Soldano Hot Rod loop sucks! Am I doing something wrong?

[bobbtoz]

Just scored a Hot Rod 50+ in mint condition. This thing sounds incredible w/ a light boost pushing the front. My loop requirements are basic. Just slight delay and I use a barber EQ pedal to boost my leads. It is esential that I can boost my leads so that is a must.

Now I haven't had a chance to mess around w/ the loop at gig volumes so that could be an issue, but thus far I would have say that the loop is completly unusable unless your trying to replicate what your amp would sound like if threw 20 wet blankets on it. What a shit hole loop.

 

[yngzaklynch]

I ened up buying 2 Lexicon Reflexs to use in mine way back. Soldano loops are picky. So is the loop in my VM.

 

[Shark Diver]

Well if it's like a SLO they are not made for pedals.

 

[steve_k]

Sounds like the SLO loop as well. Love the amp, hate the loop, so I don't use it and opt for a W/D setup. FWIW, I feel the same about most any loop because no matter how you set it up, how many fancy names they are given, it is going to alter tone and output. Mike's loops are exceptionally bad though, IMO. I can overlook that though because the front end of the amp is just smokin....

Steve

 

[Shark Diver]

Sounds like the SLO loop as well. Love the amp, hate the loop, so I don't use it and opt for a W/D setup. FWIW, I feel the same about most any loop because no matter how you set it up, how many fancy names they are given, it is going to alter tone and output. Mike's loops are exceptionally bad though, IMO. I can overlook that though because the front end of the amp is just smokin....

Steve

It's not that they are bad. They are made for 4+ professional equipment. It's not made for a Boss pedal.

For what it's worth I don't use loops either.

 

[ConcreteVampire]

I don't understand these post. Ever.
Don't mean to sound dickish, but even my girlfriend knows these don't take pedals.
Midiverb. Super cheap. Intellifex, kinda cheap. Both sound amazing with this amp.
Yeah, Still sounds dicky, I know....

 

[Gsxrbusa]

The only Soldano that takes a normal pedal in the loop well is the Decatone. All the Soldano's should have this good of a loop.

 

[Shark Diver]

The only Soldano that takes a normal pedal in the loop well is the Decatone. All the Soldano's should have this good of a loop.

It's only a good loop if it takes pedals? I prefer the professional loop. When Mike was in LA he worked mainly with professional guitarist using pro gear, why would he "dumb" down his amp? Is a Ferrari rim bad because you can't go down to Walmart and buy a tire that fits it? ConcreteVampire said it - simply buy a good fx unit and it will sound great.

 

[ericb]

YEA BUT.....!!! What do you guys who don't have soundmen use for LEAD VOLUME BOOSTS with this type of amp , if you can't put a pedal in the loop ? Just wondering.. . .I do have an idea though I have these old BOSS 1/2 rack unit Parametric and Graphic EQ's and they would work I betcha for the volume boost. . hmmmm. . think I should try that with a few of my amps with this type of passive loop... Only problem is those units use huge wall warts that are a pain , but they might work as they have switches for +4 /-20 use!

Eric

 

[Shark Diver]

YEA BUT.....!!! What do you guys who don't have soundmen use for LEAD VOLUME BOOSTS with this type of amp , if you can't put a pedal in the loop ? Just wondering.. . .I do have an idea though I have these old BOSS 1/2 rack unit Parametric and Graphic EQ's and they would work I betcha for the volume boost. . hmmmm. . think I should try that with a few of my amps with this type of passive loop... Only problem is those units use huge wall warts that are a pain , but they might work as they have switches for +4 /-20 use!

Eric

Use a reducer. rhythms are reduced and then leads are at the normal volume. It is what Mike and Dave Friedman recommend. And it's passive.

 

[Piero the Guitarero]

Wew already had that topic

What's the deal with Soldano loops? (Mod content)

I've heard that Soldano/Jet City loops are only really designed for line level rack gear also. Can anyone comment on that? Or if it's easy to mod it to run at instrument level.

