Is Synergy really that good?

[Eazy-ESP]

No it can’t do everything and no it won’t sound like many of the amps it claims to. The power amp is that important. I had a Lynch Box and you can get great hot rodded Marshall variations.

Still fun and also fun to get combinations that aren’t usual, like a Vox-y preamp, next to a Marshall. But the Vox-y one will sound like just that, a Vox preamp into whatever power section these guys built.

I do wonder why there aren’t modders sourcing the connectors or modding Syn50s with tougher power sections. Like changing a Syn50 to a KT88 beast power section or a 100w EL34 power amp, etc.

 

[tallcoolone]

I do wonder why there aren’t modders sourcing the connectors or modding Syn50s with tougher power sections. Like changing a Syn50 to a KT88 beast power section or a 100w EL34 power amp, etc

Probably b/c the juice isn’t close to worth the squeeze

 

[romanianreaper]

I think we all wish there was a better way to have all the amps we want. If modelers were the answer-and they really will be in 5, 10, or 20 years im sure-I would jump on that shit.

I have found that for me, having access to anything just gives me ADHD shivers, lol.

At my young age of 56, I have a handful of tones I dig and if I can find things in that arena, i'm good to go. Marshall tones, a nice clean, and a heavy one like a modded amp.

When I had my Fractal years ago, I tweaked like crazy but eventually had a few tones I stayed with. It is nice to have access to a ton of stuff because you get to play things most players would never even see in person.

 

[jchrisf]

I just bought an AM4 that does this perfectly and it cost me $700. With Synergy it’s $1000 to get an empty 50w amp head where each channel will cost me $400. That’s a used SLO100 or XTC. Nah, I might be interested if it were half the price.

I've had the FM3 for several years and through headphones, I've never heard better tone but I have yet to get this to translate to the room. It sounds good in the room, just not as good as my tube amps.. or even my Katana. If I could ever find a solution to get that headphone tone in the room, I'd sell all my amps.

 

[NinjaRaf]

I like the synergy stuff a lot and will be getting back into it eventually. I loved the uber and powerball modules. My other guitar player has a powerball 2, and we compared the module in the syn1 through his power section and we couldn’t tell the difference between the amp and the module. Really impressive, and for sure my favorite module.

I played the 2cp module through my mark vii and it was extremely close to 2cp mode.

Power amp matters in comparison to the real amp, but once you realize that, and just take them for what they are, it doesn’t matter. They sound great!

 

[Detroit ABA]

I really like the Synergy setup, I have a Syn-2 and 4 modules, I really want to try the Headfirst Alta P1, maybe not to replace the Syn-2 but to pair with it

 

[rsm]

I tried downsizing with modelers for years with limited success. I've had more success with my computer rig and software plugins, but it won't replace my tube amps for sound and simplicity.

I have more amps than ever now. I do my research before buying an amp I think I might like. So far, I haven't returned or sold an amp following this approach; I'm up to 11 amps now. I'm also out of space, mostly due to keyboards, so I've been considering space-saving solutions.

I think the Synergy system is a good approach to get tube amp sounds / variety at less cost, and less space.

I've thought about getting the SYN2 many times. I have an Engl E850/100 (6L6GC) power amp, and purchased a Marshall EL34 / 100 Monobloc power amp in preparation for a SYN2 - unfortunately, that turned out to have one channel not working, so I returned it. I'd want a Marshall 100W EL34 power amp first. Power amps matter to me; having 6L6 and EL34 power amps is a necessity for me.

 

[tallcoolone]

I've had the FM3 for several years and through headphones, I've never heard better tone but I have yet to get this to translate to the room. It sounds good in the room, just not as good as my tube amps.. or even my Katana. If I could ever find a solution to get that headphone tone in the room, I'd sell all my amps.

Yup, it’s all about how it’s monitored. All “FRFR” (I detest that term) solutions are not equal. Plus we guitar players are used to hearing our guitar speaker tones bouncing off our shins so most other solutions sound alien.

I play out pretty rarely these days and I have way too many great tube amps and guitar cabs to want to leave them at home and use a modeler.

But if I were playing out twice a week it would be a much different story

 

[TheGreatGreen]

One of the most frustrating things about the Synergy system in general is not because of anything Synergy did directly, but rather how the rest of the guitar industry has evolved around it.

Almost every awesome standalone poweramp ever made was made as a goddamn stereo only amp. WHY.

