SLO-100 Incoming.

[godgrinder]

You probably have already read this somewhere but just in case you haven't:

Channel 1 bleeds slightly into channel 2, so the gain setting on ch1 got some subtle influence on ch2. I found that with ch1 gain set low, it gets slightly tighter on ch2. And ch2 gets more "airy" with ch1 gain set high.

 

[Rick Lee]

You will need an attenuator to really use this head. When the OD volume gets to 7, it's other worldly great.

 

[Rick Lee]

Don't get me wrong. They sound awesome at all volume levels. But I had mine for probably two years before I had an outdoor gig when I got to really crank it. After that it's hard to go back to bedroom volumes. I pulled two power tubes to make it a 50w, run it through a Jettenuator and it's pretty good, but a little noisy.

 

[godgrinder]

It has this really "forward" and borderline harsh treble sizzle at lower volumes. The sizzle starts to take a back seat when you run the volume higher than 4 or so.

I don't really like it with volume beyond 5 for downtuning though. I can sort of hear the power tube distortion kicking in, which is not what I want when tuned low.

 

[flash6969]

As above. Master needs to up around 5+ to get 'the sound'.
I personally have found the Warren Haynes mod to be amazing. It's a simple clip off the bright cap & removes some of that high end fizzle the last guy talked about.

 

[Philhouse]

I have one along with my VH4, don't think I could ever part with either amp.
Gorgeous tones inside. It can get obnoxiously loud, but I always play it quite low in the room. It's easy enough to get great tones at low volume. I'm not gigging, so I can't really crank it routinely, but I expect it would sound glorious if I could get it off the leash more.
Mine has the depth mod, but no Haynes mod.
I love the clean channel with a holy grail nano reverb in the loop. Throw in an eq pedal to mildly scoop some mids out on the clean and it can get a beautiful fender-ish like tone with those 6L6s. I prefer mine through my bogner ubercab than my Marshall TV cab.

You'll love it !!

 

[mikey]

Like most amps they sound better moving some air, but they are very workable at lower volumes. If you have the depth mod, try adding some depth and lower the bass a bit, changes the character/response of the low end. I love it with Greenbacks or similar.

I've used it steadily for about 400 gigs the past 6-7 years, and haven't had the desire to use anything else. I think you're gonna like it ;-)

 

[Jayy]

These guys give good advice. I love mine as well and also think it sounds better the louder you can run it. I would suggest trying all settings on the EQ, regardless of whether it "looks" weird or not. The EQ on the SLO has a broad range of adjustability. A lot of people think the SLO is too bright, but that has not been my experience. Mine is stock with the factory depth mod and Sovtek 5881s and it certainly isn't a dark amp, but I do not find it too bright. I never use the depth mod in my set up. I also like it through greenback type speakers much more than the Eminence V12 Legends. I run mine in a W/D/W set up with Scumback M-75 PVCs in the dry cab and two Soldano 4x12s full of Greenbacks and Creambacks M65s as the wets. I love it! Congrats on an awesome amp!

 

[Racerxrated]

You will need an attenuator to really use this head. When the OD volume gets to 7, it's other worldly great.

Completely and utterly disagree. Yes it sounds better louder but at 1 it sounded great..2 a little better...and so on. For me 4-5 was the best and tone didn't change much at all above that. But it holds together better than any amp I've had when cranked. Wizards I'm sure do the same. Try these settings...gain 5-7, bass 8-10, mids 4-6, treble off, presence 10. Then boost the front end just a bit with a mid boost, like an eq pedal with a frown. Awesome modded Marshall tone IMO. BTW you don't notice any channel bleed when the gain is up. Have fun!

 

[Racerxrated]

Don't get me wrong. They sound awesome at all volume levels. But I had mine for probably two years before I had an outdoor gig when I got to really crank it. After that it's hard to go back to bedroom volumes. I pulled two power tubes to make it a 50w, run it through a Jettenuator and it's pretty good, but a little noisy.

I've tried this too, works great. Just make sure you halve the impedance when doing it. No attenuator for me though. Slaving is best for effects though....loop isn't the best.

 

[rupe]

I'll also call bullshit on needing an attenuator. Like any good tube amp, things get "better" when you light it up, but in my experience there are some great lower volume tones to be had (not bedroom volumes...anybody buying an SLO for the bedroom is a dipshit).
They're great amps...on my short list of things I want to add (re-add) to my arsenal. I wish I knew how to get my '92 back...it was stupid to walk away from it.

