fingerboard (9.5" and medium jumbo frets)
> Alnico 5 pickups
> Kluson Deluxe vintage tuners
> mint green 3-ply pickguard
> CLR 5-way switch
AND
> vintage bridge with STEEL block.

I found that this "little" detail has a major role on the whole tone of the guitar.
Both MIA (standard models) & MIM fenders as also Squiers don't have real STEEL blocks (my MIM had a zinc one).
You cannot imagine how much tone improvement makes a steel block on a strat...

I payed them 27€ for a perfect nut slotting (in order to avoid sting detunings) and I received the guitar in perfect condition!
The fret job was just PERFECT !!!

This guitar looks like a 62 Strat (the neck hasn't a stripe on the back) despite the color that it is 2-tone rather than 3-tone sunburst.

I think that this guitars are better in quality than an average American standard strat and if you think of the price you can feel more happy!

Here are some pictures of my guitar:

Robert, unfortunatelly I don't know how much it would cost you to buy one from Canada (I live in Greece so the shipping costs was only 16€) but I think that you wan't be dissapointed if you buy one.

PS. Sorry for my bad English...

 

[elavd]

Another 2 photos:

Here is a decal I made (it says "FERDEN StraVocaster... )

Also, these are 2 clips from my band (PETTISH FISH) playing:
Rory Gallagher's "do you read me"

and Doors' "Riders on the storm" where I use this strat /

 

[Guitar-Chris]

Finally I discovered a German company called ROCKINGER.

Oh, Rockinger is - at least here in Germany - well known for their excellent guitars. For the same price as a "real" Fender you get very good instruments.

And: Yours looks very good, hm, already gasing again....

 

[elavd]

And: Yours looks very good, hm, already gasing again....

Thanks Chris

If you liked my strat...then take a look at my Rockinger Candy Apple Red Tele too:

More photos here:
http://www.offbit.gr/tele/
http://www.offbit.gr/tele2/

 

[Guitar-Chris]

If you liked my strat...then take a look at my Rockinger Candy Apple Red Tele too:

Great cream-white binding and great guitar at all. The frets look very big, or is it just the foto?

 

[elavd]

Great cream-white binding and great guitar at all. The frets look very big, or is it just the foto?

No they are just normal Medium Jumbo frets.
Again the fret job was perfect!!! The frets were probably polished and they shinned a lot

 

[Guitar-Chris]

No they are just normal Medium Jumbo frets.
Again the fret job was perfect!!! The frets were probably polished and they shinned a lot

Ok. But: No plate on the tremolo spring chamber? Hm, i don't like that....

 

[Nelskie]

Wow, elavd - the audio mix you have on that video is fantastic! Did you take it right off of the board? Being a huge Rory Gallagher fan myself, I really enjoyed your band's rendition of Do You Read Me. You're getting a fantastic tone with that guitar / amp combo (I can see a Marshall head peeking up behind you??) Overall, impressive performances from the all of the band, but I especially enjoyed hearing this song with a solid keyboard / organ tone behind it. Thanks for sharing it with us. Also - does your band do any other Rory Gallagher numbers?

 

[elavd]

Ok. But: No plate on the tremolo spring chamber? Hm, i don't like that....

The quys from Rockinger sent me a back plate but I didn't put it on the guitar as I liked the fact that there where no screw holes on the back of the body like the Eric Johnson signature strat

http://elderly.com/fmic/items/FEJS-2SB.htm

Also, some people (including Eric Johnson) believe that the tone of a strat is even better without a back plate.

Personally I cannot hear any difference in tone (I don't have Eric Johnson's ears...) but I left it off for another reason: it is easier for me to change a broken string in a live situation

Wow, elavd - the audio mix you have on that video is fantastic! Did you take it right off of the board?

First of all THANKS for your compliments!!!

The audio "mix" that you hear is the sound of a hand camera! (You can also hear my girlfriend talking too... )

You're getting a fantastic tone with that guitar / amp combo (I can see is a Marshall head peeking up behind you??)

Thanks again I use my Rockinger strat a Marshall BluesBraker II overdrive (on the rythm parts I have the guitar volume knob on 80% and during solo on 100%). Yes on that live I used a Marshall stack (I don't know any details as it was brought from the guys that organized the festival).
I usually use a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe (which is a perfect amp for my taste!!!) and I think that I can get very similar tone to Rory's

Also - does your band do any other Rory Gallagher numbers?

