Soldano SLO-100, X99, X88r, SP77 Shootout!

[@LeonTodd]

There will never be a video more Soldano-ier than this

[@KauffeyBean]

😊

[@KnockAndAskToday]

Only "The Foss" speaks with words like Soldano-ier.....

[@LeonTodd]

@@KnockAndAskToday "mate, we Soldano'd it so hard in the 80's"

[@nevermind2407]

Caswell and SP77 are needed in AXE-FX :D

[@LeonTodd]

@@nevermind2407 The Caswell is in there (Solo 99 Models) but I'd love the 77 too!

[@marchanson169]

This should be flagged as porn.

[@mooseknuckle9662]

Better rack than anything in porn.

[@prof.dr.giovannivindigni4446]

❤

[@johnstitt2615]

Gear porn

[@procrasti-nation9517]

😁

[@RJRonquillo]

Love em all, I’m digging the SLO100 and x99 most

[@BigHairyGuitars]

Hi RJ. Yeah, the SLO and the x99. the 99 has some mojo in there FOR SURE! The x88 just has the look that makes me nostalgic. But I've I'm being objective, the SLO and 99 are tops... I think.

[@pfrisch6030]

@@BigHairyGuitars That's what I heard. The fullness of the sound was the difference for me. The SLO was the fullest and the 99 was second. It seems like the 99 is a little more versatile and easier to get a chimy clean tone out of.

[@timpierceguitar]

@@BigHairyGuitars Nice Video! I had a GREAT tall rack.. W/3 pres , Soldano, CAE, and Bogner Fish, all controlled by my bradshaw foot controller .....I'd love to still have it....

[@BigHairyGuitars]

@@timpierceguitar hi Tim! Your rack must’ve been glorious! I just read that the producer who recorded Trixter’s first album rented guitars and your rack to get tones on their first album (early 90’s). That’s a great 3 preamps!!!

[@danpfeifer7618]

This is the best porn I've watched all year! Thanks Michael!

[@barparildar]

You keep on bringing every single piece of gear I ever dreamed of! This is by far my favorite YT guitar channel now! Thank u!

[@TheFrozenDesert]

All I want for Christmas is everything Mike Soldano ever soldered.

[@mikestillwagon5675]

Spoiler alert: None of them suck.

[@mikefrench2499]

In every comparison with the SLO, the SLO was the winner, IMHO.

[@zafira976]

that's simply because the SLO Power amp has been designed specifically for the preamp by the man himself. The other preamps are going through a poweramp from a different amp builder. So, the SLO sounds better goes without saying

[@BenBreard]

Wicked Sensation is a great choice to play through these glorious units.

[@jfo3000]

Right on!

[@toom6087]

The day I decided to buy a SLO is the day I saw this on VHS : kzbin.info/www/bejne/epe4Xn19os6LlbM

[@KnockAndAskToday]

@@toom6087 I just watched that whole video. The only amp that appears to be switched on and plugged in is a plexi in the top right corner of the video. Then at the end he thanks Bruno Engl and Marshall Amps.

[@toom6087]

@@KnockAndAskToday "Yes that's the plexi here, but back in the days at a time without internet, this video gave me this information : Georges was playing the Soldano SLO with Lynch Mob. And I discovered he played this amp from 1990 to 1994. Then he played the Bogner Ecstasy. I met George two times in 2012 : in Switzerland at a master class and in Florida during a cruise. As he loves to talk about gear, we talked during hours at the bar and... I had the confirmation. :) OK it was long to explain, so I understand your answer. I'm not blind, the 2 SLO we can see here are no powered of course. But this is George's studio...

[@KnockAndAskToday]

@@toom6087 All good Alex, I was wasn't trying to wind you up. We all just know he loves gear and will switch back to his old faithful at a moments notice. The tones shown in that video don't have the same "cut" as the album tones.

[@tho-mas83]

Wow,what a cool demo! For me the best one is the soldano/caswell ,not only because of his huge sound, but also of the midi capabilities and of having the possibility to store presets. that's fantastic! What do we want more! Mike should bring them back on market!