The closest thing I’ve seen to a high wattage mono tube amp still made these days is the Fryette PS-100, but it doesn’t have big iron.

 

[Shask]

One of the most frustrating things about the Synergy system in general is not because of anything Synergy did directly, but rather how the rest of the guitar industry has evolved around it.

Almost every awesome standalone poweramp ever made was made as a goddamn stereo only amp. WHY.

The closest thing I’ve seen to a high wattage mono tube amp still made these days is the Fryette PS-100, but it doesn’t have big iron.

The KSR 100w poweramp is mono. I know the Syn 5050 and LXII can switch from stereo to mono.

 

[S̷͖͑m̵͎͂á̵̺s̸͚̈́h̴̬̑]

One of the most frustrating things about the Synergy system in general is not because of anything Synergy did directly, but rather how the rest of the guitar industry has evolved around it.

Almost every awesome standalone poweramp ever made was made as a goddamn stereo only amp. WHY.

The closest thing I’ve seen to a high wattage mono tube amp still made these days is the Fryette PS-100, but it doesn’t have big iron.

I have always wondered this too. And i am guessing it is for a wet/dry, but sometimes you want to punch someone right in the chest with 100(+) watts

 

[LP Freak]

I have a Syn-50 waiting in the classified for you

 

[War_in_D]

I think I've about gotten myself talked out of this Synergy rabbit hole, unless I can find a screamin' deal on one somewhere that I could buy/try and could move it easily later without taking too much of a loss. Lots of great insight in this thread, but a few things kept creeping into my head while I was reading through it all:

• No matter what amps I have access to now, or have owned in the past, I always seem to dial them in to sound like "me".
• Do I really need a platform that allows several different variations of "me"? Knowing "me", I'd likely load up a Syn-50 and then find one module I liked for clean and one for dirt and stick to it. So, what would the point be for all that versatility if I would probably try to make them all sound the same (like me) or just outright not like them because I couldn't? I have amps now that I like, are capable of both clean and dirt and there is no cost of admission because they are already here.
• Decision paralysis... I tend to just shut down when there are too many choices.
• Lots of talk about the power sections making the difference in how an amps sounds. 100% agree with this so I could see how a EL34 vs. 6L6 power section could make a difference. Save for a rack mount tuner, I'm out of the rack gear realm and I have no intention of going back into it. I thought about getting a Syn2 rack mount when I still had power amps (Carvin Ts100 that could run both EL's and 6L6's), but didn't pull the trigger then.
• I'm looking back at my experience with modelers and all the choices allowed (specifically Kemper). See points one, two and three.

Thanks again to everyone for helping me work my way through this, but I think I'm just going to end up keeping at least one amp from what I have. Maybe more, or all of them.. who knows. I'm still curious about Synergy, and maybe one day I'll try one if I can do so without too much risk. Thanks all!

 

[Shask]

I think I've about gotten myself talked out of this Synergy rabbit hole, unless I can find a screamin' deal on one somewhere that I could buy/try and could move it easily later without taking too much of a loss. Lots of great insight in this thread, but a few things kept creeping into my head while I was reading through it all:

• No matter what amps I have access to now, or have owned in the past, I always seem to dial them in to sound like "me".
• Do I really need a platform that allows several different variations of "me"? Knowing "me", I'd likely load up a Syn-50 and then find one module I liked for clean and one for dirt and stick to it. So, what would the point be for all that versatility if I would probably try to make them all sound the same (like me) or just outright not like them because I couldn't? I have amps now that I like, are capable of both clean and dirt and there is no cost of admission because they are already here.
• Decision paralysis... I tend to just shut down when there are too many choices.
• Lots of talk about the power sections making the difference in how an amps sounds. 100% agree with this so I could see how a EL34 vs. 6L6 power section could make a difference. Save for a rack mount tuner, I'm out of the rack gear realm and I have no intention of going back into it. I thought about getting a Syn2 rack mount when I still had power amps (Carvin Ts100 that could run both EL's and 6L6's), but didn't pull the trigger then.
• I'm looking back at my experience with modelers and all the choices allowed (specifically Kemper). See points one, two and three.

Thanks again to everyone for helping me work my way through this, but I think I'm just going to end up keeping at least one amp from what I have. Maybe more, or all of them.. who knows. I'm still curious about Synergy, and maybe one day I'll try one if I can do so without too much risk. Thanks all!

