Ep. 59 - Mike Soldano Part 2! What's coming up from Soldano and Boutique Amps

[@tone-talk]

Please note: Boutique Amps commented on the warranty of Soldano amps. “We agreed from the get go to take over the warranty period on Soldano amps like with all the brands we start working with. So in the unlikely case you face an electronic issue with your amp, just hit us up.” Just to clarify, Mike himself will not be doing any warranty work, Boutique Amps Distribution will of course honor all Soldano warranties.

[@shakeyjonez]

Solid.

[@miker9184]

Hey, this is totally awesome to know! I have three pre BAD SLO’s, a pre BAD Avenger, and just ordered a limited purple panel SLO ! Never had a problem with any of the ones I already own and don’t expect to, but still good to know there’s a place to go, if need be!

[@volodyanikolaev]

03:08 - Michael J. Soldano Jr. semi-retirement reasons. 10:45 - Last year NAMM for Mike. 12:58 - The development, changes and upgrades to Soldano amps. 19:42 - Soldano DMI transformers story. 28:58 - What’s the price for a new SLO? 30:05 - FX-loop on new SLO 34:34 - 30-watt amp SLO30. 38:15 - The role of Mike working with B.A.D. 44:00 - GTO overdrive pedal. 46:05 - Rack gear. Do world wants that? 51:40 - New transformers question. 55:41 - Lifetime warranty question. 58:36 - Various questions. 1:02:34 - Mike is moving to Tacoma. 1:05:35 - Power tubes in new SLO. 1:09:07 - New chassis, relays. 1:12:35 - New dealers for Soldano. 1:15:42 - Prince’s «Little Luck» amp story. 1:20:09 - Dave’s take on tradition of SLO. 1:24:00 - Upgraded FX-loop for an old SLO, FedEx and UPS thing. 1:33:00 - Tube-talk. Mike Matthews and more. 1:41:52 - Would Mike consider to do amp repair/mods? 1:45:00 - Biasing in a proper way. 1:54:18 - Eric Clapton’s amp story. 2:00:00 - Gary Moore’s and Warren Haynes. 2:02:10 - High-gain amps of choice. 2:07:52 - Matched triodes and phase inverters. 2:09:26 - KT88 based amp. 2:11:19 - Soldano’s preamp questions, voicing channels and mods.

[@tomfoglietta2453]

How can you not just love Mike Soldano.! À sweet and humble Genius who seems passionate, honest & so nice in every way. Thanks for another great show & you must get him back again

[@alexc2680]

I'm loving these shows!! Soldano amps were the gold standard and I only hope the new company honors the rich tradition and history of Soldano, including the hands on approach of Mike. Having worked with him and Bill on amps, questions, etc. since the '90's, I've never had a company owner be so approachable and humble. Best of luck Mike!!!! You've set the bar very high and you'll be missed.

[@rangerdoc1029]

Two of the greatest amp builders in the history of forever in one place.

[@miker9184]

How cool is it to look back at this Tone Talk Episode and realize this is where the idea for the just released signed purple panel SLO’s was born 🤘

[@ITheFight]

I'm stoked to see Soldano more available, good things happening. God bless you Mike, you really paved the road for awesome modern amps.

[@alphasnk]

Thanks for having Mike on the show again guys, he is such a cool cat and his amps have always been my favorite guitar sound!!

[@supersonicej]

This is a top 5 Tone Talk and there have been some great ones!! 🙏🙏🙏

[@DanCareaga]

@46:32 Indeed! Anything is possible!! 😀 Came back to watch this episode while dialing in the new X-88IR.

[@LP_Freak]

Mike is definitely a class act

[@justinespinosa7878]

Mike is such a cool cat and I’m so happy that his line will continue! Another great show guys!

[@CS_Murphy_R9]

The SLO is still a heavy weight champ for any style!

[@FirestormAudio]

Mike is such a great guest! You should have him back on!

[@MrAletube]

Good that the brand Soldano doesn't get sucked in by some obscure Chinese factory,like others did,all the best to you guys!

[@MorGuitarz]

Just the best damn gear & equipment focused music show/chat on the face of the planet

[@scottmcarthur2201]

Another awesome show! Well done guys!

