This Looks Interesting.

[László]

If you like Soldano amps this looks interesting. All tube preamp with three channels, run it into the effects return of an amp you've got in order to use the amp's power section, get a separate power amp, or use the IRs that come with it. Has MIDI capability, too.

Not cheap, but not overly expensive for what you get.

Not being a Soldano guy, I dunno how interested I'd be. I guess I'd have to play through one.

Soldano X88-IR Stereo Rackmount Tube Preamplifier

Stereo Rackmount Tube Preamplifier with 3 Channels, 6 IR Slots, Power Amp Modeling, MIDI, Soldano Software Editor, 128 Presets, Effects Loop, and USB

www.sweetwater.com

 

[dmatthews]

That does look extremely cool.

 

[Tosca]

It is amazing…trust me.

 

[László]

It is amazing…trust me.

I do trust you!

The only time I heard a Soldano I loved was during Clapton's tour in the late '90s or early '00s. He sounded wonderful; was running a pair of SLOs along with a pair of Fender VibroKings (I think).

I don't know if the V-Ks and the Soldanos were being used in tandem at the same time, or not. But the tone was magnificent during every song.

The SLO I played through 20 years ago didn't do it for me, but 20 years is a long time, and my thinking evolves from time to time.

Would be nicer if it didn't have a magenta face plate (and I get that it's supposed to bring to mind their old magenta X88, but my gawd we're not watching Miami Vice any more, make the face plate black, or silver, or even red, but not magenta!

 

[Eseffinga]

I’ve always liked Warren Haynes’ Soldano tones, but I understand his was modded special.

That magenta is tough. Hahaha.

 

[KentuckyBoiledChiccan]

I was wondering when they will finally go for it, since the BAD take-over. I would love to have it

 

[Tosca]

It’s purple…it has 8 minitoggles.
Win/Win in my book.

 

[Tosca]

I do trust you!

The only time I heard a Soldano I loved was during Clapton's tour in the late '90s or early '00s. He sounded wonderful; was running a pair of SLOs along with a pair of Fender VibroKings (I think).

I don't know if the V-Ks and the Soldanos were being used in tandem at the same time, or not. But the tone was magnificent during every song.

The SLO I played through 20 years ago didn't do it for me, but 20 years is a long time, and my thinking evolves from time to time.

Would be nicer if it didn't have a magenta face plate (and I get that it's supposed to bring to mind their old magenta X88, but my gawd we're not watching Miami Vice any more, make the face plate black, or silver, or even red, but not magenta!

This is Clapton’s dual Soldano rig (with custom Cornish effects/switching) from 1988 which I think you are referring to.
Clapton Soldano Rig
He switched from his previous rig of 2 fender dual showman’s to this after hearing Knopfler’s soldanos. This rig produced my favorite Clapton tone…I seriously considered purchasing it at a prior auction, but the shipping/insurance would have been more than the auction price.

 

[DISTORT6]

I’ve always liked Warren Haynes’ Soldano tones, but I understand his was modded special.

Just a switch explained here - https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/new...d_says_most_of_his_tones_are_straight_in.html otherwise, just a stock SLO.

 

[László]

it has 8 minitoggles.

My KHE amp and cab switcher has 12 electronic, soft-touch, paddle-shaped toggle switches that provide semi-orgasmic merriment and joy to the person using it (they didn't want to go full-orgasmic because of safety concerns involving moisture in proximity to electronic gear).

So I'll just say they're the coolest switches in the universe. And I've been places. That's how I know.

 

[Eseffinga]

Yeah, I knew about the switch which is why I mentioned it. A lot of famous amp mods are simply activated by a switch. Point being it’s not a stock feature.

Warren can use it, or not.
Everyone else can not, unless they made changes to them since last I looked seriously at trying one.

I don’t know how much of his tone these days is with that amp and with the switch activated to give him that extra ooomph he wanted, but what I’ve heard him do with that amp tonally… yum.

 

[DISTORT6]

I don’t know how much of his tone these days is with that amp and with the switch activated to give him that extra ooomph he wanted, but what I’ve heard him do with that amp tonally… yum.

He’s the main reason I got my SLO.
I rarely use it to try and match his tone, though. Go figure.

 

[Tosca]

Yeah, I knew about the switch which is why I mentioned it. A lot of famous amp mods are simply activated by a switch. Point being it’s not a stock feature.

Warren can use it, or not.
Everyone else can not, unless they made changes to them since last I looked seriously at trying one.

I don’t know how much of his tone these days is with that amp and with the switch activated to give him that extra ooomph he wanted, but what I’ve heard him do with that amp tonally… yum.

The “Haynes Mod” isn’t a big change to the standard SLO-100 from what I understand. Just changes the Eq slightly to boost low mids when the pre-amp is set very low (as Haynes prefers). The Haynes mod (and another SRV mod) used to be something you could order, not sure if they still offer that.