Unfortunatelly no (at the time...)

 

[Nelskie]

First of all THANKS for your compliments!!! The audio "mix" that you hear is the sound of a hand camera! (You can also hear my girlfriend talking too... )

Wow. A hand-held video camera. Really - that's quite amazing. If you don't mind, I'd sure like to know what kind of video camera she was using. It really has fantastic sound.

Thanks again I use my Rockinger strat a Marshall BluesBraker II overdrive (on the rythm parts I have the guitar volume knob on 80% and during solo on 100%). Yes on that live I used a Marshall stack (I don't know any details as it was brought from the guys that organized the festival). I usually use a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe (which is a perfect amp for my taste!!!) and I think that I can get very similar tone to Rory's

May I suggest that you guys consider doing "Million Miles Away". There's a fantastic live rendition of that song off of Rory's "Irish Tour" album - I believe its circa '74 or thereabouts. Its another keyboard / organ-driven song that I think would lend itself well to your band's style of music. Although the Marshall sounded great on that cut, I'm certain that the HR Deluxe makes that Strat of yours sound even better! Cheers to you, bro'!

 

[elavd]

Wow. A hand-held video camera. Really - that's quite amazing. If you don't mind, I'd sure like to know what kind of video camera she was using. It really has fantastic sound.

It's a Sony MiniDV but I cannot recall the model. If you are interested in the details, I can ask her and tell you

May I suggest that you guys consider doing "Million Miles Away".

It's UNBELIEVABLE!!! I was just viewing Rory's video of Million Miles Away on YouTube right now!!!
The "Irish tour" version is Perfect and I will suggest it to my band.
THANKS AGAIN!!!

 

[Nelskie]

It's a Sony MiniDV but I cannot recall the model. If you are interested in the details, I can ask her and tell you

Yes, I would appreciate that - that is, if you wouldn't mind asking.

It's UNBELIEVABLE!!! I was just viewing Rory's video of Million Miles Away on YouTube right now!!! The "Irish tour" version is Perfect and I will suggest it to my band. THANKS AGAIN!!!

Great minds think alike!

 

[tiefnig]

Me and my friend (plays bass) order our stuff from rockinger or thomann, I really like rockinger though. Are the guitars they "make" really that good? We've only bought smaller parts, like a bridge or pickups.

 

[elavd]

Are the guitars they "make" really that good? We've only bought smaller parts, like a bridge or pickups.

I have played with many strats and I think that my Rockinger strat although it costs 490€, is worth 1500€ at least...

The quality of the quitars is very HIGH, higher than an overestimated-due-to-its-logo Fender...

What I mean is that I believe that Fenders are overpriced for what they really are (Of course I am NOT talking about the Custom Shop ones!!!)

I don't think that building a BOLT ON guitar is ...rocket science, so I can't understand why the prices are sooo high...

The parts from Rockinger I think that are bought from the same supplier that Allparts get its parts. They are the SAME!

When I ordered my strat, I asked them to send me a lightweight sunburst guitar, that would have a NON-boring wood pattern

This is what I got:

Also, keep in mind that the specs of the Rockinger guitars are exactly like Fender's.
I am saying that because, many guitars look like Fenders, but usually they have some differences (e.g. different headstock).
I think that European guitar builders don't have to pay patend rights to Fender (Warmoth and Allparts pay a lot of money, that's why the prices are very high!!) and so the prices are kept low...

 

[Guitar-Chris]

The quality of the quitars is very HIGH, higher than an overestimated-due-to-its-logo Fender...

What I mean is that I believe that Fenders are overpriced for what they really are (Of course I am NOT talking about the Custom Shop ones!!!)

I sign this 100%. But to be honest: Personally I like the "Fender" logo a little bit as well

 

[elavd]

Personally I like the "Fender" logo a little bit as well

I like it VERY Much!!!

When I first bought the Rockinger tele, I created on Corel an exact Fender decal and I put it on:

But later, when I got the strat, although I wanted a Fender logo, I didn't want to put it on because my guitar is NOT Fender and I don't want to advertise Fender while playing another guitar
So I made something different on Corel:

 

[Guitar-Chris]

But later, when I got the strat, although I wanted a Fender logo, I didn't want to put it on because my guitar is NOT Fender and I don't want to advertise Fender while playing another guitar

Oh i like the rockinger without any decal, too. Looks a bit mystical or like e real custom guitar.....

