They’re both great but there is a ‘roundness’ and sag in the Friedman that is really well suited to Strats and Teles rather than guitars with humbuckers, where as the Soldano has a faster response and is more mid-forward in tone that seems to favor humbuckers. I’d say as the gain gets higher the Astro pulls ahead where as if the gain is lower the Friedman wins. Hope that helps.
I paid $650 for my V2 6L6 50 watter. I got a v30 loaded 4 x 12 for about 350 bucks. Every time I keep looking hard at like the Friedman Pink Taco V2 and so on I play my evh and I just think what's the point and spending money when it's an awesome sounding amp in its own right?
I totally get you, it’s the law of familiarity my friend. It can be applied to golf clubs, cars, guns, gear, girlfriends, wives and even bourbon, but regardless of the application, it remains a hideous soul eating worm, lol. Try a 12AU7 in V1 for kicks!
Both are great amps, but there is just something about that Soldano sound in the Astro that I slightly prefer. It just has a slightly different style of breakup and chewiness that I prefer.
So many “pro Astro” comments! I heard what you’re talking about, very rich, very smooth and full without an annoying spike anywhere. Clean channel was sure better… well dang it!
You have to play with the channel/master volumes of the Astro at live band volumes to get the headroom. It’s held up well live for me. I had the 6L6 50w standard EVH since it came out, thought I’d have it forever. Just sold it last week.
Damn dude, you’re preaching a good word, lol. I hear what you all are talking about, but it’s so close to what I’ve got ha ha, how much is that little bit of extra chewy goodness worth!?!? Thanks for chiming in. I noticed on reverb that the SLO30’s are dropping down to the mid $2-$3K range. There’s an Astro open box at GC for just over $1700, hmmm
@@andrewsmall4865 - you’re not alone. I honestly believe it’s 90% psychological. Something ‘new’ that will ‘inspire’, something that’ll finally release the inner Yngwie, Romeo, Petrucci, or Stevie T ha ha.
@@andrewsmall4865 I have a Soldano SLO and a Bogner Shiva 20th that for the past few years were getting all the work. Then recently bought the Soldano Astro and it’s been really working out well. Just finally came to terms that the EVH probably wouldn’t get any future play. The EVH is a good amp I just preferred the gain and feel of my others. Something about the high end in the EVH I never really got along with. I prefer Soldano gain because even at high gain settings the notes seem to be clear and chords less congested.
I got to play an ASTRO great tone even at apt volumes, but I agree I think the $1999 price is steep on the Astro for being "assembled in the USA" . Especially when considering you can get used SLO 30s all day now, used for $1999 at GC etc. I think new price should be more like $1400 like Friedman's 15 watters. There was an Astro on Reverb for $1300 already, I could totally go for one at that price.
They’re coming up for sale already?? Hmmm… It sounded really good, but for those who already have a stealth, I’d keep the stealth. I did however sell my Friedman Little Sister for a Slo30 and really glad I did. The more time I spend with it, the more I like it. The Astro is great, but I have no need for the IR stuff. Check out the Sonic drive Studio’s comparison. He really liked the Astro.
I had an EVH 5150iii el34 50w, and sold it to buy a Soldano SLO-30. A different comparison then to what you’ve shown here, but similar. The EVH was great, and superb value, but man the SLO-30 is just something else! Absolutely outstanding amp, extremely versatile and a forever amp for me.
This is the kind of info I love hearing. Sonic Drive did an Astro vs Slo30 and I thought I heard some ‘thickness’ that warranted saving for the 30 over the Astro. I don’t get paid to play by anymeans and don’t even play out anymore… not sure I deserve a $3K amp, lol. Appreciate the comment \m/
@@oldguyjammin9732 I’m in a similar position - I just play for fun at home. I’m not a RUclipsr with a wall fall of amps, the SLO-30 is my only amp, so to me it was worth the expense as that is “the” tone for me. I run it through a Two Notes Captor, which attenuates it by 20db, so I can push the channel volumes a bit. It’s going in to both a Soldano 1x12 cab, and my interface into laptop. Nice simple setup. If you get the chance to play through one, do it! I really like that it can do really nice cleans, through edge of breakup tones (both of which I always felt the EVH 5150iii struggled with), through to classic rock, and then of course the high gain.
@@nevusofota - well the Friedman little sister (one I own) is USA made and Great in tone and it’s only around $1200. I think the price tag on this represents largely the midi, line out, DI and IR stuff. Similar to Blackstars St James which came with onboard Two Notes. I don’t want that stuff, so maybe saving for the SLO30 which can be had used for about the same price.
@@oldguyjammin9732Little Sister is $1500 new at all the major retailers. And yes that is a great amp but doesn’t have nearly the features and versatility as the Astro so the $250 price difference is justified as you pointed out. BAD is producing great USA amps at killer deals.
i believe the evh is just a tad drier sounding than my PRS MT15 just a smidge...good tones bro... of course speaker cabs change things a little.... ive been using peavey c212 fire sound chained to a cheap randall 4x12... killer combo with jaguar speakers and peavey has one vintage 30 and one G12T75 ....great blend...oh and i have 6505ii ...amazing amplifier just no words awesome
@@dalejacksonmo - wondered if you’d bring that up :-) I’d always figured 100W was ind of overkill - am I wrong? What’s ambient ‘hiss like’ and does the master volume work well enough to allow great tones at the ‘under 100 dB range’?
