Soldano SLO100

This is a 1990 model I purchased in 1996. It has standard features, slave out, effects loop, 2 channel switching, plus an extra channel that you can access only by a toggle switch on the amp face, this
switch splits the first channel clean/crunch.
I play in a cover band playing 60's to current day stuff. Everything from dance funk country blues to heavy stuff. The main problem I have is going from a full shred sound to clean, you need to turn around and spin knobs a lot to dial in the right sound. This is because of only having two channels. It loses points here, 3 channels would be the fix!

My main axe is a 91 musicman EVH, my other is a 87 GM5T Steinberger. Between these 2 I can get just about any sound I need. The Musicman rips, it is absolutely awesome with this amp. This is the basic guitar sound on Van Halens F.U.C.K. cd. I use my steinberger for glassy clean sounds.
The best thing about this amp is that the frequencies are right where they should be. The bass thuds but is tight, and the trebble cuts pefect. There is no mucking around dialing knobs, just plug in and play. If you need more mid, just add more, perfect. It's like the sound is there but you just have to tune it to your taste. This is the way an amp should sound. I find the shared eq works well and have no problem with it. This amp is about a loud as any 100w amp and doesn't reach it's potential until it's cranked. Which can be a problem in small clubs. The overdrive sounds from this amp are full of tone, and almost clean sounding yet they will still peel the wallpaper off. Make no mistake this is a thoroghbred rock amp, as far as sound goes it is AWESOME!

This amp is 13 years old and hasn't failed since I've owned it (8 years).

N/A

I,ve been playing 25 years. I've owned heaps of marshall amps, the soldano slo is a marshall sound, only 10X better. My rating may be bias due to the fact that I love this sound.
My only issue is the versatility. 3 channels would fix it. I would like to check out the soldano 3 channel Decatone, I have heard these are pretty good, but have a different sound to the slo.
This amp does what an amp should, when you play you can hear the tone from yor strings ringing. Others may not agree but I love this amp.

The amp is straight to the point, clean/crunch, overdrive, high, mid, low, and a pressence knob. It lacks a lot of the features that help sell the more popular amps of today. However I find that appealing. This amp simply features incredible sound. My only beef is that there is no easy way to switch between the clean and crunch sound. I rarely play with a totally clean tone so it really isn't a big deal. But it would be nice.

The SLO 100 is an amazing sounding amp. I love the "pushed" sound or the "just" distorted tone the amp is able to achieve. It's bright and a tad dirty. For leads, the overdrive channel is brilliant. It sears through anything else going on in the band, and at the same time it never sticks it's head too far out. The sounds of the amp and the tones it creates flow so perfectly with whatever kind of music the band is playing. I have found that this amp is very resonsive to my guitar's internal volume. I roll the volume down and get a great overdrive tone (tube screamer). Push it up a bit, lean my head back, and enjoy oceans of "controlled" gain. The amp is never out of control. To me, this is very important.

I too consulted Kenny at solid body guitar. Prior to buying this amp he assured me it is the most reliable amp on the face of the earth. As mentioned in previous reviews, life time transferable warrenty. I never worry about this amp...and that is soooo very important.

Never had to deal with them. However, if that time comes, I'm confident that they will be the very best.

I've been playing guitar for over 10 years. In those 10 years I was always searching for simple and affordable ways to improve my sound. The POD, distortion pedals, proccessors, you name it...I tried it. I finally came to a realization. If I was to buy the best sounding amp, I would never have to search for another easy answer to my tone problems again. As we all know those easy and cheap answers are always only temporary. Buy a great guitar, buy a great wah pedal, and buy a soldano SLO 100. Because that is truely all anyone could ever need. If you live in minnesota, go talk to kenny!

One channel KT66 Custom SLO. I believe the amp was made in 2001. I attained the amp from Kenny at solidbodyguitar.com (Highly recommended)He really knows his stuff. We tested many different preamp tubes in the amp - going with the best that made me happy- what great service!
Having a one channel SLO100 is what I wanted. Its more punchy and lively because you don't have the other channel. The SLO clean channel has never been a fave of mine anyway- although I hear some heavy weight rockers in the past have used the clean channel exclusively- hitting it hard with the right FX!
The KT66 tubes are more on fire than the standard issue 6L6's. But both sound awesome. (I own a stock 2 channel SLO as well)

