Soldano SP77 preamp and Jet City circuits

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Axe-Man

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If the SP77 is the first two channels of the 88R (with lower cost components) which apparently has channels lifted from the SLO, does this mean the SP77 may sound similar to the Jet City 50/100 watters now on the market (they have a similar circuit to the Hot Rod)?

It seems like many of the Soldano products have either the same circuits or quite similar ones and just different levels of build quality/component choices.
 
Shark Diver":2r0edfgu said:
I'd call Mike and ask him.
Click to expand...

Might email him as I'm from Aus and wouldn't want to bug him.

Really just wondered if any guys here who may have experience with the Jet City amps and/or SP77 may know.

I like the sound of the Jet City amps and I'm thinking of acquiring a few preamps...as I can't find much in the way of clips for the SP77 I was thinking about if I could use the JC as a kind of rough benchmark for drive tones.

Naturally there is alot of variables to consider but as I'm running pre's through a transparent EL34 power section it could be similar enough to warrant a loose comparison.
 
Yeah, the basic circuit is likely very similar. For some reason the SP77 I had felt thinner and screechier than what I ´ve found the JCs to be, no matter what I ran it thru, but since I sold it years and years before the JCs came out it´s a fairly flimsy conclusion. They´re certainly in the same family of tone, though.
 
I used an SP77 for several years in the early 90s, and found the tone to be smooth rather than bitey, and just not quite enough gain on the lead channel.

I wish I still had it; it would be mod-fodder for sure.

Matt
 
I have numerous sound clips/tunes with my band live I could email. Zeppelin, White Lion's version of Radar Love, Killer Smoke on the water, Van Halen, Sabbath, etc.....
Quality is surprisingly good.
 
I just got my JCA100H today, and had an SP-77 years ago. The JCA seems a bit more dynamic with more useable gain on tap. The SP was a thinner sound, just a tad fizzy, and no loop at all, but seperate EQs.

All things being equal, I'd take the JCA.

**NOTE: I've had about 20 minutes with the JCA vs 2 years with the SP.**
 
I had a SP77 several times and it was a very smooth preamp. At that time I was kind of against adding a pedal in front for added gain because I thought good rack gear shouldn't need it (I know better now). I did notice that they didn't sound great with Mesa power amps, tried it on both the 50/50 and 2:90. It sounded much better through a Marshall 9100. Back then I switched between the SP77 for clean and rhythm and a Mesa Studio Preamp for the leads. Awesome rig but heavy as SH1T.

Check out the Yamaha T50/T100 if you get a chance. I a/b'ed with my buddies Soldano SLO and he couldn't tell a difference. Definitely lower quality parts (still very good but I'm using "relative" comparison) but a GREAT sounding amp with ridiculous gain.... of course it does, it's the SLO circuit.
 
I had the T-50 & T-100. I sold my Sp-77 after getting those, as they sounded too much alike.
 
Really like the SP77 as it's got a nice, bright clean channel and the gain ch with a Suhr Riot really wakes up.

Sounds great when run through an 11R as well for quiet practice. It's like instant 80s in a box.

What power amp did people use with it as this can make or break any preamp.

I might get it tweaked for more gain, bottom end etc but it certainly has lots of potential!
 
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