[@Locoandchooch]

They all have they're place, and all sound good. I'm still into rack gear, I wish all companies would make them.

[@altemu]

This series about 80’s rack is pure pornography.....

[@ToneScavenger]

Yikes!! Early Christmas! Great shootout as usual! I was thinking the other week that it would be killer if in the future you could somehow muster all of the main rigs from Steve Lukather back to back in a shootout. From Rivera modded Fender/Marshall, to Mesa Mark IIc+, Soldando X88R, CAE 3+SE, Rivera Bonehead, Bogner Ecstacy 101B...etc... and whatever it’s in between. Just a pipe dream, but a dream none the less! Again, excellent content Michael!

[@BigHairyGuitars]

Hi Jorge, Hard to find Mark IIc+ for reasonable $ anymore!

[@VOLKER-ge4tk]

Think Luke used Mark 3

[@SergeyGolovinGuitar]

This day has come!

[@wakjob961]

Dude...you and your videos are killer !!!!

[@russmilton4491]

The Wicked Sensation riff @9:55 really shows how the SLO has that little extra "bloom" in the notes. The racks are great, but the big amp has just that little extra schnizzle. Great vid Michael.

[@caca_spaniel_1239]

I've always thought rackmount preamps tonally sit somewhere in between amps and pedals.

[@Phantasm70]

Then you never played a Langner into a killer poweramp😢

[@EddieVanAidan]

8:35 Only the childreeeeeeen yeee-aaaaaah! Love me some Toto

[@Bamabluesboy]

Fun video to watch and listen. I have owned many Soldano models over the years. I currently have an Atomic 16 1X12 combo and an SLO. I’ve had my SLO for about 14 years now. I gig it almost exclusively. Lots of guys go gain crazy on them, it can do so much more. Remember both Clapton and Knophler used one. So they are pretty versatile in my opinion.

[@Greg-rd8qr]

Awesome video man!! Love the Soldano stuff, great chops man!! Love your channel! Thanks🇨🇦🤘🎸

[@donsmith5385]

The x99 caswell is insane! I would love to hear all those pre amps with the H&H v800! Not too many videos with that poweramp let alone with the Voltron stack of Soldano preamps!

[@BcBaxley]

You have the most legit/tasty guitar rack gear taste....ever 🤘

[@californiasurfpunkmetal6207]

Hey man. Great vid as usual. I would love to see you slave that SLO 100 via a Suhr RL or other load box then into the 2150. I was able to play Mick Mars rig once and it is still the most massive thing I have ever heard!!! If you haven’t done it thank me later.

[@gioelevio1626]

The SLO with the Depth engaged is JUST PERFECT! Also this is great PH material...

[@ghur83]

This is nuts! Always a huge fan of Soldano for life, the sound in my head!

[@LordFingers1]

Those soldano are god damned ferocious, good god!! Perfect amount of grind, yet remains nice and tight, focused and articulate. So bitchin.

[@ricardorobbiano452]

Soldano SLO 100 and Gibson 335 Gold. WTF... Beautiful combination (with Vahlbruch delay for me). I need nothing more. Cheers!

[@aapddd]

All sounded good. The SLO sounds the meanest.

[@Johnmannish]

Would be great if you could make NAM captures from all these preamps!

[@rockostiffredi4276]

Totally love you for doing this, in a brotherly way of course. Just be aware of your preamp/ DAW levels Michael. I understand how extremely difficult it is to keep everything balanced when switching, especially as a one man show, but I detected a bit of clipping and found I had to adjust my headphone volumes, to re-balance your extreme toneful awesomeness.

[@BigHairyGuitars]

Between talking and recording, and video-ing, and then editing 90 minutes down to 20 minutes, there's always things that slip through the cracks.

[@rockostiffredi4276]

@@BigHairyGuitars I might be wrong. Could be the Sennheiser HD650 Headphones are on the way out.

[@dangood2287]

I’ve had all except the x99. The head sounded the best imo

[@captainbrew]

Please make a Kemper profile pack of that Caswell. Sounds AMAZING.