I have owned many amps (and still do) and the Soldano has always been the best live amp. It cuts thru the mix well and yet is still extremely smooth. (my soundman agrees with all I am telling you here too!- it's his favorite amp I've owned as well)
No matter how you dial in the SLO it always sounds great.
I didn't think it was a METAL amp until me and one of my "Metal" students dialed in a killer metal tone. I was surprised that it sounded so good this way!! - I had never been able to get it to pump like a Mesa Dual Rectifier for the Metallica type sound... but we got it. And I think it killed the Mesa Rectifier in pure tone. (The Mesa's never cut it live for me anyway- always get buried in the mix)
I still consider this amp to be more of a Rock amp than a Metal amp, but it can be dialed in, and with a way more cutting, punchy tone than the typical Mesa amps all the rage these days.

Only problem I've ever had on the Soldano SLO amps was the burning out of a few "Blue" on/off light lamps. Sean at Soldano says the bulbs are available at Radio Shack. (Lamp type #47 6.3 volts.150mA) I carry a few spares to gigs now. ( as well as extra tubes and fuses to gigs at all times)

The best. All emails answered -Lifetime transferable warranty. The best warranty for the best amp company period.
If you need help/ advise on tubes or anything I highly recommend talking with Kenny at solidbodyguitar.com a #1 Soldano dealer.

Don't mess around and waste your time- Buy the best and you will be rewarded for a lifetime.

Mine was created Dec 12, 2002. I'm going to keep this short, because the other reviews are on line. My typical style ranges from SRV to EVH, but a nice clean is important for me too. I do wish that the clean and crunch channels were separated, but the range of tones you can get out of the SLO are simply amazing. What also amazes me if that for a 100 watt head, this thing is still the best sounding basement amp I have ever heard. I can still have gobs of tone w/o waking the kid up. Mind has the Haynes and depth mod. I like the depth mod, but I always leave the bright option on. I suppose if I played a tele it might be a nice option to kill some highs.

I honestly have not heard a better amp. I started playing way before the grunge era, and this amp really appeals to me. It is not a recto or 5150, but with a little tweaking I suppose you can get close. The amp is very responsive to your guitar's volume. For anything less than metal, the crunch channel is a thing of beauty.

Like the previous poster (whose review is excellent), I also don't see how people can compare this amp to a Marshall. A MODIFIED Marshall yes, but a stock Marshall or even a stock plexi -- no way.

I think the Lifetime warranty says it all. It's a tank.

If you have a question about a soldano, whoever picks up the phone will have an answer immediately. No hold, no waiting, no idiots. They rock.

PRICE. Here is my only beef about Soldano. This amp is expensive, and worth every penny, but I FREAKING HATE companies that price fix. In most other businesses antitrust would prevent it, but somehow in our business they get away with it. If a dealer sells a Boogie or a Soldano too low, they risk getting the line yanked. One dealer told me that this prevent "cheapening" of the product, but I think that is total BS. I purchased my SLO from out of state to avoid tax, and because my local dealer couldn't come down a hundred bucks to compensate, he lost the sale. I broke the bank to buy this thing, and $100 still means a lot to me.

Nothing compares to this amp. I don't think I could afford another one soon, so if anyone tried to steal it they better get ready to rumble.

This is an addition toMy Initial review about the Rackmount Soldano SLO-100R(Rackmount ) Amplifier Head.
I spoke with Bill Sundt-Chief Engineer @SOLDANO via phone on Monday of this week(12/2/2002)
and asked several dozen Questions regarding the SLO-100R series amplifiers.
I Told him the serial # of My Amp(#931014)and he verified that it was Built for and ordered by Dan Spitz of "ANTHRAX".
He supplied me with a Signed Letter & Copy of the Logbook manufacturing Data and Serial # chart that shows Dan Spitz took delivery of Serial #s 931014 and 931015 in 1993 which were ordered thru Sam Ash Music on 48th Street in NYC.

He(Bill Sundt) took the Time & Effort out of his busy day to give me information I asked for on tube socket assignment,Design and Maintenance,production numbers(as provided on My serial # chart and factoryLog Page showing the Amps that Dan Spitz ordered) and other technical data necessary.He again commented on how rare and limited in numbers the Rackmount SLO-100R heads were.

This kind of Customer Service and Relations is standard for SOLDANO-and I wanted to thank Bill Sundt for providing mewith usefull information regarding the production and porigin of this amplifier.