 

[Crunchity]

Congrats to the OP, epic amp as you know!

Just gonna add to the growing list of owners chiming on the volume....hell no, you don't need an attenuator! Sure, like all amps, more volume sounds great, but you can get great tones at home studio friendly levels. Current song in my sig is all SLO at bedroom level and I've had nothing but compliments on the tone.

 

[AmpliFIRE]

One trick pony IMO...and needs to be loud to get there (as others have stated).

 

[Racerxrated]

One trick pony IMO...and needs to be loud to get there (as others have stated).

Again, disagree. Clean is decent and the one trick you say it has...is amazing. Wish I still had one...and no, it doesn't have to be crushingly loud to sound awesome.

 

[SLOgriff]

Crunch channel is amazing and so is the OD channel. Lots of great tones to be had, even at lower volumes. Here's the challenge: tubes and/or speaker cabs will make or break an SLO. They are very sensitive to bias and tube types. SLO's don't like Vintage 30's, would sound better with greenbacks or even 75's in some cabs. Stock Soldano cab is the perfect match.

Tubes: Sovtek "wafer bottom" 5881/6L6 WGC's biased to around 28ma are the best power tubes. Also, JJ-12AX7S in V1, V3, and V4. Use a Sovtek LP or LPS in V5 (pi) position. V2 you can swap out to taste as this will fine tune the gain and feel.

I've spent hours with the front grill off swapping out tubes and bias adjustments. Follow the above suggestions and you will enjoy the amp and get the most out of its potential.

 

[AmpliFIRE]

One trick pony IMO...and needs to be loud to get there (as others have stated).

Again, disagree. Clean is decent and the one trick you say it has...is amazing. Wish I still had one...and no, it doesn't have to be crushingly loud to sound awesome.

Sorry...agree to disagree. Didn't like the clean or crunch, especially for the price.

 

[Crunchity]

I've spent hours with the front grill off swapping out tubes and bias adjustments. Follow the above suggestions and you will enjoy the amp and get the most out of its potential.

If I PM ya, do you think you'd have a few minutes to help me bias mine someday soon? Looking to retube and although I've retubed and biased my share of amps before, they were usually pretty easy to do with only a DMM. Not so sure about the SLO, especially not having looked closely at mine yet, need those contact points and trim pot pointed out to me, etc.

 

[Racerxrated]

One trick pony IMO...and needs to be loud to get there (as others have stated).

Again, disagree. Clean is decent and the one trick you say it has...is amazing. Wish I still had one...and no, it doesn't havde to be crushingly loud to sound awesome.

Sorry...agree to disagree. Didn't like the clean or crunch, especially for the price.

I will admit when I first plugged in I was a bit disappointed... I got the clear articulate tone, but it didn't wow me. Then I boosted it..and I understood. Doesn't need a boost but man, it turned into a monster with one. Ultimately though, for 2500 I can buy 2 awesome amps. And I did. Love to have it back though!

 

[ElectricVoodoo]

No one amp is going to satisfy everyone's needs. The general consensus is that it is a kick ass amp.

One that I've never played, always wanted to. Good luck with it ! Let us know please how it is !

 

[Racerxrated]

Crunch channel is amazing and so is the OD channel. Lots of great tones to be had, even at lower volumes. Here's the challenge: tubes and/or speaker cabs will make or break an SLO. They are very sensitive to bias and tube types. SLO's don't like Vintage 30's, would sound better with greenbacks or even 75's in some cabs. Stock Soldano cab is the perfect match.

Tubes: Sovtek "wafer bottom" 5881/6L6 WGC's biased to around 28ma are the best power tubes. Also, JJ-12AX7S in V1, V3, and V4. Use a Sovtek LP or LPS in V5 (pi) position. V2 you can swap out to taste as this will fine tune the gain and feel.

I've spent hours with the front grill off swapping out tubes and bias adjustments. Follow the above suggestions and you will enjoy the amp and get the most out of its potential.

G12 65s for me. Sounded better to me than the Soldano cab I tried. The biggest eq advice is to leave the treble off and use the Presence to dial in the high end. Gives that amp that amazing 'bite'. Wafer 5881s also for me.