nevusofota
Well-known member
Finally, after all these decades, I own an SLO! In the early 90's I saw a local band by the name of Jimi's Chicken Shack. The guitar tone was massive and perfect. Just the right amount of grit, clarity, growl and sustain. I saw the Soldano badge on their amps and new I had to have one. Back then everyone was using Mesa but the SLO sounded so much better to my ears. I could never afford the SLO in my early years so after graduate school in 2007, and with the onset of a new band, I decided to go for an SLO. I learned that the local GC had one so I went there to purchase it. It was sitting there next to an EVH 100 that was just unboxed. Well, I decided on the EVH. It was about $2k cheaper, had 3 channels (which I thought at the time would serve the new band better) and was the "new thing". It sounded really good and I couldn't justify the extra cash (thousands) for the Soldano. The EVH served me well as I used it as my main amp until about 2013.
I put the EVH up for sale a few weeks ago with no bites. I then saw an unmodded SLO (with black alligator tolex ) and ATA case for sale locally. I called the guy and the timing couldn't have been more perfect as he was looking to downsize and trade for an amp + cash. And it just so happens he was looking for an EVH. The transaction went smooth and the SLO is perfect. Sounds incredible. It's the perfect rock/metal tone. Everything I thought it would be from when I first heard one in person at the JCS show decades earlier. With some research I found that the amp was originally purchased from the Hollywood Guitar Center.
SLO comments:
- tone jumps out of the speakers.
- I love the high notes, great lead tone
- chords have a great distinct growl. Different from Bogner and Friedman.
- the loop sucks tone as known. You can compensate somewhat with the presence control but the notes still don't jump out as well.
- I've been using it with a 412 v30's Mesa cab and I see no need for a depth control as long as the bass is near cranked (at low volume)
- it sounds better than I thought at lower volume, but of course it's glorious cranked.
- it's the first amp I've owned where I like the unboosted tone more than boosted. I've liked the EP Booster with every amp I've played, except the SLO.
- I've never played an amp with this much inherent sustain, even on the crunch channel with low gain.
- the overall feel of the amp is perfect.
- it's unbelievably quiet for how much gain it puts out.
- its one of those lifetime amps. I'll be passing it down to my kids.
I put the EVH up for sale a few weeks ago with no bites. I then saw an unmodded SLO (with black alligator tolex ) and ATA case for sale locally. I called the guy and the timing couldn't have been more perfect as he was looking to downsize and trade for an amp + cash. And it just so happens he was looking for an EVH. The transaction went smooth and the SLO is perfect. Sounds incredible. It's the perfect rock/metal tone. Everything I thought it would be from when I first heard one in person at the JCS show decades earlier. With some research I found that the amp was originally purchased from the Hollywood Guitar Center.
SLO comments:
- tone jumps out of the speakers.
- I love the high notes, great lead tone
- chords have a great distinct growl. Different from Bogner and Friedman.
- the loop sucks tone as known. You can compensate somewhat with the presence control but the notes still don't jump out as well.
- I've been using it with a 412 v30's Mesa cab and I see no need for a depth control as long as the bass is near cranked (at low volume)
- it sounds better than I thought at lower volume, but of course it's glorious cranked.
- it's the first amp I've owned where I like the unboosted tone more than boosted. I've liked the EP Booster with every amp I've played, except the SLO.
- I've never played an amp with this much inherent sustain, even on the crunch channel with low gain.
- the overall feel of the amp is perfect.
- it's unbelievably quiet for how much gain it puts out.
- its one of those lifetime amps. I'll be passing it down to my kids.