Soldano,Dual Rectifier, 5150 and Jetcity

[BrentSSL]

Ok So I understand that the 5150 and the earlier revisions of the Dual rectifier 2 channel are based on the soldano SLO. I am very interested in this amp and its tone I found a couple soldano Hot rods but I have seen on this website that those are very expensive clones, The Jetcity jca100 H seems to be the cheaper alternative if I am after the "Slo" tone? Is the Slo easier to find then an early revision of the Dual rectifier with the awsome pre 500 tone? Is the reason a Dual rectifiers sound so good with a 5150 because those are two sides of the same coin and you are basically making up the best parts of the Slo that are living in those 2 amps? Currently I have a Mark V and I am looking to find an Amp to add to my collection and to compliment the Mark in the recording studio. I feel like the Slo is the amp todo this but is there a way to maybe squeeze a good Slo tone out of the Mark V Keep in mind I have never played a Slo in person the closest experience I have is a few soldanos in stores for maybe like ten minutes no idea the models I think one was an avenger and the other was a hotrod possibly and I only spent maybe 10 minutes at most with those amps. My other idea for recording purposes mainly is getting a 5150 block letter and a good dual rack mount rectifier. However I couldn't use all that live when I get into other bands down the road. Suggestions pleaze I am trying to stay away from 3 channels and roadsters because I think those sound best with EMGs and boosting which I would like to avoid doing.

 

[Racerxrated]

Honestly, just save your money and bide your time for a used slo-i had an hr 100, good amp but still short of an slo IMO. I don't think the mesa stuff sounds anywhere near an hr100, let alone an slo. Good just different. If you need something now and can't afford an slo go with the jet city, and set some cash aside over time for an slo. It really is worth the 2k that you'll spend. Just missed out on a used one at GC online last week...

 

[Racerxrated]

Although you could try a vht deliverance...I set mine up so it sounds very close to the slo I had...couple are for sale here in the classifieds. You won't get better tone for around 1k...great amps.

 

[JB6464]

When talking about Soldano amps many people keep saying the HR+ amps are not the SLO in comparison , there not suppose to be ....
The HR amps are suppose to sound like a hot rodded on fire old school amp but with the signature Soldano tone everyone loves .
The SLO is in a class all it's own with nice 3D and hifi sounding DeYoung transformers giving the amp it's unique special tone .
They may both share the same OD design layout but they still sound different on purpose .
Mike didn't design the HR series amps to be cheapo versions SLO amps , the have a very different Normal channel , different iron , and a few different parts used in the circuit layout.
So if one is deciding between the SLO and HR amps , look at what they were designed for and what they can and cannot do , it's really like comparing apples to oranges between the two .

 

[Fordman65]

Although you could try a vht deliverance...I set mine up so it sounds very close to the slo I had...couple are for sale here in the classifieds. You won't get better tone for around 1k...great amps.

IMO the deliverance, while a nice amp sounds nothing like SLO. The VHT is such a dry tight amp. The SLO is much closer to an early recto IMO.

 

[magh8]

none of those amps sound like an SLO... the SLO is just a bad ass amp any way you put it.they just have the perfect amount of saturation IMO. nothing really sounds like it... and if you are thinking about a deliverance check out the SiGX as well

 

[BrentSSL]

So even though the dual recs and 5150 are based on the SLO i couldn't touch the tone tracking both amps in a recording session? Also if i get my,hands on one is it gonna blow away my Mark V should i just opt to sell the mark and get a slo?

 

[blackba]

Although you could try a vht deliverance...I set mine up so it sounds very close to the slo I had...couple are for sale here in the classifieds. You won't get better tone for around 1k...great amps.

Would love to see a head to head clip with the deliverance and slo. Never heard of these two amps being compared...

 

[GtarLover]

So even though the dual recs and 5150 are based on the SLO i couldn't touch the tone tracking both amps in a recording session? Also if i get my,hands on one is it gonna blow away my Mark V should i just opt to sell the mark and get a slo?

Mark V is a versatile amp, there is nothing wrong with a Mark series.
That said, the SLO has not been changed, EVER, for a reason.
It has it's tone and nothing else does it...close maybe, but not SLO.

You originally mentioned wanting another amp. Just get the SLO and mix it with the Mark V.
This would be an interesting and dynamic combo because they both offer something very different.
It really depends on your goals.
If you want another amp for studio work, the SLO is an excellent choice. My opinion and YMMV...

 

[BrentSSL]

what about the other amps i mentioned gtar lover also does the slo give me a good think dual rectifier like tone?

 

[Racerxrated]

If you scroll back in RT there are a few threads on the VHT stuff..I think I praised the Deliverance and how it compares as a 'poor man's' SLO and someone posted a comparison of recorded tracks, and it's pretty close. I understand that recorded you can do quite a bit to goose the tone, etc. But I had an SLO just a few months ago, and now have a Deliverance and I won't say that it's the same but the articulation/3D sound is very similar. I boosted my SLO with an EQ pedal and to me through the same cab(G12 65s) I get a similar tone. But the SLO is a step above just about everything else I've had. The Mesa's that I've had don't even come close to an SLO. But I'm not really a Mesa guy...

 

[Racerxrated]

If you get a Deliverance at Guitar Center online you can try it for 30 days, then return it if it's not your thing....just sayin...

 

[cardinal]

I didn't think the D120 sounded much like a SLO. I do hear a resemblance between the SLO and the orange channel in the Recto, but they still are pretty different. Recto has so much more low end. Even cutting a bunch by dialing back the bass knob doesn't quite get you to SLO-like tone.

