Soldano Hot Rod 25

[rlord1974]

Damn that OD channel sounds fat in the last minute or so of that vid!

 

[Racerxrated]

The HR 100 was one of the better amps on my constant revolving door....

 

[Bronco]

Yeah I saw this on the Soldano forum...while I love my SLO, one of these is really appealing to me. I pretty much exclusively play in the man cave these days anyway, and the thought of a smaller footprint is making more and more sense.

Ditto but the master on the SLO is phenominal.

Oh yeah for sure. I'm through arguing with people telling me my SLO sounds like shit at bedroom volume. Whatever, I'm not going to convince 'em anyway...

 

[rokker]

Wonder how the hot rod 25 stacks up vs the Friedman Pink Taco...seethe HR25 has a clean. I am looking for an amp to compliment my be-100. Could get the PT and 1x12 for less than the HR25.
Anyone play both?

 

[Bluplirst]

I didn't know he changed the loop on this. I might need to check one out!

 

[jamme61]

I think jet city killed the hot rod series for Soldano- I have talked to Mike Soldano on the phone a couple of times- super nice guy. he recently told me he's no longer with jetcity. I have a 22h jetcity (can't afford a real soldano) I think the jet city amps had to cut in to the soldano market. The hotrod 25 has to be a tough sell right now IMHO

 

[sahlomonic]

I think jet city killed the hot rod series for Soldano- I have talked to Mike Soldano on the phone a couple of times- super nice guy. he recently told me he's no longer with jetcity. I have a 22h jetcity (can't afford a real soldano) I think the jet city amps had to cut in to the soldano market. The hotrod 25 has to be a tough sell right now IMHO

Whoa whoa whoa. Seriously? Mike Soldano parted ways? Wow this is news to me. Are you able to share any details of why?

 

[sahlomonic]

Wonder how the hot rod 25 stacks up vs the Friedman Pink Taco...seethe HR25 has a clean. I am looking for an amp to compliment my be-100. Could get the PT and 1x12 for less than the HR25.
Anyone play both?

Put this in terms of Jet City amps and you're basically looking at the stock Jet City 22H and the Jet City 20H with the factory Friedman BE mod they used to offer.

 

[jamme61]

I think jet city killed the hot rod series for Soldano- I have talked to Mike Soldano on the phone a couple of times- super nice guy. he recently told me he's no longer with jetcity. I have a 22h jetcity (can't afford a real soldano) I think the jet city amps had to cut in to the soldano market. The hotrod 25 has to be a tough sell right now IMHO

Whoa whoa whoa. Seriously? Mike Soldano parted ways? Wow this is news to me. Are you able to share any details of why?

I spoke to him a couple of weeks ago on the phone. i was ordering a soldano name plate. I complimented him on the jet city stuff and he thanked me and mentioned - I'm not with them any more- I wanted to ask but felt funny so I said nothing.

 

[mooncobra]

I think it is awesome that it has 5881's in it. My main problem with these low wattage amps is the el84s, I have never liked them. It has been a long time since I have played a low wattage smaller size amp, so maybe someone has made a lower wattage amp with el84s that is not so squishy/saggy feeling. I am not a fan of that feel at all, now I don't mind amps that are a little forgiving, but the class a feel is something I am not a fan of personally, but I know some guys love it. I have always liked 5881's and 6l6's, they have always done me right. But, I also like el34's quite a bit. I just think it is cool Soldano made a 25 watter with 5881's!! very cool!

 

[gmcelroy]

I think it is awesome that it has 5881's in it. My main problem with these low wattage amps is the el84s, I have never liked them. It has been a long time since I have played a low wattage smaller size amp, so maybe someone has made a lower wattage amp with el84s that is not so squishy/saggy feeling. I am not a fan of that feel at all, now I don't mind amps that are a little forgiving, but the class a feel is something I am not a fan of personally, but I know some guys love it. I have always liked 5881's and 6l6's, they have always done me right. But, I also like el34's quite a bit. I just think it is cool Soldano made a 25 watter with 5881's!! very cool!

I feel exactly the same; the only amp with el84's I've bonded with is a Zinky BV25 head! My primary amp is a Soldano SLO and I've been seriously considering the HR25 since the majority of the gigs I play are small venue gigs where the SLO is too much.

 

[born_hard]

here is a new demo of the amp.
It sounds very GOOD, man what a tone

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIP2e3C ... 0veJYXQKrw

 

[JB6464]

The HR 100 was one of the better amps on my constant revolving door....

My HR100+ is every bit as good as my SLO was , just voiced slightly different with the MM iron ..
I just wish Mike would of offered the Clean/Bright switch on the normal channel .

 

[Stratpuppy]

It's a very odd design and it places your effects before the EQ and Master volume stages of the preamp.
If i wanted my effects pre EQed , i might as well put it in front of the amps input.
Most all other amp builders/designers place the effects loop after the EQ and master volume section of any amp.

