Rack is back

  • Thread starter Thread starter daveyisgreat
  • Start date Start date
Exo-metal said:
Really!!??? I think we would know here first. That would be very telling having all six versions in a shootout. I think you should do it bro.
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A 6 way shootout would be awesome, but don't think I could pull that off anytime soon lol. I don't even know what to look for to identify different versions besides some having those switches on back and others not having them
 
Kapo_Polenton said:
But it's PURPLE GUYS!! Synergy was asking an extra 100$ for the limited edition purple preamp!!!!!! Then again, who am i to judge. I just dropped 400$ for one of those limited edition RR Distortion + out of Europe because I missed out here. Imagine that, paying 375$ than the cost of those parts just for " limited edition".
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In 1990-1991 when I ordered the VHT 2150, the up charge was also $100 for purple or blue.
 
I dig it. Prices seem on par for what Soldano stuff usually costs. Lots of features packed in that X88-IR that other rackmount devices don't have. Power amp sim, high and low pass filters, bright switch which the module doesn't have, new variation on the clean which the module doesn't have, headphone out for silent playing, pretty slick MIDI control of even the individual switch settings (clean/altered, crunch/overdrive).

And best of all? Doesn't seem to be some limited thing to try to scam people out of money due to FOMO. Probably gonna try to grab one myself.
 
Code001 said:
I dig it. Prices seem on par for what Soldano stuff usually costs. Lots of features packed in that X88-IR that other rackmount devices don't have. Power amp sim, high and low pass filters, bright switch which the module doesn't have, new variation on the clean which the module doesn't have, headphone out for silent playing, pretty slick MIDI control of even the individual switch settings (clean/altered, crunch/overdrive).

And best of all? Doesn't seem to be some limited thing to try to scam people out of money due to FOMO. Probably gonna try to grab one myself.
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Seriously. I'm so over the "limited runs" of everything which is just a tactic designed to build hype and sell out the product before release.

The preamp does sound cool but man...rack systems. Phew. Heavy, cumbersome, complicated. For the studio, sure, but no way I want to haul a rack system around for gigging. I had a Bogner Fish with a VHT 2150 and a Fuhrman power conditioner in a little 8 space rack and it weighed almost 100lbs. o_O

Also, unrelated, this is something like the fifth product release this week where every professional YouTuber is releasing their video on a piece of gear on the same day, at the same time. So over that marketing tactic. "No way! Every YouTuber just happened to get the same piece of gear and release their review video on the same day! But it's totally not a sponsored video!!" And no video is critical in any way. :doh:
 
hellzington said:
Seriously. I'm so over the "limited runs" of everything which is just a tactic designed to build hype and sell out the product before release.

The preamp does sound cool but man...rack systems. Phew. Heavy, cumbersome, complicated. For the studio, sure, but no way I want to haul a rack system around for gigging. I had a Bogner Fish with a VHT 2150 and a Fuhrman power conditioner in a little 8 space rack and it weighed almost 100lbs. o_O

Also, unrelated, this is something like the fifth product release this week where every professional YouTuber is releasing their video on a piece of gear on the same day, at the same time. So over that marketing tactic. "No way! Every YouTuber just happened to get the same piece of gear and release their review video on the same day! But it's totally not a sponsored video!!" And no video is critical in any way. :doh:
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I like rack, and some of my prime playing years were rack years so I'm nostalgic...but agree it's a lot if you're gigging - I'm not. Still, my E850/100 rack power amp isn't light, and if I was gigging not many places where I'd be able to use it at even a fraction of it's capability.

I'm more tempted by a few amps: Bogner Snorkler, Splawn Quickrod, 2555x, 5150III EL34,... that I really don't need or have room for.

The thought of having software to get the most out of this preamp is also a red flag for me as it adds complexity to get the most out of it; hopefully it will be available in decades to come.

For me to get back into rack, there would really need to be an industry wide resurgence...not many new rack preamps around, and I've owned many of the vintage ones (TriAxis, ADA, JMP-1/JFX-1,...) and have Marshall and Mesa amps that cover all that.

The new rack SLO-100 amp is big and pricey too...

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SLO100R--soldano-slo-100r-100-watt-rackmount-guitar-tube-amp

soldano slo-100r 100-watt rackmount guitar tube amp 3
 
I'd really really like to buy a new rack SLO to have an updated version but €4.9K in Europe ($5.3K) !!! Wowww.... Guess I have to start saving right now.... I dig there is nothing digital or software related to it. Just plain awesome tube amp. Like the rock godz intended.
 
Ok I'm gonna stir the pot here a little. I was just thinking about this... What is the point of this preamp in 2024? Hear me out.