I also neglected to mention in my review below that the SLO-100R Rackmount unit has a cooling fan mounted on it's ZINC plated chassis facing the power tubes and draws cool air in thru the front of the perforated Metal Grill.
Bill Sundt is the man who provided me with the specs and identification of the chassis material and plated nature which is polished to a chrome like shine.
I was gonna guess Stainless Steel-but I was informed it's Zinc Plated on Both sides.
I also examined the underside of the chassis and the Components such as capacitors,Resistors and component arrangement which was Like examining the inside of a NASA Rocket.
The entire unit is all point to point wired and meticulous in construction and assembly.
Neat Silver soldered connections and Military Spec Parts and components are all evident.The sealed pots were all numbered sequentially-and the Chassis is signed By Mike Soldano as well.
This amp is a work of art that impresses me with more and more tones than I could have imagined.
I was also informed that the input stage tube(1st tube in line after the input jack for the instrument)shares it's 2nd gain stage with the # 2 Tube.The two gain stages(Clean/Crunch & Lead) are interactive.
Raising the Gain on the 1st dial for the Crunch channel Gain past 12:00 has a direct effect on the Lead channel characteristics.
There is NO Need to run the crunch gain past 12:00 or at the very most 1:00 on the dial.
It's there in Spades!
The tube layout is as follows:
1st Tube is the input gain stage and the second stage acts in conjunction with the lead channel stage as well.
2nd Tube is the overdrive Stage(Lead channel).
3rd Tube is the FX Loop Tube.
4th Tube is for the Tone Controls.
5th Tube is for the Phase Inverter/Power Section.
I'm running ALL NOS Chinese Tubes in the SLO-100R and the same in My Standard size SLO-100 head.(these tubes are several years old and rate at least 850 to 950 on a tube tester meter).

I still cant believe I've Got this Rackmount head.It's that good!

Built To Rock.......and Rock It Does.
This thing is Built like a Missile Silo.

Again my thanks and appreciation go out to Mr. Bill Sundt /Chief Engineer @SOLDANO Custom Amplification for his patience and Kindness in helping me out.

If you Find One....BUY IT!
Theres one on E-bay now for $3,000 and it's worth EVERY penny.
Maybe I can hit the lottery over the week-end before the auction ends.

This is a Soldano Rackmount SLO-100.This particular model is VERY Rare and there are NOT alot of them made or in circulation.
I was told that Less than 70 Rackmount SLO-100s were made but I am in the process of verifying that w/Soldano tomorrow.
this unit is serial # 93xxxx(very Low #).I am not sure if the rackmount units were numbered differently,but I have seen others that are higher in individual digits after the initial first two numbers(which indicate manufacture year).This unit has an anodized Violet/Purple Faceplate that is Very Cool(like all the preamps they make).It's 4 rack spaces high,has 8 adjustment knobs for Bass,Treble,Middle,Presence and TWO Master Volumes for each channel and Individual Gain Knobs for each channel as well.
A Bright Switch for the Clean/Crunch channel-and another switch to designate which type of gain curve you'd like to assign to the 1st channel as well(either Clean or Crunch).The Two channels(Clean/Crunch and Lead) are footswitchable via a footswitch jaqck in the rear of the amplifier.Standby/Power toggles,a Blue Jeweled Power indicator light and Big Chrome Handles complete the front face of this unit-along with a black Mesh Steel Grill and the SOLDANO Logo.
The rear of the amplifier has a Slave Out jack(1/4") w/Level-Trim Knob,an Effects Loop(Paralell)-with NO Send or Return level adjustment,an Impedance selector for 4/8/16 ohms,Two Speakewr jack outputs,1and 5 amp Fast Blow Fuse sockets and a Hard wired power cord.
The all Steel Chassis is kinda "Zinc Plated"looking.....it probably IS Zinc plated or some form of Stainless.Very Industrial looking and solid in appearance.This Amplifier has DeYoung Transformers(The FINEST Audio Amplifier Transformer there is)a small fan that is mounted in the rear to cool the Four(4) Power tubes and Five(5) preamp tubes.I am using 6L6 JJs in the power section and Chinese 12AX7s(that I have bought in lots of 100 From Custom Audio Electronics) in the Preamp section.This amplifier has a solid state rectifier in it.ALL the Preamp tubes have shields on them.Stock the Soldano SLOs come loaded with Sovteks(YUCK),but I HATE those tubes and I usually load My Bogners,VHT 2150s,Custom Audio and Soldano Amps with Svetlanas or JJs in the Power section and Chinese 12AX7 Preamp tubes in the Preamps(duh)or Driver & phase inverter slots(in the VHT 2150 Poweramps).
The Solid Point to Point Workmanship and Build Quality on The SOLDANO SLO is a work of Art!The components are simply THE BEST that They can find and use.(same for Bradshaw and Bogner)
Obviously this amp is only 2 channels-but that doesnt limit this unit to covering alot of sonic ground and tone(s).I wish it had a Level and send /Return Pots for the FX Loop-but I may have Mike Soldano or Bill Sundt Mod it for me shortly @ the factory.I personally just use the 1stchannel as a crunch Channel and the Lead channel as (obviously) the lead channel.It can really cover pretty much all the sonic territory in between clean and SCREAM with the proper manipulation of the Guitar Volume knob.While this amplifier shares the same EQ with the clean/Crunh and Lead channels the amplifier itself is SO well designed and Voiced that a seperate EQ for both channels isnt needed.The variable tones that come outta this Beast are Crazy versatile.I have this amp in a 20 space Mesa Shock Rack.I am using the slave Out of it into a Lexicon PCM 90 and into a
VHT 2150 Poweramp for my "Wet"tones.The FX Loop isnt being used.I akm running the SLO-100 into Two(2) Mesa armored Straight 4x12 cabinets loaded with Celestrion G12-75s at 4 Ohms.The SOLDANO Speaker outputs on the rear of the head are being run into TWO(2) Bogner 4x12 Straight cabinets w/Celestions.This amplifier without the slave VHT and FX unit is VERY Loud,but Very pleasing to the ears.The Smooth early gain is hypnotising-and when it's above 12:00 on the preamp gain dial it's absolutely Punishing.I was skeptical at first before Buying an SLO since I already Own a

