The real testament to all of it. Mike has been holding it in one hand for all this time. Mike, you are either strong as hell or that thing is light enough to make us all happy.
@@UseTheSupeRsonic the preamp section by itself is light enough to play catch with. I know because I used to run a rack system. The power amp is a different story. I don't recommend you play catch with that!!
Here’s my favorite setup 1. Connect XLR to FRFR from the X88IR 2. connect stereo output to Lexicon PCM70 (two of these) 3. Connect PCM70 (1) L/R output to a mixer 4. connect PCM70 (2) L/R output to mixer 5. The output of the mixer L/R go to Stereo Power amps (2:90 or 2150) for all your wet signals 6. You can put Two notes load boxes before go to 2:90 to direct XLR to house There you go, you have W/D/W or W/D/D/W solution with this preamp. Super simplified❤
@ absolutely yes, I took off my center dry FRFR then I felt like dang something is missing. Turned that on, even just a little bit volume then that’s it, that’s the tone! No added EQ, compressor, just two lexicon (one circular delay) and another one (hall or ping pong delay) then with Tyler midboost. I’ll go play hours and hours with this setup. Truly inspiring. For a moment I forgot I have digital modelers (QC/FM9/ToneX)
I would love to hear this through a simul class power section like Mesa. Even though I'm a huge Fryette fan. Something about that class A mixed with class AB that's glorious with gain.
Michael, your videos on the X88IR are superb. Thanks for running through all of this and showing us the ins and outs of the unit. I'm now seriously considering one of these.
I’m sold. I’ve gotta have one. This thing sounds like the quintessential guitar tone I love. I also love the easy integration knot my studio. Plus, purple is my favorite color, so this seems like it was meant to be.
It’s dope AF. Totally digging mine. I keep it wired with both the mains and balanced outs hooked up so I can either run it like the traditional rack preamp, to a power amp and cab, or as an all-in-one with monitors. Slap a delay and reverb in the loop and it’s instant awesomeness.
Nice vid', like always Michael. I had an sp-77 in the 90s, and à bit later the custom audio 3+. Never had the chance to play with an soldano xr88 ,because they were not available anymore in Europe at this time. If i could ,i would not even hésitate to get one of these piece of cake. Come on ,that sounds so good, looks awesome and the possibilities to make some great sound with it seem endless. Fantastic pièce of guitar gear. 😊😊😊
Great video and explanations. As someone that still hasn't gone the digital route yet, do you think the Friedman IR series is a gateway to the Soldano preamp and a reasonable idea of what you might expect?
I've always been a big fan of VHT / Fryette power amps. So if you have a Power Station, it's a great amp, and does SO many other things. OR, the 1u power amp he makes. Synergy also makes a good poweramp. Or if you can find an old Mesa 290 power amp.
Hey Michael, thanks for posting this! I have a question.....I'm wondering which scenario would be preferable: 1. Using the balanced outputs (i.e., with power amp sim on) to feed to FX and balanced to my Avantone CLA-200 power amp (i.e., think old school HH tone), and then guitar cabs. 2. Using the 1/4" outputs unbalanced outputs to feed my FX and unbalanced outs to VHT 2/50/2 tube power amp and guitar cabs?
While I know channels tend to have there sweet spots , I would love to hear the total gain range for the clean, altered, and crunch channels. It just useful info. Having owned an x99 - the x88ir appears to have at least 25% more gain- but how clean does it get? Just curious as I consider the versatility of the unit. Thanks the addendum!!! Super helpful! #subscribed
I am so torn over which to get the X88IR or Astro 20 now. The seperate 3 channel vs the green, blue, purple red and having shared eq is tripping me. I use my Two Notes Torpedo Cab M plus IR boxes exactly the same way the X88IR does. I could bring my rack back to life. My Rocktron gear is still operable. I ran the Replifex and Intellifex in series. I was thinking RED 7 multi stereo mixer thingy and intergrate my other fx. But, that old rack setup. Was great, but I wouldn't use the ADA MP-1 for live anymore. I was going to go Synergy setup. I love both the X88IR and Astro 20.
