Soldano Hot Rod 100+ XL Mod

The Hot Rod 100 Plus XL amp was bought used and came with matching 4X12 cabinet- both in purple (awesome) tolex. I don't know exactly what years Soldano was making these amps but apparently it is the same overdrive circuit as the SLO-100. I play mostly anything from the 1970s, 80s, and 90s and let me just say this amp is versatile enough to cover all of those styles. It has 2 channels- a "normal" channel and an "overdrive channel". The EQ knobs are shared by both channels- the Bass, Mid and Treble controls (there is also a Presence control which adds more high-end- also shared by the channels). So there is a separate gain knob for each channel and a separate volume knob. And channel switching is golden. No annoying clicks or pops- it switches like butter. It also has an effects loop which takes +4 db effects. THIS IS IMPORTANT--> if you want to use stompboxes with this amp, they might not work properly. This amp is very high-end and was not meant to be played through stomp boxes. I found this out the hard way and I just acquired a whole lot of rack gear and this thing is made to be played through some really nice stuff as well. I will explain the XL mod below.

I only really have one gripe about this and it's just in fact the nature of tube amps themselves. At first, I was considering the 50 watt variant of this amp, but I am SO glad I didn't go with that. As it is, it is kind of difficult to get a really clean sound at high volumes- it breaks up into distortion- I can only imagine what a 50 watt would do. So getting the 100 watts in there helps give you some head room as far as loud, clean channels go. But still if you are looking for sparkling clean tone you will not get it with this amp. You can get close, but you won't get "it". This is the nature of high-gain tube amps like Soldano. The distortion on this piece is the FINEST you can get, however. I kid you not. It is absolutely FLAWLESS. I have no complaints. It is not harsh at all but sounds awesome. Amp of choice of the Scorpions, Richie Sambora (Bon Jovi), Eric Clapton (for a while during the 90s) and SO many others. Awesome. BUT THERE IS A CATCH. This amp came with the XL mod. The day before I bought this amp I was trying one out for the first time in a used music shop and I fell in love with the sound (after having done extensive research, mind you!). That amp didn't have the XL mod. So then I bought this one and I brought it home and it was nothing like what I tried in the store. I was really disappointed. SO I did a bit of research and found that Mike Soldano himself doesn't even really like the mod. It was just way too muddy for me and it didn't sound good at all. So I emailed Soldano myself and guess what- THEY EMAILED ME BACK. How sick is that? They told me how to take out the mod- I am no electrician but I own a soldering iron and I figured out what they were telling me- it was so easy and now the amp sounds INCREDIBLE. So my advice- the XL mod isn't worth anything. So I am giving this a rating lower than what it really is now because the category is with the XL mod- in reality it's a 10 without the mod. I have had this amp for about 7 months now, so trust me- I have explored it thoroughly.

Yes I can depend on it- I have gigged with it and it has ROCKED like a hurricane. It is awesome- a real powerhorse. Only once did it give me trouble- I was practicing and I had it hooked up to a 1x12 cab on 8 ohms and it was cutting in and out- so therefore I can't be sure whether it was the amp or the cab. But other than that, it has been super reliable. I always bring one extra tube, though- just in case.

Yes I have dealt with the company- they provide probably the best customer service in the industry - personalized emails. They took time out of their busy day to email me instructions. They are fantastic. I only wish they would have dealers of these amps in more places- in fact I almost went to one in Italy when I was there because that actually would have been closer than then one here in America! So that's my only complaint.

I have been playing for about 6 years now and I finally have found the amp I have been looking for this whole time. This amp is worth the money- you will never have to buy another one unless it breaks or someone walks away with it- in which case I would hunt to kill. Just kidding. NOT. No one better touch this amp- I hesitate to leave it alone and I get worried when other guitarists at shows crowd around it and gawk at it in all of its glory.

first off this amp is one of the sweetest sounding amps ive ever heard. the gain is heavy but each single note retains its clarity. the clean channel is clean when the "normal" knob is rolled down, and breaks up quite nicely when turned up. i wish each channel had individual tone controls but i have plenty of options on my Ibanez JS-1000. to some it might seem like this amp is straight out of "Spinal Tap" because they go to 11, yes all the knobs go to 11. this amp sounds perfect for a blend of jazz metal blus and classic rock, even neo-classical stuff. this amp is loud!!!! even with it turned down to practice volume it sounds great. defenitly loud enough to gig with.

i use this amp with the ibanez JS-1000. DiMarzio PAF Joe and Fred pickups, eric johnson nickel rockers (.10's) the tone of the guitar is complimented very well by this amp. you can get literally any sound out of this amp. if you play music of any kind through an electric guitar, this amp can make that sound.

my jewel light went out!!!!!!!!! nothing that would effect the sound or preformance of this amp has ever broken got screwed up, nothing. i would use it for gigs every night without backup, but as with all tube amps, keep plenty of spare tubes.

from what i hear soldano's customer service is among the very best. but i hope i never have to deal with them unless im wanting another amp, and i probably never will have to call them with a problem.

if this amp was stolen, i would track the person down and kill them, or buy another one. this amp is the holy grail to me. if you love the sound of a tube amp, get this amp, doesnt matter what style of music you play, this amp can produce any tone until the day your fingers fall off. the only thing that could make my amp better, is a 4X12 SOLDANO cab with eminence legend speakers.

