Soldano SP-77/Carvin T100 review..

[Chuckracer]

Re: Soldano SP-77/Carvin T100 review..

John, you have an excellent preamp already. What you need is a real good power amp. You may have to break your $400 barrier to get something good, but it will make all the difference and bring the best out of the Soldano.
I really think it's either the tubes in the Carvin, or the amp itself that's killing the Soldano. When you get to this level of gear, things get pretty picky. I could easily hear the differences in cables with my SLO, yet can't with my Marshall and Recto's I tested. Cleve has mentioned this before as well.

Anyhoo, before you buy more preamps, get a real good power amp.

[Cleveland Metal]

Re: Soldano SP-77/Carvin T100 review..

+1 to What Chuck said...

Of course, I have an excellent preamp myself in the CAE3+se, but I'm not necessarily happy...

They all do some things good, and some things bad...

[jgcable]

Re: Soldano SP-77/Carvin T100 review..

[ QUOTE ]
John, you have an excellent preamp already. What you need is a real good power amp. You may have to break your $400 barrier to get something good, but it will make all the difference and bring the best out of the Soldano.
I really think it's either the tubes in the Carvin, or the amp itself that's killing the Soldano. When you get to this level of gear, things get pretty picky. I could easily hear the differences in cables with my SLO, yet can't with my Marshall and Recto's I tested. Cleve has mentioned this before as well.

Anyhoo, before you buy more preamps, get a real good power amp.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks Chuck. Give me some suggestions regarding a power amp. I can save up some scratch and do a little liquidating and come up with more money. Thanks in advance as always.

[Soloist1]

Re: Soldano SP-77/Carvin T100 review..

Hey John try a VHT 2902 or the 2150. With the KT88's the low end shouldn't get flabby. I know exactly what your talking about. Mine did that with the Mesa power amp. Maybe it's an EL tube thing. That had EL84's in it. Same speakers as you also. 75 watters.

[catzodellamarina]

Re: Soldano SP-77/Carvin T100 review..

It's tough buying a good tube poweramp and staying in the economy range. Carvin & Peavey are inexpensive, but I think he was hinting Mesa or VHT quality. You can't touch a lowly el84 Mesa 20/20 for under $400. [img]/images/graemlins/scratchhead.gif[/img] What do you do?

[Chuckracer]

Re: Soldano SP-77/Carvin T100 review..

[ QUOTE ]
Hey John try a VHT 2902 or the 2150. With the KT88's the low end shouldn't get flabby.

[/ QUOTE ]

+1

[Cleveland Metal]

Re: Soldano SP-77/Carvin T100 review..

I worship my KT88 Amp... There is nothing close.

[jgcable]

Re: Soldano SP-77/Carvin T100 review..

What if I tried retubing and rebias'ing my T100 with 6551's?
The T100 has 2 bias trim pots in it. I also read that I could run 6551's on one side and EL34's on the other.
The other thing I was thinking about was retubing the T100 with E34L's which have a tighter bottom than the stock EL34's.

[hippietim]

Re: Soldano SP-77/Carvin T100 review..

Tight bottoms are good [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[Chuckracer]

Re: Soldano SP-77/Carvin T100 review..

I really think that, while re-tubing and setting up the Carvin is a step in the right direction, you still are...putting expensive roadrace tires on a 77 Malibu.

John, seriously. You are surrounded by mid-range gear and trying to get high end response out of it. You need to go to ebay and have a yard sale. Dump all the non-pro level gear, Carvin combo amps, pedals you don't really need and get couple really good things. You'll be glad you did.

I remember seeing a post from a year or more ago, wherein you said you were considering doing this very thing. It's time. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[Cleveland Metal]

Re: Soldano SP-77/Carvin T100 review..

[ QUOTE ]
I really think that, while re-tubing and setting up the Carvin is a step in the right direction, you still are...putting expensive roadrace tires on a 77 Malibu.

