Soldano Hot Rod 25, who here owns one?

[jlb32]

I've owned mine for around 9 months now and absolutely love it. Probably more now than when during the honeymoon phase. I've seen and participated in threads about the HR25 in the past here but haven't seen much talk lately. So who here has or still owns one?

 

[Jeff Hilligan]

I've been wanting one and have heard no real takes on it

 

[El Mariachi]

I had one for a while. It's a great amp. Super fun to play and sounds great.
It just sounded small compared to a 50w or 100w amp and I couldn't justify keeping it when I couldn't really use it in a live situation.
For the home player and recording... FANTASTIC AMP!

 

[jlb32]

I'm the opposite and why I love it so much. To me it sounds as big as a 50 watter, bigger than many 50 watters I've played, but gets that cranked tone easier. Just sounds so great also to me personally. It hangs with my Mesa Mark IV and Tremoverb well. Loud enough for any gig you would not need a PA for anyway. To me the cab has a lot to do with how big it sounds. Through my Mesa and Bogner cabs it sounds huge.

 

[southpark tube lab]

i jest built a jcm-800 with a slo pre amp el34s it sounds like a marshall with a lot of gain put it on some tone tubbys

 

[jlb32]

That sounds cool!!

 

[jlb32]

I've been wanting one and have heard no real takes on it

IMO they are pretty awesome. That's just my take on it. One of the best amps I have played. Before buying I tried out a SLO and a HR 50 also. Ended up with the HR 25.

The MAP price is pretty steep but don't pay MAP if you ever decide to go for one. There are deals out there and used ones pop up occasionally also. I got a great deal on mine new.

 

[Lampshade1973]

I wish I had one, Ive played with it and I think its absolutely awesome....enjoy it bro...

 

[jlb32]

So no one else here owns one? Kind of surprising

 

[Racerxrated]

So no one else here owns one? Kind of surprising

I guess for 2K new I'd rather have the SLO used. And of the 2 SLOs I've owned, I thought they sounded good at low volume and great louder. I don't get the 'doesn't sound good unless you turn it up' thing. Maybe a used one for a lot less than new, I can see that....but they seem to sell for 2250 new? First SLO was 2400, second was 2200.....I'm sure the 25 is a great amp...but for the same or close to the same price I'd go with a used SLO.

 

[cnote]

Racerx what does Soldano do in your opinion that your IIC+ doesn't. My only high gain amp is my IIC+, and it's always been amazing. I've tried ENGL, Diezel, Friedman, my old MkIV, etc., but the IIC+ beats all. Been tempted by the HR25 or an SLO though. One can get IIC+ heads without EQ for the low-mid 2000s too.

 

[jlb32]

Racerx what does Soldano do in your opinion that your IIC+ doesn't. My only high gain amp is my IIC+, and it's always been amazing. I've tried ENGL, Diezel, Friedman, my old MkIV, etc., but the IIC+ beats all. Been tempted by the HR25 or an SLO though. One can get IIC+ heads without EQ for the low-mid 2000s too.

Soldano's just have a very unique voicing. IMO nothing sounds quite like a Soldano. I have a Mesa Mark IV that I love also but it has a different feel and vibe than the Soldano.

 

[jlb32]

.

 

[Racerxrated]

Racerx what does Soldano do in your opinion that your IIC+ doesn't. My only high gain amp is my IIC+, and it's always been amazing. I've tried ENGL, Diezel, Friedman, my old MkIV, etc., but the IIC+ beats all. Been tempted by the HR25 or an SLO though. One can get IIC+ heads without EQ for the low-mid 2000s too.

Hmmm....the only reason I sold both SLOs was value. I just can't justify a 2400 amp. They are killer though and with a boost probably the best modded Marshally tone I've had. The 2C+ I have was an SRG 2C combo that I got under 800 and shipped to Mesa for the mod. With an OD1X in front the 2C+ has an upper mid boost, but Mesa thickness and the articulation/clarity of an SLO. The 2C+ probably doesn't have quite the low gain/bluesy ability of an SLO, although I can still dial it up pretty well. Now I'm slaving it into a Strategy 400 so the thump is there like an SLO...I think that the low gain tones in the SLO are better than the 2C, but not by a whole lot. Some overlap between the two but the low end thump of the Mesa wins for me. Even with the depth mod you cant get the low end near as thick. If you are going for a Soldano grab the SLO....go for the flagship.

 

[cnote]

Thank you Racerx. That is very helpful. Will continue to consider Soldano. My only amps are a JTM45 for Fenderish cleans and overdrive, and the IIC+ for high gain and modern cleans.

JLB, that's a sharp-looking Soldano for sure.

 

[Racerxrated]

Thank you Racerx. That is very helpful. Will continue to consider Soldano. My only amps are a JTM45 for Fenderish cleans and overdrive, and the IIC+ for high gain and modern cleans.

JLB, that's a sharp-looking Soldano for sure.

Thing is, the SLO is right there with a 2C+ and with the right boost can be a beast for high gain. It has a ton of gain without a boost but experimenting with different ones changes it up nicely. I used an eq pedal and it was beastly..

 

[crwnedblasphemy]

Kinda thinking about one of these or a lil fokker.

 

[jlb32]

Thank you Racerx. That is very helpful. Will continue to consider Soldano. My only amps are a JTM45 for Fenderish cleans and overdrive, and the IIC+ for high gain and modern cleans.

JLB, that's a sharp-looking Soldano for sure.

Thanks! They really are killer amps. My Mesa Mark IV has been my main amp for a long while now. Never thought I would love this Soldano as much as I do.

 

[jlb32]

Kinda thinking about one of these or a lil fokker.

IMO the HR25 is definitely worth trying one out. I didn't have real intentions of buying one until I tried one versus a SLO and a HR50 at the same time. After that I had to have one. Best amp purchase I have made in years.

 

[sbcgroup1]

I really wanted an SLO in a small package....this gets you in the ballpark....might have it modded.....

I had one made in a custom color combination with a matching 1x12 cab. I use it in conjunction with Mesa Boogie gear I use for other types of tones. This covers my "crunch"/"rock" tones really nicely. This guy is way loud enough for me. The CH1 gain is more of a saturated, darker sound to me (I'd be able to get more of a JTM45 type of tone on CH1 on an SLO more so than this guy)....think of it as "always" having the crunch setting on albeit more saturated, and slightly darker. This amp also does not do the "clean" mode....just overdrive and over the top Harmonics and playing are pretty effortless as well.

The effects loop, which I run an Eventide H9 into is somewhat tone robbing. Same with running pedals into the front end. I was using a Bogner Blue in CH1 in front of the amp to run it "clean" at low gain and then hit it with the pedal for a vintage plexi type of overdrive when I needed those tones on demand. It works well enough but you're still getting the pedal tone in there - it sounds thinner with the pedal bypassed than if run straight into the amp. Maybe I should be looking into using buffers - idk. That being said, I am most likely to have some mods done to it. I'd love to have the clean/crunch switch on CH1 and also be able to have it be able to get a little bit cleaner/more transparent overdrives out of it on CH1.

All this being said...I'm being extremely critical of the amp, which I'd highly recommend if you want a 5881 Soldano type of tone. Lots of these issues in hearing "tones" I'm sure can be resolved in the hands of better players than I Also different guitars and pickups will yield different results too. I really love the size and look and tones I get with it.