Soldano 25
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Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
Re: Soldano 25
Sorry I can't be of much help, but on the vids I've seen, and on paper, the Hot Rod 25 looks like the ultimate mini head, IMO. I've got a Krank Rev Jr. which runs on the same 5881 tubes as the Soldano, and that definitely takes the amp a step above most of the EL84 crowd, IMO (except when it comes to bedroom volumes, I guess). I've read nothing but good reviews about the Hot Rod 25 on Rig Talk too. I guess the big-bottle tubes, the oversized transformers, and the build quality must make it extra awesome. I'd love to hear more about it too.
Sorry I can't be of much help, but on the vids I've seen, and on paper, the Hot Rod 25 looks like the ultimate mini head, IMO. I've got a Krank Rev Jr. which runs on the same 5881 tubes as the Soldano, and that definitely takes the amp a step above most of the EL84 crowd, IMO (except when it comes to bedroom volumes, I guess). I've read nothing but good reviews about the Hot Rod 25 on Rig Talk too. I guess the big-bottle tubes, the oversized transformers, and the build quality must make it extra awesome. I'd love to hear more about it too.
Lake Placid Blues
New member
Re: Soldano 25
People say that it is misnamed. They say it actually a mini SLO.
People say that it is misnamed. They say it actually a mini SLO.
dystrust
Well-known member
Re: Soldano 25
I used to own an SP-77, currently own a JCA-22H, and I have experience with just about everything Soldano makes. The JCA is really close to a Soldano Hot Rod, but not exactly the same. The biggest difference is that it either has more gain or at least a faster taper on the gain knob. Overall though, it gets at least 80% of the way there at an incredible price.
AFAIK the main differences between a Hot Rod 100 and SLO are the transformers and the sealed pots. Also the Hot Rod 100+ doesn't have a clean channel or the clean / crunch switch.
I used to own an SP-77, currently own a JCA-22H, and I have experience with just about everything Soldano makes. The JCA is really close to a Soldano Hot Rod, but not exactly the same. The biggest difference is that it either has more gain or at least a faster taper on the gain knob. Overall though, it gets at least 80% of the way there at an incredible price.
AFAIK the main differences between a Hot Rod 100 and SLO are the transformers and the sealed pots. Also the Hot Rod 100+ doesn't have a clean channel or the clean / crunch switch.
Re: Soldano 25
It's got that magic 25 watt club wattage. I was thinking of running it with my 2x12 cab with celestion h30 anniversary speakers. Pairing it with a fender 57 pro amp for punchy midrange cleans. That, with a few strymons would be my club rig. I need a good pedal looper board to run it. I was hoping the Aleasis would work as i get a huge discount on those. I have a regular Eric Johnson strat that I absolutely love. I want to mod onother with some Duncan classic stack singles and a IM1 humbucker and a Floyd. I figure that rounds out my rig and gets me over any aloud drummer. I may do a line 6 wireless but I need to check up on that yet.
It's got that magic 25 watt club wattage. I was thinking of running it with my 2x12 cab with celestion h30 anniversary speakers. Pairing it with a fender 57 pro amp for punchy midrange cleans. That, with a few strymons would be my club rig. I need a good pedal looper board to run it. I was hoping the Aleasis would work as i get a huge discount on those. I have a regular Eric Johnson strat that I absolutely love. I want to mod onother with some Duncan classic stack singles and a IM1 humbucker and a Floyd. I figure that rounds out my rig and gets me over any aloud drummer. I may do a line 6 wireless but I need to check up on that yet.
devastone
Well-known member
Re: Soldano 25
I would sure hope th JCAs don't have all the magic of $2k+ amps, but they are similar. I have schematics for both, IIRC the JCA is pretty much the exact same circuit, just, as you said, with much cheaper components.
I had a HR50+ so I had 2 channels, and again, loved it. There are differences in the circuit between the HRs and the SLO, can't remember all of them off the top of my head, but I know one of them is that the SLO used 500K pots for gain and volume and the HR used 1M. It's still the same basic circuit though, most of the difference is in the components.