 

[SuperSwede]

I dont see the reason why people puts fender decals on their non-fender guitars?

 

[elavd]

You are absolutely right...

But...on the other hand, although it is illegal, I can understand those people that do it (I am one of those)...

The reason that I did it is the fact that I love the spaghetti logo of Fender and I thought that a Fender type headstock is empty without a logo and UGLY with any other type of logo...

 

[Tinky-Winky]

elavd, would you say that this guitar blows away mexican strats, as in the UK this would only be around 50 pounds more?

 

[elavd]

elavd, would you say that this guitar blows away mexican strats, as in the UK this would only be around 50 pounds more?

Ι say that it blows a MIA strat away!!!

I don't even discuss it about a MIM one...

I had this MIM Deluxe Fender with Custom Shop 69's and I gave it away the moment I touched my Rockinger strat:

My collection (before I sell the honey blonde Fender):

 

[tremoloman]

Very nice guitars indeed Elavd! Those look made of very high quality.

I could not agree with you more on the steel block comment. I've been trying to convince everyoen I can to give one I try. I've installed Callaham steel blocks in EVERY Stratocaster I own, including a Squier JagMaster. Once you try a steel tremolo block, you'll never ever tolerate a tone and sustain sucking zinc POS!

I mean come on... just look at the difference!

I also posted a picture with the Callaham installed in this thread on Pinky:
http://www.thefret.net/showpost.php?p=9901&postcount=6

I will always install a steel block in ANY Stratocaster for the rest of my life. I'm sold!

 

[Robert]

Wow, that is great info! Nice guitars indeed. So did you buy a kit and assemble it yourself?

Rockinger. Cool name, too.

 

[elavd]

So did you buy a kit and assemble it yourself?

No I didn't buy separate parts. I bought a Rockinger kit.

Rockinger Kits are assembled guitars. The only think I had to do was to a basic setup for my needs (mainly I changed the action of the strings) and I was ready to go.
The nut is pre-slotted, but by paing extra 27€ (I think) they do a perfect nut slotting and so you don't have the problem of getting detuned all the time (the nut in my opinion is a great factor for the tuning stability).

The string tree is already installed on the strat kits, but on the teles isn't. They send it to you and you have to install it by yourself. I don't know why they do it, but anyway it's a very easy procedure to do it yoursef.

The "bad" news is that all their kits are available ONLY with rosewood fingerboards and although I (and many others as far as I know) have send them many emails asking them if they can change it to maple they were negative.
They sell their kits as they are and they don't accept any change on them.
They replied me that they are a small company, and they can't have both options (maple and RW)...So if anyone nees maple he has to buy an extra neck and sell the RW, or save it for future use...

The funny thing is that Rockinger in the past sold guitars ONLY with maple fingerboards...

 

[Guitar-Chris]

But...on the other hand, although it is illegal, I can understand those people that do it (I am one of those)...

For your personal use you can put any decal on the headstock. But you should not sell it this way.

 

[elavd]

For your personal use you can put any decal on the headstock. But you should not sell it this way.

As you can see on both pictures that I sent (strat and tele):

I have not polished the headstock after placing the decal on the guitar on purpose. If look closely you can see the edges of the transparency. It can be removed very easily if I get bored of them or change my mind of having them on my guitars.

I was not planning to sell a fake guitar! In fact I am not planning to sell them at all!!!

 

[Guitar-Chris]

I was not planning to sell a fake guitar! In fact I am not planning to sell them at all!!!

Did'nt want to say that. I only referred to the "it is illelagel".

With your own guitar you can do what you want.

 

[tremoloman]

Elavd,

You've really peaked my curisoity... is there a website where we could look at the kits available and place an order? I mentioned this kit to a friend of mine and he fell in love with your pics and video clip.

 

[Guitar-Chris]

You've really peaked my curisoity... is there a website where we could look at the kits available and place an order? I mentioned this kit to a friend of mine and he fell in love with your pics and video clip.

Rockinger is in english available under Rockinger


The guitars are the Rockinger Guitar Kits (5 Minutes Kits).

They aren't really kits. Only the nut must be done. For nearly 30 euro they do it for you.

 

[elavd]

Elavd,

You've really peaked my curisoity... is there a website where we could look at the kits available and place an order?

http://www.rockinger.com/index.html?lang=ENG

I mentioned this kit to a friend of mine and he fell in love with your pics and video clip.

Thanks