Any new Soldano Hot Rod 25 owners out there?
- Thread starter jlb32
- Start date
hammered
Well-known member
I guess I`m the odd man out as I really didn`t like my HR25 at all. To my ears it just sounded really buzzy with flabby low end , using a TS type pedal really didn`t make it any better. Thru my 4x12 w/Scumback M/H 75s mixed my Splawn SS flat out smoked it to my ears . Maybe my ears just don`t care for the Soldano tone
fusedbrain
Well-known member
Rezamatix":3lv8mp7b said:
I have no idea if it sounds like an SLO, but my HR25 kicks some serious ass!! Great sounding amp
The best feature may be the fact that you can turn the master up to 6-7 and get the whole amp cooking, and your not going to go deaf from the volume. Worth checking out for sure!
Not sure if you still own an SLO Reza but if you do, and you pick up an HR25, I would really like to hear how close you think the 2 amps are. The general internet consensus seems to be that of all the Soldano HR series amps, the HR25 comes the closest to the SLO, but I've never seen or heard a direct A/B comparison.
When I was looking to buy mine I was able to A/B the Hot Rod 25 side by side with a SLO and a HR100. To my ears the HR25 and SLO were very close tonally. I would have a hard time telling them apart in a blind test. The HR 25 was just able to get that killer tone so much easier and to me actually sounded better overall, which is why I bought one. To me it has the SLO tone but slightly warmer. The HR100 sounded great also but just different.
To me it's just a great sounding amp, regardless of the SLO comparison. I've played and owned several Soldanos and if you like the Soldano tone the Hot Rod 25 is hard to beat IMO.
To me it's just a great sounding amp, regardless of the SLO comparison. I've played and owned several Soldanos and if you like the Soldano tone the Hot Rod 25 is hard to beat IMO.
godgrinder
Active member
Rezamatix":3apxx5un said:Im definitely interested but after talking to another person who owns one, he said they are not that close. SO I'm totally confused at this point.
Haven't tried it myself, but my guess is that the HR25 might be EQ'd closer to the SLO (the HR50/100's are darker), but it doesn't have Deyoung transformers after all.
suhrimmetal
Well-known member
Rezamatix":oeyadg6g said:fusedbrain":oeyadg6g said:Rezamatix":oeyadg6g said:
I have no idea if it sounds like an SLO, but my HR25 kicks some serious ass!! Great sounding amp
The best feature may be the fact that you can turn the master up to 6-7 and get the whole amp cooking, and your not going to go deaf from the volume. Worth checking out for sure!
Not sure if you still own an SLO Reza but if you do, and you pick up an HR25, I would really like to hear how close you think the 2 amps are. The general internet consensus seems to be that of all the Soldano HR series amps, the HR25 comes the closest to the SLO, but I've never seen or heard a direct A/B comparison.
Im definitely interested but after talking to another person who owns one, he said they are not that close. SO I'm totally confused at this point.
Hey Rez....there is a hr25 for sale at guitar center used. Grab it and see if you like....45 days no questions asked return policy. Cant go wrong....great way to try gear at no risk. Just report back ur opinions of it if u grab one.
Jeff Hilligan
Well-known member
hammered":z60jwjtp said:
Exactly my findings!
This video is a fairly good representation IMO of what the Hot Rod 25 sounds like to a point. Of course YouTube clips can only do so much tonally.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJEw7iMMeEw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJEw7iMMeEw
hammered":2nkx7qjy said:
Everyone is entitled to their opinion so I'm not going to criticize your perception. However, the HR25 or HR50 or SLO or even the Lucky 13 don't have anything near a "flubby low end." I wouldn't describe the tone as "buzzy" because to me Marshalls are a lot more buzzy than Soldanos, but there is a certain astringency in the tone. It's not harsh, but it's a top end (and only in the top end) has a little buzz and bite. That makes it really, really great for all kinds of rock and metal, but hard to get smooth sounds. Smoother tone can be had, but that's not what it excels at.
Rezamatix":2nkx7qjy said:fusedbrain":2nkx7qjy said:Rezamatix":2nkx7qjy said:
I have no idea if it sounds like an SLO, but my HR25 kicks some serious ass!! Great sounding amp
The best feature may be the fact that you can turn the master up to 6-7 and get the whole amp cooking, and your not going to go deaf from the volume. Worth checking out for sure!
Not sure if you still own an SLO Reza but if you do, and you pick up an HR25, I would really like to hear how close you think the 2 amps are. The general internet consensus seems to be that of all the Soldano HR series amps, the HR25 comes the closest to the SLO, but I've never seen or heard a direct A/B comparison.
Im definitely interested but after talking to another person who owns one, he said they are not that close. SO I'm totally confused at this point.
Does it really matter? I mean, if it's a Soldano and it sounds badass, then who cares if it's not EXACTLY an SLO? I personally think it sounds just like an SLO but a bit more congested when cranked because it's so much easier to distort the tubes and go into compression. It has that x factor the SLO has, more so than the HR 50 & 100, but of course they're not going to be exactly the same. Mike Soldano told me he tests his amps with Eminence speakers, so maybe some speaker types aren't as friendly.
skoora
Well-known member
Rezamatix":3ecaaglk said:
Unless it's been there more than 90 days they're not going to discount at all, unless you're doing a package buy or know a hookup at the store who can do manager approvals.
I demo'd one once and it didn't make an impression. Haven't had any desire to try another. On the other hand I always want to demo an SLO when I see one.
hammered
Well-known member
SavageRiffer":3spa9i3l said:
That`s just the way my ears heard it . It sounds unbelievable in some clips I`ve heard but with me I just couldn't jive with it and I really like some tope end bite . I guess my ears just prefer the Marshall type roar even though I`ve heard some stellar recorded tones come from a Soldano. Warren DeMartini comes to mind
