Soldano Hot Rod 50

My first +$1000 amp was a 1994 single channel Soldano Hot Rod 50. Fantastic amp. Granted it was hard to get clean tones out of it at any loud volume, the overdriven tones were wonderful. Mid focused, squishy complex tones. Great, great lead tones. I've owned 2 SLOs and I honestly feel the tone of my Hot Rod 50 was just as good. In fact, I feel the Hot Rod 50 has some magic that the SLOs don't have. Whereas the 100 watt SLOs are big, bold and tight, these Hot Rod 50s have a big of magical squishy-ness to them that is so unique and beautiful. For the $1000-$1300 these early Hot Rods go for on the used market, a wonderful value. You get what you pay for, and in a Hot Rod 50, you get killer tones, an incredibly well built unit, and just such a cool amp. With SLOs going for $3000 typically on the used market, these early Hot Rod 50s are a steal at perhaps $1000-1300. Love them.

Single-channel amp 50w all lamps: 2x5881 + 4x12ax7
High and Low inputs, Preamp & Master Volume, Bass / Middle / Treble + Presence.
Effects loop, output and Slave setting, two speaker outputs and impedance selector 4/8/16ohms.
It is rudimentary, if spartan, but it is the mind single-channel, right?
Side finish is fairly simple. At the new price, is expected to have an amp a little flashy, but the first impression is sobriety. Then looking more ready, there is the perfect pose of Tolex, the protective grilles or even mounting the logo on it ... It is not flashy like a lot of amp of this type, but strangely neat and the test of time. White stripped chassis part in this atmosphere, but one begins to appreciate the feeling of purity that gives the amp. A feeling that is true to the ignition.

UTILIZATION

Spartan comfort! Soldano is a little amplification that Ferrari is the car: simple and uncluttered decor, but very evocative and uncompromising design, thought not to be mean at all, but the best in something. Hot Rod immediately succeeds the SL-60, which would be the single-channel version of the SLO-100. This little world is actually based originally on a JCM 800 2203. But that was Mike Soldano takes us far beyond a "vulgar" Marshall amp mod, because we have a unique sound, a sound Soldano, immediately identifiable.

Brief. Spartan comfort, as on any single channel head ... Almost. Here we have the high end in terms of assembly, choice of components. Despite high saturations Dante, one is struck by the almost total absence of breath. The action of equalization is remarkable. More than to manage the overall balance of sound, it is mainly involved in the sculpture of grain. It is much more effective than equa Marshall, but much easier and intuitive than a Mesa, for example. We always have the tab in the Soldano sound, but the freedom to make a bluesy sound to Gary Moore or his ultra aggressive metal lead. Side of the coin, except to play in a Soldano cabinet, without the Depth setting (found on the old so-called 'XL' models now fitted as standard) to find the low expectations of a amp for some current sounds.

The choice of a suitable cabinet and HP will be significant assets. Do not see it as a constraint, but as an opportunity to empower this exceptional amp fully express its potential.

Last but not least gain. Low input allows access to a range of clear clean sounds and only at the end of the race, go to the very musical vintage crunch. Input High attack very quickly and pushes the limits of saturation. He must choose one or the other input, but what is remarkable is that whatever the input and the gain setting, the sound is still stout and defined.

Whatever the setting, the sound is always good, you cut the treble or turn the gain at 3 or 6 ... All sounds are excellent, you will always find a sound that suits you. Warning: no emulation here, you will not find sound Marshall Fender 70's or 60's. You have an amp that sounds Soldano, but can adapt to all styles require more or less saturation. You will not have the vintage sounds of some of your heroes, but a real palette texture that will stick to your style, your game and your guitar. It is not for nothing that the SLO-100 has become a reference to an audience ranging from Clapton Lukather. SRV even ordered a custom model, the darling amp Gary Moore. This Soldano will not break the rule, and it is not for nothing that his creator gave him the name of his other great passion, the old cars Custom made in California.

