Soldano X88R preamp vs CAE 3+/3+SE

[gearman]

Hey hey!
I just wanna ask you guys what ya think og these preamps and how they differ, for those of you who have tried both.. I know that this all depends on speakers and poweramps, tubes and guitars played and so forth.. but anyway anyone?
By the way, I`ve got one (Soldano X88R), and I`ve modified the lead channel by removing a capacitor by the gainpot (after advise from J.Suhr) since i thought the original leadsound was a bit too "fizzy". Now I LOVE the sounds from this pre. with Mullards 12ax7 in the first two positions. Mmmm...
Ron

[jd01]

totally depends on what kind of music you play. i love the 3+se, but that x88r is perfect for what i do. gotta love that high gain. what's this mod all about? can you post pics of the guts? how did it change the tone?

cheers

[gearman]

Well, I wrote to John Suhr and asked for a mod of the lead channel, since I personally like a more full sounding, warm, singing leadtone (like the CAE 3+se). He personally agreed on my opinion of the channel beeing i bit too "fizzy". He reccomended to remove the small capacitor sitting accross the gainpot on the actual channel, or to put in a capacitor with a different value if the difference was TOO much. I can paste in the answer I got from John in this thread when I get home.. The mod doesnt make the sound more bassy. but I think the tonecontrols reacts more now, and the sound is not so "forward" in the "fissy" treble area..
This is all I wanted to make my X88R complete for my musicstyle wich is pop/rock/progrock.
Ron

[Jack Luminous]

Originally posted by gearman
Well, I wrote to John Suhr and asked for a mod of the lead channel, since I personally like a more full sounding, warm, singing leadtone (like the CAE 3+se). He personally agreed on my opinion of the channel beeing i bit too "fizzy". He reccomended to remove the small capacitor sitting accross the gainpot on the actual channel, or to put in a capacitor with a different value if the difference was TOO much. I can paste in the answer I got from John in this thread when I get home.. The mod doesnt make the sound more bassy. but I think the tonecontrols reacts more now, and the sound is not so "forward" in the "fissy" treble area..
This is all I wanted to make my X88R complete for my musicstyle wich is pop/rock/progrock.
Ron

Could you post those mods here and explain in details how it affects the tone ?? I own a X99 and may be interested in trying those to see if I like it... Thanks in advance...

[gearman]

Hi folks..here are the q&a a refered to.

Hi John!
I deeply love and respect your work on guitars and amps.

Here is my questions:

I own a Soldano X88R preamp which I really like.. I use the best of tubes selected by trial and error (Mullard NOS,) and equipment to get the best of tones: Mesa 20/20 poweramp, tc-electronics G-major effects proc. 1936 2x12” Marshall cab. Loaded w/ celestion greenback speakers, George L`s cables etc..

1. I think my lead-tone is a bit “fizzy” and not “meaty” enough on my third channel. I miss the “violin”-like tone from the CAE 3+SE pre I once used. I don`t use too much gain, about 12 o`clock, this is while my volume is for stage, quite loud.

I don`t know if you know this preamp, but if you do, are there any mod I can do?



Regards

Ron


Yes I agree but I would need to totally rebuild the lead channel, not a simple answer really, you could try and clip the treble capacitor on the gain pot, It wont make it have more low end but it will reduce the fizz. You could also just make it smaller value like a 220pf if nothing is too much, also change the EQ divider resistor to 33k and the treble cable to a 220pf, that should help
Thanks!



John Suhr

Suhr Guitars / JS Technologies Inc

18650 Collier Ave Unit A

Lake Elsinore, CA 92530

Again, I like the third channel better now, but this is a subjective thing and you should really think twice about modding something you already are satisfied with..So this is for those of you that miss some more "meat" on the "balls"..:)
Ron

[Jack Luminous]

Thanks for the info...