Soldano Hot Rod 25

[JB6464]

The SLO has 3 stages of cascading gain. The effects loop is in fact a +4db loop as we all know, but it is intentionally put in front of the tone stack but after the last stage of gain. Why? In case your delay etc., colors the tone, you can adjust that out with the EQ. May not be a perfect setup for W/D/W, but most guys don't run rigs like that.

LB
BCM

After the 3rd gain stage but before the Eq and Master.
That's why when you put a volume pedal in the loop and go up or down it also changes the amount of distortion as well.
And that's also why the dry signal over powers the wet signal of any effects unit rack or professional pedals that can handle the +4db signal.
Your right most players don't use a W/D/W setup , that's exactly why a good loop design is so important to many players. Without hauling all the extra amps/cabs around just to get nice effects , most prefer a loop that's after the EQ and Master volume.

So for me it's a love/hate relationship with the SLO/HR amps .
Best tone and preamp gain design i have ever played so far , Loop is the worst design i have ever heard.

 

[Shark Diver]

The SLO has 3 stages of cascading gain. The effects loop is in fact a +4db loop as we all know, but it is intentionally put in front of the tone stack but after the last stage of gain. Why? In case your delay etc., colors the tone, you can adjust that out with the EQ. May not be a perfect setup for W/D/W, but most guys don't run rigs like that.

LB
BCM

After the 3rd gain stage but before the Eq and Master.
That's why when you put a volume pedal in the loop and go up or down it also changes the amount of distortion as well.
And that's also why the dry signal over powers the wet signal of any effects unit rack or professional pedals that can handle the +4db signal.
Your right most players don't use a W/D/W setup , that's exactly why a good loop design is so important to many players. Without hauling all the extra amps/cabs around just to get nice effects , most prefer a loop that's after the EQ and Master volume.

So for me it's a love/hate relationship with the SLO.
Best tone and preamp gain design i've played so far , Loop is the worst design i have ever heard.

So, why not move the loop?

 

[JB6464]

The SLO has 3 stages of cascading gain. The effects loop is in fact a +4db loop as we all know, but it is intentionally put in front of the tone stack but after the last stage of gain. Why? In case your delay etc., colors the tone, you can adjust that out with the EQ. May not be a perfect setup for W/D/W, but most guys don't run rigs like that.

LB
BCM

After the 3rd gain stage but before the Eq and Master.
That's why when you put a volume pedal in the loop and go up or down it also changes the amount of distortion as well.
And that's also why the dry signal over powers the wet signal of any effects unit rack or professional pedals that can handle the +4db signal.
Your right most players don't use a W/D/W setup , that's exactly why a good loop design is so important to many players. Without hauling all the extra amps/cabs around just to get nice effects , most prefer a loop that's after the EQ and Master volume.

So for me it's a love/hate relationship with the SLO.
Best tone and preamp gain design i've played so far , Loop is the worst design i have ever heard.

So, why not move the loop?

I have not found any local techs that can handle the job without butchering the amp up.
Not sure what Mike or Bill would charge , or if they would want to do it or not .

 

[Shark Diver]

The SLO has 3 stages of cascading gain. The effects loop is in fact a +4db loop as we all know, but it is intentionally put in front of the tone stack but after the last stage of gain. Why? In case your delay etc., colors the tone, you can adjust that out with the EQ. May not be a perfect setup for W/D/W, but most guys don't run rigs like that.

LB
BCM

After the 3rd gain stage but before the Eq and Master.
That's why when you put a volume pedal in the loop and go up or down it also changes the amount of distortion as well.
And that's also why the dry signal over powers the wet signal of any effects unit rack or professional pedals that can handle the +4db signal.
Your right most players don't use a W/D/W setup , that's exactly why a good loop design is so important to many players. Without hauling all the extra amps/cabs around just to get nice effects , most prefer a loop that's after the EQ and Master volume.

So for me it's a love/hate relationship with the SLO.
Best tone and preamp gain design i've played so far , Loop is the worst design i have ever heard.

So, why not move the loop?

I have not found any local techs that can handle the job without butchering the amp up.
Not sure what Mike or Bill would charge , or if they would want to do it or not .

A lot,

 

[jape23]

I have not found any local techs that can handle the job without butchering the amp up.
Not sure what Mike or Bill would charge , or if they would want to do it or not .

Where are you located? When I had mine done, there was no butchering involved at all. The existing loop was not removed; it was simply bypassed in favor of a solid state loop that was placed in the proper location. No extra holes drilled, and no detrimental effect on the tone of the amp whatsoever. And the mod was easily reversed and reverted back to stock when I had to sell the amp to cover expenses earlier this year.

I am in a position now where I am on the hunt for another SLO. When I find and get one, the first thing I'm going to do is have that loop moved again. The great thing about doing that is not just that the effects work/sound better in the modded loop, but it allows you to use boost pedals for solos, something I could never do with the stock loop without getting all kinds of weird things happening with the gain.

