Yamaha T50C & T-100 Head(Soldano Designed) Opinions?

[Brandon Breeze]

I noticed both of these for sale recently, are they any good? Some claim they're the predecessor to the SLO, some say they're just crap. Any of you guys played them?

These were supposedly made to compete with the Mesa combos of the time, this one has a Celestion G12H-100 Speaker

Not sure is this was originally a rack mount head?

 

[TrueTone500]

I purchased a combo back in '92... I didn't care for it.

 

[Brandon Breeze]

I purchased a combo back in '92... I didn't care for it.

Did you ever try it through a 4x12?

 

[ericsabbath]

just get a jet city
they are far better built than those old yamaha amps

 

[Racerxrated]

The SLO was already available when Soldano went in with Yamaha, so not a predecessor. I think just a business relationship to produce some cash on his end. I remember reading that Yamaha wouldn't let him do what he wanted so he's not that proud of those. Never played through one myself.

 

[guitup too]

Those particular Yamahas are well built, better than the Jet City stuff.

just get a jet city
they are far better built than those old yamaha amps

 

[webrthomson]

I've got a T100 head, and for that matter a SLO too, and it pretty good, but Yamaha in their infinite wisdom decided to cut cost and not fit a choke which was a big mistake.

I got mine fitted with a choke and it's much better that stock - it's not quite the SLO but it cost a tenth of what the SLO did

 

[charvelstrat81]

Here is what the 50 watter sounds like
https://youtu.be/byq2K2IYMlI?t=47s

 

[Racerxrated]

Firehouse?? Pretty sure I read where that recorded tone is SLO, modded Marshall and Fender Bassman....all tracked multiple times. Bill Leverty chimed in on a forum, not sure which offhand. Google Bill Leverty tone and I think it comes up. If that tone is all Yamaha I'll be buying one.. nice fat 80s tone.

 

[TrueTone500]

I purchased a combo back in '92... I didn't care for it.

Did you ever try it through a 4x12?

No, I did not. It ran crazy hot, and had a nasty high-end peak. I was making good money at the time, so I traded it on a Soldano HR100. Apparently, Yamaha decided to go their own way with it... I don't recall exactly what Mike told me, but it wasn't complementary. Same thing happened with the Bruce Zinky designed Fender Pro-Sonic, and also the Lee Jackson designed Ampeg.

Try one out... You may like it. My advice is, if you really want Soldano tone, just get a Soldano.

 

[charvelstrat81]

Firehouse?? Pretty sure I read where that recorded tone is SLO, modded Marshall and Fender Bassman....all tracked multiple times. Bill Leverty chimed in on a forum, not sure which offhand. Google Bill Leverty tone and I think it comes up. If that tone is all Yamaha I'll be buying one.. nice fat 80s tone.

Nah T-50 with yamaha power amps
check it out,
https://youtu.be/1tGzeRbTtTQ?t=5m57s
Plus i owned one after hearing his only i used a mesa power amp and it was killer!
used a black face intelifex in stereo with 2 marshall 4x12 cabs.

 

[charvelstrat81]

My advice is, if you really want Soldano tone, just get a Soldano.

Quoted for TRUTH!
That T-50 i owned was sweet and a great tone for the little cash it cost me but a avenger or SLO
is a much better/different beast

 

[Racerxrated]

Firehouse?? Pretty sure I read where that recorded tone is SLO, modded Marshall and Fender Bassman....all tracked multiple times. Bill Leverty chimed in on a forum, not sure which offhand. Google Bill Leverty tone and I think it comes up. If that tone is all Yamaha I'll be buying one.. nice fat 80s tone.

Nah T-50 with yamaha power amps
check it out,
https://youtu.be/1tGzeRbTtTQ?t=5m57s
Plus i owned one after hearing his only i used a mesa power amp and it was killer!
used a black face intelifex in stereo with 2 marshall 4x12 cabs.

Found it. Check out 'Firehouse/Gotthard/Thunder mixes! -Gearslutz.com. Bill Leverty talks about what he used to record both albums. I dug my old Firehouse disc out of storage last fall, forgot what a great player he is. And nice tone..

 

[charvelstrat81]

Found it. Check out 'Firehouse/Gotthard/Thunder mixes! -Gearslutz.com. Bill Leverty talks about what he used to record both albums. I dug my old Firehouse disc out of storage last fall, forgot what a great player he is. And nice tone..

https://www.gearslutz.com/board/so-much ... mixes.html
He did not even mention the TC-50
anyway it still sounds like that or at least my rig did.
I played in stereo and when cranked i got that tone no problem.
Like you probably already know if you cannot afford a SLO at least check a TC out.
Obviously putting it up against a SLO is a tall order but for the $300 i paid i loved it.
it was more about how they are used, by itself it was average but with the stereo set up and the intelifex
it was massive.
I liked it more than the ADA MP1 it replaced

 

[Brandon Breeze]

I'm not expecting a SLO tone, just wanted to see what people's opinions that have played them or have known someone else who have played them. I'm always looking for new and different stuff.

 

[Racerxrated]

For 300, I'd give it a try....

 

[charvelstrat81]

I'm not expecting a SLO tone, just wanted to see what people's opinions that have played them or have known someone else who have played them. I'm always looking for new and different stuff.

Definitely worth getting if you come across one under $350 like i did.

 

[Brandon Breeze]

I'm not expecting a SLO tone, just wanted to see what people's opinions that have played them or have known someone else who have played them. I'm always looking for new and different stuff.

Definitely worth getting if you come across one under $350 like i did.

Both are listed for $300, we'll see how it goes. Contemplating which cabinet to bring. Should I bring the Uberkab since it makes everything else sound better, or one of my least favorite cabs for worst case scenario?

 

[marshallmel]

I had a T-50 that was modded my Mike Soldano. Extensively modded I might add. I know he did a depth mod on it, installed a choke, and a bunch of other stuff. It was incredible sounding and everyone I knew was hounding me to sell it to them. One day some idiot offered me stupid money for it so I sold it.

 

[phil b]

Years ago Tuff Luck had come up from Fla. to our studio in NJ and Dave had tracked all his guitars with a T50. That sounded really nice on tape but it was no high gain monster by any means. Dennis Kager actually designed the switching on the amp if I remember correctly. He had said Mike overall wasnt too happy with the amp and he didnt like it because it had no choke, but mic'ed with a 57 on a 16 track 2 inch machine it really sounded nice.