Soldano X-99 MIDI Motorized Preamp

Made in 1993. 120 presets, 3 chanels. Assignable bright switch. Uses 5x 12ax7 tubes. Midi compatable.
I use this preamp in a cover band playing stuff from the late 50's to new stuff. Mainly rock, dance/disco and some funk and country.
Could use an f/x loop but it works fine without one.
The best feature is the 120 presets, which makes it great for live work. This is like having a valve head with 120 presets!
Very easy to dial up a sound, simple straight forward, no complicated procedures.

Just let me say first off that I have played through just about every amp ever made. I find most amps thin, fizzy tone, or compressed. If you like a Rectifier sound don,t waste your time with the X99 TONE.
I use it through a Soldano SM 100 R power amp. The X99 sound is very dynamic, it has razor sharp response to your playing, no mushy tones here, crisp and sharp. I call it bite. If you play tight it snaps right in.
What I love most is the guitar volume control. You can almost play one solo preset all night and just clean it up by turnig down the volume. The tonal variation is endless. I have owned 3x Slo 100's and a Decatone, this is so much more versatile. The solo chanel is a lot smoother sounding than the Slo yet it still retains that dynamic focus and tone, The X99 covers all of those nice Decatone crunch sounds too.

This is among the top of the line gear from Soldano. Which means it has a transferable lifetime warranty. I have never had a problem with any Soldano gear that I have owned. It is all hand made and a work of art.

Lifetime warranty

I have been playing for 28 years. I also own a Soldano SM100R power amp and a Bogner 100b Ecstacy. I play all of my gear through a Soldano quad with Vintage 30's.
This is the best box I've ever owned. I have owned countless amounts of gear. It cost a lot but that's the price you pay.

This particular preamp was made in 1995. It is a three channel (clean, crunch, overdrive) preamplifier that is based on presets, essentially 120 single channel amps in two rack spaces. Mono in, mono out, the standard five knobs (Pre, Bass, Mid, Treb, Post), and bright switch (programmable to each channel). All of these are available per preset.

As this is a very expensive unit, I believe Soldano assumes you also use top-of-the-line effects and amps, so this has exactly what is needed, and nothing else. Having played everything from solid state Pearce to Mesa Triaxis tube preamps, I will state firmly that this is bliss in a box. No fumbling with buttons and wondering which of the 15 lights you are staring at. As I said earlier, envision it as a stack of 120 single channel amps, each of which you can set totally independent of each other and footswitch between at will. That would about cover it, just a lot smaller. And by the way, I'm talking about 120 awesome amps... hard to make this thing sound bad.

I play in a variety band, doing covers of everything from Aretha Franklin to Collective Soul, to Faith Hill or Elton John. I use a variety of guitars to get authentic sounds, and needed a way to tweak an amp to each. I connect from my Samson wireless to the Soldano, mono out to a TC Elctronics G-Major, stereo to a Mesa 20/20 amp, to a Mesa Recifier 4x12, also in stereo. The setup is controled by a Digital Systems Ground Control foot-controller, with an expression pedal for effects variations. It should also be noted that the expression pedal can be assigned to any knob (or all knobs) on the preamp, and can move the pots in real time. This setup covers it all and fits comfortably into the back of my CR-V.

The midi capability in these units is unheard of in guitar equipment. If you've ever been in a studio and watched an automated mixing desk do it's stuff on a song, moving sliders and knobs automatically as preset, then you have an idea how cool this thing is to watch work its magic. Inside, you'll see that the outside knobs actually connect to 128-step midi motors. Thats resolution! If that doesn't make sense to you, make 128 evenly spaced marks around your volume knob, and that is how exact the X99 will return the knob to where you left it when you call up that preset. A shaft that projects out the back of the motor is connect to the actual pot via a short piece of stiff tubing. It is a positively ingenious way of adding impressive midi control without mucking up the signal by pushing it through a lot of VCAs.

I play a Strat Plus with Seymour Duncan single coil sized humbuckers, a Tele, A Les Paul Standard, and a Carvin DC-200. All of the guitars sound different, and I want them to remain different. To do that, you have to have the ability to set the amp to each guitar, or you end up with an awesome sound with one guitar, and a so-so sound on the next. As stated above, I play a lot of styles in one night, and you can't use Gun N Roses presets on Wilson Pickett, or The Cars presets on The Cult. I don't have time to change a bunch of knobs for each song or guitar, but I still like to be able to reach back and twist a knob real-time if I want. With this preamp, I can do that. If I like the sound, push save and it's there. If not, next time I call up the preset, it's back where I had it.

As for all tube gear, it is not as quiet as solid state. When you really crank both gains, it is a bit noisy. Of course, I haven't found any realistic need to do that, as there is plenty of gain in the lower two-thirds of the travel. It's not unusably noisy cranked, just noticable. If you must see what 11 sounds like, gate the signal and all is well again. (Yes, I tried it).

