The Story Of EVH & Soldano Amps (With Mike Soldano)!

[@CaptainBlackadder75]

What a thoroughly nice guy Mike Soldano is. And the more stories I hear about EVH, the more certain I am that he was too. RIP Eddie.

[@buzzedalldrink9131]

you may want to ask Micheal Anthony what he thinks about that I think Eddie was a douche the way he treated Micheal Anthony

[@BenEller]

This is a nice video for people who like nice things, like me.

[@thetribalist6923]

Hey, it's my favorite biological step-dad; Uncle Ben!

[@zacharycollins6548]

I like nice things.

[@ibanezgj1]

and even at step dad speed too..... :-)

[@DylanOvertimeWinner]

No one will listen! Please ask for a part 2! And I’m kissing ass here, I follow your channel as well!

I don't. Whenever I get a nice shirt-I tear the sleeves off.

[@conradcrawford1384]

Once this Marshall hits 88 volts, you're gonna hear some serious BROWN SOUND!

[@PooNinja]

isn't that Doc Browns line? Mcfly!

[@TimatorA]

Bravo, Sir!

[@davemclaughlin2305]

You, sir, have won the interwebs for the day. Rest well.

[@rodrigozamo]

Doc Brown for the Brown sound, the magic 88.

[@WyattWillis88]

As long as the power tubes are at 50ma

[@JoeGuitar]

fun fact .... Mike's original Amp shop at 5859 Melrose ave is now a tattoo shop....

[@skyWAKAAA]

I don’t wanna be dramatic, but this is one of the most important videos about guitar tone on KZbin. It’s so cool that you got to hang with Mike like this. Cheers!

[@SlimeyGuitarStrings]

Tone Talk did a 2 multiple hour episodes with Mike Soldano and there is tons of talk between Dave Friedman who has rebuilt Eddie's Marshall from all the albums and Mike about that amplifier. SUPER SUPER interesting if you enjoyed this.

[@jonprosise7162]

Re built amps on ALL the amps????

[@user-wv5gv3dw5u]

EVH's original marshal tone and his tone in 1981 is possibly the greatest tone of all time. After 1984 it sorta lost its edge but the soldano years did sound really cool, I loooove his tone on judgement day

[@bls8959]

Is gone got real dry on 82

[@collinjamesguitar]

Yep. I think that Ed’s tone from Diver Down-5150 was “fine” but his tone on the first two albums and Carnal Knowledge are his peak. Carnal Knowledge (Soldano) was a totally different world than his Marshall era but equally as awesome.

[@MrDISTORT6]

Please say this is only Part 1...There’s gotta be more.

[@andyclancy9388]

There has to be a part 2. I need more ! Lol

[@TimatorA]

So this video just pops out of nowhere with the secret to the universe in it.

[@russellzauner]

there is a workshop/lecture with EVH at the smithsonian where he explains it directly (as well as why reverse inline headstocks are more advantageous than people think). I used to have a time stamp handy because people were asking all the time right after he passed - he literally got an amp that he couldn't switch back to US mains and a Variac isn't necessarily a step up transformer - I think you can get 120% out of the regular US line voltage one. He was able to actually get the amp to light up but it was so quiet he had to mic it up heavy to get the first captures out of it when he found it and explored what a plate starved circuit does that wasn't designed/intended to have a starved plate. We use them in the lab for isolation and bringing up questionable circuits that have even more questionable mods. Variac is literally a brand name for "variable isolation transformer" IIRC.

[@kennhern]

@@russellzauner I read somewhere that reverse inline headstocks loosen the bass strings and tighten the high strings, is that the same with you too?

[@craigharrison5406]

Mike Soldano's story about Eddie driving like a madman checks out. I heard a Gene Simmons interview where he said Eddie was taking him back to his studio, in an old Jeep with no doors breaking 100 MPH on the highway. Gene said he thought he was gonna die...literally🤣🤣🤣. Then again what California cop in the 80's is gonna give EVH a speeding ticket??? I would love to know how many speeding tickets got thrown out when they realized they pulled over Eddie.

[@rayfabris2512]

similar story with Slash so drunk he couldn't stand the cops took some pictures and then said go straight home Slash lol glad no one was ever hurt anyway have a good day 😊

[@michaelsteenson7915]

Great story...i rang Soldano twice over the years and Mike answered both times..I couldn't believe it...what a gentleman...so helpful.

[@5000rgb]

I thought it was funny that he he was living in his shop in a rustic neighborhood when he's selling amps to Clapton and EVH. I guess he was still in small scale production and not making much money.

