Abandoning my dream amp. Am I crazy?

[rottingcorpse]

If the SLO has been your dream amp and you can afford one, that itch will NEVER go away until you get real time with one. Not trying one at a bros house. Not trying amps that are based on it. Not making do with what you have. Not buying it's little wattage brother or just the preamp version.

Time to man up, bust that nut and see what happens.

 

[Rick Lee]

This walked into the Scottsdale GC yesterday a few min. before I did.

I probably could have snagged it for a song, had I caught the guy in the parking lot, but I was on my motorcycle anyway. It's one of the originals, DeYoung iron, and looks new. Someone buy this and save me from myself. Oh, that store is technically on the Indian reservation, so no 30 day police hold.

 

[Racerxrated]

The thing with SLO’s is dudes love selling them. If you go on reverb, there’s usually more of them for sale than any other amp

Highly doubt that.

EVHs up the azz. Marshalls. Mesas. Fenders.
Easily outnumber SLOs.
Cmon dude.

When YOU gonna try one?
Oh wait; da CLIPZZZZ....

 

[RaceU4her]

Highly doubt that.

EVHs up the azz. Marshalls. Mesas. Fenders.
Easily outnumber SLOs.
Cmon dude.

When YOU gonna try one?
Oh wait; da CLIPZZZZ....

there should be more of those amps for sale, theres many more of them made. i just counted 17 used SLO100's for sale on reverb, we can argue about tone, but theres no argument there isnt a constant stock pile for sale should someone want another one

 

[Lightning]

Could be selling them for financial reasons

 

[Lightning]

On Reverb I counted 24 new from dealers some are the rack mount SLO and 20 used out of the 20 used some are B- stock out of the used some are pre-BAD,guys are selling the pre-BAD for the BAD made due to the up grade

 

[rstites]

There's definitely a lot more of them around now than before Mike closed his shop. I suspect most of it is just an increase in production of them since BAD has taken over I see a bunch of the new preamps too, which I'll admit are very tempting. They're pretty affordable for a decent tube preamp too.

I tend not to see all that many HR's out there, and those are also great amps. I've played a number of them over the years. They have a bit more Marshall grit to them.

 

[harddriver]

If the SLO has been your dream amp and you can afford one, that itch will NEVER go away until you get real time with one. Not trying one at a bros house. Not trying amps that are based on it. Not making do with what you have. Not buying it's little wattage brother or just the preamp version.

Time to man up, bust that nut and see what happens.

THIS^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

You may get one and absolutely love it and berate yourself for waiting so long to get one or it will not live up to your expectations. ya got a 50/50 chance.

 

[Fusionbear]

The cold clipper is on the lead channel, not the crunch channel of the SLO (unless the common schematic out there is wrong - I know you've built a few of these). The clean/crunch just has three "normal" stages on it. While I'd say the SLO crunch and 2203 are in the same general zone for sound, they are definitely voiced a bit differently. That's why I always say they set in the same space but are voiced a bit differently.

I did design a two channel amp that would be similar to a SLO in general layout, and close in topology, back in the 90s based around a 2203 with a lead channel. I never did get around to building it though but have been contemplating doing that over winter break if we aren't leaving town. This thread might push me that way! I would be tempted to put a switchable cold clipper on there.....or at least play around with it a bit while tuning the final circuit in.

I stand corrected about the cold clipper. But I do stand by opinion that the crunch channel on the SLO feels punky to me. It doesn't have the same kerrang of a standard 2203/2204. I love the lead tone of the SLO though...
These days I'm liking the Langner mod on my 2203 quite a bit more than every other high gain amp I've tried...

 

[rstites]

I stand corrected about the cold clipper. But I do stand by opinion that the crunch channel on the SLO feels punky to me. It doesn't have the same kerrang of a standard 2203/2204. I love the lead tone of the SLO though...
These days I'm liking the Langner mod on my 2203 quite a bit more than every other high gain amp I've tried...

I will never disagree with someone else's opinion! The 2203 has a bit more grit on the sound, and it's voiced more upper mids than lower mids. I love the 2203 - played one as my primary amp for most of my playing days. However, it also had practical issues that were constant irritants: no second channel, no loop, etc. That's why I mentioned thinking about building one with a separate lead channel - much like a SLO but keeping the Marshall tone for rhythm.

What is the Langner mod on the 2203? I'm not familiar with it.

 

[Jack Luminous]

My two preferred amps are the SLO and the 2203. Although clearly different, they do have some similarities that may appeal to a distinct category of guitar player. The dynamic, the impact, the raw power etc. The Marshall has more kerrang and air, the SLO is smoother yet pummeling. Still they are kinda similar.
Completely different from a Diezel, or Friedman, Orange, Engl, Driftwood, Mesa etc.

