Depth or not to depth -- SLO!

[nevusofota]

I'm looking to close the deal locally on an amp I have wanted for decades. It's a 2006 SLO with fx loop, no depth mod, and is covered in black croc.

Two question:
I'm wondering if I should hold out for one with the depth mod. Do I need it and how much is it to have it added?

What's the recent market like on these? It comes with an ATA case but no foot switch.

TIA

 

[8len8]

I added the depth mod to my JCA50H. I would never go back to not having the mod. Find someone with a soldering iron and who is familiar with amp modding - it's just a handful of components.

 

[cardinal]

I had one without the depth mod and it sounded glorious at any volume. Magnificent amp.

 

[Racerxrated]

I had one without the depth mod and it sounded glorious at any volume. Magnificent amp.

The 2 I owned had the WH and Depth, I believe when dimed the depth is out of the circuit? Anyway, I only found the depth useful at lower volumes. When turned up the depth didn't seem to do much.
I don't think it's necessary.
Great amp!

I bought one for 2500, my 2nd for 2200.

 

[jdel77]

Nothing an eq pedal in the loop can't fix.

 

[Mr. Willy]

Got a stock SLO. No need for the depth mod, imho.

 

[SpiderWars]

I had one without the depth mod and it sounded glorious at any volume. Magnificent amp.

The 2 I owned had the WH and Depth, I believe when dimed the depth is out of the circuit? Anyway, I only found the depth useful at lower volumes. When turned up the depth didn't seem to do much.
I don't think it's necessary.
Great amp!

I bought one for 2500, my 2nd for 2200.

FWIW, the WH mod removes a bright cap on the OD Gain control so when the Gain is dimed it makes no difference. The Depth control is a power amp adjustment similar to a Presence control but for bass frequencies. It does help at lower volumes but at some point the amp is putting out about all the bass it's gonna so it becomes less effective. I like having it but only use it in small portions.

 

[nevusofota]

Thanks for all the input. I think I'm going for this stock SLO. It's not everyday that one comes up for sale locally.

 

[311boogieman]

I think I'm going for this stock SLO. It's not everyday that one comes up for sale locally.

Sweet. Can't wait to see your NAD or NSLOD thread.

If I got a SLO it would be exactly what you are getting with the black croc tolex. fap fap fap

 

[Wizard of Ozz]

I like it better without... so does Mike Soldano. Ask him.

 

[FourT6and2]

You can always just add it yourself. When the knob is on zero, it's out of the circuit anyway (for all intents and purposes). The mod is only two caps and a pot. Not exactly hard to do yourself if you know how to solder. And easy enough to undo. I like the Depth mod, not for adding low-end where it's needed, but for adding low mids. And you can balance it with the bass control to get more sounds. Like dial the bass low, then bring the Depth up for a different kind of sound. It's not always just for adding super ultra uber lows.

 

[RedPlated]

I really liked the depth mod on my SLO. I wouldn't buy another one without it. Sounds anemic with it off at bedroom volumes. I used to run it at 11' o clock and sounded great.

 

[Mesa\Kramer]

With a good cab the depth Mod is not needed

 

[zewango]

I've owned a few SLO's and would want the depth mod. I really liked it

 

[nevusofota]

With a good cab the depth Mod is not needed

I have either a Mesa 4x12 traditional cab with V30's or an early 80's 800 cab with the very early 12-t75's. I'm thinking it should have plenty of thump with the Mesa.

 

[8len8]

A cab/speaker can't create low end if the amp doesn't create it in the first place.

 

[cecilbag]

I don't use my depth mod with my slo but I see it up different than most. I almost dime the mids

 

[nevusofota]

A cab/speaker can't create low end if the amp doesn't create it in the first place.

If course, but a cab (which is a type of EQ) can accentuate frequencies. I'm sure the SLO inherently puts out some "lows" without the mod.

 

[nevusofota]

How does the fx loop take pedals?

 

[godgrinder]

How does the fx loop take pedals?

Depends on the pedals. Some pedals that takes line level signal well like TC or Eventide ones work fine. The ones that were designed for instrument level only not so much.

But there are more gain stages after the loop since its weird placement, so the effects in your loop will still get clipped. Might be the best to run a dry/wet system with the line out, if you have a spare SS combo or something.