Paul, great opening your playing so good really cool tone I love this unit and yes I still have my 16 space rack so it will fit perfect, anyway thanks for another great demo!
@@kempman9811 I know it’s not a modeler -my statement was based on the best modelers out there, which is like the “Axe fx”, “Kemper “ or “Neural DSP” - they are good, but none of them sound as good as that unit
A cool feature is the XLR outs have the power amp sim and IR applied (can bypass) IR, and the 1/4 line outs have the preamp only out. Lots of options for connecting to things live or in studio.
Highly recommended. I use it alone and with Fractal Axe Fx III and it sounds glorious! It’s expensive but it also delivers the goods. Bless you Mike Soldano!❤ Still, the Axe Fx III also sounds spectacular on its own when it’s dialed in. There are loads of UA-cam videos that support this contention. Remember, Metallica and many others use the Fractal and it’s not secondary to convenience alone.
Unreal tones with that gorgeous Les Paul! I haven’t gassed this hard for an amplifier in a while! I’m trying to imagine how one of these would sound through the power section of my Mark IIC+! And what makes the GAS worse is that shade of purple! My favorite color!
That is bonkers good…sounds HUGE!!! Need to get my mitts on that. As someone who uses the SLO100 plugin a lot that is a must for my new studio build. 👍🏻
Very similar to my Soldano Astro 20 head with 3 ‘modes’ from clean through crunch to high gain plus IRs so you can run a cab on stage plus IRs to the desk or just IRs for silent stage, simpler than the rack unit but highly usable. Great kit Soldano!
I pre ordered this and the slo 100r the day it was released 🤘🏻😎🤘🏻 wish they did 1 at a time lol but had to have 🤦🏼♂️ been on my all time list since the 90’s
Great Review and especially the playing. The Stereo Effects Loop is killer but how would you switch it if you only want the Del-Verb on channel 1 and 2 without any effects in a live situation.... 🤔
Great video Paul , i was wondering how you compare this unit to the synergy SLO2 (i just got it ) , I’m on the fence to order the 88 , i like the simplicity and flexibility , real knobs are for me the real deal
Nice, though no one shows if it can do a low/medium gain. I’d set it up for clean, low gain/Dumble-ish/fusion, overdrive. Can this x88 sound good with the gain low on channel 2?
Fantastic stuff! Great hybrid solution! Direct to DAW and effects from a plugin. Sweet! What are the chords at the beginning? I think i've heard it before
Incredible product! The flexibility reminds of the Rivera TBR1 rack amp I had in the 90 (but perhaps with more gain on tap here - as you said it goes to 11!). Do you know is this foot switchable between channels?
Yes you can. Similar to the Astro. It has MIDI. Product page says: The X88-IR preamp accepts external MIDI switchers and controllers, giving you up to 128 user-created presets with real time Control Changes. You can assign and organize your presets right from the front panel or with the included Soldano Editor Software. The X88-IR includes a back-panel Phantom Power jack which can be used to power MIDI controllers.
Hi Paul, before anything, awesome playing and absolute gorgeous taste in comping. Outstanding 😎💪🏼. Second thing, I’ve a beautiful Custom Audio 3+ SE tube preamp: in your opinion, may I insert in X88-IR Return, the CA preamp output, to use X88-IR Amp emulation and IR? And use headphone system on X88-IR to listen CA 3+ SE preamp?
It has built in IRs and you can select them from the front, and load your own with the computer app. Plus you can save presets and switch IRs on the channels or with midi.
@@lostinpa-dadenduro7555 sorry I meant on their end, just the unit right into the table as he said! That power amp tone and feel is always what I’m chasing
You make everything sound great. But that really sounds great. Looks like you were using the internal IR's the whole time, with the Del-Verb? What a pro-sounding rig. What computer interface do you use?
Paul can I ask you what kind of power amp are you using to drive the preamp? I love the fact that vs the slo 30/100 that the clean side will or can be more balanced with the other channels.
