New slo's vs old slo's

[Clpether]

So i've had my slo for over a year and it truly is the right amp for me. The only weird thing is I never have my gain past 4 or 11:00 pm and it is more than saturated enough past 4 I start losing definition. It is not just my amp I have played others and it is similar. Is this normal the reason I ask is I've seen video's of older slo's like early nineties and these guys have the gain up to 7 and it still sounds clear not like mine. Is there a well known difference in the slo's through out the years.

 

[steve_k]

I find the SLO tightens up the higher you run the master volumes. Running the gain up loosens it up a bit as you ride the master up. At moderate volumes, I usually run mine around 12:30. At 1:00, it breaks over into that sizzle. Nothing has changed on the SLO's since they started production. Your best source here for comparison would be Todd (ampaddict). He's got Lynch's original SLO and has had several ranging in years. The earliest I have owned was a 92 and found it to be the same as current production. Incredible amps though, superior build quality and have stood the test of time.

EDIT - One thing you will find that changes it just a bit is the FX loop bypass. Some of the SLO's you see have these. I do on mine and they do make a difference. There are some from the early years without a loop, or a manual bypass, or a hardwire bypass.

 

[Clpether]

That's completely different than other amps that usually loosen up when you push the master.
To be honest the loudest I've had it was 4 on the master and got the death stare from my other guitar player it is a pretty powerfull amp. So my experience at loud volumes is minimal.

 

[Ventura]

That's completely different than other amps that usually loosen up when you push the master.
To be honest the loudest I've had it was 4 on the master and got the death stare from my other guitar player it is a pretty powerfull amp. So my experience at loud volumes is minimal.

4 out of 10 or 4 o'clock? At 4 o'clock, I think you'd be quite experienced at loud volumes with that amp.

 

[TheMagicEight]

What kind of pickups do you use? If they're high output or bassy, that could be why.

 

[SBlue]

I have one, and the louder you get with the master, the more definition, punch and sustain you'll get.
You don't even need to go that loud. As soon as you go above bedroom level you already start noticing the difference.
Mine sounds great at bedroom volume too.
Amazing amps for sure!

 

[Shark Diver]

I find the SLO tightens up the higher you run the master volumes. Running the gain up loosens it up a bit as you ride the master up. At moderate volumes, I usually run mine around 12:30. At 1:00, it breaks over into that sizzle. Nothing has changed on the SLO's since they started production. Your best source here for comparison would be Todd (ampaddict). He's got Lynch's original SLO and has had several ranging in years. The earliest I have owned was a 92 and found it to be the same as current production. Incredible amps though, superior build quality and have stood the test of time.

EDIT - One thing you will find that changes it just a bit is the FX loop bypass. Some of the SLO's you see have these. I do on mine and they do make a difference. There are some from the early years without a loop, or a manual bypass, or a hardwire bypass.

I've got an '89 (#19) and a '09. Open 'em up and they are different.

 

[IntenseJim]

I've had SLOs manufactued from 1990 to 1997 and played an '89. IMHO they all sound quite similar if not identical allowing for tube aging or tube types. I have no problem with clarity when I dime the preamp gain for low volume noodling/practicing. Live I keep the preamp gain generally at or less than 7.

The SLO has had changes in components and the crew in Seattle explains this is because some suppliers they used in the late 1980s are out of business or new suppliers came along with better quality components with higher tolerances than were found in the early amps.

I tend to prefer low to medium output pups with my SLO.

 

[steve_k]

That's completely different than other amps that usually loosen up when you push the master.
To be honest the loudest I've had it was 4 on the master and got the death stare from my other guitar player it is a pretty powerfull amp. So my experience at loud volumes is minimal.

4 out of 10 or 4 o'clock? At 4 o'clock, I think you'd be quite experienced at loud volumes with that amp.

I am sure he meant 4 on the dial, not the clock! I ran mine up to 6 just to check it out and felt like I had been kicked in the chest by a mule. I was trying to test cabs out with it. Everyone gushes over the Soldano front load cabs, but the damn thing is focused enough as it is.....

