I always adhere to the mid-Dec-mid-Feb pruning in coastal Santa Barbara. The only thing I can say about early pruning is that the folks at the Tournament of Roses Wrigley garden in Pasadena always prune their roses early, so as to get a great showing on Jan 1. I spent the first 31 years of my life in Pasadena. I don't know the climate in Sacramento, but I'm assuming it isn't hugely different. Just a thought.
