SOLDANO SLO-30 vs MESA/BOOGIE MARK V | Two 6L6 powered tone monsters.

[@johndoe207]

They all sound good. Reminds me to stop tone chasing and play what I have.

[@EugeValovirta230V]

Indeed.

[@SDisonYT]

The Soldano is so good it’s mind blowing. I always knew the lead and crunch tones were great, but I didn’t realize how great the clean tones were as well.

[@EugeValovirta230V]

👌💪

[@andrewrkirby3511]

I snagged an SLO 30 and after watching your modulation pedals videos regarding before or after preamp I've got it just CRUSHING. Thanks for all your advice this is a great channel. Cheers from Canada.

[@EugeValovirta230V]

Cool! Really glad to hear this 🙏🤟.

[@mvyper]

As a real life Mark V owner, I really appreciate the enthusiasm you show for it in your videos. It's an awesome, awesome amp. Truly a lifetime investment.

[@EugeValovirta230V]

🙏🤟👌

[@michael_riffs]

Was not expecting to hear Machine Gun Man at 4:29, great playing! That song is mega underrated

[@progrocker84]

To thicken and "meanify" the Mark V, put the channel vol, master vol, and solo vol each to 9:00, and put Solo mode on (with footswitch). You can even boost the loop a tad in the back. I find that these tweaks (particularly engaging the Solo vol pot) really gets the Mark V roaring - much closer to the JCM 800!

[@EugeValovirta230V]

💪😎🤟

[@GuvnaOnSpotify]

Never even thought of trying that - it does make a difference, especially on the top end. Good suggestion!

[@love4steel]

i like the soldano...it has a bit more snarl ( like a marshall) mesa sounds fantastic but too smooooth for my taste. its great to have selections of this quality

[@EugeValovirta230V]

🤟😎

[@juanrogelrodriguez8285]

The man who talked to the amps, understood them and even translated their growls for us with his human voice 😅👌. In my opinion, you have the finest ear to beautifully tune Metal/Rock amps from all over KZbin, and make them sound with a really hard base tone. Expressive and good, believe me! Your tastes for the tone and right point of Distortion is exactly what I have for 25 years until today. Long live the JCM 800 and all its legacy. Cheers Euge!

[@EugeValovirta230V]

😎. Thanks man!

[@cbphotovideotips]

You make everything sound great. Amazing playing!

[@EugeValovirta230V]

Thanks!

[@JohnSoldano-yn7je]

Thanks for giving us your time.

[@EugeValovirta230V]

🙏🤟

[@Greg-rd8qr]

Awesome comparison! Boogie sounds great!!

[@EugeValovirta230V]

Thanks!

[@firdeye2681]

boogie sounds great, the clean tone especially is super clear

[@EugeValovirta230V]

Yeah!

[@GnRmike]

Love both these amps. This is the best comparison I’ve seen!! Was pondering which one to get…the price difference makes the Boogie the one for me

[@EugeValovirta230V]

Thanks man! Glad to hear!

[@SSBigSound]

I have been on the fence terribly with which amp to buy!?!? The SLO 30 vs Mesa mark V 35 !?!? Thanks to your video and a great comparison I believe for the money, the Mesa will be the one. It's more versatile and can dial in just about any sound from what I hear. I believe you have answered and demonstrated my decision. Thanks , I really appreciate it !!

[@EugeValovirta230V]

Glad to hear man! Thanks!

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

Mesa Mark V is my favorite portable combo amp as it does a lot and great for jam sessions, recording and home practice.

[@EugeValovirta230V]

👌

[@paisteplayer1040]

Nice works as always.. I have a Friedman BE50DLX and its become my favorite amp of all time...

[@rickfennell7849]

Thank you brother. Been waiting on this comparison 👍🤟🤟🍻🍻 gotta go with mesa. Tighter sound and more channels. Which i like and need.✌️

[@EugeValovirta230V]

You’re welcome! Thanks!

[@rrswitch48]

I think your hitting on Suite Madam Blue intro. Sweet! I'll take both

[@EugeValovirta230V]

No idea but if you say so 😎. I was just noodling something from the top of my head 😎.

[@rrswitch48]

@@EugeValovirta230V Sent you a PM on FB.

