New Soldano SLO - Available at Sweetwater

[Racerxrated]

Tight wad

 

[Exo-metal]

Lol he's right, when u buy an old amp it is basically for the transformers and the other parts but those transformers make all the difference...especially to a tight wad hahaha

 

[Mr. Willy]

I hope the new ones sound killer. I hope that BAD and Mike Soldano make a ton of money selling the new ones. I hope the hype of those transformers that aren’t made anymore are just that...hype. I hope that everyone in this thread is happy and healthy.

 

[JB6464]

Bring on the SLO 30 , I need a lower wattage SLO to go with my 100w .

 

[rstites]

Except why then, can no one do a spot on replica of a 67 Plexi? I mean, there are nice copies out there, but as nice as the Germinos, Metros, etc are the original has a magic that isn't reproduced. Maybe close, but that last 5%, 10% whatever makes every difference in the world to me, when I'm ready to pay big money for an amp.
JP2C is another example..while it is a really good sounding amp it's not a spot on replica of any C+, when you play both you'll know.

I do hope that the new SLO DOES sound as good as the original...I don't own one now (had 3) and would like to grab another, but I won't pay 5K for one.
Lol

Which '67 Plexi? They all sound different, sometimes massively different. The Germinos, etc. can't possibly sound like all of them, but maybe match one or maybe sound like a mixture of the best or something.

Aren't the IIC+'s like that too? They all sound different, even new they came with a variety of power sections and options, so with 35 years of drift they all sound different, so how can any new amp sound like every one of those original amps. Obviously it can't. The JP2C is interesting in that I see some guys say it's not even close, while others say it's pretty much spot on. It's entirely possible they're all right, depending on their reference IIC+.

I'm not really picking on you here, it's just that all these old amps are such a mess to nail down for sound. Comparatively SLO's are at least incredibly consistent amp-to-amp with their high tolerance parts and consistent construction. (Yes, even they vary over time.)

I'm just kind of wandering around stream-of-consciousness on amps riffing on your post.

 

[Exo-metal]

Yeah and they are described as having varying degrees of sonic dominance. These amps may vary but you won't find one that sounds like crap if it was serviced and running properly. They have the rep for a reason. If you can't get a tone out of one it would be user error.

 

[Luca79]

Except why then, can no one do a spot on replica of a 67 Plexi?

Make an exact replica of something made in the '60 is different then reproduce an amp of just 10 years ago.
In the past materials were much different, like capacitors, resistors, transformers insulation. Probably the copper too.

 

[Speeddemon]

Except why then, can no one do a spot on replica of a 67 Plexi?

Make an exact replica of something made in the '60 is different then reproduce an amp of just 10 years ago.
In the past materials were much different, like capacitors, resistors, transformers insulation. Probably the copper too.

Not to mention, the aging/drift of components.
Even if today you were to have access to the exact type/style/material of components used in the 60's, and you'd build a 1:1 copy, it would still sound different, because the 'original' has had 50+ years of component aging and component-value 'drift'. Hopefully some electrolytics have been replaced (typical lifespan 15-20 years depending on use), but the resistors, small ceramic caps, OT, PT are probably all still in there....having aged.

So yeah, differences can (will?) be there; it's just that not everything should be labeled as some unicorn, when reverse engineering can still be done.

Reverse engineering may even lead to a different approach: case in point: Dimarzio's 36th Anniv PAFs. Unlike the originals from the late 50's, these are done with Alnico V magnets, Air/spacing tech, what-have-you-not, but they're made to sound like 50-60 year old pickups, they're just not made the same way.

 

[Deleted member 13074]

I hope that BAD and Mike Soldano make a ton of money selling the new ones

Timing is everything

About that....

 

[Racerxrated]

Except why then, can no one do a spot on replica of a 67 Plexi? I mean, there are nice copies out there, but as nice as the Germinos, Metros, etc are the original has a magic that isn't reproduced. Maybe close, but that last 5%, 10% whatever makes every difference in the world to me, when I'm ready to pay big money for an amp.
JP2C is another example..while it is a really good sounding amp it's not a spot on replica of any C+, when you play both you'll know.

I do hope that the new SLO DOES sound as good as the original...I don't own one now (had 3) and would like to grab another, but I won't pay 5K for one.
Lol

Which '67 Plexi? They all sound different, sometimes massively different. The Germinos, etc. can't possibly sound like all of them, but maybe match one or maybe sound like a mixture of the best or something.

Aren't the IIC+'s like that too? They all sound different, even new they came with a variety of power sections and options, so with 35 years of drift they all sound different, so how can any new amp sound like every one of those original amps. Obviously it can't. The JP2C is interesting in that I see some guys say it's not even close, while others say it's pretty much spot on. It's entirely possible they're all right, depending on their reference IIC+.