[@jcalzada74]

Woooooow soldano sp77 was the holy grail

[@JBGoode-zx7pp]

The SP77 wasn’t supposed to hang in with its expensive siblings, but it more than did!

[@weLoveAnimation]

Would have been interesting to have a Synergy SLO in the mix as well. :)

[@user-qr7ee2cp4y]

Yeah! See how close it comes and what channel it closest resembles.....

[@Burkhimself]

Amen

[@Burkhimself]

Also a “Hot Rod” head....

[@BigHairyGuitars]

I was at the limit of how much I could squeeze into a video. haha

[@BigHairyGuitars]

I was at the limit of how much I could squeeze into my room.

[@ericharbauer]

Love this! Huge thank you to you and Michael Toren for doing this. Merry Christmas!

[@GearBoy]

There is something about the head that has that little extra something. They all have the same circuit so I assume it is the 5881 tubes in the head vs the KT88s in the VHT?

[@reubenacciano]

Absolutely.

[@ts31966]

Thank you for mentioning that!

[@n1ckA_youtube]

Thank you preamp daddy

[@adamnichols2762]

those pickups in that Friedman sound pretty damn hot too bro!!!! great sounds hail from the SLO100. all the way from 80s Clapton to the heaviest of the heavy!!!!! ohh yea, and all the midrange you want!!!!

[@davidbuzzin426]

👍🇬🇧❤NOTHING BEATS A🇬🇧👍 MARSHALL👍🇬🇧(SUPER LEAD, SL-X, DSL, JMP-1 , EL34 P/A)

[@BigHairyGuitars]

Fair point. Pre- 1985-ish I don't even think Mike Soldano would disagree.

[@frankenstein4106]

Love the SLO 100! Too much amp for me, but digging my SLO 30!!

[@michaelcurnutt]

A Caswell?!?!!!!

[@Locoandchooch]

Mike used to mod the Japanese preamps. If you asked him nicely.

[@kempman9811]

This caswell is very special. Best boy in the collection (except the real deal SLO100 with that wonderful extra ooooummph).

[@cmath8577]

Awesome Video. Former SLO-100 owner. I found a deal on an SP-77 a few years ago. Had Mike do some minor tweaks to my liking. He made the clean channel which could only do clean go into SLO Crunch territory which I love.. #2 . I wanted actually less gain on the lead channel which was not very usable for anything else like riffs and chords .So he removed a stage and refined from there.. Now both channels are way more flexible and both channels stay in the same phase if they are switching and sound absolutely killer . Still has that “hey look at me” quality

[@raysmetaltracks6782]

I just have to appreciate what is in that amp rack at the moment... Soldano 100, Friedman, Kemper, Revv... and that is just the LEFT side of the rack!! On the right, SO much purple awesomeness!!!

[@Yupppi]

No way dude. What a christmas surprise.

[@Juaniguitarra86]

Hey Mike, Merry Christmas! I'm a big fan of your work and i love this channel. One of my all time favorite records is Bad Boy Live, and i worship JS. I was wondering if you could maybe make a video about him, his playing, his tone and stuff. Thank you!!!

[@coalfacechris1336]

Thanks Michael. What a fantastic demo. Love my SLO. Any chance of a separate play-through of the X99?

[@SpinandThrowDiscGolf]

The amp smokes the racks. It has an openness to the gain. Something more going on there.

[@william7108]

They need to outlaw these amps because if I had them I'd be in some serious trouble the kind of trouble I like but not the kind of trouble the law likes I believe the new Soldano amp I believe it's a 50-watt maybe is real close to the SLO 100 and reasonably priced heard one about a month ago another lawbreaker some of the coolest amps ever made digging all the rack ones also that modified Japanese 1 sounds great too I wonder if those are up there in the high price range or if you can even find one anyway great sounds

[@william7108]

What was that gold Gibson was that a 335 or a 339 that sounded killer -good chops bro

[@william7108]

You might as well sell everything else you have you have every tone and sound you need with these Soldano s but I know how that goes

[@Skoora]

4 really is that setting that works on the lead channel in the slo with humbuckers. I find more than that you start losing low end integrity.