I am using mostly USA Jackson Custom Shop King V's,a few USA Charvels and a pair of Gibson Historic Korina Explorers and a Flying V.
The bulk of my USA Jacksons are equipped with EMG 81/85s and a EMG
PA-2 Preamp system.
The other Jacksons and USA Charvels are loaded with Seymour Duncan JBs,Custom/Customs and 59s.
The Gibsons are loaded with the stock PAF re-issues.
The Tones that the SLO coaxes from these axes and pickup combinations are Great to GREATER.
The SLO has an uncanny ability to really make any instrument shine in the Overdrive and Metal scenario type tones I use most.This amp suits my style of playing and technique very well.
Very similar to my Bogner and Custom Audio Preamps thru VHT 2150s.
The articulation and Heaviness from the SLO seems to be clear and focused in all spectrums.Bass frequencys thru the SLO are tight and focused as well...More so than My Bogner 101-b.
The "hiss" and noise thru the SLO even on wicked Gain settings is Quieter than my Bogner too.Almost as quiet as My Bradshaw/CAE Preamps.But in all honesty,I am NOT running the gain on the SLOs past 2:00(barely).If you are an accomplished player the SLO Rackmount AND standard head can put out almost an infinite variety of tones to please you.
It's only a 2 channel head,but those 2 channels cover MORE sonic ground than Most 3 and 4 channel amps and preamps.The Clean channel isnt a Fender Twin Reverb clean.
It wasnt meant to be and it wont reach that PARTICULAR SUMMIT FOR THE CLEAN FENDER CROWD.
It wasnt designed to be a Fender-nor was it designed to emulate the Fender clean tones.It WILL do a decent clean and a very dynamic pushed clean tone.I Love the way it reacts to picking pressure and attack.
It isnt a Jazz amplifier and I doubt the designer(Mike Soldano) wanted it to react like a Jazz amp.When you PUSH-and I mean PUSH the Volume of the clean channel,it reacts in an organic and smooth overdriven character.it will do clean tones Good enough for me.i am NOT a fan of the Fender amplifier line either -so I am happy w/the SLO in the clean arena.
Fender lovers wont like the clean channel and will compare it to a Twin or Super.Thats silly.It's an SLO and it was designed to Rock Out.Different strokes fer Different Folks.The Overdrive,and Distortion Settings are where the SLO has few peers if any.Articulate and Clearly Voiced Distortion is where this amp really shines.The distortion can go from creamy to SCREAMY with a Ton of Definition and Presence.Distortion is a very Individual nuance to different people.Some guitarsits NEED tons of distortion and "fizzy" overdrive.If you are looking for a fuzzbox type Mesa Overdrive-the SOLDANO isnt for you.The SLO has a refined and "Organic" overdrive that exceeds the fuzzy and murky types of Distortion in other Amps(Mesa,Marshall,etc...).Notes are clear and defined while having a saturated Crisp Voicing.NO Mud here at all.....It's ALL clearly hearable.
If you are a player who uses the other types of Distortion mentioned you WONT be happy with the Soldano.It will NOT mask your technique and mistakes.It will ACCENTUATE your mistakes and make you actually hear the notes you are playing.Overdrive and unintellgable muddy tone are 2 different things.The SLO has a Clear and THICK overdrive that the other amps mentioned arent made for.
The EQ spectrum runs the gamut from mild scooped (but with Clear Tonal structure) to the Midrange soaked Blistering Overdrive that many guitarists are looking for.The Palm Muted Chugging and Choke Hold Double stop Metal type riffs Spring from this amp like cats on a hot tin roof(LOL)...it can Do THE Metal Tones that you want-only with Definition and clarity that the other amp companys wish they could emulate.
Classic Rock and Blues players will also dig the lower gain settings and harmonics galore that this amp can produce.
I know of many players who have sent thier SLO amps to have the SRV mod done to them at Soldano.I personally dont need that"Mod " b

