I got SLO gas...

[War Admiral]

It just hit me and I never even tried one! What are the essential mods for the amp if any? Depth, Haynes, etc. School me on the SLO please. I'm looking for that high mid crunch sound with in your face punch. Will this get me there? Speakers that are suited for the amp...good master volume? Stuff like that.

 

[mentoneman]

they sound good at apache war cry scalping your family volumes

 

[glpg80]

ive played one.

id describe it as a clean character 5150 with a hell of alot more detail in the knob turning - any setting sounds good on the SLO's where thats not as true on a 5150.

its got the clean character and the tightness - definately a marshallesque vibe but the gain is all its own.

SLO's are loud as fuck. i had one on 2 and couldnt go any louder without getting told to turn it off in the store/getting kicked out.

IMHO i didnt like it too much. stock versus stock - i think the 5150 III's sound better and is alot easier to play.

 

[War Admiral]

Ya see, its that loud as fuck thing that scares me...A good MV is a must. I don't want to screw around with an attenuator...been there done that. Had a Roccaforte HG 100 and thats the exact reason I got rid of it.

 

[Mailman1971]

I would like to crank out on one!!

 

[stratotone]

I dig mine, it comes more alive the louder you crank it, but even at moderate volumes it kicks ass. Main weak point is the effects loop.

Pete

 

[Mailman1971]

Now thats what I am talking about!!

 

[glpg80]

Ya see, its that loud as fuck thing that scares me...A good MV is a must. I don't want to screw around with an attenuator...been there done that. Had a Roccaforte HG 100 and thats the exact reason I got rid of it.

my honest opinion would be to get a 5150 III instead. back to back, the 5150 III minds its character and volume alot better and is alot more friendly with good tone at good volumes compared to a SLO

when playing a SLO it felt like hopping behind the seat of a BBC dragster - it was made to be opened up. i could tell the louder i got the greater and heavier it sounded, the gain tone become more detailed, and it was a pretty cool experience.

but at low volumes the amplifier isnt the best. 5150 III reigns all over it in that category. i wouldnt mind owning a SLO with the depth mod in the future because i really did like what i was hearing in the change of the gain tone as it got bumped up louder, but its beyond normal and not an amplifier i would choose to use for clubs or even home use. the damn thing is just loud and theres not as much gain as 5150's to hide behind - so if you make a mistake in your playing you will definately know it.

i did like its tight character though - definately an amplifier that is versatile and could do multiple genres, but IMHO i just like the 5150 III more. a more scooped sound - better feeling - no wrestling the amplifier, and just sounds more pleasant.

SLO's by design dont sound good until you are moving air. its just their character - definately not an amplifier i would ever own if i had an appartment or wanted low volume jams.

the 5150 III's can get down without getting turned up. around 5.5 i think they lose alot of tone and clarity - a loud mess. but anything below that sounds phenominal.

5150 II's sound great and loosen up around 4, and the feeling gets more loose up to 6.5, and anything over 6.5 is just PT sag or power tube sag, depending on how you have it biased or the tubes that you have it them.

 

[stratotone]

5150 III isn't anywhere near the parts or build quality of an SLO. You get what you pay for.

Plus the SLO has a lifetime transferable warranty. I'd take an SLO every time over a 5150 III.

Pete

 

[Jdub]

Ya see, its that loud as fuck thing that scares me...A good MV is a must. I don't want to screw around with an attenuator...been there done that. Had a Roccaforte HG 100 and thats the exact reason I got rid of it.

my honest opinion would be to get a 5150 III instead. back to back, the 5150 III minds its character and volume alot better and is alot more friendly with good tone at good volumes compared to a SLO

when playing a SLO it felt like hopping behind the seat of a BBC dragster - it was made to be opened up. i could tell the louder i got the greater and heavier it sounded, the gain tone become more detailed, and it was a pretty cool experience.

but at low volumes the amplifier isnt the best. 5150 III reigns all over it in that category. i wouldnt mind owning a SLO with the depth mod in the future because i really did like what i was hearing in the change of the gain tone as it got bumped up louder, but its beyond normal and not an amplifier i would choose to use for clubs or even home use. the damn thing is just loud and theres not as much gain as 5150's to hide behind - so if you make a mistake in your playing you will definately know it.

i did like its tight character though - definately an amplifier that is versatile and could do multiple genres, but IMHO i just like the 5150 III more. a more scooped sound - better feeling - no wrestling the amplifier, and just sounds more pleasant.

