Hawaiian Punch
by Art Thompson
Guitar Player
Reverend Rocco

Snapshot
With it's retro-cool styling and optional etched-metal top and back, the Reverend Rocco($679; $859 as tested) is both a sharp looker and a hip-sounding alternative to Fender-inspired humbucker guitars. This well-made instrument receives an EDITORS' PICK AWARD.

As one of the few companies building bolt-on neck guitars that don't look like Fenders, Reverend has carved out a stylistic niche with its engaging blend of swooping curves and art deco-inspired lines. The Rocco ($679; $859 as tested with etched-metal top and back) is Reverend's first dual-humbucker model, and like its predecessors, features a chambered body with a mahogany center block. The top and back are a composite of wood fibers and phenolic resin. Our test model also features optional overlays of thin polished aluminum, which are bonded to a phenolic backing, and beautifully sandblasted with Hawaiian-style scenes similar to those featured on many 30's-era metal-bodied resonator guitars. (Other metal treatments are available.) The banjo-style armrest (another Reverend trademark) is a nifty touch, and the Grover locking tuners (which locks the string automatically, and unlocks with at twist of a screwdriver or a small coin) provide superior tuning stability.

Divine Details
The Rocco's construction is top drawer. The neck joint is super tight, the polished jumbo frets are well shaped and trimmed, and the satin-finished neck feels perfectly smooth. The combination of a low action and a relatively thin neck gives the Rocco a sleek playing feel, and the deep cutaway provides excellent access to the high frets. All of the strings exhibited some minor buzzing above the 14th fret, but not enough to impact the guitar's tone or playabililty. Like its stable mates, the Rocco sports Reverend-made Pickups—in this case, ceramic-magnet humbuckers with chrome covers. The electronics consist of master volume and tone knobs, a 3-way pickup selector, and a pair of mini toggles that allow you to use just the front coils of each humbucker.

Sonic Sermon
The Rocco's metal overlays enhance its already zingy acoustic sound, and you could probably record a decent rhythm track simply by sticking a mic in front of the guitar. Played through a variety of amps (a 50's Gibson Discoverer, a 60's Fender Twin Reverb, a reissue Vox AC30, a Victoria Double Deluxe, and a DR. Z Route 66), the Rocco delivered a rich tone that melded ringing clarity with humbucker meat. The guitar's bridge pickup offers a stout upper-midrange bark, and laying into it through a distorted amp yields a wicked moan that cuts nicely without excessive bite. The neck pickup also has a lot of midrange punch, and it sounds bright and detailed when run wide open for solos-think of a cross between a Strat and am SG Standard. Switched to single coil mode, the Rocco sounds crisper and airier and has considerably less output. Neither pickup sounds particularly Fender-like in single coil mode, but many of the dual-pickup combinations yield lush, chimey tones that are very cool for chords and clean picking. The Rocco also scores major points for its superbly voiced tone control—no muddiness here—as well as its toneful volume knob that preserves the highs when you turn down.

While the Rocco isn't exactly a budget guitar, when you consider how much custom attitude, playability, and sound it delivers for about half the price of many other American-made customs, this lightweight (6.5 lb) ax is a pretty amazing deal. A no brainer for blues players—and flexible and powerful enough to cut anything from country to hard rock—the beautifully made Rocco is a stylin' addition to Reverend's growing line.

The Ratings Game

• Tone - 4
• Playability - 4.5
• Workmanship - 4.5
• Hardware - 4.5
• Vibe - 5
• Value - 5

The Rate-O-Meter: Dismal = 1, Excellent = 5

Reverend comments: The sandblasted Hawaiian Scene is available on any guitar model, and on any of the Classic Brushed finishes or Lava Swirl. We now also offer sandblasted Hot Rod Flames. See price list for details.