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Soldano Astro-20 20-watt 3-channel Tube Head

20W, 3-channel Guitar Tube Amplifier Head with IR Cabinet Simulation
$1,999.99

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Soldano Astro-20 20-watt 3-channel Tube Head
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Classic Soldano Design, State-of-the-art Features

The Soldano Astro-20 is a flexible 20-watt tube amplifier head with features tailored to modern guitarists. This Mike Soldano-designed tone machine boasts three versatile channels with four assignable Galaxies (voices), deftly covering high-headroom cleans, scorching-hot high-gain, and all points in between. The Astro-20 accommodates a wide range of speaker cabinets, and for those occasions where you need to go cab-free, you also get a built-in IR loader, which allows you to employ this guitar amplifier as a standalone unit — no speaker required. You'll appreciate the simplicity of the Astro-20's straightforward front-panel controls, which enable you to dial in any tone with ease, plus you get a 4-button MIDI footswitch and free downloadable Soldano Editor Software for saving, recalling, and organizing your settings presets. The Soldano Astro-20 is a terrific choice for modern players searching for an all-tube amplifier with a classic control set, yet one that's loaded with the latest state-of-the-art features.

Three channels of tube-fueled tone

Fueled by two 6V6 power tubes and four 12AX7 preamp tubes, the Astro-20 is teeming with authentic tube tone. And no matter what sort of tone you're aiming for, this guitar amplifier head's three channels — Clean, Overdrive 1, and Overdrive 2 — have you covered. Moreover, the Astro-20 flaunts four assignable Galaxies that you can use to voice its channels. The Clean channel is automatically assigned to the Green Galaxy, yielding high-headroom cleans and slightly pushed crunch tones reminiscent of a classic American tube combo. The Astro-20's Overdrive 1 and Overdrive 2 channels can be independently assigned to the Blue (bluesy cleans to fat crunch), Purple (higher gain with a tight response), or Red (classic Soldano leads to modern high-gain) Galaxies.

Straightforward front-panel controls

The guitarists here at Sweetwater appreciate how easy it is to dial in the Soldano Astro-20, thanks to its classic front-panel controls. The Clean channel brandishes a Volume and Tone knob for dead-simple tone shaping, while the Overdrive 1 and Overdrive 2 channels include independent Volume and Gain knobs, along with a shared 3-band EQ. The Astro-20's master Presence control ranges from a tight, mid-focused response to an open, three-dimensional feel. You also get a 3-position Depth switch for fine-tuning the amplifier's low-frequency response, along with a 3-way Bright switch.

Outstanding cab-free operation

Modern guitarists often find physical cabinets unwieldy and unnecessary in many applications, both onstage and in the studio. That's why the Astro-20 includes a built-in IR loader with six onboard IR slots. You can assign a recorded IR to any channel or Galaxy independently, ensuring that you get exactly the tone and speaker response you need for your situation, be it running direct onstage, recording quietly in the studio, or using the Astro-20's headphone output for silent practice. Adding and managing your IRs is easy, courtesy of the free Soldano Editor Software, and the amplifier's novel STAR display gives you at-a-glance confirmation of which Galaxy and IR you're currently using.

Soldano Astro-20 Tube Amplifier Head Features:

  • 20W guitar amplifier head with 2 x 6V6 power tubes and 4 x 12AX7 preamp tubes
  • Designed and voiced by the legendary Mike Soldano
  • 3 channels: Clean, Overdrive 1, and Overdrive 2
  • 4 assignable Galaxies: Green (high-headroom clean), Blue (bluesy cleans to fat crunch), Purple (higher gain with a tight response), and Red (classic Soldano leads to modern high-gain)
  • Straightforward front-panel controls supply classic amplifier operation
  • Clean channel brandishes a Volume and Tone knob for dead-simple tone shaping
  • Overdrive 1 and Overdrive 2 channels include independent Volume and Gain knobs, along with a shared 3-band EQ
  • Master Presence control ranges from a tight, mid-focused response to an open, 3-dimensional feel
  • 3-position Depth switch for fine-tuning the amplifier's low-frequency response
  • 3-way Bright switch allows you to tailor the amplifier's high-frequency response
  • Built-in IR loader with 6 onboard IR slots enables cab-free operation
  • Novel STAR display gives you at-a-glance confirmation of which Galaxy and IR you're currently using
  • Headphone output for silent practice
  • Free Soldano Editor Software makes saving, recalling, and organizing your settings presets easy
  • 4-button MIDI footswitch saves and accesses channels, Galaxies, and onboard IRs

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Tech Specs

  • Type: Tube
  • Number of Channels: 3
  • Total Power: 20W
  • Preamp Tubes: 4 x 12AX7
  • Power Tubes: 2 x 6V6
  • EQ: 3-band EQ, Tone control, 3-way bright switch, 3-way depth switch
  • Amp Modeling: 6 x Cabinet IR Models
  • Inputs: 1 x 1/4"
  • Outputs: 2 x 1/4" (4 ohms), 2 x 1/4" (8 ohms), 1 x 1/4" (16 ohms), 1 x XLR (DI out)
  • Headphones: 1 x 1/4"
  • Effects Loop: 2 x 1/4"
  • MIDI I/O: In, USB
  • USB: 1 x Type B
  • Footswitch I/O: 1 x 7-pin DIN
  • Footswitch Included: Yes, 4-button footswitch
  • Computer Connectivity: USB
  • Software: Soldano Editor Software
  • Construction Material: Black Covering
  • Power Source: Standard IEC AC cable
  • Height: 9"
  • Width: 19"
  • Depth: 9.75"
  • Weight: 26 lbs.
  • Manufacturer Part Number: ASTRO-20 HEAD

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Customer Reviews

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Rated 5/5

Great choice!!