[@richardleerodgers5303]

Great show I was in the Philippines when the show was live due to poor internet I only saw first few minutes, finally got to see it

[@michaelcross934]

Geez, guys! Amazing channel for this guit' n' amp nerd! Thanks from Mike in Fernwood, BC, CAN

[@DougThacker]

Awesome video guys as usual! Thank you!

[@bodd66]

Great show again. I had a Soldano Hot Rod 50 and loved the tone, but the effects loop just wasn't up to it, so I reluctantly sold it. Dave's loops along with Victory and Custom Audio Amplifiers/Suhr are all excellent tho! Happy to hear the Soldano brand will continue.

[@nigelbarnett351]

MAKE A PREAMP!!!!! MAKE APREAMP!!!! Rake mount & Power amp too PLEASE Dave??????

[@user-qr7ee2cp4y]

More synergy stuff?

[@tone-talk]

Thank you for watching. Please hit subscribe and the like button. Also go to Sweetwater for all your gear needs!

[@scottdunn2178]

Soldano used 6L6 tubes in his amplifiers... and I'm an EL-34 guy, so I really never got into his amps, I looked at them more like a hot-rodded Fender. I remember back in the late 80's early 90's when guys like Ken Fischer of Trainwreck Amplifiers (RIP), Lee Jackson of Metaltronix, Steven Fryette of VHT, etc. were all the rage as far as amplifier designs back then. They were some promising times.

[@DragonCrestPC]

Glad to see sweetwater is sponsoring you guys. Great vid!

[@erictripton]

Being a long time SLO user.. I will wait and see how it turns out. Fortunately, I discovered Germino Amps. Hence the original JMP 1968 sound. Power tube distortion is the ultimate, but it has to be LOUD to get there. Updated SLO sounds nice... I remain skeptical of the build quality and more to the point.... the very high price tag. The SLO brand new was a 4,000 dollare investment. Boutique has a lot to live up to, obviously. Less see how it pans out.

[@MrCleitus]

Not sure to be honest any amp is worth 4 grand, pretty sure I could get a killer set up for half that much.

[@erictripton]

@@MrCleitus Mmmm…...The Soldanos do have the best sound for that type of gain circuit. They were half the price back in early 90's, mark up was crazy high. But for a Hi Gain preamp into a Hi Fidelity Power section... The SLO, to me still top dog. Its all subjective... hence me receiving my Germino Lead 55 LV and finally the search is over.... this is the sound I've been chasing.... Output tube gain.... nothing else sounds or feels like it. Here are some clips through my Android phone: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qKDcpKiOm6agf7M This is a whole different Monster

[@middle_pickup]

I could see a market for preamps in two areas. Studios, and as a frontend for modeling amps.

[@danielabilez3619]

Passing the torch is a big deal. Great amp

[@zbaby82]

Good show.

[@timec818]

Thanks cool show thanks 👍

[@bobby9727]

Dave Friedman was in the chat and nobody noticed Lol Hello Dave from a big fan of yours.

[@TheRiotguitar]

cool show- love my SLO!

[@marchanson169]

My guess was going to be Russ Parish for DLR. He was amazing in Atomic Punks.

[@babydaddy1930]

But he's a charvel guy?

[@GeorgeZimmermen]

Friedman looks like he is stuck trying to figure out if he is 16 or 46

[@Fishtank186k]

And Just Like That: Magnetic Components stock goes through the roof

[@CS_Murphy_R9]

I have been wanting a hot rod 25 but have not found one used yet,

[@RagdollOC]

I'm jonesing for a SLO even more than ever.

[@shaunzimmerman661]

dave if u use dc for the heaters do u use a full wave rectifier or can u get away with a half wave and does it need filtered well so there is no hum or would a half wave with one filter cap being the less u could do work? or does it need to be full wave filtered perfectly flat dc signal? thanks for all u guys do awesome show again!

[@davidfuller581]

I'm not Dave (well, not Dave Friedman) - but you do need very low ripple DC (otherwise you've got the same problem as AC). You need +/-3V DC to run the preamp tubes in parallel so a full-wave bridge rectifier is usually used.