This unit is $2499. The same exact price as the Fractal Axe FX III. Now before we lose our minds about modelers versus real amps, let's think about this rationally. The XR-88IR is not a real amp in a conventional sense. It's a preamp with some IRs loaded into it for a complete recording solution, just like the AxeFX. You can plug it into a power amp and use it through speakers, just like an AxeFX. It has multiple channels, just like an AxeFX ("scenes"), it has bright switches just like the AxeFX, it has multiple IRs just like an AxeFX.

Except with the AxeFX you also have a ton of notable improvements over this unit. You can:
  • Get access to other amp models (290+)
  • Get access to far more IRs (2000+)
  • Get access to DynaCabs
    • Multiple microphones
    • Completely moveable around the speaker
  • Change the amp's parameters:
    • NFB
    • Depth
    • Bright cap values
    • Power Tubes
    • Preamp Tubes
    • Bias
    • Output compression
    • Speaker attributes (thump, drive, compression, etc)
    • Studio quality effects (1000+)
    • Multiple routing options
    • Far more footswitchable
    • Over 1000+ presets
    • Endless EQ options
    • Tons of other stuff I'm not gonna list here
You can't do any of that with the XR-88IR. So it basically has "authenticity" because it's a tube preamp made by Soldano, but that's really about it. The AxeFX III is superior in every other way. Sure, we can argue over the authenticity of Cliff's SLO or XR-88 models but I'll take a 95% match with all those other features over a dated rack preamp that is authentic but doesn't do 5% of what the AxeFX can do.

...and you guys know I'm a tube amp guy, but this product is just kinda strange in 2024 if you really think about it.
 
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hellzington said:
So it basically has "authenticity" because it's a tube preamp made by Soldano
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That's literally the whole point and why someone would choose this.

I could do a lot of what you described with my DAW and interface, have more capabilities, and probably come out cheaper than an AxeFx. It's just an option; not everything needs to be some black and white choice.
 
hellzington said:
Seriously. I'm so over the "limited runs" of everything which is just a tactic designed to build hype and sell out the product before release.

The preamp does sound cool but man...rack systems. Phew. Heavy, cumbersome, complicated. For the studio, sure, but no way I want to haul a rack system around for gigging. I had a Bogner Fish with a VHT 2150 and a Fuhrman power conditioner in a little 8 space rack and it weighed almost 100lbs. o_O

Also, unrelated, this is something like the fifth product release this week where every professional YouTuber is releasing their video on a piece of gear on the same day, at the same time. So over that marketing tactic. "No way! Every YouTuber just happened to get the same piece of gear and release their review video on the same day! But it's totally not a sponsored video!!"
Click to expand...
 
hellzington said:
Seriously. I'm so over the "limited runs" of everything which is just a tactic designed to build hype and sell out the product before release.

The preamp does sound cool but man...rack systems. Phew. Heavy, cumbersome, complicated. For the studio, sure, but no way I want to haul a rack system around for gigging. I had a Bogner Fish with a VHT 2150 and a Fuhrman power conditioner in a little 8 space rack and it weighed almost 100lbs. o_O

Also, unrelated, this is something like the fifth product release this week where every professional YouTuber is releasing their video on a piece of gear on the same day, at the same time. So over that marketing tactic. "No way! Every YouTuber just happened to get the same piece of gear and release their review video on the same day! But it's totally not a sponsored video!!" And no video is critical in any way. :doh:
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I know what you mean, I had an 18 space rack with a VHT 2150, never actually weighed it. Usually took two people, but I had an SUV with a tailgate that flipped down, I could get in & out by myself but it was a struggle. They probably figured if you were running this type of rig, you had a cartage company to haul your gear.
 
hellzington said:
Seriously. I'm so over the "limited runs" of everything which is just a tactic designed to build hype and sell out the product before release.

The preamp does sound cool but man...rack systems. Phew. Heavy, cumbersome, complicated. For the studio, sure, but no way I want to haul a rack system around for gigging. I had a Bogner Fish with a VHT 2150 and a Fuhrman power conditioner in a little 8 space rack and it weighed almost 100lbs. o_O

Also, unrelated, this is something like the fifth product release this week where every professional YouTuber is releasing their video on a piece of gear on the same day, at the same time. So over that marketing tactic. "No way! Every YouTuber just happened to get the same piece of gear and release their review video on the same day! But it's totally not a sponsored video!!" And no video is critical in any way. :doh:
Click to expand...

They really need to enact rules that force people to announce they are being paid to advertise in their ads. Maybe even how much they got paid or whether they received the gear for free. I feel bad for the people who don't realize these are all bs influencer ads lol. Everything sounds the same to me at this point.

Not going to lie, the X-88 is intriguing but I'll wait until they're used before throwing one in my studio.
 
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