Soldano SLO vs Mesa MKIV high gain shootout - video inside!

  • Thread starter Thread starter jdel77
  • Start date Start date
It is silly to crank the depth knob and the presence. That is not dialing the amp properly at all. regardless of personal tone. Those settings will not yield the goods to most ears and the feel will be loose. Try these settings for starters..

on the numbers not the clock

crunch channel gain 11

lead channel gain on 5.5 to 6.. no more than 7. really best at 5.5 to 6. it looses a smidgen of clarity between 6 and 7 then more form there up.

treble 4

mids 7

bass5.5

presence .. dial to taste but generally over 6 but avoid the last little sweep between 9 and 11. it gets spikey then.. Try right before that point, then back it off a touch. don't turn it down below 6. reduce the treble not the presence if need be.

depth. not unless you re playing at lower volumes and even then keep it at 5 or below and reduce the bass. its a guitar amp not a kick drum!

Master as much as you can handle. Everything turns supersonic at 6 on the master. At that point better wear a kidney belt , jock strap earplugs and .a face mask
 
Jdub":10fmrdob said:
Nice comparison. thanks for posting.. My opinion is that It is silly to crank the depth knob and the presence. That is not dialing the amp properly regardless of personal taste. It defies the design.. Those settings will not yield the goods to most ears and the feel will be loose. maybe try these settings for starters then tweak a little to taste..


on the numbers not the clock

crunch channel gain 11

lead channel gain on 5.5 to 6.. no more than 7. really best at 5.5 to 6. it looses a smidgen of clarity between 6 and 7 then more form there up.

treble 4

mids 7

bass5.5

presence .. dial to taste but generally over 6 but avoid the last little sweep between 9 and 11. it gets spikey then.. Try right before that point, then back it off a touch. don't turn it down below 6. reduce the treble not the presence if need be.

depth. not unless you re playing at lower volumes and even then keep it at 5 or below and reduce the bass. its a guitar amp not a kick drum!

Master as much as you can handle. Everything turns supersonic at 6 on the master. At that point better wear a kidney belt , jock strap earplugs and a face mask
 
As usually the Mesa crowd and the Soldano crown unzip and dispute who's bigger. It's all subjective. That being said, I have never heard a recording of an SLO that sounds as good as being in the same room.
 
Owned both these amps..both sounded great,but for a more accurate a/b,the mesa should've had all 6l6's.(if the s.l.o is 4-6l6's).You can definitely hear some of that 34 tone goin on from them.I could gig w/ either one and be a happy camper.
 
-easily the SLO-

-MESA MARK SERIES are some of my favorite amps-(owned a MARK IV)-but I guess my lying ears are picking the wrong amp!!..... AGAIN!!!!!..…
 
The Mesa Boogie Mark IV is a bad ass amp. IMO the best Mark amp Mesa Boogie has made to date.

Saying that my Soldano Hot Rod 25 can hang with it. I personally love both. They just have a different feel and tonal character. The mega punch and grinding tone of the Mark IV is hard to beat IMO. It just sounds so amazing when dialed in.

My Hot Rod 25 is different but with some volume it sounds just KILLER. Absolutely love it. It's just a different feeling amp from the Mark IV.

Hard choice for me and why I own both and don't have any plans of selling either of these amps!!
 
Back
Top