If I have a Soldano Astro 20 would a Soldano SLO 30 be redundant?

[HowieJams]

I currently have 3 amps...

Soldano Astro 20
Friedman JEL-20
Friedman Little Sister

I run each of them through Friedman 1x12 closed back cabinets

With the Holidays and a B-day coming up my wife asked me what I might want.

I really have all the tones I need as I only play at home at low volumes, but the SLO is something I have always thought about.

One thing about me is I like Cathode bias amps that don't need to be biased for tube changes.
All of my current amps are cathode bias, EL84s in the Friedmans and 6V6s in the Soldano.

The SLO would need to be Biased, but the way I play that would probably be in 2-3 years or more.

So, the big question is....
Would the SLO sound much different than the Astro 20 at low volumes of 75-85dB to make it worth purchasing.

I could sell my Friedman JEL-20 to cover some of the expense, but that is not something I need to do right away.

I really don't play very much, maybe 30 minutes to 1 hour a week at most.
I probably should spend more time playing rather than thinking of buying more gear.

One thing I do notice is than when I buy something new it inspires me to play a lot.

 

[MKibanez]

I don't own a SLO 30 but tried one when I bought my Astro 20. I choosed the Astro 20 because of the versatility compare to the SLO 30 (IR, chanels, midi etc) and soundwise I didn't noticed a so bid difference. There is one for sure but the Astro 20 delivered better results a low volume and have all the SLO ADN in my opinion. I don't gig Im play in my studio in a 2x12 vertical slant cab with V30 but when I push the volume to 3 on the master and the chanel volume around 9, My god this amp Roar. I would not buy the SLO 30 considering you have the Astro 20

 

[Devin]

I'd take the Astro over the SLO30 personally

 

[marvcus]

I'd take the Astro over the SLO30 personally

I agree. And the big dog SLO100 over both.

 

[HowieJams]

I don't own a SLO 30 but tried one when I bought my Astro 20. I choosed the Astro 20 because of the versatility compare to the SLO 30 (IR, chanels, midi etc) and soundwise I didn't noticed a so bid difference. There is one for sure but the Astro 20 delivered better results a low volume and have all the SLO ADN in my opinion. I don't gig Im play in my studio in a 2x12 vertical slant cab with V30 but when I push the volume to 3 on the master and the chanel volume around 9, My god this amp Roar. I would not buy the SLO 30 considering you have the Astro 20

The low volume playing is most important to me, I only play at 80dB - 85dB max.
Thanks

 

[HowieJams]

I agree. And the big dog SLO100 over both.

The SLO100 is too big for my needs, but I am sure it is amazing.

 

[harddriver]

The Astro 20 actually sounds better to me in all the clips I've heard compared to the SLO30.

 

[romanianreaper]

The low volume playing is most important to me, I only play at 80dB - 85dB max.
Thanks

I have been playing guitar since 1985 and am in a band now and have gigged in bands over the years and done home recording and jamming, etc. I think it is important to buy based on many factors:
- Needs for home playing.
- Ability to get the ideal tone for the amp you are using.
- The tone you really dig.

For your situation, I'd take 100 watt amps out of the picture personally. Unless it has a great master volume. You are going to be hearing a less than desirable tone. Trust me, I've owned Mesa, Friedman, ENGL, etc. 100 watt amps and was always disappointed playing in a bedroom environment.

I think the smaller tube amps are great because you can do 1 watt to 25 watts and not blow your windows out but sound killer. Personally, I'd get a 2x12 or 4x12 to make that Friedman and Soldano sound even more killer and get some low end in there.

I think you are old school like me and probably like having an actual amp around rather than delving into modelling. I tell you, i'm new to it but digging the Synergy so far. 20 watts and can get modules that go from blues to full bore metal.

What about the Marshall Studio amps? I had a Marshall Silver Jubillee and had EL34 tubes, made in England and solid. I also had an EVH 5150-III 6L6 Stealth 50 watt that sounded killer at super low volume AND external bias points so I could bias tubes without killing myself.

 

[HowieJams]

I have been playing guitar since 1985 and am in a band now and have gigged in bands over the years and done home recording and jamming, etc. I think it is important to buy based on many factors:
- Needs for home playing.
- Ability to get the ideal tone for the amp you are using.
- The tone you really dig.

For your situation, I'd take 100 watt amps out of the picture personally. Unless it has a great master volume. You are going to be hearing a less than desirable tone. Trust me, I've owned Mesa, Friedman, ENGL, etc. 100 watt amps and was always disappointed playing in a bedroom environment.

I think the smaller tube amps are great because you can do 1 watt to 25 watts and not blow your windows out but sound killer. Personally, I'd get a 2x12 or 4x12 to make that Friedman and Soldano sound even more killer and get some low end in there.

I think you are old school like me and probably like having an actual amp around rather than delving into modelling. I tell you, i'm new to it but digging the Synergy so far. 20 watts and can get modules that go from blues to full bore metal.

