Tops and Flops: High Fade, 90s Amps and Discontinued Products
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Tops and Flops: High Fade, 90s Amps and Discontinued Products · Source: George Loveridge
This week’s Tops and Flops highlights the wonderful rediscovery of a forgotten amplifier, a mesmerising live performance, and the sad demise of one of my favourite products of 2024.
This week’s Tops and Flops
Tops and Flops!
Welcome back to our weekly series, showcasing the highs and the lows of your gearnews editorial team. Whether we’re looking at cool releases or embarrassing gigging experiences, there’s always something worth talking about in the life of a musician.
Tops: Fender 700 Roc Pro
When I’m not writing for gearnews, I spend a lot of my time teaching guitar, bass and ukulele at a local music school. Across nearly 40 students per week, I usually use a MK 1 Boss Katana as my go-to amplifier.
This week, however, I have had to dig out my trusty old Fender 700 Roc Pro. Although it’s a Dinosaur compared to the Katana, it doesn’t know how to rip!
Released in the 1990s, the Roc Pro is a Tube Hybrid amp, complete with a reverb tank. Why do I like it so much? Well firstly, it’s seriously loud. I love having 200 old-school watts at my disposal. I’m lucky if I can get this thing above volume 2 without my ears bleeding.
Furthermore, I’m a sucker for some surf, so the reverb tank gives me all of the space and pops that I need. It also has a dark side, with the tube gain, you can really get into some heavier stuff at the flick of a button. Simply scoop the mids, and you’re basically in thrash mode.
Okay, so it chucks out a lot of heat and doesn’t have the same capabilities as a Katana. But, when you’re sitting on a wave of sound from an old amp, these new modelling amps can’t even begin to compete. It’s also way too loud for any of my gigs, but I’ll never get rid of it.
Flops: Boss Katana Go
This next section of Tops and Flops sees me saddened by the loss of one of my favourite releases from this year. That’s right, I learned recently that the Katana Go has been discontinued.
Apparently, due to a parts shortage, Boss has had to pull the plug on this one. Headphone amps are becoming increasingly attractive to me as a gigging musician. Simply as a practice tool, they make so much sense and allow you to practice well past bedtime!
What I liked most about these was the value for money. They retailed at £120 / €139, and considering that you could access 60 digital effects across 10 various amp types, it was arguably a steal. RIP little guy, you will be missed.
Tops: High Fade
To conclude my Tops and Flops from this week, I have to talk about going to see High Fade live in Huddersfield, UK.
Now, you may not have heard about these three guys from Scotland but I can guarantee that you’ve seen one of their many viral videos across your social media channels. Fronted by Harry Valentino, High Fade are essentially the lovechild of 70s Funk and Instagram Reels.
These guys rack up millions of views online, and I was able to grab a ticket at a local venue for £15! Ahead of a 2025 tour of the USA, they have just finished their UK tour for 2024.
Their energy is unmatched, and the bass player’s flares are as outrageous as his ability to finger-pick at what feels like 1000 bpm. Oh, and their drummer graces the stage in just his traditional Scottish Kilt and some killer double bass skills.
If you’ve got a few minutes today, binge their videos on YouTube, as I guarantee you’ll be intoxicated by the funk just as much as me.
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4 responses to “Tops and Flops: High Fade, 90s Amps and Discontinued Products”
I had a Roc Pro 1000 in high school, which I’m guessing is pretty much the same amp as the 700 but bigger and louder. It was fine for at home playing but I thought it sounded terrible in a band setting, it sounded like a can of bees when it was cranked up.
Yes, the 1000 is the bigger brother. I have to admit, the gain can get a little tinny when cranked up. But the clean channel crisps up beautifully. Especially with single coils.
I saw High Fade on the last of their 4 sold out shows in Chelmsford a couple of weeks back. It was the funnest gig i’d ever been too, and everyone left convinced we’d seen a band on the cusp of great success.
Ah brilliant! I’m glad that you enjoyed them. I hope that they do make it big, their music deserves to go far.