SOLDANO SLO 100 - Does It Live Up To The Hype?

In today's video, Paul Drew from The Studio Rats is checking out the Soldano SLO 100. this guitar amp was my dream amp back in the early 90's and since SOLDANO re-released in 2019 I've been excited to try it.
This amp was used by all my guitar heroes from Gary Moore to Mark Knopfler to Eric Clapton as well as a bunch of 80s shredders, and became one of the most versatile amps of its time due to it having fantastic cleans and awesome high gain tones.
To check out our TONEX Captures of the SOLDANO SLO 100
www.thestudiorats.net/product...
To check out our QUAD CORTEX Captures of the SOLDANO SLO 100
www.thestudiorats.net/product...
Link below to buy an SOLDANO SLO 100
thmn.to/thoprod/485747?offid=...
Link below to buy an SOLDANO SLO 30
thmn.to/thoprod/485757?offid=...
Link below to buy an SOLDANO SLO Overdrive pedal
thmn.to/thoprod/552093?offid=...
Here is what SOLDANO say about the SLO 100
Soldano’s Super Lead Overdrive 100 (SLO-100) set the standard for modern high-gain amplification. It all started in 1987, when Seattle-native Mike Soldano built one of the first high-gain amp heads with searing harmonics and the perfect balance of gain, sustain and tight touch response. Soon after Mike moved to Los Angeles and displayed his revolutionary amp at the 1987 NAMM show. It didn’t take long for the industry to take notice. The now legendary SLO-100 had arrived!
The SLO completely changed what players came to expect from amps. They shelved their old amps and replaced them with this foot-switchable 100-watt monster, loaded with player-friendly features. While the amp’s drive channel found it backing up renowned rock guitarists like Mick Mars (Motley Crue), Warren de Martini (Ratt), and Howard Leese (Heart), its clear and tactile clean channel and bluesy crunch also made the SLO the first choice for non-metal stalwarts, such as Mark Knopfler, Eric Clapton, Warren Haynes, Gary Moore and Lou Reed to name a few. Today, the amp’s tone and steadfast reliability remains a go-to for thousands of guitarists around the world.
The Studio Rats are core band members Paul Drew on guitar/production/mixing, drummer James Ivey and Dan Hawkins on bass. They collaborate with singers and musicians to produce radio-ready songs.
#soldano #soldanoamplifiers #soldanoslo100

[@cyanidejunkie]

1:30 hilarious. You Sir, have a fantastic sense of humor. Had to comment before I even finished watching. Lol.

[@jimmccall8030]

I finally bought one a year ago and it’s my favorite amp overall - best lead tones I’ve ever gotten

[@LucasMastropasqua]

The SLO will always be one of my top 5 favs! They added DC Heaters to these new generation amps which for the non-amp tech savvy means a potentially less noisy amp.

[@limpeacock573]

Great demo! Thanks Paul.

[@speedyeg-guitars-playlists4800]

When I watch live performances at festivals or in halls, I usually see Marshall. In studios, depending on the style of music, I sometimes see Fender or FOX. The German brand ENGL is rarely seen and when it is, it is usually with European or German bands. ENGL has been around since 1983. They are not as expensive as Soldano, but they are not cheap either.

[@mendelrocks]

Clean tones not expected when clicking on this video, but then again, you are Paul and found us some sparkle before the wicked!

[@anmolatwal]

Exactly, all other videos have been so focused on the gain channel, rightfully so, that they ignored the clean channel, and made it sound plinky and generic... This sounds brilliant!!

[@KajHeGeHaggman]

Lovely cleans!

[@garywaddell6309]

Gotta be my fav amp, sounds awesome with all of your guitars Paul! Crunch tone is amazing and with your Les Paul, oh my ❤

[@jayboy6895]

Hi Paul. You’re certainly the big brother of the family now mate. Congratulations. Well deserved. Sounds bad ass. All you need is a Tyler studio elite. You really need to check out the series parallel switching. You’re welcome to use mine. Enjoy

[@irishplucker]

Sounds great...i am running my 2001 SLO through 2 Marshall 4x12 Cabs...its a sobering experience...the harmonic richness of the gain really flatters your playing and pushes you to play better....iconic amp.

[@timnatrajan]

Would love an SLO 100. This is the best tone I’ve heard from you on this channel. I once played one in a store about 20 years ago and it was the best thing I’d ever heard!

[@TheStudioRats]

Cool, thanks!

