Is Synergy really that good?

[Shask]

The 800 is a great module, but the slo II and recto are the best I have played. And I have played quite a few. I also recommend the killer kali

Oh, I have plenty of high gain modules, lol. I have the Uberschall, IICP, Ultra Lead, 6505, Powerball, Drect, BE-Dlx, Killer Kali, and SLO II.

I can always use more though!!

 

[romanianreaper]

Yeah. The 800 sounds good with a boost. The other ones have enough gain, imo

The 800 is a solid module. A lot of natural presence

Yeah probably do. I can do without it but just adds that edge I dig. I have been messing around with EQ and can definitely do without too.

 

[RedB4Black]

Oh, I have plenty of high gain modules, lol. I have the Uberschall, IICP, Ultra Lead, 6505, Powerball, Drect, BE-Dlx, Killer Kali, and SLO II.

I can always use more though!!

The Powerball is the most surprising one to me. Definitely one of my favorites. I bought the Engl power amp just to use with that module…sounds really good. The 6505 isn’t quite what I was hoping it’d be, but played next to the 6505 ‘92 Original, we were able to get it close, but not quite on par with the amp… though it was a lot better through the 2/90/2 vs the Engl. I sold my Recto and Uber half stacks after A/Bing with the modules…actually preferred the modules. I wasn’t sold on the SLO II module until yesterday… @S̷͖͑m̵͎͂á̵̺s̸͚̈́h̴̬̑ was playing and I thought it was recto…. But realized it was the SLO after trying to make adjustments to the recto module. Sounded killer….even with Smash’s Tool riffs!

 

[Shask]

The Powerball is the most surprising one to me. Definitely one of my favorites. I bought the Engl power amp just to use with that module…sounds really good. The 6505 isn’t quite what I was hoping it’d be, but played next to the 6505 ‘92 Original, we were able to get it close, but not quite on par with the amp… though it was a lot better through the 2/90/2 vs the Engl. I sold my Recto and Uber half stacks after A/Bing with the modules…actually preferred the modules. I wasn’t sold on the SLO II module until yesterday… @S̷͖͑m̵͎͂á̵̺s̸͚̈́h̴̬̑ was playing and I thought it was recto…. But realized it was the SLO after trying to make adjustments to the recto module. Sounded killer….even with Smash’s Tool riffs!

I like the Powerball, but it kind of has a stiffness to it I dont like as much. I generally like a little more bounce to the feel. Although I love 5150s in general, yeah, the 6505 is OK, but I feel like it misses the big chunky low end that comes from the 5150 poweramp. If you use a big fat poweramp it gets closer.

The SLO II is my newest one I just got a month or 2 ago, but I am liking it a lot. I think it actually is very similar to the Drect in a lot of ways, but tighter on its own without a boost. It is becoming one of my favorites.

The Uber is one of my favorites also. It actually have me looking at an Uber Ultra, lol.

 

[S̷͖͑m̵͎͂á̵̺s̸͚̈́h̴̬̑]

I wasn’t sold on the SLO II module until yesterday… @S̷͖͑m̵͎͂á̵̺s̸͚̈́h̴̬̑ was playing and I thought it was recto…. But realized it was the SLO after trying to make adjustments to the recto module.

I forgot that. It was extremely funny. I also thought it was the recto, but when I found out it was the SLO II, I was like, "Finally a Slo that doesn't sound like shit for metal"

Sounded killer….even with Smash’s Tool riffs!

Yeah. I think It may have been a Creed riff, lmao. Hard to remember. But that is the Best sounding setup I have ever played. Whatever that little button you hit on the poweramp is, fucking special.

 

[RedB4Black]

The Uber is one of my favorites also. It actually have me looking at an Uber Ultra, lol.

don't bother....I sold my Ultra after playing this module through the 2/90/2. I liked the Ultra a lot, but the module gets you there and it's more organic sounding than the Ultra, which has a sort of inorganic quality to it.

 

[Shask]

I forgot that. It was extremely funny. I also thought it was the recto, but when I found out it was the SLO II, I was like, "Finally a Slo that doesn't sound like shit for metal"

Yeah. I think It may have been a Creed riff, lmao. Hard to remember. But that is the Best sounding setup I have ever played. Whatever that little button you hit on the poweramp is, fucking special.

