The full ASTRO 20 story: Mike Soldano, Ryan "Fluff" Bruce and Evan Foster talk details

The legendary Mike Soldano sat down with his friends Ryan "Fluff" Bruce and Evan Foster to discuss how the Astro 20 came about.
The ASTRO-20 is a 3-channel, 4-Galaxy, Built-In-USA amplifier that combines authentic all-tube tone with features ideal for today’s modern guitarist.
Mike Soldano designed this sonic powerhouse to be a fully featured versatile 20w guitar amplifier. The ASTRO-20 can also be used as a stand-alone cab-less amplifier ideal for live sound, rehearsal and studio recording sessions, thanks to the DSP powered IR cabinet simulation.
The simple front panel design of the ASTRO-20 lets you save any combination of the channels, Galaxies, and IRs and quickly recall them with the included 4-button MIDI footswitch. The free downloadable Soldano Editor Software makes organizing presets and integrating your own IRs fast and easy.

[@-plexico-]

Have it. Love it. And most importantly, Mike is back! 20th and 21st Century Tone Jedi. Thank you.

[@IamMusicNerd]

Best sounding amp under $2k I have ever played. Absolutely awesome.

[@rodrigomachado900]

If Mike promoted and marketed its products like Mesa boogie did in the 2000's with its rectifier copy of Soldano SLO, the Soldano Brand now could be Huge.

[@Altarofpigs]

This has always been the problem with Soldano. He made an undeniably legendary amp, but had to compete in the market as a singular boutique builder making HIGH dollar products against major brands like Marshall and Mesa, who could afford to undercut him + advertise him right out of the water. Maybe you get a 100 famous players to buy one and they all say it’s the best, and get em in magazine spreads or on posters. When Marshall knocks in the door of saying “here’s a half dozen JCM 800s + our new JCM 900s and a wall of cabinets to take on tour, also we can cut you a check if you go with us exclusively” it’s a wrap. He was fighting a money game and couldn’t compete, especially with the economy of scale and profit margins those brands were able to achieve. That’s ignoring if he wanted to stand on his ethics and not pay people to play his stuff, always seemed like a good man.

[@ngronlund]

Seems like you could replace several amp heads with this since it has such a wide range of great tones.

[@user-jq4fz6co8b]

Out of all the crazy amounts of amps that have been hitting the market over the last few years, this and the H&K Grandmeister 40 are really killing everything when it comes to value. "Gamechanger" gets thrown around A LOT these days, but these two amps are 100% deserving of the title.

[@user-lv9nh8wf3r]

How does this Soldano Astro-20 watts compare with the EVH 5150iii 50 watts? Next question: in a live gig at a medium-size pub with a loud drummer and NO mic on my speakers, could this Soldano Astro-20 watts keep up with a loud drummer in terms of volume?

[@fritzhieke7209]

For one second I thought I clicked on a "Curb your enthusiasm" episode.

[@JimsMusicJourney]

I am guessing this amp is the reason that the Synergy IR20 was not released at NAMM 24. I would prefer the possible versatility of the Synergy exchangeable preamp. I will wait and compare the two.

[@abnerpgonz]

damn I think i might just have to sell off my 5150iii stealth for this..... this thing is like a dream amp

[@Ontariosound]

Wonder why there is no Standby Switch. Are the power tubes running at a low voltage ?

[@Bullittbl]

Because it doesn't need one.

[@pbosche]

So galaxies… I think I finally understand. Kinda like Revv calls aggression modes. And essentially a channel selector within a selected channel 🤣

[@PainterDans]

Soldanao with a built in reactive load and ir’s for $2000 , not bad at all

[@Paul-is7th]

Is it cathode biased?

[@rickyricardo9917]

SLO 30 for the win, just more raw, Astro sounds kinda digital to my ears

[@jayl5941]

Weird using a guy like fluff for this. 😊

[@SpectralUltra]

Is this the fucking iPhone of guitar amps? :D

[@flobeeonekinobee2353]

Boss katana £150 second hand

[@Mitch.Engel84]

bruh, really? Not even in the same galaxy (see what I did there?!) as this. Worlds apart.

[@19581998]

Why on earth would someone intentionally call themselves “Fluff” unless they are in the Porn Industry?

[@EdBenji]

Stupid price tag for a 20w production amp!

[@scottdunn2178]

I don't care what it sounds like... $1,995 for a little 20w head with two 6V6's is absolutely ridiculous. You should be getting a full size 100w head for that kind of money.

[@BenBreard]

I mean I don't disagree that it's a lot of money, but 1) no one buys a Soldano as a budget amp. 2) the price is on par (for better or worse) with the other offerings from B.A.D. like Friedman & Toneking. It fits where the dollar is now - which is a little depressing.

[@ngronlund]

Made in USA with digitally controlled analog functionality.

[@scottdunn2178]

@@ngronlund They saw you coming a mile away. What they're doing to you is the equivalent to shrinkflation; you're paying more but getting less. The 20w Marshall heads are a prime example... they want you to think you're getting something the equivalent to its full size counterpart... so they've got you suckers shucking out $1,300+ for a dinky little 20w "JCM800" or "DSL" head; literally what a real, full size JCM 2000 would have cost you a few years ago. It's a joke.

[@ngronlund]

Enjoy your new Bugera.@@scottdunn2178

[@omarheavy2009]

Here in Europe 🇪🇺 costs 2300€ = 2508$ 😅