Differences between Soldano Avenger and HotRod?
- Thread starter worlez
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I"m actually wondering the same thing. The Avenger has the depth nob. I was wondering about the single chanel HR50, but I don't think they do it anymore. The Avenger I tried was very compressed sounding not too bright at all. I've heard soldano amps were bright, but that was not my experience.
axpro
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Here's my Gist on the subject...
The HR series, is basically a souped up jcm800 2203 series. If you like that 80's marshall grind, that will do it, in the low gain input. If you want something a little more "hot rod" then go into the high gain input and rock out a little harder. I owned one a few years ago, a great amp. IF you want to do the marshalls ort of thing... voiced a little different but really steps into the JCM800 territory.
The Avenger, was designed for sad bastards like me, who couldn't justify to their wives why they NEEDED an SLO... It copies the Hi gain channel frm the SLO, it has an extra tube, so like the SLO it can have 5 gain stages in the circuit, instead of the normal 4 for a high gain amp like a Marshall or Mesa. This gives it that heavier compression, and powerful gut wrenching distorted gain. I am currently using an Avenger50 for my gain sound inthe studio...
As far as i have heard, Soldano may be phasing out the HR series, as they don't seem to sell as well as they used to. People want more gain than a hot rodded marshall, and that is where they are putting the Aveneger in their product line. Also, they DO make an Avenger 50 head, they are just hard as hell to find. I have one, the head of the guitar dept at my store has one (serial# 5 and 6 respectively) and i have seen them on some european web sites... not sure why they don't seemt o be getting released in the USA as much...
Dave Mc
The HR series, is basically a souped up jcm800 2203 series. If you like that 80's marshall grind, that will do it, in the low gain input. If you want something a little more "hot rod" then go into the high gain input and rock out a little harder. I owned one a few years ago, a great amp. IF you want to do the marshalls ort of thing... voiced a little different but really steps into the JCM800 territory.
The Avenger, was designed for sad bastards like me, who couldn't justify to their wives why they NEEDED an SLO... It copies the Hi gain channel frm the SLO, it has an extra tube, so like the SLO it can have 5 gain stages in the circuit, instead of the normal 4 for a high gain amp like a Marshall or Mesa. This gives it that heavier compression, and powerful gut wrenching distorted gain. I am currently using an Avenger50 for my gain sound inthe studio...
As far as i have heard, Soldano may be phasing out the HR series, as they don't seem to sell as well as they used to. People want more gain than a hot rodded marshall, and that is where they are putting the Aveneger in their product line. Also, they DO make an Avenger 50 head, they are just hard as hell to find. I have one, the head of the guitar dept at my store has one (serial# 5 and 6 respectively) and i have seen them on some european web sites... not sure why they don't seemt o be getting released in the USA as much...
Dave Mc
Thanks for the input so far...
I'm actually looking at a second hand HR50XL, or a new Avenger 50. So I'm not too worried about availability of each model.
What I'm really wondering is if I'll get to the Avengers tone with a HotRod. I was setting everything at around 6, cutting the treble slightly, and getting a BRILLIANT hotrod Marshall tone with the Avenger. Can I do the same with the Hotrod?
Cheers
Al
I'm actually looking at a second hand HR50XL, or a new Avenger 50. So I'm not too worried about availability of each model.
What I'm really wondering is if I'll get to the Avengers tone with a HotRod. I was setting everything at around 6, cutting the treble slightly, and getting a BRILLIANT hotrod Marshall tone with the Avenger. Can I do the same with the Hotrod?
Cheers
Al
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The Hot rod gets pretty hot, but I think you'll need a pedal to push it into Avenger territory. It's not a huge step to my ears, just more compressed and "modern" sounding than the HR...which BTW is a great amp IMHO.
Avenger does get damned close to a SLO grind for a lot less dough...hard to argue with a SLO.
Avenger does get damned close to a SLO grind for a lot less dough...hard to argue with a SLO.
axpro
Member
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- 628
Having owned and played both extensively....
No, the Hot Rod can not do the avenger, you would edefinitely need a pedal to push it, as the Avenger has more gain stages, thus more gain.
As to the idea of the effects loop, from what i hae heard from the Soldano camp, the idea is to streamline their offerings to use very similar chassis, and allow the loop as an option. I think the newest one we got at work has punch locations for the loop, bt no loop yet. (it is apparently big on their "to-do" list!)
I have heard a nasty rumour that the HR's will be discontinued, but i don't know for sure.
try em both, buy the one youlike better, but for my money, and the fact that it is my gain amp only, I have never looked back frm my Avenger...
Dave Mc
(Actually, i am plugged in right now, checking some wiring mods to a guitar...)
No, the Hot Rod can not do the avenger, you would edefinitely need a pedal to push it, as the Avenger has more gain stages, thus more gain.
As to the idea of the effects loop, from what i hae heard from the Soldano camp, the idea is to streamline their offerings to use very similar chassis, and allow the loop as an option. I think the newest one we got at work has punch locations for the loop, bt no loop yet. (it is apparently big on their "to-do" list!)
I have heard a nasty rumour that the HR's will be discontinued, but i don't know for sure.
try em both, buy the one youlike better, but for my money, and the fact that it is my gain amp only, I have never looked back frm my Avenger...
Dave Mc
(Actually, i am plugged in right now, checking some wiring mods to a guitar...)
axpro
Member
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- 628
AAAAAAARGH!!!! NO EMINENCE!!!!!!!
KEEP AWAY!!!!
sorry, had to be done
I like eminence, and the new stuff is great, and still made in north america... from what i;ve learned, Celestion has pretty much moved production to china. Not that china is a bad place, but you don't go there for the umatched level of high quality labor and attention to detail/quality control.
That being said, probably a v-30 set, or maybe even silverback g12t75's might sound good... But I's be lookin for old stock first.
dave Mc