[@louderthangod]

I wish the Synergy was also in the mix. I’m really interested in it but there’s a lack of head to head with the SLO out there.

[@niklasseger]

Hello Michael, I just bought the Bigh Hairy Cab-pack, seems to be REALLY good! Which IR do you use when you are doing the Soldano SLO-100, X99, X88r, SP77 Shootout!? Thanks for your fantastic achievements, love your work! Regards, Niklas

[@BigHairyGuitars]

It's a new IR that I'll be adding to the pack very soon. You'll get an update email. Thanks!

[@niklasseger]

@@BigHairyGuitars Great! Looking forward to that. Also, the IRs that are already in the pack are great, such a fin clarity and presence. Thanks for your fantastic work!

[@MrStevendrums]

Thats a lotta gain in one room!

[@neonether]

That SLO-100s hi gain tone is my dream tone, nothing tops that liquidy goodness 😂🙌🙌

[@gibson-rj5qe]

God, my dreaming room, I think I want to be you... : ) : ) : ) Michael, Many thanks for yours video... You take on your personal time for us and many thanks for that. Always a pleasure to listen all this dreaming gear.

[@BigHairyGuitars]

hah! Thanks gibson

[@seanoakes3688]

The Caswell mod is what Prince used. Very powerful tones.

[@DrorBecker]

Thank you so much Michael!! Can you please share what cab+speaker and mics you used?

[@KauffeyBean]

I have to give this video a like before I even watch it! You can really read my mind and wishlist!!!

[@toom6087]

What a gift for Christmas ! Thank you for sharing the reality. I own an old SLO100 (boa skin as George Lynch, not modded at all) and the SP77 preamp (USA) from the 90's. What we can hear in this video is exactly what I can hear when I'm playing these monsters in front of me shredding. This is what I call a high fidelity youtube channel Michael ! I played the Caswell a long time ago, so far away that I didn't remember its sound. I really prefer the SLO100 for its low end. I use the SP77 with a Marshall 9200 power amp loaded with 5881 tubes. So I can play wet/dry/wet. FX with the SP77 (so I use an Xotic stereo custom line mixer between the pre and the power amp) and no FX in the SLO because the loop of this amp is very intolerant. Of course, I'm talking about the old SLO, not the new 2020' one made by Boutique Amps, and witch has a new buffered loop. The only delay I've found to work well with the loop of the old SLO100 is the MojoHandFX Recoil. If I want to play a Boss Dm-2w in, I need a Skrydstrup PL-1 (line mixer) into the loop. Witch cab do you prefer for the Soldano sound ? I've tried many 4x12, Boogies, Marshall, Engl, Friedman, Matamp, Diezel, etc. The best is the 4x12 V30 by Bogner, the one made for the Ecstasy (maybe the same you have in the studio?). As it is warm, it suits perfect with the aggressive Soldano extra bite thing.... Just my humble opinion.

[@BigHairyGuitars]

the Bogner is great. The Marshall with Greenbacks is fantastic too. It's currently my favorite cab, so I'd have to go with that for now.

[@gktde9874]

Oh lord won't you buy me some Soldano amps. My friends all play Marshalls, I must make amends. Worked hard all my lifetime, no help from my friends. So oh lord won't you buy me some Soldano amps.

[@danielnewhouse5044]

The X88R sounds much better than the SP77. Are those EMGs on the orange guitar? The X88R bright switches are visibly in the neutral position. The SP77 which is later defaulted them to bright and it sounds terrible!

[@RichBischoff]

Thanks for all the Lynch riffs Michael. Was he using Solano back in the day?

[@BigHairyGuitars]

Yeah, around Lynch Mob era.

[@OrangeMicMusic]

Epic video :) Thanks Michael....I couldn't decide which one sounded best because I liked them all :)))) Just curious: how the sound was captured ? Real mics and cab or impulse responses ?