I get that as it dont really matter what I play because I always dial in "my" sound on anything. One of the things that changes is the feel though, and there is where I notice more of a difference. For example, I dial in the 6505 and Powerball modules to sound almost the same, but the Powerball is more stiff and immediate and the 6505 is squishier feeling. That is one thing I like about the different modules. The different feels bring out different playing from me. Another example is how the Uber is more saturated than a Killer Kali. I can make it sound similar, but the KK will have more clarity due to the clear nature of the gain.

It is nice when I get bored with a sound, and I can just change to a different module for a few weeks until the cycle happens again.

 

[Fusionbear]

I really admire the idea and execution of the Synergy products.

But, I think the modelers are much better overall. In my case, the FM9T is better, in my opinion, than most multi channel/multi module amp options.

I can get awesome clean AC30/Matchless/Fender tones, edge of breakup tones, plexi tones of all types, 800 tones, hot-rodded tones. My most used OD amp in the FM9T is the Splawn Quickrod. I like it even more than my real Splawn because I can also crank the Master in the model and not kill small animals with the volume.

I'm pretty much done with real tube amps. I think the modeling technology has gotten that good...

It is also convenient!

For most gigs it's just this:

The QSC CP12 is 1000 watts. Add another one and I can bury with volume if needed...

 

[jchrisf]

I really admire the idea and execution of the Synergy products.

But, I think the modelers are much better overall. In my case, the FM9T is better, in my opinion, than most multi channel/multi module amp options.

I can get awesome clean AC30/Matchless/Fender tones, edge of breakup tones, plexi tones of all types, 800 tones, hot-rodded tones. My most used OD amp in the FM9T is the Splawn Quickrod. I like it even more than my real Splawn because I can also crank the Master in the model and not kill small animals with the volume.

I'm pretty much done with real tube amps. I think the modeling technology has gotten that good...

It is also convenient!

For most gigs it's just this:

View attachment 433523

The QSC CP12 is 1000 watts. Add another one and I can bury with volume if needed...

I guess I'm going to have to try a QSC CP12 because I can't get the tones from my headphones (which are awesome) to translate to the room. It just doesn't sound right or good in the room.

 

[romanianreaper]

I'm not "done" with modellers but the Synergy has killed off my G.A.S. for any other type of amps.

I like modelers but gets so out of hand fast because there is too much available. The Synergy is still turning knobs and can be as minimal or maxed out as needed. If you want one module and that's it, done. If you want to collect all of them, that is an option as well.

Before I got the Synergy, I was right on the cusp of getting a modeller. I still feel like I could grab a Fractal AM4 and would be worth the money to try.

Like Shask said, most of us just dial in our sound. I sound like me whether my Orange transistor amp, Synergy or a stack. The difference is the feel for me but is never awful.

When I tried modelling, the FRFR cab thing frustrated me to no end. I never could get a tone out of a full modelled sound that wasn't muddy, tinny, etc. Just sounded off. I'd love to find something that sounds killer.

 

[Uzi Nein Millimetah]

They sound killer and are fun as hell to play. Just don't play them back to back with original

Close.....but no cigar.

The original with the original power amp > Synergy in my experience.

 

[Shask]

I'm not "done" with modellers but the Synergy has killed off my G.A.S. for any other type of amps.

I like modelers but gets so out of hand fast because there is too much available. The Synergy is still turning knobs and can be as minimal or maxed out as needed. If you want one module and that's it, done. If you want to collect all of them, that is an option as well.

Before I got the Synergy, I was right on the cusp of getting a modeller. I still feel like I could grab a Fractal AM4 and would be worth the money to try.

Like Shask said, most of us just dial in our sound. I sound like me whether my Orange transistor amp, Synergy or a stack. The difference is the feel for me but is never awful.

When I tried modelling, the FRFR cab thing frustrated me to no end. I never could get a tone out of a full modelled sound that wasn't muddy, tinny, etc. Just sounded off. I'd love to find something that sounds killer.

This is one reason I have been liking ToneX over traditional modelers. I just capture my own tube sounds, and get the tone in a digital format.

 

[srommes]

Big fan of the Synergy system. I have two Syn 2’s in my home rack set-up, a Syn20ir and nine modules. I have multiple power amps and cabs to run everything through and my system couldn’t be more versatile. It may not be right for everyone but I love the system.