So you recorded this the normal way you normally do except you are not using your usual amp/cab sims? Does that mean you are monitoring through near fields? Is so what kind do you use? Do you feel you are getting the same feeling as a cab or combo in the room?
No it’s completely different to an amp in a room. An amp comes from 1 source point. Think of this like recording in a studio and monitoring in the control room.
I have no need for one of these, but god damn I want one. If nothing else, maybe it'll stop all the idiots selling the original ones on reverb thinking they'll get 10k for them. I reckon you need break out the EMG guitar and use way too much delay, micro pitch shift and reverb for the full rack preamp experience!
Used to roadie all over in the late 80's and early 90's and often the guys with their "fridge" sized racks would have a very weak and even fizzy sound, especially compared to the ones still using old-skool valve amps. Except that is for the ones rocking out with their pink Soldano 19" pre-amps and /or power amps which just sounded huge!
I used my synergy syn2 pre amp as my amp tone with the axe Fx 3 for effects. The syn2 and the carvin quad x was the only pre amp I’ve had or know with a stereo effects loop. Glad they did the stereo out and effects loop with the x88ir.
Sounds great, but price point is odd for a preamp with IRs. You could get most of these tones from a Soldano II Synergy module for roughly half this price all in.
No slight against this very well-done demo but I'd like to see some that aren't in this 80s prog-pop mode. Having every demo go straight for the Lukather fans makes sense, but it makes this seem pretty limited in its appeal.
Paul, great opening your playing so good really cool tone I love this unit and yes I still have my 16 space rack so it will fit perfect, anyway thanks for another great demo!
That thing sounds better than any modeler I've ever heard !!!
Because it isn’t a modeler. There are Tubes in it: 5 x 12AX7. 🥳🥳🥳
@@kempman9811 I know it’s not a modeler -my statement was based on the best modelers out there, which is like the “Axe fx”, “Kemper “ or “Neural DSP” - they are good, but none of them sound as good as that unit
@@Avatar7x7 😊
Real 12AX7 tubes….
@@xprophet9 I'm listening to both units on UA-cam Man ! Trust me I can hear the difference !
Sounds incredible ! great video as always, thank you !
Absolutely glorious tone! Thank you for sharing! Mine is on the way!
Yeah this thing sounds incredible
Love the clean channel! We all know that the best clean is not pristine clean!
So true!
I actually like pristine clean...but tube clean! Just listen to Steve Lukather on "Lobotomy stew"🙂
I actually like ultra clean 80' sounds....but tube clean! This can do those as well!🙂
A cool feature is the XLR outs have the power amp sim and IR applied (can bypass) IR, and the 1/4 line outs have the preamp only out. Lots of options for connecting to things live or in studio.
Incredible Sound!! I have the Soldano SLO-30 but this product is amazing. Again, saving money!!
Highly recommended. I use it alone and with Fractal Axe Fx III and it sounds glorious! It’s expensive but it also delivers the goods. Bless you Mike Soldano!❤ Still, the Axe Fx III also sounds spectacular on its own when it’s dialed in. There are loads of UA-cam videos that support this contention. Remember, Metallica and many others use the Fractal and it’s not secondary to convenience alone.
My SP-77 is very good friends with my Torpedo CAB. This valve/digital hybrid model is the way to go.
Thanks!
You are very helpful!
Cheers Marc!
My wife liked the title 😂
Trust me that’s a tamed down one!
@@TheStudioRats I can imagine lads😁
Although it’s really purple with a big knob.
@@chrislestermusic the purple headed warrior 😁
@@jennpage3976 You obviously dont know my missus 😂
This sounds freakin amazing !
Used a SP77 for years. Always loved the Soldano circuit
Unreal tones with that gorgeous Les Paul! I haven’t gassed this hard for an amplifier in a while!
I’m trying to imagine how one of these would sound through the power section of my Mark IIC+!
And what makes the GAS worse is that shade of purple! My favorite color!
