SLO 100 vs PT100 vs 20th xtc opinions? cash burning a hole

[Jdub]

Hi All,

thanks for popping in. I am ready to buy a new amp and am torn between the PT 100 and the SLO100 and some consideration to the XTC 20th

I have had several SLO over the years and it is a no brainer that I will love this amp and be happy with it. I have only played the Pt 100 for a couple hours and was blown away, but then again no SLO in the room to compare.

the dilemna. go with the SLO which I know or give the PT 100 a run in sake of gear geek , tone chasing good times.... and it does sound friggin killer!! Honestly. I want both and an 20th xtc but that aint gonna happen today.. the 20th xtc is an option too but everytime I get an xtc , I love it by itself, but it fails compared to SLO and my Marshalls with live drums.



I would love to hear from people who have played any or all and get their take on how they compare..

Please discuss.

thx,
Jason

 

[jcj]

If I were you, I'd give the PT a go...if it doesn't live up to your long term expectations, you can always go back to the SLO...grab a used PT to keep the experimentation costs down, and have a blast

I really dig the PT 100...great clean, and very versatile gain channel.

 

[Wizard of Ozz]

I've owned the SLO and still have PT100 (actually I just sold my SLO this week to another member here). Both are really great amps. The PT100 is more in the Marshall camp and the SLO, well since you've owned one, it has it's own sound and vibe going on. Both do their own take on the high gain modified Marshall 2203. Both are very articulate, bright, cutting amps, with plenty of upper-mid bit on-hand. If you like the aggressive biting mid range, and high-end cut from a good modified Marshall done right, the PT100 would be a better fit. The SLO has more of that encompassing wall of sound going on. It just surrounds you. The SLO is just a bit smoother, and mellower sounding perhaps. Also a somewhat thicker, warmer sound overall. Both amps work and sound best to me thru a good 4X12 loaded with Greenback reissues. Versatility and better clean channel go to the PT100. The thing with the SLO is the lead channel... it's the main event. That's the highlight of the amp. It also responds really well to small changes in your guitar's volume knob. The PT100 does sound better at lower volumes, where as the SLO needs a bit of volume to sound it's best. Neither amp needs to be ear shattering loud to get the goods though IMHO... but as with any tube amp, louder usually sounds better. Between the two amp, I mostly use the 2nd channel on the PT100 and the lead channel on the SLO. The 3rd channel on the PT100 is more over the top with gain and tiny bit more modern sounding than some might expect (which is a good thing for me). Both amps have 4 preamp gain stages and similar amounts of gain on tap. I hardly ever use the Whomp switch on my PT100... and always found more than enough bass and low end from my stock SLO. So both amps are plenty heavy sounding as-is in my book. If you are comparing the lead channel of each to each other, I think it's hard to pick a clear winner as it will most likely come down to individual choice. No right or wrong answer here... just different flavors.

As far as the Bogner XTC goes... I've owned a few XTCs and just never could deal with the dark, distant, muffled, compressed Bogner voicing. This maybe why it doesn't fair so well for you in a live mix either.

 

[LP Freak]

Great review here ^ For versitility, my vote goes to the PT.

 

[gbsmusic]

Wizard, great job and I agree you. I haven't owned a PT but I have played through one and while they sound great and they are more versatile I think the lead channel of the SLO is what makes me love the SLO so much!! Even when I didn't have a SLO I still thought it was the best lead amp Ive ever heard. There's no losing amp in this one and even the Bogners are great but they a well behind the other 2 in my opinion and the SLO's the winner for me!! Jason come over and jam through my amp any time.

 

[steve_k]

Great review here ^ For versitility, my vote goes to the PT.

+1 on the WOZ review. I swing to the SLO though....

 

[Inca Roads]

I had the same problem,
This is how I solved it.
Good Luck Man

 

[Digital Jams]

I heard about this little hang from a fly on the wall

Only thing I am going to say brother is that as long as I have known you you have always gone back to the single channel amps.

Hope all is well, fair winds and tight lines bro

 

[syncrodude007]

Soldano SLO 100 hands down...my 2

 

[GtarLover]

I don't have a SLO or PT100, so I can't say between those two which is best. However, there is obviously not so much love for the 20th XTC here and I have to say it has more versatility than both others, as far I as know. There are many options on the 20th XTC and they all will change the tone, power, etc. I enjoy that versatility, if you want variety then the 20th XTC is the easy choice. That said, I know I want a SLO eventually, yet I have an 20th XTC now and I am very happy with it.

Just saying...and you really need to play them all, IMO.

 

[TrueTone500]

Soldano SLO 100 hands down...my 2

+1

 

[supersonic]

I've had a SLO for about 16 years now, I also own a 100B XTC and a Friedman Marsha. I've owned a CAE 100 and played a 20th XTC and 20th Shiva. Nothing comes close to the feel/feedbck you get from playing a SLO, the tones are clean yet pack authority and ooze pro quality. I've come to the reality that for live use I need 2x heads. Even if I just use the OD channel from the SLO for solos. I haven't played a PT 100 but from the clips I've heard I'm not sold.

 

[Jdub]

I heard about this little hang from a fly on the wall

Only thing I am going to say brother is that as long as I have known you you have always gone back to the single channel amps.

Hope all is well, fair winds and tight lines bro

Hey Scott!.

Hows it? You do have a point there. Other than SLO my most fave amps of all time have been

Komet 60
Bruno Leadman
Various Marshalls (all single channel. some modded ie Cameron, Friedman, Bogner)
Wizard Metal X. ( it was 2 channels)


Still that is not helpin bro. I am diggin in my heels on one of these two PT 100 or SLO 100..