[@volodyanikolaev]

Whooooaaa!!! Nice!

[@tomulator]

LEGEND Talk!

[@mattmurray517]

Jesus from that angle Dave looks like David Gilmour

[@jspinks2388]

looks like burntttt the bias pot again..and I gotta find something to put in there again etc lol...like all goopey burnttt at the bottom on this one lol.

[@bigtrex76]

Damn no mention of Mick Mars

[@jspinks2388]

went reallll quiet on ch2 and more morse code mike...that's the schooolll relays man...I want change em man....notttt lyingggg lol.

[@zbaby82]

Why was the Hot Rod 50 discontinued?

[@Metlupass2]

Al Estrada

[@19581998]

He’s moving away from the tent city homeless drug addicts

[@sowhat5150]

I think the new guitarist is Doug Aldrich.

[@Metlupass2]

I say Al Estrada

[@Metlupass2]

@benjamin murphy he's as EVH as you can get like Dave said, he's a Suhr Artist, and not super well known.

[@kellyjackson7889]

@@Metlupass2 Didn't he use to be on CHiPs?

[@Metlupass2]

@@kellyjackson7889 yes he played ponch

[@HunterRouth]

New guitarist for who?

[@rangerdoc1029]

Please tell me that Jacob Deraps is playing for DLR!

[@tone-talk]

Heph333 that would be great but I believe it is Al Estrada

[@CS_Murphy_R9]

@@tone-talk Al is a killer player and overall great guy! I almost bought a old Marshall from him he used with Atomic Punk. still regret not grabbing that!

[@shakeyjonez]

SLO 50 Combo.

[@colinjames7765]

I just want to know what the new friedman with tube rectification is?

[@tone-talk]

The Dirty Shirley has a tube rectifier.

[@colinjames7765]

Tone-Talk I know. I was referring to the new one he’s working on.

[@jimivt3487]

Hi , Today asked Boutique amps; "Here James from Europe. I am Soldano SLO's owner serial number 102***.USA 117v modell. I bought it in Germany and previous owner installed a 230v transformer (IGPW transformer). I own DeYoung's original 117 power transformer, but end bells and screws are missing. I would like to install the original DeYoung transformer I have with me, but I need the right end bells and mounting screws. Could you please sell me those parts? I pay all the costs and of course shipping costs.I need1)mounting screws,2)end bells and3)washers." Answer from Boutique Amps today: "Hi...Our engineer says we don't have the parts...sorry. All the best,"

[@ambracaddabrasaudioearcand4567]

Pete Thorn!?

[@ITheFight]

I think so!

[@tone-talk]

No I doubt it. More like Al Estrada

[@kxmrock]

@ 49:00 min's (If You Build it, They will Come/Buy) There's Too Many Gear Heads Out There~ G.A.S. That want to be able To Buy (there is no shortage of Ax lll buyer's for example) (If You Build It, They will Come)

[@Kasper911band]

I hope they get rid of that hard wired power cord, and do the regular power cord input so we can use whatever power cord we want! I know it’s anal, but that’s why I never bought an SLO! Lol

[@babydaddy1930]

Bummer.....rip old school soldano

[@tone-talk]

I don’t get comments like this. I bet you don’t own a new SLO or have tried a new SLO but yet you will pretend like the old days are always better.

[@babydaddy1930]

@@tone-talk pretty simple Mark, I have always appreciated and admired Mike Soldano for the contributions he made to the amplifier world and I wanted him to know that, and to know I was going to miss the amps coming out of his own little shop there I hope he has great success in this endeavor.

[@tone-talk]

@@babydaddy1930 ok…Mike is still involved in the new ones. I’m happy Mike is still around to help and make new products.

[@michaelk1469]

Sorry But I don't think you guys understand the technical reasons of what Bias is all about.

[@tone-talk]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@cloudrun654]

Who is the new guitarist in the DLR band?

[@tone-talk]

Possibly Al Estrada

[@blondiespinknoize4627]

DLR band.... could the Guitar player be Pete Thorn?

[@tone-talk]

Blondie's Pink Noize no don’t think so

[@haemolacria8873]

whats wrong with mercury??

