Soldano SP-77 Series II Preamp

Clean channel and Gain channel. Preamp, bass, mid, treble, output controls. No midi or anything, just 2 channels with simple controls and no confusion.

Let me put it this way... This thing sounds so good that I sold my Dual Rectifier. Many people call the Dual/Triple Rectifiers the "holy grail of amps," but after comparing them side by side, I immediately bought the SP-77 and put my Dual Rectifier up for sale. I'll compare this preamp to the Dual Rectifier throughout my review. I use this with a VHT 2150 power amp with a luthier made '57 Les Paul with EMG 81/85s.

Clean Channel - ALIVE... the Mesa sounds good, but when compared to the SP-77 it sounded dead and flat, and lacked clarity. The SP-77 sounded alive and articulate. Very rich tone with lots of sparkle and deep bass. Absolutely the best clean I have ever heard from a rackmount. The clean channel alone made me want to switch amps.

Gain Channel - Smooth and screaming at the same time. The Mesa had nice tone overall, but many aspects of the tone bothered me. It was VERY inarticulate and had a very grainy gain. The Soldano had very smooth gain, and no matter how complex of a chord you play, you can hear every note. But most importantly, this thing has TONE. Just as with the clean channel, this thing sounds alive compared to the Mesa. With some subtle delay this thing has some of the best lead tone I have ever heard. Very smooth and liquid.

Never had any problems with it at all.

The best customer support is the kind you don't need.

I have been playing for 13 years, and I have previously owned a Mesa Dual Rectifier, which I sold without hesitation after comparing side by side with this preamp. I give it a 9 only because I think that there is always room for improvement. If it were stolen, I'd definitely buy another one immediately. I love this thing so much that I have 2! I love everything about the sounds this thing creates, and there is unlike any other amp I've ever tried, there is not even a single thing about the sound that I don't like. The only thing I disliked at first was the color, but you get used to it, especially after you hear how great it sounds. It would be nice if they remade this thing with MIDI capability, but that is the only thing I would change about it.

late 80's..just tone clean and dirty.. very retro sounding rock n roll! picks up dynamics awsomely..needs a great tube power amp to shine correctly. it with my les paul H%%$S and my $%^S^%$ ^0 watt tube head makes me sound like ROCK GOD!! oh yes, i am..

the amp cam be diry and saturated if needed..especially depending on the tubes you may use. It can be dirty while still clean as hell..like in hearing every notes tone in a chord. it can be clean with a hair of gain, very nice.. also, super duper crazy bright clean. all in between on clean as well and clean has an awesome bright switch. overall tones are generally not very bass-y (is is a guitar...) and still warm and pleasing. treble can vary greatly.

This amp works incredibly well if you are into having every little nuance and detail of your playing heard clear as day. (ie..you are a real guitar guitar playercomplete with self love) if you don't like the way the amp sounds, you most likely just dont like the way you sound. or you may just not really like tone..effects could help in this case..both..i guess.

had mine since early 90's...been thrown around without a case gig to gig for years before l learned to try to take care of my gear. had to replace a few knobs, a couple of jacks, a fuse and tubes every know and then.. normal maintenance for abnormally bad treatment.

never tried. I love them anyway

I've been playing 20 years now..at my prime and i've owned the soldano 15 years. I am in an original band that i love and i do session work and music composition for other artists. during my journeys as a guitarist over the years, i've moved away from the soldano and tried other riggs, but i've come back to the series II (in combination with a great sounding guitar and a great sound tube head used solely as a power amp) when my journey lead me to find tone heaven and to embrace and enjoy the actual sound of the guitar and the playing of the guitar. I use no effects whatsoever. just my fingers, my guitar and my amp. i couldn't do without mine...probably ever. pure beauty is in the tone.

Is been very well expained by the previous....!!2 channels paradise......!!!!!! no reverb, 4x 12AX7 valves/tubes, you need a footsiwch to change channels,1 output.Mine is the pink version the
USA modell.

This baby is incredible from jazz clean to extreme gain allthough is not suitable for modern metall but there is enough gain for 80's 90's Hard rock.Fat thick sound but you r'able to hear all the notes. Chanel 1 depending how much gain you add it matches from fender twin territory to crunch(70's Rock).Chanel 2 is the Paradise on Earth...!!!!Is 4th dimensional sound...I' m using this baby depending on the show mainly with PRS custom 22, Fender FMT Showmaster from the custom shop, Heritage 555 , gibson sg original 67.with each guitar the sp 77 reacts differently.My main amp is a Framus Ruby Riot but is extremely heavy to moove it to the different venues (and i m not that young anymore).My rig is a GT2 Tech 21(mainly because is buffered),a TS 9 modified with the original chip,a barber electronics ss driver to the soldano, after the sp77 to a digitech GNX1 to a patch without any amp modelling (the gnx 1 i m using it as attenuator so i can have the gain and the volume at the Soldano at maximum) and of course i can use it as well as volume pedal or i can add when is needed any effect chorus etc as well as delay.All this goes to the PA of the venue.I would like to have a VHT PA and a 4x12 cab from VHT but that's another story..... anyway i m after reduction at weight and cost.