[@nathanmclauchlan5148]

Mike and Eddie are so down to earth, RIP Eddie, but I love hearing these kinda stories, so cool

[@e.l.norton]

Great chat! Man, at 2k plus, those were some 'spensive heads circa 1990. I got a brand new 5150 half-stack in '95 for $1300 with tax! These little glimpses behind the curtain are treasures. It breaks my heart to know that not only is Ed gone, but all his knowledge with him. His old techs should collaborate and put together a comprehensive record of what he was doing gear-wise at each stage of his career. It's as important as the music. It really should be recorded for posterity.

[@coldbloodsupplicant]

This is the kind of content i live for, man. Love hearing about the history of iconic gear.

[@russellzauner]

It's not an old skool industry war story until you hear *wang bar*

[@supersonicej]

Mike is the greatest guy ever! Super proud he's a (big) part of our PNW music history. Also happy his brand is living on in good hands.

[@alexmoll8372]

SLO 30 has low plate voltage built in, which is why it puts out 30 watts from two big bottles. Great interview, Fluff. Mike is a super neat guy - never get tired of his stories.

[@brianhyland4140]

Excellent, Mr Soldano is cool, RIP EVH💔🤘🎸🎼

[@Mudder1310]

Fluff, if you’re interested Pete Thorn just did a brown sound deep dive that was geeky and nerdy and fun. Great sit with Mike, he seems like good people.

[@mendicantbias5211]

Pretty sure he's the best......

[@larryk1978]

That video was bitchin!!

[@gregceltorius4962]

Eddie, the innovator genius who was decades ahead of the rest...and still is. RIP Ed.

[@Tonskiislegit]

Man,I would kill to get a whiskey and sit with Soldano and Friedman and talk about gear all day. My god the stories

[@blakecurtis7809]

Dude go for it. Hey in touch with them. Start a KZbin channel called Having A Whiskey With....

[@fredeichenauer4568]

Mike's theory is 100% correct. I just listened to an old interview with Eddie. He talked about buying a Marshall and not realizing it was in Euro voltage. He turned it on and got lights but no sound. He left the amp on for like an hour and when he came back to it it was barely making sound but he liked what he heard. He then realized he needed to set it for 120volts. It gave him an idea though....so he took a light dimmer switch and tried to wire that inline with the amp. It didn't work, but it lead him into asking around about some kind of variable voltage regulator.......... He was turned on to the Variac and the rest, as they say, is history.

[@vanshipman]

Mike Soldano modded an old Marshall for me around the time Eddie was using those. I saw and heard my first Soldano amp at a Christmas jam. Warren Haynes and I shared a table that night and he went on and on about it. It sounded incredible and I was sold. He gave me Mikes phone number and called him up to see if he’d mod mine up. I sent it to him and then played phone tag with him for a few weeks. He then sent it back and it sounded great. Later on I sold the amp because I was told Eddie was coming out with his own amp. So I was on hold for that one once they went into production. Mike was a super cool guy and his assistant was as well. This has been ages ago, 1990 or 1991 maybe? That’s when the Soldano mod happened. The 5150 was later...I loved it. It’s cool to see the face of Mike after all of the phone calls. Thanks for the video!!!

[@baritonecult622]

Mike always has a smile on his face, good to see that joy. Cheers from Michigan

[@RandyWillcox]

There's an interview with Eddie where he says he got the first Marshall and it came from the UK and was 220 volts. He led it in and turned it on and there was no sound. He said he left it on for a while and when he came back his later, it worked. It took ages for the tubes to get warm enough to work. So yes, Mike's theory is absolutely correct. 🤘🏻❤️🖤🤍💔🤍🖤❤️

[@thestrum71]

True story. That was the moment Eddie learned about how to use lower/higher plate voltage with the Variac because the amps sounded 'better' and he could turn them all the way and still keep things (volume) managable. He got a 240 Volt amp without realizing it and stumbled upon something great....

[@larryk1978]

The whole amp story was an accident Eddie said in an interview that he bought it from someone in england.... When he plugged it in , He thought it didnt work.... he left it on and came back a few hours later and the amp was working but very quiet.... he said it sounded beautiful but it was really quiet... he then found that the amp was switched in the 220 volt position... so when he flipped it to 110 the thing screamed... So he thought Wow!!! i wonder if i turn down the voltage if it will have the same effect??... And that is when he got the Variac..... And ed Found that 89 volts was the magic spot!!... If i remember right he explains all of this in the Smithsonian interview..