[@MitchGift]

The 77 is not quite as cool, naturally. 1 resistor change and it can be. Soldano is meant to be heard. All the freq's are in the right place when its a competition to get your point across.

[@Twobarpsi]

Saw Government Mule front row. Couldn't believe he was using a Soldano...

[@derekthrasher1116]

03:15 River of Love - Lynch Mob 🤘 05:53 Fool for Your Loving - Whitesnake 🤘

[@danilofaggiolino7125]

Hey man, i've got the X88R and the X99. Boy they are killers preamps! paired with VHT 2/50/2. Love 'em!!!

[@BigHairyGuitars]

WOW! How'd you get your hands on a 99!?!

[@danilofaggiolino7125]

@@BigHairyGuitars A friend was selling it not far from where i live. it's the 220v version.

[@kerosenefilms]

I’ve got an SP77 that I’ve has since back in the day. Paired it with a Mosvalve power amp. What do you think is the best current power amp for that model?

[@michaelmervin632]

Michael Many thanks for doing all of these great videos on the old preamps I’ve owned many them The one I shouldn’t have sold was the Soldano/ Castell X-99 No telling what there worth now? When you get a chance please do a video on the much overlooked Yamaha DG-1000 ( probably Alan Holdsworth s favorite and I think he had a lot to do in its development) A truly great pre that hold its own against or excels against many of the pres you’ve presented A new pre that you should present is the Black Widow Audio Designs MGP-1A Analog high voltage plate 4 12ax7 midi ‘ It’s quite remarkable A true milestone in engineering Once again many thanks for all the time and effort that you have put in doing these videos Kindest regards Michael

[@Phantasm70]

Wait, the only way this could be better is if we use my VHT2100C in purple...

[@gainmeister4505]

SOLDANO just makes really great stuff, I had a hotrod plus and a regular hot rod, very cool, my amp tech was thoroughly impressed by both of em and hes an old school marshall/fender guy.

[@Peter_Stoops]

I got my SLO in 2008 along with a Lucky 13, love em both!!! Play thru them all the time!!!

[@guittarwizzrd]

Could you do a shoot out with the synergy slo module like you did with the mesa and iicp modue . Ive been saviing for quite some time to get a synegy head and like 4 modules but now i have enough to buuy any head i like but now i dont know what to do so i havent pulled the trigger on any thing .

[@Burkhimself]

Sounds like the X99 might have a hint more low mid ? To me, sounds like the 99 is most similar to the SLO....

[@BigHairyGuitars]

Yeah. Closest, but a little more hifi, and less gritty than the SLO. More 'extended', if that makes any sense.

[@svenheineken8958]

Epic! 🤩🤩🤩

[@WyattWillis88]

Been wanting and waiting to see a x99 soldano/Caswell on this channel for a long time. Thank you Michael and happy holidays to you good sir!

[@alexjh3456]

For me that's real Christmas...

[@betelgeuse9038]

18:47 "Jet City Woman" by Queensryche: GLORIOUS!

[@TigerPilot72]

Great video. I'd really like to see you review a Soldano Decatone. It seems to have a poor reputation compared to the rest of Soldano's range. What's your view? Can good tones be found from all 3 channels?

[@Bridging_the_Political_Divide]

I've had 2 SLOs, HR50, and a Deca. The Deca is cool, but it's it's own thing. The clean is similar, the crunch may even be better (really nice), but the Lead channel doesn't compare to the SLO. The Deca lead tone is more compressed, and just doesn't quite have the clear articulation that the SLO is known for. Don't get me wrong, the Deca lead tone is "fine", but it's not open and articulate like the SLO. But the Deca crunch is terrific. Cool amp in its own right. As a final thought, I think the right OD pedal added to the stellar Deca crunch channel makes a true big league amp. My 2 cents.

[@vincenzoerriquenz2356]

Awesome!Eighties Rock in four racks!🤟🏼

[@sleggarri]

That 99 is killer Especially Lynch Mob riff.