[@7jm6]

Great video as always! I haven’t verified yet, but the Mark V could also use EL34’s I believe… Would be something to compare alongside a 5150 EVH EL34. I bet even as is with the 6L6s would be great. Thanks again for your content 🙏🏼

[@EugeValovirta230V]

Thanks! Yes 👌.

[@gopork]

I'm glad you did this demo, I was hoping that you would. I think the Soldano is really good, but not as good as the Messa. Keep the comparisons coming, your analysis is always appreciated!

[@EugeValovirta230V]

Thanks man!

[@stevenmiller3300]

The soldano sounds incredible. The Boogie sounds better... But when you kicked in the Jcm800...it just has something a little bit more!! The Marshall is a one trick pony, but no one else can do that trick as well

[@EugeValovirta230V]

😎💪

[@beatlejuice5951]

You haven't played a Splawn. The Marshall that Marshall wished they made. Look it up.

[@thomascusik6109]

Ha Euge, just wanted to say I love the videos of you and your wife are a pretty cool man. There's a different kind of a smile on your face when she's in the room. That's the real Euge. Music is part of our lives but it's not everything. Love is more important. Nice video as usual. I just enjoy watching you do your videos, whatever the subject matter. This is Kerry in Houston, Mr. TSL saying, have a good day friend. I appreciate you Euge. Keep on rocking.

[@EugeValovirta230V]

Indeed 🙏❤️. Thanks man and likewise!

[@antonioalbares]

Euge this is a great comparison. Not going to lie, I LOVE Soldano's gain, and that's where it ends. But the mark V sounds amazing, fender cleans and gnarly gain..

[@EugeValovirta230V]

Thanks!

[@timec818]

Love you were to compare amps and there sound, and have your just instead of the read was reading on the knubs, just dael and leasing after the sound and try to find them 👍🤘😎🔥

[@EugeValovirta230V]

Glad to hear! Thanks!

[@ruhrpottflo2249]

5150 vs mesa would be awesome 👏

[@EugeValovirta230V]

👌🤟

[@SantaAgain77]

Thank You, Euge ! Like !!

[@EugeValovirta230V]

🤟🙏

[@derrickdove83]

Machine Gun Man!! 🤘🏼😎🤘🏼 If you do a cover of that song, I wanna chance at the vocals!

[@EugeValovirta230V]

😎🤟

[@jasoncrump1886]

I really wanna get that mark v mesa amp. Appreciate your vids brother.

[@EugeValovirta230V]

Thanks!

[@timec818]

Cool good video 😎🤘👍 Your little in love with that mk V☺️😎🤘👍 It's also a good amp🤘

[@EugeValovirta230V]

Thanks!

[@jorgiewtf]

They are both amazing sounding amp but the important thing to remember is that the Boogie can basically do everything the slo but it also does so, so much more that the slo could never.

[@EugeValovirta230V]

Yes.

[@kirillyarosh6383]

It could be only me, but I really enjoy Soldano crunch and lead sounds without pedal in front of it. There is just smth in that tone..

[@EugeValovirta230V]

🤟

[@ikigai47]

Yeah Mesa's my favorite. I love everything about their amps, the company and their founder. For me Soldano is a bit of a one trick pony, but it's a damned good trick. I think most guitar players just need one or two amps that are versatile. Use the money they save on the best outboard recording gear, mics, guitars, etc. PS: Love the way you say "Boogie" haha. BOOO-gee.

[@EugeValovirta230V]

😎🕺

[@toxictime9604]

Wooow! Or like a wise man said: "Oh yes, indeed!" I think the differences aren't that subtle and I'm glad I've chosen the right one ("the good one") To me the Mark V in A/B comparison has always some "extra candy" and I love seeing when it makes you smile and leaves struggling to find words to nail it. 🤘😎

[@EugeValovirta230V]

😎👌🤟

[@artsal]

What year is the mark v? Awesome video

[@EugeValovirta230V]

Can’t remember. Thanks!

[@jasoncrump1886]

I like those harmonics with the boogie better too.

