Mike Soldano closing up shop ?

[Red_Label]

Re: Mike Soldano closing up shop ?

This is a pity. I think Soldanos is possibly the best-sounding amps of all time – judging from the records they have been used on. I really wanted to get an HR25, but that seems unlikely now, since there can't be too many of those around. I guess the Synergy stuff will be our best option now…

No question about the SLO's impact on the tube amp world. But I don't think there is any such thing as a "best amp of all time". If you're going to base the subjective opinion on the albums that amps have been used on, then the Fender blackface and tweed amps, Marshall plexis and JCMs, and Vox AC amps would have to win that contest every time. SLO in the top ten? Maybe. But not top spot.

 

[JMP/HBE]

Re: Mike Soldano closing up shop ?

UPDATE

(or at least a rumour on other forums/Facebook etc...)

What looks likely to be happening is that production of the SLO by Soldano is finishing up. There's 3 more sets of DeYoungs for the last 3 SLO's and a possibility of Mike ordering another 25 SLO chassis, but who knows what transformers it will have if there's no more De Youngs. Either way, from a cost perspective, a not-wanting-to-compromise-and-bring-the-price-down-on-his-flagship-amp perspective or purely his choice, the SLO will more than likely finish when Mike retires.

The rest of the Soldano amp line looks like they may be licensed/outsourced to BAD after all - or at least some of the more popular amps that aren't the SLO, so I'm guessing at least the Hot Rods will continue, not made by Soldano, but with the Soldano name on them under some kind of licensing arrangement with BAD.

Either way, all signs points to Soldano amps with Mike being involved is coming to an end, so those amps made by Mike will likely appreciate as the collector/investor market so often bears upon these things.

This is a smart move for a guy who wants to enjoy the hard work he's put in over his career.

 

[DKSEARS]

Re: Mike Soldano closing up shop ?

Here’s the update I just got from Lynne Burke at Blues City Music on the Soldano Owner’s forum on Facebook:

“Latest update:

I talked to Mike today at length, 35 mins or so. He’s in great spirits. I passed on the well wishes and accolades you guys have stated here. He was very thankful and grateful.

I’ve asked and he agreed it was a good idea to check with the SLO chassis and tranny manufacturers if there was any way to expedite both. Mike said if not, then a new 25 order SLO batch would be slim chance.

Problem is timing. He has a lot of action on his building and most have told him he’d have to vacate quickly if they purchased. So waiting on chassis’s and trannys for 8-12 weeks wouldn’t make it possible. He’d already be out of the building.

He has 4 Hot Rod 25 chassis’s left, several Avenger 50 watt chassis’s, and quite a few Hot Rod 100+ chassis’s of course in black. He can make Hot Rod 50+’s if you want. Speakers are getting short as well, but he could get some if needed.

He’s always said he’d take SCA to the grave with him unless a serious offer came and kept him in the loop big time. So far nothing nor has been and he’s not worried. He’s good.

Call or ask away if you have any questions. Meanwhile he’s building amps until ???

LB
Blues City Music”


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Sirion]

Re: Mike Soldano closing up shop ?

No question about the SLO's impact on the tube amp world. But I don't think there is any such thing as a "best amp of all time". If you're going to base the subjective opinion on the albums that amps have been used on, then the Fender blackface and tweed amps, Marshall plexis and JCMs, and Vox AC amps would have to win that contest every time. SLO in the top ten? Maybe. But not top spot.

Well, thank you for misquoting me and telling me that my subjective opinion is wrong. To clarify, I base my opinion on the artists I know moved from Marshall or Mesa to Soldano; to my ears, their tone improved pretty much every time. There is no doubt that Marshalls, Voxes and Fenders (which I personally don't really care for in most cases) have been used on more classic albums – that would probably be true of Mesa/Boogies as well – since the Soldano had a comparatively short heyday.

 

[67Mopar]

Re: Mike Soldano closing up shop ?

So, I have a line on a mint SLO for $255O.OO USD. Should I buy it? I suspect there will be more people looking to sell their SLO 1OO amp vs purchasing one. There's just no demand for them. Personally, I hope that Mike Soldano does not decide to go with B.A.D. for continued production.