SLO's by design dont sound good until you are moving air. its just their character - definately not an amplifier i would ever own if i had an appartment or wanted low volume jams.

the 5150 III's can get down without getting turned up. around 5.5 i think they lose alot of tone and clarity - a loud mess. but anything below that sounds phenominal.

5150 II's sound great and loosen up around 4, and the feeling gets more loose up to 6.5, and anything over 6.5 is just PT sag or power tube sag, depending on how you have it biased or the tubes that you have it them.

I love the SLO . It is definitely one of my favorite amps , if not my favorite and I actually agree with much of your take. Surprised? Personally, I think the SLO sounds better than the 5150 3 at any volume because I know how it sounds and feels loud, and some of that familiar magic lingers for me, even at low volumes.

 

[Jdub]

To the OP.

GASing for an SLO. I would say do it with no real risk. Get a used one for 2k or so and love it or hate it, either way you win. you can love it and the rest is history, or try it then off it and get your $ back. It is nearly liquid if you get a fair deal in the first place.

If you have the opportunity to play it cranked without reserve, rest assured, it is an experience worth having..

What others have said is true. The louder you turn it up the better it sounds. Somewhere along that line, it gets to a point where it keeps getting better, and others go the other way. In short loudest is best and that is when it becomes clear why it is legendary. BUT the master volume is quite good and but the loop could be better. I use an old intellifex in the loop and with the input set low and the output high, the loop works fine though not footswitchable.

I fight the gravel a little bit at lower volumes, but with low treble, mids to fit and moderate presence settings, juicy, thick yet still searing tones are there, it just takes the right settings.


I like mine biased on the hotter side. JJ tubes. celestion blackbacks or greenbacks, no mods needed, but the depth mod can be fun, especially at low volumes. They have top notched customer service too.

 

[Jdub]

Ya see, its that loud as fuck thing that scares me...A good MV is a must. I don't want to screw around with an attenuator...been there done that. Had a Roccaforte HG 100 and thats the exact reason I got rid of it.

I have done alot of comparing over the years using the SLO with and without an attenuator. It sounds better to me to use the MV to temper the volume that use an attenuator. Just this week, I was abing MV versus hotplate. I liked the MV better by a margin. I like the HP with my older Marshalls, but the SLO MV is excellent IMO. The Roccaforte Indoor Storm HG50 I played a bunch a few years back sounded quite dry,sterile and lifeless, so using that as a reference point, the SLO will likely rock your world.

 

[Jdub]

they sound good at apache war cry scalping your family volumes

aaaaiiiiiiiiii YIIII YIIII YEEE!!!!!

tsup bro Pat? Epic Winter for Surfing, been getting wet?

 

[gbsmusic]

They really start to come alive at 4 and sound better the higher you go!! It was my favorate amp and I'd still have it if the effects loop was better!

 

[jcj]

The SLO is one of my top 5, for sure.

However...if you're not in a position to play at high/stage volumes, don't bother.

That goes for pretty much every tube amp I've owned.

 

[loudgtr]

I dig mine, it comes more alive the louder you crank it, but even at moderate volumes it kicks ass. Main weak point is the effects loop.

Pete

^^^^ this. It's master is acutally pretty good. It does sound better at higher volumes more so than other amps because of the build quality is my guess.

5150 III isn't anywhere near the parts or build quality of an SLO. You get what you pay for.

Plus the SLO has a lifetime transferable warranty. I'd take an SLO every time over a 5150 III.

Pete

^^^^^This again. The feel of an SLO crushes the 5150 III. You get what you pay for.

I've owned a few Soldano. They're great. Now I'm into boosting nice older Marshall's...very similar to what I was getting with the Soldano's but the feel and tone is more me with the Marshalls.

 

[Death by Uberschall]

As the owner of a nice list of quality amps, including the SLO, I can tell you without a doubt it's an amp worth having. The gain structure and character of the amp is well defined and massive. You want note clarity and no mush, it's there. You want pristine tones, it's there. You will hear exactly what you play through it, good or bad, it hides nothing. Unless you only play at bedroom levels or lower, you'll be happy with the tones it possesses. The SLO is a preamp overdrive design, and this is where most of the sound comes from. But once you kick up the volume and start pushing the power section, it just keeps getting better and better and better,......

