El Toro's Official Guitarded Thread...

[ElToro]

That or a tube rack preamp like the old Marshall 9001.

[lerxstcat]

As far as "modding," I asked him about gain, and he said I would need to use a pedal, which I thought was funny, since he said

the ear and the expertise to design just about any circuit on these Vintage Platforms

Duh, then why don't you whip up a gain one?

although he did say the smaller ones in the 15w range are 100-150 bucks.

Bound to sound better than the average Crate for that price.

They are probably used to the vintage amp market who are not that into high gain. They also probably don't want to punch new tube socket holes into existing chassis for more gain stages. They could always use clipping diodes like the 2-channel JCM800s did though. They probably just havent gotten enough demand to think about incorporating that, but with the high quality parts they use and you can get a 15 watt model for $150, I'd stick my SD-1 in front of it and I bet it'd sound good! I just got a Jet City 20W head though and I'm pretty happy with it so far. It does take a pedal for modern metal tones but it has more gain than I thought it would from the Youtube demos. It'll do 80s metal on its own - but you don't really buy a 20Watt EL84-based amp for thrash or death metal anyway.

[wattage13]

I have the Egnater Tweaker combo and it is a killer little amp. I've used it mostly for recording and practicing but I have sat in a few times with some friends and I was shcoked how well it cut it live. It is a powerful 15wts for sure.

[PrÎck]

As far as "modding," I asked him about gain, and he said I would need to use a pedal, which I thought was funny, since he said

the ear and the expertise to design just about any circuit on these Vintage Platforms

Duh, then why don't you whip up a gain one?

although he did say the smaller ones in the 15w range are 100-150 bucks.

Bound to sound better than the average Crate for that price.

They are probably used to the vintage amp market who are not that into high gain. They also probably don't want to punch new tube socket holes into existing chassis for more gain stages. They could always use clipping diodes like the 2-channel JCM800s did though. They probably just havent gotten enough demand to think about incorporating that, but with the high quality parts they use and you can get a 15 watt model for $150, I'd stick my SD-1 in front of it and I bet it'd sound good! I just got a Jet City 20W head though and I'm pretty happy with it so far. It does take a pedal for modern metal tones but it has more gain than I thought it would from the Youtube demos. It'll do 80s metal on its own - but you don't really buy a 20Watt EL84-based amp for thrash or death metal anyway.

I know what you're saying. As far as punching another whole, they're already "ruining" the amp anyways. but yeah, I could polly just run a pod throught it.

I liked the idea of Jet city, but wasn't thrilled enough to buy it.

I do have the yamaha version of a budget Soldano though.

[ElToro]

The Yamaha? The TT-50?

[PrÎck]

Yeah, a t50c. Personally, I liked the head better. But the combo I got was pristine. even had the original yamaha tubes, and footswitch.

My only bitch is no boost. Two independent channels, but neither has boost. but you can go from a tweed fender w/ heavy reverb, to a screaming boogie.

[ElToro]

I really liked the combo. I wish I hadn't sold mine. I guess you need to use a pedal boost, huh?1

[PrÎck]

I usually prefer the amp's boost better than a pedal. You can still get the same type thing by dialing up the two channels. Reverb on/off would of course be good. It's got good reverb too.

The only mod I did was a vintage 30, and of course, tubes. I guess the combo is kind of cool, since you can be a little quieter, since they are loud as fuck. When I got the head, it was pretty good shape, at $225. This was about '96 or so. And I had it forced on me. I mean come on, a yamaha amp with a bunch of fuckin knobs. But oh yeah, I used a 1965b cab, like for the artist series marshall. Definely felt the difference between that, and the stock head. I played it next to a brand new Mesa DC5, and it was definitely better.
When I decided to get the combo a couple years ago, I wasn't quite so lucky on the price. But it was still a hell of a lot cheaper than anything that sounds close.

[ElToro]

Any idea why they stopped making it?

[Suite 16 Guitarist]

Got BBE Green Screamer...should I have got the tube Screamer TS9? Anybody goof with these?

[lerxstcat]

Any idea why they stopped making it?

Just guessing that Yamaha is not a big name in amplifiers generally. They probably thought a Soldano design would break them into the market and it didn't work out for them. Their guitars are superb IMO though, so why wouldn't the amp be too? I've heard great things about the T-50 and T-100; that they don't exactly sound like the real Soldanos but that they're great amps in their own right. That's from people who own the SLO-100 and Hot Rod 50 Soldanos, pretty credible reports.

[ElToro]

Ihave such a jones for that sound know... killing me!

[PrÎck]

Lots of things will get that sound, just not as cheap. I was gonna give it to my nephew, but fortunately, he got a MkIII.
"Fortunately" because I already gave him my strat, a plus with sperzels & a DG20

[ElToro]

Can I be your nephew?

[PrÎck]

you tell me

http://www.reverbnation.com/artist/song_details/7589591

BTW, he recorded that shit on a squire, with a solid state amp.

[ElToro]

Good job! So,now the kid's armed with a Strat and a Boogie... go to it!

[PrÎck]

He scored, he's got nothing to bitch about tonewise.

[Liquid Boom Boom]

hey guys...I'm in need of a good Looper. I had the small boss pedal but it sounded like shit on my amp. I can put a few bucks into it, not looking for the cheapest option, but a really good one.

I just want to be able to throw some chord changes down and play over it through my amp.

One question...you don't need another amp for this do you? Playing a Soldano head through a marshall cab....thanks guys!

[lerxstcat]

hey guys...I'm in need of a good Looper. I had the small boss pedal but it sounded like shit on my amp. I can put a few bucks into it, not looking for the cheapest option, but a really good one.

I just want to be able to throw some chord changes down and play over it through my amp.