Well is made from late 80's and is still Kick's some serious butt's............Do i have to say more?

No openion during the years i have change only tubes....

I m playing more than 25 year's and still learning.This piece of equipment is the absolute truth.No way to dislike it if you cant get a good sound from this baby then you should start playing tennis (is more healthier in case)This is serious piece of equpment...........!!!!!I have tried allmost everything out there SLO's, VHT's,Diezel's,SMF's,Framus (i own 1),Star's,Marshall's, Boogie's and this list can go on for days.Allthough i m not saying that this baby is better than any of the above mentioned amp's i believe is in the same territory NOW the difference is THE PRICE OF THIS UNIT...........!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bravo Mike Soldano well done man............!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2 channels.......you know the deal.

This review is a follow-up to a review I wrote a year or more ago. Since then, I have had the filter caps (-I'm not sure, but I think that that was what was upgraded) increased in value (to help get rid of a little noise). And I also had the gain increased by a mod that I "acquired" and performed by my amp tech.
Between me servicing my tube power amp and modding the SP-77, I couldn't be happier. My band does EVERYTHING from Eagles to Godsmack and in between. I invested in a shock-proof rack and everything. I get several compliments on my tone at almost every gig. Players always ask "is THAT the only place your getting your distortion from?"....yes.

I sent this to Soldano years ago to replace some pre-amp tube sockets......no complaints....it IS all tube.

Very helpfull.

If it were to dissapear, I would get another immediatly. I see them on eBay from $350-$550 every now and then. I almost bought a Bogner (while it was getting fixed)....but chose not to after I got it back from being modded. I do have songs (covers) recorded with it BEFORE the mod-work. The tunes/tone still sound SUPER. By far the BEST value for the money out there.

two channel clean and overdrive

charvel/jackson guitar and made in indonesia squire strat stock everything. the clean channel is very nice no it is not fender phat and not marshalll tin but everything in between and beyond. realy responds to your picking style. very versitile. when finger picking the treble boost comes in handy to help cut through.
od channel is great though best at full gain this is where your guitar pickups decide on how much gain your going to get this is where your style/sound is created by you. you have to know how to play your instrument to sound good with this pre. you can see im using strat guitars and not top of the line or humbuckers. i suck on guitar. and this thing lets me know it. my style and technique has improved drasticaly since i bought this pre amp. you will want a good tube power amp or a sonic maximizer in front of your s/s power amp.
i use this pre with sonic maximizer second in chain and an alesis ra 100 power amp wich i got out of a dumpster. i play into a homebuilt 2x12 greenback celestion cabinet. have used it into fender tube effects loops sounds amazing and into el34 tube power amps into a genzbenz tribal 2x12 sounds great.
i would say you can get most any sound out of this thing blues to 70s rock i can even do great melvins sounds and sound garden. though this is really a rock pre not speed or death metal wich i used to play.

emailed three times never replied but my question may have been dumb or they dont support the sp77 series II any more

if you like rack gear you will enjoy setting up some amazing tones and arangments with this thing. if it were lost i might try a deca tone or slo 100. the only thing i dislike about it is how well my poor playing shines through. great starter profesional pre amp.

PINK/ PURPLE USA made SP 77 II Basic controls for two channel operation...see others descriptions. Could use a little more Gain,but this is subjective.

I was dissatisfied with the gain on the SP 77 II!! This is purely subjective though. I used many different guitars Neck-thru,set necks, bolt ons, Jackson, Gibson, Hamer, Washburn, and mostly Humbucker equipped. The problem I had when soloing was always checking to see if my Volume knob on the guitar was fully maxed. (sign of not enough gain). I was running 120 watt all tube power amps, Peavey, Mesa Boogie.This unit had all different tubes in it too. I tried JJs, Rubys, Electro-Harmonics,and Groove Tubes,however the best to my ears were the E/Harmonics 12AX7 preamp tubes.Sure it can do country,and some GOOD jazz,and Rock,but forget about Metal,and Heavy Rock(very sterile sounding) This Pre amp had no character,no body,and thin tone.I always felt this pre-lacks sustain,and Gain. Sure its clean,and noise free,but what good is that with out inspiring TONE? Maybe I bought one with slightly different tolerances within the components.Who knows?,and Once My friend bought over his Mesa Boogie 'Quad' pre-amp...That was it.I sold it today to the Guitar Center,and they gave me $300.00 for it. So it does hold its value quite well. Hell,its a SOLDANO. No way in hell can their 'Hot Rod' Line,and 'SLO', and 'Decatones' sound like THIS!!NO WAY JOSE!!! I have read all the reviews here,maybe twice,and thats what prompted me to buy this piece. It is however a better sounding unit than the MP-1,and for the price,you cannot go wrong.Just dont think about getting and heavily mid scooped Metal tone out of it. But then again maybe this was not their idea ,when they designed it. Good Luck

