that crazy Soldano Surf Box on ebay

dp

Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 3546
mojave desert, california
United States

Posted on Mar 18 2006 04:49 PM

...has anyone here ever actually played through one of those Soldano Reverb/Tremelo Surf Box units?

...if you have, can you explain why they might be worth $2000-$3000?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Soldano-Surf-Box-Rare-tremelo-vibrato-reverb-w-FS_W0QQitemZ7399553313QQcategoryZ10171QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

...i know they are super-rare (something like 100 made)...but, soundwise, do they really rate that kind of pricetag?

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RobbieReverb

Joined: Feb 28, 2006
Posts: 2384
San Jose, Ca.
3 News Pins

Posted on Mar 19 2006 12:27 PM

Jim Thomas from the Mermen was given one by Mike
Soldano, but I didn't get the impression Jim was blown
away by it. Jim pissed Mike off because (not wanting the
surf label applied to anything Mermen) he covered up
"Surf Box" with masking tape or something.
Other than being super rare, I can't imagine why it would
commandsuch a high price. Soldano does make stellar
equipmentthat seems to command pretty high resale value.

Bob S.

—

Bob

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drumuitar

Joined: Feb 28, 2006
Posts: 813
Boise, ID
2 Contributor Pins

Posted on Mar 19 2006 02:06 PM

I think those Surf Boxes listed for $1500 new. They got great reviewes, but the price is nuts. I believe that Jim uses Lexicon reverb most of the time, so a tube unit probably isn't his thing.

—

Shawn Martin
http://www.drummerman.net
http://www.youtube.com/GKacedrummerman
http://www.facebook.com/drumuitar

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WaimeaBay

Joined: Jul 05, 2006
Posts: 969
United States

Posted on Aug 17 2006 06:42 PM

this thread has answered nothing

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DannySnyder

Joined: Mar 02, 2006
Posts: 11075
Berkeley, CA
United States

Posted on Aug 17 2006 07:24 PM

WaimeaBay
this thread has answered nothing

I don't know anyone with enough dough to buy one and give us a report.

$2000 - eegads.

—

Danny Snyder

"With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo

I am now playing trumpet with Prince Buster tribute band 'Balzac'

Playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta

Formerly a guitarist in The TomorrowMen and Meshugga Beach Party

Latest surf project - Now That's What I Call SURF

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WaimeaBay

Joined: Jul 05, 2006
Posts: 969
United States

Posted on Aug 18 2006 05:47 PM

^^ are you telling me this si going to be like the tootsie roll tootsie pop mystery? The world will never know???

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Brian

Joined: Feb 25, 2006
Posts: 19335
Des Moines, Iowa, USA
United States

Posted on Aug 18 2006 06:29 PM

I know, all you guys pitch in and buy one together. Then it will be just like that Simpsons episode where Bart, Milhouse, and Martin all went in on the comic book.

—

Site dude - S3 Agent #202
Need help with the site? SG101 FAQ - Send me a private message - Email me

"It starts... when it begins" -- Ralf Kilauea

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windmill

Joined: Mar 22, 2006
Posts: 269
3 Contributor Pins

Posted on Aug 18 2006 10:05 PM

Seeing as none of us will be able to afford one, perhaps someone can imagine what they think it would sound like. ;)

—

Freshwater Surfin'

The Murray Basin
Australia

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DannySnyder

Joined: Mar 02, 2006
Posts: 11075
Berkeley, CA
United States

Posted on Aug 18 2006 11:57 PM

Brian
I know, all you guys pitch in and buy one together. Then it will be just like that Simpsons episode where Bart, Milhouse, and Martin all went in on the comic book.

—

Danny Snyder

"With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo

I am now playing trumpet with Prince Buster tribute band 'Balzac'

Playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta

Formerly a guitarist in The TomorrowMen and Meshugga Beach Party

Latest surf project - Now That's What I Call SURF

Top

boyecho

Joined: Mar 05, 2006
Posts: 251

Posted on Sep 02 2006 11:53 AM

i only wonder why someone else doesn't attempt something just like it? and why soldano stopped offering it. too expensive to make? it must be if they charge as much as an amplifier for it . the thing that really gets me hot and bothered by it is it has vibrato in addition to trem/verb. the weber revibe kit only offers tremolo and reverb, correct?

i'm never without my fender reverb unit, and i don't even play surf music much anymore but, a unit like the surf box would be incredibly welcomed in my setup.