 

[Shark Diver]

I have not found any local techs that can handle the job without butchering the amp up.
Not sure what Mike or Bill would charge , or if they would want to do it or not .

Where are you located? When I had mine done, there was no butchering involved at all. The existing loop was not removed; it was simply bypassed in favor of a solid state loop that was placed in the proper location. No extra holes drilled, and no detrimental effect on the tone of the amp whatsoever. And the mod was easily reversed and reverted back to stock when I had to sell the amp to cover expenses earlier this year.

I am in a position now where I am on the hunt for another SLO. When I find and get one, the first thing I'm going to do is have that loop moved again. The great thing about doing that is not just that the effects work/sound better in the modded loop, but it allows you to use boost pedals for solos, something I could never do with the stock loop without getting all kinds of weird things happening with the gain.

 

[SLOgriff]

Yes, another I hate the SLO's loop thread....glad we learned so much more new information here. The SLO is so expensive and loop is so crappy...wah, wah .... (sorry)

I run a TC Delay in the loop of my SLO's (using CRUNCH & OVERDRIVE channels only) and all other modulation pedals in the front and I get GREAT tones! However, when I run the same rig (as an example) thru a Bogner XTC's loop, it thin's out my tone and adds a high-end to the tone that is not pleasing. Sure, other amp makers have better loops, but their tones, a lot of times, are just "MEH" to my ears....and according to the longevity and consistancy with the popularity of the SLO, I think at the end of the day, most guitar players are looking for TONE rather than a place to run a processor to get Dan Huff or old Lukather tones!

My only gripe about the SLO's loop design is NOT being able to use a DELAY while using the CLEAN channel. Footswitching between CLEAN & OVERDRIVE while the delay is going causes LOUD rush of signal....NOT GOOD! BUT, I love the TONE and cut when playing live or at bedroom volumes. I love the simplicity and quality of the amp....I know what I am going to get with the loop and I accept the amps limits because i LOVE the tone! I also respect Mike's dedication to sticking with his original design.

Carry on....!

 

[rlord1974]

So, sorry, was the original question ever answered? Specifically, is the loop on the HR 25 in the same dumb place as on the SLO?!



(No, but seriously - I really DO want to know......)

 

[SLOgriff]

So, sorry, was the original question ever answered? Specifically, is the loop on the HR 25 in the same dumb place as on the SLO?!



(No, but seriously - I really DO want to know......)

YES!!!

 

[rlord1974]

Damn!

 

[Shark Diver]

Damn!

LTL

(love the loop)

 

[guitarman967]

The cleans i can handle the loop? No mas.. i thought my processor was broken for a while when using it in the soldano loop. The repeats where real nasty and distorted. Input on the processor wasnt clipping either..

 

[rlord1974]

Anybody find a vid of this amp yet? this is ridiculous!

 

[Mr. Willy]

I got all excited for a second. Then I saw the price.

 

[millhouse]

This amp is no TOY like a jet-cty. It's made from quality parts and is a heavy and solid amplifier with effects loop, and two foot switchable channels.

I don't know anything about the HR25, and how it sounds, but I am glad Mike put his name on my "TOY" JCA22H, and decided to include a loop and two switchable channels. No where in your argument did you say how the HR25 sounded to you, only referencing other's opinions, and then bashed the JCA22H and justified that bashing based on weight and components, not sound. Not saying you don't know your amps, but next time, give us some good info.

So lets take your original statement and go with what you really know.

This amp is no TOY like a jet-cty (your spelling, not mine). It's made from quality parts (not MIC, MIK, or MIJ) and is a heavy and solid amplifier.

Must mean it sounds great, and Soldano badge probably make the upper mids sound better. By the way, my "TOY" has a tube buffered effects loop and two foot-switchable channels also.

Jason

 

[JerryP]

Crappy photoshop job. The back view shows 4-6L6 power tubes and the transformers are half cut out.
Jerry

 

[Hollis]

it says right on the page that the op posted a link to that the loop is POST master volume.

"The HOT ROD 25 also features a tube-buffered, post master volume effects loop and effortless channel switching via foot switch between the Normal and Overdrive Channels. There are independent Preamp gain and Master Volume controls for each channel. Bass, Middle, Treble, and Presence controls provide the tone shaping. A rotary Impedance selector switch allows for the use of 4, 8, or 16 ohm speaker cabinets."

 

[Piero the Guitarero]

Crappy photoshop job.

....and the transformers are half cut out.

Jerry

I think this is the best part

 

[rlord1974]

it says right on the page that the op posted a link to that the loop is POST master volume.

"The HOT ROD 25 also features a tube-buffered, post master volume effects loop and effortless channel switching via foot switch between the Normal and Overdrive Channels. There are independent Preamp gain and Master Volume controls for each channel. Bass, Middle, Treble, and Presence controls provide the tone shaping. A rotary Impedance selector switch allows for the use of 4, 8, or 16 ohm speaker cabinets."

Thanks for pointing that out! I might just need to try this amp out after all....

 

[IntenseJim]