What about the Marshall Studio amps? I had a Marshall Silver Jubillee and had EL34 tubes, made in England and solid. I also had an EVH 5150-III 6L6 Stealth 50 watt that sounded killer at super low volume AND external bias points so I could bias tubes without killing myself.

Some really great points you make...
I need to research amps with external bias points.
I had a EVH 5150 III 50w a while back, I don't remember it being very good at low volume, my Peavey 6505 MH was way better if I recall correctly.
I am sure a 4x12 would fatten the tone up at any volume, but is much too big and heavy for me to keep around.

 

[chadprsman]

Would SLO 30 even do 80-85 Db? I tried one and the master went pretty loud pretty quick (was supposedly new taper?), sent back as I didn't have a power station then. Astro does that range just fine as you know.

 

[romanianreaper]

Some really great points you make...
I need to research amps with external bias points.
I had a EVH 5150 III 50w a while back, I don't remember it being very good at low volume, my Peavey 6505 MH was way better if I recall correctly.
I am sure a 4x12 would fatten the tone up at any volume, but is much too big and heavy for me to keep around.

Yeah true about the 4x12. I will say this, I wouldn't get an amp based on biasing. I don't think you would put the hours on it in the near term requiring a biasing. The Marshall Studio amps don't need biasing and obviously the small Friedmans.

 

[HowieJams]

Would SLO 30 even do 80-85 Db? I tried one and the master went pretty loud pretty quick (was supposedly new taper?), sent back as I didn't have a power station then. Astro does that range just fine as you know.

If that is the case it won't work for me.
I will need ot see if I can try one locally.
The Astro is perfect at low volumes.

 

[HowieJams]

Yeah true about the 4x12. I will say this, I wouldn't get an amp based on biasing. I don't think you would put the hours on it in the near term requiring a biasing. The Marshall Studio amps don't need biasing and obviously the small Friedmans.

That is what I like about the Friedmans and my Soldano Astro 20. I had thought about a Marshall Silver Jubilee 25w, but chose the Friedmans over it. You are probably correct about the time needed before a tube change.

 

[SoooRad]

Honestly, worrying about the bias is a waste of your time. If you aren't driving the shit out of the tubes, you likely won't have to replace them for a long, long time.

 

[fek]

Have not played the Astro but did own the SLO30. Didn't love it other than the crunch channel. However, the Synergy SLO offerings I do love. My vote would be to stay with the Astro even though I have not played one.

 

[HowieJams]

Honestly, worrying about the bias is a waste of your time. If you aren't driving the shit out of the tubes, you likely won't have to replace them for a long, long time.

I think you are correct about that

 

[HowieJams]

Have not played the Astro but did own the SLO30. Didn't love it other than the crunch channel. However, the Synergy SLO offerings I do love. My vote would be to stay with the Astro even though I have not played one.

I just got done playing through the Astro and JEL-20, both amazing amps.
I was never going to part with the Astro, but thought about selling the JEL-20.
I have also thought about buying a Synergy IR20, then for $400 I can try any amp I want.

 

[romanianreaper]

I just got done playing through the Astro and JEL-20, both amazing amps.
I was never going to part with the Astro, but thought about selling the JEL-20.
I have also thought about buying a Synergy IR20, then for $400 I can try any amp I want.

I love thr IR20 and only have the SLO II right now. I'm getting a JMP module when I can and will probably get a Bogner module eventually. I'm sure i will get addicted to modules, lol.

I think an IR20 is perfect for someone playing at home but also likes having some volume occasionally. I haven't been able to use it at practice or a gig but it definitely can get loud. I've really enjoyed it so far. Built in clean channel and then two channels in a single module.

 

[HowieJams]

I love thr IR20 and only have the SLO II right now. I'm getting a JMP module when I can and will probably get a Bogner module eventually. I'm sure i will get addicted to modules, lol.

I think an IR20 is perfect for someone playing at home but also likes having some volume occasionally. I haven't been able to use it at practice or a gig but it definitely can get loud. I've really enjoyed it so far. Built in clean channel and then two channels in a single module.

It definitely is on my radar being a home player, but I am sure it could easily work well for gigs.
I hear they don't sound 100% exact to the amps they try to emulate, but very close, definitely close enough.
Plus it is cathode biased, so easy tube swaps.
One great thing about the SLO module nd some others, you get the Synergy IR20 built in clean, so you don't need to waste one of the SLOs 2 channels like you would need to do on the amp itself.

 

[romanianreaper]

It definitely is on my radar being a home player, but I am sure it could easily work well for gigs.
I hear they don't sound 100% exact to the amps they try to emulate, but very close, definitely close enough.
Plus it is cathode biased, so easy tube swaps.
One great thing about the SLO module nd some others, you get the Synergy IR20 built in clean, so you don't need to waste one of the SLOs 2 channels like you would need to do on the amp itself.

The clean sounds so great. It is a super clean tone so great pedal platform but I really like using my Keeley Halo delay and Zoma reverb with it. Just sounds amazing.

I didn't worry about the 100 match to amps when I was making my decision because I know even new Marshall amps don't have the mojo of old Marshall amps, etc. One thing that is awesome is having a cranked Marshall tone at whisper volumes.