Astro 20 v Hot Rod 50+ | SOLDANO Comparison
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- čas přidán 30. 07. 2024
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00:00 - It's All About Gain
00:50 - Comparison
01:29 - Greased Up
01:55 - Thoughts
03:21 - Hot Rod 50+ Features
04:20 - Astro 20 Features
04:55 - Galaxy Comparison
05:15 - Depth Comparison
06:04 - Astro 20 DI v Reactive Load
07:20 - Conclusion - Hudba
''you take the midnight subway train, you're calling all the shots, hearing these Soldanos, I'm in Love!''
This comment wins the internet today.
@@LeonTodd thanks Leon! These good morning tones are something else
😂
For years and years I thought Ratt’s invasion of your privacy was the quintessential Soldano tone…until I noticed the album was released a year before Soldano was even launched as a company 🤔
@@mKreifeldt mike was modding Marshall’s before they were out under his name.
Boy, after that first Ratt riff, I have to say....I'm in love!
Really interesting to hear them side by side! I hear the same thing when I play my SLODrag Amp (modified Jet City to SLO which has 6V6 tubes and is 20 wats) and SLO30JP (which has 6L6 tubes and is 30 watts) side by side. My SLO30 has more depth in the low end which is down to the bigger tubes and I hear that same effect with your Hot Rod 50. Like you said though, the tone and vibe is very similar. Both have a great tone - rhythm it’s the Hot Rod all the way to my ears, lead I really like the Astro as it has a little more presence 😊 gotta love that whole Soldano thing! Have an awesome day man!
“Groin rash, from straddling the fence”😂 Awesome description!
Looking forward to your Diezel video.. this js a great comparison video. Both sound great.
They both sound SO great! According to Mike Soldano, the preamp in the Astro is identical to the SLO. It’s the power section that’s different. (Lower watt, and 6v6 vs 6L6, but the Astro also has a more modern transformer design)
And obviously the Astro also adds more modern features like XLR outputs, built in load box, headphone out, IRs, etc.
He also said he vastly improved the effects loop on the Astro compared to the original SLO.
So for $1k less than the SLO, the Astro is incredible value. Far lower power of course, but tons of other benefits in that amazing Astro.
I'm just super jealous. Both sound fantastic but the Synergy SLO module will have to do for now
That Synergy VH4 vid you just did is awesome.
@@LeonTodd Thanks, mate! I know it's not among your favourite modules. It was an acquired taste for me too. I had actually sold it once before years ago but the buyer asked to return it because he suspected something was wrong with it just to apologise later after buying a new one and discovering it behaved the same way 😂
A brilliant idea comparing the two amps like that!
My understanding of why many guitar players used the Soldanos with their Marshall amps is for the "sparkle" they get with the Soldano that the Marshalls can't deliver. Something about the high-end clarity that was more musical in the Soldano amps. Either way, I like both of them.
Soldano HR50+ was my first dream amp, that I got myself when I could finally afford it. Many years and way more amps later, I have (and am keeping) an SLO. What I've learned over the years is: more watts, especially on amps with a master volume, sounds better at every volume level. More open and not as congested at bedroom levels, gobs more headroom with a loud band. The only lower watt amps I want are old school nmv circuits that I can crank all the way and use my guitar volume for shades of dirt. Modern amps that get the dirt from the preamp - big watts all the way.
I have a Hot Rod 50+ with the XL mod, and of all the amps that I own, the Hot Rod is in the top of the pack and will probably never part with it, unless I find another Soldano I like better. I bought a SLO 30 for that very reason and returned it. It just didnt work for me, at all. What I hear in your demo is the Astro Red channel is much more compressed than the Hot Rod. The Hot Rod has a bigger and more open sound. It breathes more. The Astro is more compressed and for that reason I would call it more "modern" sounding. Great video. Thanks!
Yeah the HR is the hidden gem in the Soldano lineup IMO. SLO gets all the praise but the HR is juuuust right for me.
great demo show the pedal again as well compared to the amps!
Nice comparison. Unless I need extra functionality I would always go small with amps. I can slave amps and add power, but I can never trim weight or crank it at lower sound volume. Of course reactive loads are a thing, but they are also useful on less powerful amps.
Clever approach ;)
@@LeonTodd You can hear they are so close. But through the most cab a lot of amps are. Hint recto vs soldano. But through certain cabs they may be worlds apart. Etc. If it works it works.