The SLO has a Transferrable Lifetime Warranty excluding Tubes and Transformers.
That pretty much sums it up as far as how they believe in their products.I happen to own 2 SLO Soldano's so a backup is available to me should I ever need it in a pinch.Would I gig w/out a backup for the SLO.?
*If I had to take a cab to the gig Yes.Since I dont need to take a cab I always carry a backup amplifier on the road.But I would play with this amp by itself if space and travel restrictions were a deciding factor.Just bring spare tubes,fuses and a amplifier tool kit for emergencys and yer covered.Preventative maintenance can save your ass in a pinch so be smart:Proper Preperation Prevents Piss Poor Performance.my SLOs have NEVER broken down or blown a fuse.They have delivered time after time Live and in Rehearsal.The Standard SLO Head I have(not the rackmount review here) has logged many a mile on the road and in a road case on a Bus and Truck.It has delivered the goods 100% all the time.I see nO reason why the rackmount SLo with proper maintenance and care shouldn't do the same for Many years to come.
If you neglect this amplifier you are a Jerk and dont deserveto own it....(in answer to the review outline Question:(did you subject it to just plain neglect?)
What a Dumb ass question.

I have dealt with SOLDANO in the past.they are 10s ALL the way across the board.From answering questions via e-mail to calling them on the phone on a monday Morning @9:30 a.m. West coast time.
Never needed a repair or Waranty service on mine.I have seen a few friends need a warranty claim for little stuff and it was handled Immediately and swiftly with NO Charge.They even got Free t-shirts for it.
ALL Soldano service is done at the Factory in Seattle -so there is NO other place to have warranty service done.(in response to yet another Dumb ass review outline question).
The Warranty for the SLO,X-88R Preamp,X-99 Soldano Caswell Preamp and Surf Box Reverb unit is for the Lifetime of the Amps Owner(and it's transferrable to 2nd and 3rd owners as well).In other words: you could be the 5th owner of said SLO or other unit and the warranty is still for the Lifetime of that Unit or You.

Been Playing about 22 years now.I own a few(many)other Neat amps like the Full sized Soldano SLO-100 head,Soldano SP-77 preamp,
Bogners 101-B Ecstacy head and Fish Preamps,Custom Audio Electronics/Bradshaw 3+ and 3+SE Preamps,VHT 2150 and 2100 Poweramps,Mesa Armored Straight and Bogner Straight 4x12 cabinets,a Bogner 2x12 cabinet,Mesa 20 Space shock racks and Bradshaw RSB Switching Systems.The SLO-100ranks right up there with the rest of the gear I own and love.Even more so in certain applications.
I really Dig the performance & tone from the SLO and I wouldnt hesitate to reccomend it to anyone else looking for a unique yet simple 2 channel amplifier .
Yes there are lots of multi-channel amplifiers on the market that are adept at creating more tones and setings.
But there are Only a few GREAT amplifiers that are capable of making History and Great Tone.The Soldano SLO-100 is one of them.
I havent compared the SLO to any of the other amps I have played or now own because the SLO is a Unique enough tool for me to utilise in a real world Gigging and recording scenario without hesitation.
It's a plug in and Play amplifier.If you need to fiddle all day w/knobs,switches and settings then you DONT need an SLO.