Having three independent channels (somewhat, as the clean and crunch are molded from the same circuit) you can get a loud, clear clean tone that is limited only by your power amp and speakers. It takes a little getting used to, but all Soldano amps seem to get good clean tones with the volumes way up. My X88R was the same way, but that's ok, because it stays clean if you want it. It will break up when pushed. The crunch channel is edgy, more Marshall-esque, and sounds thunderous when played loud. The overdrive channel is more compressed, and great for greasy (effected) lead tones from the 80's (kind of that Neal Schon "Who's Crying Now" or "Faithfully" sound). When boosted with good effects, all channels are usable for soloing. I did the scooped mid thing, and it thumps like that too, which sort of surprised me going through an EL-84 power amp. I'd love to hear it through the Mesa 295 I will always kick myself for having sold!

9 only because tube stuff can only get so quiet.

The first thing I did when I got it was take off the lid and look inside. It looks as clean as an operating room in there. Very, very well laid out. I changed the tubes (5 12AX7s) as the original Soldano tubes were still in place. I use Electro-Harmonix 12AX7s, and they sounded good in this application also. When I first fired it up with the new tubes, I had no clean channel. Took it back out and reseated the tubes, and all was well. My bad there. I've been steadily programming ever since, and used it on a gig last week. Nothing but awesome!

I have never dealt with a company that was as contactable and helpful as Soldano. Bill Sundt has always answered my emails quickly, and phone calls are answered by real people.

I've been a Mesa Boogie player since the late 80s, and still love their stuff and service, but they could take a leap into the new millenium by making amail support available. Soldano edges them here.

Soldano's X99 (or X88-R, SLO, and some other units) warranty is in a league of it's own. It is warranteed for life. Period. It doesn't matter if you're the first or tenth owner, it's covered. If some soldering iron weilding idiot louses it up by doing that "mod all my star clients get", voiding the warranty, Soldano will charge you to put it back like it was, and then the warranty is back to lifetime again!!! That is unheard of, and makes Mesa's five-year warranty (an industry benchmark) look as thought they doubt their stuff.

I started playing in 1976 (the year that Frampton Came Alive) and have been tone searching the whole time since. I have been happy with some of the amps I've had, and still like some of those sounds. But I could never get all of what I wanted without doing the Eric Johnson 20 amp setup thing. My setup gets all of the sounds I need, and my whole rig (including regulated power supply) fits in one six-space rack. That's enough for a ten already.

There really is nothing to compare this to, although the Triaxis is a similar concept with a different execution. Having had both, I can say they are two different animals. The Triaxis follows Boogie's tradition of fitting the most buttons, knobs, controls, and input/output connectors into a unit. And it is a great sounding unit, but very programming intensive and a little hard to tweak on-the-fly. A real techie will love the Boogies for that point. I grew up on Bandmasters and Bassmans, and like to be able to grab a familiar knob and hear the change right now. For me, the Soldano just feels natural. And that was Mike's greatest feat of magic... he fit a Triaxis' controls into five knobs, a few buttons, and a three digit display.

When I think of things I wish it had, everything I can think of takes it away from being a preamp to being some multi-something box. And that's the beauty of it... it is exactly what it is, and can fit right into anyone's setup because of that. If you want more, you're not looking for a preamp... you're looking for a multi-something or other.

It is insured, and would definately be replaced if stolen. If I can find one, that is. I was sad to hear they are no longer made. But I am glad to know I have one anyway.

As for the price, they are over $3000 new. That sounds like a lot, and it is. But, you have to ask yourself (as I did long ago) "How much have you spent buying something that "sounds as good as" or "is just like" the top gear?" I've spent a small fortune, surely more than this cost, on amps that weren't much better than a place to sit a beer. I have about $3500 total in my rig (counting speakers and power conditioning, a necessity if you ever play at generator-powered outdoor gigs), and it sounds incredible. I guess the best compliment I can give is that the sound makes me play better. My band noticed the sound right away. You would too.

This preamp is suitable to deliver classic rock and 80's metal tones. It has 3 channels (Clean, Crunch and Overdrive). It is full MIDI with motorized knobs. This means you can easily create a sound and recall via a MIDI switch, as easily on a triaxis or JMP, but without sactrificing your tone thru solid state circuitry (as the machines stated do). Also, it has a bright switch for every channel you select. It has not an effects loop, either a speaker simulator for direct recording. I know they're useful features, but if you own such equipment Soldano takes for granted that you have a mixer.