Great video Paul! Sounds great!
Cheers Joe.
Good god that sounds amazing
That is bonkers good…sounds HUGE!!! Need to get my mitts on that. As someone who uses the SLO100 plugin a lot that is a must for my new studio build. 👍🏻
Very similar to my Soldano Astro 20 head with 3 ‘modes’ from clean through crunch to high gain plus IRs so you can run a cab on stage plus IRs to the desk or just IRs for silent stage, simpler than the rack unit but highly usable. Great kit Soldano!
Sounds astonishing 🔥
Amazing sound!!!!!
I pre ordered this and the slo 100r the day it was released 🤘🏻😎🤘🏻 wish they did 1 at a time lol but had to have 🤦🏼♂️ been on my all time list since the 90’s
This sounds killer!!! I like it much better than the actual SLO amp sounds :)
What a awesome video Paul have a great weekend ❤😊
Purple my man, purple.
Pinky purple
Love it mate!
Glad to hear it!
Great stuff as always!
Cheers Jon
What an awesome unit!
The tone 80s rhythm tone at 7:15 is just perfect. I want this thing more than I wanted my SLO. lol What pups are in your LP btw?
Feed foh and a stage speaker cab with a power amp, this thing not only sounds like the best it does everything. Dang! Need 💰
Nice vid. The only problem I'm seeing here is I can buy a irx ird irj synergy syn one and a used slo module for the same price.
Great Review and especially the playing. The Stereo Effects Loop is killer but how would you switch it if you only want the Del-Verb on channel 1 and 2 without any effects in a live situation.... 🤔
Sounds nice, but tbh, I only come for your skills :) Awesome chops dude.
so awesome
Vielen Dank und Grüße aus Deutschland.
Please tell me you are going to TONEX it!!! What time can I buy the captures? are they ready yet? ....... Not over excited at all!!!!!
Great video Paul , i was wondering how you compare this unit to the synergy SLO2 (i just got it ) , I’m on the fence to order the 88 , i like the simplicity and flexibility , real knobs are for me the real deal
I’ve got both, you’ll love the 88ir
Nice, though no one shows if it can do a low/medium gain. I’d set it up for clean, low gain/Dumble-ish/fusion, overdrive. Can this x88 sound good with the gain low on channel 2?
I thought I did include that. I would say channel one is more suited to that sort of tone.
Awesome
The clean tone was incredible 😎 what was the signal chain? Beautifully played as well
Cheers Matt it’s all explained in the viddo
Fantastic stuff! Great hybrid solution! Direct to DAW and effects from a plugin. Sweet! What are the chords at the beginning? I think i've heard it before
Overdrive sounds killer...not a Soldano Drive but still good!
Hmmm...I wonder if this might be a better solution for stage and studio than my Mesa Boogie MKIV 1x12 and UA Ox Box. Thanks Paul for the great demo!
Takes up a lot less space and it’s stereo.
Incredible product! The flexibility reminds of the Rivera TBR1 rack amp I had in the 90 (but perhaps with more gain on tap here - as you said it goes to 11!). Do you know is this foot switchable between channels?
Yes you can. Similar to the Astro. It has MIDI. Product page says:
The X88-IR preamp accepts external MIDI switchers and controllers, giving you up to 128 user-created presets with real time Control Changes. You can assign and organize your presets right from the front panel or with the included Soldano Editor Software.
The X88-IR includes a back-panel Phantom Power jack which can be used to power MIDI controllers.
Hi Paul, before anything, awesome playing and absolute gorgeous taste in comping. Outstanding 😎💪🏼.
Second thing, I’ve a beautiful Custom Audio 3+ SE tube preamp: in your opinion, may I insert in X88-IR Return, the CA preamp output, to use X88-IR Amp emulation and IR? And use headphone system on X88-IR to listen CA 3+ SE preamp?
Hi, I guess so but I’ve never tried a CA3. Cheers
Hmmm, I quit playing guiter several years ago, but this is sounds so good...this let me think that it was the wrong decision.