[@EugeValovirta230V]

🤟

[@mooferoo]

The Soldano has a bit of flubbiness/woofiness in the lowest palm mutes that i really don't like. So i prefer the Mesa. I was surprised to like your 800 quite a bit more than both of them though! I'm normally a 5150 or super-Marshall type of guy, but that 800 sounded great.

[@MetalZoned]

Same here

[@pythonflying]

The bass and depth were over 7 on his Soldano, I'm pretty sure that is why.

[@MetalZoned]

@@pythonflying good point

[@ilmisxx2]

Euge's BadBoy isn't your regular 800, chances are you won't find another like that

[@phillamoore157]

With this demo, you’re right. Look up Cragginshred SLO 30 for how to get that amp dialed. It sounds absolutely spectacular when dialed in, as designed. The SLO is a different beast…..you can’t dial it in like a Marshall, and just crank everything. Less is more with an SLO (for the most part).

[@albertarmen4839]

well that was fun :) may have missed it... was the MkV 45W mode set for diodes or tube?

[@EugeValovirta230V]

Glad to hear! I filmed this a few weeks ago and I have to admit that I don’t remember anymore 😎. Probably diodes 😊.

[@rendyandrian7149]

I know now you're a fan of mr big. I'm kinda surprised when you play the riff from "My Kinda Woman" which is one of my favorite Mr Big song. After listening to your demo of SLO30, I'm interested in testing neural dsp version of the same amp.

[@EugeValovirta230V]

👌🤟

[@climatecontroller4781]

Great vid. AT home i m really surprise when i compare the mk iv rev a with a Marshall slx. Two on a 4*12 mesa. Différents but ouaw. The slx ""fully """the room. Sorry i m french. Have you a différent sensation when you compare soldano and mk iv ? About the présence in tour room.

[@nuitari666uzgurzmor6]

You really need to try out the Mezzabarba MZero Overdrive amp. Basically a SLO with EL34s and some special flavour, a marshalized SLO, so to say 🤠

[@EugeValovirta230V]

🤟

[@gioospa8526]

Hi Euge, i was wondering since you are using the 45watt mode on the mkV if you were using the tube or diode rectifier setting? Amazing tone

[@EugeValovirta230V]

Oh damn I can’t remember what I was using on this one 😎.

[@gioospa8526]

@@EugeValovirta230V all good thanks for reply. Which mode do you find yourself using more often?

[@EugeValovirta230V]

With channel one usually the 90 or 45 one, depending what I’m looking for. With channels 2 & 3 mostly the 90 🤟.

[@Sound_Stable]

If you haven't tried it yet, get some 5881s for the MV. They smooth the upper mids and thicken it up a bit. I barely have to do any post eq to tame harshness with them.

[@geraldrauch1701]

picked up a pair of 5881's recently to try in the inner spots of my mark IV, with EL34's in the outer spots...i haven't tried them yet, but am curious how they will sound...cheers brother!!!

[@EugeValovirta230V]

Thanks for the tip 👌.

[@MoreMeRecording]

@@geraldrauch1701 I actually replaced the "coke bottle" chinese 6L6's that came with my MKIV with Mesa 5881's and gotta say, it really didn't work for me at least and why, again in my case at least, Glen Ficker's rant about replacing tubes means nothing is BS as far as I'm concerned. I lost the super super tight low end and overall it seemed to weaken the tone, softening it up too much.

[@geraldrauch1701]

@@MoreMeRecording thanx brother, interesting...i will find out soon enough...i have tung-sol 6L6's and mesa EL34's running now...i definitely noticed a difference with the 34's...

[@howardgillingham4763]

Mesa TC50/100 is my new favorite mesa

[@juanrogelrodriguez8285]

It would be great if you included in a video of yours, how to approach the guitar tone of Accept's Balls to the wall album, any song on that album would be worth it, all guitars are worth it, in my opinion they have one of the best Heavy Metal Marshalls sounds of all times even today.

[@EugeValovirta230V]

It’s most likely just cranked old Marshalls 😎. Haven’t listened Accept that much but maybe I’ll find time someday to dig deeper into it. Thanks for the suggestion!

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

@@EugeValovirta230V and they use Wizard MC amps now at least for some time now.

