Synergy incoming!

[jchrisf]

I currently have the Uberschall, Powerball, IICP, 6505, and DRECT. I've also owned the Pitbull, Deliverance, Ecstacy, Savage, 800, and both Soldanos. Needless to say, I've tried a lot of the high gain modules! The Uberschall is my favorite for metal, so much that I sold my Uber Ultra after comparing the two. Channel 1 is this viscious Marshally upper mid monster of a channel that absolutely crushes. Channel 2 is even gainier and more mid angry like a Mark. Both channels can get ultra tight and crushing. This module is reason enough to try Synergy.

I basically boost every amp and module that I own, but the Powerball module is an exception - boosting it is just way over the top. The treble pot is very aggro and I'll keep it around noon compared to most other modules where I crank treble. I don't find the mids overbearing necessarily, but I do dial them back a bit. This is probably my second favorite module for techy, surgical riffing.

The IICP is also killer, and scratches the Mark itch, but I find it a bit tricky to dial in. It's generally woofy and can lose clarity quickly if you push the gain and treble. I keep bass and mids at zero, gain and treble around 1 oclock, and boost the fuck out of it. Volume one should stay pretty high however.

I've got a lot more to say about the other modules but don't want to turn this into a narrative. So far the 3 above are my favorites.

I'm curious of your opinion on the DRECT? I want to get that one next. Also, which SLO did you prefer? I've heard the original was less compressed and sounded more that the amps of old.

 

[Meeotch]

I would definately be interested in your opinion on all other modules you have played/owned so far. The uber is absolutley killer, interesting though you even sold the uber ultra. Would love to own one, i like amps with lot of switches. But those things cost 4400 Euros here, never gonna spend that much on an amp.
the Uber module with the pre eq switches is vicious enough.

The Uber Ultra is pretty awesome, but ultimately I found it to be too dark for my liking, and a bit sterile/cold sounding (aka opposite of organic and warm). Hard to find words to describe it exactly, but it's pretty low mid focused. It has a fuck ton of gain for sure, which I loved. I could never get the metamorph control quite right, and the density control is inferior to other amp's NFB controls. If I were to ever revisit, I would definitely try EL34 or 6L6 and avoid the KT-88's.

Here's a quick rundown on the modules, feel free to PM me too if you want.

Pitbull UL and Deliverance - for better or worse, I found these modules to be VERY similar, to the point where I could pretty easily make them sound identical. For me it came down to whether I preferred the graphic EQ or the dual gain controls. They have the Fryette sound for sure, but couldn't quite saturate how I wanted and didn't take boosts particularly well. I even was able to A/B the Deliverance module to the D60 II head, and the head was easily my preference.

Ecstacy - awesome tones, with the classic Bogner "chewiness". I've thought about revisiting this one. My biggest gripe is that channel one switches affect channel 2 and vice versa, which made it extra complicated.

Savage - I flipped this one pretty fast, and don't remember much about it except that it was just inferior to the Powerball in basically every way.

800 - another one I might revisit, but I'd probably try a Friedman first. It really does get the great classic Marshall tones, but when I tried to boost it into metal territory it clipped in a strange way.

Soldanos 1 and 2 - These are pretty close, but I actually prefer the 1 tones. Less versatile, but I found I could achieve everything from the 2 with the use of a boost out front and EQ in the loop. I might pick up another 1, as these can now be found used under $200.

 

[Meeotch]

I'm curious of your opinion on the DRECT? I want to get that one next. Also, which SLO did you prefer? I've heard the original was less compressed and sounded more that the amps of old.

I haven't spent much time with the DRECT, so I'll have to report back. The mid gain crunch tones are awesome, but initially I've been less impressed with the high gain chugging tones. I think it's just the nature of Rectifiers in general - I've owned a Multiwatt and a Badlander, and neither can get as tight or surgical as I like in my metal amps. Wall of sound heavy tones is another story, and where these amps really excel.

 

[jchrisf]

I haven't spent much time with the DRECT, so I'll have to report back. The mid gain crunch tones are awesome, but initially I've been less impressed with the high gain chugging tones. I think it's just the nature of Rectifiers in general - I've owned a Multiwatt and a Badlander, and neither can get as tight or surgical as I like in my metal amps. Wall of sound heavy tones is another story, and where these amps really excel.

That sounds good... I think I like the mid gain tones the best with a Rectifier.