Fantastic amp! Love the four channel foot switch. Easy to use and a tons of sounds. Unlimited options. You will not be disappointed. What more can I say.
Music background: 35 + yrs of rockin!
Rated 5/5

Soldano 'amps up' it's versatility

I'm an owner of a Soldano SLO100, but a 100W amp is not practical in many situations, especially at home where so many of us are truly using our gear. The Astro 20 brings the tone you expect from a Soldano, but is packed with tons of features most modern-day amps are now coming to market with. I typically run a w/d/w set-up, and much of the reason I wanted the Astro was its f/x loop, the ability to go straight into the mixer, the ability to channel switch and pull-in more tube-driven tones (vs. pedals) as my dry amp, and have those feed the wet f/x downstream in the overall mix. Mission accomplished. The plus for me the Astro footswitch, which allows me to program 4 distinct channels/gain stages, plus have all of the IRs to choose from to dial-in exactly the sound I built in my head. I am now running the Astro and wet f/x's fully through my PA at home, and it's currently the best set-up I have to accomplish this without cabs. Yes, there is a difference in what the SLO 100 (or 30) sounds and feels like vs. the Astro with a cab, so if you're pursuing a "Soldano" thinking it's the 20W version of one of the SLO amps, it is not. Definitely a bit different tone and feel, overall. The Astro has a bit of an anemic feel to me vs. my straight-up old-school tube amps I typically am playing through. But with the additional features those amps lack, the Astro makes up amazing ground in versatility in what it can do at home and on the stage. A game-changer among my current amps, for sure!
Music background: Guitarist for 40+ years
Rated 5/5

Truly fantastic

This amp has some magic in it. At first glance I thought the clean channel was going to annoy me because of the lack of EQ on it but it's one of the nicest cleans and really impressed me. It's a classic articulate clean. Every set of pickups I throw at it sound amazing. It takes FX pedals really well and my lightspeed sounds simply fantastic in front of it.
The metal… it does the metal. Very very well. I like boosting the red channel with a TS for a mean gnarly sound. I put an eq pedal through every amp I play and tweaking the high and low mid frequencies really makes this amp sing. It keeps up with my Revv Gen 120 and sounds awesome playing both amps together.

I highly recommend this amp
Rated 5/5

Honestly a STELLAR amp and this is a very giggable 20w...

Especially nowadays where you're feeding SOME kind of signal to front-of-house. I've gigged everything from 100w Friedman & Bogner Amps...40w amps, 30w...never a 20w though. I gigged this and it was fantastic. I use the amp behind me basically as my stage sound, instead of MYSELF coming through my monitor (I refuse to use IEMs), which I only use my monitor for vocals, keys, a little bass (usually don't even need it from the stage) and that's it. In front of my amp, I use a plexi-shield to contain the sound/beam and just really flood the area where I am on stage, with sweet tube goodness. This 20w amp MORE than hung with my Bonzo-like drummer. The fact that you've got a dedicated clean channel that you can basically max and still not get breakup, makes it VERY useful as a gigging amp vs. some 20w amps that once in a gig situation, don't really have "cleans".

Add to that, the IR features...and it's such a simple go-to for the gigging (and yes, I know studio) musician. But seriously, the IR voicing are stellar, and you can add your own. I normally gig either a Friedman 50w Wildwood Smallbox or a Bogner 40w Goldfinger Superlead...and this 20w Soldano wasn't lacking whatsoever. That THICK BUT ARTICULATE Soldano tone, pouring through in spades. Sustain is incredible.

I know 90% of the videos you see are reviewers diming the gain and chugga-chugga (yawn)...this this is a bonafide rock machine and despite some thinking it's expensive "for a 20w amp"....don't think of it like that. This thing is as loud as some 30-40w tube amps I've played. You can say I'm a bit of an amp collector/owner...and make no mistake, the quality of tone is there. Some amps in the stable:
Friedman Wildwood 50w Smallbox
Friedman Twin Sister 40w
Friedman Wildwood 20
Friedman BE100 Deluxe
Bogner EL34 Ecstasy 100w
Bogner Goldfinger SL 40w
Bogner Helios Eclipse 100w
PRS HX/DA
Marshall DSL 100CR
Marshall Silver Jube 100w
Marshall SV20
Rated 5/5

Top of the heap

I was skeptical that one amp could really go from very clean "blackface" type tones to full tilt distortion, but you should believe the hype. The clean "galaxy" (the galaxy thing is quirky, but works!) only has a volume, a single tone control and a 3-position bright switch, but it is voiced so nicely that that is actually enough. Very sweet Fenderish chime, not overly bright. With humbuckers, I use the bright switch, but single coils don't need it.

The 2nd channel can go from almost clean to classic rock plexi-ish distortion (think: Allman Bros "Live at the Filmore" or ZZ Top's LaGrange). The 3rd channel picks up there and goes into the classic SLO style of smooth hi-gain distortion with tons of harmonics and sustain even at low volumes. I have used it through a 70's 4x12" greenback cab and a single JBL D130F cab with great results. Turn the master to zero and unplug the speaker and you have six factory speaker impulses to choose from for direct recording that sound great. The effects loop is sweet for time-based effects.

With the included 4 button, programmable footswitch you have an amp ready to play live with every clean-to-distortion setting (create your own four saved settings easily) you need without relying on distortion pedals.

In my pro studio, I have a JCM 800 clone, a '67 Vibrolux Reverb, an SLO 50 clone and a '57 Deluxe. I find myself using these very little since getting the Astro-20. I just want to play and play and play...
Music background: Prior touring guitarist, now full time studio engineer/session player
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