Synergy JMP and Killer Kali Comparison?

[romanianreaper]

For anyone who has played the JMP and Killer Kali, I was hoping someone could help me determine which is the better module for my needs.

I already own the SLO II module, so wondering what I have covered already in terms of tone? I really love Marshalls but wonder if i'll not get enough gain with the JMP.

As a reference, I play in a rock/punk influenced band with a tone similar to Green Day on "Dookie" or Ramones, etc. I have an Orange Dual Baby I use for shows. In addition, i'm and 80s hard rock guy so want to get tones from Whitesnake to Metallica, etc. I'd also like that Hendrix, SRV type Plexi tone.

I'm sure i could eventually end up with both but want to make a good bang for buck decision and get something with that Marshall tone but covers a lot of bases. As mentioned, I have the SLO II as a first module.

Appreciate any insight on the modules would be appreciated. I know i'll dig either one.

 

[fek]

I bought the Killer Kali when it came out and did the same with the JMP and SLOII. Very different animals.

The Kali will cover a ton of ground but you have to dig to find it. Lots of tone shaping options but also many ways to make it sound bad. That much tweaking can annoy me so I sold it. Will buy another though. Great module but I found that I had to gain it up to get rid of a clank in the attack.

The JMP module is much lower gain, but still has a good amount, especially with a boost. Many tones in there but much more of a vintage vibe and the low end is a bit much for me at times. I do use it regularly though.

The SLO was my main tone and was replaced by the SLOII. They sound pretty much the same to me, but the II has a couple convenient options that the original did not have.

The Kali is going to give you more of what you what you are looking for right out of the gate. The JMP is going to fit a narrower space but a very good one.

 

[Rackman]

IMO the Kali is excellent for medium to high gain. In fact straight in it's top-2 high gain tones for me all time. I didn't find it hard to dial, but it's on the complex side with cascading gain with a bright across each so it's a lot of dialing. I usually wasn't surprised by what I got though.

I would not select it for SRV-type plexi tones.

I have used the plexi module and the SLO and SLO II but not the JMP.

 

[romanianreaper]

I appreciate you guys chiming in! I'm not much of an over-the-top gain guy and actually dig more vintage tones. I just want to have enough gain to do hard rock and classic metal.

I should probably go with the JMP with a boost. The SLO II has a good amount of gain so imagine i've got that covered.

 

[Tone Ranger]

My band just did a recording in STL a few weeks ago. Producer told us not to bring any amps since he's got it all covered. Marshall, Diezel, Friedman and Soldano. im thinking this is going to be interesting. i still brought my axe fx since it's dialed in already. He told me that we wont be using it because his stuff sounds better and Marcus from POD just used them and switched his entire rig over to what he had. Turned out it was Synergy modules direct. So we tracked main rhythms with the Soldano and leads with Friedman. talk about a dry tone. No grease on it whatsoever. Definitely needed boosted. Hope the final mix makes them sound better.

 

[LP Freak]

I grabbed a Kali a couple days ago. Fek was spot on with his description. It can definitely be challenging to tweak. And like all the Fortin products I’ve tried it’s very zingy in the top end. That seems to annoy me pretty quick

 

[romanianreaper]

I grabbed a Kali a couple days ago. Fek was spot on with his description. It can definitely be challenging to tweak. And like all the Fortin products I’ve tried it’s very zingy in the top end. That seems to annoy me pretty quick

I trust both you and Fek based on tones you dig over the years on the forum. I think i'm getting such a killer high gain tone with the SLO II, that I probably should get the JMP. Just more plug and play and a limited set of tones, but tones that are the ones I use. I'm probably going to get the Bogner Uberschall down the road so that will be a different level.

 

[romanianreaper]

My band just did a recording in STL a few weeks ago. Producer told us not to bring any amps since he's got it all covered. Marshall, Diezel, Friedman and Soldano. im thinking this is going to be interesting. i still brought my axe fx since it's dialed in already. He told me that we wont be using it because his stuff sounds better and Marcus from POD just used them and switched his entire rig over to what he had. Turned out it was Synergy modules direct. So we tracked main rhythms with the Soldano and leads with Friedman. talk about a dry tone. No grease on it whatsoever. Definitely needed boosted. Hope the final mix makes them sound better.

I think it will sound killer. I just recently watched a video about how too much gain takes away from attack and how that ends up being perfect.

