{"product_id":"soldano-x88-ir-3-ch-all-tube-stereo-rackmount-preamp","title":"Soldano X88-IR 3-Ch All-Tube Stereo Rackmount Preamp","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Soldano X88R is considered by many guitar players as the holy grail of rack mount tube preamps. From its inspiring Soldano tone to distinctive purple anodized panel, the X88R is\u003cbr\u003eone of the world’s most sought-after pieces of vintage gear used by countless professional musicians including Peter Frampton, Warren DeMartini, Michael Landau, Steve Lukather, Lou Reed and Lee Ritenour to name a few.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe new X88-IR continues this legacy by preserving every ounce of Soldano’s legendary tone, with updated modern features tailored to meet the needs of today’s professional players.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eX88-IR\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFeatures\u003cbr\u003eSoldano’s famous cascading-gain design\u003cbr\u003eHand built in the USA\u003cbr\u003eTubes: 5 x 12AX7\u003cbr\u003eDimensions (2-unit rack space): 19” (W) x 10.25” (D) x 3.5” (H)\u003cbr\u003eWeight: 10 lbs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFront Panel\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePurple Anodized front panel\u003cbr\u003eAll Channels – Preamp Level, Bass, Middle, Treble, Output Level and Bright switch\u003cbr\u003eChannel 1- Bright switch and selectable Normal\/Altered ModeFender style Normal Mode\u003cbr\u003eBoosted clean Altered Mode\u003cbr\u003eChannel 2\/3 – Fat Switch, Bright Switch and selectable Crunch \/ Overdrive Mode\u003cbr\u003eMaster Level Control\u003cbr\u003eHeadphone Output jack with Level Control\u003cbr\u003eIR cabinet simulation (bypassable)\u003cbr\u003e6 IR presets, individually programmable per channel \/modeLoad your own IRs via the Software Editor\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBack Panel\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVoltage selector switch – Mains Fuse must be changed (please read manual)\u003cbr\u003eUSB (type B 2.0) connector to connect Software EditorIncludes a 6’ USB cable\u003cbr\u003eMIDI\/Footswitch Input\u003cbr\u003eMIDI Phantom Power input jack\u003cbr\u003e¼” Main Outputs\u003cbr\u003eStereo XLR Outputs with Level Switch and Ground Lift Switch\u003cbr\u003eUltra-transparent stereo series effects loop:Mono Send and Stereo Return jacks\u003cbr\u003eLevel Switch\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSoldano Software Editor\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEasy to use USB Editor Software\u003cbr\u003eSave up to 128 MIDI presets\u003cbr\u003eLoad and organize your IR libraryIncludes 12 IRs to choose from\u003cbr\u003eMidi Presets allows you to select:Channel\u003cbr\u003eChannel mode\u003cbr\u003eAssign different IRs for all three channels\u003cbr\u003eLow-Pass and High-Pass Filters\u003cbr\u003ePower Amp three position Depth Switch\u003cbr\u003ePower Amp three position Presence Switch\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHistory\u003cbr\u003eThe Original X88R\u003cbr\u003eThe initial idea for a three-channel Soldano rackmount guitar preamp came from Bob Bradshaw, rack builder to the stars. According to Mike Soldano “If not for Bradshaw’s request, the X88R would never have happened. I thank Bob Bradshaw for his idea and for his trust in me to make it happen.” Here’s the story:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1987, Steve Lukather began using the new Soldano SLO-100 heads. Bob Bradshaw built Steve’s rack system and toured with him to ensure it always worked flawlessly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhile visiting Bob’s shop in North Hollywood, Bob discussed with Mike what a pain it was to haul around three amps just so Steve could get his various sounds. Steve’s complicated wet-dry-wet rig also needed heavy dummy loads to get a low level “slave” signal from the power amp’s output to run into the effects. This large rig generated extra wear and tear and expense, as shipping and handling those heavy amps and load cabinets required more truck space and crew labor.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMike agreed that using his SLO-100 heads just to obtain a rack-system-friendly 0db output signal was inefficient. This was especially true because the SLO’s revolutionary cascading gain design already provided all of Soldano’s iconic tone in the preamp section.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBob requested Mike to build an all-tube preamp with three independent channels, clean, crunch, and overdrive, that could be integrated with his switching systems and replace all that heavy gear. When it was done, Bob wired it into Steve’s rack, it was big smiles all around and history was made.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy the Summer of 1988, Soldano developed a production version of this preamp, the first of which was purchased by Warren Cucurullo. The X88R was the first of its kind, and the first truly professional stand-alone guitar preamp.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eX88-IR\u003cbr\u003eThe Channels:\u003cbr\u003eJust like the X88R, the new X88-IR features three channels each with Preamp Level, 3-Band EQ, Output Level and Bright Switch. The original X88R featured independent channels for clean, crunch and overdrive. The new X88-IR offers significantly more flexibility including:\u003cbr\u003eClean\u003cbr\u003eChannel 1\u003cbr\u003eChannel 1 (the “clean” Channel) now includes a two position Normal\/Altered mode.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Normal mode is a Fender inspired clean tone.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Altered mode offers a boosted clean for edge of breakup tones\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn Normal Mode, the channel 1 select button will illuminate Green.\u003cbr\u003eIn Altered Mode the channel 1 select button will illuminate Yellow.\u003cbr\u003eCustom\u003cbr\u003eChannel 2 and 3\u003cbr\u003eBoth Channels are identical, both featuring a Fat Switch, a Bright switch and a selectable Crunch\/Overdrive switch. This allows you to customize channels 2\/3 to your liking. You can select one Crunch and one Overdrive channels, two Crunch Channels or two Overdrive Channels.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn Crunch Mode, the corresponding channel 2\/3 select button will illuminate Purple.\u003cbr\u003eIn Overdrive Mode, the corresponding channel 2\/3 select button will illuminate Red.\u003cbr\u003eChannel Presets\u003cbr\u003eChannel Select MIDI Store\u003cbr\u003eEach of the three channels features an illuminated channel select switch. Press and hold any of the channel select switches to MIDI store a preset.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Soldano","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44430805696605,"sku":"BM763815134086","price":4084.05,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0736\/8179\/7213\/files\/x88-ir-left.png?v=1778344246","url":"https:\/\/gearstage.store\/products\/soldano-x88-ir-3-ch-all-tube-stereo-rackmount-preamp","provider":"GearStage","version":"1.0","type":"link"}