*In Response to the (stupid)review question: What would you do if it were Stolen...?
I always watch my gear on the road and at venues,clubs,bars,and whatever Rat Hole I am playing in at any given time.
It WONT Get stolen.
*If someone was STUPID enough to try and Steal it-
They'd end Up in traction,in the hospital or permanently missing.

The SLO is expensive -Yes,but Worth EVERY dollar that you'll pay for it.Good Work is NOT Cheap-Cheap Work is NOT Good.
Soldano is Good Work at a Price you Wont haggle over after hearing it.

Mine has only the loop option. Its stock other then that.

I so completely agree with the person who made the last 2 posts. This amp is Marshall all the way. The best of Marshall with a modern high gain edge. Its one of the clearest smoothest distortions Ive heard. The thing about presence is so true. This amp just sits perfectly in the mix with this larger then life sound. Its like in your face but not harsh or annoying. When your playing rhythm it fills in the mix even if your the only guitarist in the band and when you go into a solo it just is so there. Almost like it gets louder but it doesnt.

The notes definitly are rounder and the attack is softer then a marshall even one with a "Soldano" mod. Its just so smooth. When pounding chords on the lower registers and palm muting it just is the tightest and chunkiest sound. Not flabby or buzz city. Those of you who dont like the Dual Rectifier for that reason will find this amp to be the other end of the spectrum as far as modern amp overdrive. Even though like Marshall and unlike Mesa its tone is more in the high end, I still think its very percussive. The one thing I do like about the Dual Rectifier is that when you back off the guitar volume you get this very chunky percusive sound. The SLO does get close to that sound. not all the way though but for an amp with this kind of tone it does the percusive thing very well.

A few things Ive also found that are great. When the tubes warm up after about and hour or 2 theres a very noticable change in the tone. Theres much more of a trebly edge or bite to it. Not brittle but very nice. And as other reviewers have said when the gain is turned up I swear all notes ring out evenly. Alot of amps Ive played I had a problem that when I would play something like an interval or a chord or octave one note always dominated or one kind of sat back and was harder to hear. Single notes tended to disappear in a smush of distortion. Not so with the SLO. Its really true.

This thing is dead silent too. When your guitar volume is on, it, of coarse, depends on your pickups, type of guitar, pedals, cables etc... I run this with buckers to a volume and wah pedal then strait to the input.

The clean channel is great. I would say its fairly close to fender since thats the cliche everyone goes to for rating clean channels. If anything Id compare this clean channel a little more to an early Marshall JCM800's low input channel. Kind of glassy and compresses well. The 2 channels can sound very similar too which is very interesting. When you turn the crunch on and the gain on the normal channel is all the way up, its a very similar drive to the overdrive channel on 4 or so. When the drive channel's gain is turned all the way down it sounds very close to the clean channel. Its like it starts with the clean and just keeps overdriving the same tone even into the next channel. Rolling off the volume on the OD channel is VERY usefull though. Ive found that even with the gain as high as 6 or 7, which is alot of gain on an SLO, when you back off the guitar volume its just like turning the gain down on the amp. It stays bright and can get very clean. I think it may be for the same reason the normal and drive channels can sound so similar.

Ive been waiting for a few months so I could give a real review of this amp. Ive played it in at least 25 different venues so far. Another great thing about this amp, it sounds consistent in every room! Theres always a difference in EQ becouse of the ambience and materials that the sound reverberates off of but this amp sounds surprisingly similar every night. Again this has not been true of other amps. And Im talking about all the best of the other major or classic amp names and models. Tube amps in general seem to be very touchy. one day they could sound one way and another day sound differently. Even in the same room. I still hear it with this amp but its way closer to being the same evry time I turn it on.

Ive been playing since I was 15 and that was 12 years ago. Im currently getting the funds to purchase a backup. Perhaps with all the mods this time. I cant really say I dislike anything about this amp. Theres plenty of things I think It cant do (like the really old vintage fender crunch and class A vintage sounds to name 2) but no amp can do everything. Those that try dont come close. Ive always felt one good tone is much better then 100 half-assed tones. this one excels at a great modern-high-gain marshall sound.

I hate to sound like a novice by saying this but my live performance is much better with this amp then alot of others. And I think its alot to do with hearing myself so crisply and clearly. It has nothing to do with monitors either. Ive always gotten plenty of guitar through my stage monitor. Monitors will only give you another angle to hear an amp that sounds mushy live so its not always a question of monitor setups.