[@juanrogelrodriguez8285]

Hello Euge. How do you manage to have so little background noise with such high levels of distortion? Apart from a noise gate that you will surely be using for the moments when the amp does not sound, I mean more in terms of the noise that generates the amplifier and if it is below the signal while you are playing since the noise gate lets it pass along with the interpretation while it is kept open during the execution. Maybe some trick on your part in the electrical installation, stabilizer of voltage or some special ground connection in the electrical installation of your studio for so little noise? Thank you

[@EugeValovirta230V]

Black Lion Audio’s PG-1 Type F Power Conditioner 👌. It powers everything in my studio (with a few hi quality extension boxes) and protects from peaks, keeps the power solid & pretty much noiseless etc. A must have for studios. I used to have a similar Furman in my big live rack back in the days too.

[@juanrogelrodriguez8285]

@@EugeValovirta230V Great, thank you very much, you have really answered my question in an extensive and detailed way and I thank you very much. But I still have doubts and questions, since even with the Black Lion distributing the energy in a clean way to your equipment, the amplifiers when using the channels with distortion and even adding more distortion with the overdrives, they should emit the intrinsic hiss and noise of the high gain channels of the amps, even more so when you add the Boss sd-1 for example, and nothing, I don't hear that noise and gain hiss anywhere, could this be because you have the noise gate decimator or any other noise gate activated continuously in this video? Thanks again Euge!

[@EugeValovirta230V]

I don’t have that much gain on my amps so they’re pretty quiet anyway. People are always surprised, when they play through my gear, that I don’t have that much gain. I just pick really hard and if I play softer it’s fairly clean. It’s all about the dynamics 👌. But yeah I have the Fortin Zuul gate always on with the key input. The gate is set to zero so it’s not really gating at all but just reduces the hiss from pedals (mainly from the SD-1).

[@celestialode]

Always loved the Soldano stuff but the Mark V owned this comparison

[@ilmisxx2]

Euge, thanks for paying attention and using a lower output guitar for a bit. Honestly I could be happy with either amp but Soldano needs a different speaker to open up, mesa cab woth V30's ain't doing it for that amp

[@howtoshootstraighthtss4948]

What would open up a soldano?

[@ilmisxx2]

Anything with less of a mid hump and harshness in the upper mids than V30. Original eminence X12000 are nice but hard to get, I like darker speakers from eminence like texas heat and high headroom speakers like electrovoice 12L. Celestion greenbacks or blackbacks should be nice too, same with creambacks if you like that sound. V30s are awesome for cutting through the mix but they are often painfull when listening to in isolation unless you eq it a bit in post processing

[@EugeValovirta230V]

Thanks! Yeah it works a bit better with Greenbacks etc. but I just wanted to use the same IR with both amps. Even though the IR is based on a Mesa w/ V30s it’s pretty even and works well with pretty much any amp. With some a bit better than with others.

[@Francisco17Berrios]

Now can you do the same but for the Vst counterpart? Please!! :)

[@EugeValovirta230V]

Not familiar with those but enlighten me 😎.

[@Francisco17Berrios]

@@EugeValovirta230V Well, for the Soldano we have the Neural dsp one and for the mark 5 there's the ml sound lab and the ik multimedia :), but those 2 I would say they are not so good hahaha

[@EugeValovirta230V]

Ok 😎

[@jbkivontop]

What difference did you find between the SLO100 and SLO30?

[@EugeValovirta230V]

Wattage, more tubes, bigger transformers etc. = bigger sound 💪😎. But the 30 is pretty damn close.

[@matthewlewis281]

Everyday I’m left wanting the Mesa more and more. I had a rectoverb but didn’t really like it. Currently I own a 2020 Splawn Quickrod(wanted it to be my forever amp) but the mark V sounds so glorious.. I might sell the Splawn and just go for it.

[@EugeValovirta230V]

🤟😎

[@mikedenkinger9570]

How could you not like your Rectoverb? Love my ROV25.....but yes I got the MKV25 too so I would have the whole tea set... The neighborhood loves both amps.

[@EugeValovirta230V]

Not a big fan of Rectos.

[@toxictime9604]

What's that blur actually? 🤔 I'll have to find out 😁

[@EugeValovirta230V]

Check out my latest video 😉.