Try one one, you'll love it. As far as mods go, the Depth mod is great. The Haynes mod is optional.

 

[fuzzyguitars]

i have owned and sold A LOT of high gain amps.

I stupidly sold a 92 slo a few years back and had been gassing for it ever since.

I recently picked one up again here on rig talk, as soon as i plugged in and played for a few minutes i knew i would never be without another slo again!

that being said, it is really its own beast. You really need to take the time and play it and try ALOT of different settings.

The amp reacts and sounds completely different at different volumes too. Some setting sound great at lower volumes, but sound awefull at different levels.

It is easy to make the amp sound bad because it is very sensitive to speaker swaps. It is very easy to dial in too much high end slice that will eviscerate your dog and kill your eardrums lol!

I never had problems with the loop as long as you run +4 rated effects in the loop. sounds great. dd20 works well for me.]

My slo has a footswitchable loop by dst ampworks and it is really convenient and doesnt color the sound engaged or not. I tried it with a straight patch cord and could not tell the difference.

the speakers that work best for me are greenback based with the celestion 65 my favorite for 80's marshally flavors.

for more modern tones the celestion g12k100 sounds awesome!
i am in the process of getting some of the lynch super v speakers to try out, cant wait for that.

 

[fuzzyguitars]

almost forgot.


the only mod that i think is very helpful is the depth mod.

it is not crucial, but it is very nice. it really expands the number of sounds that you can get out of the amp and really affects how the amp responds to your playing.

with the depth turned up, the amp begins to sag a bit and the mids begin to get pushed as well, you can soften the pick attack with it.

i always turn the bass way down when i do this or it will get way to bassy. the key is to dial in the mids to at least 5 and the bass to less than 5 when using the depth at anything higher than 1-2. unlike others i will sometimes still keep a little depth even when i get to play the amp with the vol at 4 or higher.

however, that being said, to get that harmonic overtone, string sensitivity and clarity of pick attack that the slo is known for, the depth knob is better left off.

some say that the slo sounds too bass shy without the depth but i disagree, you just have to dial back the mids and treble a little more that you normally would on another amp.
try this setting if you are using an slo for the first time with a humbucker guitar. bright off, overdrive 5-6,bass 5-6, middle 4, treble 3-4, presence 3-5, depth off. volume at 2-3. and tell me that sounds thin! i dare you.

for a morey chewy solo sound try this
bright on, overdrive 7-8, bass 4, middle 5-6, treble 3-4, volume 3-4. presence 4-5 depth 1. it really rocks!

 

[War Admiral]

almost forgot.


the only mod that i think is very helpful is the depth mod.

it is not crucial, but it is very nice. it really expands the number of sounds that you can get out of the amp and really affects how the amp responds to your playing.

with the depth turned up, the amp begins to sag a bit and the mids begin to get pushed as well, you can soften the pick attack with it.

i always turn the bass way down when i do this or it will get way to bassy. the key is to dial in the mids to at least 5 and the bass to less than 5 when using the depth at anything higher than 1-2. unlike others i will sometimes still keep a little depth even when i get to play the amp with the vol at 4 or higher.

however, that being said, to get that harmonic overtone, string sensitivity and clarity of pick attack that the slo is known for, the depth knob is better left off.

some say that the slo sounds too bass shy without the depth but i disagree, you just have to dial back the mids and treble a little more that you normally would on another amp.
try this setting if you are using an slo for the first time with a humbucker guitar. bright off, overdrive 5-6,bass 5-6, middle 4, treble 3-4, presence 3-5, depth off. volume at 2-3. and tell me that sounds thin! i dare you.

for a morey chewy solo sound try this
bright on, overdrive 7-8, bass 4, middle 5-6, treble 3-4, volume 3-4. presence 4-5 depth 1. it really rocks!

Super informative! Thanks fuzzy! I got my Modena up for a trade here and 4 other forums for a SLO...I'll see what happens. I think I really want one now. If not I'll just outright buy one and I think I got the perfect cab for it too...2 G12H-30's and 2 Greenies. Thanks bud!