[@Turbo-D]

synergy slo module is also absolute amazing

[@julianc.227]

Gearporn series ;-) really apreciate it. Hey Michael: can you tell me what string gauges you are using? Thanx

[@PeterLacis]

Hey Michael - this was great! Can you please share what speakers and mics (or IR's) we're hearing all of this through? Thanks!

[@BigHairyGuitars]

Hi Peter, once I got this all setup, I created a new IR of the setup. It's a Marshall 4x12 1960 cab, with a blend of a Greenback and a v30. Everything hit the Fryette PowerStation as the load box. I went back and forth the the real mic'd cab and the IR, until I couldn't tell the difference with the IR. Actually, the IR helped hear the differences between the amps better. Volume differences, pushing the speakers harder, made big differences, and there were too many variables happening, so this helped make a level playing field.

[@th3drizzl378]

slo100 still tops overall x99 close second imo. all killer

[@kimblez]

Awesome tone Michael ---What speaker cab and mics did you use on this?

[@Deadite8593]

This video was just killer! Makes me want a Soldano more than ever haha

[@RafaelHarichSantana-zs7ur]

I love soldano ......i have a soldano atomic 16, its awesome

[@guitarz]

Dude that gold top!! Love the X88 that thing crushes

[@ian1eh944]

Ok, you realize that you are completely INSANE!!! This is GREAT!!!!! LOL! :) OK, I just watched it.....I was quite surprised how "similar" each one was, and I felt like it was more splitting hairs to tell the differences.....but I may feel differently if I was in the room. Michael, did you have a preference coming out of that?

[@BigHairyGuitars]

Yeah. I think the SLO and the 99. Every time I plugged into the 99, I stopped thinking about amps, and just played.

[@ian1eh944]

@@BigHairyGuitars Ok, now how about a shootout between the SLO100 and the SLO30! I'm real curious about the 30....

[@Johnsormani]

The clean actually sounds better on the preamps than on the slo

[@Axman66]

+++ it´s very clear.... four holy grails are better than one... that simple+++ omg this is Rack- Porn++++ i took a picture of exact this rack in Frankfurt 199? at soldanos boothand this was the expirience of my life ... and you have it++ coolest video this christmas+++ i like it

[@megma78]

Cool shootout. SLO user myself. Are you running it into a load box+IR (which IR, cause it sounds terrific) or miked cabinet? Thanks a lot!

[@BigHairyGuitars]

Hi Sergi, once I got this all setup, I created a new IR of the setup. It's a Marshall 4x12 1960 cab, with a blend of a Greenback and a v30. Everything hit the Fryette PowerStation as the load box. I went back and forth the the real mic'd cab and the IR, until I couldn't tell the difference with the IR. Actually, the IR helped hear the differences between the amps better. Volume differences, pushing the speakers harder, made big differences, and there were too many variables happening, so this helped make a level playing field.

[@megma78]

@@BigHairyGuitars amazing! Would you sell the IR?

[@megma78]

@@BigHairyGuitars already bought the vai and other complete collection of BHG. GREAT IR's!!!

[@BigHairyGuitars]

@@megma78 THANKS SO MUCH!

[@felipeengel1112]

Michael, sounds like the japan version is on pair but its volume is a tad lower?

[@sheldonswan45]

Who modded the Japanese SP77? Thanks!

[@tedmich]

SLO has a girth the pre's completely lack

[@snapascrew]

What’s the switch added on the SLO?

[@andrewpiercy4949]

They all sound great!

[@ianfurqueron5850]

"Synthy-MIDI-knoby-turny" LOL!

[@AlexandreCriado]

Years after, the X88 is still my less fav of the Soldanos. That medium bump annoys me big time, while I love the Caswell and the SP77s

[@Twobarpsi]

Love those GL riffs 🤘🤘🤘

[@theirritatedirishman5440]

Michael what do you think about mod and SP77 for an effects loop or have you always had luck with putting an effect between your power amp and preamp? Also I just scored a mint Rocktron Sonicvalve Plexi preamp. Doesn’t do clean really but does blown out Plexi & JCM 800 really well!