[@timec818]

Rivera kr100 against mkV would be great to hear 🤘😎

[@EugeValovirta230V]

If I get my hands on one some day 👌.

[@timec818]

@@EugeValovirta230V my kr100 some day when I sent it to you 😊👍

[@SteveHatzman]

Machine Gun Man! Nice!

[@EugeValovirta230V]

😎🤟

[@howardgillingham4763]

More gain isn't always better sometimes less is more

[@EugeValovirta230V]

Indeed 👌.

[@howardgillingham4763]

Most people don't realize that it's old guys figure it out when you start to put the volume to it

[@MoreMeRecording]

I really liked Soldano's SLO100 and (since discontinued?) Lucky 13. I spent about an hour chatting with Micheal back in the 90's and he was a really cool, super knowledgeable guy. During that conversation he had some "choice words" about Randall Smith re the Recto too lol But one of the few video reviews where I don't share the same enthusiasm for an amp. For the clean, this 30 doesn't hang with the Boogie at all IMHO which I would expect as it doesn't have the headroom and Boogie MK series have always had great clean sounds since day one. For the crunch, the bass in this 30 still seems to be too lumpy for me. I could see having to HPF the snot out of it in a mix. The MK5 crunch is also more linear across more frequencies. More balanced. It could be great for some dudes but I just ain't feeling it - Sorry, Mike!

[@EugeValovirta230V]

🤟😎

[@twintriode]

Interesting that Mikey should be pinched about Randall (if that conversation is fact) when the Soldano Custom Amplifier wiki says that the first SLO amps were based off of the Mesa Boogie Mark II. At any rate, yes the Recto tone stack is pretty much the same as the SLO whereas most all other Mesa amps use a Fender style tone stack. Outside of that they all rip each other off even going back to the Marshall JTM45 being a direct ripoff of the Fender Bassman. People need to get over it and just play guitar through some fantastic amps.

[@StratMatt777]

@@twintriode Mesa ripped off the SLO's preamp for the recto. Mike has reason to be annoyed for getting ripped off. In one of the interviews on youtube that Mike did a few years back with somebody after moving the manufacturing to BAD, he was asked about the Mesa preamp being ripped off and he briefly said that was the case. He didn't go into it or act sore about, but he said it was not cool. I can't remember if it was a Rick Beato or someone else. I think it was someone else? I can tell you that Mike made no mention of the recto thing to me the three times I saw him in 2002 or in 2004. He did tell me that he switched to Eminence speakers because Celestion wanted to force him to buy an entire pallet of other types of speakers in addition to the ones he actually wanted. As an example, he'd have to buy an entire pallet of Greenbacks along with each pallet of V30s he bought (or whatever models he used when he was using Celestions). He just didn't make that many amps and didn't want to spend the money for speakers he'd never use. I don't know what a broken in "Soldano" Eminence Legend sounds like, but brand new ones sound awful. The lead tone is all gritty, just like with an Eminence Governor. Yuck! It ruins the best feature of a Soldano's crunch channel: a smooth fluid non-fuzzy non-gritty singing lead tone.

[@twintriode]

@@StratMatt777 I had a Fender HM-4-12 in the early 90's. Those cabs were loaded with Eminence. I didn't hate or love them. I was mostly playing black and silver panel Fender's though and not super hi-gain amps.

[@StratMatt777]

@@twintriode That makes sense. Way back in 2002 when I got my 2x12 from avatar off ebay for $123 it had a vintage 30 and a Eminence Governor in it.... I didn't know anything about speaker break-in I just knew that as soon as I turned the gain on my astroverb to 7 my lead tone turned to fuzzy grit. Break-in could have fixed it. I have no idea??

[@hoschie2261]

Really like the Soldano but the MkV is a bit more refined in the mids.

[@EugeValovirta230V]

👌🤟

[@artsal]

Slo for me I had a few mesas already

[@gtrmusic69]

Marshall for me

[@geomusicmove]

Soldano is very good but Mesa and Marshall are just top notch. I'm biased as am a big Mesa and Marshall fanboy 🙂

[@guitarlair]

Euge, you don't own any Gibsons? If not, why is that???

[@EugeValovirta230V]

I have one LP standard. I like ESPs & Tokais more. They really know how to build high quality instruments in Japan which isn’t always the case with, for example, Gs.

