Synergy experience

[romanianreaper]

I just got rid of my synergy setup. Had the syn-2 and a fryette ps2. Vai and slo ii modules. I was very impressed with the synergy gear but i ended up getting a Friedman smallbox amp instead. To me it nails everything I want in certain tones. I also have a Suhr Bella that does the cleans i love and is a good pedal platform also. I didnt need to keep the Synergy around and modules are addictive and hit you at $399 a piece if new. So as amazing as Synergy is, i’m happier with the rig i have now. I may explore Synergy again in the future. Maybe a syn-1 with whatever module catches my eye/ears.

See to me, that is exactly why Synergy exists and is a good relationship between them and amp companies. You play these modules and in a lot of cases will help steer a guitarist towards a certain tone. Then you find your amp.

 

[GrimTrigger]

Anyone know if the IICP module can cop Petrucci LTE and early DT style spongy lead tones?

 

[mentoneman]

I was playing around with the IIC+ module last night, and I've upped my opinion of it quite a bit after initially having no luck. It's a PITA to dial in because the GEQ sliders are so tiny, but when I finally got the little buggers in the right spot it sounded quite good.

the first time i tried that module i wasn’t sold and those geq sliders not being dialed in right were the reason. but once i figured those out and how tiny moves made big changes i changed my mind.

 

[mentoneman]

Anyone know if the IICP module can cop Petrucci LTE and early DT style spongy lead tones?

i can’t say specifically it nails his tone but as a long time boogie guy that owned several marks and a triaxis 395 rig for many years, with JP cleans and leads high on my priorities, the module does a very sweet boogie liquid lead tone and the 5 band destroys the triaxis “dynamic voice” digital eq.

 

[romanianreaper]

Got my 20IR and SLO II module today and really impressed! Still have been playing around with settings, etc. but really great tones.

 

[metalmm785]

Anyone know if the IICP module can cop Petrucci LTE and early DT style spongy lead tones?

I'd say it will get you pretty close. The gain structure and the feel is right, but the tiny on-board graphic EQ does not really sound like the one in the Mesa amps IMO.

 

[NinjaRaf]

I had a SYN-1 for a short time. It sounded great. Initially ran it through my Mark VII power section, tried a couple of small SS power amps, and eventually landed on a KSR PA50. That fucking thing sounded GREAT!!

My favorite modules were the Powerball 2 and Uber. I also tried a handful of others...2cp, 6505, UL, a couple of the Friendman ones. I like the 2cp module, too. Switching between the 2cp and Mark VII through the Mark VII power section was awesome. Very close. But doing that with my other guitar players Powerball 2 head, we couldn't tell the difference. They sounded identical. Though I still preferred it through the PA50.

So I've been looking at the Synergy stuff off and on again and again. I can't decide if the SYN-50 or a KSR PA100R with a SYN-2 would be the right choice. I lean toward the rack setup, but it's a bigger investment. I do think that will be the way I go eventually. They have modules of a lot of amps I'd like to own and play here and there, but don't want to spend $4k on since the EVH 100S is my main tone. So it really is an ideal rig for that.

 

[romanianreaper]

I played a bit more tonight and starting to find the sweet spots in the SLO II module. I do think the SLO II benefits from a boost pedal and gets that tight chug. This module does a great ACDC tone!

I have never owned an SLO so can't compare but it has gain but not the over the top gain I expected. Sounds amazing though and really impressed with the Synergy stuff so far.

 

[mentoneman]

I had a Syn -2 running into a Mesa Strategy 400 .... ran the 4 cable method ..... loved it ...

tried out pretty much all the high gain modules and landed on the Pittbull and the Uberschall as my favorites ...

Guitar Center had messed up a order on me .... and sent me a Metro Module instead of a Friedman I had ordered .... and I have to say that was the biggest surprise to me in a module ... obviously was not high gain but man ..... it impressed me as far warmth and dynamics ...

I was running some effects stereo out to two 4x12's .... sick setup .... but way to much for my shop/studio .... so I ended up selling everything ...

can't lie ... I miss that set up

syn + boogie power = win!
i tried the metro, 800, and plexi modules and they were cool.

 

[mentoneman]

I have both a Mark III red stripe and the IICP module. Running a SYN2/IICP into the Mark III, they sound nearly identical. They sounded so close I would lose track of which one I was on when quick switching. The only difference I could detect is the IICP is just the slightest bit smoother sounding.

did you try running the 4CM bypass loop deal with your Mark III?