I really love this amp. Simple as that. Its not easy to try one out if youve never had a chance. You really have to know the tone your after and rely on reviews and recordings. Im not completely sure of Soldanos return policys. The transferable lifetime warrinty is amazing.

I wrote the previouse review. After reading some of the other reviews of Soldano Amps, Ive decided to add one more thing.

This is in regaurds to all the different reviewers who talked about Class A or wishing this amp could have a class A switch.

Ive effectivly turned my Soldano into what Mesa Calls a Simul-Class amp. Thats were 2 power tubes are regular power tubes biased for EL34 or 6L6, whatever you like, and the other 2 are a Pure Class-A EL84 power section. Its actually very easy.

When I bought my Soldano, it had a half power switch on it already. I think the factory will add one for like $50 or $75. Thats were they add a switch that cuts a pair of power tubes. Either the inside 2 or outside 2. On mine the outside tubes are turned off when the switch is set for half power.

Now THD has a product called a Yellow Jacket Converter. What it does is plug into the existing tube socket of a 6L6, EL34, etc... and then you can plug an EL84 tube (As used in a Vox AC30) into that. It will then turn the amps power section into pure class-a power. You can use the YJ's on only 2 of the 4 tubes in a 100 watt amp if you want. Or you can buy 4 YJ's and run your amp with 4 class a EL84's like an AC30. Its like $90 for a pair of YJ's I think.

What I chose to do is put the YJ's on the inside tube pair. That way when the half power switch is engaged, only the 2 EL84 tubes are on giving me about 15W of Class A power. Then when I flick the switch back to full power, both the EL84's and the 6L6's are on for about 60W of power. This effectivly turns this amp into a Simul-Class amp.

Check out THD's website for info on it. This setup is great for me. It reduces the overall volume of the amp when on full since I never need that much volume and the tubes are wide open at a lower volume. Having 2 EL84's going along with the 6L6's doesnt change the origional tone as much as you may think either. Then when I want to go for that Class A VOX-y tone, I put it on the Class A mode. Class A power sounds MUCH louder also. You may think running the Class A mode for 15W isnt alot, but it sure as hell is loud enouph.

Ive never asked but Im sure Soldano would do an actuall Simul-Class mod for the right price. But I like doing it this way. I can use the Yellow Jackets in my other amps that use 6L6 Tubes and if I choose not to go for that setup one day, I can just take the YJ's out and plug the regular 6L6's back in. That way I tke no risk of having a different amp than I origionaly purchased if my taste changes, plus, Im not risking hurting any resale value.

Just thought Id share with those that dont know and may want this feature.

The features arent too numerouse but just right for a good live workhorse. FX Loop. 2-Channel + Switching. Slave out. Etc.. I think Mine is a 94. Its still like new though. For an amp this expensive everyone should start thinking about roadcases.

I generally always use it with LP type guitar setups. 2 Humbuckers. Etc.. I do use strats on occasion.

Ill start with things Ive noticed about the all around tone. Im basically using this amp the way most other people do. As my live workhorse sparing my older marshalls from road abuse and sparing me from thier unreliability on the road tonewise. The tone of this amp seems to me to be all about the preamp. Ive read articles that Soldano set out to build an amp out of top components that has a tone similair to a cranked plexi but much more reliable and usable live as far as volume is concerned. It seems to me thats why he chose to use 6L6's in the power section. Thier a very strait forward power tube as opposed to EL34's which change dynamics, touch and tone very strongly and uniquely. Not saying this amp doesnt have those things. I think the top quality output transformer and components achieve this just as much as tube type. But if the general tone is formed by the signal path and preamp section, then you would want a more linear tube to amplify the sound and not do anything too radical. It does achieve this but the differences in signal components and tubes set the tone very distinctly apart from Marshall. I still think I hear the Marshall heritage in there moreso then anything else but (and you can read about this on the Soldano webpage) thiers many things Soldano chose to do differently then marshall like the certain types of components that give it its unique flaver.

My Marshalls (all plexis and one 2203) are very bright and biting. The pick attack is sharp and tight. My SLO has a smoother and softer attack by comparison. Intervals are clear and articulate yet fast legato notes tend to run into each other more. When palm muting lower strings the attack is so much softer and has more of a bloom, if that mkes any sense. In this way it kind of reminds me in a small way of a Mesa MarkIIC+. The amp is very bright though. The amount of gain as people have said is endless. I tend to use less gain though. Even with harder music it tends to lose note definition. Heavy music is a playing style. More gain doesnt=heavey.

