Soldano SLO vs Friedman BE100

[eljodon]

I have a Marsha HBE/BE with the usual suff and I find myself using it mostly for rhythm than lead. I tried the SLO but never recorded with it, but I think it cuts more for the leads than the Marsha. I usually end up using my Plexi/JCM800 for leads than my Marsha mainly because the upper mids are more prominent(1.5 kHz to 3kHz). Just get both and call it a day! LOL!

 

[NOE_1942]

BE100 FTW

 

[guitarmike]

I have a Marsha HBE/BE with the usual suff and I find myself using it mostly for rhythm than lead. I tried the SLO but never recorded with it, but I think it cuts more for the leads than the Marsha. I usually end up using my Plexi/JCM800 for leads than my Marsha mainly because the upper mids are more prominent(1.5 kHz to 3kHz). Just get both and call it a day! LOL!

This Saturday will be my first gig with the BE, I am interested to see how it cuts with a full metal band. Church was fine, the other guitar player has a Fender twin, the sounds compliment each other and when I turn the bass up I could bury the bass player.

 

[TrueTone500]

SLO100 all night long!

 

[MantraSky]

I've owned many amps over the years, from VHT Pittbull Classic to Mesa Boogie MKII-C, MKIV, S.O.B to Bogner Ecstasy 100b, 101b, Classic & Shiva (early version), modified Marshall's MKII, Plexi (Hose, Jackson etc) CAA PT100 and a Marsha and three SLO's, all I can say as there are different people and everyone hears differently, you can build almost anything that can cover your interests. For my taste my SLO sounds amazing for Rock, but the Marsha also has great tone, it's the voice & feel in these amps that make a difference, there tools in how they record and play from day to day. I like the build quality in the SLO (42lbs easy carry) and 5881 power tubes/JJ preamp. Being a long time fan of EL34's interestingly I found the SLO inspiring to play more than any other amp I've owned or have access to friends amps (about anything you can think of), nothing is perfect and people's perception can change, and "yes" there are so-so amps, but that might be my perception? Anyway the SLO for me seems like the most consistent whereas most of the other amps seemed "it depends on the day" I have had "that" one Marshall on a particular day that just wouldn't come together? which makes it tough when your really inspired to record and it wants to be contrary? Appreciate what you have and explore all the options! some people say the SLO has maybe one or two good tones, from my experience my Bogner XTC's have great tone and very versatile but the SLO has an articulation, feel & tone that is Amazing! Where I like to fight a bit with the amp and depending if you get your tone from your fingers, your rewarded with one of the finest tones on earth! I like the old early amps that you have to have skill in controlling this Monster with your hands, you get absolute greatness and headroom, whereas a number of amps are made to sound like a recorded, perfectly in the pro studio but don't have the greatest dynamics? They can be loud though and there can be hype. The search can be a lifetime, but it's a lot of fun along the way

 

[SLOgriff]

SLO sucks....get a Bogner!

 

[IntenseJim]

Obviously power tubes are different (5881/6L6 vs EL34's). But both are farely popular and straight forward rock amps being toured with by some big names! Has anyone owned both and compared these amps? I already know what an SLO can do (crank the master and it stays tight and just blossoms...). Are these amps similar in tones at high volumes/low volumes? So many other amps (beside the SLO) start to "fart out" when cranked up.

Old thread but I received a new Friedman BE-100 about 1-1/2 weeks ago* with the footswitcheable clean-BE-HBE and VH voice on the front which is subtle. Rear has the ubiquitous Fat, C45, Sat and 1/2 power switch. New line out is provided. You know I have more Soldano amplification than anybody sanely needs including an SLOr.

To answer the question, they are very dissimilar in tone at low to medium volumes.
In a nutshell, the Friedman is darker than the brighter SLO; the SLO sounds tighter.

(I haven't cranked either of them. We do have geological faults around here and I don't want to test them. Although I could end up with lakefront property if I do. )

-Friedman BE/HBE channel cleans up much better and is more dynamic with response to pick attack and volume knob compared to the SLO OD channel; compared to the SLO crunch channel they are similar in such response but the Friedman gets the nod.
-Friedman has more gain on tap.
-Friedman gets all kinds of Marshall tones from Jimi to Blackmore to VH Roth-era to Aldrich and Steve Stevens.
-SLO has more of the 80s tone as it's basis that you RTers know all about. Later era Gary Moore, Lynch, Crue, etc etc. IMHO the crunch channel gets a wicked hybrid Marshall -Fender OD tone not unlike some well known Clapton/Skynyrd and SRV recordings.