I think the SLO II and Drect are more similar than you would think. The Drect gets a little fatter and fuzzier, and the SLO II gets a little more mid crunch and tighter, but they have a lot of overlap, IMO.

They get really close when you boost both.

 

[S̷͖͑m̵͎͂á̵̺s̸͚̈́h̴̬̑]

I think the SLO II and Drect are more similar than you would think. The Drect gets a little fatter and fuzzier, and the SLO II gets a little more mid crunch and tighter, but they have a lot of overlap, IMO.

They get really close when you boost both.

They are close, but the way we had them dialed, I prefered the SLO II by a good margin. It had a little more high end clarity. But it was massive as the Drect. And like we are saying, this was as BLIND of a test as we could do considering I was hitting the wrong number on the amp switcher unknowingly.

And man. I prefer no boost on them in a regular tuning (e standard or drop d). It was clear, and the boost changed the character just a little too much for me. I was not lacking any tightness.

 

[Shask]

don't bother....I sold my Ultra after playing this module through the 2/90/2. I liked the Ultra a lot, but the module gets you there and it's more organic sounding than the Ultra, which has a sort of inorganic quality to it.

I think that is what causes me hesitation. Would it really be THAT much different than the Uber module into a big poweramp?

I am the same way with a JVM. I kind of want to get one, but the new JCM800 module, or if they come out with a JVM module, would it be very close in the end?

 

[jchrisf]

don't bother....I sold my Ultra after playing this module through the 2/90/2. I liked the Ultra a lot, but the module gets you there and it's more organic sounding than the Ultra, which has a sort of inorganic quality to it.

I've heard several people say they prefer a certain module over the real amp.

 

[Shask]

They are close, but the way we had them dialed, I prefered the SLO II by a good margin. It had a little more high end clarity. But it was massive as the Drect. And like we are saying, this was as BLIND of a test as we could do considering I was hitting the wrong number on the amp switcher unknowingly.

And man. I prefer no boost on them in a regular tuning (e standard or drop d). It was clear, and the boost changed the character just a little too much for me. I was not lacking any tightness.

I think the Drect can get a little more evil sounding with a boost since it can get a little more scooped and big on the low end, but the SLO II sounds more cutting and tight on its own. This is more apparent in like B or something for some old school Meshuggah type sounds. They are both awesome though. The 6505 kind of lives in the neighborhood also, but it is brighter and more cutting and not as fat on the low end as either.

 

[jchrisf]

I think that is what causes me hesitation. Would it really be THAT much different than the Uber module into a big poweramp?

I am the same way with a JVM. I kind of want to get one, but the new JCM800 module, or if they come out with a JVM module, would it be very close in the end?

I've thought about getting the real amp when I've liked the module or even an amp in my FM3 but I figure if I enjoy what I have this much I might as well keep enjoying it and not worry about getting the amp. I'd love to have a JVM again but a module would be awesome too. I've never heard any rumors about a JVM module except here though so I don't think it is on the agenda.

 

[S̷͖͑m̵͎͂á̵̺s̸͚̈́h̴̬̑]

I've thought about getting the real amp when I've liked the module or even an amp in my FM3 but I figure if I enjoy what I have this much I might as well keep enjoying it and not worry about getting the amp. I'd love to have a JVM again but a module would be awesome too. I've never heard any rumors about a JVM module except here though so I don't think it is on the agenda.

I was talking to someone last night of trying a FM3 into the 2/90/2. The power amp has a good amount of final tone shaping. It might be a pretty powerful combination.

 

[Shask]

I've thought about getting the real amp when I've liked the module or even an amp in my FM3 but I figure if I enjoy what I have this much I might as well keep enjoying it and not worry about getting the amp. I'd love to have a JVM again but a module would be awesome too. I've never heard any rumors about a JVM module except here though so I don't think it is on the agenda.

When Synergy first partnered with Marshall they said there was a "Series of modules planned", so that makes everyone think there will be more than just 2. It would make sense for them to continue doing something more modern like a DSL or JVM module.