One question...you don't need another amp for this do you? Playing a Soldano head through a marshall cab....thanks guys!

I know you were joking, but... I assume you are using the looper through the effects loop? Soldanos are great amps who are known to have crappy effects loops. They were put in kind of as an afterthought on an amp that was designed to be plugged straight into. Mesa Rectos are another example of a great amp with a crappy effects loop put in as an afterthought. You might want to look into getting the loop modded if you really love that amp. Tell them what you want it for and they will probabl;y know what they need to do to it.

[PrÎck]

I figured he means being able to play along to something? If so, going through your effects loop sounds like the wrong way. Especially if it has any other instrument. I just wank to the stereo, or even my laptop.

[Liquid Boom Boom]

hey guys...I'm in need of a good Looper. I had the small boss pedal but it sounded like shit on my amp. I can put a few bucks into it, not looking for the cheapest option, but a really good one.

I just want to be able to throw some chord changes down and play over it through my amp.

One question...you don't need another amp for this do you? Playing a Soldano head through a marshall cab....thanks guys!

I know you were joking, but... I assume you are using the looper through the effects loop? Soldanos are great amps who are known to have crappy effects loops. They were put in kind of as an afterthought on an amp that was designed to be plugged straight into. Mesa Rectos are another example of a great amp with a crappy effects loop put in as an afterthought. You might want to look into getting the loop modded if you really love that amp. Tell them what you want it for and they will probabl;y know what they need to do to it.

I did put the pedal through the effects loop and it sucked, I put it out front and it sucked just as bad. The rest of my pedals sound great out front.

I just want to be able to play, lets say..."Rock N' Roll" by Zep, record the rhythm and wank on top of it...for example. Sorry if its a really dumb question, but that's what you guys are for! Thanks in advance.

[ElToro]

Try the Line6 looper.

[lerxstcat]

hey guys...I'm in need of a good Looper. I had the small boss pedal but it sounded like shit on my amp. I can put a few bucks into it, not looking for the cheapest option, but a really good one.

I just want to be able to throw some chord changes down and play over it through my amp.

One question...you don't need another amp for this do you? Playing a Soldano head through a marshall cab....thanks guys!

I know you were joking, but... I assume you are using the looper through the effects loop? Soldanos are great amps who are known to have crappy effects loops. They were put in kind of as an afterthought on an amp that was designed to be plugged straight into. Mesa Rectos are another example of a great amp with a crappy effects loop put in as an afterthought. You might want to look into getting the loop modded if you really love that amp. Tell them what you want it for and they will probabl;y know what they need to do to it.

I did put the pedal through the effects loop and it sucked, I put it out front and it sucked just as bad. The rest of my pedals sound great out front.

I just want to be able to play, lets say..."Rock N' Roll" by Zep, record the rhythm and wank on top of it...for example. Sorry if its a really dumb question, but that's what you guys are for! Thanks in advance.

http://www.premierguitar.com/Magazine/I ... ssues.aspx

Here's a good article that covers some effects loop issues. Soldanos have line-level only effects loops that are designed for line-level rack gear only. Some loops have selectable levels so you can set them for pedals or for line-level rackmount gear. Some even have input and output level controls, but most selectable level effects loops will have a 2 or 3-way switch. Not sure which model Soldano you have, but there are mods to the effects loop available. I have a feeling you are gonna have the same problem with any looper until you address the effects loop. A looper is a time-based device like a delay, so it should be in the loop, but that amp's loop is for rackmount devices and not pedals, so it's gonna sound bad in the effects loop or through the front of the amp.

By the way, there's no such thing as a dumb question. AS an alternative to modding your effects loop, you may want to look for a looper pedal that has a level switch. I don't know if that's available, but if you can find one that has a switch for line level as well as pedal level, that might solve your problem too. Either way, a level mismatch is gonna sound bad!

[Sleek]

I just want to be able to play, lets say..."Rock N' Roll" by Zep, record the rhythm and wank on top of it...for example. Sorry if its a really dumb question, but that's what you guys are for! Thanks in advance.

Sounds ghey to me.

You should probably just put an ad in craigslist that says: want to jam on Zep?

Social skills are a marvelous thing...

[ElToro]

I just want to be able to play, lets say..."Rock N' Roll" by Zep, record the rhythm and wank on top of it...for example. Sorry if its a really dumb question, but that's what you guys are for! Thanks in advance.

Sounds ghey to me.

You should probably just put an ad in craigslist that says: want to jam on Zep?

Social skills are a marvelous thing...

Not everyone wants a douchebag second guitar player.

[Sleek]

I just want to be able to play, lets say..."Rock N' Roll" by Zep, record the rhythm and wank on top of it...for example. Sorry if its a really dumb question, but that's what you guys are for! Thanks in advance.

Sounds ghey to me.

You should probably just put an ad in craigslist that says: want to jam on Zep?

Social skills are a marvelous thing...

Not everyone wants a douchebag second guitar player.

Never said second guitar player...Page didn't have one...and he managed to play some Zep...

[Liquid Boom Boom]

I jam with a drummer friend of mine in the garage...its just the two of us and was thinking of filling some space.

[lerxstcat]

I just want to be able to play, lets say..."Rock N' Roll" by Zep, record the rhythm and wank on top of it...for example. Sorry if its a really dumb question, but that's what you guys are for! Thanks in advance.

Sounds ghey to me.

You should probably just put an ad in craigslist that says: want to jam on Zep?

Social skills are a marvelous thing...

Weren't you just demonstrating your cool harmonizer? How is that so different?

[Suite 16 Guitarist]

recently aquired a Electro harmonix small clone

[Sleek]

Weren't you just demonstrating your cool harmonizer? How is that so different?

the difference between getting a bass player or getting two other guys to play a 3rd above and below you is vast...