 

[DISTORT6]

THIS^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

You may get one and absolutely love it and berate yourself for waiting so long to get one or it will not live up to your expectations. ya got a 50/50 chance.

Yup. They ain't for everyone. Just like everything else.
It's not pick a side, it's what works or doesn't.

 

[Fusionbear]

I will never disagree with someone else's opinion! The 2203 has a bit more grit on the sound, and it's voiced more upper mids than lower mids. I love the 2203 - played one as my primary amp for most of my playing days. However, it also had practical issues that were constant irritants: no second channel, no loop, etc. That's why I mentioned thinking about building one with a separate lead channel - much like a SLO but keeping the Marshall tone for rhythm.

What is the Langner mod on the 2203? I'm not familiar with it.

 

[the rossness]

Thank you all for your responses. I never thought my simple question would develop into a thread 6 pages long!

I’ve been listening to clips pretty much non-stop over these last few days, and have been using my Kemper a TON, to virtually demo amps.

I fed my question into ChatGPT. I said everything in my OG post, described the kind of playing I do, the kind of feel I like and the tones I’m seeking-

(I’m quoting ChatGPT’s response-)

“: you want dark, saturated lead tones and aggressive, articulate modded-Marshall crunch, with a big, authoritative power section that can serve double-duty as a platform for your Synergy rig.”

“You also clearly love dynamic response — you mentioned liking the “unforgiving” Splawn — which suggests you don’t want overly compressed or “polite” amps”.

ChatGPT said I should be looking at 1) a Friedman BE100 Deluxe or 2) a Diezel Herbert.

I know the Friedman will do the 80’s marshall EVH/ Lynch thing really well. How are the lead tones? I have very little experience with Friedman amps. I also recently played a Herbert and liked the “less” mode of channel two. I thought channel 3 was overkill.

So that’s where my headspace is right now. Maybe going for another botique amp instead of the Soldano and working with my synergy system and the modules I already have.

 

[glpg80]

Thank you all for your responses. I never thought my simple question would develop into a thread 6 pages long!

I’ve been listening to clips pretty much non-stop over these last few days, and have been using my Kemper a TON, to virtually demo amps.

I fed my question into ChatGPT. I said everything in my OG post, described the kind of playing I do, the kind of feel I like and the tones I’m seeking-

(I’m quoting ChatGPT’s response-)

“: you want dark, saturated lead tones and aggressive, articulate modded-Marshall crunch, with a big, authoritative power section that can serve double-duty as a platform for your Synergy rig.”

“You also clearly love dynamic response — you mentioned liking the “unforgiving” Splawn — which suggests you don’t want overly compressed or “polite” amps”.

ChatGPT said I should be looking at 1) a Friedman BE100 Deluxe or 2) a Diezel Herbert.

I know the Friedman will do the 80’s marshall EVH/ Lynch thing really well. How are the lead tones? I have very little experience with Friedman amps. I also recently played a Herbert and liked the “less” mode of channel two. I thought channel 3 was overkill.

So that’s where my headspace is right now. Maybe going for another botique amp instead of the Soldano and working with my synergy system and the modules I already have.

I wouldn’t call a Friedman BE Deluxe aggressive. I’d suggest the Friedman Jose in its place as aggressive and unforgiving.

Herbert is a king studio amp but I’m not a fan of them live - they get eaten alive by Marshall voiced amps in a mix IMO. That’s too far departed from a 5150 or a SLO

 

[the rossness]

Well, after listening to many clips of the Herbert and BE100, I went back and listened to more clips of the SLO. Needless to say, I had to scratch that itch and got one. Thanks again for all the replies.

 

[stratjacket]

Cool, glad you took the plunge.

I’ve gone through that several times with amps and guitars. I hold off and then some time later the itch returns but then I might not have the funds. But it eventually works out and I get it, probably 100% off the time.

 

[311boogieman]

Well, after listening to many clips of the Herbert and BE100, I went back and listened to more clips of the SLO. Needless to say, I had to scratch that itch and got one. Thanks again for all the replies.

Congrats. Looking forward to your NAD

 

[heinz_57]

Was about to post “buy it”. But see you did. Congrats!

 

[Techdeth]

Ive had a couple SLO’s , I prefer a 5152 to be honest. The peavey does metal rhythm better. If you play hard rock mostly and don’t care about having the tighter clearer lowend that metal riffing calls for then you might love the SLO. The SLO would be better for strumming big distorted chords than fast staccato riffs I think that’s what I’m getting at. The SLO prob has a better lead/solo sound. Cleans in both amps are lack luster in my opinion.

I’ve found the avenger to be the perfect fit right between SLO and 510II . Well mine was . You try one ?