Product: Soldano Astroverb 16 Head
Price Paid: US $430.
Submitted
05/09/2000
at
05:00pm
by
Anonymous
Features
:
9
This is a '99. It is a 20 watt head with 2 el-84's
and 5 12ax7's. 2 for the reverb. It has one channel
that dials in some very flexible blues to hard rock
tones. It has pre-amp,bass,mid,treble,volume,reverb
and a presence knob. And 2 16 ohm outs. Which can drive
a single 8 ohm speaker,I called Soldano to make sure.
Thats about it. This amp really is not loud enough to get over a loud drummer.Almost though, I find myself needing more.Sad but true.
Sound Quality
:
10
OK, this amp sounds wonderful. I'm using a Am.St.Tele with a Duncan
Vin.Stack and a Hotrail.Into the amp, then to a Mesa 112 closed back cab with a 90 watt celstion, designed for Boogie.No pedals needed.
It can get fairly clean,but,clean and loud,not quite. Just put as much gain as you want and use your guitar for the rest.It responds very well.I play real dirty blues to hard crunching rock,and it does this well with the amp cranked all the way up.Its not a real high gain amp, but those el84's add alot, at high volumes.But sadly this anp is not loud enough for me,and I really wanted it to be.I took it to one small gig,we do play loud,but the drums were'nt miked and I ended up having to mike the amp.We play loud ,but my amps got to get over any acoustic drummer,or its not loud enough for me.But Hey,the tone is red hot.
Its 20 watts and it is louder than my Deluxe Reverb, wich is also 20 watts.But that closed back cab, maybe it.The reverb sounds real good to my ears.Not real long but I made it surf anyway.Sounds great but I'm going to have to sell it.Just not loud enough for my gigging needs.
Reliability
:
10
This amp is built really nice.I took it apart and although its a printed board its got alot bulkier leads than any other I've seen.Which I think is important.Very solid feeling and really clean internally.Keep an extra set of tubes ,and I'd say this thing is very dependable.
Customer Support
:
10
one year factory warranty.Called them up about the speaker impedence and a manual.and they were very curtious and fast.Had the manual in three days after the call.Pretty impressive,better than boogie,it took them three weeks to get me a manual.
Overall Rating
:
10
Ive been playing for 12 years.And have played through alot of different amps and have owned several good ones [mesa mark4,fender twin,deluxe,bassman,marshall super leads,traynors,wich kick ass.And this amps tone, fairs well with all of them.I actually like it better in alot of ways.but really not loud enough.I even considered just buying another one but I'm trying to keep the trips to the car down.Are'nt we all? I think this amp would be great for recording.
And later when I am more financialy stable ,I'll buy another one.With out a doubt.I hate knocking this amp in any way,and I'm really not
I knew it was only 20watts,but I had to try .Seductive tone
