The Soldano Astro-20 Open Back Half Stack 3-Channel 20W is a Soldano amplifier. Close alternatives include the Soldano Astro-20 Combo and the Laney Ironheart Foundry LeadRig 112. It pairs well with the Greer Southland and the Ibanez TS10 Tube Screamer Classic.
Soldano Astro-20 Open Back Half Stack 3-Channel 20W
Soldano · amplifier
The Soldano Astro-20 Open Back Half Stack pairs the three-channel 20-watt Astro head with a matching open-back cabinet. Open-back cabinets radiate sound rearward as well as forward, giving a less directional and more ambient projection than the closed-back cabinets usually paired with high-gain amplifiers — an unusual choice for a Soldano, and the defining feature of this configuration. It suits players wanting Soldano gain with a more open, less focused cabinet character.
- di
- open
- direct recording
- gain
- smooth
- crunch
- liquid
- sustain
Good for
- Live
- Practice
- Studio
Pedals that stack with the Soldano Astro-20 Open Back Half Stack 3-Channel 20W
Greer Southland
Greer
20% matchFeed a crunchy signal into Greer Southland and it comes out closer to clean boost
Ibanez TS10 Tube Screamer Classic
pedal
20% matchStack Ibanez TS10 Tube Screamer Classic on top and a crunchy tone tightens toward mid-forward
Boss DS-2 Turbo Distortion
Boss
19% matchStack Boss DS-2 Turbo Distortion on top and a crunchy tone tightens toward mid-forward
Maestro Orbit
Maestro
13% matchKeep Soldano Astro-20 Open Back Half Stack 3-Channel 20W's dynamic voice out front: Maestro Orbit goes after Soldano Astro-20 Open Back Half Stack 3-Channel 20W in the signal chain so its modulated voice doesn't muddy it
Pigtronix Philosopher's Tone Micro
Pigtronix
10% matchPigtronix Philosopher's Tone Micro's own sustaining character is the real reason this is worth trying
Wampler Catacombs
Wampler
6% matchWampler Catacombs's mid-forward voice goes in Soldano Astro-20 Open Back Half Stack 3-Channel 20W's effects loop — it's not there to compete with Soldano Astro-20 Open Back Half Stack 3-Channel 20W's own dynamic character — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
MXR Analog Delay
MXR
6% matchPut MXR Analog Delay in Soldano Astro-20 Open Back Half Stack 3-Channel 20W's effects loop, clear of Soldano Astro-20 Open Back Half Stack 3-Channel 20W's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Friedman Buxom Boost
Friedman
tonal matchFriedman Buxom Boost's own voicing points at a high-gain amp's front end, and Soldano Astro-20 Open Back Half Stack 3-Channel 20W delivers it
Alternativessee all similar tone character →
Soldano Astro-20 Combo
Soldano
97% similaritysimilar tone character
Laney Ironheart Foundry LeadRig 112
Laney
93% similaritysimilar tone character
Mesa Boogie Rectifier Badlander EL84/25 Head
Mesa Boogie
93% similaritysimilar tone character
Laney L5 Studio
Laney
92% similaritysimilar tone character
Laney Ironheart IRT30-112 1x12 Combo
Laney
92% similaritysimilar tone character
Laney Ironheart Foundry Leadtop 60W Head
Laney
92% similaritysimilar tone character
Marshall Jubilee Head
Marshall
92% similaritysimilar tone character
Laney Ironheart Foundry DualRig 65W Head + 2x12 Cab
Laney
92% similaritysimilar tone character
Hughes & Kettner TubeMeister 18
Hughes & Kettner
92% similaritysimilar tone character
Mesa Boogie Rectifier Badlander EL34/100 Head
Mesa Boogie
92% similaritysimilar tone character
Laney Ironheart IRT-SLS 3-Channel 300W Head
Laney
92% similaritysimilar tone character
Marshall 2555X Silver Jubilee
Marshall
92% similaritysimilar tone character
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Soldano Astro-20 Open Back Half Stack 3-Channel 20W?+
The closest matches in character are the Soldano Astro-20 Combo, the Laney Ironheart Foundry LeadRig 112, the Mesa Boogie Rectifier Badlander EL84/25 Head.
What pairs well with the Soldano Astro-20 Open Back Half Stack 3-Channel 20W?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Greer Southland, Ibanez TS10 Tube Screamer Classic, Boss DS-2 Turbo Distortion — Feed a crunchy signal into Greer Southland and it comes out closer to clean boost.
Compare
- vs Soldano Astro-20 Combo
- vs Laney Ironheart Foundry LeadRig 112
- vs Mesa Boogie Rectifier Badlander EL84/25 Head