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WR

Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 3832
netherlands
2 Link Pins

Posted on Sep 02 2006 02:38 PM

boyecho
i only wonder why someone else doesn't attempt something just like it?

They do though. Weber's got a kit for it, and you can get those pre-built. Ive seen at least one boutique 6g15 ripper-off offering the same thing, dont remember which one.

but... they'r a lot more complex to build, smaller market. doesnt seem commercially attractive.

WR

—

Rules to live by #314:
"When in Italy, if the menu says something's grilled, don't assume it is."

https://www.facebook.com/The-Malbehavers-286429584796173/

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Tuck

Joined: Sep 02, 2006
Posts: 3166
Denver, CO
12 Calendar Pins

Posted on Oct 23 2013 06:05 PM

You could get a cardboard box and paint a wave on it.

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Soldano_head_tech_Bill_Sundt

Joined: Dec 31, 2013
Posts: 1

Posted on Dec 31 2013 12:19 AM

I designed it. I didn't invent it, it is based on the Fender brown face Showman for vibrato and the black face tremelo using an LDR rather than the neon bulb in the Fender, and Fender reverb circuit. It cost more than an amp to build, hence the limited production run. Took 10 years to sell them all.
I am a sloppy amateur guitar player but you can see the prototype used here for a couple numbers along with the brown face showman and TC Electronics Nova Delay. Dual vibrato, speeds slightly different, you can hear them combine into a slow beat oscillation on betwined and food drugs and gasoline.
http://www.reverbnation.com/billsundt

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vintagesurfdude

Joined: Nov 28, 2011
Posts: 795
Prescott Valley, AZ
United States

Posted on Dec 31 2013 12:52 AM

Thanks for the demos and the details, Bill. Sounds a bit like a Univibe to my ear.

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tubeswell

Joined: Sep 24, 2011
Posts: 1424
Wellington, NZ
Antarctica

Posted on Dec 31 2013 04:01 AM

Weber's kit is based on the ToreT 'revibe', which is a hybrid of a stand alone reverb tank and a fender brown harmonic vibrato. Sound sample of Weber's kit is here:

Sound sample of Tore T's design (also available in a Weber kit) is here:

Doug Hoffman (EL34 on this forum) 'kit' is here Here is a sound clip of Doug playing through the revibe