And many do put an eq before their amp and find it more effective at tone shaping. Also, if the preamp volume came before the fx then changing it would wreck your fx input levels- no bueno. Having EQ after fx is just an over all tone shaper. It has never bothered me. The Soldano forum's general answer is that any loop changes tone, and that if you use Professional FX equipment you have no loop issues. The amp was designed for professionals at a time rack equipment was at it's peak. I still prefer a 2290 and PCM 70 for fx over anything going today - so it works perfectly for me. The people who complain are the ones sticking a BOSS pedal in the loop. As said, if that's your preference then buy something else, or slave into a W/D/W rig, or have the loop moved. But because it was designed in a very specific way doesn't make it bad.

Hi - I have an SLO and recently got a TC 2290 - could you tell me how you are hooking it up to the effects loop on the SLO - for me, the level coming from the effects loop is too hot for the 2290 is it is clipping like crazy even with the gain sailed down to 0 . Are you using 1/4 inch to xlr ? How are you routing the signal ? Would appreciate any guidance given you say it woks just fine.

Thanks

 

[jlb32]

I've owned my Hot Rod 25 for over a year now. One of the best amps I have ever played. Holds it's own with my Mesa Mark IV and Trem-o-verb with ease yet has it's own thing going on. So articulate and grindy. It's just a beast of a amp. Really does sound like a 25watt SLO.

 

[justinashouri]

where is these manufactured guys? Italia?

 

[jlb32]

where is these manufactured guys? Italia?

All Soldanos are made in the USA

 

[Bluplirst]

It's a very odd design and it places your effects before the EQ and Master volume stages of the preamp.
If i wanted my effects pre EQed , i might as well put it in front of the amps input.
Most all other amp builders/designers place the effects loop after the EQ and master volume section of any amp.

And many do put an eq before their amp and find it more effective at tone shaping. Also, if the preamp volume came before the fx then changing it would wreck your fx input levels- no bueno. Having EQ after fx is just an over all tone shaper. It has never bothered me. The Soldano forum's general answer is that any loop changes tone, and that if you use Professional FX equipment you have no loop issues. The amp was designed for professionals at a time rack equipment was at it's peak. I still prefer a 2290 and PCM 70 for fx over anything going today - so it works perfectly for me. The people who complain are the ones sticking a BOSS pedal in the loop. As said, if that's your preference then buy something else, or slave into a W/D/W rig, or have the loop moved. But because it was designed in a very specific way doesn't make it bad.

Hi - I have an SLO and recently got a TC 2290 - could you tell me how you are hooking it up to the effects loop on the SLO - for me, the level coming from the effects loop is too hot for the 2290 is it is clipping like crazy even with the gain sailed down to 0 . Are you using 1/4 inch to xlr ? How are you routing the signal ? Would appreciate any guidance given you say it woks just fine.

Thanks

There's no point. The loop sucks! Go wet/dry with the slave out and a power amp.

 

[jlb32]

The Soldano Hot Rod 25 has to be one of the best amps I have ever bought. Compared to my 50 and 100 watt amps it does not lack anything. Just able to push those tubes more quickly. Sounds different from the 50/100 Hot Rods I have owned and played. Not sure why Mike even called it a Hot Rod. It's his 25th anniversary amp and he spent alot of time making sure it was killer.

 

[Mesa\Kramer]

The HR25 is different than the other Hot Rod series amps. It uses 50 watt O'Netic transformers tune down to 25 watts. From what I'm hearing from the few guys who own one of these....they are saying it's more like a "Mini-SLO". These are guys who also own SLO's and are saying it has that bite, punch, and articulation of an SLO and sounds darn close!! 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 agree, it is a wee bit expensive....but a new Suhr Badger-30 is $1,995 and that only gives you one channel with not much gain.

Wish there was more info or videos of the amp...but Mike S. is stuck in the stone ages when it comes to marketing. I'm seriously thinking about picking one of these up though!!

Is the effects loop the same shitty design he uses on all his other amps ?
Hope it's not placed beore the EQ and master like the SLO/HR amps are.

These post always crack me up.

Not a shitty design. It's intended for Rack Effects. On purpose. lol...

And your post cracks me up even more , lol.
It's not just about the line level (+4db) loop design but where it's placed in the preamp signal path.
It's a very odd design and it places your effects before the EQ and Master volume stages of the preamp.
If i wanted my effects pre EQed , i might as well put it in front of the amps input.
Most all other amp builders/designers place the effects loop after the EQ and master volume section of any amp.
Spend some time over at the Soldano forum and you will understand why most Soldano players don't use the loop , no matter what effects you put in the loop ( rack or pedals) it majorly changes the tone of your $4000.00 + boutique amp .
Some may like it and deal with it , many don't and have the odd loop designed removed from their amp.

This^

Loop is completely useless rack or no rack effects