Soldano SLO really worth the high price????

[JB6464]

Said it before and I'll say it here. We A/B'ed a stock SLO against a stock Jet City JCA100H and came to the conclusion that anyone who pays for an SLO in this day and age is a fool. You're buying the name, that's it.

Well i've owned all three , the SLO , HR100+ ,and the Jet City 100H and there is a big difference in all three side by side when you open up the volume and not max out the pre-gain and hear the the iron and curcuitry in use.
The SLO wins hands down with the best string definition.
Between the JCA100H and the HR100+ which is what the JC100H is modeled after (not the SLO) , they sound close until you open them up again and hear the iron working at live and recording levels.
My biggest beef about the JCA is everything is mounted to one big PCB including the output tube seats, FAIL.
In that section you have the high voltage going on so when something goes south it's taking parts of the PCB with it , not like the low voltage in the preamp section.
And the class 2 wiring the JCA has sucks , so you get what you pay for in my opinion.

 

[TrueTone500]

Said it before and I'll say it here. We A/B'ed a stock SLO against a stock Jet City JCA100H and came to the conclusion that anyone who pays for an SLO in this day and age is a fool. You're buying the name, that's it.

Well i've owned all three , the SLO , HR100+ ,and the Jet City 100H and there is a big difference in all three side by side when you open up the volume and not max out the pre-gain and hear the the iron and curcuitry in use.
The SLO wins hands down with the best string definition.
Between the JCA100H and the HR100+ which is what the JC100H is modeled after (not the SLO) , they sound close until you open them up again and hear the iron working at live and recording levels.
My biggest beef about the JCA is everything is mounted to one big PCB including the output tube seats, FAIL.
In that section you have the high voltage going on so when something goes south it's taking parts of the PCB with it , not like the low voltage in the preamp section.
And the class 2 wiring the JCA has sucks , so you get what you pay for in my opinion.

+1

 

[joolzriff]

/quote]
I'd rather buy a product made in America.[/quote]
yep

 

[Iceman8.6]

You could ask the same question about anything. Yes it's worth it. No it's not. Both are true. But with questions like this you would think it's $7k. $3K -$4k isn't off the charts. Many, many, amps in that range - and most without the pedigree the SLO has.

Wrong. I bought mine for $2500 shipped in excellent condition and that included a killer Calzone case. It is worth $2500 and I would pay that again without even thinking about it. Is it it worth the $3740 they go for new? Not even close to it and way overpriced IMO. Are they worth $3000 or more..not to me. I wouldn't pay more than $2600 for one. Heres a pic:

 

[Shark Diver]

You could ask the same question about anything. Yes it's worth it. No it's not. Both are true. But with questions like this you would think it's $7k. $3K -$4k isn't off the charts. Many, many, amps in that range - and most without the pedigree the SLO has.

Wrong. I bought mine for $2500 shipped in excellent condition and that included a killer Calzone case. It is worth $2500 and I would pay that again without even thinking about it. Is it it worth the $3740 they go for new? Not even close to it and way overpriced IMO. Are they worth $3000 or more..not to me. I wouldn't pay more than $2600 for one.

How am I wrong? I was talking new prices. Just as many people would say that Wizards, Diezels, Camerons, etc are over priced. Doesn't mean they are. Just because you wouldn't pay that doesn't mean others won't. Is a Klon pedal worth $1k? Apparently, because people have sold them for that much. Just because I won't pay it doesn't mean someone won't. Not sure how I'm wrong? Mike is still selling new amps for $3.5k plus - after 25 years of basically no changes - obviously if he is selling them someone thinks it's worth it.

 

[rlord1974]

It seems the SLO issue comes up monthly and usually comes down to someone questioning the price and value versus - something else. Nothing else really sounds like an SLO. It's response and tone is unmistakeable. It's a gigging amp and built for the road. If articulation and clarity and an amp keeping its composure the louder you play it, then it is one for you to consider. Where other amps start falling to pieces with uncontrollable gain at stage volume, the SLO holds together and gets tighter as you crank it. It is not my favorite tone by any means, for my playing style, however it is one of the finest quality amps you will ever purchase.

That said, I wouldn't recommend anybody selling everything to buy an SLO, until you play it first. It is one of those amps that will either work for you or against you. There's no in between.

Steve

That really pretty much sums it up. Given the price tag, you should definitely try before you buy one new - especially if you are considering thinning your herd in order to do so. As Steve says, the SLO is most assuredly a love/hate amp.

 

[rlord1974]

You could ask the same question about anything. Yes it's worth it. No it's not. Both are true. But with questions like this you would think it's $7k. $3K -$4k isn't off the charts. Many, many, amps in that range - and most without the pedigree the SLO has.

Wrong. I bought mine for $2500 shipped in excellent condition and that included a killer Calzone case. It is worth $2500 and I would pay that again without even thinking about it. Is it it worth the $3740 they go for new? Not even close to it and way overpriced IMO. Are they worth $3000 or more..not to me. I wouldn't pay more than $2600 for one.