I tkink Bradshaw once mentioned something like this: Bob was surprised when Mike asked for the full price for the first preamp that Bob wanted, and didn’t include him, as the idea originator, in the revenue. This was the reason to build his own preamp. The CAE3+ was then in Steve’s rack in 1994 when Toto performed in Paris.”
Yeah, I went and told Bob Bradshaw my ideas and I wanted it built cheap too. I know what Bob would have said to me. Why is Mike asking for the full price so bad?
Thanks!!! It depends on the kind of metal. If you want to go full modern tight bonkers metal, then yah, probably a tube screamer or something would really help push it.
Just modded my original SP-77 dirty channel this past week. Now it’s really SOL! I wonder have you any thoughts on modding the original SP-77 clean channel or do you know if there are any? Thanks ,great video!
I have one more question about the effects loop. If you just use it for effects only and still go audio out the XLR outputs it still runs the IRs correct?
You can always email me too (in my video description). Are you saying... like create a WDW situation? FX go out to the loop send. but dry is going out of the XLR?
What are the controls on that Tyler? This is the first time I can remember seeing clearly that you have switch bats in the knob positions rather than pot shafts.
I‘m only playing at home, but for me my preamps have me a much bigger playing satisfaction than a digital solution. Maybe it‘s only imaginaey, but the analog stuff is just more fun for me.
I want this,and the Friedman IR-J..speaking of the IR-J,how does it compare to the JEL50?…I have a Marshall 9005 power amp,so wondering if running the IR-J into that would be pretty much the same as the 50,or even the 20??…X88IR is definitely my next purchase,and one of the JEL variants….the built in power amp sim and IR’s is pretty great..
Micheal, please talk to BAD and Bogner to get Bogner to license the Fish to BAD so they can make the FISH IR with all the bells and whistles the X88ir does.
Here's a question and possibly a future vid? You can save 99 presets with this thing. Is that just IR and Power amp based, or does it save the preamps setting to those presets. So if I incorporated this into a rack system would I in effect have 99 completely different presets to play with that all have their individual eq and preamp setting saved? I'm guessing you are using the software to create and save these 99 presets, are they then saved to the rack some how? Because you obviously won't be loading up the software and running it at a gig? Appreciate these vids. I grew up in the 80's and will be buying one of these when they are available in the UK.
Ch2 is great. It has a much wider gain range now, and the EQ feels more effective. The original X88 Ch2 (to me) felt like it was in a dead zone. I could live on the X88IR ch2 for most things
@@BigHairyGuitars I agree. I‘m very happy with it. I use a 6L6 power amp sim in my Torpedo CAB and get great sounds with it. Especially these Lukatheresque 90s sounds are so good.
Something like an RJM switcher would work. There can be a challenge sometimes with grounding if you have multiple preamps switching into the same power amp. But it can be done. Dave Friedman would be a good guy to ask, if you have a specific need
@ Thanks! Just planning ahead. Already have a MB Studio, a Cyclops and a bunch of heads on a KHE switcher. Keeping the ground loops out is key. But rack is coming back!
2ms latency is about as much as standing 70 cm away from a speaker. Assuming speed of sound is 343 m/s. If you are playing through a big amp, you have an inherent latency of at least 5ms just because you are not standing closer to a speaker anyway.
@@george.kollaros I was mocking you for the speed of sound. It travels at 300 m/s at -50°C. At 20°C, dry air and sea level pressure it's around 343 m/s. Didn't mean to be rude ;-)
@@m.a.6478 O.K., just didn't get it. But my point is similar as yours, that with this latency it's playable even if you connect it to an FRFR amp + speaker and play 2 meters away (like you play a real amp typically). And the point that it's 3ms/1 meter is correct (0.343*3=1.029). Have fun!
Without this IR nonesense it would be a cool reissue... But with all those microchips it will be a problem to repair in a few decades. Not good at all. If I want IR I plug it into some IR externally.
@@BenBreard let me give you some instructions.... go find a firearm.... insert it in your mouth.... aim barrel at roof of your mouth.... pull the trigger. nothing of value will be lost.
Haha odd question .. not even on the same playing board and not enough time to even hope to grab the edge …. So I guess you mean I don’t deserve one …. But wouldn’t it be nice to enjoy that bet worth even for a moment ..