SOUNDS

If you play on a single channel amp, you know that every amp has settings predilections, and others where it was less efficient. And this is where the Soldano makes the difference: it sounds regardless of the degree of saturation. In high input, it starts with a bluesy crunch, which becomes an overdrive rock & blues, Marshall sauce, then already more hard-rock around 5/6 before becoming smooth distortion and compressed arriving at 11 (dedicated to Nigel Tufnel). It was full of intermediate step, which allows you to build your drive according to your envy, biting overdrive with smooth saturation ... And where it is even harder, is that it remains vibrant regardless of the setting, with a pronounced sustain even a small drive (purity components requires) ... The game is easy at any level of gain, and even moderate drive we find the same comfort with ultra-saturated sound. It boggles the mind, because having this natural compression without the drive or volume donf ', you will not find it on any other amp.

So you are bound to find a drive, texture and equa matching your game and your style. Question grain, it's still the U.S. sauce. Although the Marshall filiation is palpable below 6 preamp was a Californian color, which makes it all the more sweet, more compact while maintaining the nervousness of the game is very distinctive, but may be suitable for multiple uses. This is the lead sound of Gary Moore in the late 80s, early 90's, but also the sound of Nuno Bettencourt (rhythmic, well at least on 3 Sides to Every Story) or Warren Haynes, Vivian Campbell. ..

In his clear, it will be practical. It is far from the warmth of a Fender is more clinical and perhaps too clean. This is the sound of Finish What Ya Started by Van Halen that what he says, played on Soldano. The SLO 100 preamp (the preamp on what HR 50 is based) became itself the basis of preamp Peavey 5150 with a different voicing ... and many blows him. The crunch is obtained against vintage, very flexible to use, very "high-gain" also in the feel for the game

OVERALL OPINION

It was therefore not an amp convenient for the variety and the ball, but as stated in the "base-line" brand: Amplifiers Built To Rock. And if you do rock, blues-rock to metal, then this Soldano, even single-channel becomes definitely the best machine to saturate that is because it can do all these types of sound with exceptional quality . The only thing that may disturb some guitarists, is the sonic character of the amp. For those who have asked a few notes in a Soldano, the sound is instantly recognizable in our favorite records. No, it will not sound Marshall or Mesa, but Soldano. on the other hand, it can compete on their own land of choice and offer qualities they do not have even a remedy for defects that could find them.

Even if we do not like the sound, you realize immediately that we are dealing with a unique tool. His little amp able to offer as much flexibility and quality in the saturation adjustment. Play in this amp is certainly not mat is an undeniable pleasure, whether for gaming experience or the quality of sound produced. We can blame him voicing a typical 80 (a lack of bass what), but it corrects with a suitable baffle, a depth setting to purchase or to a repairer, or equa in the loop.

Big personality, some thrills is your type of game, it would be a luxury if not found in time. Around € 1,100 on average, worth to have in his arsenal amp to upscale at the price of an English or American amp made in Asia. For those who need flexibility, Hot Rod + suggests having two switchable channels.

I do not regret this purchase exception, although I hope one day I tracked down the holy grail: a Decatone.

I put 10, even if it is not perfect a practical point of view, the sounds that come out are incredible enough to compensate.

Current Amps: Marshall JMP 2203 1980 Marshall 2210 86. I have owned and / or played in 2550 and 2554 (Jubilee and copy Ceriatone) Splawn, Brunetti, The Valve, Mesa, Peavey, Engl, Fender, Marshall, DV Mark, Jet City, Rivera ...

50W all-tube amp
1 channel
2 between high and low
knob in order: gain, bass, middle, treble, master (volume) and prsence. - Note that the knob is gradus 0 11 -
1 standby
1switch on off
non-switchable effects loop and impossibility of its volume rgler>>> rack only!
2 outputs for extensions.

I put 8 not because it is a single channel (which is not a default) but because of its non-adjustable effects loop volume. which is a large black dot ...

UTILIZATION

Configuration ultra simple knob 6 which act as they should on the sound.
no frills.

One thing that Mike Soldano has not Remde is that have can not use a switchbox (a / b box) to change between as you would to change the channel: when a jack is in one of two inputs, the other is silent. damage. but the hot rod is not for 50 so I put a 9 in use (not 10 or I'll be pointed on a thread ...)