[@MrAletube]

Overpriced

[@haemolacria8873]

@@MrAletube theyre not cheap but i have a soldano decatone that had to have the OT replaced and i always wondered how different it sounds to the original.

[@davidfuller581]

Hellaciously expensive.

[@MrAletube]

@@haemolacria8873 the only way to judge more transformers is to record a looped guitar through the whole amp/cab with same settings,then compare the recordings in solo with the sequencer,then you can hear eventual differences,and it should be a blind test,so you are not biased by names and prices. Ear memory is very limited and hearing changes from day to day.

[@chb8037]

mercury actually isn't that crazy expensive when your buying in bulk like amp makers do. yeah i think that would of been cooler for the SLO. wonder if they tried theirs or not.

[@wheresallthezombies]

Any chance someone can sum up what’s coming? I love these amp builders but don’t really want to listen to two and a half hour podcast (mostly want to know if they talk about the supercharger pedal). Thanks in advance.

[@tone-talk]

We do discuss the pedal. ;)

[@wheresallthezombies]

Tone-Talk woo! As long he’s reissuing it that’s perfect. I’m just a hobbyist so I can’t justify the price of an SLO so I figure the supercharger will get me close enough

[@StratMatt777]

@@wheresallthezombies That supercharger pedal only has two tubes in it... That's not going to be SLO tone and its probably outrageously expensive. The Soldano Astroverb has 3 preamp tubes and is based on the SLO's Clean Channel with the Crunch Switch on, which means it doesn't have the SLO's overdrive channel (which has too much gain, mush and fizz, in my opinion). It's like a hotrodded JCM800/900 I suppose. I LOVE mine. It NAILS 80's metal/rock. The lead notes are smooth and not fizzy and gritty. Note that the astroverb 1x12 combo sounds kinda like poo- you gotta plug into a closed-back cab _without_ Soldano x12000/Eminence Legend speakers! If I boost it with a BOSS Blues Driver I can get 1990s metal tone and can nail the tone on the 1995 Self-titled "Tripod" Alice In Chains album. There is an astroverb head on ebay right now for $950, but they don't come with an effects loop and they are a one channel amp with a pair of EL84s for about 20 watts. Being a soldano, it cleans up REALLY well with guitar volume. Mine does have an effects loop because I bought the effects loop prototype from Mike in 2002.

[@wheresallthezombies]

StratMatt777 I mean it’s close enough. I heard mike say he designed it to be an SLO in a pedal. So even if it’s not exactly the same it still sounds killer.

[@StratMatt777]

@@wheresallthezombies I have a vague memory (which may be wrong!) of hearing someone trying the pedal out (or maybe I tried it out?) at the soldano factory in 2002 when I was making the installment payments to Mike for my astroverb. My memory is that I didn't want one at all, which means that it sounded very gritty and did not produce a smooth, non-gritty, soaring lead sound on high notes. That's why I posted my comment... if you cannot try out the pedal before you buy it, be sure that you are okay with a fuzzy gritty lead tone like you hear on all the youtube demos of the SLO where they only demonstrate the overdrive channel. Of course, my very vague memory of 18 years ago could be totally wrong!! All I really remember is the pedal looked really awesome and I wanted one until I heard it. But I am really crazy about having ZERO tolerance for any buzz or fuzz in my lead tone up high on the neck. ;) Of course, I'm sure the pedal was going into a Soldano amp- perhaps it sounds fantastic through a clean amp. Again, I could be remembering this COMPLETELY wrong. I'm only sure that I didn't want one because it sounded like a can of bees. I think the astroverb has 3 preamp tubes making gain plus one for the phase inverter and one for the reverb.

[@GPaulTheThrashKing]

Mike: "I feel very good about it [having someone else make my amps]" Me watching Mike's face as he says it: No you don't. You hate that you're getting pushed out of your city so that some software duffers can build iphone apps instead of the world's greatest guitar amplifiers. >Sad feels on Mike's behalf.

[@miker9184]

Does anybody know if last etched panels are used on all the new SLO’s, black, purple and even the standard white ? Just curious……