[@goathair33]

I called Mike once to ask questions about a used Soldano I bought and he was super helpful and couldn’t have been a nicer guy.

[@dyonight]

Amazing I could listen to Mike all day long. Thanks a lot!

[@ilovegreenock]

That's a really cool hang out ☺️ loving those stories !

[@brinepacer]

This is fucking killer, thanks for doing this man. Mike seems like a solid dude.

[@GTX1123]

Great interview. Yes, the Variac was the secret to the brown sound. Steven Fryette worked on that same amp in 1990. While he also said it was bone stock, his impression of it was it that it was closer to a 1970 JMP; i.e. it had a plexi panel, but had the newer JMP input and feedback configuration. Of course that could have been added as a mod at some point, but Marshall frequently switched parts in the middle of production years, sometimes even multiple times in the same year. This was quite simply business driven per price increases for parts. Most changes in the actual voicing of the circuit were usually subtle to hardly noticeable but there could be exceptions. Depending on the parts and who was supplying them, it could be A LOT more noticeable. It's why clone builds don't always 100% nail the tone of a particular model year. Eddie brought it to Steven because he said it was sounding "weak" so Steven went through the entire amp but couldn't find anything wrong with it. My guess is that Eddie had gotten so used to higher gain amps by then that it just wasn't doing it for him anymore.

[@wendelllaffin240]

I absolutely love that story and every second of that video... thanks man!!

[@jamiemontgomery7846]

What an amazing story, Ed was the man. Mike is also the man!

[@lousekoya1803]

I guess the invoice today is worth more than the amp was back then !!........Thank you Mr Soldano and RBG

[@bhull302]

LOVED this interview. Thank you for doing this.

[@Joey.Darkwoods-Studio]

Nice man!! great interview.... Mike looks like a very cool and humble guy!

[@JamnThang]

Hey, that was friggin fabulous. Thanks to you and Michael for sharing with all of us about another waaay fun experience about being around Eddie and his beloved skills, personality and perfect profession for another six-stringer like us. I'm gonna call you Mushroom from now on, cuz you're such a fun-guy!!

[@sski]

That was great. Mike is an awesome dude. Thanks, Fluff.

[@caseywilson7768]

What a treasure Mike is. Love that dude

[@joshww2339]

Great interview / topic! Legendary is an understatement!

[@GuitarBob6]

What a great hang! Really good info! Thanks!

[@blakefisher6614]

This is one of the best videos I've seen in a long time, such a great story!

[@allstarvb]

So rad to hear those stories from Mr. Soldano 🤘🏼

[@gwhiz3708]

Great interview. Thanks for sharing

[@SuperJiggawhat]

That was so good, I'm watching it again.

[@ginoames]

This is fantastic! The SLO amps sound so freaking awesome.

[@mickdestiny6542]

Always love hearing stories about Ed's fly by the seat of his pants driving around town. Much like his guitar style..

[@jordanmartinez2432]

WOW!!!! What a cool guy!! Excellent video, man very well done!!!👍👍👍

[@alexc2680]

I there anymore interview? It's killer and as always, you ROCK!!!

[@Thirdgen83]

Soldano is one of my favorite guitar amps.

[@Cre8tvMG]

Hey, Tacoma boys!! Yah. Former Fircrest kid here, Tacoma fan and resident since the 60s.

[@Bradp18]

Great stuff!! Please bring him back!

[@jcm78]

My god! Mike’s getting old. Hell I guess we all are. I still can’t afford an SLO but the sp-77 I had was the best sounding and most responsive amp I’ve ever owned. Thank you Mr. Soldano for your input to the tone world. I raise a soldering iron to you!!

[@guitarghost1]

Now I have to get a SLO 100 !!

[@markhorton1718]

What a fantastic episode!! I subscribed and liked!!!

[@leftyzappa]

Oh this was so great. Thank you 😸

[@rayf7821]

great,new to the channel love stories like this.learn something new everyday. thanks.

[@trixterrocksofficial1208]

very cool episode...Thank you!!!

[@daleleclaire2794]

Tacoma? Interesting watching a video on a global platform, never knowing where people are, only to realize the host and the legendary guest are both half an hour drive away! Oh, and great story!

[@mendicantbias5211]

I'm in Oregon The PNW is full of the best

[@hyperstimmed]

Canadian?

[@bretolson8484]

I remember as a teen there was a Soldano storefront between Kent/Auburn and I vowed if I got enough money I’d knock on that door. It closed before I got the dough! Glad to see two of my favourite guitar folks are nearby. Greetings from SoSeattle.