Fab video, Paul. Can you run stereo XLR out to FOH and a single (summed?) 1/4” (or XLR) to an FRFR on stage, by any chance? I’m thinking hybrid here!
Yes, XLR have poweramp + IR sim, while 1/4 are the preamp part of it, so either XLR to FRFR and FOH, or XLR to FOH and 1/4 to 1/2 poweramp/cab
@@politoleo thank you 🙏
Tubes: 5 x 12AX7
What is your signal chain ? Direct out to soundcard ?
Exactly
Whats it like through headphones?
The same as you hear it
What wattage of power amp are you using...Freyette 100?
I’m not using a power amp
Request: Friedman IR-J....
Brushed steel faceplate would be sick
NO IR or cab sim??? Sounds amazing
It has built in IRs and you can select them from the front, and load your own with the computer app. Plus you can save presets and switch IRs on the channels or with midi.
@@lostinpa-dadenduro7555 sorry I meant on their end, just the unit right into the table as he said! That power amp tone and feel is always what I’m chasing
@@worldwarmini3919. Gotcha. 👍
You make everything sound great. But that really sounds great. Looks like you were using the internal IR's the whole time, with the Del-Verb? What a pro-sounding rig. What computer interface do you use?
Cheers Todd I’m using a Ua Apollo
Paul can I ask you what kind of power amp are you using to drive the preamp? I love the fact that vs the slo 30/100 that the clean side will or can be more balanced with the other channels.
I’m not using a poweramp.
The big purple yoghurt slinger
That comment is great and disgusting at the same time
So you recorded this the normal way you normally do except you are not using your usual amp/cab sims? Does that mean you are monitoring through near fields? Is so what kind do you use? Do you feel you are getting the same feeling as a cab or combo in the room?
No it’s completely different to an amp in a room. An amp comes from 1 source point. Think of this like recording in a studio and monitoring in the control room.
I have no need for one of these, but god damn I want one. If nothing else, maybe it'll stop all the idiots selling the original ones on reverb thinking they'll get 10k for them. I reckon you need break out the EMG guitar and use way too much delay, micro pitch shift and reverb for the full rack preamp experience!
pink?
Lovely tones! When I saw Duran Duran in the 90’s. Warren Cucurullo was using one of these.
Also has that Les Paul been refretted?
Listing for $2499 U.S. Ouchy. I do love the sound. But maybe they will release an IR-X size Soldano or Bogner unit for us poors. 😀
Power Switch on the back in a 19 Inch Unit? 😢otherwise it’s fantastic.
Agreed
SUPER SEXY '1980s' STYLE!
Used to roadie all over in the late 80's and early 90's and often the guys with their "fridge" sized racks would have a very weak and even fizzy sound, especially compared to the ones still using old-skool valve amps. Except that is for the ones rocking out with their pink Soldano 19" pre-amps and /or power amps which just sounded huge!
I used my synergy syn2 pre amp as my amp tone with the axe Fx 3 for effects. The syn2 and the carvin quad x was the only pre amp I’ve had or know with a stereo effects loop. Glad they did the stereo out and effects loop with the x88ir.
That intro made me wet my pants - I am done - holy shit, this sounds sooo unbelievable. ❤❤❤
Someone is colorblind, that's purple.
Sounds great, but price point is odd for a preamp with IRs. You could get most of these tones from a Soldano II Synergy module for roughly half this price all in.
What amp or amplification did you use?
can't wait for the TONEX pack!!!!
they are purple not pink
Your pink mate
I am Babysmack @damianval4626
It’s Purple not pnk
Pinky purple
*purple
Yeah if you’re colour blind.
@@TheStudioRats Soldano has always used purple as his colors.
No slight against this very well-done demo but I'd like to see some that aren't in this 80s prog-pop mode. Having every demo go straight for the Lukather fans makes sense, but it makes this seem pretty limited in its appeal.
What's the opening lick? Sounds good!