how do soldano SLOs compare

[oldmanmetal]

to amps like Bogners and Mesas? I have a bogner shiva 20th and a mesa tremoverb but am in the mood for something less compressed and a tad more modern.

The SLO is one of the best high gain channel switching amps around.

The soldano is thick and throaty. It will have some similarities to your Tremo but IMO it is not a "modern" sounding amp. Not as much as the Mesa.

Hmm, so it's closer to an xtc?
how is the clean channel? Usable?

Not close to an XTC at all. Much, much brighter with more high end cut, tighter bottom, and higher pitched, more cutting mids. If you want "less compressed, more modern" you might want to check out a Fryette Ultra-Lead... as they are very open sounding with KT88s, but still have a modern voicing with a good deal of low end.

I agree, Fryette UL all the way.

 

[steve_k]

You can pick up a good used UL for a decent price and compare to your Mesa or Bogner. You will find the VHT much tighter than the Tremoverb and Shiva. There's usually quite a few floating around for sale.

The SLO is a little harder to find and you will have to pay up quite a bit more. It will be quite a step up in terms of commitment.

 

[RSRD]

great info. thanks. I don't think the SLO is quit what Im looking for but you never know until you try one out! but it helps me fine tune my search.

You can try out mine if you like, assuming you are still in NoVA...

Bronco Im probably less then 10 minutes from you and would love to check it out. I'll send you a PM.


Thanks everyone. I'll put the fryette on the list

 

[zuel69]

I love SLO's, there certainly isn't any over compressed blanket covering those amps.

You can pick up a good used UL for a decent price and compare to your Mesa or Bogner. You will find the VHT much tighter than the Tremoverb and Shiva. There's usually quite a few floating around for sale.

The SLO is a little harder to find and you will have to pay up quite a bit more. It will be quite a step up in terms of commitment.

 

[Bronco]

great info. thanks. I don't think the SLO is quit what Im looking for but you never know until you try one out! but it helps me fine tune my search.

You can try out mine if you like, assuming you are still in NoVA...

Bronco Im probably less then 10 minutes from you and would love to check it out. I'll send you a PM.


Thanks everyone. I'll put the fryette on the list

Sounds good man...I have an Uber Rev 2 and a Fish as well...would be happy to show them off.

~Eric

 

[SLOgriff]

I've had most every "boutique" amp out there and still have my 2 SLO's. They are very sensitive to tubes and speakers. I think there is a lot of misconception about the SLO from guys who have never spent time with one! I've probably had 10 different SLO's over the past 8 years and it took me a while to figure out how to fine tune it and what tubes and bias to use to get my tones. Steve is right, the SLO is the only amp I've played that stays tight and together the more you crank it up! Bogners always fart out and lose it when you go past 11 o'clock on the master. Other high gain amps start to fatigue my ears after a while...

The Depth is a must and makes a huge difference at not just low volumes but high volumes as well! The SLO is not an easy amp to play...meaning if you are a sloppy player it will show. Its made me a more focused and better player. I think the SLO is worth the price because of the various tones you can get as well as the quality under the hood! It can get pretty heavy sounding and I actually think the Clean channel is quite good. Its not for everyone, but after 24 + years it still commands respect and is still hard to beat!

 

[steve_k]

I've had most every "boutique" amp out there and still have my 2 SLO's. They are very sensitive to tubes and speakers. I think there is a lot of misconception about the SLO from guys who have never spent time with one! I've probably had 10 different SLO's over the past 8 years and it took me a while to figure out how to fine tune it and what tubes and bias to use to get my tones. Steve is right, the SLO is the only amp I've played that stays tight and together the more you crank it up! Bogners always fart out and lose it when you go past 11 o'clock on the master. Other high gain amps start to fatigue my ears after a while...

The Depth is a must and makes a huge difference at not just low volumes but high volumes as well! The SLO is not an easy amp to play...meaning if you are a sloppy player it will show. Its made me a more focused and better player. I think the SLO is worth the price because of the various tones you can get as well as the quality under the hood! It can get pretty heavy sounding and I actually think the Clean channel is quite good. Its not for everyone, but after 24 + years it still commands respect and is still hard to beat!