 

[BrentSSL]

Sorry i should have asked if the SLo can do a good modern high gain sound which i'm sure it does just never heard it in person

 

[sahlomonic]

I'll just chime in and say there's nothing wrong with getting a Jet City amp (I have 2 of them). Don't expect it to sound like an SLO, but JB6464 explained it perfectly and Jet City fits in what he said too; it isn't supposed to sound like an SLO. However, there are plenty of folks who have experience with both the HR+ and the JCA100H and say they are extremely similar in sound. Good build, good sound, good price.

If you're looking to do chuggity-chuggity speed metal stuff, I don't see why an SLO in particular would be something to chase after. If you want chords to ring out and single notes to seemingly jump off the fretboard, then an SLO is what you want to try.

 

[BrentSSL]

I am just really curious about the slo I loved the dual recs I have had but always thought they were missing something except for the rack mount I had. I always thought the 5150 or the 6505 made up the difference I was missing when laying down multiple tracks or running them together I was hoping to get a good tone from the Soldano by itself for rythm and some leads while using the mark V along side it plus I want to use passive pickups not actives I feel with 6505 and three channel dual recs you need actives or a boost to bring the sound together

 

[GtarLover]

what about the other amps i mentioned gtar lover also does the slo give me a good think dual rectifier like tone?

Well, the SLO is NOT a Dual Rec tone as far as I am concerned. So, if you want Dual Rec tone, that's the way to go, easy.

The Rectifier series is also one of the most recorded tones for a reason, it's a great sound.
I was under the impression you were looking for something to compliment your Mark V in the studio, not replace it.
Personally, I like the Mark V and used it as my #1 for quite a while when it first came out. Not playing too much metal at that time though.
I now have an SLO, Mark V among others (Diezel, Splawn, Bogner) and having options is great!! It depends on what I am looking to achieve.
Honestly none of these amps go to gigs anymore. That's what the Axe FX II is for, LOL.

If money is no issue, then grabbing a SLO or ANY of the amps you mention, would be a nice addition.
If you are on a budget, then you have to play other amps that are on your list and decide what will work best for you.
What I would NOT suggest is trying to get a SLO clone...there really aren't any substitutes. Wait and buy one when you can.

As far as boost is concerned, that is a matter of taste.
You can set gain levels lower and use a boost to pop you up or have a boost in your rack (if you have one) for always on, or just set gain levels to where you want them in the first place.
Most classic recorded tones don't overuse gain. Surprisingly they use less than I thought and use more live than on recordings.
It is all about articulation of notes and getting al the notes in a chord to sound...too much gain = muddy.

 

[BrentSSL]

Lol thanks for the feed back money is for sure an issue (bummer) I think my 2 options I am looking at is Getting a collection that consists of Marshall DSL Modded (my friend/tech does tons and hes very good and very well known for it) a Pre 500 dual rectifier and a 5150 Block letter for recording. Three channel dual rec or mark V to gig with I think is the best way to go possibly opionions. The Slo Engl Bogner and Diezels are all out of my price range I think. But finding a pre500 or an early revision dual and a 5150 block letter is a good place to start for a recording amp collection I feel right? There is always the Laney VH100R, Carvin MTS 3200, Jet city JCA 100H route and throw in a Crate stealth for good measure lol you know the whos who of awesome poor man amps lol

 

[tech21man]

Soldano isn't with jet city anymore. Wonder why?


Anyway let's fuck with the 5150/jet city/Hot rod/SLO concept a little.


They do share some stuff in common. Mainly in the preamp. Even there they are NOT the same. The two closer relatives are, basically the hot rod and the SLO. There is a rumor that gary moore himself by far preferred the lo fi more raw hot rod sound vs the SLO. The transformers themselves almost point to a different behavior for the hot rod vs the SLO.


5150 are plate fed in the tonestack (the peavey ones) vs cathode follower. This is something that alters the amp from the begining. And they have more gain stages with a virtual earth in the end and their power amp is a bit different, then the components are different, the pcb is different (all in one) so they start differently. The loop is fucking different (better positioned)! Some people claim that it's close enough some others have them worlds apart. The metalheads don't even look into the soldano. It's not the same amp. Especially loud. However if you are a player that chooses the same sound through different amps then maybe through the same cab you'll sound ...close enough. The EVH fender one is closer to the soldano.


Rectos are also different beasts. They have more channels, tonestacks, by far smaller transformers, more options, some common ground in the preamp and switch usually through LDRs. The early rectos were born as SLO rivals with mark transformers which again are pretty small vs the de youngs. From then on all of the above differences almost guaranty a different result. Maybe like a cousin. By the way I have a very early blackface dual recto. It's not my grail tone, it's very good, it is soldano-ish vs the newer ones but it's no SLO again. Just something else.



About the jet citys...somebody just recapped the Jet 100 HDM with the best caps he could find according to...his boogie experience. It sounded like shit. It is what it is (a chinese hot rod) for a reason and it's fine for what it is. Thankfully there is also a modders scene just for these amps so you can actually tailor it little by little without hurting any value in it which can't be said for the soldano. BFG amplification had some amazing mods and there are others (jaded faith etc).


If you want to make it an SLO you'll still be a couple of transformers short and the pcb is more or less different, you'll need mods, maybe caps. Doesn't worth it. If you want an SLO get an SLO.



However the mark is another thing alltogether and I like it more than any of these other amps for the proggy shit I like so it's in what you go for and what serves the song/playing. Also the feature set is just as important as the tone for me, for a live environment.

 

[BrentSSL]

Wow that's awesome and so so very helpful thank you for the response