Effects for Soldano SLO-100

[phil b]

The thing to remember is to try and find an effects unit that has an analog dry signal path so you'll get no tone suck. Especially if the loop your using has tone suck by itself. Quite a few digital units are transparent, but not all. Make sure you do your research before hand.

I think this is why the Rocktron units work well? Really a minimal amount of tonal change with the intellifex. And they are very cheap...1-200 bucks usually.

Yes. I used to run my Intellifex in series thru my Mesa and it sounded great. One of the best units out there for the money. I bought mine new and its so old it doesnt have sysex send/receive capability. AFAIK all the Rocktron units from that era were all analog dry.
Those were the shit when they came out!

 

[mikey]

I'll second a Replifex, they work pretty well. ...although admittedly I've got the itch for something more modern like an FX8.

I did run into a problem using the channel switching jack on the Replifex, it's an easy fix though. The relays in the Rep didn't allow enough juice to trigger the LDRs used for channel switching in the SLO. Bypassing the resistors on the switching circuit of the Replifex will correct this (I wired a switch to bypass the resistors in the Replifex which allows me to switch them back in should I use anything else with standard relay switching). No problems, works like it should now. Anyone encounter any issue similar to this with an FX8?

 

[Deanmachine]

Eventide Timefactor or flashback .

 

[Dave L]

The Timefactor has a bit limited headroom even when set to line level, though, it´s not really "proper" line level in the way these rack units are. I don´t think just about any pedal is. But I´m sure it could work anyway, just depends on exactly how hot the SLO loop really runs. In the pedal world I´d look at the Strymon Timeline too, which supposedly has a bit better headroom and also analog dry.

The upside of working with pedals is that they all have the right input impedance since they´re made to take a straight guitar signal. No treble roll-off that way, which easily could happen with rack FX made for studio use. The Rocktron stuff, which are rack units made for guitar applications, sits right in the middle and gets it all right.

 

[8len8]

The list here might apply. I think the JCA and SLO loops are similar.

http://www.guitarampboard.com/forum/vie ... php?t=1615

 

[BackCrack]

I've been keeping an eye open for a used Radial EXTC-SA to use with my SLO. It takes a line level signal, knocks it down to pedal level with it's pedal loop (it actually has two switchable pedal loops), and then boosts the signal back up to line level for the return trip to the amp. It wasn't originally designed to be used like this; more for the studio world. But the specs match up on paper for amps with line level loops like the SLO. If I ever find one cheap and try it, I'll probably start a thread about it.

I went ahead and ordered the Radial. I'll definitely let you know how it turns out.

 

[Jdub]

an old Rocktron Intellifex works well. Cheap used @ 150.00 and sound very good for verb, delay and chorus. works like a champ with the SLO.

 

[nevusofota]

an old Rocktron Intellifex works well. Cheap used @ 150.00 and sound very good for verb, delay and chorus. works like a champ with the SLO.

I’m currently looking at these. There seems to be a couple of different versions. There’s an Intellifex “on-line” here locally for $100. Thinking about going for it but want to see if there’s any drawbacks to this version first.

 

[Racerxrated]

an old Rocktron Intellifex works well. Cheap used @ 150.00 and sound very good for verb, delay and chorus. works like a champ with the SLO.

I’m currently looking at these. There seems to be a couple of different versions. There’s an Intellifex “on-line” here locally for $100. Thinking about going for it but want to see if there’s any drawbacks to this version first.

This is the version I have, and it sounds great. The online version let you download presets I believe. I've never tried, just edited the factory presets a bit. With these units you should always turn off the Hush part of the presets if they are active, the signal path improves.
There is some 'snake oil' out there, that the first blackface Intellifex are the best over the following versions, but for 125 including midi pedal mine is a keeper and dirt cheap. Analog signal path is the key from what I've read to its transparency.

 

[MrDowntown]

so... rocktron intelliflex vs lexicon mx200 ?

There's a used mx200 locally. Kinda overpriced IMO...@ $120 (or maybe not ?)

Anyway. Thoughts?

 

[Wizard of Ozz]

Eventide or Lexicon. Just depends on how much you want to spend and how much rack space you have.

 

[Jdub]

an old Rocktron Intellifex works well. Cheap used @ 150.00 and sound very good for verb, delay and chorus. works like a champ with the SLO.

I’m currently looking at these. There seems to be a couple of different versions. There’s an Intellifex “on-line” here locally for $100. Thinking about going for it but want to see if there’s any drawbacks to this version first.

This is the version I have, and it sounds great. The online version let you download presets I believe. I've never tried, just edited the factory presets a bit. With these units you should always turn off the Hush part of the presets if they are active, the signal path improves.
There is some 'snake oil' out there, that the first blackface Intellifex are the best over the following versions, but for 125 including midi pedal mine is a keeper and dirt cheap. Analog signal path is the key from what I've read to its transparency.

I vaguely recall the evolution of the intellifex. I have one of the original black faced ones. I bought it new in like 1996. It's beat but still works. I remember the later versions were about 1/2 the price IIRC. Ian not sure if that was a function of the times because electronics technology was advancing so rapidly or that they "cheapened them up" quality wise, so to speak. I have heard the "snake oil" talk many times and am inclined to believe there is at least some truth to it based on the huge price drop after the originals were phased out. . How much or it makes a worthwhile difference? I can't say. Given the choice I would get the black one to be safe.

 

[van hellion]

bang for the buck, man i love my little TC nova unit.

 

[nevusofota]

Anyone use the Eventide H9 with the SLO? Looks like the perfect multi fx unit that doesn’t need a rack.

 

[rstites]

so... rocktron intelliflex vs lexicon mx200 ?

There's a used mx200 locally. Kinda overpriced IMO...@ $120 (or maybe not ?)

Anyway. Thoughts?

You can get a Lexicon MPX-1 for under $200 on ebay which is a massive step up over the MPX200, so I'd go that route if you want Lexicon.

In fact, I picked up an MPX-1 over Christmas and frankly it kills my old Intellifex for most sounds, just straight out of the box. The Intellifex is easier to program. The biggest advantage of the Intellifex is that it has an analog through, so you have an unprocessed dry mix, so long as you don't use the HUSH part of the unit. With almost all other effects units I know of, they convert the entire signal to digital and do all their mixing digitally. With all of those, you need a separate line-mixer of some sort to get a good uncompromised dry/wet mix.

So, I'd go with either Intellifex or Replifex, or go with something else and get a line mixer: note no line mixer needed if you have an amp with a parallel loop.

 

[MrDowntown]

bang for the buck, man i love my little TC nova unit.

Which NOVA unit?

 

[napalmdeath]

Using the Lexicon MPX 550 and think it sounds great with the SLO.

I've had great luck with the Lexicon stuff. You can find those units dirt-cheap, and their reverbs, and delays are pretty lush.

 

[jape23]

bang for the buck, man i love my little TC nova unit.

Which NOVA unit?

When I owned an SLO, I used a Nova Repeater for delays, based on a recommendation from Bill Sundt. There is no tone loss or level issues with that unit. Even so, based on the design/location of the loop in that amp, the delays are not going to sound like they should. Couldn't use a boost in the stock loop either. It bugged me enough that I eventually had the loop modded/moved.

 

[MrDowntown]

I tried a mx200 today...best I could. Just meh for me. Wasn't in love from the get go.

Of course I don't have a SLO...so I'm flying blind

 

[Jack Luminous]

I use with My SLO a Sony HR-MP5 (early 90s half-rack unit) along a CAE mini-mixer (half-rack too). Sounds godly and all levels are easily manageable thru the CAE thing.