Soldano

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For the Italian city, see Soldano, Italy.

Soldano (full name: Soldano Custom Amplification) is a guitar amplifier manufacturing company, founded in 1986 by Michael Soldano in Los Angeles, California and later relocated to Seattle, Washington. It is mostly known for its modern high gain amps, particularly their flagship model — Soldano SLO-100, but product lineup also features effect units, pedals and cabinets. All Soldano products are tube-based and are class AB. Michael Soldano originally worked with his head technician Bill Sundt in a California shop (Stars Guitars in San Francisco) modding amps brought to him and his SLO design came off the back of a modded Marshall Plexi.

Soldano has earned a reputation amongst guitar players - professional and hobbyists - of putting out products that are very high in build quality and using high quality components that surpass many other high-end manufacturers (Eric Clapton and Mark Knopfler purchased the SLO when first released in 1987). While the amplifiers are generally priced higher than those of others (such as Mesa/Boogie or Marshall), their users tend to hold on to and cherish the amplifiers due to their smooth overdrive characteristics. Soldano is also known for having one of the best levels of customer support.

It is generally acknowledged that the Peavey 5150 (now 6505) series of amplifiers can easily trace their roots to the SLO design.