SOUNDS

L I am still obligated: Absolute 10!

I have never heard such a grain! the gain is not very lev (not recommended for heavy metal very heavy) but still pretty oats for the sabbath, from Led Zep, or in heavy gnral. god is good!

it can range from very slight crunch on the low GRRRRRRROWWWW typically between Soldano (a falls well it is!). and this through the crunch fat enough, a good lead or rather baveu Dfine, and even a marshall sound enough (it looks like the JCM800 ... on cd).

the equalizer is effectively above. mention specially the knob of prsence which is a real killer! 11 is metalleu land (with the gain in less ...).

Start with a clean as a going alone! with a bit of a rverbe sounds great but do not have them: the hot rod is not for a n'atteind and not the quality of a fender or vox .

this amp typ big rock is primarily dstin guitarist wanting to two amplifiers: one for clean very clean and the other (the so Soldano) to send the sauce.

OVERALL OPINION

There is a model 2 channels of 50 hot rod ... probably more practical if I had to choose I'd take the latter probably because the foot switch is much more convenient than changing the input jack (especially before a solo ... l have to be motivated!)

I put 9 because everything is perfectible! including this little gem!

Head tube amp delivers 50 watts of power.
The front panel is as follows (from left to right):
High - Low / Gain - Bass - Middle - Treble - Master - Presence / Standby - On / off
Note the lack of reverb which is, in my opinion, absolutely not a lack, far away ...
The little extra that kills: the LED lights of the amp is blue-turquoise. Even my girlfriend is moved ...

UTILIZATION

Turning the knob, and regardless of the movement impressed, you can hear it.
A small nod to the graduation of up to 11 knobs ...

In sound, there is nothing to say. It is the custom and you can hear at the lowest setting!

SOUNDS

It comes down to business!

I do a cover of Hendrix, The Hoax and especially Stevie Ray Vaughan! Some would say "why not buy a Vibroverb or a concert or twin reverb Fender ?"... I buy the Soldano for one reason: my best friend play on a X99 and when I heard the sound, I knew I would never be happy without a Soldano.
The fact that he has only one channel suits me perfectly. Those who have criticized it's 1000euros pay the extra for the XL with 2 channels ...
My guitar is a fender stratocaster american series and the Soldano is crying. High on the entry j'obtient in not pushing the gain higher than 2 and by the master of 5, a clean drooling at will, as if you leave plugged in all the time, a TS 808 on a clean fender ... that was a certain SRV. To boost my solos, I use a fulletone OCD. And get a blues sound to die for. I have no TS9 reissue or vaguely approaching the original. The fulletone is a wonder and far surpasses the new TS808 ... while we are offering the sonic possibilities.

For rock and maybe more, I have bridged my amp with a Ibanez humbucker. Put the gain on 7, the presence of 7 and the master out of 5 (beware ears) and then it bites! But beware, not muffled or horrible and cardboard. Your game is respected. Basically, if you make one large loaf, this is not the saturation of the mask that Soldano.
As box, I use a VHT 1x12 closed back with Eminence hp to 100 Watts. Not need more, efficiency, no bluff.
Note that the Soldano is based on a Marshall Lead Vox and one for clean. So fans of the grain Mesa does not necessarily end up there!

OVERALL OPINION

I've had four months.
Soldano before I played on various heads: Marshall High Gain Dual Reverb, Marshall Slash Signature and Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier. As Box, I used the 1936 home of Marshall and 4x12 in VHT.

Soldano is the "custom". You for your money. The sound is little more than another amp could give you. But there is also something that is fundamental: the monkey behind the guitar is in large part, the ring material and not the reverse. A beginner will not know use this amp as it should. I play for a little over 15 years and often I meet guys who call me in my place with some not so good stuff ...

I found my sound with my Start and my Soldano-VHT couple. Before, with my PRS Custom 24 and Mesa-VHT couple, I was not satisfied. Yet it was not the low end. Everyone must find his game and stuff there is. It's not always about money.