Abandoning my dream amp. Am I crazy?

[gritstogroats]

Am I crazy?

I’ve wanted an SLO since forever, and now that I’m in a position to get one, I find myself shrugging my shoulders at it, kind of unsure. I put it on this metaphorical pedestal and now that I’m listening to it’s tones, I’m mostly unimpressed. Yes, the OD channel is cool. But I think I can get those tones on a Peavey 5150 if I set the mids high enough. And with the price difference between the two, maybe I can get something else? Maybe a VH2 or Dmoll?Maybe a Headfirst? Maybe a Ceriatone? Maybe another Splawn? I dunno???

Part of me thinks I’m crazy for abandoning the amp I’ve always wanted just as it becomes affordable to me, yet part of me really does think a 5150 will get me in the ballpark with a lot of $$$ leftover.

Am I crazy for this logic?

Nothing wrong with changing your mind. And there is plenty of time to change it again.

I will say. Slo has always been cool in my book but not something I ever really wanted. I did have the chance to play one this year in person. It was a lot cooler than I would have guessed. In the room sound, dynamics of dialing in, and I really liked how it felt.

Not sure what you are going for sound wise or what you need. Saving money is a good thing. That said if you are wanting some solid cleans id go mesa mark series instead. A lot of the full sized mark 5s on the used market.

 

[HowieJams]

The SLO30 has been on my mild GAS list for a little while, but I never pay loud and I have a Soldano Astro 20 which I hear sounds very similar, so I don't know if it would be a waste.

I have a Friedman Little Sister and a Friedman JEL-20 also, so I really don't need another amp.

I guess, if it would motivate me to play more it might be worth picking one up.

I also like having amps that do not need to be biased when changing power tubes, so that leaves the SLO30 at a disadvantage.

 

[the4thlast1]

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

Yes, I like the Avenger too. Same kind of voicing , a little tighter/darker than Slo

 

[Techdeth]

Yes, I like the Avenger too. Same kind of voicing , a little tighter/darker than Slo

Pretty nice sound . I miss it

 

[LPMojoGL]

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...

Agreed. It can get close with the presence cranked, mids up around 5.5 on the dial, and treble dialed way back, like 3.5. I spent a lot of time trying to get the SLO and my fav 2204 as close as possible.
I find that the reward with the SLO, any amp really, is embracing what it is rather than trying to make it sound like something it's not. There is a lot of charm in that Americanized Marshall vibe of the SLO, imo. I've made so many great recordings, clean, blues, rock, spacey clean stuff...with the SLO. It can be pretty, rock, and sing like nothing else.
Mezzabarba amps are great for someone wanting a more Marshally sounding SLO. I found that I missed the SLO thing with the MZero.

Here are some non-typical SLO clips. I have plenty of 80s metal, EVH sounding, and all other kind of clips with the SLO on my YouTube channel, if you want to hear more. It's a versatile amp. The tone is always tasty. I prefer the updated BAD version, because I always use a looper and delay in the effects loop. Again, highly suggest grabbing one, and spending at least 6 months with it, if it's been a dream amp. Worth indulging.


Got this cool tone out of my SG with the SLO, that's almost synth-like(?), not the typical guitar sound. Loved that tone that day:


20 seconds of typical hard rock rhythm and solo with a Charvel:


Clean to heavy, artsy sound 1 minute:


Gibson 335, AC/DC sounds:


44 seconds of a drier, chuggy sound with an LP, with Burstbucker Pros!:


Same guitar, moody to shreddy wanking over a cleanish rhythm, 1 minute:
https://youtu.be/VAMzRa8zy-k?si=EL31WHski5s54Cmt

Rotovibe cleanish bluesy sound:
https://youtu.be/QWRj42J6h4M?si=8waGBgnrBkzOucs5

 

[LPMojoGL]

One more clip, because I love the way I kinda got lost in the sound. It's a common thing with the SLO:


Also, check out the Soldano Amplification Players Group on FB. Lots of great clips and info there.

 

[Techdeth]

One more clip, because I love the way I kinda got lost in the sound. It's a common thing with the SLO:


Also, check out the Soldano Amplification Players Group on FB. Lots of great clips and info there.

You would love my Larry PMM . It’s like a unique moderm SLO .
GREAT CLIPS btw !

 

[alund]

You would love my Larry PMM . It’s like a unique moderm SLO .
GREAT CLIPS btw !