[@Peter_Stoops]

I got my first SLO in 2008, been rockin’ em ever since. I agree with all that you said here. I am loading my Soldano’s down in my studio, Fryette Power Station or Captor X, I run them pretty hard, they open up more with the volume past the halfway mark🔥🔥🔥🎸🎸🎸

[@petergedd9330]

The dynamics sound lovely, snappy, silky top end and zero flubber on the bottom, lots of sustain on the overdrive without mud, deffo a game changer. I can definitely hear Room 335 in there, it's got that silvery sound on the tops and a beautiful tension in the string that you can control, lovely!!

[@Ronscoolthings]

These tones from this amp sound heavenly.

[@tyroneenglish8396]

It’s amazing. But at that price, it should play the riffs for me.

[@danpena7922]

It better clean the house and cut my yard too!

[@hanovergreen4091]

Using same settings, my Neural SLO100 sounds the same. Good fidelity/reality check. Thank You for the walkthrough on an amp I will touch but love the sound of Best Regards and Best Wishes!

[@TheStudioRats]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Chucksguitargeekery]

All I know is that with every modeler I’ve used through the years, whenever one had a SLO100 model it was always my favorite.

[@BenjaminGoude]

Reminds me of an American Thunderverb. The high gain sounds have always been lackluster to me, but I also love my 5150 and a tighter tone. The low gain sounds of this amp are surprisingly really nice and smooth though!

[@chromebuoy]

Lovin that Steve Vai riff, maximum meat! 🤘

[@deddiev1718]

You can go Round and Round with this Amp

[@deddiev1718]

What makes many of the amps he tries sound similar is either the same speaker or IR

[@MadMagicPaul]

Are the Tonex captures with or without a cab? What cab / IR did you use in this video please? Sounded amazing!

[@TheRodge2112]

Can't speak to the amp, but the pedal is very nice! A lot of upper harmonics and character and cleans up like a champ. Good stuff, Paul!

[@TheStudioRats]

Yeah the pedal is fantastic

[@robertaustin1945]

The amp that slays them all

[@rwest8905]

Waiting to hear that Strat in the high gain mode. Thanks.

[@jfoquendo]

Ive beem following this channel for years and never suspected i would have seen 1:28 I cant stop laughing ! THANK YOU !

[@TheStudioRats]

yeah no one needs to see that!

[@ThomasOnGuitar]

The QC Captures sound great man! 👍To anyone thinking about buying these. They sound stellar.😎

[@TheStudioRats]

Glad you like them! Cheers

[@deddiev1718]

There are less expensive hidden gems out there. It’s a lifelong journey

[@chrisw5742]

WANGS?

[@mattsefton]

Sounds amazing as it always did. Would love to hear it side by side with my 1987 Jubilee

[@TheStudioRats]

Ooh nice!

[@robertlevasseur8896]

I would too!

[@midnight4u]

Part of the original hype or sound (whichever one prefers) of the SLO back in the day was due to the custom wound DeYoung transformers. Which at the time when the company was still owned by Mike Soldano and the amps where hand-wired were only available on the SLO model. I couldn't tell from the video, do these new models still have the DeYoung?

[@cwness4587]

Don't regret getting my SLO 30 and it's not cheap. If I want more room I just add my Fryette Power Station. Cooking little setup.

[@deltafit]

Sounds great. Are you using an IR for this recording? If so do you mind saying which one?

[@tymanngruter1808]

And that with a custom shop strat...... iff you will know how heaven SOUNDS? Goosebumps all over! ♨️♨️♨️

[@anderskarlsson7152]

What version of Tonex (max, CS etcetera) do I need to be able to use those Tonex captures?

[@yairraz9894]

What speaker cab did you use for this demo?

[@hometycoon1]

Any suggestions for the best cab or IR with this amp please?

[@lostinpa-dadenduro7555]

It sounds big.

[@AzaelVI]

Run a eq in the effects loop (I recommend the Mesa Boogie 5 band pedal) and an 808 TS in the front on the amp and listen to it go from a great sound to OMG.

[@jesterraj]

Whats skeaker in the cab u used

[@DeadReckoner]

How do you think it compares to a Mark V 90?

[@bodefosho]

The SLO-30 is absolutely brilliant, the same amp in a more usable package IMHO.

[@vonbleak101]

100% Agree - These days you really dont need a 100w beast of an amp... The 30w version is more than enough for most people these days...

[@markspin4596]

And made in China...

[@TheStudioRats]

@markspin4596 no it made in USA

[@markspin4596]

@@TheStudioRats News to me.

[@user-bf5zd2wt1v]

@@markspin4596Why would you think it was made in China, they have always been made in the USA

[@DigitalViperGaming]

I want to play that Strat just one time. :)

[@speedyeg-guitars-playlists4800]

The only time I saw a Band using Soldano was Blondie (Rapture) in 2018 and the first time the drummer playing in a plexiglass booth. To me a sign of perfection on the highest level. I was not surprised. That's Debbie and Blondie. They do it that way or they don't give a live performance at all. The Video is in my channel.

