big bob Posted September 5, 2012 Share Posted September 5, 2012 Some of you know that our own cable meister Der Steiner is somewhat of a high gain afficenato. A guru of gain as it were.. Well today I had the distinct pleasure of putting one of his high gain monsters through its paces. The Soldano Supercharger GTO... To call this aluminum clad snarling dog a pedal is like calling Brentrocks's gas a little tummy trouble. I would place this thing firmly in the "other" category. I ran this through my frankenchamp today and it was nothing short of adding a high gain channel. Did I mention that this thing is mind numbing loud. Even through a 12 watt amp this sucker can peal the paint of the neighbors outhouse. This thing is so loud that even at low volume it still sounds loud. I can honestly say I now understand Van Hallen, and Malemstien.. It makes the fretboard so incredibly touch sensitive it scary. I only played this for a couple of hours but with this little gem I'm truly energetic about learning pinch harmonics, look out Mr. Gibbons here comes Lance. I must also say that with out a wonderful friend like Gregg I probably would never have been able to try one of these. Thanks Buddy, you da man! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DetroitBlues Posted September 5, 2012 Share Posted September 5, 2012 That is a cool monster of a pedal. It's really a Soldano preamp pedal, not really an oD or distortion. That actually has a tube in it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
big bob Posted September 5, 2012 Author Share Posted September 5, 2012 That is a cool monster of a pedal. It's really a Soldano preamp pedal, not really an oD or distortion. That actually has a tube in it... Two tubes.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steiner Posted September 5, 2012 Share Posted September 5, 2012 Big Bob - it's fun to put things in your hands. Being the mad scientist you are, your creativity and ability to think about these toys in different ways really helps me. I bought the Supercharger GTO with specific duties in mind; it works fine in those conditions but already, I never thought to use it for low volume, high gain. What a great idea! Time to get down another one and play! BTW it has two onboard transformers and a choke; the two 12AX7s run at regular 100+V amp voltage. It's fun to call it a pedal 'cause you step on the switch; hell, I even adjust the Gain, Tone and Overdrive knobs with my foot. If it is a pedal, it's the biggest one I've owned - a good 5 or 6 times the footprint of a standard Boss pedal. At ~8lbs, it's the heaviest item in the gig bag. Play in good health Big Bob! And, please, do keep us abreast! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bolero Posted September 5, 2012 Share Posted September 5, 2012 never heard of this, got any pics? great name for a pedal though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffB Posted September 5, 2012 Share Posted September 5, 2012 never heard of this, got any pics? great name for a pedal though My nana drove one like this. She would drive it to the hair salon when she got her monthly blue rinse. Clips or pics? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
big bob Posted September 5, 2012 Author Share Posted September 5, 2012 Something like this http://www.solidbodyguitar.com/supercharger.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DetroitBlues Posted September 5, 2012 Share Posted September 5, 2012 I think KBP was going to recreate one of these, but finding the chassis was near impossible... Any metal workers out there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
big bob Posted September 5, 2012 Author Share Posted September 5, 2012 I think KBP was going to recreate one of these, but finding the chassis was near impossible... Any metal workers out there? He was working on that for me.. I think it got the better of him! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidsmoke Posted September 5, 2012 Share Posted September 5, 2012 Something like this http://www.solidbody...upercharger.htm holy. sh*t. Really? 12 watt Champ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
big bob Posted September 5, 2012 Author Share Posted September 5, 2012 holy. sh*t. Really? 12 watt Champ? The franken champ has up sized transformers and some simple mods. It can run most tubes, 6v6,6l6,el34,kt66.... More I like it for now with a 6l6 in it. Which I would guess is about 12 watts.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidsmoke Posted September 5, 2012 Share Posted September 5, 2012 The franken champ has up sized transformers and some simple mods. It can run most tubes, 6v6,6l6,el34,kt66.... More I like it for now with a 6l6 in it. Which I would guess is about 12 watts.. and as I recall you were running through a decent sized cab at PSP, weren't you? 1X12? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
big bob Posted September 5, 2012 Author Share Posted September 5, 2012 2x12 with ..... Um ... 2 .....100 watt webbers in it. I built it for my 120 watt sound city... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kbp810 Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 He was working on that for me.. I think it got the better of him! And how! The issue wasn't really building it... it was builidng it and fitting it in a box that would still somewhat resemble a foot pedal! Soldano uses dual layered PCB in that pedal, for as big as it already is, it could have been a lot bigger. (not to mention imagining doing that in a handwired PTP variation) That wasn't the real problem I ran into though... the problem I had was first convincing Mercury to make me a transformer for it (they are no longer made), and then watching it go up in smoke on the first power on attempt because someone, not mentioning names (KBP810!) had accidentatly reversed the pinouts. I eventually obtained a replacement for it, but never took the project back up and evenually passed the part on to a fellow AG member. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
big bob Posted September 6, 2012 Author Share Posted September 6, 2012 And how! The issue wasn't really building it... it was builidng it and fitting it in a box that would still somewhat resemble a foot pedal! Soldano uses dual layered PCB in that pedal, for as big as it already is, it could have been a lot bigger. (not to mention imagining doing that in a handwired PTP variation) That wasn't the real problem I ran into though... the problem I had was first convincing Mercury to make me a transformer for it (they are no longer made), and then watching it go up in smoke on the first power on attempt because someone, not mentioning names (KBP810!) had accidentatly reversed the pinouts. I eventually obtained a replacement for it, but never took the project back up and evenually passed the part on to a fellow AG member. Thanks for the effort! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steiner Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 It's not nice to fool with Mother Nature; or Father Soldano. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thundersteel Posted September 7, 2012 Share Posted September 7, 2012 So when are you putting a Bigsby on it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tsp17 Posted September 7, 2012 Share Posted September 7, 2012 that thing is scary! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steiner Posted September 7, 2012 Share Posted September 7, 2012 that thing is scary! It's a serious tool in the sound path. Punch the "on" button and you get a brand new amp to play. It's a good life! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bolero Posted September 7, 2012 Share Posted September 7, 2012 that's pretty funky!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koula901 Posted September 8, 2012 Share Posted September 8, 2012 My nana drove one like this. She would drive it to the hair salon when she got her monthly blue rinse. Clips or pics? LOL My grandmother used to get a blue rinse as well. Hysterical! Fortunately, chemistry got us past that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
big bob Posted September 8, 2012 Author Share Posted September 8, 2012 It is truly like adding a whole new preamp section to your amp. I was rocking out the Judas Priest earlier today. This pedal sounds great no matter how I set it. From a super driving overdrive to screaming dirt.... Yes! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steiner Posted September 8, 2012 Share Posted September 8, 2012 Don't forget your screaming overdrive combination. Just keep a clean pair of underwear handy... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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