I like my SLO II with a boost or even two. In fact, on that same video, he turned his amp gain down and used a clean boost and it sounded great.

 

[Rackman]

I grabbed a Kali a couple days ago. Fek was spot on with his description. It can definitely be challenging to tweak. And like all the Fortin products I’ve tried it’s very zingy in the top end. That seems to annoy me pretty quick

They are "zingy" in the top end - IMO no reason to use one if that's not your thing

Then again a LOT of classic Marshall flavored tones were very zingy in the top end. A lack of zing is what's holding many people back

 

[LP Freak]

I trust both you and Fek based on tones you dig over the years on the forum. I think i'm getting such a killer high gain tone with the SLO II, that I probably should get the JMP. Just more plug and play and a limited set of tones, but tones that are the ones I use. I'm probably going to get the Bogner Uberschall down the road so that will be a different level.

I have the SLO II also. I can get it and the Kali to sound really close but I think I prefer the SLO. The SLO with a boost does sound killer

 

[romanianreaper]

I have the SLO II also. I can get it and the Kali to sound really close but I think I prefer the SLO. The SLO with a boost does sound killer

I do two different things with the boosts. I'll do one boost (Griffin Boris that Wayne built for me) with the higher gain setting. Then I'll do a lower gain setting on the SLO II and will run the Boris and my Keeley Andy Timmons pedal. Sounds so great.

The Synergy has been such an awesome investment for me. The 20 watts is great and get a solid tone at bedroom levels.

 

[LP Freak]

I do two different things with the boosts. I'll do one boost (Griffin Boris that Wayne built for me) with the higher gain setting. Then I'll do a lower gain setting on the SLO II and will run the Boris and my Keeley Andy Timmons pedal. Sounds so great.

The Synergy has been such an awesome investment for me. The 20 watts is great and get a solid tone at bedroom levels.

I’m running mine through the Syn50

 

[romanianreaper]

I’m running mine through the Syn50

I could see myself eventually getting a bigger power amp. I was surprised at the 20IR because i've had el84 tube heads before (Friedman JJ Jr. and PT) and this sounds bigger than those. I think the additional shaping options help with that.

I'll have to see how it does at the next band practice.

 

[mentoneman]

 

[Sick Michael]

He makes a really good point, regardless of what amp it is, we tend to dial it in to whatever settings that *we* (in an individual sense) like. I know I do this. This probably reduces the perceived differences between amp tones, dont get me wrong, an Ubershall is way different than a JMP2203....but...its in the hands of the user.

 

[romanianreaper]

He makes a really good point, regardless of what amp it is, we tend to dial it in to whatever settings that *we* (in an individual sense) like. I know I do this. This probably reduces the perceived differences between amp tones, dont get me wrong, an Ubershall is way different than a JMP2203....but...its in the hands of the user.

Yep it definitely is a good point and we all do that. That is why all of us ask "do I need a boost?". There are almost categories with amps like only good for rock, can do some clean and harder stuff, and super heavy and can't do vintage.

I think that is why I posted this originally. If the SLO II gets me into some heavy tones, I didn't really want to get something too similar. The JMP definitely has more of that Twang at lower gain settings for more clean or standard rock, which I love. I just wanted to make sure it could at least get into Alice in Chains, Dokken, etc type tones. I use boosts so don't mind goosing it a bit.

I really think I'd be happy with damn near every Synergy module and the only reason i'm being so picky is because they are not $100 a piece.

I typically have always gone too far when I go back to tube amps. I get a 100 watt behemoth and then get frustrated because I cant get my sound in a 10x10 loft in my house.This Synergy stuff is great! Desktop, 20 watt, 50 watt, with other power amps, etc. Really covers a lot of ground and we all can have the same core tone in a module but a different want to use it based on gigging, recording or whatever.

 

[Tone Ranger]

I think it will sound killer. I just recently watched a video about how too much gain takes away from attack and how that ends up being perfect.

I like my SLO II with a boost or even two. In fact, on that same video, he turned his amp gain down and used a clean boost and it sounded great.

yeah rhythms sound great so far leads just needed some sustain. we were rushed. i told him to add some fx grease in post.

 

[acidvoodoo]

I can’t compare them but I just got the Killer Kali about an hour ago…and oh boy, this might push the Uber out of my number 1 module status.