I'm not really picking on you here, it's just that all these old amps are such a mess to nail down for sound. Comparatively SLO's are at least incredibly consistent amp-to-amp with their high tolerance parts and consistent construction. (Yes, even they vary over time.)

I'm just kind of wandering around stream-of-consciousness on amps riffing on your post.

2C+ all have a feel, that is very unique. No other amp has it, that I know of. Clarity is top notch too, another difference that the JP doesn’t quite have. Not knocking the JP as it is a very nice sounding amp.

Here’s a point, to the transformers...I’ve played 2 67 plexis and one 68. The magical 67 had it’s original transformers. The other had a replaced OT, from a 75 1987. Very different sounding and while the 67 with the 75 ot sounded good, the original ot sounded incredible. So I do believe in the difference a transformer makes, absolutely. Does it have more to do with aging? I don’t know.

But I hear major differences.

The 2C+ differences between models, ie SRG, HRG, DRG is they have different transformers due to different power sections. But the feel and clarity is there with all of the originals.

 

[Luca79]

I’ve played 2 67 plexis and one 68. The magical 67 had it’s original transformers. The other had a replaced OT, from a 75 1987. Very different sounding and while the 67 with the 75 ot sounded good, the original ot sounded incredible. So I do believe in the difference a transformer makes, absolutely. Does it have more to do with aging? I don’t know.

You must swap transformers in the same amp, for compare. Maybe the '68 always been a "bad" amp, even with the original OT.

 

[Goat]

 

[braintheory]

Except why then, can no one do a spot on replica of a 67 Plexi? I mean, there are nice copies out there, but as nice as the Germinos, Metros, etc are the original has a magic that isn't reproduced. Maybe close, but that last 5%, 10% whatever makes every difference in the world to me, when I'm ready to pay big money for an amp.
JP2C is another example..while it is a really good sounding amp it's not a spot on replica of any C+, when you play both you'll know.

I do hope that the new SLO DOES sound as good as the original...I don't own one now (had 3) and would like to grab another, but I won't pay 5K for one.
Lol

Which '67 Plexi? They all sound different, sometimes massively different. The Germinos, etc. can't possibly sound like all of them, but maybe match one or maybe sound like a mixture of the best or something.

Aren't the IIC+'s like that too? They all sound different, even new they came with a variety of power sections and options, so with 35 years of drift they all sound different, so how can any new amp sound like every one of those original amps. Obviously it can't. The JP2C is interesting in that I see some guys say it's not even close, while others say it's pretty much spot on. It's entirely possible they're all right, depending on their reference IIC+.

I'm not really picking on you here, it's just that all these old amps are such a mess to nail down for sound. Comparatively SLO's are at least incredibly consistent amp-to-amp with their high tolerance parts and consistent construction. (Yes, even they vary over time.)

I'm just kind of wandering around stream-of-consciousness on amps riffing on your post.

The JP2C is based on a IIC+ HRG since that was Petrucci’s preferred version. I have the same model factory c+ and have compared it side by side with a JP2C through the same cab. My C+ HRG sounded more 3D, detailed, raw, organic, aggressive, deeper bottom end, just a better amp on many levels. As far as modern made high gain amps go though, I think the JP2C is one of the better options

Although those Marshall’s from the same year and other vintage amps can vary with things like eq curve, gain, smoothness, etc, one thing they’d have in common is an organic/lively, raw quality (which I think is where their magic lies) that amps like the Germino’s and Metro’s can’t quite match. Amps made today (regardless of trying to be like a Marshall, vox, fender, etc) just don’t seem to be able to have that same liveliness, but some get closer. The modern made copies tend to sound filtered, less lively, almost neutered in comparison. I found the same types of differences with most other comparisons of legendary products like Klons vs klones, PAFS, other vintage pickups (like P90’s, teles, strats), Dumble, etc. IMO the differences are subtle yet also huge at the same time; you can argue the difference is just 1% or .1%, but once you hear it, you can’t unhear it and it’s hard to let that difference not irk you (at least for me it’s been like that)

I remember the first time I compared my Klon ktr with an original. It was very close, but the differences I could hear were enough to bother me and I listed it on reverb that day. I knew I needed to save up for the original. After that comparison the ktr never sounded the same to me. It came off sounding brittle and filtered in comparison

 

[Valvert]

A nice demo

Sorry, this sounds more like a HR to me.
More metallic sound, less real SLO growl.
Does it sound OK? Yes it does. But not like an old one.
Like I said, I'll stick with my old SLO.