The HR 25 sounds like an awesome club and recording amp, if I had a use for one I'd definitely be checking the HR25 out.
I would sure hope th JCAs don't have all the magic of $2k+ amps, but they are similar. I have schematics for both, IIRC the JCA is pretty much the exact same circuit, just, as you said, with much cheaper components.
I had a HR50+ so I had 2 channels, and again, loved it. There are differences in the circuit between the HRs and the SLO, can't remember all of them off the top of my head, but I know one of them is that the SLO used 500K pots for gain and volume and the HR used 1M. It's still the same basic circuit though, most of the difference is in the components.
The HR 25 sounds like an awesome club and recording amp, if I had a use for one I'd definitely be checking the HR25 out.
dystrust
Well-known member
Re: Soldano 25
I thought so too until I saw the price tag; that definitely reminds me more of an SLO than a Hotrod. I've always been more of a Marshall guy, even BITD so my Mini Jubilee works out just about perfectly.
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I thought so too until I saw the price tag; that definitely reminds me more of an SLO than a Hotrod. I've always been more of a Marshall guy, even BITD so my Mini Jubilee works out just about perfectly.
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Sirion
Well-known member
Re: Soldano 25
I definitely see myself getting one of these in the future: they seem like an SLO which is actually usable at its full powers for us regular peons. I tried the HR+ 50 years ago, and to this day it is probably the best amp I have tried. It is sort of trebly, but I for one like that.
I definitely see myself getting one of these in the future: they seem like an SLO which is actually usable at its full powers for us regular peons. I tried the HR+ 50 years ago, and to this day it is probably the best amp I have tried. It is sort of trebly, but I for one like that.
devastone
Well-known member
Re: Soldano 25
The MSRP for the HR50+ is $3080, the HR25 is $2800, either is quite a leap from a JC.
The MSRP for a SLO is $5K.
The MSRP for the HR50+ is $3080, the HR25 is $2800, either is quite a leap from a JC.
The MSRP for a SLO is $5K.
DKSEARS
New member
Soldano 25
I bought one in July and I’d say this is a pretty accurate description of it. I’ve owned an Astroverb, which is the 20 watt version of the overdrive channel with an EL-84 power section since for about 20 years and it was my favorite amp until this one.
The normal channel breaks up nicely with the preamp set on two and the master volume set on about nine with higher output humbuckers, but still cleans up well with the guitar volume rolled back. The overdrive channel can get insane amounts of gain, but still seems to keep decent clarity.
It’s really quite the little monster, and I would trade it for anything else out there, except maybe the full on SLO. Even then, I’d keep this for use around the house.
If you’re considering one, I’d do it soon. I’ve gotten wind through a friend of mine, actually the dealer who sold me this one, that Mike is scaling back his operation to some degree. He’s discontinuing the Astroverb, Decatone and the Avenger line when the parts he has in stock are gone. The HR line, except the 25 maybe in danger soon, but the 25 is one of his best selling amps along with the 44. And the SLO stays until the end.
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I bought one in July and I’d say this is a pretty accurate description of it. I’ve owned an Astroverb, which is the 20 watt version of the overdrive channel with an EL-84 power section since for about 20 years and it was my favorite amp until this one.
The normal channel breaks up nicely with the preamp set on two and the master volume set on about nine with higher output humbuckers, but still cleans up well with the guitar volume rolled back. The overdrive channel can get insane amounts of gain, but still seems to keep decent clarity.
It’s really quite the little monster, and I would trade it for anything else out there, except maybe the full on SLO. Even then, I’d keep this for use around the house.
If you’re considering one, I’d do it soon. I’ve gotten wind through a friend of mine, actually the dealer who sold me this one, that Mike is scaling back his operation to some degree. He’s discontinuing the Astroverb, Decatone and the Avenger line when the parts he has in stock are gone. The HR line, except the 25 maybe in danger soon, but the 25 is one of his best selling amps along with the 44. And the SLO stays until the end.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
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