X99, CS Explorer, and Bare Knuckle VHII

[Rackman]

Now that I've had some time with the X99, I've got some conclusions:

• This is a truly unique, GOAT preamp. There is nothing like it.
• Fundamentally it doesn't sound different than a SLO or X88. If you like the SLO, you will likely like it. If you don't, you won't.
• The SLO clean is really good, but to get any value out of it it needs to be split out with its own EQ which this does.
• The automation feature is fucking awesome. There's a couple big wins:
  • Recall and experimentation - you can always get back to exactly where you've been, which frees you to experiment knowing you can't lose anything.
  • Use with multiple guitars - you can just assign a bank of presets to each guitar and have custom EQ and gain settings for each. Great for all sorts of applications.
• Obviously the above benefits have been available in the digital world for a long time, but often in sort of shit sounding units.
• It's interesting how much seemingly basic effects like slightly modulated delays have to be tuned to a specific preamp to get good results. A lot of the settings I'd been using with the Bogner 104BV didn't sound great with this.
• The gain knob range on the X99 seems different than any SLO or X88 I've had - less max gain. I haven't hit the top though so no practical issue.
• The X99 is DEAD FUCKING QUIET. On gained out lead channel, no hiss. There's more hiss in the SM100R input stage.

Honestly I'm surprised someone hasn't made an automation unit like this that can be used as part of other amp builds. I know Caswell did a SIR-mod set up this way, but other than that and a couple amps with one-off automation like Neil Young's there's really nothing else like this. It would take amps like an SIR-mod Marhshall that I have no interest in solely due to insufficient features/too few channels/shit clean disease, and make them far more usable. I'm sure the cost for the automation could be gotten below $1000 if it was used in a bigger volume of builds. Someone like BAD should look into it.

On another front, the CS Explorer got new pickups. The 57 Classics in there were OK but just not quite doing it. After listening to a variety of clips in Explorers and LPs, I settled on a Bare Knuckle VHII set to try. Largely based on this video:

These are basically slightly overwound A5 PAF types, but the key is unbalanced coils. The screw coil is hotter than the slug coil. I know Gibson, Fralin, and a few others have experimented in this realm, but the Gibsons Burstbuckers/Custombuckers never did it for me with distortion and the Fralins have a few tan pants demos but that's it so I really don't know what they sound like. I respect Lindy a lot though. Anyways I got the Bare Knuckles. And I'm glad I did - these things are fucking awesome. And they go VERY well with a Soldano style pre - much better than the 57s. They really have incredible clarity with distortion, which the SLO has plenty of available. That clarity is great for lower register notes too.

 

[Devin]

Hit us with some clips of that combo

 

[VonBonfire]

That is an utterly sweet looking rig rackman. Sounds like you are finding your tone. Congrats bro.

 

[alund]

View attachment 463979
Now that I've had some time with the X99, I've got some conclusions:

• This is a truly unique, GOAT preamp. There is nothing like it.
• Fundamentally it doesn't sound different than a SLO or X88. If you like the SLO, you will likely like it. If you don't, you won't.
• The SLO clean is really good, but to get any value out of it it needs to be split out with its own EQ which this does.
• The automation feature is fucking awesome. There's a couple big wins:
  • Recall and experimentation - you can always get back to exactly where you've been, which frees you to experiment knowing you can't lose anything.
  • Use with multiple guitars - you can just assign a bank of presets to each guitar and have custom EQ and gain settings for each. Great for all sorts of applications.
• Obviously the above benefits have been available in the digital world for a long time, but often in sort of shit sounding units.
• It's interesting how much seemingly basic effects like slightly modulated delays have to be tuned to a specific preamp to get good results. A lot of the settings I'd been using with the Bogner 104BV didn't sound great with this.
• The gain knob range on the X99 seems different than any SLO or X88 I've had - less max gain. I haven't hit the top though so no practical issue.
• The X99 is DEAD FUCKING QUIET. On gained out lead channel, no hiss. There's more hiss in the SM100R input stage.

