Questions Regarding Soldano

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Aristocat

Aristocat

Well-known member
For a long while, I've been dying to get a Hot Rod 50/100 but I'm curious about a couple of things.

Cost
If the plus models are worth it
And if I should just save for an SLO.
If Greenbacks are any good (I know V30's are preferred) with the amp.

Looking to scoop one up in a couple of months. Thanks!
 
I only know the SLO and Decatone, but I'd not be buying in the present panic climate. Soldanos are very rare and expensive these days and I'm pretty sure things will calm down after another year or two. If you have the money burning a hole in your pocket, then that's fine. But you should be able to score a nice used SLO for $2800 in normal times. You won't find one close to that price right now.
 
Rick Lee":2uq3i32x said:
I only know the SLO and Decatone, but I'd not be buying in the present panic climate. Soldanos are very rare and expensive these days and I'm pretty sure things will calm down after another year or two. If you have the money burning a hole in your pocket, then that's fine. But you should be able to score a nice used SLO for $2800 in normal times. You won't find one close to that price right now.
Click to expand...

I'd be fine with the Hot Rod, personally

Everywhere I look, they're nonexistent or if around 700+ what I typically see.

I have no idea how the gear market is currently. It's been a while since I've bought anything new or used.
 
Aristocat":3l7g3zwp said:
For a long while, I've been dying to get a Hot Rod 50/100 but I'm curious about a couple of things.

Cost
If the plus models are worth it
And if I should just save for an SLO.
If Greenbacks are any good (I know V30's are preferred) with the amp.

Looking to scoop one up in a couple of months. Thanks!
Click to expand...
I would save and wait for the SLO climate to cool, and grab one. I totally disagree that V30s are preferred, GBs or similar are a much better match IMO. I've had 1 HR100 and 3 SLOs, neither liked my V30 cab very much. G12 65s were killer, and the EVH cab with GBs I had was also very good.
 
Racerxrated":jgovc7jd said:
Aristocat":jgovc7jd said:
For a long while, I've been dying to get a Hot Rod 50/100 but I'm curious about a couple of things.

Cost
If the plus models are worth it
And if I should just save for an SLO.
If Greenbacks are any good (I know V30's are preferred) with the amp.

Looking to scoop one up in a couple of months. Thanks!
Click to expand...
I would save and wait for the SLO climate to cool, and grab one. I totally disagree that V30s are preferred, GBs or similar are a much better match IMO. I've had 1 HR100 and 3 SLOs, neither liked my V30 cab very much. G12 65s were killer, and the EVH cab with GBs I had was also very good.
Click to expand...

So when the prices have cooled down a bit, what's a good price for a used SLO?
 
Aristocat":9wc61mdt said:
Racerxrated":9wc61mdt said:
Aristocat":9wc61mdt said:
For a long while, I've been dying to get a Hot Rod 50/100 but I'm curious about a couple of things.

Cost
If the plus models are worth it
And if I should just save for an SLO.
If Greenbacks are any good (I know V30's are preferred) with the amp.

Looking to scoop one up in a couple of months. Thanks!
Click to expand...
I would save and wait for the SLO climate to cool, and grab one. I totally disagree that V30s are preferred, GBs or similar are a much better match IMO. I've had 1 HR100 and 3 SLOs, neither liked my V30 cab very much. G12 65s were killer, and the EVH cab with GBs I had was also very good.
Click to expand...

So when the prices have cooled down a bit, what's a good price for a used SLO?
Click to expand...

Before things went crazy low to mid $2k was a good price for a SLO and they popped up for that from time to time... $2800 was pretty typical price and I missed one for $2100 about a year ago.
 
technomancer":p6hnfi6k said:
Aristocat":p6hnfi6k said:
Racerxrated":p6hnfi6k said:
Aristocat":p6hnfi6k said:
For a long while, I've been dying to get a Hot Rod 50/100 but I'm curious about a couple of things.

Cost
If the plus models are worth it
And if I should just save for an SLO.
If Greenbacks are any good (I know V30's are preferred) with the amp.

Looking to scoop one up in a couple of months. Thanks!
Click to expand...
I would save and wait for the SLO climate to cool, and grab one. I totally disagree that V30s are preferred, GBs or similar are a much better match IMO. I've had 1 HR100 and 3 SLOs, neither liked my V30 cab very much. G12 65s were killer, and the EVH cab with GBs I had was also very good.
Click to expand...

So when the prices have cooled down a bit, what's a good price for a used SLO?
Click to expand...

Before things went crazy low to mid $2k was a good price for a slow and they popped up for that from time to time... $2800 was pretty typical price and I missed one for $2100 about a year ago.
Click to expand...
I've paid 2400, 2500 and 2200 for a combo.
 
Racerxrated":3sj3acbm said:
technomancer":3sj3acbm said:
Aristocat":3sj3acbm said:
Racerxrated":3sj3acbm said:
Aristocat":3sj3acbm said:
For a long while, I've been dying to get a Hot Rod 50/100 but I'm curious about a couple of things.

Cost
If the plus models are worth it
And if I should just save for an SLO.
If Greenbacks are any good (I know V30's are preferred) with the amp.

Looking to scoop one up in a couple of months. Thanks!
Click to expand...
I would save and wait for the SLO climate to cool, and grab one. I totally disagree that V30s are preferred, GBs or similar are a much better match IMO. I've had 1 HR100 and 3 SLOs, neither liked my V30 cab very much. G12 65s were killer, and the EVH cab with GBs I had was also very good.
Click to expand...