John, seriously. You are surrounded by mid-range gear and trying to get high end response out of it. You need to go to ebay and have a yard sale. Dump all the non-pro level gear, Carvin combo amps, pedals you don't really need and get couple really good things. You'll be glad you did.

I remember seeing a post from a year or more ago, wherein you said you were considering doing this very thing. It's time.

[/ QUOTE ]


Chuck speakum heapum wisdom...

[hippietim]

Re: Soldano SP-77/Carvin T100 review..

[ QUOTE ]
I really think that, while re-tubing and setting up the Carvin is a step in the right direction, you still are...putting expensive roadrace tires on a 77 Malibu.

[/ QUOTE ]

That is key. In my experience, unless the tubes are totally shot or totally shit then retubing it is not going to make a massive improvement. I've never heard something with decent tubes to begin with sound so dramatically different after a retube that it would change your whole opinion of the amp.

[Cleveland Metal]

Re: Soldano SP-77/Carvin T100 review..

Might change his opinion of the amp. Prolly not for the better though, after dumping dough into a retube and maybe not getting much improvement!

[Soloist1]

Re: Soldano SP-77/Carvin T100 review..

When I picked up my SLO I called Soldano to ask them about biasing, what kinds of tubes I could use and a whole other list of questions regarding tubes and how you can slightly change you tone by changing some of those. I asked about putting EL34's in it because I love a lot of EL tube amps for the early power tube saturation. They told me that it could be done with a slight bias mod but recommended against it because the EL34's didn't sound all that good in them. Since the sp77 is basically the same preamp circuit that might hold true there as well. Those preamp circuits use 5 gain stages from the preamp tubes for the OD channel. Most high gain amps use 4. Maybe it is a bit to much for an EL power amp.

With all that crap said I'm with Chuck also. Dump all that rack stuff and grab yourself the SLO you've always wanted. Especially since your gigging now. I just about broke even selling my rack rig and picking one up. All Chuck's advice. Thanks Chuck. SLO with KT66's and a THD hotplate and I have killer tone at the flick of two switches.

[jgcable]

Re: Soldano SP-77/Carvin T100 review..

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I really think that, while re-tubing and setting up the Carvin is a step in the right direction, you still are...putting expensive roadrace tires on a 77 Malibu.

John, seriously. You are surrounded by mid-range gear and trying to get high end response out of it. You need to go to ebay and have a yard sale. Dump all the non-pro level gear, Carvin combo amps, pedals you don't really need and get couple really good things. You'll be glad you did.

I remember seeing a post from a year or more ago, wherein you said you were considering doing this very thing. It's time.

[/ QUOTE ]


Chuck speakum heapum wisdom...

[/ QUOTE ]

The truth hurts Chuck.. and now I am in a little pain.
I got rid of alot of gear lately.
Currently I have my Boss GT-6/Carvin T100 rig for gigs because it is already set up and ready to go.
All of my guitars are either high end Ibanez or PRS.
For other amps I have the Marshall 3203 with a Mesa 3/4 back cabinet for home jamming and recording. I have a Carvin X60 1 x 12 combo that is in flawless mint condition that I use as a keyboard amp at home and I have the Soldano SP77.
My 5150II and 5150 cabinet is in New Jersey at the rehearsal space.
I just bought a bunch of gear to get my home recording studio up and running and yea.... I ADMIT IT.... I have a friggin TON of Boss pedals. I just love the darn things. I don't even use them. I feel the same way about Boss pedals now as I did as a kid with Hot Wheels.

This leaves me with the Soldano SP77. Its a good preamp. I know it is. I can feel and hear the potential in it.
I need to take yours and others advise and belly up for a GOOD poweramp and a G-Major.
Would this be considered a pro rack system to you [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]:
Soldano SP77 purple faced preamp
TC Electronics G-Major w/midi foot controller
VHT 2150
Furman power supply/conditioner
A pair of Randall 2 x 12 slant cabinets loaded with 75w Celestions.

Oh Chuckus Maximus... grace me with your insight. [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]