Neither can cop the sound of the other; having both is not redundant but is over the top insane for a guy like me.
This Friedman BE100 amp is similar to the OD channel of the SS100 and unless I AB'd them back and forth side by side like a gear nerd (which I did in Van Nuys), I don't think I'd appreciate much of a diffference between the gain channel of the BE and SS.

SPEAKERS:
At the moment I am preferring the BE100 with my 2x12 loaded with Scumback H55 +H75LDC over my J75 and M75 cabs.
The Soldano sounds great with any of them.

*Why did I buy it? I ordered the BE100 at the October LA Amp show when I was still gigging and wanted an Aldrich/Reb Beach era-Whitesnake VH -Steve Steven's style hot rod Marshall-esque amp. The amps are great fun but I'm not gigging anymore so I feel like the prototypical douche playing these professional worldy beasts of an amp at home.

 

[aftec]

I tested them side by side with their own cabs. The SLO has an upper midrange bark completely missing form the BE. The SLO is stiffer and less forgiving. Probably better for bands with 2 guitars or arrangements to cut through. Check Mötley's Corabi record.
The BE is a lot more refined and laid back. A lot more bottom end, and less bark. A highly refined modded Marshall sound. The Fat and C45 switches on the back are amazing. It sits in the music well, but if the arrangement is not done properly it will not cut through like the SLO.
Be would be my choice.

 

[MantraSky]

Friedman amps are very good but also very different from an SLO, from my own experience with many great amps the BE or HBE, no matter what I did in a live (cabs & spkrs) It just didn't work for me, going through a PA, helped. The SLO has always been my personal choice, it has a rudeness and smoothness all in one depending on how you articulation with the pick, I like the fact it doesn't hide a thing and need to have great technique for its voice to be heard, "it's killer" but the BE still has a great rock thing going on, very nice amp! I can't say one is better than another as there are many types of people, the same with equipment. It's better to go out and find what works for me, rather than pointing short comings from my own experience and my own opinion.

 

[rupe]

*Why did I buy it? I ordered the BE100 at the October LA Amp show when I was still gigging and wanted an Aldrich/Reb Beach era-Whitesnake VH -Steve Steven's style hot rod Marshall-esque amp. The amps are great fun but I'm not gigging anymore so I feel like the prototypical douche playing these professional worldy beasts of an amp at home.
[/color]

The answer to your dilemma is to start gigging again!

Great review/comparison...I would love to add an SLO to my Marsha. I'm thinking it would be a huge sounding complimentary 2 amp rig.

 

[mmolteratx]

SLO sucks....get a Bogner!

Or better yet, get both. Though I keep getting distracted whenever I have the cash for an SLO and buying something else. Currently rocking a 100B with DeYoungs, and I think an SLO would go great with that. I've played the SLO extensively and a couple Friedman mods. The mods were cool, but for me, I like the Bogner voicing better for a thick rhythm tone and the SLO better for a tight, cutting lead.

 

[IntenseJim]

The answer to your dilemma is to start gigging again!

I now work swing shift hour 3pm - 1am including every other weekend's nights... hard to be in a band with those hours and half of the weekends committed to work.
But I get to ski > 100 days/year and SUP and mtn bike every day so life is still pretty good.

 

[Jofipe]

Just get a Slostortion through the simple clean on the BE and you are set

 

[gbsmusic]

Ive played so many amps including the Friedman amps and the SLO is the amp that I always come back to. I have always said and always will say its the best I have ever heard. The BE and the HBE are great amp's but they dont live up to a SLO!! Just my opinion.

 

[MantraSky]

Rock God we kind of like them too

 

[gbsmusic]

Rock God we kind of like them too

 

[Ventura]

*Why did I buy it? I ordered the BE100 at the October LA Amp show when I was still gigging and wanted an Aldrich/Reb Beach era-Whitesnake VH -Steve Steven's style hot rod Marshall-esque amp. The amps are great fun but I'm not gigging anymore so I feel like the prototypical douche playing these professional worldy beasts of an amp at home.

I can help you with this, Jim. Just send it to me - free up that guilty, douchebaggery sense of pain and send it to me.

You'll feel better skiing and SUP'ing in no time

 

[IntenseJim]

I'm too depressed to even move because nobody included me in those Soldano photos above.

 

[se7en]

Have had both and prefer the BE by far. I liked the SLO for lead, but that was about it.

 

[MantraSky]