1996 Soldano HR 100 plus(2 channel)with the XL mod done by Soldano. This amp is incredibly versitile and it has only one set of EQ knobs(chicken heads) I play hard rock alternative, but you can get some great blues sounds classic rock etc.. . Slave out with level control, effect loop, 4,8,16 ohm selector for speaker cabinet(s). Tubes 4 5881's & 5 12ax7's this amplifier has plenty of power. I have owned one of these before and I am so glad to have found another one its like coming home again. This amp has also been discontinued because it sounds very similar to its big brother the famous SLO 100 and these will be very hard to find soon. The only thing I don't like about this one is the Boa tolex which as I am writing this it is being changed to purple tolex! Reverb would be nice but thats what outboard gear is for!

I have been playing for about 18 years, I have come down to using a
Tom Anderson Cobra guitar 2 humbuckers with 5 way that splits coils
you can get Les Paul, strat and tele. It sounds amazing through just about everything. The Soldano has a sound of its own with alittle bit of Marshall, Mesa, etc.. This amp just sings back at you it has the tone better than anything available in a med high end amp. I have had Bogner, Mesa's, Marshalls the list goes on and IMHO this amp puts them all to shame. The amp is very quiet even on channel 2 high gain mode, it is very sensitive to how you play your guitar if you play lightly it cleans up and softens, If you hammer the strings it will bit your ass and still having incredible definition of chords or single notes that sustain and hold there tone longer than any other amp I have owned. The gain is like going to plaid if you want it to.
Channel 1 is clean or a crunch dialed in with the preamp gain level
3 is very clean, 4 to 11 is a great crunch sound. You won't even need much or any effects with this amp it sounds great with nothing on it. The XL mod is great some people like it some don't the reason is the XL mod sounds better for music of today without the mod it sounds good also just more midrange and less bottom end. I have test the amp with various 2x12 and 4x12 cabs it gets along with all of them. Bottom line is you cannot get a better amp for the money, I have been through the ringer to find my way back to this. Volume level is very controlable it isn't instantly wide open at 5 or 6 on the dial.

The amp is built like a tank! I would trust it anywhere anytime.

Soldano is a class act they will help you over the phone, email, etc..
I have spoken to Bill a few times and always he is very helpful!
Warranty you probably won't ever need it.

I will not buy anything else again after selling my last 2 Soldano's
I really appreciate having one again. I would buy another one if it was stolen or damaged. I am back to using Marshall 4x12 cab due to the band situation still sounds great with a 2x12 though.
Check out a Soldano If you get a chance you won't be disappointed!

Il mio amplificatore Soldano Hot Rod 100W Plus e stato costruito nei primi mesi del 1998 e l'ho acquistato pochi mesi dopo la sua creazione (Luglio 1998) ed e dotato, di serie, della modifica XL come succede per tutti gli amplificatori Soldano costruiti dal 1996 in poi. La testata e dotata di 2 canali aventi i controlli di Gain e Master Volume separati per ciascun canale, mentre Bassi, Medi, Alti e Presence sono in comune. Sul retro della testata, oltre alla presa per lo switch che fa commutare la testata dal canale Normal al canale Overdrive, sono presenti un Effect Loop seriale interamente valvolare, una mandata Slave regolabile, che preleva un segnale basso dal trasformatore di uscita, permettendo di alimentare una seconda testata, oppure di entrare direttamente in un mixer, uno switch (4, 8, 16Ohm) per accoppiare l'impedenza di uscita con la cassa e due uscite per collegare una o piu casse. Inutile dire che l'amplificatore e realizzato in maniera impeccabile, impiegando materiali di prima scelta e che il livello delle finitura rasenta la perfezione...

Beh... per quanto riguarda il suono non ci sono molte cose da dire se non che e perfetto! Per tutti coloro che hanno intenzione di acquistare, o avranno la possibilita di provare un amplificatore della Soldano, raccomando vivamente regolazioni del Master Volume che si avvicinano al massimo, andando in questo modo a sfruttare veramente al massimo tutte le sue potenzialita e qualita sonore... Ovviamente e un amplificatore adatto ai grandi palchi, pero puo essere sfruttato a dovere anche nei piccoli club se accoppiato ad un riduttore di potenza di qualita come il THD HOT PLATE.
Personalmente utilizzo il canale Normal con Gain=3,5 e Master Volume=11 e il canale Overdrive Gain=5 e Master Volume=11 ingaggiando per i suoni lead un pedale Overdrive TS9/Mod808 oppure DOD250/Mod.308YJM.
Le migliori doti di questo amplificatore sono la cremosita della distorsine e l'impareggiabile sustain, unite alla bassissima rumorosita di fondo ed alla naturalezza del suono.
Il poterlo suonare a volumi decisamente alti e un'esperienza che spero possano provare in molti...

