2004 SLO w/Deyoung Transformers versus New Bad SLO vid.

[ms17a]

Well, the HR vs SLO is a very simple yet potent comparison since the two amps are pretty much the same other than the transformers; hence my previous post.

They are not identical. For example, I explained the switch from AC heating to DC heating and the influnece on the sound. That's far from the same thing. Other comments note that the pots are different. There may be more different than you think. But simply repeating that only the transformers are different doesn't make the statement any truer.

But this whole thing about transformer brands seems to be taking on almost religious overtones. Now I understand what Dave Friedman meant when he talked about the technical discussions on Rig Talk. I give up, because you can't argue with dogmas. Have a nice day...

 

[fusedbrain]

AC Heating

• The "Vintage" Vibe: Often associated with the traditional, classic tube character. In guitar amplifiers, the slight residual heating fluctuation and the 50/60Hz modulation add to the "grungy" or "spongy" harmonically rich tone many players prefer.
• Hum Factor: Can result in a steady, low-level buzzing or humming sound in the background when no music is playing.

DC Heating

• Higher Fidelity & Clarity: The audio signal experiences significantly less distortion and noise, resulting in a cleaner, more transparent, and crisper sound.
• Lower Noise Floor: You get a pitch-black background with zero unwanted hum, which is essential for audiophile hi-fi systems, ultra-sensitive horn speakers, and low-level recording gear.

Sounds like that may be the 3D-thing that was mentioned before.

Very interesting info. I did not know this.
Thanks for posting

 

[harddriver]

The 2004 SLO with the Deyoungs and 20+ year old filter caps does sound more open, airy, less tight but in a good way, and somewhat more dynamic. With the said... the BAD SLO sounds like an SLO with upgrades.

If Heyboer has duplicated/cloned the Deyoungs I imagine they got them pretty damn close. I think Onetics was another transformer that was close to a Deyoung and I'm not sure Onetics is even in business any longer.

After playing SGTThumps Mezzabarba Trinity I think if I was in the market for an SLO with alot more really great options, like channel boosts and two master volumes, NFB control, depth mod, great loop I'd probably look at the Mezzabarba Mzero or Trinity if you want those SLOish tones.

 

[Shask]

Very interesting info. I did not know this.
Thanks for posting

Yeah, this is interesting. I do know on Fractal Axe-Fx Units, one of my tricks is to switch from AC to DC for the power supply because I noticed it sounds clearer. I didn't think tube amps had that much of a tone change due to this. I figured it was just for noise/hum.

 

[Racerxrated]

They are not identical. For example, I explained the switch from AC heating to DC heating and the influnece on the sound. That's far from the same thing. Other comments note that the pots are different. There may be more different than you think. But simply repeating that only the transformers are different doesn't make the statement any truer.

But this whole thing about transformer brands seems to be taking on almost religious overtones. Now I understand what Dave Friedman meant when he talked about the technical discussions on Rig Talk. I give up, because you can't argue with dogmas. Have a nice day...

I can always tell when an engineer of any discipline gets involved in any gear conversation. They simply take on a very condescending and 'know it all' attitude. That's fine; engineers aren't dumb by any stretch. But, you also don't know everything, do you?
I'll give you an example. A very smart individual on this forum stated that, a 68 Marshall clone, with the exact same modern resistor/cap type/ and VALUES with the same modern reproduction transformers created to mimic 1968 Marshall Dagnalls would sound IDENTICAL to a real deal 1968 Plexi. There should be no difference between them, IF the same exact layout, type parts, wiring, pots, chassis, layout etc etc were used.
Except, when this theory was actually put to the test and this smart engineer actually A/Bd a great clone with Merren iron and all the great parts to a real 68 Plexi, the vintage Plexi blew the clone out of the water. It wasn't close; the clone sounded flat and uninspiring by comparison.

I get that you consider the heaters, and pots to also contribute to the tone and while I agree to some extent, I do not agree that it contributes to anywhere CLOSE to the extent the degree of an output transformer change. I've swapped OTs in amps and the change in tone is very apparent and obvious to my ears.
We'll just have to agree to disagree. If Dave Friedman doesn't agree, well that's ok too. I could care less.

 

[harddriver]

Here's the same 2004 SLO same guy from the upper video. SLO through a Mesa V30 cab.

 

[marvcus]

They are not identical. For example, I explained the switch from AC heating to DC heating and the influnece on the sound. That's far from the same thing. Other comments note that the pots are different. There may be more different than you think. But simply repeating that only the transformers are different doesn't make the statement any truer.

But this whole thing about transformer brands seems to be taking on almost religious overtones. Now I understand what Dave Friedman meant when he talked about the technical discussions on Rig Talk. I give up, because you can't argue with dogmas. Have a nice day...

Maybe a more apples to apples comparison would be a pre-BAD SLO with DeYoungs vs another pre-BAD SLO with a Heyboer swapped in.

 

[thegame]

In the OP clip the 2004 SLO has superior mid content and detail. And that will obviously be even more pronounced in person.

 

[mwc]

OP here, the differences are even much more apparent in the room. As Redplated was saying the pots are extremely different. I had to run the reissue at 5 master volume versus 2 on the original. The gain pot was completely different as well, 3 gain on the original was around 5-6 on the reissue. I find the original has less honky mids and a little sweeter on the highs that I would want. This leads to the original being easier and faster to dial in. The reissue is very hard to dial out those honk mids. It's not a massive difference though and I could get the reissue very close in the room as well. As to why it was worth it to me to get an old one was more for the fun of having an older one. All my other amps are tight monsters with all the switches (Wizard Hellrazor, Marshall 5GS Hermansson, Bogner Modded Uberschall Rev Green with a tight switch, Bogner Snorkler [78 Marshal]). Even after playing almost every boutique high gain amp out there, there is no amp outside of a rectifier that takes an OD808 boost quite like a Soldano SLO100. Killswitch Engage tones are always my home base.

 

[FourT6and2]

I can always tell when someone just copy/pasted some BS info from an AI chat.

Please explain, without using AI, how AC and DC heaters impart different "harmonics" to the tone of a guitar amp. The filament heats up and when it gets hot enough to get the cathode nice and toasty, the tube conducts. All other things being equal, do the electrons flowing through the control grid care if the filament was heated up using AC or DC?

I've built amps using both methods. I've converted amps from one to the other. I've noticed no such magical difference in harmonics. But then again, I also can't hear the difference between 18 AWG and 16 AWG wire like some of the dog-eared folks here...