@@oldguyjammin9732 The reviews I've watched like on tone wars and kyle bull...we're great..and Tremonti tours with it...I play a 6505 ii and it's 120 watt with a cheap noise gate and plays fine bedroom levels and it's metal heaven
The Sol is very smooth, very articulate and lots of fun, great tones. No aspect of the sound is irritating at all. The Evh is great too and tighter overall~ I thought they were pretty darn close to each other especially with that 12AU7 dropped into V1.
@@nevusofota - just checked sweet water and the little sister is 1500 while the Astro is a full 2000…? Either way, the Slo30 would be the way to go and its kind of apples to oranges being the LSister is Friedman’s take on the JCM… different amps.
@@oldguyjammin9732 ahh yes, I saw $1750 for an Astro but that was used. I did manage to get my Astro with custom tolex ($2200) for $2000. Side by side through a 71 Marshall with Greenbacks I could get the Astro near identical to the 30, but the features, clean channel, and a total of 7 channels (when using midi) put it way over the top. For me versatility is very important. Also, Friedman based the DS line of amps off of the JTM Marshall, not the JCM (which is what I think you probably meant).
Love this kind of comment, can you tell us all why? There is a very small ‘ice pick’ on the treble side of the Stealth that’s not present in the Astro but I’m not sure it’s worth the extra dough… clean channel is better on the Astro too.
@@oldguyjammin9732 Sure! It's chewy, a big difference in quality overall. awesome on leads, creamy, fuller sound, more versatile, the feel is different. I can just feel it's got the build compared to the EVH. Punch for a 20 watt. I use a 212 cab and it's enough in a cover band. Better effects loop, not noisy etc...
I see that you have the little sister. When you turn the gain up, what has a better feel the Astro or the Friedman?
They’re both great but there is a ‘roundness’ and sag in the Friedman that is really well suited to Strats and Teles rather than guitars with humbuckers, where as the Soldano has a faster response and is more mid-forward in tone that seems to favor humbuckers. I’d say as the gain gets higher the Astro pulls ahead where as if the gain is lower the Friedman wins. Hope that helps.
I paid $650 for my V2 6L6 50 watter. I got a v30 loaded 4 x 12 for about 350 bucks. Every time I keep looking hard at like the Friedman Pink Taco V2 and so on I play my evh and I just think what's the point and spending money when it's an awesome sounding amp in its own right?
the pink taco sounds 100x better
@@RezaMatix ...well, shit. If I never play one I won't know the difference right 😂
I totally get you, it’s the law of familiarity my friend. It can be applied to golf clubs, cars, guns, gear, girlfriends, wives and even bourbon, but regardless of the application, it remains a hideous soul eating worm, lol. Try a 12AU7 in V1 for kicks!
@@RezaMatix No way. Take your 100x and take off at least two zeros.
Both are great amps, but there is just something about that Soldano sound in the Astro that I slightly prefer. It just has a slightly different style of breakup and chewiness that I prefer.
So many “pro Astro” comments! I heard what you’re talking about, very rich, very smooth and full without an annoying spike anywhere. Clean channel was sure better… well dang it!
You have to play with the channel/master volumes of the Astro at live band volumes to get the headroom. It’s held up well live for me. I had the 6L6 50w standard EVH since it came out, thought I’d have it forever. Just sold it last week.
Damn dude, you’re preaching a good word, lol. I hear what you all are talking about, but it’s so close to what I’ve got ha ha, how much is that little bit of extra chewy goodness worth!?!? Thanks for chiming in. I noticed on reverb that the SLO30’s are dropping down to the mid $2-$3K range. There’s an Astro open box at GC for just over $1700, hmmm
What made you sell it? I have the same amp and it's my only big boy amp. I keep thinking I should get something else but I really can't justify it.
@@andrewsmall4865 - you’re not alone. I honestly believe it’s 90% psychological. Something ‘new’ that will ‘inspire’, something that’ll finally release the inner Yngwie, Romeo, Petrucci, or Stevie T ha ha.
@@andrewsmall4865 I have a Soldano SLO and a Bogner Shiva 20th that for the past few years were getting all the work. Then recently bought the Soldano Astro and it’s been really working out well. Just finally came to terms that the EVH probably wouldn’t get any future play. The EVH is a good amp I just preferred the gain and feel of my others. Something about the high end in the EVH I never really got along with. I prefer Soldano gain because even at high gain settings the notes seem to be clear and chords less congested.
I got to play an ASTRO great tone even at apt volumes, but I agree I think the $1999 price is steep on the Astro for being "assembled in the USA" . Especially when considering you can get used SLO 30s all day now, used for $1999 at GC etc. I think new price should be more like $1400 like Friedman's 15 watters. There was an Astro on Reverb for $1300 already, I could totally go for one at that price.