[@SeanGould]

I have an ac30 and a twin but this is the clean sound I’ve been looking for - which I’ve never heard anyone else get from a Soldano. Was about to buy a Bogner and now not sure. Decisions….

[@TheStudioRats]

Ive had both the slo and a Ecstasy and i prefer the SLO. It doesnt have as much gain as the xtc but in my opinion its more versatile.

[@31415926535ism]

You won’t be playing that cranked in the same room as the speakers! My original nearly deafened me! What an amp, you must experience it in a stack.

[@HEZ63]

I preferred the SL-60, while I completely dislike the SL-30 or the Astro. But, in direct comparison a regular JVM 410H would be my first choice much more, not only, but also because of the price.

[@darrylweller6143]

How does this compare to the Bloomfield drive? Which would you prefer?

[@TheStudioRats]

Very different beasts. The Bloomfield has way less gain. Both great, just different.

[@GmanMusicProductions]

The closest I'll ever get to a SLO 100 is the Synergy SLO module. Which gets those OD tones in spades at an affordable price. The clean/crunch channel would be a great pedal platform for sure.

[@mad24r45]

Good thing is that will get you very close indeed. I use the module in a Synergy top for years now. The SLO mostly lives from the preamp concept anyways, I can highly recommend the module. *trevia: Synergy and the current Soldanos are made in the same factory. The tech lead behind Synergy and Soldano there was Peter Arends who moved on to Bad Cat in the meantime, not Mike Soldano. The SLO Module and the SLO 100 are coming from the same hands and ears.

[@GmanMusicProductions]

@@mad24r45 Agreed, I have the SLO module along with other modules from Synergy and Egnater. Covers all my tone quest.

[@azharkhan8796]

Still no Satriani riffs, Paul? 😅

[@daviddixon7326]

How would you rate that vs the MezzaBarba Skill 30 you demo’d not too long ago?

[@TheStudioRats]

The Mezzabarba had more gain and if I’m honest, just a good as the Soldano.

[@SluggerStark]

I had an early 90's SLO 100 and also owned a Mezzabarba Trinity 100 a couple years ago. You can definitely hear the Soldano influence in the Mezzabarba, but it is a bit more modern in voicing, more gain and tighter. The SLO is a bit more open, punchier and had more "give" in the feel department.

[@vonbleak101]

Not sure if you need the 100w version these days - But yeah Soldano are the best, period haha...

[@TheConspiracytheory1]

Still the greatest Amp made in my opinion and one i'll never get to have :( i have many marshalls and blackstars and multiple pedals and i still can't get this awesome tone ..... oh well back to the dream i guess

[@Casinofire1]

If only guitar players would grow a pair and play loud tube amps again!

[@satch4u3]

I thought that I read somewhere that the SLO-100 was loosely based on and inspired by a Dual Rectifier

[@oioi909]

The Rectifier is a copy of the SLO with a different power section. SLO 1987 - Rectifier 1992

[@TheStudioRats]

I’ve tried rectifiers and they don’t sound like this. But yes I’ve that as well.

[@satch4u3]

@@oioi909Ahh I stand corrected. Had it backwards!

[@zachtheguitarmaniac]

No. It's the other way around... the Mesa Dual Rectifier preamp is almost identical to the SLO... it's in the power amp where Mesa cheapened out/deviated... and in the end, also what gives the recto it's different tone.

[@deddiev1718]

Paul you should get a Tyler

[@TheStudioRats]

You’re not the first person to say that.

[@jjdubois6101]

What pickups are in that strat?

[@TheStudioRats]

They are ancho Pablano

[@ivicapavlovic3879]

Nice dynamics but I do not understand why it is so expensive. I was ready to buy one in the ninties but somebody told me then tha they usually sound very different and when try one and love, buy that unit, otherwise, yeah you know what I mean,….

[@mrnorbotron3308]

8:13 "Mesaba" ?

[@claudiopetucco]

mezzabarba

[@zachtheguitarmaniac]

Every amp you demo just sounds the same pretty much with varying degrees of gain. You seem to dial them in pretty similar when going for what you want to hear in your head. Makes sense, and my only observation is that your tones usually sound very "close mic'd"... so give your sounds a dose of a good room plugin and add some depth and sense of space. If you are using the same IR's for most of your demos... also try varying them. In my experience... If you have amps of the same "type" ...be it 6L6, EL34, 6V6, etc. and compare them all through the same recorded cabinet.... you can get them to sound almost the same really. The commonality of the cabinet and tube type between them can really make them redundant sound wise. Same with IR's as physical cabinets.