Well Mike and BAD have to sell new stuff... Much blablabla.
You don't fuck with a legend

My own opinion off course

 

[scottosan]

It’s not that his clips are bad. My assessment is that he records them like they would be tracked in a mix. For some that’s exactly what they’re looking for. Some like clips of how the amps sounds in the room. I personally like the later. Micing the cab to be in a mix will inherit a lot of the tonalities of the mic and placement and a lot of setups can end up sounding similar. I’d prefer the room micing for demos that are not in a mix. Just my 2 cents

 

[tech21man]

I’m in the camp that the new ones won’t sound as good as the old ones. Until I have the chance to play a new one side by side with an old one, that’s just my opinion. I could totally be wrong on that, but I think those original transformers do make a difference.

Please don't think I'm taking a shot at you, but I don't know why people think there's any magic going on in amplifiers, because there just isn't. Any decent engineer can reverse-engineer something, and I think it's entirely within the real of possibility that these amps are just as good if not better with quality-of-life tweaks.

I don't think they'll sound the exact same. George lynch had SLOs that loved and others he just sold.

The new SLO is not the old one. What I mean is,...even the preamp design is changed a bit. Some will say it won't matter and some will say it won't sound or feel like an old one. They even changed the 39K resistor to 33K...it changes the mix of harmonic ratio...just a bit. But it does. The hughes and kettner tri-amp has it.


They also certainly moved a tube after the master volume to buffer the fucking loop...So bye bye legendary hot loop with dual buffers and whatever you did to the tone.

Note that the first SLO didn't even have a loop etc...and one tube less. George Lynch's custom one didn't even have the lead channel, just the crunch one tuned to use with a tube screamer.

What I mean to say, is they are all from the same basis obviously but even the layout of the components is different on a different pcb. It won't be the old one. Maybe it is as good or better. Maybe someone will prefer the old. Maybe our ears will be so blown after 40 years that you won't notice so much difference in the treble lol...who knows.


Electronically it's not the exact same though. Different layout, different tube positioning, aproved by soldano...I don't know if I'd care so much.

 

[tech21man]

A nice demo

Sorry, this sounds more like a HR to me.
More metallic sound, less real SLO growl.
Does it sound OK? Yes it does. But not like an old one.
Like I said, I'll stick with my old SLO.

Well Mike and BAD have to sell new stuff... Much blablabla.
You don't fuck with a legend

My own opinion off course

Give me the most represantive SLO clip and the most representative of the hot rod you've heard...


The SLO seems to be a very versatile circuit...Personally I always thought the SLO IS the one with the metallic sound...almost too clear at points. The circuit points to a slightly treblier more focused sound vs a hot rod to be honest...even before touching the transformers which are supposed to be even more bandwith free than the hot rod. Just asking. You have soldano in your signature.

 

[HeyNow]

I’m in the camp that the new ones won’t sound as good as the old ones. Until I have the chance to play a new one side by side with an old one, that’s just my opinion. I could totally be wrong on that, but I think those original transformers do make a difference.

Please don't think I'm taking a shot at you, but I don't know why people think there's any magic going on in amplifiers, because there just isn't. Any decent engineer can reverse-engineer something, and I think it's entirely within the real of possibility that these amps are just as good if not better with quality-of-life tweaks.

Are you an engineer? It's not just about reverse-engineering something. It's also about building an amp/parts with the correct materials (which may no longer exist) and/or correct machines and making it a cost-efficient process.

Dumble is considered one of the brightest minds in the amp world and he even could not reproduce Robben Ford's amp, a Dumble, 100% accurately.

 

[HeyNow]

I’ve played 2 67 plexis and one 68. The magical 67 had it’s original transformers. The other had a replaced OT, from a 75 1987. Very different sounding and while the 67 with the 75 ot sounded good, the original ot sounded incredible. So I do believe in the difference a transformer makes, absolutely. Does it have more to do with aging? I don’t know.

You must swap transformers in the same amp, for compare. Maybe the '68 always been a "bad" amp, even with the original OT.

+1

There are too many variables in this comparison - beyond transformers. Comparing two '67 plexis and attributing the difference in tone to the transformers alone is ignoring the fact that many more items in each amp will affect the tone: resistor+capacitor+pot values (drift, material differences, circuit design differences - Marshall was constantly evolving during the mid-late 60s), tubes (manufacturer, or how worn out one is), wiring (literally moving a wire a quarter of an inch can make a big difference)

 

[HeyNow]

A nice demo

Probably the best 'clean' clips of a SLO I've heard. The time-based effects sound really good through the new loop.

The crunch and overdrive with the bridge pickups sounded harsh/fizzy. But, I've heard a lot of SLO clips that were harsh/fizzy.

This isn't harsh/fizzy but also not close mic'd:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oexSEqeT2M4