That’s a good assessment @Techdeth . Btw you didn’t call me. Fucker

 

[Jack Luminous]

44 seconds of a drier, chuggy sound with an LP, with Burstbucker Pros!:

Nice chuggy death-metal style palm-mutes, great tone ! See, it's obvious the SLO is much too loose and flubby in the low-end to play any kind of metal..... NOT. LOL

 

[Techdeth]

That’s a good assessment @Techdeth . Btw you didn’t call me. Fucker

You don’t want to talk to me atm

 

[LPMojoGL]

You would love my Larry PMM . It’s like a unique moderm SLO .
GREAT CLIPS btw !

Bring it over!!!

 

[Techdeth]

Bring it over!!!

What state?

 

[LPMojoGL]

What state?

Texas, DFW.

 

[Techdeth]

Texas, DFW.

Oh boy . You might have to come to Ohio lol

 

[the rossness]

Congrats. Looking forward to your NAD

So…

I got an SLO 30 off Reverb and tbh, I didn’t love it. The FEEL was there, but something was missing.

The amp had an issue with it’s impedence selector knob. The knob spun too much and would skip the notches for the correct impedence. Sometimes it would go into position, but most of the time it would just freely spin. The volume was greatly affected. So I wound up sending it back :/

From my brief time with it-

My initial feeling was spot on. That while it used to be my dream amp, maybe its not anymore. The clean channel is pretty meh. The crunch channel surprised me the most. Nice feel and great headroom for a 30 watter. It liked my Boss Super Overdrive the most as a boost. And then there’s the OD lead channel. A singing, sustaining lead sound that FEELS good to play. It has much more depth than the Synergy or kemper profiles. That said, the Synnergy module does have more gain. I actually thought the synergy module got really close, minus the feel.

I’m not sure if I’m going to order another one or not. .. and no, it didn’t sound like a 5150. More similar to a recto voicing.

 

[alund]

So…

I got an SLO 30 off Reverb and tbh, I didn’t love it. The FEEL was there, but something was missing.

The amp had an issue with it’s impedence selector knob. The knob spun too much and would skip the notches for the correct impedence. Sometimes it would go into position, but most of the time it would just freely spin. The volume was greatly affected. So I wound up sending it back :/

From my brief time with it-

My initial feeling was spot on. That while it used to be my dream amp, maybe its not anymore. The clean channel is pretty meh. The crunch channel surprised me the most. Nice feel and great headroom for a 30 watter. It liked my Boss Super Overdrive the most as a boost. And then there’s the OD lead channel. A singing, sustaining lead sound that FEELS good to play. It has much more depth than the Synergy or kemper profiles. That said, the Synnergy module does have more gain. I actually thought the synergy module got really close, minus the feel.

I’m not sure if I’m going to order another one or not. .. and no, it didn’t sound like a 5150. More similar to a recto voicing.

Not to say you did wrong because you didn’t and now you know what the slo sounds like… but only the SLO 30. Something about the 100 is different and maybe that’s what is missing-idk . I’d take my Slo100 amp into battle and have no problem if it was my only amp ever. I personally would not have picked a 30 to define the feel of Soldano. For what that is worth. Not sure I’d go buy a 100 as they are not cheap.

 

[harddriver]

So…

I got an SLO 30 off Reverb and tbh, I didn’t love it. The FEEL was there, but something was missing.

The amp had an issue with it’s impedence selector knob. The knob spun too much and would skip the notches for the correct impedence. Sometimes it would go into position, but most of the time it would just freely spin. The volume was greatly affected. So I wound up sending it back :/

From my brief time with it-

My initial feeling was spot on. That while it used to be my dream amp, maybe its not anymore. The clean channel is pretty meh. The crunch channel surprised me the most. Nice feel and great headroom for a 30 watter. It liked my Boss Super Overdrive the most as a boost. And then there’s the OD lead channel. A singing, sustaining lead sound that FEELS good to play. It has much more depth than the Synergy or kemper profiles. That said, the Synnergy module does have more gain. I actually thought the synergy module got really close, minus the feel.

I’m not sure if I’m going to order another one or not. .. and no, it didn’t sound like a 5150. More similar to a recto voicing.

At least now the "what if" factor is no longer an issue and you can move on with your search! At least you dove in and played one and explored all your curiosity about the SLO in person!

I'm sure there is a difference between a 30 watt on and 100 watt one, the 100 will hit harder and overall sound bigger but the basics should be there enough with the SLO30 to give you a taste of how they feel and play regardless.

 

[Lightning]

The 100 watt SLO has a bigger soundi and projects like a top fuel car you get the master volume past 5-6 and it’s amazing