GAS: New amp, Soldano Astroverb 16

I’d been looking for a smallish practice/jam amp for a while. Something that would be easy to transport, unlike the 62 lb Legacy!, and have a great valve sound. Not too easy as most amps in this category are usually modellers or solid state. After mulling over several candidates I was lucky to discover one that fitted my needs perfectly though it was hard to find and priced in the boutique range. As if deemed by the fates themselves I then found that an ex-demo model was for sale at a price more favourable to my budget.

Buybuybuy!

So now I am the very happy owner of a Soldano Astroverb 16

This little beauty is built like a tank, 20W, fitted with a 1×12 speaker, featuring 5 x 12AX7A/ECC83 ( 2 for reverb ) preamp valves and 2 x EL84 power valves. Valve goodness, oh yes. Simple control layout of Preamp volume, Master volume, Presence with usual EQ on a single channel and knobs that got up to 11!

The amp itself is amazingly crisp sounding, no hiding sloppy technique behind gain here, and gives that desirable ‘glassy’ clean with volume rolled back on the guitar. A simple tweak of the EQ alters the tone quite a bit, so a great range of sounds available.

A top class amp .