 

[mentoneman]

I have the BB-BE in a SYN2 as well. On the BB channel, I have volume full up, gain to taste, and then I set the volumes of everything else off that. Not sure why the circuit is that way. The Z-Wreck is the opposite - clean channel is louder than everything else.

i still have a randall top boost (ac30) single channel module Bruce E. modded for me that i love, but wish i could get it louder as well. if the zero watt deal could be an add on mod i’d love that for this top boost module,

Bruce said his modular thing took off when nashville guys fell in love with his AC30 module.

i had my friend’s M4 preamp with that module in it and indeed it was a killer. Bruce said the Morgan AC is identical to the original Eggie Vox but it didn’t sound that way to me. my randall top boost module sounds closer to the Eggie Vox module to my ears. in fact i got an AC30 head recently and sold it because it didn’t sound as cool as the top boost module!

 

[GrimTrigger]

Thanks guys! Not sure if you’ve checked out Ola comparing the two in his YouTube video.

Here is a comment from Fryette about the sliders being the same on the module and real amp just of course harder to adjust as you point out:

“The EQ is actually the same frequencies and range. The problem as you said is that the sliders are small and difficult to navigate. But you can imagine the criticism if it wasn't there at all, so as always Steve went for it.

The other thing making the EQ more aggressive sounding on the IICP is that it has a more transparent buffer than the original, which does round off some of the top end due to the well known no-so-great FX loop in the original, so when you push 6600 all the way up on the amp, it sounds smoother and less aggressive. The way around this is to, yes, be careful in setting the sliders to match the sound, rather than the physical position.”

 

[Anje]

Nice thread! Thanks for all the sharing.
I find the Synergy concept & products to be real great stuff; I’m more of an old school « full amp » guy, but ifever I would need to build a compact modular versatile & flexible rig to get very different good sounds in « one box », I’d be all over it.

 

[TheGreatGreen]

Nice thread! Thanks for all the sharing.
I find the Synergy concept & products to be real great stuff; I’m more of an old school « full amp » guy, but ifever I would need to build a compact modular versatile & flexible rig to get very different good sounds in « one box », I’d be all over it.

I'm an old school full amp guy too, and every couple of months I'm still tempted.

I don't look at the Synergy stuff as full amp replacements, but rather as a way to make one rig that truly does everything you'd want for any given live environment or a studio session where you don't want to bring everything you own. Honestly, if I could put together something like two SYN2's with these modules:

Cleans: Tone King Imperial, or hell maybe even a IICP for GEQ enhanced cleans and the added bonus of the IICP lead channel
Crunch: JMP
Modern Gain: Killer Kali
Leads: Vai

...I think that would truly cover pretty much everything. You'd get 8 instantly available tube preamp channels representing basically almost all the major gain levels and textures, each with a full set of physical knobs, all in two rack spaces. Insane.

 

[mentoneman]

Nice thread! Thanks for all the sharing.
I find the Synergy concept & products to be real great stuff; I’m more of an old school « full amp » guy, but ifever I would need to build a compact modular versatile & flexible rig to get very different good sounds in « one box », I’d be all over it.

i think most of us sonically gravitate towards the dedicated amp sound and feel. it’s good to be of a generation that knows the beauty of that in a modeling world.

but my back loves not juggling heads around. accurate tube preamp modules i can store easily, carry in the palm of my hand, and own at a fraction of the price of the head is a big win for me!

 

[Anje]

Yes agree, I fully understand the specific added value it brings.
This has always been to me a very good example of an original innovative concept that got executed very well and delivers, sometimes even beyond expectations. Not something that can be said that often in this industry (or any?) IMHO, so yes great stuff!

 

[Zachman]

i agree that if you’re able to run a multi amp switching system rig it is the ultimate for tone. but that becomes a rabbit hole of a different kind.

Yeah it does.

 

[marvcus]

Anyone know if the IICP module can cop Petrucci LTE and early DT style spongy lead tones?

I think the Steve’s Special and Air Norton play a role in getting that tone, too

 

[mentoneman]

I'm an old school full amp guy too, and every couple of months I'm still tempted.

I don't look at the Synergy stuff as full amp replacements, but rather as a way to make one rig that truly does everything you'd want for any given live environment or a studio session where you don't want to bring everything you own. Honestly, if I could put together something like two SYN2's with these modules:

Tone King Imperial
JMP
Killer Kali
Vai

...I think that would truly cover pretty much everything. You'd get 8 instantly available tube preamp channels representing basically almost all the major gain levels and textures, each with a full set of physical knobs, all in two rack spaces. Insane.

that is how i think about my rack. a swiss army knife with the ie4 covering 4 channels instead of a second syn-2.

my friend has a syn-2 loaded with a DS and AC for his live church rig but just picked up two more syn-2s for his studio.

 

[mentoneman]

Yeah it does.

Braddah!!!