They’re coming up for sale already?? Hmmm… It sounded really good, but for those who already have a stealth, I’d keep the stealth. I did however sell my Friedman Little Sister for a Slo30 and really glad I did. The more time I spend with it, the more I like it. The Astro is great, but I have no need for the IR stuff. Check out the Sonic drive Studio’s comparison. He really liked the Astro.
I had an EVH 5150iii el34 50w, and sold it to buy a Soldano SLO-30. A different comparison then to what you’ve shown here, but similar. The EVH was great, and superb value, but man the SLO-30 is just something else! Absolutely outstanding amp, extremely versatile and a forever amp for me.
This is the kind of info I love hearing. Sonic Drive did an Astro vs Slo30 and I thought I heard some ‘thickness’ that warranted saving for the 30 over the Astro. I don’t get paid to play by anymeans and don’t even play out anymore… not sure I deserve a $3K amp, lol. Appreciate the comment \m/
@@oldguyjammin9732 I’m in a similar position - I just play for fun at home. I’m not a RUclipsr with a wall fall of amps, the SLO-30 is my only amp, so to me it was worth the expense as that is “the” tone for me. I run it through a Two Notes Captor, which attenuates it by 20db, so I can push the channel volumes a bit. It’s going in to both a Soldano 1x12 cab, and my interface into laptop. Nice simple setup. If you get the chance to play through one, do it! I really like that it can do really nice cleans, through edge of breakup tones (both of which I always felt the EVH 5150iii struggled with), through to classic rock, and then of course the high gain.
$1800 is too much for a made in USA amp that is pure Soldano through and through? C’mon, that’s a steal and maybe the best deal in guitar gear going.
@@nevusofota - well the Friedman little sister (one I own) is USA made and Great in tone and it’s only around $1200. I think the price tag on this represents largely the midi, line out, DI and IR stuff. Similar to Blackstars St James which came with onboard Two Notes. I don’t want that stuff, so maybe saving for the SLO30 which can be had used for about the same price.
@@oldguyjammin9732Little Sister is $1500 new at all the major retailers. And yes that is a great amp but doesn’t have nearly the features and versatility as the Astro so the $250 price difference is justified as you pointed out. BAD is producing great USA amps at killer deals.
Sounds great,very silent between notes, killer tone.
Yep, I may have a tube going south in the red channel circuit on the EVH. The Sol is pretty darn nice but doesn’t quite have the headroom of the EVH.
i believe the evh is just a tad drier sounding than my PRS MT15 just a smidge...good tones bro... of course speaker cabs change things a little.... ive been using peavey c212 fire sound chained to a cheap randall 4x12... killer combo with jaguar speakers and peavey has one vintage 30 and one G12T75 ....great blend...oh and i have 6505ii ...amazing amplifier just no words awesome
That all sounds pretty awesome. I liked the MT15 and always thought they might come out with a second revision, but…
There's a new 100 watt mt100 3 channel now
@@dalejacksonmo - wondered if you’d bring that up :-) I’d always figured 100W was ind of overkill - am I wrong? What’s ambient ‘hiss like’ and does the master volume work well enough to allow great tones at the ‘under 100 dB range’?
@@oldguyjammin9732 The reviews I've watched like on tone wars and kyle bull...we're great..and Tremonti tours with it...I play a 6505 ii and it's 120 watt with a cheap noise gate and plays fine bedroom levels and it's metal heaven
good review buddy you did pretty darn good...big price difference...evh 4 the money....love soldano tho
The Sol is very smooth, very articulate and lots of fun, great tones. No aspect of the sound is irritating at all. The Evh is great too and tighter overall~ I thought they were pretty darn close to each other especially with that 12AU7 dropped into V1.
???? It’s only a $180 price difference.
@@nevusofota - just checked sweet water and the little sister is 1500 while the Astro is a full 2000…? Either way, the Slo30 would be the way to go and its kind of apples to oranges being the LSister is Friedman’s take on the JCM… different amps.
@@oldguyjammin9732 ahh yes, I saw $1750 for an Astro but that was used. I did manage to get my Astro with custom tolex ($2200) for $2000. Side by side through a 71 Marshall with Greenbacks I could get the Astro near identical to the 30, but the features, clean channel, and a total of 7 channels (when using midi) put it way over the top. For me versatility is very important. Also, Friedman based the DS line of amps off of the JTM Marshall, not the JCM (which is what I think you probably meant).
@@oldguyjammin9732 $500 difference
Had the EVH Stealth 50 watt and kept the Astro.
Love this kind of comment, can you tell us all why? There is a very small ‘ice pick’ on the treble side of the Stealth that’s not present in the Astro but I’m not sure it’s worth the extra dough… clean channel is better on the Astro too.
@@oldguyjammin9732 Sure! It's chewy, a big difference in quality overall. awesome on leads, creamy, fuller sound, more versatile, the feel is different. I can just feel it's got the build compared to the EVH. Punch for a 20 watt. I use a 212 cab and it's enough in a cover band. Better effects loop, not noisy etc...