—

He who dies with the most tubes... wins

Surf Daddies

Last edited: Dec 31, 2013 04:13:21

Top

dp Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 3546 mojave desert, california	Posted on Mar 18 2006 04:49 PM ...has anyone here ever actually played through one of those Soldano Reverb/Tremelo Surf Box units? ...if you have, can you explain why they might be worth $2000-$3000? http://cgi.ebay.com/Soldano-Surf-Box-Rare-tremelo-vibrato-reverb-w-FS_W0QQitemZ7399553313QQcategoryZ10171QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem ...i know they are super-rare (something like 100 made)...but, soundwise, do they really rate that kind of pricetag? Top
RobbieReverb Joined: Feb 28, 2006 Posts: 2384 San Jose, Ca.	Posted on Mar 19 2006 12:27 PM Jim Thomas from the Mermen was given one by Mike Soldano, but I didn't get the impression Jim was blown away by it. Jim pissed Mike off because (not wanting the surf label applied to anything Mermen) he covered up "Surf Box" with masking tape or something. Other than being super rare, I can't imagine why it would commandsuch a high price. Soldano does make stellar equipmentthat seems to command pretty high resale value. Bob S. — Bob Top
drumuitar Joined: Feb 28, 2006 Posts: 813 Boise, ID	Posted on Mar 19 2006 02:06 PM I think those Surf Boxes listed for $1500 new. They got great reviewes, but the price is nuts. I believe that Jim uses Lexicon reverb most of the time, so a tube unit probably isn't his thing. — Shawn Martin http://www.drummerman.net http://www.youtube.com/GKacedrummerman http://www.facebook.com/drumuitar Top
WaimeaBay Joined: Jul 05, 2006 Posts: 969	Posted on Aug 17 2006 06:42 PM this thread has answered nothing Top
DannySnyder Joined: Mar 02, 2006 Posts: 11075 Berkeley, CA	Posted on Aug 17 2006 07:24 PM WaimeaBay this thread has answered nothing I don't know anyone with enough dough to buy one and give us a report. $2000 - eegads. — Danny Snyder "With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo I am now playing trumpet with Prince Buster tribute band 'Balzac' Playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta Formerly a guitarist in The TomorrowMen and Meshugga Beach Party Latest surf project - Now That's What I Call SURF Top
WaimeaBay Joined: Jul 05, 2006 Posts: 969	Posted on Aug 18 2006 05:47 PM ^^ are you telling me this si going to be like the tootsie roll tootsie pop mystery? The world will never know??? Top
Brian Joined: Feb 25, 2006 Posts: 19335 Des Moines, Iowa, USA	Posted on Aug 18 2006 06:29 PM I know, all you guys pitch in and buy one together. Then it will be just like that Simpsons episode where Bart, Milhouse, and Martin all went in on the comic book. — Site dude - S3 Agent #202 Need help with the site? SG101 FAQ - Send me a private message - Email me "It starts... when it begins" -- Ralf Kilauea Top
windmill Joined: Mar 22, 2006 Posts: 269	Posted on Aug 18 2006 10:05 PM Seeing as none of us will be able to afford one, perhaps someone can imagine what they think it would sound like. ;) — Freshwater Surfin' The Murray Basin Australia Top
DannySnyder Joined: Mar 02, 2006 Posts: 11075 Berkeley, CA	Posted on Aug 18 2006 11:57 PM Brian I know, all you guys pitch in and buy one together. Then it will be just like that Simpsons episode where Bart, Milhouse, and Martin all went in on the comic book. — Danny Snyder "With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo I am now playing trumpet with Prince Buster tribute band 'Balzac' Playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta Formerly a guitarist in The TomorrowMen and Meshugga Beach Party Latest surf project - Now That's What I Call SURF Top
boyecho Joined: Mar 05, 2006 Posts: 251	Posted on Sep 02 2006 11:53 AM i only wonder why someone else doesn't attempt something just like it? and why soldano stopped offering it. too expensive to make? it must be if they charge as much as an amplifier for it . the thing that really gets me hot and bothered by it is it has vibrato in addition to trem/verb. the weber revibe kit only offers tremolo and reverb, correct? i'm never without my fender reverb unit, and i don't even play surf music much anymore but, a unit like the surf box would be incredibly welcomed in my setup. Top
WR Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 3832 netherlands	Posted on Sep 02 2006 02:38 PM boyecho i only wonder why someone else doesn't attempt something just like it? They do though. Weber's got a kit for it, and you can get those pre-built. Ive seen at least one boutique 6g15 ripper-off offering the same thing, dont remember which one. but... they'r a lot more complex to build, smaller market. doesnt seem commercially attractive. WR — Rules to live by #314: "When in Italy, if the menu says something's grilled, don't assume it is." https://www.facebook.com/The-Malbehavers-286429584796173/ Top
Tuck Joined: Sep 02, 2006 Posts: 3166 Denver, CO	Posted on Oct 23 2013 06:05 PM You could get a cardboard box and paint a wave on it. Top
Soldano_head_tech_Bill_Sundt Joined: Dec 31, 2013 Posts: 1	Posted on Dec 31 2013 12:19 AM I designed it. I didn't invent it, it is based on the Fender brown face Showman for vibrato and the black face tremelo using an LDR rather than the neon bulb in the Fender, and Fender reverb circuit. It cost more than an amp to build, hence the limited production run. Took 10 years to sell them all. I am a sloppy amateur guitar player but you can see the prototype used here for a couple numbers along with the brown face showman and TC Electronics Nova Delay. Dual vibrato, speeds slightly different, you can hear them combine into a slow beat oscillation on betwined and food drugs and gasoline. http://www.reverbnation.com/billsundt Top
vintagesurfdude Joined: Nov 28, 2011 Posts: 795 Prescott Valley, AZ	Posted on Dec 31 2013 12:52 AM Thanks for the demos and the details, Bill. Sounds a bit like a Univibe to my ear. Top
tubeswell Joined: Sep 24, 2011 Posts: 1424 Wellington, NZ	Posted on Dec 31 2013 04:01 AM Weber's kit is based on the ToreT 'revibe', which is a hybrid of a stand alone reverb tank and a fender brown harmonic vibrato. Sound sample of Weber's kit is here: Sound sample of Tore T's design (also available in a Weber kit) is here: Doug Hoffman (EL34 on this forum) 'kit' is here Here is a sound clip of Doug playing through the revibe — He who dies with the most tubes... wins Surf Daddies Last edited: Dec 31, 2013 04:13:21 Top

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that crazy Soldano Surf Box on ebay