SLO still too bright

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ceremony5150

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I have a Soldano Slo, running Sovtek 5881's, through a Soldano 2x12 closed back with 1 Scumback H75 and 1 M75.

I am finding the SLO is still too bright- any suggestions?

Switch to KT-66's? or will I sacrifice gain?

I am going for a Lynch, Demartini sound
 
From what I can remember your bias is supposed to be around 22-25 ma, which is low by some standards

Apparently, the harsh brightness disappears at high volumes, try an attenuator maybe?
 
I'm running the same tubes and cab (Just w/ the Legends)

I dont find the amp even remotely bright.
Maybe only a little on the normal channel with the Bright switch on.

Cant you just turn down the treble and presence knobs? (They work really well)
 
Problem might be the cab (I don't like the Soldano cabs, despite thinking that the SLO is the greatest amp ever).

What are your settings? I ended up very far from these over time, but I'd start with something like this if you're struggling with brightness:

Gain: 5 (or to taste, I guess)
Bass: 6
Mids: 3
Treble: 2
Presence: off

I find that the Mid control adds a ton of cut, which might seem very bright.
 
An SLO is a bright amp to begin with, or at least the one I had was - more of a high mids focused amp. I'd try other cabs like Cardinal said. A cab with basketweave grillcloth will cut some highs nicely. ;)

I always liked the sound of my SLO with an old marshall blackback cab, greenbacks or V30s. Tried it with a 75 loaded cab and it sounded like hell.
 
I say change up the cab or at least the speakers. I have a 2X12 with M75-LHDC's in it. Those are supposed to smooth out the highs a bit and add some lows compared to regular M75's. That cab is much brighter than my 1960A with ET65's and V30's.
 
the trick is with the mids

turn down the mids and the amp gets much darker.

good starting settings is with the mids 11 o clock or less.

bass at 1 o clock.

treble to taste

dont be afraid to turn the treble down to 9 oclock and use the presence to dial back some upper end slice.
 
if that is still too bright it is time for a speaker change.
 
That was always my biggest complaint with the SLO. When I got the brightness tamed, it got mushy on the low end. Get a good low end and it had ice pick highs. I preferred Greenbacks with SLO's I've had.
 
No one has mentioned preamp tubes. After EQ settings, I'd roll preamp tubes before buying new power tubes or speakers.
 
I talked to Bill Sundt when I got my SLO - I wanted to upgrade the power tubes in it, he said the Sovtek 5881s were fine in the amp and if I wanted to change the tonality, go with speakers/cabs before anything else.
 
Be sure NOT to set the eq controls like a Marshall. Keep the TREBLE down around 3 or 4 (not o'clock). Keep MIDS at of below 5. Those Scumback speakers may not be the right speakers for the SLO( I'm not familiar with the different Scumbacks). Also, that Soldano 2x12 always sounded "flat" to me, never have liked the 2x12. A standard Marshall 4x12 with Celestion 75's actually sounds pretty good. I have a Soldano 4x12 with stock Eminence Legends and they sound great with the SLO.

Summary:
That Soldano 2x12 and Scumbacks may be choking your tone, as well as, the way you're EQ'ing the tone knobs. I've spent many hours swappoing tubes on SLO's. I found that the stock Sovtek 6L6/5881 WGC (wafer bottoms, biased at 28ma) sound the best, and JJ-12ax7's in the V1 - V5 are the best overall preamp tubes with balanced tone and gain.
 
I have 2 Soldano 2x12 and a Soldano 4x12. IMHO change your speakers. Probaby the H75 to an H75 LDC, J75 LDC or M75..

I have
H75LDC H55 in one cab and love it; very defined and crisp but not too bright.
M75 pair in another cab: very smooth and much darker than the other
J75 in a 4x12: a bit brighter than the first cab above IMHO but not too bright. Very punchy and tight.
 
Marshall Freak":3htf9t2x said:
That was always my biggest complaint with the SLO. When I got the brightness tamed, it got mushy on the low end. Get a good low end and it had ice pick highs. I preferred Greenbacks with SLO's I've had.
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+1 on being difficult to strike a good balance. ...Try a JJ 12ax7 in V1. I never liked these preamp tubes unless it was for taming brightness. The SLO is a finicky amp and I had a love/hate relationship with it.
 
Try 6L6s' andGB M25s'. What guitar, wood, pick up combination are you using? I found scouping the mids or cutting the highs the SLO loses its' magic grind!
 
ceremony5150":23y0y8rm said:
I have a Soldano Slo, running Sovtek 5881's, through a Soldano 2x12 closed back with 1 Scumback H75 and 1 M75.

I am finding the SLO is still too bright- any suggestions?

Switch to KT-66's? or will I sacrifice gain?

I am going for a Lynch, Demartini sound
Click to expand...

I just sold a 2x12 with an m75 and h75 combo. Did not like it at all with the SLO. I don't like greenbacks with that amp either. And stay away from the G12T 75s too. Sounds just plain bad with the SLO.

Best combo I've tried is V30s with G12H 30s in x pattern. No way does the SLO sound too bright with these speakers. I can run the treble and presence pretty hot and it's not shrill or ice picky in the least. Sounds super tight, ballsy and punchy. Can't recommend this enough with the SLO.
 
Guess I'll chime in a second time, this time on speakers. Played a SLO with V30s, 70s G12Hs, 70s G12Ms, and what must have been T75s.

T75s were harsh and scooped. Honestly could see it working for some types of metal, but my least favorite. Didn't like the G12Hs. Scooped and zingy high end. G12M and V30s sound awesome to me. Aggressive with plenty of bass and controlled high end. V30s have their obvious nasally voice, which I've always gotten along with fine, but the G12M would be my preference.
 
I suggest you sell it and get a bogner ecstasy or similar... the fundamentals of an amp are what they are, speakers notwithstanding. If you are used to a marshall tone then the SLO will not be a shock to you, thats why these amps cut like they do in a live situation. Demartini's tone and lynches tone is bright and was achieved long before "blanketing" all the highs- like most boutique amps do now- became vogue. Just another opinion fwiw
 
cardinal":1e4d670x said:
Guess I'll chime in a second time, this time on speakers. Played a SLO with V30s, 70s G12Hs, 70s G12Ms, and what must have been T75s.

T75s were harsh and scooped. Honestly could see it working for some types of metal, but my least favorite. Didn't like the G12Hs. Scooped and zingy high end. G12M and V30s sound awesome to me. Aggressive with plenty of bass and controlled high end. V30s have their obvious nasally voice, which I've always gotten along with fine, but the G12M would be my preference.
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Agreed. Especially with G12H , I do not like them with a SLO.
 
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