Very relaible,Chassis,and face plate are built with good construction.However, I compared the insides of this to a Mesa Boogie Studio pre-amp,and there was no comparison. Boogie hands down with superior components,and features. Their (Mesa) Potentiometers are the Best.Same pots that Hamer Guitars use. Look inside a Hamer USA Guitars control cavity,and you'll see the best Pots money can buy...not this Soldano, these were small,and very JAPPY looking,the tube sockets are made of high grade porcelain,just like the Mesas,mounted on a PCB. Plenty of room inside the SP 77. Mesas are packed,with features,leaving their units very crammed. But in any case this unit is very reliable. It always was there for me. Four hours a DAY,Seven days a week. from April 2004 to today 12/30/04.

They are always there.Call em. they are very knowledgable,and very supportive!! Mickey Soldano rules... I am sure if he wants,he will buid an amp that sounds like the Decatone,at a marginal price point.Something all of us mere mortals can afford. $800.00 to $1,200.00 Good luck there Mike!!

Not a good choice for heavy sustained solo tones. It could use the Soldano Mod. with the ex-tra stage of GAIN>>>If Country is your thing...well at least your on the right track there pardner!! If it were stolen, I would file a clim with my insurance company.

Features are well documented in other reviews, but basically it's a two channel preamp with individual gain, EQ and master per channel, plus a bright switch on the clean channel. Has a mono output and requires a standard latching footswitch for changing channels. Has enough features for what it was designed to do (i.e. be a component in a high-end rack system). Mine is the pink USA version. There is a Japanese version which has a blue/purple front panel and two outputs.

At the moment my rig is a Tom Anderson > SP-77 > Mesa Stereo 2:50 > Mesa Recto 2x12 with Vintage 30s. George L's cables all the way.

The clean channel can go from totally clean to a slightly dirty, AC/DC tone or a nice bluesy tone on a Strat's neck pickup. Some reviewers have compared the clean to a Fender, which I think is inaccurate - it doesn't have the body of a great Fender clean, but it is still very usable. The bright switch adds a nice amount of spank for funk playing.

The lead channel is why I bought this preamp. It sounds terrific, especially with a band. Lots of usable gain yet still tight, cohesive and clear. If you need a comparison, it's a bit like a well modded Marshall, but it really has its own sound. It is unforgiving of sloppiness however.

Seems well built so I don't anticipate any problems, excepting tube changes from time to time.

I've been playing close to 20 years in a range of styles. Currently play in a funk/pop band and writing heavy instrumental material on the side. This rig covers all that and more with style. If it was stolen I'd try to find an X88 or maybe the CAE 3+SE, but I'm very pleased with the SP-77. Just happy to own a nice piece of Soldano hardware.

it's a straight-ahead 2 channel tube preamp (4 ax12 tubes) with separate equalizer per channel, a preamp volume and a main volume. no effects loop, no gimmicks. a pedal is necessary to change channels, otherwise you'll only get the crunch channel working. you'll also find a "bright" switch for the clean channel on the front panel, which makes it sound very fenderesque.

i'm using this preamp with an older strat-style prs and a old peavey wolfang evh. i'm playing rather hard musical styles, so i wish it had a wee bit more distortion on the crunch channel, but i have to say that i love the way it sounds with a guitar with two "hot" pickups like the evh. if you ever thought to get a mesa recto head or something like that for a great rock distortion, you won't be looking for it anymore after you heard this preamp. but like i already said, i wish there was a wee bit more to it... i don't like the "brown" sound if you turn the output volume up all the way.

it's not noisy. not at all. i've never heard such an almost noise-free distortion before. the eq's are very sensitive, so the spectrum of posiible sounds is kinda great.

the clean channel seems kinda fender-like to me, what i love about it, because you'll only need to add some reverb, and it already sounds fat and transparent at the very same moment.

i've bought it theoretically new... it was lying around in a shop for about 10 years, then i got it for 20% of the original price. at the beginning, i had problem with squeeking and strange noises, probably because some of the contacts of the tube sockets have become oxidized thorugh the years. i've let the unit run for a whole afternoon, to "burn" away the oxidations, now it runs like new.

i've asked them about my starting problems with the preamp per e-mail, and they gave me a very friendly and simple, yet useful answer within a wee bit more than 24 hours (alhtough this unit isn't built since years now). that's what i call customer service.

i'm not having it too long yet, but i love it because it offers me a nice alternative sound setting compared to my rivera hundred duo twelve combo, especially for distorted sounds. i'd buy it again anytime. to be honest, i'm looking around for a second one as a spare unit for live gigs (yeah, it's reliable, but it's still a tube units, and tube, like lightbulbs, can go out at any time). a wee bit more distortion, and this little thing would beat the crap out of anything on the market.

if you can get one for a reasonable price (200-250 usd), get it - you won't be disappointed.

