Disclosed is a self servo-writing disk drive that pre-programs a preamplifier to improve servo-writing characteristics in writing servo sectors to a disk. The disk drive implements operations including: writing servo sectors to define track bands according to sets of write setting values wherein the preamplifier adjusts write signals utilizing a set of write setting values for each track band; reading servo variable gain amplifier values from the tracks bands; selecting a set of write setting values associated with a minimum servo variable gain amplifier value; programming the preamplifier's write settings with the selected set of write setting values; and self-servo writing the disk with servo sectors utilizing the selected set of write setting values that are pre-programmed in the preamplifier.