Yeah, I have far more gear than I ever need, but I do still get curious about a lot of gear. As far as digital, I have made a bunch of ToneX tone models of my Synergy modules that I like better than what I get out of the FM3.

 

[Shask]

I was talking to someone last night of trying a FM3 into the 2/90/2. The power amp has a good amount of final tone shaping. It might be a pretty powerful combination.

I have tried mine into my tube poweramps, and it does sound great, but I always find the FM3 has kind of a smooth recorded tone to it you cant dial out. I prefer my ToneX stuff most of the time for heavy chunk chunk rhythms. I have made tons of ToneX Tone Models of all my tube stuff.

 

[jchrisf]

I have tried mine into my tube poweramps, and it does sound great, but I always find the FM3 has kind of a smooth recorded tone to it you cant dial out. I prefer my ToneX stuff most of the time for heavy chunk chunk rhythms. I have made tons of ToneX Tone Models of all my tube stuff.

Do you have the latest update? I never cared for the FM3 into monitors and much prefered it for headphone practice but this latest update must have did something special because I love it now. I found some great Tonex presets with my headphones yesterday (that new preset sharing is awesome) but when I tried it today with my monitors, I much prefered the FM3. I'll have to keep tweaking it. Actually I still prefer Amplitube 5 over Tonex but I have some great presets dialed in with it.

 

[Meeotch]

don't bother....I sold my Ultra after playing this module through the 2/90/2. I liked the Ultra a lot, but the module gets you there and it's more organic sounding than the Ultra, which has a sort of inorganic quality to it.

100%
It sent my Ultra packing, and while it doesn't quite have the tweakability of the head, I actually prefer the tones in the module. Paired with the 2/90/2 and it single handedly makes the Synergy system worth the price of admission.

 

[Shask]

Do you have the latest update? I never cared for the FM3 into monitors and much prefered it for headphone practice but this latest update must have did something special because I love it now. I found some great Tonex presets with my headphones yesterday (that new preset sharing is awesome) but when I tried it today with my monitors, I much prefered the FM3. I'll have to keep tweaking it. Actually I still prefer Amplitube 5 over Tonex but I have some great presets dialed in with it.

Yeah, I have all the latest updates on all my units. The FM3 is great no doubt, but I find it always has a squishy pick attack to it so it always seems smoother than the real thing. I find the ToneX to have a more immediate punchy feel, more like my real amps.

You can check out some of my ToneX Tone Models if you want. I have shared several of them, including several Synergy modules through my Mesa 2:90. Making my own have definitely pushed it over the edge over just trying to search for things I like.

https://tone.net/tonex/users/shask

I like Amplitube 5 also, but I always use ToneX models as the amp, as they feel better to me. Actually, the Amplitube amp models have that smooth feel thing to them also. I just like an aggressive pick attack with the big chug bloom behind it, and I find most modeling units dont get the dynamics right for that.

 

[Shask]

don't bother....I sold my Ultra after playing this module through the 2/90/2. I liked the Ultra a lot, but the module gets you there and it's more organic sounding than the Ultra, which has a sort of inorganic quality to it.

100%
It sent my Ultra packing, and while it doesn't quite have the tweakability of the head, I actually prefer the tones in the module. Paired with the 2/90/2 and it single handedly makes the Synergy system worth the price of admission.

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.

 

[jchrisf]

Yeah, I have all the latest updates on all my units. The FM3 is great no doubt, but I find it always has a squishy pick attack to it so it always seems smoother than the real thing. I find the ToneX to have a more immediate punchy feel, more like my real amps.

You can check out some of my ToneX Tone Models if you want. I have shared several of them, including several Synergy modules through my Mesa 2:90. Making my own have definitely pushed it over the edge over just trying to search for things I like.

https://tone.net/tonex/users/shask

I like Amplitube 5 also, but I always use ToneX models as the amp, as they feel better to me. Actually, the Amplitube amp models have that smooth feel thing to them also. I just like an aggressive pick attack with the big chug bloom behind it, and I find most modeling units dont get the dynamics right for that.

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