2 channel preamp with 2 sets output, bass, mid, treble, and preamp for each channel. Clean channel has a bright switch. 4 preamp tubes (came stock with 2 Sovtek LPS and 2 Sovtek LP 12AX7's). Channel switching only with a pedal, no button. One mono output to go to effects, or power amp. Very simple to use, and has a VERY sensitive EQ section.

Being an owner of a Soldano Decatone, Hot Rod 100, and an SLO I was not very impressed with this preamp. I use it with a VHT 2150 power amp, and a Marshall cab with Vintage 30's and 75's. It is a good sounding preamp, and I've tried several different tubes in it to see what sounds best. The stock ones seemed to win over all of them. To me it sounds overly compressed on the overdrive channel when you go past 12:00. It also sounds pretty thin. The clean channel is great, and I really enjoy it for spanky type stuff. Very clean and bright. It sounds closer to the Hot Rod than any other Soldano amp, but also depends on your power amp. The VHT is VERY clean, and that is not alway beneficial when looking for a really gritty sound.

Soldano amps are solid. Period. I've had this for 10 years, and it still works and looks like new. Take care of your stuff!

The best in the business. Hands down.

I've been a professional musician for 17 years, and have tried every amp out there. This is a good preamp, but for the same price used I like the Boogie Studio preamp or a modded MP 1 much better. The Soldano X88R is a much better sounding preamp, and I use that more often than all of my amps. It is sure a good value for around $300, but I wouldn't pay much more for it. I got mine new for $500 10 years ago, and I don't think I would get another if it was stolen.

This is actually my 2nd post on this preamp. I scored it very high earlier, and even higher. Why? Because I found the 'hidden' gem in this amp. But before I get to that, let me tell you what you already know. Pink faceplate (made in USA), 2 channels, no loop, no headphone jack, etc. Simple in-your-face preamp w/ out all the bells and whistles. The only bell and whistle is that this thing screams!

Here is the secret ... To get the most out of the preamp (lead channel of course). ... you need to set the PREAMP and the OUTPUT to full gain (turned fully clockwise). THEN you will hear this thing howl like a SLO. This is (I am going to be careful here, not to offend anyone) even better than the head, and here is why ... Unless you are using a hotplate for your SLO or HR, it is very difficult to turn the amp head preamp and master volume to its max, w/ out blowing your rooftop off. W/ the preamp, you can use the power amp as an attenuator, and crank the preamp to its max. The sound is fiercly saturated, and large in size. You will forget about wanting to go out and by that 5150 head, b/c this thing howls. Now ... I also own a HR +, and the circut & sound are very close. I would never sell each, but the SP77 has that hidden gem that my HR50+ does not have (which again, is the ability to run the preamp at full max output, which overdrives the preamp itself). The head can not be used as an attenuator, and even if you are using a hotplate, the power section will get hot, and not last too long ($$ on tubes). The SP is a NICE thing to have! Trust me, I own 2 of them and wouldn't sell either. (I wouldn't sell my HR50+ either!

not much to say here. Never broke, and the folks at soldano ALWAYS pick up the phone. Service is OUTSTANDING.

Bill and Michael are BOTH outstanding people. They always pick up the phone and always know what you are talking about, and are always there to give you real friendly advice. Not like the (for example) shmucks at Fender that don't return calls, don't know what the hell they are talking about, and put a bunch of bozos on the phone that are as useless as your typical customer service department. I called Fender to ask them the about plate voltage on my Fender Hot Rod Deluxe, and got a bozo that didn't know what plate voltage was, send me some canned 'Thank you email', and I never heard back from anyone. They have grown so big in size, they forgot about the musicians that support their f***ing organization. A+++ to Soldano. If Mike and or Bill are reading this, Thanks guys. You are the best! I will faithfully continue to buy your products.

Buy one, crank the output and the preamp ... you won't be disappointed. Hotter than the legacy ADA MP1 (I own one of those also), hotter than my stock HR50+ (only b/c of the ability to crank the preamp, independently from the power section) and looks awesome in my rack! After all, it is a Soldano!

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