Soldano SP-77 Series II Preamp

Hi Folks! Mein Preamp wurde ca. 1995 hergestellt und ist die kraftig lilafarbene USA-Version. Fakten: 2 Ch., je eigene Klangregelung und Gain wie auch Volumeregler. legiglich ein Eingang und ein Ausgan sonst nichts - pure Rohrentechnik at its best. Ich benutze diesen Preamp mit einer Reu?enzehn Guitarslave Rohrenendstufe und einem Korg A 4 (das auch die Kanalumschaltung ubernimmt).

Ich habe mehrere Strat-Style Gitarren von Fender, ESP und Peavey und spiele von Pop uber Blues bis Hard Rock alles. Der Sound im Cleankanal ist sehr Fender-like. Durch den Brightschalter kann man schone Brillianzen dazuregeln, very crisp. Voll aufgedreht produziert er einen oberamtlichen Crunchsound - Superdynamisch. Mit Humbuckern habt ihr schon den amtlichen AC/DC-Sound (jedenfalls mit einer gut aufgedrehten Rohrenendstufe). Verzerrt geht im Kanal 2 absolut die Post ab. Er liefert sehr fette Distorsionsounds und hat mehr Gain als ein Soldano Hot Rod 50 (den habe ich auch), aber auch gema?igte Crunchsounds hat er auf der Pfanne, die allerdings nicht so fett wie im Kanal 1 kommen. Aber die Leadsounds sind der Oberhammer. Fett aber dabei differenziert mit schonem Sustain - da kommen die Tone von allein!

Ich hatte noch nie Probleme mit dem Teil, technisch ist er robust aufgebaut und perfekt verarbeitet.

Habe ich nie in Anspruch nehmen musen. Infos gibt es ubber das Web genug (auch Schaltplane, us.)

Ich spiele seit uber 24 Jahren Gitarre und seit uber 20 Jahren in verschieden Bands. Ich liebe dieses Teil. Einfach zu bedienen ohne lange Parameterlisten und soundlich kommts auf den Punkt. Das Teil ist perfekt! Danke Mike!!!!

I wish it had a tube buffered effects loop, but I've managed to make due.

I play les pauls w/EMGs, and only tube power amps (boogie 2:90 & Peavey classic 60). I play mostly hard rock & some classic. I bought this piece over 10 years ago(used). The best $200 I have EVER spent. At the time I was in an "all original" band, using a Triaxis. My singer was playing w/ a marshall 900 head. I got the sp-77 to get more of a tone match. I sold the Tri a year later w/no regrets. I give the unit a 9 because we all always wish we had a bit more gain. I also own a hi-gain Engl 520 pre amp. I would never sell the sp-77...the clean is a real glassy almost-crunch, & a super brown lead channel...very EVH.

A 9 only because I had to get a pre amp socket replaced once. Someone always answers the phone who knows what they're talkin' about.

see above (reliability)

If something happened to this piece I would replace it as soon as I found one. Like I said, best $200 I ever spent.

2 channels , 4 x 12AXT valves : clean , drive . Clean channel has a bright switch. indipendent gain ,master output , EQ per each channel . on the rear panel you have output (mono) and channel switch.
This thing needs nothing more believe it .

Well .. definetely a "no-frills-plenty of thrills" unit .
Clean channel : ore clean/crunch better.. . Actually you can go from sparkle (very!) clean to light compressed crunch just with the volume pot on your guitar ..just cranck the gain and have the output knob at 75% and let your quality single/hum pickups shine !! this clean channel will not lie about the tone of your guitar/pickups

Overdrive channel : hehe ... (if you are a sp-77 owner you know what I mean..) if rock and roll is your thing I think you will fall on your knees and cry..I almost did the first time I heard the thick , huge , aggressive , "catch me if you can" overdrive this thing can pump out..
and , again, your volume pot will be very useful , taking you from medium drive vintage rock/blues sounds (trying it with a strat/neck pickup will really improve your life quality ..so , please do it !!)
to ballsy , no-compromise, marshall-on-steroids overdrive sound .

Someone wrote : it has two sounds. that's it . Well , it is basically true , but if you consider how rich and articulate the two channels can get depending on the balance of Volume(gain) and Output you will find yourself with much more than 'just' 2 sounds .
Complement the clean channel with a good booster pedal (Ibanez Tube Screamer is my choice) and you will need nothing more to rock on .
If the clean channel does not lie about your guitar ..the overdrive channel sure won't lie about your ... fingers ..
ok . EQ is not so effective as on a boss metal zone.

I bought it used 5 years ago . It still has the stock Soldano tubes (12AX7A).never broke down ever since

I eamiled Soldano to ask for best tube replacement if I'll be ever in the need of . Replied the day after. by the way .. they suggest to replace with a pair of Sovtek 12AX7LPS for the first gain stage and a pair of 12AX7LP for the second
(considering valve sockets from left to right)

A really cool piece of gear. not everyone likes the shock purple color..but when you switch on ...

For peolpe bashing this unit :
a) you don't know how to plug/operate it (man ...)
b) you are deaf
c) your first thought when you wake up is "oh .. if only I could buy a Crate"
d) definetely guitar is NOT your thing.

Not sure when it was made, these were imported from Japan. The SP-77 uses 4 12ax7 tubes in series. It has 2 channels clean and overdrive. The clean channel (channel 1) has a bright switch. This preamp has just what it needs, nothing more.

I love Soldano sound. You will not find anything better. Ihave several guitars I use with this amp. From single coils to hot pickups. This preamp will handle all styles of music. I run from the guitar through my Wah, whammy pedal, distortion (I may remove this), through the Soldano, into a Digitech Multi effects unit (Delay Chorus Reverb etc.) out in stereo through the Evantide harmonizer, into a Hush IIc, then to a Crown power amp to 2 4x12 boxes (4 celestian v30's & 4 Eminance 12's).

The amp has been re-tubed with fresh 12ax7's and sounds great. Not noisy at all! I use a Rocktron gainiac as backup (no comparison), but I have never needed to fire it up. Still gets a 9 because tubes will fail...you can not stop that.

Soldano is King. Living in Seattle has it's perks they are just up the street. They answer all email very quickly. Impressive!

I have been playing for 22 years. I have several guitars; Soloists, Strat's, a few Warmoth projects I have slapped together. They all sound great. If you can't swing the $3,000.00 for a Soldano Head or Combo, you will not be disapointed in this product. You see them on Ebay all the time for $200.00-$300.00