Well said......and glad I finally made the move and stepped up to an SLO. For me, the depth and scoop factory mods are a must.

It is amazing though, the amount of butthurt the SLO can generate. Not as bad as the "C" word, but close. The SLO and CCV are my two favorite amps, by a long shot.


Steve

 

[supersonic]

Here's a shootout I did. Keep in mind these are all recorded at loungroom levels.
XTC https://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_so ... ID=9744503
SLO https://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_so ... ID=9739347
Friedman Marsha https://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_so ... ID=9625940

 

[SLOgriff]

I've had most every "boutique" amp out there and still have my 2 SLO's. They are very sensitive to tubes and speakers. I think there is a lot of misconception about the SLO from guys who have never spent time with one! I've probably had 10 different SLO's over the past 8 years and it took me a while to figure out how to fine tune it and what tubes and bias to use to get my tones. Steve is right, the SLO is the only amp I've played that stays tight and together the more you crank it up! Bogners always fart out and lose it when you go past 11 o'clock on the master. Other high gain amps start to fatigue my ears after a while...

The Depth is a must and makes a huge difference at not just low volumes but high volumes as well! The SLO is not an easy amp to play...meaning if you are a sloppy player it will show. Its made me a more focused and better player. I think the SLO is worth the price because of the various tones you can get as well as the quality under the hood! It can get pretty heavy sounding and I actually think the Clean channel is quite good. Its not for everyone, but after 24 + years it still commands respect and is still hard to beat!

Well said......and glad I finally made the move and stepped up to an SLO. For me, the depth and scoop factory mods are a must.

It is amazing though, the amount of butthurt the SLO can generate. Not as bad as the "C" word, but close. The SLO and CCV are my two favorite amps, by a long shot.


Steve

I'm hoping that CCV is worth the wait and the money as well....I need another quality tone reference to choose from!

I was actually "schooled" on Soldano (eight years ago over at Harmony Central) after kinda slamming and criticising the company for not keeping up with the times and updating their amps.... I got raked over the coals, but it took that to make me research and respect what M.J. Soldano had designed....as well as all the other amp companies that borrowed from his designs... Anyway, yes lots of crap gets stiired up but sometimes that's how we learn!

 

[jasonP]

The recto and the SLO gain structure are basically the same .I had heard many times that Mike wanted to sue .Same with Peavey 5150 .
The Mesa just is darker .a bunch of bass that will get loose .other than more low mids and the huge Bass Ie : more modern .the old recto ,rackto is close enough that Mike thought about a lawsuit

I would say the Mesa would be closer to the Bogner ..the 5150 closer to the SLO if you talk voicing of tone stack

I will say that I've owned now 2 other amps that were "close" to an SLO. Both 2 and 3 channel rectifier's, and 5150 one and II version.

The 5150 is closer to the SLO then the Mesa rectifier soundwise in my opinion. For me the SLO is like a boosted 5150. Tighter, holds together better, and sounds more natural in the mid range. The 5150 to me feels spongier, looser and muddier. Has a different mid range to the sound also the tone controls are not as sensitive. The Mesa rectifiers are completely different feeling and sound then both. Even by looking at the schematics of the 3 they are different. Different voltages, filtering, PI's are different, tone stack on the Mesa and effects loops. Along with how the Mesa uses no feedback in modern mode. Makes these amps very different from each other feel and sound wise in my opinion. Personally I would take an SLO all day long over the others (with loop bypass, depth, and scoop mods) as I lean more tords the 80's sounds.

 

[SLOgriff]

Here's a shootout I did. Keep in mind these are all recorded at loungroom levels.
XTC https://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_so ... ID=9744503
SLO https://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_so ... ID=9739347
Friedman Marsha https://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_so ... ID=9625940

Cool! I think the SLO sounds best out of the three. Anyone else sing DLR's part at the beginning of the clips where he says "uhg ....uhhh hah" before the first verse starts!

 

[stephen sawall]

I agree, Fryette UL all the way.

UL, CLX, Sig X, Deliverance 60, Deliverance 120 ..... I recommend you check them all out. The Sig X is my favorite but I am looking for a D120 and UL. All of these amps have the Fryette flavor .... and each have a their own advantages.