From the german Tube-Town forum, I'll quote Olaf (Duesentrieb)

The loop of my Slo sucked, so I was forced to use it dry,
I used a dummy load, into the effects and used a poweramp,
first a Peavey Classic, later a VHT 2-50-2

The attached file shows how to decrease the level (one resistor [1,5k] & one cap[22µF/63V])

EDIT: has to be a 63V Capacitor

 

[ConcreteVampire]

Yep, you can set a patch lower than the other, your "lead/ loud" volume is actually everything at unity. Rythm is volume attenuated.
The Vintage Modern has to be worked this was as well.

Personally I won't use anything less than rack shite for reverb/delay. Why on an amp I spent 1k to get, (that cost $2k new) would I use a $50 pedal on. Shy of $300 pedals, cheap rack units have a crazy amount of horsepower under the hood.
Intellifex. All day long.

 

[glpg80]

besides doing the return side loop modification, another option is an EBTech line level shifter, although the modifications would be better (increases gain of all frequencies on return side, decreases voltage drop Vpp on the send side)

ill also argue that 63V 22uF will work, but R27 is only seeing ~2V drop at that point, a 15V rated capacitor would be better for the application across R27 judging by the SLO schematics rating of 1.7 volts drop average.

 

[bigangryguitar]

another option is an EBTech line level shifter



I do believe this has been tried with no success over on the hcaf.

 

[glpg80]

another option is an EBTech line level shifter



I do believe this has been tried with no success over on the hcaf.

interesting, many people having issues with balanced and unbalanced loops use them in the hifi areas without any problems at all to achieve the same thing? odd it would not apply here

 

[just42dave]

Yep, you can set a patch lower than the other, your "lead/ loud" volume is actually everything at unity. Rythm is volume attenuated.
The Vintage Modern has to be worked this was as well.

Personally I won't use anything less than rack shite for reverb/delay. Why on an amp I spent 1k to get, (that cost $2k new) would I use a $50 pedal on. Shy of $300 pedals, cheap rack units have a crazy amount of horsepower under the hood.
Intellifex. All day long.

my delay pedals dont cost 50 bucks

 

[ericb]

YEA BUT.....!!! What do you guys who don't have soundmen use for LEAD VOLUME BOOSTS with this type of amp , if you can't put a pedal in the loop ? Just wondering.. . .I do have an idea though I have these old BOSS 1/2 rack unit Parametric and Graphic EQ's and they would work I betcha for the volume boost. . hmmmm. . think I should try that with a few of my amps with this type of passive loop... Only problem is those units use huge wall warts that are a pain , but they might work as they have switches for +4 /-20 use!

Eric

Use a reducer. rhythms are reduced and then leads are at the normal volume. It is what Mike and Dave Friedman recommend. And it's passive.

That actually makes sense! . Come to think of it , that's how I set up the Tremoverb , but just don't need external gear to do that with a Tverb, as it has a very unique switchable loop... I have the Psionic Audio Lumos , or Justin Everman's "the Pot" pedals and they're designed for something similar also . .... Day off from work and gigs finally today , so maybe will play with some loops Thanks. .Eric

 

[bigangryguitar]

another option is an EBTech line level shifter



I do believe this has been tried with no success over on the hcaf.

interesting, many people having issues with balanced and unbalanced loops use them in the hifi areas without any problems at all to achieve the same thing? odd it would not apply here

I agree, in theory it should work without issues.

 

[gtrwun]

Yeah....the loop does suck if your trying to use pedals, but as stated above, I thought it sounded fine with a good piece of rack gear. As good as any other loop. When I had this amp, I thought it sounded so good just going straight into the amp, I didnt use delay or verb. TS-9 to boost leads...done.

 

[gmcelroy]

A Morley Lil Alligator Volume pedal works great without killing my tone in my Soldano SLO's loop to use to increase or decrease the output volume for solos and the newer TC Electronics stomp pedals can be used in the loop as well!