The thing I never liked about the SLO1OO [and SP-77], is that I couldn't get either of them to feedback like a Marshall. It was as though the amplifiers have a noise gate built into the circuit. They don't, of course, but I could not get a decent feedback loop going. My Marshall's always delivered the goods. Still do.

 

[NT02]

Re: Mike Soldano closing up shop ?

So, I have a line on a mint SLO for $255O.OO USD. Should I buy it? I suspect there will be more people looking to sell their SLO 1OO amp vs purchasing one. There's just no demand for them. Personally, I hope that Mike Soldano does not decide to go with B.A.D. for continued production.

The thing I never liked about the SLO1OO [and SP-77], is that I couldn't get either of them to feedback like a Marshall. It was as though the amplifiers have a noise gate built into the circuit. They don't, of course, but I could not get a decent feedback loop going. My Marshall's always delivered the goods. Still do.

It seems to me there has been a kick up in SLO interest in the past few years. All of my musician buddies and music shop workers regard them with much respect, and have been working them into their rigs.

I agree, let the SLO production stop now. I don't think it's a B.A.D. idea to let the Hot Rods keep being manufactured if it brings Mike some $.
But, I think it would be better for Soldano production to stop altogether when Mike retires. The fantastic rep of Soldano has been largely based on build quality and customer service. I'd hate to see that get tarnished. Like when the Colonel sold KFC. It started with the gravy. Got worse from there. Now there are washed up actors playing the Colonel in ridiculously stupid commercials. Do we really want that to happed to Soldano? NO!

 

[dave74]

Re: Mike Soldano closing up shop ?

Now there are washed up actors playing the Colonel in ridiculously stupid commercials.

Just an excuse for some cross-dressing action. lol

 

[67Mopar]

Re: Mike Soldano closing up shop ?

Another thing I don't like about the SLO is the effects loop. There's a level reduction mod, but there's still the issue of leveling between the two channels. The best effects loops I've ever used are in the Cornford and Marshall Silver Jubilee amplifiers. I prefer to mic my cabinet these days, but there are times when a loop comes in handy.

 

[DKSEARS]

Re: Mike Soldano closing up shop ?

Another thing I don't like about the SLO is the effects loop. There's a level reduction mod, but there's still the issue of leveling between the two channels. The best effects loops I've ever used are in the Cornford and Marshall Silver Jubilee amplifiers. I prefer to mic my cabinet these days, but there are times when a loop comes in handy.

Mike has actually fixed this on the new amps with a different loop design in recent years, and had been willing to make the mod. Not sure that could happen now, though.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[devastone]

Re: Mike Soldano closing up shop ?

Not sure what mic'ing a cabinet has to do with the effects loop. Confusion sets in...

Unless you are running a Red Box or something in the loop, but even those work better tapping off the speaker out.

 

[67Mopar]

Re: Mike Soldano closing up shop ?

Mike has actually fixed this on the new amps with a different loop design in recent years, and had been willing to make the mod. Not sure that could happen now, though.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Yeah, but I think the mod was like $500.00

 

[67Mopar]

Re: Mike Soldano closing up shop ?

Not sure what mic'ing a cabinet has to do with the effects loop. Confusion sets in...

Unless you are running a Red Box or something in the loop, but even those work better tapping off the speaker out.

I mic the cabinet using a Shure 57 -> Mackie mixer + PCM70 in the mixer loop -> 2 x JBL monitors.

 

[devastone]

Re: Mike Soldano closing up shop ?

Still confused about what that has to do with the effects loop in a Soldano, but doesn't matter.

FWIW, I modded the loop on my HR50+, it's been quite a while but it was only a couple of components to change, it basically lowered the send level and raised the level back up on the return.

 

[Sirion]

Re: Mike Soldano closing up shop ?

Would something as simple as an EbTech line lever shifter work, if one does not want to perform amp surgery?

 

[devastone]

Re: Mike Soldano closing up shop ?