[@radio5051]

I preferred the 800.

[@EugeValovirta230V]

Hard to beat those old mofos 😎💪.

[@austind321]

Mmmm Machine Gun Man. One of my all time favorites.

[@EugeValovirta230V]

Likewise 👌😎.

[@oldguyjammin9732]

Mesa for me as soon as you hit ‘crunch tones’ ~ tighter

[@EugeValovirta230V]

🤟

[@fritzhieke7209]

a Buuuugiiii

[@Moirchester]

Pepita is trying to take some notes :)

[@EugeValovirta230V]

Like always 😎.

[@Moirchester]

@@EugeValovirta230V He is not very bright, but he tries hard to learn.

[@gab.lab.martins]

The clean on the Mark is fantastic. I prefer my clean tones to be 100% clean, but even with the little breakup the comparison is not even close. The Soldano sounds muddy and muffled. The Mark V is the closest that a non-Fender has gotten to a Fender clean. On high gain, the IIC+ mode destroys the SLO as well. But the real winner, with zero surprise, is the ZW800. HOT DAYUM that amp is juicy. Marshalls are superior.

[@EugeValovirta230V]

👌💪🎼

[@nonamejustbecause-b9k]

CONSIDERING BOTH AMPS were directly designed by modding a Mark 2C+ I would bet they sound ALIKE!!!

[@soldierbreakneck771]

Boogie - total victory on all chains all channels. Soldano has suprisingly poor sound compare to it. Like solid state amp compare to tube amp. I did not expect that to be true. Marshall it's Marshall - hands down. Sound is always killer.

[@EugeValovirta230V]

Marshall is Marshall. Hard to beat 💪👊😎.

[@robertmazurowski5974]

JCM 800 is The best hands down. With the abundance of load boxes today, the High Gain heads with preamp-based sounds don't make sense anymore. These high gain heads just try to emulate the 800 and Plexi cranked. Controversial Opinion Warning: I think a cranked 800 sounds better than even Friedman Deluxe. The Fridman replicates the sound nicely with a preamp on low volume, but with loadboxes what is the point?

[@EugeValovirta230V]

800 2203 was my first tube amp and still the one I use the most. Hard to beat those old workhorses💪😎.

[@pasinykanen2731]

Noh... Sanoit yli 20 vuotta sitten, että et käytä Mesaa, koska soundi on täydellinen. No tässä vertailussa kännykän kaiuttimilla Mesa pöllyttelee Soldanon miun mielestä. Soldanon soundista tykkääjiä on varmasti ja hyvä niin. Hemmetin hyvä soundi siinäkin.

[@EugeValovirta230V]

😁😁😁. Mä sanoin varmaan aika paljon muutakin dorkaa 20 vuotta sitten 😎. Ei mitään täydellistä ole olemassakaan, mutta lähimmäks pääsi varmaan silloin ja pääsee edelleen vanha kunnon JCM800 2203. Ainakin mulle 👌💪😎.

[@nonamejustbecause-b9k]

For those of you that DO NOT KNOW>>>and Euge seems to NOT know...THE SOLDANO SLO WAS IN FACT a modded 2c+...(Soldano has said many things over the years...one is he bought a 2c+ and hated it so modified the design....and then there is the truth...he bought and modded (accidentally) the Mark 2c+...he was doing experiments with gain and came up with a sweetener...accidentally....(his words)..he even said it was a 2c+..he was modding...so who ripped off who MIKE SOLDANO>>> SEEMS LIKE YOU RIPPED MESA>>>THEY RETURNED THE FAVOR>>AND YOU GOT FAMOUS WHINING ABOUT IT!!!!...just so you get to know the actual evolution of the amps and do not take Soldanos word...because he is the only one speaking to it and he lies!!!!

[@howardgillingham4763]

Boogies are more my sound, maybe the 100 watt SLO would open up

[@EugeValovirta230V]

🤟

[@skundini4999]

The Mesa sounded better

[@howardgillingham4763]

Mesa then marshall

[@jameslugo]

The Mesa killed the slo imo. I made a record with the slo 30 and the sound of that amp wore me out. To much mid.