So when the prices have cooled down a bit, what's a good price for a used SLO?
Click to expand...

Before things went crazy low to mid $2k was a good price for a slow and they popped up for that from time to time... $2800 was pretty typical price and I missed one for $2100 about a year ago.
Click to expand...
I've paid 2400, 2500 and 2200 for a combo.
Click to expand...

So between 2000 and 3000 is reasonable it sounds.

I've never played an SLO aside from the XR88 and I wanted to ditch my BE Mod so quick when I played that Amp.

So how different is the hot rod from the SLO?
 
Aristocat":1pzp78vu said:
Racerxrated":1pzp78vu said:
technomancer":1pzp78vu said:
Aristocat":1pzp78vu said:
Racerxrated":1pzp78vu said:
Aristocat":1pzp78vu said:
For a long while, I've been dying to get a Hot Rod 50/100 but I'm curious about a couple of things.

Cost
If the plus models are worth it
And if I should just save for an SLO.
If Greenbacks are any good (I know V30's are preferred) with the amp.

Looking to scoop one up in a couple of months. Thanks!
Click to expand...
I would save and wait for the SLO climate to cool, and grab one. I totally disagree that V30s are preferred, GBs or similar are a much better match IMO. I've had 1 HR100 and 3 SLOs, neither liked my V30 cab very much. G12 65s were killer, and the EVH cab with GBs I had was also very good.
Click to expand...

So when the prices have cooled down a bit, what's a good price for a used SLO?
Click to expand...

Before things went crazy low to mid $2k was a good price for a slow and they popped up for that from time to time... $2800 was pretty typical price and I missed one for $2100 about a year ago.
Click to expand...
I've paid 2400, 2500 and 2200 for a combo.
Click to expand...

So between 2000 and 3000 is reasonable it sounds.

I've never played an SLO aside from the XR88 and I wanted to ditch my BE Mod so quick when I played that Amp.

So how different is the hot rod from the SLO?
Click to expand...
I would explain it like this...I had an HR100+ for about a year back in `12. Cool amp, solid modded Marshall type with a mid boost in front. Sold it, and in 14 bought my first SLO. It was like taking the blanket off the speakers better than the HR. No amp has the clarity of an SLO with the exception of a Wizard or a C+ from the amps I've owned, that includes 2 BEs, many stock and modded Marshalls including Camerons which are also great. Also, the punch of the SLO is amazing and 2nd only to a 100w Wizard. When I first got the SLO I was not blown away, it was different than the modded Marshall experience I expected...but then I boosted it and tried some suggested EQ settings and then I got it...awesome. I have a Wizard MCI now and it does what the SLO did for me just a bit better, since I go for a modded Marshall thing and a Wizard is essentially a Marshall circuit on steroids.
Two amps that I feel can cop an SLO tone, at least how I ran it are the VHT Deliverance 60 and a 2 channel Triple Recto. The D60 is modded Marshall that has SLO clarity, and the Triple is the SLO preamp copied almost to a T..boost it and I found it resembled my last SLO when turned up.
 
I am now a Marshall fanboi. My stock 1987xl with a Friedman Dirty Shirley pedal in front of it is the tone I've always heard in my head. Loved my SLO and Decatone, but love my Marshalls more and they cost a whole lot less.

The other guitar player in my band has a Decatone too and I'm taking it home next week to retube it. I will be very curious to A/B it with some of my Marshalls at the house.
 
Michael Soldano said in an interview that he prefers something like a V-Type to a V30 with a SLO. Eminence, WGS and Mojotone make a similar model. G12M-25 "Greenbacks" sound great, but roll off the high end a bit more, and may have less bass depth. They work with almost anything, but something tighter like G12-65's might be nice.

I know it's only part of the equation, but 5881 (beam tetrodes) are inherently more "clear" than EL34 (pentode) due to aligned grids and less 3rd harmonic clutter. AFAIK, the Mesa Dual Rec is a direct copy of the SLO100 with no neg feedback and cheaper parts. That or a 50W or 100W Jet City could be upgraded with a better OT (Classictone JTM45 or JTM45/100 0r 100W Project model?) to sound closer to an SLO100, but you need tight speakers to really hear/feel the bass punch a better OT will offer.

Signal path caps could be replaced for the type of sound you prefer. Mallory 150 metal film are apparently excellent (full and warm) and cheap. Some also prefer the more linear high end of a good silver mica cap for the Treble knob, if it doesn't have one. Those are all pretty easy and cheap mods that, along with choice tubes, should make a noticeable improvement in fullness, punch, high end linearity and clarity.

MS also said he always went through a bunch of 12AX7's to find quiet ones for the first few slots in an SLO100. The JJ ECC83MG is a very low noise tube with a smoother & more open sound than the standard 83S -- possibly the best new 12AX7. The ECC803S is a really nice PI slot tube. The combo of those types delivers a full, clear, sweet and dynamic sound for not much money. Power tubes are your call. JJ or Tung Sol 5881 are probably the best of new 5881 tubes -- the JJ being "harder" with less high harmonic generation. I've heard great things about the new Tung Sol 7581A -- like a cleaner & fuller sounding 5881, but not boomy like a 6L6GC. A bias adjustment might be required. I've read the JC heads are biased very cold from the factory anyway. You might also try a resistor-based 10% power or PPIMV mod as well. Those are easy/cheap mods as well. Anyway, that's what I'd try.
 
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