Soldano Sp77

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Cap217

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I recently got an sp77 and Im not super impressed with it but I feel that there might be something wrong and thats why. It is really flubby in the bass, it doesnt have much punch, and the clean channel has a low signal grit to it, like its getting drive from the 2nd channel in the first.

I swapped in all new tubes but the same issues.

Where do I start on this to see whats going on? Or is this normal?
 
Cap217 said:
I recently got an sp77 and Im not super impressed with it but I feel that there might be something wrong and thats why. It is really flubby in the bass, it doesnt have much punch, and the clean channel has a low signal grit to it, like its getting drive from the 2nd channel in the first.

I swapped in all new tubes but the same issues.

Where do I start on this to see whats going on? Or is this normal?
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What tubes are you running?
 
Caps? I had similar issues with my 5150 when I got it. I played it and immediately went "This ain't right!"

I had the caps replaced and it rips now.
 
Dave L said:
Have a tech look it over, these are 30 years old by now and might need some routine maintenance.
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If I have a tech go over it, is there a mod I should consider? I read that people did a few small things to make it like the bigger rack units.
 
Cap217 said:
If I have a tech go over it, is there a mod I should consider? I read that people did a few small things to make it like the bigger rack units.
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If it were me…I’d get it tuned up and working in its original state first. That’s just me.
Watch the “Big Hairy Guitars” video with Michael Nielson. All those Soldano preamps should sound pretty good right out of the box if tuned up properly.
 
Im noticing that the output of these can really drive your power amp in a bad way. Is it normal that it sounds best around 9-10 oclock? Like a quarter turn on.
 
Cap217 said:
Im noticing that the output of these can really drive your power amp in a bad way. Is it normal that it sounds best around 9-10 oclock? Like a quarter turn on.
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You could have some film caps in the last stage leaking dc, unlikely for an amp of this age, but possible.

I would take it to a tech, who will likely recap, clean the tube sockets and pots and hopefully find if anything else is wrong.
 
Email Dave Friedman about servicing it. Also if there are any mods for that unit Dave is sure to know about them.
 
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