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I need one of these. As an 80’s teen I remember nothing more awesome than a huge rack. I’m working on it now and this would be like the crown jewel.
I love big racks too… ugh, wait a sec, are we talking about amps?
@ maybe…
@@shaharbar😈😈😈😈
@@shaharbar can't we have both to look at? Yes we can LOL
The real testament to all of it. Mike has been holding it in one hand for all this time.
Mike, you are either strong as hell or that thing is light enough to make us all happy.
Bro carried the entire high gain guitar amplifier history since late 80's, bro is strong AF 😂😂
I'm thinking maybe since it's just a preamp, thus a lack of power tubes and transformers, are why it appears so light.
@@UseTheSupeRsonic the preamp section by itself is light enough to play catch with. I know because I used to run a rack system. The power amp is a different story. I don't recommend you play catch with that!!
Here’s my favorite setup
1. Connect XLR to FRFR from the X88IR
2. connect stereo output to Lexicon PCM70 (two of these)
3. Connect PCM70 (1) L/R output to a mixer
4. connect PCM70 (2) L/R output to mixer
5. The output of the mixer L/R go to Stereo Power amps (2:90 or 2150) for all your wet signals
6. You can put Two notes load boxes before go to 2:90 to direct XLR to house
There you go, you have W/D/W or W/D/D/W solution with this preamp. Super simplified❤
does it sound good at bedroom levels ?
@ absolutely yes, I took off my center dry FRFR then I felt like dang something is missing. Turned that on, even just a little bit volume then that’s it, that’s the tone!
No added EQ, compressor, just two lexicon (one circular delay) and another one (hall or ping pong delay) then with Tyler midboost. I’ll go play hours and hours with this setup. Truly inspiring. For a moment I forgot I have digital modelers (QC/FM9/ToneX)
I would love to hear this through a simul class power section like Mesa. Even though I'm a huge Fryette fan. Something about that class A mixed with class AB that's glorious with gain.
@ I’ll take this request and make the video soon. Stay tuned. Working on something cool about X88R/X88IR but somewhat will be technical
@@andrewraharjo wow ok, ill track your channel, I would've to see that.
Michael, your videos on the X88IR are superb. Thanks for running through all of this and showing us the ins and outs of the unit. I'm now seriously considering one of these.
I’m sold. I’ve gotta have one. This thing sounds like the quintessential guitar tone I love. I also love the easy integration knot my studio. Plus, purple is my favorite color, so this seems like it was meant to be.
It’s dope AF. Totally digging mine. I keep it wired with both the mains and balanced outs hooked up so I can either run it like the traditional rack preamp, to a power amp and cab, or as an all-in-one with monitors. Slap a delay and reverb in the loop and it’s instant awesomeness.
Think I'll grab one, looks amazing and all the reviews are 100%, thanks for this great Vid on it..
Such a killer bit of kit!!!!!!
Nice vid', like always Michael.
I had an sp-77 in the 90s, and à bit later the custom audio 3+. Never had the chance to play with an soldano xr88 ,because they were not available anymore in Europe at this time. If i could ,i would not even hésitate to get one of these piece of cake. Come on ,that sounds so good, looks awesome and the possibilities to make some great sound with it seem endless. Fantastic pièce of guitar gear. 😊😊😊
If anything, the X88-IR has a bit of an edge in terms of sound, especially that clean channel. Oh my.
I mean, I didn’t know the “X88-IR” until I saw this thumbnail. So I’m in for a treat
Nice video. Thanks for the demo.
Great video and explanations. As someone that still hasn't gone the digital route yet, do you think the Friedman IR series is a gateway to the Soldano preamp and a reasonable idea of what you might expect?
Sounds great! What power amp available now would you recommend to use with the X88? Apart from the big Soldano one.
I've always been a big fan of VHT / Fryette power amps. So if you have a Power Station, it's a great amp, and does SO many other things. OR, the 1u power amp he makes. Synergy also makes a good poweramp. Or if you can find an old Mesa 290 power amp.
+1 Mesa 2:90
@@BigHairyGuitars I happen to have an old Rocktron Velocity Valve 80/80. They only made 700 of them I hear. The thing sounds MASSIVE!!