[@danpena7922]

Get the Nueral sim.. It's just as good and only. 100 bucks and 50 on sale! Fact! Unless you want to spend 4 grand plus tax. Of course if you have the coin and that's your thing. Go for it! It's great looking at it in you bedroom whilst you are jamming with a nice wig on. :) Hey! Doctors and Lawyers need amps too!

[@italoop7850]

Oh yes! AxeFX and Kemper MY ASS!!!!

[@markusm.8302]

I guess many are asking themselves the question, whether the SLO-30 is enough for them

[@TheStudioRats]

Absolutely, many people say its just as good.

[@user-by6eb6zo7g]

It is a great amp, but I don't know if lives up to 'god like' hype guitar influencers and corksniffers claim. I've owned and SLO and lucky 13, fantastic amps, but the "Best AMP EVER" talk annoys me to no end when it comes down to a use base and preference of tone. You sound great with it though!

[@Johnny-oy9fh]

Turn it up to 7 on the master and wail....that's what it's for....

[@Varone26]

If it’s a one all be all solution, it’s worth the price considering it covers everything. You won’t need any other amp. But really, majority of people only need a SLO30. 100 watts for home use or recording is pointless.

[@toliskoskinas]

Back in '86 (I think), Mike thought "what if I use the best available components and build this amp that doesn't really copy an effin Marshall / Fender ?" And he made it. I had one and it was a religious experience. I am really happy for you Paul, please stay hydrated and nourished while you're on this gorgeous honeymoon phase 😄🤩🎸🎸🎸

[@curtspoerer4424]

This amp has to be played thru a cab not a load box and ir’s . There is a whole other experience thru a cab. And yes I owned one and an SLO30 so I know all too well…

[@TheCSteve]

this amp is cool , but 4000 dollar is too much .. even my car i lower priced 🤣

[@Johnny-oy9fh]

Yep....used to be my dream amp 30 years ago...totally unusable now sadly

[@Ca_milo_G]

mmm NO!! for that price go to original

[@martinopinto6323]

Listen this is a great amp, but Idk, I never liked his tone, it has that aggressive midrange bite that makes it sound like a cheap multi fx.. I'm sorry, it's just my hot take😂

[@ted501]

to me~ 4000... pcb circuit ??? ,,, sucks

[@marcopanza1011]

Components are still mounted by hand on pcb…the pcb does not mean lower quality…it all depends on the quality of the pcb itself…and many so called point to point amps made today are not really point to point but they are ‘turret pcb contruction’ cause point to point construction has all components on air without any board….people do not know it and thinks that turret pcb construction is point to point…no way at all

[@ted501]

@marcopanza1011 that's just your argument... everyone has a very different set of values. I feel it at my fingertips and I feel it in my ears... it's not important because you don't feel it. even if you feel it's a matter of how important the difference is to you...

[@marcopanza1011]

@@ted501 it’s not my argument…current ‘point to point amps’ ARE NOT POINT TO POINT but ‘turret pcb construction’..real point to point is the one you find in old VOX and MATCHLESS amps with components only connected by wires and without any board….document yourself…and pcb construction is not automatically bad quality at all…ask some of the best and most famous techs around and they will confirm…then it’s your opinion and you can think what you want

[@ted501]

@marcopanza1011 yes, think as you like... & I'm also using old matchless well

[@marcopanza1011]

@@ted501 i do not think you got the point..or maybe we’re not understainding each other…from a technical point of view well done pcb construction like in Friedman, Mezzabarba or o ther big techs companies are not inferior to point to point construction…and that is somethings confirmed by every tech on the planet who knows something…then come personal preferences

[@alexhedstrom582]

No it is not.

[@stoofbuis]

My diezel vh4 is way more versatile and 1000 euro cheaper.........so the soldano must be over priced,

[@harrybee3093]

Please Paul: some new chords-even you can learn it. 🙂

[@nicholasguitars5527]

No its not. The Neural DSP plugin is $100 and sounds better 🙂

[@TheStudioRats]

Interesting

[@chromebuoy]

I have the Sim and it ain't sounding anything like this and it won't its digital, zero tubes.....its the poor man's SLO but it does a half decent job.

[@nicholasguitars5527]

@@chromebuoy everyone’s ears are different.

[@maxs.5163]

Bad cat, friedman, rivera, mezzabarba better and cheaper.

[@TheCyberMantis]

No amp is worth that price.

[@gbkiller007]

No

[@uziforyoutosay1749]

Meh

[@giosundance5643]

“Theres a sucker born every minute” if you buy it you’re the sucker

[@beautifulguitars3158]

Why?

[@giosundance5643]

@@beautifulguitars3158 no amp is worth 4k.