Honestly I'm surprised someone hasn't made an automation unit like this that can be used as part of other amp builds. I know Caswell did a SIR-mod set up this way, but other than that and a couple amps with one-off automation like Neil Young's there's really nothing else like this. It would take amps like an SIR-mod Marhshall that I have no interest in solely due to insufficient features/too few channels/shit clean disease, and make them far more usable. I'm sure the cost for the automation could be gotten below $1000 if it was used in a bigger volume of builds. Someone like BAD should look into it.

On another front, the CS Explorer got new pickups. The 57 Classics in there were OK but just not quite doing it. After listening to a variety of clips in Explorers and LPs, I settled on a Bare Knuckle VHII set to try. Largely based on this video:

These are basically slightly overwound A5 PAF types, but the key is unbalanced coils. The screw coil is hotter than the slug coil. I know Gibson, Fralin, and a few others have experimented in this realm, but the Gibsons Burstbuckers/Custombuckers never did it for me with distortion and the Fralins have a few tan pants demos but that's it so I really don't know what they sound like. I respect Lindy a lot though. Anyways I got the Bare Knuckles. And I'm glad I did - these things are fucking awesome. And they go VERY well with a Soldano style pre - much better than the 57s. They really have incredible clarity with distortion, which the SLO has plenty of available. That clarity is great for lower register notes too.

Great setup. Couple questions on that X99. Have you ever compared the X99/ SLO Poweramp to a regular SLO 100?
I ask so I personally don’t have to do it. .
Love the X99 and poweramp together as well as with the VHT2150. Are you at all worried about mobile parts wearing out on that Preamp??(im a puss-I am) This is one of the few preamps out there that has waaaaay more settings at the touch of a button vs on the fly manipulation. I’m not sure I’d use more than a 1/2 dozen different tones but you can get over 100 by a switch.

 

[Rackman]

Great setup. Couple questions on that X99. Have you ever compared the X99/ SLO Poweramp to a regular SLO 100?
I ask so I personally don’t have to do it. .
Love the X99 and poweramp together as well as with the VHT2150. Are you at all worried about mobile parts wearing out on that Preamp??(im a puss-I am) This is one of the few preamps out there that has waaaaay more settings at the touch of a button vs on the fly manipulation. I’m not sure I’d use more than a 1/2 dozen different tones but you can get over 100 by a switch.

I've used both, but not a same time/same room/same cab sort of thing. I suspect there's a setting of the X99 Master/SM100R input that's very close to a post-tonestack loop SLO. But there is an extra degree of flexibility there for sure.

As far as the electronics and automation, am I worried? I guess maybe a little. My thinking is that console automation is a thing and this should be repairable but TBD.

 

[alund]

I've used both, but not a same time/same room/same cab sort of thing. I suspect there's a setting of the X99 Master/SM100R input that's very close to a post-tonestack loop SLO. But there is an extra degree of flexibility there for sure.

As far as the electronics and automation, am I worried? I guess maybe a little. My thinking is that console automation is a thing and this should be repairable but TBD.

Good stuff. I have a later version of x99 (serial270). Not sure there was a difference between early and late; probably none. There is not much out there on these units. The SLO power amp is killer.

 

[Rackman]

Yeah the SM100R isn't going anywhere for sure. I really haven't had time to do too much other than set it up and get things sounding decent. I want to do experiments with presence vs. preamp treble and input level (my guess it it wants hot but ???) but thus far I'm just getting up and running.

 

[alund]

Would love to know some of your settings. Obviously, they are infinite. What are you putting in front of the preamp as well as after the preamp before the poweramp?

 

[Rackman]

Signal chain right now is QLX-D wireless, (typically bypassed) Dunlop Rack Wah 2, X99, Eventide Eclipse running right now just a 300ms delay patch to give some ambience, SM100R, Soldano 4x12 with UK V30s.

The settings shown in the picture are a overdrive channel high gain patch for the Explorer with VHIIs. In general high presence/treble and lower to 12:00 bass are called for. Some pickups like mids, some don't. My Mockingbird with Alnico II pros and a lot of maple in the body needs mids well below noon. That combination with the BC Rich wasn't the best honestly - the high-mid emphasis of the X99 plus the high mids of the V30s plus the maple body was excessive and had to be dialed out, and IMO the results were decent but not great.