Love that you’re using my old photo from Baked Potato of Luke and Landau’s racks again 🥰🙏🥰
Hey Michael, thanks for posting this! I have a question.....I'm wondering which scenario would be preferable:
1. Using the balanced outputs (i.e., with power amp sim on) to feed to FX and balanced to my Avantone CLA-200 power amp (i.e., think old school HH tone), and then guitar cabs.
2. Using the 1/4" outputs unbalanced outputs to feed my FX and unbalanced outs to VHT 2/50/2 tube power amp and guitar cabs?
Great video Michael. What power amp were you using, the Fryette?
😊Great Michael, great vid ...
While I know channels tend to have there sweet spots , I would love to hear the total gain range for the clean, altered, and crunch channels. It just useful info. Having owned an x99 - the x88ir appears to have at least 25% more gain- but how clean does it get? Just curious as I consider the versatility of the unit. Thanks the addendum!!! Super helpful! #subscribed
I am so torn over which to get the X88IR or Astro 20 now. The seperate 3 channel vs the green, blue, purple red and having shared eq is tripping me. I use my Two Notes Torpedo Cab M plus IR boxes exactly the same way the X88IR does. I could bring my rack back to life. My Rocktron gear is still operable. I ran the Replifex and Intellifex in series. I was thinking RED 7 multi stereo mixer thingy and intergrate my other fx. But, that old rack setup. Was great, but I wouldn't use the ADA MP-1 for live anymore. I was going to go Synergy setup. I love both the X88IR and Astro 20.
I tkink Bradshaw once mentioned something like this: Bob was surprised when Mike asked for the full price for the first preamp that Bob wanted, and didn’t include him, as the idea originator, in the revenue. This was the reason to build his own preamp. The CAE3+ was then in Steve’s rack in 1994 when Toto performed in Paris.”
Yeah, I went and told Bob Bradshaw my ideas and I wanted it built cheap too. I know what Bob would have said to me. Why is Mike asking for the full price so bad?
Thank you for the awesomeness bud!
Will I need an overdrive pedal for metal stuff?
Thanks!!! It depends on the kind of metal. If you want to go full modern tight bonkers metal, then yah, probably a tube screamer or something would really help push it.
@ cool, thank you Again for your help!🔥
Just modded my original SP-77 dirty channel this past week. Now it’s really SOL! I wonder have you any thoughts on modding the original SP-77 clean channel or do you know if there are any? Thanks ,great video!
I have one more question about the effects loop. If you just use it for effects only and still go audio out the XLR outputs it still runs the IRs correct?
You can always email me too (in my video description). Are you saying... like create a WDW situation? FX go out to the loop send. but dry is going out of the XLR?
It is my favorite setup ❤❤❤
What are the controls on that Tyler? This is the first time I can remember seeing clearly that you have switch bats in the knob positions rather than pot shafts.
I still don't know if I want to go this route or Fractal. Just when I think I've made up my mind a video like this crops up.
I have e Fractal FM9 and still want this. But I don't know if it is justifiable to buy such an expensive product when I have the Fractal. I like it do
I‘m only playing at home, but for me my preamps have me a much bigger playing satisfaction than a digital solution. Maybe it‘s only imaginaey, but the analog stuff is just more fun for me.
I’m waiting for the next Fractalaudio rack unit to use with mine. Axe Fx 4 🤘🏻😎🤘🏻
I used my synergy pre amp with my axe Fx 3 for the pre tube goodness and quick dial in of the pre amps
Get Soldano!
I want this,and the Friedman IR-J..speaking of the IR-J,how does it compare to the JEL50?…I have a Marshall 9005 power amp,so wondering if running the IR-J into that would be pretty much the same as the 50,or even the 20??…X88IR is definitely my next purchase,and one of the JEL variants….the built in power amp sim and IR’s is pretty great..
Micheal, please talk to BAD and Bogner to get Bogner to license the Fish to BAD so they can make the FISH IR with all the bells and whistles the X88ir does.
