Soldano 4x12 vs Marshall 4x12

[Mr. Electric]

I have a small space and cant quite squeeze a regular Marshall 4x12 in. If I were to go with the slightly smaller Soldano (28" vs 29.5") Assuming both are loaded with greenbacks, how would that compare to the Marshall's I'm used to?

 

[Alpha Stryke]

The soldano cabs are / were loaded w/ Eminence pre BAD. IDK about now. Check w/ the seller.
A 4x12 is a 4x12 is a 4x12.

 

[Eazy-ESP]

The soldano cabs are / were loaded w/ Eminence pre BAD. IDK about now. Check w/ the seller.
A 4x12 is a 4x12 is a 4x12.

I really don’t agree with this. I think there is a big difference between 4x12s. Can’t say a Mesa 4x12 is the same as a Marshall. That said, I think a Soldano is closer to a Marshall and the difference will mostly come down to speakers. So your are half right.

 

[Dave L]

If 1.5" makes a difference I think your space might be too small for any 4x12 to begin with Haven´t played the recent Soldano cabs, but if they´re similar in build and dimensions to the old ones they sound good - even if most pros seemed to keep on using their old Marshalls instead of picking up a matching cab.

 

[Alpha Stryke]

Anyone that "requires" a 4x12 cab isn't worried about 2 inches. If you are it ain't for you.

 

[glpg80]

Newer soldano cabs are made by BAD which also makes Friedman cabs and others as well correct? The only difference being the speakers or no?

 

[Wayniac3]

A boogie metal grill 4x12 may be slightly smaller iirc

 

[MGL AmpWorks]

If the BAD Soldano cabs still continue with front loaded speakers, they will sound very different from a Marshall with rear loaded speakers. Rear loaded speaker cabs have more of the natural resonance of the cab, more woody and less in your face.

 

[Mr. Electric]

If 1.5" makes a difference I think your space might be too small for any 4x12 to begin with Haven´t played the recent Soldano cabs, but if they´re similar in build and dimensions to the old ones they sound good - even if most pros seemed to keep on using their old Marshalls instead of picking up a matching cab.

Yea it sounds crazy, but my office has this small nook thats literally 29" max. Unless I want to plane down some drywall studs I'm stuck. Kinda sucks to be limited because of this.

 

[Mr. Electric]

From what I can tell using the wayback machine, pre BAD Solano 4x12 were front loaded, with a non removable rear panel. Starting about 2020 they changed to more traditional setup, removable back panel with rear loaded speakers. The depth is 14", same as a Marshall.

The only thing I cant figure out is why some of these used ones have a small port or hole near the bottom. Some of their 2x12 on the website show it. What is this? Edit - turns out several Guitar Center's have mis-listed soldano 2x12 as a 4x12. I had them shine a flashlight through the grill cloth to confirm. - If anyone is searching for a 4x12, the small cutout port at the bottom center means it's the 2x12. Nearly the same size so it's tough to identify and these music stores don't remove rear panels often. View attachment 435088

 

[MGL AmpWorks]

Looks like all of the current Soldano speaker cabs are built the same as the Friedman cabs and are rear loaded which would make sense. The Soldano 4x12 is just 1" smaller in width and height.

 

[Mr. Electric]

Looks like all of the current Soldano speaker cabs are built the same as the Friedman cabs and are rear loaded which would make sense. The Soldano 4x12 is just 1" smaller in width and height.

right, I think its a big difference in design from the old ones which were un-loved. Just curious about anyone's experience with the new ones.

 

[BackCrack]

The soldano cabs are / were loaded w/ Eminence pre BAD....

I have a Seattle boa 2x12 here with its factory original V30's.

One of the first SLO's I had was the personal amp of Mike's Atlanta dealer. It was the second SLO 2x12 combo made, and it came with its original Naylor-labelled speakers...and it's matching 2x12 extension cab had it's original EVM-12L's.

Emi's were the stock speaker, but Mike would load up any speaker you wanted (as long as you paid for it). He would also ship empty cabs if requested.

(Should've kept that combo. Doh!)

 

[Alpha Stryke]

I have a Seattle boa 2x12 here with its factory original V30's.

One of the first SLO's I had was the personal amp of Mike's Atlanta dealer. It was the second SLO 2x12 combo made, and it came with its original Naylor-labelled speakers...and it's matching 2x12 extension cab had it's original EVM-12L's.

Emi's were the stock speaker, but Mike would load up any speaker you wanted (as long as you paid for it). He would also ship empty cabs if requested.

(Should've kept that combo. Doh!)

Nice to know. You could request any speaker you want from Mike in the old days but it would cost you.
Its funny we never had internet for 1/2 my adult life and the internet generation comes to forums instead of Google go figure.

 

[njshred]

The Soldano cab is tighter in the bottom, similar to how a traditional Mesa is tighter than an oversized.

When the SLO was designed, V30s had not yet reached the marketplace. Part of the cab design was help the increased gain not mush out with Greenbacks.

 

[Alpha Stryke]

Yet DeMartini loads his 4x12's w/ his SLO with greenbacks go figure.