[@stevenausten9935]

Great video Fluff, thanks for sharing 👍

[@ThePreciousguitar87]

Best sounding amps - SOLDANO!🤘

[@svarthelikoptern]

Still saving up for my SLO.

[@thomasring3022]

That was a really fun story he told!

[@MetallicA29]

Awesome stuff, Fluff!!!

[@SLiMCHiCKeN5150]

The variac part is 100% correct. If you dig deep into the archives he mentions it was the European voltage setting that lead to the discovery of lowering it on North American using the variac. He did this to save the people in the front row at The high schools in the early days 🤟

[@gkniffen]

Best Ed video I've seen in a good while... 👍

[@caveydl]

Awesome video. Thanks Fluff.

[@dvdpz89]

Thanks so much for this. I appreciate it!

[@bismarcknewman3600]

I couldn't get enough!

[@BillyE5150]

Oh man… this is great stuff!

[@pieroog]

I've heard this story that EVH bought his amp from Europe (didn't know about that voltage diff), turned it on and nothing. Was so pissed about amp being not working, that he went for a smoke, and once he came back - that Plexi was hot enough to play, and it played like a champ.

[@monsterk7603]

Just like EVH, Mike Soldano is a national treasure. Ben Eller and yourself, Fluff are pretty neat-o as well. ;0) GREAT video, man. RIP to the GOAT!! \,,/

[@pinktacoluvr]

Great hang! Soldano is one cool cat. 😎

[@toneconsultant]

That was a fun interview

[@paulwebendorfer5627]

Love this!

[@clazym]

Fantastic interview

[@lightinme217]

Such a great video. Ed was my hero on guitar for sure. Greatly influenced my playing. Always wanted the original how to with the early days Marshall sound. I got to get me a super lead now haha

[@Greg-rd8qr]

Great video!

[@charlieschueneman7363]

Awesome!

[@jobckts682]

Thanks Mike Slo. for sharing amp specs with JETCITY333. my 20wt head is still a JCM800 BEAST.

[@jeffreycollins7297]

I wondered how many people blew up their amps trying to get the "BROWN SOUND". Friggin hysterical how he really did it. Also a good way to make sure your amp lasts longer.

[@eryckcrypton6412]

So good! Gold!

[@TweedSuit]

The whole Variac, voltage, Marshall story checks out. EVH mentions this in an interview with The Smithsonian. He obtained a plexi Marshall in the early 70's and it sounded really good but was barely audible. He soon realised it was set to 240V instead of 110V. That gave him the idea of varying the voltage to control the volume. Because all those old master volume Marshalls only sounded good turned up full.

[@Kinger1625]

Fantastic video! I’d love to spend a day just hanging with Mike, or you fine sir! Dream amp! Maybe soon! 🤤

[@folsomaudio]

This was such an awesome video! Great stuff fluff!

[@Chaseracing]

Awesome man. Great work!

[@mouseanalyse]

I love this stuff.

[@redshredder1021]

Awesome drool worthy video!

[@travislee9662]

With all the talk of traffic and street locations this interview was dangerously close to turning into an SNL Californians skit lol

[@questlive2338]

I think I saw Bill Hader breaking in the background

[@mariolafontaine2309]

So interestiiiiiiiing!! 140v out of 220v hummm. I remember the article Mike Soldano talked about. In this magazine interview Eddy really said that he runs the Variac at 140v and he starts watching the tubes melt... 😜i still have this magazine. RIP Eddy

[@jpducati916]

Great amp! Love Soldanos

[@sasunmontu]

cheers, nice to hear a good yarn

[@leswadley6792]

Great vid!

[@yannimetaxas9839]

This was awesome!

[@Rooster7six]

Great vid fluff! 🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@MuvoTX]

!!! Wow... Great interview!! I was a teenager, when those guitar player mags published EVH interviews. Ed said he turned the Variac up to 140V, just below the point where the tubes melt. I was playing a Carvin X100B combo at the time, with EL34s... it got HOT... and sounded great. But the whole time, I was thinking to myself, how in the hell would someone slam an amp with 140V??!! Now it makes more sense.

[@tmitz73]

Pretty Awesome man!!

[@seanhuntley6722]

I had that Yamaha combo back in the day

[@hyperstimmed]

got his first one 10 days before I was born. Finally, something to feel young and not old about

[@fredeichenauer4568]

Mike missed 2 things when he was looking inside "The Marshall". One was the "fat cap" and the other was that the pot for the mid control on that head was a 50k pot instead of the 25k pot that was supposed o be there.

[@youWoNtLikeMe04]

Great video fluff.