Here's a question and possibly a future vid? You can save 99 presets with this thing. Is that just IR and Power amp based, or does it save the preamps setting to those presets. So if I incorporated this into a rack system would I in effect have 99 completely different presets to play with that all have their individual eq and preamp setting saved? I'm guessing you are using the software to create and save these 99 presets, are they then saved to the rack some how? Because you obviously won't be loading up the software and running it at a gig? Appreciate these vids. I grew up in the 80's and will be buying one of these when they are available in the UK.
Would be nice to see how to setup a reasonably portable gigging rig with this.
How do you feel about channel 2 on this one? I know you had your original modded by Friedman, just curious if you plan on doing the same to this?
Ch2 is great. It has a much wider gain range now, and the EQ feels more effective. The original X88 Ch2 (to me) felt like it was in a dead zone. I could live on the X88IR ch2 for most things
I’m assuming the headphone output also has the power amp sim and the IRs on it?
Given that it takes sound ~5.3ms to travel 6 feet, I'd say 2 milliseconds into headphones is less latency than a cabinet sitting 6 feet away.
The only fact I need about this admittedly awesome preamp is the price, unfortunately. My SP-77 will have to suffice.
SP77 is super underrated! Killer!
@@BigHairyGuitars I agree. I‘m very happy with it. I use a 6L6 power amp sim in my Torpedo CAB and get great sounds with it. Especially these Lukatheresque 90s sounds are so good.
What would you use to switch between preamps, let's say once you have a few of them?
Something like an RJM switcher would work. There can be a challenge sometimes with grounding if you have multiple preamps switching into the same power amp. But it can be done. Dave Friedman would be a good guy to ask, if you have a specific need
@ Thanks! Just planning ahead. Already have a MB Studio, a Cyclops and a bunch of heads on a KHE switcher. Keeping the ground loops out is key. But rack is coming back!
Great video as always and a hopeful political statement on the t-shirt. 😉
Bought this setup and the foot switch only lights up, am I missing something?
Where was the link to the latency chart ?
The only reason why I haven't bought this yet is because I got an Astro 20 head six months ago.
They should have motorized all 3 channel knobs and it would have been perfect. 🤘🎸
Yeah !
The textbook average threshold of perceptible latency is 6ms.
Is it just me, or does the IR have a nicer clean?
2ms latency is about as much as standing 70 cm away from a speaker. Assuming speed of sound is 343 m/s. If you are playing through a big amp, you have an inherent latency of at least 5ms just because you are not standing closer to a speaker anyway.
It's almost 3ms/1 meter (speed of sound 300m/s). If you hook it to an amp+speaker and play 2 meters away it would be 2*3+2=8 ms. It's playable.
@@george.kollaros It must be incredibly cold where you live, right? 🤓
@@m.a.6478 ??? (btw I live in Greece, but what that has to do with the subject?)
@@george.kollaros I was mocking you for the speed of sound. It travels at 300 m/s at -50°C. At 20°C, dry air and sea level pressure it's around 343 m/s. Didn't mean to be rude ;-)
@@m.a.6478 O.K., just didn't get it. But my point is similar as yours, that with this latency it's playable even if you connect it to an FRFR amp + speaker and play 2 meters away (like you play a real amp typically). And the point that it's 3ms/1 meter is correct (0.343*3=1.029). Have fun!
I figured out who your voice sounds like.... if you close your eye and listen to yourself, your voice sounds like Michael J Fox.
👍👍🍺
I find the headphones jack to be low volume
Is it as good as the old X88R?
I want this rack unit to be my new girlfriend
Without this IR nonesense it would be a cool reissue... But with all those microchips it will be a problem to repair in a few decades. Not good at all. If I want IR I plug it into some IR externally.
Why is the power switch on the back? That is stupid
My Roku remote on my tv is 15ms.
Is your net worth more than Steve Lukather? Do you have more money than him?
@@BenBreard let me give you some instructions.... go find a firearm.... insert it in your mouth.... aim barrel at roof of your mouth.... pull the trigger. nothing of value will be lost.
Haha odd question .. not even on the same playing board and not enough time to even hope to grab the edge …. So I guess you mean I don’t deserve one …. But wouldn’t it be nice to enjoy that bet worth even for a moment ..