Section for the review of Soldanano Amps..

Please State Model and Gear You Use....

I have the Soldano SLO-100 since around 1991 and the Soldano X-99 MIDI preamp since around 1998. They are amazing and I have no amp g.a.s.

I posted detailed reviews at Harmony Central.com

I have a 1993 Hot Rod 50, so they were being built more like the SLO still, back then.
I also have the Supercharger GTO.
Well known for great lead tone and eqal rythm tone performance. Not a one trick pony.
Mike Soldano could very well be the most significant modern amp builder. He has pioneered the ultra gain amp and his EQ sections defy traditional thinking.
I can get a littany of tones from my HR50 and the clean tones should not be overlooked cause they are simply amazing. Punchy round to glass clean and all points in between.
I use Svetlana 6L6 power tubes and Sovtek or Groove Tubes 12AX7 ( ECC83 ) preamp tubes.Tame it alittle by placing a 12AX7 WA of Ecc81 in the farthest socket from the power transformer.
The HR50 is being built a little different these days so I cannot speak for these but the one I own is amazing. My quest for the perfect tone generater is over. See my review at harmony Central.

Craig

check out my site Guitar From The Green goo for my gear and music.

I have an Atomic 16 1x12 combo that's great for rehearsal; it's light, and it breaks up sweetly at relatively low volumes.

But the other day I had to use it as my main amp on a gig (I ran it into a pair of closed back 2x12 cabs to increase the volume and bottom end), and found it frustrating--it was great on the bluesy stuff, but it just didn't have the headroom for a clean sound at a normal volume level (by "normal," I mean loud enough to hear on stage over the drummer, not loud enough to fill the room by itself--the PA does that). I had the master at 10, and the preamp at around one and a half (anything over about 2 distorts).

That said, it does have a nice, compressed sort of distorted tone, very bluesy, very dynamic. Not much bottom end, though. I'm thinking about using it as part of a blended amp set up with a JC-120 for my clean sounds. That way, I could just crank it up and not worry about the clean headroom.

I've used the SLO live many times, it is a wonderful amp for getting high gain Marshally tones. Very articulate, very toney. The eq controls work well. The clean is really nice, has a lot of headroom, not real bright although with the bright switch you can adjust it. Some say the bottom on the SLO is lacking, I don't see how, it has huge bottom. Any more and it would just be mud. The cab used plays a role in how much bottom end you have of course. Highly recommended amp.

I owned a HR50+ that I bought new in 1995. I was happy with it for awhile. I cut a whole album with it, and used it live and in the studio for about 5 years.. with not ONE breakdown. I eventually found its sound not only 'limiting' with the particular voicing, but downright uninspiring and frustrating. I grew to HATE it. I bought a few older Marshalls, sold the Soldano to my keyboardist/guitarist, and haven't looked back since then.

I bought an early 90's HR 50+ and a 2x12 Soldano cab, replaced the stock Eminence speakers with Celestion Vintage 30's and retubed using a full set of Svetlana's. If u like blues with an edge, ala Gary Moore, Cry of Love or the Reverend Billy G, .... i've nailed it. Using the clean channel and an OCD pedal, i've found that tone that i've been trying to find since 1973....Soldano is right up there with Marshalls as the best "amps with attitude" in rock! Built to last...Will NEVER sell this outfit.......never!!!