 

[Wizard of Ozz]

The earliest I have owned was a 92 and found it to be the same as current production. Incredible amps though, superior build quality and have stood the test of time.

I have owned and played several SLOs... these were my findings as well. Amps do vary somewhat in sound... even two made on the same day, by the same person... but the SLO tone has remained very consistent over the years.

 

[Clpether]

cheers on the replies.

I did mean 4 out of 10 on the volume dial and pick up wise I use aldrich pick ups on my les paul and a stock jb on the charvel (which is my muddier guitar) I am looking to change out the pick ups on that one.

I did read some where that george lynch recently asked mike soldano to build him a slo like the original ones which I guess also raised questions.

 

[Shark Diver]

cheers on the replies.

I did mean 4 out of 10 on the volume dial and pick up wise I use aldrich pick ups on my les paul and a stock jb on the charvel (which is my muddier guitar) I am looking to change out the pick ups on that one.

I did read some where that george lynch recently asked mike soldano to build him a slo like the original ones which I guess also raised questions.

I have talked to Mike about that as well. There is no clean/crunch switch. Lots of chrome, no loop.

http://soldano.conforums.com/index.cgi? ... 1266740192

Mike and I talked about it Friday as a matter of fact. Except the one I want would be rackmount with a chrome face plate to match my VHT Classic.

 

[fuzzyguitars]

i have a 92 and a 2001

the are different on the inside interms of different types of caps here and there.

but

they basically sound the same when off a fresh retube.

remember, the older one may need to be recapped!

 

[Clpether]

Cheers- thanks for clearing this up guys!

 

[steve_k]

Cheers- thanks for clearing this up guys!

Something for you to experiment with and see what you think.....

Get 2 - JAN Phillips 5751 (12AX7) http://www.tubedepot.com/nos-5751jan.html and run 1 in V1 and give it a go. Then, try one in V1 and V3 or V1 and V5. I run one in V1 of my SLO. It knocks the input gain down (says 30%), and in V3 it will knock the channel gain sizzle down a bit and allow you to run the gains/master up a bit more than normal and really let the bottom end of the amp blossom. You can sub a 12AT7 for the 5751, but these Mil-Spec tubes are great and can handle the voltages and are quiet. I didn't like it in V5 quite as much, as it blanketed the amp a bit. But, its all to taste and what you like. In V1/V3, I don't notice any tone change, but a change in the gain taper really makes the amp shine at consumer volumes.

Thing about the SLO, as loud as it is, the gains really kick in about 1:00 and the master is very noticeable as you ride it up, in terms of letting the amp breathe and bring out the goods.

Steve

 

[Clpether]

Cool! I will give the tube swap a try, like I said love the tone just find it weird that I have the gain so low . to achieve this. Compared to other high gain amps.

 

[steve_k]

Cool! I will give the tube swap a try, like I said love the tone just find it weird that I have the gain so low . to achieve this. Compared to other high gain amps.

That can be a good thing. With the tube driven tone stack being so interactive, things work much better at that level too.....Has the amp been in your possession since new? Some folks like to mess with the bright caps.

Steve

 

[Clpether]

Yes I bought it new so I assume the bright cap is still intact. Which is the way I like it. I had a slo a while ago before this one fully loaded with all the mods. This one is completely stock and I definitely prefer the stock version over the modded ones. The stock version is more present to my ears. On both versions I had the gain low.

 

[SLOgriff]

cheers on the replies.
I did read some where that george lynch recently asked mike soldano to build him a slo like the original ones which I guess also raised questions.

That was my post over at the Soldano forum... Mike has already said that the boards and components he's using these days are superior to what was available back in the early days.

bottom line: ....Lynch recently SOLD the original 1987 SLO, but kept his 2008 SLO that Mike built for him (Crunch & Overdrive SLO w/no Clean switch).

You sell what's NOT working for you and keep the GOOD STUFF...!


2008 SLO (Still has it...)

 

[SLOgriff]

...1987 (Lynch SOLD...)