Haynes on his Modded Soldano

 

[Eseffinga]

Could probably throw an EQ pedal in there to try and get that extra tweak, for “close enough”.

 

[László]

Could probably throw an EQ pedal in there to try and get that extra tweak, for “close enough”.

A good EQ pedal is a wonderful tool to get that 'nth' degree of tone from time to time. For me, it's a mandatory add to any pedal board. I often use one with my amps to accentuate or cut certain frequency bands with different guitars - for example, to add a little edge, definition or glassiness to humbuckers, or add a little fullness to single coils. Or cut excessive highs or low mids.

An amp's tone controls often have turnover points at similar frequencies, but their 'Q' might be too wide or narrow to do the job, and sometimes it's just not the frequency you need to alter in the first place.

 

[Steve's addiction]

I agree Les. EQ pedal is a great addition to the pedal board. I have a couple of prs's I could not bond with until I got an EQ pedal.

 

[squirrel211]

Timely post!!

My old band had a reunion show on 12/27, and we went amp-less for the performance due to stage space and FOH mix concerns. I was looking very closely at this bad boy, but in the end I wound up using my HX Stomp set up with the "Duo Normal" amp sim, and used a Menatone King of the Britains for drive. I think I had pretty good results?

Here is a clip from someone in the crowd; I'm the guitarist on the right hand side of the video in all black, with the blue paisley Crook Custom T-Style. If you're wondering why I didn't have a PRS in my hands, it's because the Crook has my late daughter's footprints on the back; you can see them briefly when I turn away from the front of the stage. (I tried to have a PRS PS made before I went with Crook, but did not like the guy at the store where I went and I got mad about the experience. Mr Bill Crook however was AMAZING to work with!!!)

I have since reworked a couple different patches, and now have a 2-amp patch that I think sounds WAY better for the dirty sounds. I added the Soldano-styled amp sim, and removed the delay that I had set up Andy Timmons style (you can see me turn the delay off in the beginning of the first song). The dirty sound is so much more complex and detailed now....

Which has me reconsidering the X-88 IR!!!

 

[DISTORT6]

Timely post!!

My old band had a reunion show on 12/27, and we went amp-less for the performance due to stage space and FOH mix concerns. I was looking very closely at this bad boy, but in the end I wound up using my HX Stomp set up with the "Duo Normal" amp sim, and used a Menatone King of the Britains for drive. I think I had pretty good results?

Here is a clip from someone in the crowd; I'm the guitarist on the right hand side of the video in all black, with the blue paisley Crook Custom T-Style. If you're wondering why I didn't have a PRS in my hands, it's because the Crook has my late daughter's footprints on the back; you can see them briefly when I turn away from the front of the stage. (I tried to have a PRS PS made before I went with Crook, but did not like the guy at the store where I went and I got mad about the experience. Mr Bill Crook however was AMAZING to work with!!!)

I have since reworked a couple different patches, and now have a 2-amp patch that I think sounds WAY better for the dirty sounds. I added the Soldano-styled amp sim, and removed the delay that I had set up Andy Timmons style (you can see me turn the delay off in the beginning of the first song). The dirty sound is so much more complex and detailed now....

Which has me reconsidering the X-88 IR!!!

Stage space for bongos in the backline, but not for amps...

 

[squirrel211]

Stage space for bongos in the backline, but not for amps...

For real!!! That was a last minute addition that I was not happy to see!!! We have already agreed to remove them for future performances!

 

[László]

Timely post!!

My old band had a reunion show on 12/27, and we went amp-less for the performance due to stage space and FOH mix concerns. I was looking very closely at this bad boy, but in the end I wound up using my HX Stomp set up with the "Duo Normal" amp sim, and used a Menatone King of the Britains for drive. I think I had pretty good results?

Here is a clip from someone in the crowd; I'm the guitarist on the right hand side of the video in all black, with the blue paisley Crook Custom T-Style. If you're wondering why I didn't have a PRS in my hands, it's because the Crook has my late daughter's footprints on the back; you can see them briefly when I turn away from the front of the stage. (I tried to have a PRS PS made before I went with Crook, but did not like the guy at the store where I went and I got mad about the experience. Mr Bill Crook however was AMAZING to work with!!!)

I have since reworked a couple different patches, and now have a 2-amp patch that I think sounds WAY better for the dirty sounds. I added the Soldano-styled amp sim, and removed the delay that I had set up Andy Timmons style (you can see me turn the delay off in the beginning of the first song). The dirty sound is so much more complex and detailed now....

Which has me reconsidering the X-88 IR!!!

Honestly I couldn't hear much of the guitar at all, so can't comment, but what a fun video, and what a cool thing to have a band reunion!