This unit is not at all noisy even at highest gain settings. We' ve tested it in a VHT poweramp feedind two VHT 1x12 cabs, thru a Digital Music corp. system mix plus. The clean channel is perfect! The crunch channel matches with the 70s era rock sounds. The overdrive channel is like an 80's modified Marshall (sounding much, much better). The distortion is not at all brutal although it has lots of sustain. So in my oppinion is not suitable for modern metal or Grind your Mind tones. The bass is not tight. The guitar we've tested it with is a custom warmoth (ash) loaded with anderson and van zant pick-ups.

A friend just bought it second hand in mint condition!
It is built like a tank!

Soldano products include lifetime warranty and i've heard their customer support is very good!

It is one of the best preamps around at the moment. It is a traditional tone machine. The only thing I can't understand is why it costs 3000$ new.

Was made in 1998 according to the previous owner.

3 channels, CLEAN, CRUNCH and LEAD. Bass, Middle and Treble.
5 12AX7 tubes.
Presets with motorized knobs.
Channels are MIDI controllable.
The perfect pre-amp.

Is racked in my personal studio and will never leave.

Various guitars ==>
Focusrite ISA430 ==>
Soldano X99 ==>
Lexicon Signature 284 (with 2 Siemens E84L tubes)==>
Palmer PGA04 (ADIG-LB) ==>
T.C. Electronic G-Force ==>
Lexicon PCM91 reverb ==>
T.C. Electronic 96K Finalizer ==>
Solid state amps or mixing console.
***Different paths controlled by a Switchblade GL.

I replaced the original tubes by 5 Mullard CV4004. What a sound!!!

You can get any sound you want out of this pre-amp.
AC/DC, Eric Johnson, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Joe Pass, Jimi Hendrix,
Metallica, Chet Atkins, Lenny Breau, they're all in there.

Jimi Hendrix in the West clean sound.
AC/DC crunch.
Liquid oily Eric Johnson lead, not grainy at all.

Haven't had any problem yet.

They actually respond to the phone. Emails are replied within two days. They really know their stuff. No BS, just the answers you need.

I've been playing since 1969. Jimi made me do it.
I owned Egnater, Demeter, Marshall, some crappy solid state pre-amps, Yamaha DG and some boutique pre-amps.
This is the best pre-amp. I will never sell it.

If it were stolen, I'd die. In my next life, I would buy another one even if I had to buy it new.

With my setup, nothing. But for regular users,probably an instrument input in the fron would be nice.

Not a feature packed preamp....but who cares! It does what a preamp should have always done, it sounds great!! The motorized knobs are one of the greatest items to ever hit the amp market anyway.

I use a Gibson Les Paul Classic, to the X-99, to a Hush(almost not needed) to a 30 band eq,to a Palmer PDI-09 speaker sim, to a SX-700 effect that splits it to a 2 channel compressor and then right to a fostex multitrack! Sounds great even without a power amp,But i am going to add one to this setup soon. The Soldano is not noisy..period. The clean is excellent. The crunch sounds good and versatile. the overdrive is excellent. STRONG distotion. It sounds great!

I bought it used in LA and it was in excellent condition. I have seen a lot of gear and this is very well built. I was surprised how little electronics are inside, unlike the Mesa Triaxis that houses tons of intricate wiring to accomplish its sound. I love the X-99.

Customer Support- I contacted them after purchase and was pleased to find out that this Amp ...probably sold in 1994, is under warranty. Don't need it, but someday I might and I am covered.

If Soldano keeps building, I will keep buying. I have tried Voodu Valve, Piranaha, JMP-1, 9001, Digtech 2101 Artist(bad sound)and this X-99 is what they are all trying to be like. Thanks, but i will keep my X-99. It was expensive and hard to attain, but now that I have it I will keep it.

it's really a simple machine. very easy to use which i like about
this machine so much.
the tone is very versatile that you can use this for any kind of
music. i mean ANY kind of music that has guitar sound in it.

i use 79 US fender strat, don grosh custom, and gibson es-335
with this and i love it! it's just fantastic!
there is no better overdrive sound in the world.
it's not noisy at all. it has the rich, smooth, beautiful tube
clean/distortion sound. the clean channel gets a little crunchy
at high volumes but it still sounds so good. the distortion is
the killer! this thing is a monster!

it's so reliable. never had no problems whille using it.
it's built as a rock.

never have dealt with them and never will

i've been playing for 7 years and i've never seen a better preamp.
if it were stolen i would be SO depressed. i'll chase the punk who
stole it to the end of the world and kill the motherf***ker i swear.
i'm never gonna sell it, no no no.
i love everything about it and hate nothing about it. it's that good.

Picked out one 2nd hand in the UK to my amazement. Its a straight ahead fully midi preamp, dead easy to programme. I play all manner of styles, ambient, blues and rock

Use custom Fenders as well as a Parker Nitefly and some custom strats and teles from Dan Ransom in San Francisco. Its got a fantastic tonal range with a superb clean sound to all the distortion you could waant plus 20%!

