Is Synergy really that good?

[Apex1Rg7X]

My current go to rig is the Uber module into a Fryette 2/50/2 through a Fryette 4x12. It's honestly one of the best rig's I've owned. Every time I think about buying different amps I quickly get over it because these modules are that good. I need to try more but the Uber just hits the sweet spot for me.

 

[Shask]

I'm looking forward to trying your Tone Models.. thanks for sharing!

Let me know if you like them! I primarily do high gain sounds, but throw up some mid-gain sometimes. I always do several with and without boost pedals and multiple mid settings.

The attack and bloom are more accurate than any other digital unit I have used through the years.

 

[boltzthrower]

You guys make me not want to spend any money, lol.

I do love the Uber module. It is one of my favorites. Both channels are different, but both are great in different ways.

I have a Mesa 2:90, and a modified Seymour Duncan KTG2100, which is basically a 2150 - 2/90/2 based copy. It sounds pretty huge through either. I know Synergy is usually a little tighter/clearer than the amps it is based on, so I thought maybe the Uber Ultra would be a little less tight and bigger sounding.

Tonally, the KTG2100 is not a copy of the 2150 or 2/90/2, FYI. I own a KTG2100 and a 2/90/2, used to own a 2150. The KTG has more coloration, and it does not sound/feel just like a Fryette with more coloration. Same difference between them in the room translates to recording. If the clarity of the 2/90/2 were like staring through a glass of soda water, the KTG2100 is like a lager or an ale.

 

[Shask]

Tonally, the KTG2100 is not a copy of the 2150 or 2/90/2, FYI. I own a KTG2100 and a 2/90/2, used to own a 2150. The KTG has more coloration, and it does not sound/feel just like a Fryette with more coloration. Same difference between them in the room translates to recording. If the clarity of the 2/90/2 were like staring through a glass of soda water, the KTG2100 is like a lager or an ale.

Interesting. That is what I always read and I know the design is similar.

I am not sure if I would want it to be brighter, lol. I already dial it in darker. I also modified it with depth controls, so I dial it in to be way bigger than stock.

 

[DanTravis62]

Let me know if you like them! I primarily do high gain sounds, but throw up some mid-gain sometimes. I always do several with and without boost pedals and multiple mid settings.

The attack and bloom are more accurate than any other digital unit I have used through the years.

If you mostly do high gain sounds, the synergy stuff absolutely kills at the high gain stuff.

 

[Shask]

If you mostly do high gain sounds, the synergy stuff absolutely kills at the high gain stuff.

Does anything but high gain exist? Lol.

 

[DanTravis62]

Does anything but high gain exist? Lol.

Not here at RT, friend

 

[fek]

My 800 landed on Friday. It's a keeper for me. Just does that 800 thing and feels great too. The 3 bright cap options are handy as well.

The SLO and SLOII have been my main tones since I picked up SYN-1 a few years ago. Still need to try the Uber though.

 

[pipboy90]

My current go to rig is the Uber module into a Fryette 2/50/2 through a Fryette 4x12. It's honestly one of the best rig's I've owned. Every time I think about buying different amps I quickly get over it because these modules are that good. I need to try more but the Uber just hits the sweet spot for me.

Does your Fryette 4x12 have Fane F70G speakers? I just got a new Fryette 2x12 with them and it sounds great. Need more time with it at volume though.

 

[acidvoodoo]

My current go to rig is the Uber module into a Fryette 2/50/2 through a Fryette 4x12. It's honestly one of the best rig's I've owned. Every time I think about buying different amps I quickly get over it because these modules are that good. I need to try more but the Uber just hits the sweet spot for me.

That’s how I was from day one, the Uber just kills, def my go to…but I’ve had the Killer Kali for a few months now and it’s just as good. I toggle back and forth between them all the time and can’t decide which I like best. I’ve tried a lot of the modules, I highly recommend trying the Killer Kali if you love the Uber. Next one I want is the Drect.

 

[romanianreaper]

My 800 landed on Friday. It's a keeper for me. Just does that 800 thing and feels great too. The 3 bright cap options are handy as well.

The SLO and SLOII have been my main tones since I picked up SYN-1 a few years ago. Still need to try the Uber though.

Between the 800 and SLO II, any big similarities or differences that really stand out and you prefer?

 

[boltzthrower]

Interesting. That is what I always read and I know the design is similar.

I am not sure if I would want it to be brighter, lol. I already dial it in darker. I also modified it with depth controls, so I dial it in to be way bigger than stock.