 

[Jdub]

Wizard, great job and I agree you. I haven't owned a PT but I have played through one and while they sound great and they are more versatile I think the lead channel of the SLO is what makes me love the SLO so much!! Even when I didn't have a SLO I still thought it was the best lead amp Ive ever heard. There's no losing amp in this one and even the Bogners are great but they a well behind the other 2 in my opinion and the SLO's the winner for me!! Jason come over and jam through my amp any time.

Thanks Greg!!

You still up?

I might call you in a few..


I am on a mission!!!

 

[Jdub]

If I were you, I'd give the PT a go...if it doesn't live up to your long term expectations, you can always go back to the SLO...grab a used PT to keep the experimentation costs down, and have a blast

I really dig the PT 100...great clean, and very versatile gain channel.

that is exactly what I would like to do but I cant find one.. I know I can pick up an SLO later but I am a now guy. Just sold my Bogner Goldfinger 45 and I cant sit still. someone offer up a PT 100. 2500.00 cash... otherwise...... Dom , I am coming for your SLO bro..

 

[mjtripper]

I love the SLO as well but also want to try the PT100 so I would give that one a whirl since you know you already like the SLO. I try to buy used so if I don't like it I can sell it for hopefully close to what I paid for it and move on to the next experiment

 

[jcj]

I've had a SLO for about 16 years now, I also own a 100B XTC and a Friedman Marsha. I've owned a CAE 100 and played a 20th XTC and 20th Shiva. Nothing comes close to the feel/feedbck you get from playing a SLO, the tones are clean yet pack authority and ooze pro quality. I've come to the reality that for live use I need 2x heads. Even if I just use the OD channel from the SLO for solos. I haven't played a PT 100 but from the clips I've heard I'm not sold.

FWIW, the PT 100 is nohing like the OD series (except the clean channel).

I'd also say that I haven't heard a demo that does it justice...really nice amp...a little edgier/grittier than the SLO, but definitely capable of face melting gain, and really nice touch sensitivity.

The negative feedback adjustment, the whomp, and the gain boost combine for a REALLY versatile amp...I owned one (as well as a couple of SLO's) and liked it a lot.

It all comes down to needs and preference, but for me, if I had to own only one amp (of those two), it would be the PT.

 

[supersonic]

I've had a SLO for about 16 years now, I also own a 100B XTC and a Friedman Marsha. I've owned a CAE 100 and played a 20th XTC and 20th Shiva. Nothing comes close to the feel/feedbck you get from playing a SLO, the tones are clean yet pack authority and ooze pro quality. I've come to the reality that for live use I need 2x heads. Even if I just use the OD channel from the SLO for solos. I haven't played a PT 100 but from the clips I've heard I'm not sold.

FWIW, the PT 100 is nohing like the OD series (except the clean channel).

I'd also say that I haven't heard a demo that does it justice...really nice amp...a little edgier/grittier than the SLO, but definitely capable of face melting gain, and really nice touch sensitivity.

The negative feedback adjustment, the whomp, and the gain boost combine for a REALLY versatile amp...I owned one (as well as a couple of SLO's) and liked it a lot.

It all comes down to needs and preference, but for me, if I had to own only one amp (of those two), it would be the PT.

Yes I'm aware of the difference between the OD100 and the PT100. Another thing worth considering is the type of music, 1 or 2 guitar band etc. I always find the SLO somewhat clean sounding so it's not so good for grungier type OD. Where you want to sit in the mix EQ wise is a important decision too.

 

[Jdub]

I've had a SLO for about 16 years now, I also own a 100B XTC and a Friedman Marsha. I've owned a CAE 100 and played a 20th XTC and 20th Shiva. Nothing comes close to the feel/feedbck you get from playing a SLO, the tones are clean yet pack authority and ooze pro quality. I've come to the reality that for live use I need 2x heads. Even if I just use the OD channel from the SLO for solos. I haven't played a PT 100 but from the clips I've heard I'm not sold.

FWIW, the PT 100 is nohing like the OD series (except the clean channel).

I'd also say that I haven't heard a demo that does it justice...really nice amp...a little edgier/grittier than the SLO, but definitely capable of face melting gain, and really nice touch sensitivity.

The negative feedback adjustment, the whomp, and the gain boost combine for a REALLY versatile amp...I owned one (as well as a couple of SLO's) and liked it a lot.

It all comes down to needs and preference, but for me, if I had to own only one amp (of those two), it would be the PT.

Yes I'm aware of the difference between the OD100 and the PT100. Another thing worth considering is the type of music, 1 or 2 guitar band etc. I always find the SLO somewhat clean sounding so it's not so good for grungier type OD. Where you want to sit in the mix EQ wise is a important decision too.

I am in into classic hard rock. schenker, lynch,vh, maiden, ozzy, sabbath, uli roth, scorpions, zep ,aerosmith, rush.GnR Rainbow, Deep Purple,stir with some slut rock ie Ratt, Extreme, Whitesnake and early Crue , throw in a splash of Slayer and Metallica, chase it with some AIC and a swig of Iggy Pop holding a Black Flag while proclaimng his Suicidal Tendencies and wash it all down some finesse ala early early YJM, Jeff Beck, Vai, Satch, EJ, and Steely Dan.

 

[Ventura]

Tough thread as it's all preference which is personal. The 20thA is a formidable amp - very very versatile and extremely flexible, and all of it is totally usable. Getting the Class A/AB switch is pretty slick to say the least. I am sure the PTs are awesome amps, can't say as I've never spent much time with 'em, but I have had an SLO and an HR100+ and the 20thA was no contest.

So it goes. I'm now wondering about the OD/PT scene - damn this forum

Mo