Rock solid construction and precision hand wiring inside

Never had a problem, but the folks at Soldano have been fantasic with any enquiries

Been playing 8 years. Also own a Grrove Tubes Trio, Fender Pro Sonic, Champ 12, Soldano SP77, Mesa power amps aand Fender Vibro Champ

made in august 2000.
i play funk/soul/rock/ this beast covers all the styles perfectly with ease.
3 channels with added bright swith for all 3 channels.
its midi, great with my digitech rp 12.

i use a partick eggle berlin pro, a fender 77s strat.
i play any style i want with this,really u can.
the clean tones are out of this world, and the hi gain is huge!!!!!!!,
very toneful.

i have only had it for 3 weeks and i has'nt broken yet!!!.
i aim to use it for live and studio work.
i can only give this a 5 because of the limited time that i have had it.

i have had many emails answered by soldano, but lately they have been real slack and slow to reply??????????
but when they do reply, they are most helpful indeed.

i have been playing for 10 odd years, i have mainly been using my rp 12 for all my sounds, but now the search is over for the tone of tones, the x99 has really got it all.
i use it with a meas 20/20 a couple of boogie recto cabs, my rp 12, and a behringer ultra effex 2 and i have it all at my finger tips.
if u don't beleive me, try one for yourself, and crank the little bastard.

MIDI contolled, all tube (5x12AX7) pre amplifier with three Modes; Clean, Crunch, Overdrive. front tone Controls: Brite on/off, 1. pre gain, 2. base, 3. middle, 4. treble, 5. output. 1-5 may be programed to be used with a continuous contoller. Back: Mono send with no effects loop. Standard MIDI ports, Input. check it out at WWW.Soldano.com Simple but highly efficient design. Ingenious! no more/no less than needed.

I also have TriAxis/Simulclass 290. I will not rob either unit of integrety. Each is very well constructed and designed, Choice is a matter of taste, needs, and affordability. Personally I find the Soldano superior. I run the Soldano through a Marshall 9200 (5881 power tubes). Both set ups run through Marshall cabs with GT1275's. Guitars are PRS Custom 22, Fender A.D. Strat.
Clean is transparent, representing the true voice of the guitar. No tone alteration. M/B is darker and more dynamic with more fender style tone. Soldano is cleaner to my ear. Crunch is a dirty/blues AC/DC type sound very nice. M/B excels here though because of Dynamics and darker tone. Again my opinion, but splitting hairs!
Overdrive is phenonominal. EVH, Gary Moore, etc. tightly focoused and clear distortion, even at full on. To me far better than Mesa/Boogie. Soldano provides more of a Hotrod Marshall sound, Very fun to play!

Lifetime Warrenty? That is a 10 just because of that. This is an electrical product and electronics do fail, especially tubes. but Mike Soldano only uses military spec. components along with strict quality assurance.

before buying, I E-Mailed Soldano and got a rapid and friendly reply with all the answers to my questions. These products are hard to get and quite expensive, and repairs are only done at the factory in Seatle WA. Again lifetime warranty. They stand steadfast!

I compared with Mesa/boogie up top. I am floored by this Pre amp. I do like the Mesa/Boogie also, but the Soldano is superior. unfortunately, the penalty for that superiorority is the expense of the product. If I where looking to buy again I would stick with Soldano products. I am sold! Look at the users list! I am not the only one. I have to give a 10 here for value because of the Soldano warranty, and quality of sound. A bit expensive but well worth it.
I have to wonder though, the reason for running a Soldano X-99 preamp through a SLO-100 head? Awfully expensive Amp! I would highly recommend the Marshall 9200. Same tube type as Soldano uses in Amps (5881). Dual Mono block with cross links usable to loop in effects to stereo. If you are in the market for a Pre? deffinitely check this one out before you buy anything!

Many channels, MIDI in , thru, out, bright switch, treble, mid, bass, output, set & save

Sadowsky vintage style strat, Sadowsky hum-single-hum, PRS old Customs (pre-90), PRS Custom 22, PRS Rosewood neck McCarty, ESP '52 Tele Copy, ESP George Lynch sunburst tiger

Superb for all styles: metal,blues,funk,country,rock,jazz. Great variety of sounds.

Distortion is the finest: extremely saturated if you desire with superb harmonic definition, clarity, and sustain.

More savable presets than you can imagine.

Not noisy.

Reliable. A model for other manufacturers. Never had a problem.

Soldano has been very helpful when I've called with questions. I've never needed their support because the products work flawlessly.

Playing for twenty years. Run the preamp through my SLO-100 which I bought in '90 or '91. If it were stolen or lost I would audition a Bogner but probably go back to the Soldano because of it's simplicity and ease of use. I don't prefer a feature-laden (read: burdened) amplifier.

A mid range scoop would be nice.