I don't agree about the small amps being easier on cranking at lower volumes. Especially if you are after that power amp play you need volume with them as well and you usually don't have clean headroom by then. I had an EL84 that was stupid loud, stupid consistent and stupid dirty. Why? Because exactly of the power amp interaction.
Soldano keeps the PI and power amp very tightly controlled and is actually very very playable in lower volumes as well in my oppinion. At least my avenger is.
Owning the Astro 20 since a week and can't be happier. it sounds phenomenal, its light, sturdy and you have such many possibilities with it. It's just not "only a metall amp", imho it can do any sort of style.
And you dont need a cab for it! This in mind, it's been a good idea with the comparison of internal IR and loadbox because theres a slight difference soundwise. Sounds like it's "breathing" a bit more through an external loadbox which could be because the internal load uses an emulted, digital powersection. But thats not bad because it still sounds awesome :)
Thanks for you comparisons and the awesome content! :)
Cheers from Germany!
They did a great job with the power amp sim/IR section. Running it into a cab on stage with the DI out to PA makes life very easy.
The Fifty is brighter! Both are freakin Awesome!!!!!
You're struck by lightning.....You're In Love!!
"I know I'm absolutely getting groin rash from straddling the fence so hard..." Hehehe. I like that. I'm gonna steal that, it's mine now...
So…sell the HR50 and buy a 2nd Astro 20, y? Great video (as always)!
Had I not learned about Steve Fryette's amps and later gotten into Synergy, this would be at the top of my GAS list.
Same. Kinda hoping Synergy drops some dope stuff at NAMM this week.
I picked up an Astro 20 and I like it so much I’m putting my Boogie TC 100 up for sale
Just need to find the right speaker cab but it’s soooo good
Killer little amp hey!
@@LeonTodd Dude…it’s stupid good. I literally just picked up a Soldano 1x12 Closed Back (V30] cab to go with it and…well…it’s freakin perfect. It really is the best sounding amp I’ve ever played through. Until now I’ve been very much a Boogie guy but me and Boogie might have to get a divorce lol
Yo Leon. That HR50 in snake skin looks very familiar. My old band mate had same one. I’m sure not only
One in Perth but not seen another. Wonder if it’s the same one
The guy who owned it before me shipped it over from the east coast, that's about all I know!
One time I used a wireless and walked about 20 meters from home, could still hear it clearly. My neighbours must love me.
When all is said and done, It's a Soldano and it makes gorgeous noises. I'll take either. Please.
Mike built me a custom green HR 50+ in a 100 watt black chassis. Such and amazing amp, the crunch channel is so good for the kind of cleans I like with backed off volume control. The only slight drawback is think the SOLDANO sounds a bit more Hi-Fi than I like. I figured the SLO would have even more Hi-Fi thing, so it hasn’t appealed to me. I’m guessing the older ones may have slightly better components, like the HR’s Onetic transformers.
It also strikes me as curious to sell something called an SLO without DeYoung transformers. When I bought my HR+, Mike said the DeYoung’s were the main thing that defined the SLO over anything else
oooooph that must be a sweet rig!
I should probably know, but what are your speakers of voice for your HR? I’ve used a lot of different speaks with mine and prefer the Eminence V-12/Texas Heat Randall XL cab I put together best. V30s are pretty good, but not my favorite with Greenbacks or Fanes.
Warren could really write a riff.
20 watter is quite expensive for its price, but the hot rod 50 is better price for just a lil more. They both sound good tho and the Astro has some interesting features.
Wow the astro is super versatile with those gain voice switches....both sound amazing, and I know it don't change tone 😂but I love the snake skin on the 50+ 😞
Snake skin definitely sounds better
Just Biblical levels of gloriousness❤
I LOVE my astro...
I think the Hot Rod 50 sounds better when it comes to the main high gain overdrive sound. The 50 sounds fuller and bigger, but not by a ton. The Astro still sounds great for the price.
Blown away by how much amp they've crammed into the Astro for the price. I need to try the preamp of the Astro into my Synergy power amp next.
Which channels? The Astro has two overdrive channels, and they're not the same!! Not just the "Red Galaxy"!!! I play this amp all the time, and the OD character is not the same on both OD channels, Man!
I have an Avenger that I had retubed with 6V6s. Still far too loud to use anywhere other than a stadium!
Such a great amp! All business
Oh thank god no digital amps🤘🤘🤘
HR 50+ all the way.
But the Astros two gain channels are voiced differently!! You can just talk about the galaxy mode and not account for the channel dude!!!!!