Soldano Sensitive V1 and V2

[Cap217]

I have a soldano hot rod 100. The early ones with mercury magnetics and the solid faceplate. I retubed it because it was really noisy.

When I retubed it I noticed the old tubes were at 40ma and 60% is about 28ma. So I fixed that and used new ruby china hg+ in v1 and v2 and then china b in 3-4. But it was still noise. If you tapped on the chassis it would ring through the amp. So I started rolling tubes and finally settled on a tad r010 premium v1 and a Ruby hg in v2. I found a hg with lower microphonics than hg+.

So are these amps really sensitive in those slots? Mine doesn’t have a shield and I think that would help. But there isn’t a way to install a shield on this design. And v1 is right next to the transformer. Weird design but I trust soldano thought about this

 

[John4021]

Preamp tube issue.
Does it have the ability to add a tube shield?
Cant remember is those were chassis mounted or direct on the board.

I bought different colored tube shields from Amazon so they are out there if you dont have any.
Also I have used the BIG RED "O" rings around preamp tubes with success

 

[Racerxrated]

With most amps V1 is the most sensitive to a microphonic pre tube. Lowering the bias down is a good call; the SLOs I've owned liked 28-32ma best. I don't remember the SLOs being noisy though, I did have an HR 100 and it was fairly quiet. All were loaded with Chinese 8th gen pre tubes.

 

[Smash]

those are pcb mounted
but I never had problems with the lack of shields. If you use a chinese dragon 12ax7b, it will be quiet. You could use that in v1 or throughout. The only time i ever heard noise was when i boosted.

 

[Smash]

Preamp tube issue.
Does it have the ability to add a tube shield?
Cant remember is those were chassis mounted or direct on the board.

I bought different colored tube shields from Amazon so they are out there if you dont have any.
Also I have used the BIG RED "O" rings around preamp tubes with success

I have a ton of the gaskets also. I found out about them from bogner. really useful for a microphonic preamp tube

 

[blackba]

Mike reported having to test a bunch of 12ax7s in the slo to find ones that would work. I assume this hr100 still has an heaters like the original slo. The slo ii, they switched to dc heaters.

And as others have said, v1 is generally the most sensitive to a microphonic tube.

 

[Cap217]

I forgot about those rings. I have them and will put them on. V1 is obviously an issue but V2 is as well. Ive never had a microphonic V2 before but on this amp it matters. I am using the Chinese tubes that are high graded but the premium selected tad was best for v1.

And there isnt a way to add a shield. That wouldnt help this issue but I was thinking because it was so close to the transformer it might help.

 

[Mr. Willy]

My favorite combo for my SLO is a Ruby HG+ in V1 and a NOS GE short plate in V2.