Soldano SLO's

[FourT6and2]

People make mistakes. There have been plenty identified with the schematic already.

...hence, the reason for requesting information about a specific behavior from someone who actually owns the amp.

By "the schematic" do you mean the one on the SLO Clone Forum? That's not the one I used. Because you are correct, there were some mistakes with it. The schematic from Rob at C3 Amps is 100% accurate.

But I'm not going to answer your question, as you requested. Please don't make fun of my avatar.

 

[11blueegyptians]

The schematic from Rob at C3 Amps is 100% accurate.

I was hoping to avoid these types of responses.

My initial post was simply an attempt to get first hand information rather than engage in this type of speculation with people who have not conducted this very easy test on the real McCoy.

In fact, I'm happy just knowing the answer to this specific aspect of the circuit without getting into anything else. Discussion about schematic versions, their authenticity or their accuracy is secondary.

Hopefully a SLO-100 owner can indulge me.

It was not my intention to offend anyone.

 

[mdc1mdc11]

are the Soldano and clones consistent as well?

Are you asking if the clones are identical to the real thing? I guess that would depend on how someone builds it. But yeah, same schematic. Same layout. You can build an identical clone. Only thing you can't really get your hands on are the DeYoung transformers. But from what I've been told by people who have built a few clones and have real SLOs as well, the O'Netics transformers get you like 99% there.

But I shouldn't comment because I'm not a "real" SLO owner. I don't want someone to start making fun of my avatar again...

thanks, that is what I was wondering. The difference in transformers, Deyoung vs onetics.

 

[FourT6and2]

are the Soldano and clones consistent as well?

Are you asking if the clones are identical to the real thing? I guess that would depend on how someone builds it. But yeah, same schematic. Same layout. You can build an identical clone. Only thing you can't really get your hands on are the DeYoung transformers. But from what I've been told by people who have built a few clones and have real SLOs as well, the O'Netics transformers get you like 99% there.

But I shouldn't comment because I'm not a "real" SLO owner. I don't want someone to start making fun of my avatar again...

thanks, that is what I was wondering. The difference in transformers, Deyoung vs onetics.

You're welcome, sir.

 

[FourT6and2]

The schematic from Rob at C3 Amps is 100% accurate.

I was hoping to avoid these types of responses.

My initial post was simply an attempt to get first hand information rather than engage in this type of speculation with people who have not conducted this very easy test on the real McCoy.

In fact, I'm happy just knowing the answer to this specific aspect of the circuit without getting into anything else. Discussion about schematic versions, their authenticity or their accuracy is secondary.

Hopefully a SLO-100 owner can indulge me.

It was not my intention to offend anyone.

Maybe this will help: https://www.thegearpage.net/board/showth ... p?t=584054

Couple other threads about it all over the net. You could call Soldano and ask as well. Here's another one: https://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/ ... ic=18283.0

 

[11blueegyptians]

Thanks for the link. I had read it already and didn't feel very confident in the responses.

Mine is a go/no-go test; nothing that is going to result in subtle nuances that people may or may not be able to detect.

 

[Mr. Willy]

Here's a YT clip of my '92.

Sounds awesome. What speakers are in the Bogner cab?

I was at Soldano's shop today to pick up my JetCity amp he repaired. Mike showed me a new SLO100 that they just finished and I asked him if anything about it has changed over the years and only 1 change but it does not change the sound. What has changed is there is a small board inside that holds the filter caps. They used to be the axial (spelling?) type that lay down. Those are no longer made so they use the new kind that stand up but are short. Anyway, Mike was able to redesign that board with the new caps and it bolts into where the old board did so if an amp came in and he had to switch out the board the new board could use all the same mounts with no cosmetic change.

Yup. Newer ones use Panasonic radial caps. Older ones, Mallory axial. Shouldn't be any real difference in sound. I have some photos comparing the different years if you'd like 'em.

Tube talk
Sovtek 5881 WXT or the 5881/6l6WGC. I've read both were the stock tube that comes with SLO from Soldano.
Preferences?

Same tube. Just a different base.

Pretty sure I had a mix of V30's and Veteran 30's in an X pattern at the time. I've since moved to two RI Greenbacks on top and the V30's on bottom. The V30's are English made from the late 90's, I think. They're well broken in anyway.

 

[11blueegyptians]

An essential part of the process in my test is to set the overdrive preamp set to zero.

Granted, while the response seems to indicate the phenomenon really exists, maybe someone can still humor me.

It just seems silly that the amp would be intentionally designed this way, but then again maybe it wasn't. Maybe it was an accident that was kept because it adds some of that elusive mojo. Now look who's speculating.

 

[FourT6and2]

An essential part of the process in my test is to set the overdrive preamp set to zero.

Granted, while the response seems to indicate the phenomenon really exists, maybe someone can still humor me.

It just seems silly that the amp would be intentionally designed this way, but then again maybe it wasn't. Maybe it was an accident that was kept because it adds some of that elusive mojo. Now look who's speculating.

Well as long as we're speculating now...

The consensus among many people is that it was an accident. Mike Soldano is on video saying when he designed the amp, he basically did a lot of trial and error until it sounded good. And it's been said that throwing in the 39K cold clipper was just a happy accident. The loop design is also probably an accident in that it's just a bad design but it's part of what makes the SLO an SLO. and as you say, it was kept the way it is because people grew to like how the stock design sounded. I doubt the loop was intentionally designed to suck though. But note that Soldano changed it in the other amps, but left the SLO alone. Mike has also been quoted as saying he hates the loop (and loops in general). The channel bleed is most likely not intentional either. And I can't think of a reason why anybody would play the amp on the Overdrive channel, but with the gain on zero. Kind of a strange thing to do unless you're testing for bleed.