I whole heartedly agree that shared normal and overdrive EQ controls is not an issue. They are voiced perfectly so that you go into a room, make your minor changes to the eq for that room and it works great on both channels.

Like I said before the touch responce is still very present in this amp and Im sure its due to the top quality output transormer more then anything. You people that use reissue plexis and arent happy with them try replacing the O/P Tranny and choke with Mercury magnetics trannys and see if it isnt night and day. Its a great thing becouse the more dynamic and touch responsive an amp is the more unique each individual person will sound playing through it.

Also, of coarse, speaker cabs have alot to do with it. If your complaining about not enouph bass or "chug" and your runing the head through an open back mesa cab with EV speakers well then Id tell you you have alot to learn. I use variouse 4X12 with different celestians.

Just to address one thing said by a previouse reviewer in regaurds to this amp never being able to do SRV. Maybe his ears are much more particular then mine but I know Im one of the most scrutinouse anal people out there and I really thought when playing my rhthym guitar players strat with Texas specials through my origional TS9 into the crunch channel set on just a little bit of crunch, it got me very close. As a matter of fact, everyone who was there thought it was the SRV sound. Maybe not reproducing the exact studio sound but SRV himself played many different riggs in his career and it always sounded like him. Moral: like everyone says tone is one part guitar, one part amp, and the rest is heart and soul and FINGERS. It sounds like something old people always say or people say just becouse they hear it everywere but it is so true. I cant tell you how differen

I would depend on it moreso then a Marshall and probably a little less then a mesa. In my experience with the things ive done to Mesa's they have ALWAYS worked reguardless. I have had occasional small wierd things go on with the SLO but all in all I feel very safe. What makes me feel safer buying, selling and using the SLO more then anything else Ive purchased in my life, is the transferable lifetime warranty. Great.

I honestly have barely used the customer support. Ive emailed them a total of 2 times with questions and both time I got a descriptive answer the next day.

Ive been playing for a long time. Im a professional and have worked with great players. Im not going to put how long becouse I feel its not always relevent since Ive known people whove played for 20 years and didnt know shit and Ive known young guys who could play thier ass off and know what theyre talkin about. I also think alot of reviewers are lying. I barely see 2 or 3 years and I think thats the majority of people on these reviews.

Ive owned everything most people have heard of and more they havent. I have a particular tone thats me and Ive spent alota time working towards it. I really like the SLO though. Im always looking and after 4 years of using them havent found anything better suited for me for live playing. Since I gave it an 8 for Features, Sound, and Reliability, I guess that averages to an 8 overall.

My SLO was made in 1991 and has the DeYoung Transformers. I has 2 channels and a clean/crunch switch on the clean channel. It has a tube buffered fx loop and you can get basically anything you want modded from the Soldano factory. I use the crunch mode on the clean for cleaner parts with the preamp down and the master up. In clean mode, it just isn't loud enough. But overall, the amp has more than enough power to play any size show.

The amp is the definitive hot-rodded Marshall sound. Sounds almost identical to Van Halen's For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge sound. You hear every little nuance of your playing and its punchy as hell! I have yet to hear a better sounding amp. I use this amp mainly for metal and hard rock. It does the job perfectly. Some people say that the amp sounds a little harsh at low volumes and they are somewhat right, but the master volume eliminates that at around 3 or so. It has more than enough gain so there's no need to dime it. Just back off the gain a little and crank the master. Overall, one of the all time great amps.

Its made with the highest quality parts available and I've opened it up to verify that. Metal film resistors, teflon insulated wiring, sealed control pots, orange drop caps, the works! It comes with a lifetime warranty thats transferrable to each owner not including tubes or transformers. It was made to last a lifetime in music. I've emailed Soldano several times on bias adjustments and things like that and they have been nothing but prompt and eager to answer all of my questions. Soldanos were built to last-I got mine a few months ago and it still had the original preamp and power tubes from 1991! Soldano is the benchmark in excellent customer service.

See above.

I've been playing for 11 years now and this amp it what I've been looking for all along. I love the clarity of the sound and the punchiness when playing muted chords or notes. I have yet to play a better sounding amp. Its a little pricey, but the attention to detail in the workmanship and the sound justifies that. You definitely get what you pay for! I've had Marshalls and have heard many other amps but this one just has IT. I got a killer deal on it as well and I recommend people buying it used considering the warranty.