Good thinking, it should. They weren't around when I had my Soldano, or I didn't know about them if they were.

I went and did some googlin', the other issue people have with the loop is that it is too early in the signal chain, it's before some gain stages and the EQ section, so, it is still distorted the effects some. I guess Mike's $500 mod moved to after the master volume also.

 

[67Mopar]

Re: Mike Soldano closing up shop ?

Still confused about what that has to do with the effects loop in a Soldano, but doesn't matter...

Hmm... Okay. When dealing with a poorly implemented effects loop (e.g. SLO 100), alternative methods of mixing are required. There are several methods, but the most common method is to mic the speaker cabinet. This is done to introduce the dry signal (i.e. speaker cabinet) to the effected signal via external mixing.

 

[67Mopar]

Re: Mike Soldano closing up shop ?

Would something as simple as an EbTech line lever shifter work, if one does not want to perform amp surgery?

I've heard mixed reviews on the EbTech, most of which were not good. Re-amping is another route. Re-amping (pioneered by EVH) changes the response, to the point where it feels like you're playing different amp. Judgement is subject to player's hands and ears, of course. I think I've tried them all... I vote external mixing for best results. I prefer it to the point where I no longer seek amplifiers with an effects loop.

Back to the SLO... The best sounding SLO 100 I ever played was a single channel model with orange tolex and no effects loop. I believe it may have been one to the first ones made. This was in 1990 or 91. If I were to buy another, this is the one I would want to own. I have no use for the SLO crunch channel, though it does sound very good. My personal SLO tweek, is to place a 5751 valve at V2. If you haven't done this, you should give it a spin... I think you'll dig it.

 

[speed2dirt]

Re: Mike Soldano closing up shop ?

I have the Soldano/Diamond 327SD head and it's amazing. This was a limited edition amp co-designed by Mike Soldano and Jeff Diamant. They used a Diamond amp as the platform, retained Diamond's clean channel & effects loop, but created a lead channel that is very much a SLO's lead channel with Diamond's style of high gain. It definitely sounds like a pissed off SLO, which I love. Mike wants to retire and enjoy his time-off, which is totally understandable. I think he should look into future projects of co-designing amps with a manufacturer that will continue to produce the units, like he did with Diamond. It can be co-branded, but Soldano's legendary name would not be attached to the manufacturing. Mike has a style all his own and it must live on!

https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/21953-diamond-amplification-and-soldano-custom-amplification-team-up-for-the-327sd

 

[Red_Label]

Re: Mike Soldano closing up shop ?

Well, thank you for misquoting me and telling me that my subjective opinion is wrong. To clarify, I base my opinion on the artists I know moved from Marshall or Mesa to Soldano; to my ears, their tone improved pretty much every time. There is no doubt that Marshalls, Voxes and Fenders (which I personally don't really care for in most cases) have been used on more classic albums – that would probably be true of Mesa/Boogies as well – since the Soldano had a comparatively short heyday.

LOL. I QUOTED your exact post. I'm not sure where the "misquoting" thing is coming from. And your opinion is indeed subjective... as is mine. I was just disagreeing with your opinion. No need to create drama when someone doesn't agree. This is a discussion forum. Sometimes we agree, and sometimes we don't. That's what makes forums interesting and educational.

 

[Red_Label]

Re: Mike Soldano closing up shop ?

It seems to me there has been a kick up in SLO interest in the past few years. All of my musician buddies and music shop workers regard them with much respect, and have been working them into their rigs.

I agree, let the SLO production stop now. I don't think it's a B.A.D. idea to let the Hot Rods keep being manufactured if it brings Mike some $.
But, I think it would be better for Soldano production to stop altogether when Mike retires. The fantastic rep of Soldano has been largely based on build quality and customer service. I'd hate to see that get tarnished. Like when the Colonel sold KFC. It started with the gravy. Got worse from there. Now there are washed up actors playing the Colonel in ridiculously stupid commercials. Do we really want that to happed to Soldano? NO!

It's too bad that Mike doesn't have an heir or true protoge who shares his vision and wants to carry that on.