SLO observations and question for other owners

[stratotone]

Yeah, that's what weirds me out is that everyone that has talked to Mike (and interviews with him) he pushes Sovtek 5881s. That's like buying a ferrari and trying to put kerosene in the gas tank.

I'm almost tempted to get some phillips/sylvania NOS tubes, since I think that's what the early Soldanos shipped with. *grumbles* I really dug the TAD 6L6s in one of my Randalls... hm.

Pete

 

[marvcus]

Not that it makes any difference, but it may be food for thought.

I once owned a Zinky Mofo and Bruce Zinky only recommended 5881 Sovteks as well.

His reason was because it was the only tube that could handle over 500 plate voltage (? - I'm hoping that came out right, I just play the things.) No other available tubes could cut it and he ran the amp real hot, apparently.

Maybe the SLO is the same way?

 

[AmpliFIRE]

Great timing for this thread....since 2 of the 5881's in my Avenger red plated on me yesterday. The amp sounded massive with those tubes, and I think I'm going to stick with them. I usually only try to experiment with tubes when I'm not happy with the tone of an amp...but this Avenger has "it".

I would love to a/b my DeYoung Avenger with an SLO

 

[stratotone]

Great timing for this thread....since 2 of the 5881's in my Avenger red plated on me yesterday. The amp sounded massive with those tubes, and I think I'm going to stick with them. I usually only try to experiment with tubes when I'm not happy with the tone of an amp...but this Avenger has "it".

I would love to a/b my DeYoung Avenger with an SLO

Yeah, that would be interesting... Avenger w/out loop and the extra channel vs the parts quality of the SLO.

 

[stratotone]

The XTC uses less cold biased stages and gets most of its distortion from cascading gain stages. So the gain is more organic and chewy. Where the SLO is more focused and more asymmetric.

I kinda figured both amps got gain from cascading gain stages.

Difference I was talking about was how many switches and relays the XTC is running through than the SLO.

 

[nbarts]

So how loud you need to plat the SLO to get a decent tone out of it?

Are any of the other Soldano models in the same ballpark tonewise?

 

[marvcus]

I would love to a/b my DeYoung Avenger with an SLO

Not to derail the thread, but can you please tell me how you acquired the DeYoung trannies?
I tried and they would not sell me the parts b/c they are proprietary to Soldano.

Thanks

 

[AmpliFIRE]

I would love to a/b my DeYoung Avenger with an SLO

Not to derail the thread, but can you please tell me how you acquired the DeYoung trannies?
I tried and they would not sell me the parts b/c they are proprietary to Soldano.

Thanks

It was a special order from Soldano directly

 

[yngzaklynch]

Man the SLO I had was blisteringly loud. If I had a bigger house I might have kept it. One of the best lead tones on the planet

 

[joolzriff]

once owned a bogner xtc...seemed to me (even after a retube) there was ALIVENESS missing,especially form the power section,good sound in pre but no BODY/AIR/THWUNK.
SOLD IT GOT A SLO i got that aliveness out off it....plenty loud enough,you gotta have that think cranked so thank god it isnt a Wizard(super loud)
put it w/ greenbacks and u can wind it up more.........start your lead gain off low (2 ) and work up if/as desired....phenomenal amp...wont sell it ....want another seriously.

 

[Ampaddict]

I have KT66's in mine and love 'em.
My SLO is louder than my Wizard. The Soldano is a great amp! The depth knob is great as is the Scoop Mod. I don't use the WH mod. Cool for a solo tone, IMO.

 

[duesentrieb]

I'd try some KT77s too, Pete. EL34/6L6 bastard - you may want to increase the screen grid Rs to 1k though.

 

[se7en]

I had one and sold it after buying an XTC. I felt the XTC had a better master volume, more versatility and didn't need to be cranked to give up the goods. I also felt the SLO purchase was pretty much for the lead tone - the rhythm tone wasn't quite there for me. That said, I'd consider another one (or an Avenger), as the Soldano lead tone has to be in the top 3 out there.

 

[Marshall Freak]

I'd try some KT77s too, Pete. EL34/6L6 bastard - you may want to increase the screen grid Rs to 1k though.

Any other mods necessary?? THAT sounds like a great idea!!

 

[stratotone]

I just bought a set of sovtek 5881s - figure since they cut the power about 25% it might be a good idea. Also bought a quad of Ruby 6L6GCs - I really dig those, we'll see how they do.

Pete

 

[yngzaklynch]

I always read that KT66s are the tube to have in the SLO.


We need CLIPS!!!!!!!

 

[Marshall Freak]

I'm going to have to get another SLO, and try some KT66's and 77's in it. The last one I had, had all the bells and whistles, I want a plain one this time, without the SRV, WH, mods etc.

 

[thiswaythatway]

I had one and sold it after buying an XTC. I felt the XTC had a better master volume, more versatility and didn't need to be cranked to give up the goods. I also felt the SLO purchase was pretty much for the lead tone - the rhythm tone wasn't quite there for me. That said, I'd consider another one (or an Avenger), as the Soldano lead tone has to be in the top 3 out there.

See, now i see a couple of people in this thread who sold their SLO because of it's master volume. The one i played was loud before it really got any saturation going. Of course my idea of low volume is different from others. Whenever i see people say that their Splawn's are great for low volume, well that puts things in perspective.

 

[Marshall Freak]

I had one and sold it after buying an XTC. I felt the XTC had a better master volume, more versatility and didn't need to be cranked to give up the goods. I also felt the SLO purchase was pretty much for the lead tone - the rhythm tone wasn't quite there for me. That said, I'd consider another one (or an Avenger), as the Soldano lead tone has to be in the top 3 out there.

See, now i see a couple of people in this thread who sold their SLO because of it's master volume. The one i played was loud before it really got any saturation going. Of course my idea of low volume is different from others. Whenever i see people say that their Splawn's are great for low volume, well that puts things in perspective.

Mine was loud, and needed to be loud. I also didn't like how it reacted with a hotplate.

 

[nbarts]

You guys really scared me off. I'm trying to find a store to demo one, no luck so far.