You can dial it in as dark or bright as you want with the depth & presence controls. But I understand why you hear people call it hi-fi; it feels very immediate, articulate & in your face, no sag & coloration to hide your slop. I use it for tech death tuned down to G and it’s so clear & tight, the KTG can’t compete with it in terms of clarity for that style.

Was it relatively easy to add the depth control? I’m competent to solder on circuit boards but knowing where to put what for mods is over my head.

 

[S̷͖͑m̵͎͂á̵̺s̸͚̈́h̴̬̑]

Does your Fryette 4x12 have Fane F70G speakers? I just got a new Fryette 2x12 with them and it sounds great. Need more time with it at volume though.

There is something special about the 2/90/2 into the fane f70s. There is this little button on the power amp thaat cuts lows or boosts highs. When you use it on a low mid heavy module like the sloII, it just brings the goods

 

[Shask]

You can dial it in as dark or bright as you want with the depth & presence controls. But I understand why you hear people call it hi-fi; it feels very immediate, articulate & in your face, no sag & coloration to hide your slop. I use it for tech death tuned down to G and it’s so clear & tight, the KTG can’t compete with it in terms of clarity for that style.

Was it relatively easy to add the depth control? I’m competent to solder on circuit boards but knowing where to put what for mods is over my head.

Yeah, it was really easy. No PCB required. There are wires that run from the front to the back from the "Dynamics" knob (which is just a negative feedback control) to the output jack. You just have to break that connection and insert a pot and cap in there like all Depth controls. I just drilled holes in the back for the new pots.

 

[fek]

Between the 800 and SLO II, any big similarities or differences that really stand out and you prefer?

I have not loaded both of those up in the SYN-2 yet, but they are different animals. The SLO has more gain and sits in a different EQ curve. To be honest, the 800 and SLOII will most likely both be in the SYN-2 most of the time. They both do their thing and I like what they do.

If I had to pick a generalized difference, the SLOII is a bit more modern and the 800 is the classic 80's rock tone.

 

[Apex1Rg7X]

Does your Fryette 4x12 have Fane F70G speakers? I just got a new Fryette 2x12 with them and it sounds great. Need more time with it at volume though.

Yes it does. Amazing cab that has worked with every amp setup I've thrown at it.

 

[buller]

I'm looking to upgrade from my current preamp pedals into class D power amp setup to a proper tube head for playing at home and I'm looking for some help narrowing down my shortlist. The amp will be going into my KSR 212V cab with H75 Cream and V30. Here's what I'm deciding between:

• ENGL Fireball 25 (probably KT77 version)
• SYN20IR w/ Drect module
• SYN20IR w/ Uberschall module

I want an amp with a good, quiet effects loop so if either of these don't have that then that would be great to know. I prefer the high gain character of Dual Recs and Ubers a bit over the more modern and less forgiving ENGL sound, but the Fireball not having EL84s is a pretty big point in its favor. Do things like the structure control on the 20IR make the wimpiness and stringiness of EL84s less of an issue? And between the Drect and Uber modules, would one be better suited to the power section of the 20IR than the other?

My other main consideration is that ideally I want a channel that can be set up for a nice pushed clean tone with a low output neck HB and nice low/mid gain crunch with a high output bridge HB. Is there one of my three options that would be able to achieve something like that better than the others?

I've ruled out stuff like the MT15 V2 (not able to switch between a crunch and high gain tone), Friedmans (just not my thing), and Astro 20 / SLO 30 (not evil sounding enough IMO). The best of all worlds would probably be getting a SYN2 to have something like the JMP module and Drect/Uber and run that into a KSR PA50, but that's more than I can justify

 

[acidvoodoo]

I’d recommend just getting the SYN50. It has the best volume control I’ve used on any amp and you could expand it even more in the future with a SYN1 or SYN2.

 

[romanianreaper]

Hey Buller, I've owned a bunch of amps over the years and my most recent tube amp was an EVH 5150-III 6L6 50 Watt Stealth and my Synergy 20IR sounds as good and heavy as that. Obviously it is not going to be able to equal 50 watts and 6L6 tubes but it does not have that "stringy" EL84 tone you mentioned. I've been blown away by it and is a solid amp.

The 20IR had that clean channel that takes pedals great and the modules i've played, even brutal ones can fo a great ACDC, etc with the gain down.

 

[crankyrayhanky]

800 incoming!
I'm stoked to put a clean OD in front of it and go to Zakkville