Maybe it's not worth $3,000 to you, Iceman8.6. We all are entitled to our own personal opinions. For instance, I sure as hell wouldn't pay over $4k for a new Bogner 20th Ecstasy when I can get a used 101B or Classic for $2,200 or less.

However, given the method of production, quality of components as well as the fact its made in the U.S.A., and comparing the price relative to other amps of similar quality, a new SLO is definitely "worth" the price tag.

 

[fuzzyguitars]

i dunno

i own two slo s and a avenger 100 with deyoungs

i must be crazy

 

[PlayAndersons]

For me worth every penny...don't hate. I'm stoked with mine and I will never sell it. I picked up a '98 dead mint snakeskin and then found a matching snakeskin cab. That combo has made me a believer

 

[IntenseJim]

How am I wrong? I was talking new prices. Just as many people would say that Wizards, Diezels, Camerons, etc are over priced. Doesn't mean they are. Just because you wouldn't pay that doesn't mean others won't. Is a Klon pedal worth $1k? Apparently, because people have sold them for that much. Just because I won't pay it doesn't mean someone won't. Not sure how I'm wrong? Mike is still selling new amps for $3.5k plus - after 25 years of basically no changes - obviously if he is selling them someone thinks it's worth it.

.... and I concur.
.
.

 

[Iceman8.6]

You could ask the same question about anything. Yes it's worth it. No it's not. Both are true. But with questions like this you would think it's $7k. $3K -$4k isn't off the charts. Many, many, amps in that range - and most without the pedigree the SLO has.

Wrong. I bought mine for $2500 shipped in excellent condition and that included a killer Calzone case. It is worth $2500 and I would pay that again without even thinking about it. Is it it worth the $3740 they go for new? Not even close to it and way overpriced IMO. Are they worth $3000 or more..not to me. I wouldn't pay more than $2600 for one.

How am I wrong? I was talking new prices. Just as many people would say that Wizards, Diezels, Camerons, etc are over priced. Doesn't mean they are. Just because you wouldn't pay that doesn't mean others won't. Is a Klon pedal worth $1k? Apparently, because people have sold them for that much. Just because I won't pay it doesn't mean someone won't. Not sure how I'm wrong? Mike is still selling new amps for $3.5k plus - after 25 years of basically no changes - obviously if he is selling them someone thinks it's worth it.

Staying on the subject. I've had mine apart and I didn't see $3800. It is all opinion but mine is they are charging a huge premium for a name. I think its a great amp but not $3800 worth.

 

[rlord1974]

The $3,800 doesn't represent solely the value of the components used in the amp though. You're also paying for:
- An amount representing the cost to have access to the design (ie, Mike Soldano needs to recoup the opportunity cost of the time he invested in designing the circuit in the first place)
- Labour cost to build
- Overhead costs (eg, rent, machinery, administration, etc.)
- Marketing costs
- Shipping cost
- Profit margin (hey, a man has to eat!)
- Etc.

And, yes - even a small portion for the name 'Soldano' itself.

 

[Shark Diver]

You could ask the same question about anything. Yes it's worth it. No it's not. Both are true. But with questions like this you would think it's $7k. $3K -$4k isn't off the charts. Many, many, amps in that range - and most without the pedigree the SLO has.

Wrong. I bought mine for $2500 shipped in excellent condition and that included a killer Calzone case. It is worth $2500 and I would pay that again without even thinking about it. Is it it worth the $3740 they go for new? Not even close to it and way overpriced IMO. Are they worth $3000 or more..not to me. I wouldn't pay more than $2600 for one.

How am I wrong? I was talking new prices. Just as many people would say that Wizards, Diezels, Camerons, etc are over priced. Doesn't mean they are. Just because you wouldn't pay that doesn't mean others won't. Is a Klon pedal worth $1k? Apparently, because people have sold them for that much. Just because I won't pay it doesn't mean someone won't. Not sure how I'm wrong? Mike is still selling new amps for $3.5k plus - after 25 years of basically no changes - obviously if he is selling them someone thinks it's worth it.

Staying on the subject. I've had mine apart and I didn't see $3800. It is all opinion but mine is they are charging a huge premium for a name. I think its a great amp but not $3800 worth.

All opinion for sure. But I can't think of another amp that has been in production virtually unchanged for a quarter of a century. Maybe an AC30 or D60 - IDK. But it says volumes that Mike can still sell a new SLO with all the used ones out there. There isn't 5 different versions of the SLO - just one. What it's worth is up to each individual.

 

[racerevlon]

Said it before and I'll say it here. We A/B'ed a stock SLO against a stock Jet City JCA100H and came to the conclusion that anyone who pays for an SLO in this day and age is a fool. You're buying the name, that's it.

I'd rather buy a product made in America.

As would I. If it were $1000 more this would be no issue. $2000? $3000

I work hard for my money. And on a board that seems to be heavy with $4000 German amps, that's a tough sell. I DO like to see people going to Friedman, Splawn, Surreal, Henning, and such.