But what you describe is exactly how my clone operates as well. Overdrive gain on zero. Normal gain up. Bleed. Clear as day.

But wait until an SLO owner pops up to confirm.

 

[Racerxrated]

First off, I sold mine a month ago. But, after reading 46-2s post about channel bleed I tried to notice any. The only way I could tell was with the overdrive channel gain up to 7 or more and then I maxed the normal channel gain and the nature of the gain changed, got a little more compressed. But it didn't bleed like a Marshall 2205/10 does, where you can hear the clean channel if you turn the gain channel volume down while on the gain channel. So the only bleed I noticed concerned the gain knob only, where the normal channel gain when cranked slightly changes the nature of the overdrive channel gain, but only if the overdrive gain is above 7...hope that makes sense..

 

[FourT6and2]

First off, I sold mine a month ago. But, after reading 46-2s post about channel bleed I tried to notice any. The only way I could tell was with the overdrive channel gain up to 7 or more and then I maxed the normal channel gain and the nature of the gain changed, got a little more compressed. But it didn't bleed like a Marshall 2205/10 does, where you can hear the clean channel if you turn the gain channel volume down while on the gain channel. So the only bleed I noticed concerned the gain knob only, where the normal channel gain when cranked slightly changes the nature of the overdrive channel gain, but only if the overdrive gain is above 7...hope that makes sense..

There's a miscommunication here.

What you're describing isn't how one would test for bleed in the SLO (whether a real amp or a clone). And it's not what I originally suggested you to try. What 11blueegyptians is describing is how you would correctly do it. As 11bluegyptians says, it would be fantastic if someone who currently has an SLO tried it and reported back. I can post a video of bleed with my clone tomorrow if that helps, just as a frame of reference of course.

 

[Racerxrated]

I think I said "the only way I could tell was...." pretty sure I tried other combinations of volume changes, gain level changes all on the overdrive channel. But I can't remember if I did try gain on the overdrive channel on zero. Oh well...I know this much, it didn't bleed at all like a 2210/05 does...

 

[FourT6and2]

I think I said "the only way I could tell was...." pretty sure I tried other combinations of volume changes, gain level changes all on the overdrive channel. But I can't remember if I did try gain on the overdrive channel on zero. Oh well...I know this much, it didn't bleed at all like a 2210/05 does...

Gain on the Overdrive channel must be at zero. If you didn't try that, then you wouldn't hear the bleed that is being talked about.

But it's no big deal. Not like anybody is going to be playing on the overdrive channel with the gain on zero, right?

 

[Racerxrated]

True true..I thought it was interesting though that the nature of the gain did change and become more compressed, like a Fortin marshall that has 2 gain knobs or the VHT Deliverance with the same...

 

[FourT6and2]

Here are some quotes from the Soldano forum (not the clone forum). These are people with real SLOs, not clones. And there are plenty more to sift through. I just did a simple search on that forum.

[Concerning the HR50]...it's quite similar to the OD channel on the SLO 100 but tonally it's a lot clearer and more articulate than the SLO. Maybe it's the lack of the clean channel bleed...

The only thing MD's single [channel] overdrive above doesn't have is the Normal channel bleed over.

Could it be bleedthrough from the clean channel into the lead channel ?

It has to do with the fact that when the overdrive channel is activated, the signal from the clean channel bleeds into the overdriven signal, and the two signals are out-of-phase in relation to each other, which means they cancel each other out to a certain extent

Make sure to test with the Clean/Crunch preamp volume off because there is some bleeding between channels

the clean channel still bleeds through into the OD channel but the OD signal itself is missing.
Try it for yourself by running the OD channel with the gain at zero and gain on the clean channel at max with the crunch switch engaged. You'll see...

with the SLO, there is already some clean bleed over into the OD channel,

I agree with SLOgriff that the crunch bleeding into the lead channel adds smoothness

could this SLO have been modded to take out the Normal so it doesn't bleed into the Overdrive?

I really like Soldano, but at that price, channel bleeding is just intolerable...

You can hear some bleeding at low "bedroom volumes",

In the stock SLO the Normal channel bleeds over into the Overdrive channel at all times. This is just how the amp is designed.)"

 

[FourT6and2]

True true..I thought it was interesting though that the nature of the gain did change and become more compressed, like a Fortin marshall that has 2 gain knobs or the VHT Deliverance with the same...

Yep. As you adjust the Normal gain, you're changing the level of phase cancellation between the channels (like noise canceling headphones). So a little bit of sound is still coming through and changing the way the Overdrive sounds.

 

[Racerxrated]

I remember I did try to have the clean channel volume cranked while on the OD channel and I didn't hear any difference at all no matter what volume I had on the OD channel, but I did have the gain up on the OD channel. On the Marshall 800 channel switchers I do notice a difference in tone when I turn the clean channel up. So I just leave the clean volume off on my 2205.

 

[FourT6and2]

Agreed. I don't really notice a huge tonal change on my clone when I sweep the Normal gain. Maybe a slight compression thing as you said. But there is definitely bleed when you bring the Overdrive gain down to zero. i.e. the Normal channel comes through loud and clear. That's the bleed most people refer to.

 

[Shark Diver]

I just got #19 back, and I have an '09 (I think it's an '09). I think they sound a little different. But really might just be tubes. Also, they are rack mounts. I guess I could start an internet rumor that the rack mounts are better than the heads ala Racktifiers

 

[lespaul6]

Wasn't that rack you just picked up modified with a permanent govt mule guy mod on the drive channel... or something weird like that? I think I remember reading that in the classifieds and thinking wtf? If we are talking about the same rack then yes, they should sound different because one is not in stock form. Just a thought