Estremamente affidabile e robusto, ormai sono 4 anni che lo possiedo e lo suono regolarmente per almeno 3 ore al giorno ed ancora non ha dimostrato nessun problema!
Mi spiace ripetermi ma il solo aggettivo che mi viene in mente e ancora PERFETTO!!!!

In 4 anni non ho mai avuto bisogno di contattare la Soldano perche l'amplificatore non ha mai avuto problemi. L'unica volta che mi sono messo in contatto con loro e stato per chiedere chiarimenti riguardo al modifica XL, inquanto non ero sicuro se tale opzione fosse presente anche nella mia testata. Sul foglio controllo qualita "Quality Control" che accompagnava la testata al momento dell'acquisto era presente nel campo OPTION: la scritta XL, pero non avendo trovato nessun adesivo sul retro dell'ampli che confermasse tale ipotesi, non ero sicuro che tale modifica fosse implementata. Contattato il supporto tecnico della Soldano mi hanno prontamente informato che tale modifica e diventata di serie e quindi presente su tutte le testate dal 1996 in poi e che i primi modelli avevano un adesivo sul retro che lo confermava, ma che poi hanno deciso di non metterlo piu perche ormai non si trattava piu di una modifica ma di un'opzione standard.

Cari amici anglofoni, mi spiace avere scritto tutta la mia recensione in italiano, ma voglio che possa essere d'aiuto a tutti gli italiani che entrano nel sito e che desiderano capire esattamente cio che ho scritto. In ogni caso ci sono tanti bei 10 che vi possono servire a capire le mie opinioni relative a questo fantastico amplificatore.
Se tornassi indietro acquisterei nuovamente la testata senza pensarci 2 volte e se dovessero rubarmela, inizialmente piangerei come un vitello per un mese, poi ripresomi dallo shok andrei dal mio negoziante di fiducia e ne ordinerei una nuova fiammante... Non prima di avere sporto denuncia ai carabinieri ed avere augurato un cancro ai ladri...

I just recently converted my HR100+ with the XL mod sent to me by Bill Sundt and turned an already great amplifier into everything I dreamed it could be. Before the mod, I could never get the Normal channel clean enough. Even backing the volume knob down the Normal channel still broke up and would lose bottom end...sounding weak and thin with a shrill side. I used the amp mainly for lead/solo play live and in the studio because it wasn't as functional as I needed in the format that I play. NOW THANKS TO BILL....this amp is going to make alot more solo performances without being tied (A&Bed) to another amp.
The amp features two channels and both share the tone controls. It also has an effects loop (tube buffered) and a slave output with output control. It has 100 watts that sound every bit of 100 watts making it very loud but not overwhelming. It makes single notes sing and ring as loud as full chords making every note you play cut through the mix in any room or club.
I am one of only a handful of players in Jax FL who play SOLDANO and I have found NO other amp as well built inside and out as this amp.

For players who need independent tone controls...this is not your amp. But if you are a player who makes his hands work hard for the tone...this amp can't compare and is its own class...just plug in and play!!!!

I play and own every make and model of Kramer guitars equipped with Seymour Duncan JB's/59's/Custom and CustomCustom pickups and having the trembucker models with the correct spacing makes the Floyd Rose register every note.
I find the SOLDANO very quiet when playing straight into the amp and just a hint of "swoosh" if you clutter up your signal chain with a bunch of effects. I will say that the amp does not get dull loading up the front end input with effects....I have yet to need an overdrive pedal to make my signal hotter....it has a very even gain and is in between the 5150 II and the Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier.

I feel that with the XL MOD I will now play this amp live without a back-up because after looking inside at how it is constructed and knowing the pride and performance instilled into these amps....it will last forever and I will not sell it.

When I emailed SOLDANO they sent me a hand drawing and a parts list in which I went straight to Radio Shack and purchased everything i needed for the XL MOD. If you visit the websight is give a great description on what this amp sounds like as the HOT ROD 100+ XL and modifying this amp took 30-45 minutes to make the change and a heavy D chord later to know I made the right modification.
Bill Sundt is phenominal and my hats off to the feeling I get talking with them over the phone....My next purchase is going to be a Decatone amp and a cabinet with the Eminence Legend speakers.....
I feel that Soldano will continue to support their products long after I am gone....they really have a niche in the amp world...
Thanks Again Micheal Soldano and Bill Sundt for everything I now enjoy in playing music!!!!

I have owned one of every amplifier out there and still collect Kramer guitars and amplifiers and my most recent purchase of the
5150 II just makes me very happy to know guys like Micheal Soldano keep everyone else in check in the boutique market. I would love to own the Decatone after talking to Bill and will work hard to find one.

Again this amp rocks straight ahead and anyone who feels they need more knobs....are too worried about things and should be thinking about just their playing. This amp is limiting in only having one set of tone controls sharing the clean/overdrive channels BUT just the same....it is controlable and has a broad enough tonal range to cover everything from "Lenny" by SRV to any dropped D style you could play to classic rock and has the right amounts of everything....