The Evening Rant.. SLO Content

[espquade]

Wow...I'm upset I wasted time reading this posted...STUPID!!!

Who the fuck are you ?

Honestly if your upset that you read this post then Please by all means go back to the Gear Page because here at Rig Talk we have the option to express are opinions even if YOU don't agree with them !

 

[Shark Diver]

One man's "flaws" another man's perfection. I don't like the Depth mod, and the loop is perfect to me.

And Bogner charged me$600 for a Cantrell mod, so the no charge for mods isn't for everyone, and I have dinner with those guys!

But if the way it is stock doesn't work for you, and you like the amp, buy used and mod it. Nothing right or wrong about the amp. People mod Marshalls and don't bitch, so mod the SLO. But I wouldn't go and say "they know the loop sucks". Obviously if they really "knew" that they would have changed the design 25 years ago. Obviously, again, it works the way it was designed to work. Which is exactly the way I like it. If they changed it I wouldn't like it. But 99% of the time I Wet/Dry anyway, so no loop required.

Good Point taken although , people who mod Marshall's don't usually spend well over 3 grand plus and then mod them do they ?

lol, I have no idea what Marshalls go for. I only ever see the modded ones here for $5k.

Depth mod is easy DIY. Maybe you could find a used SLO with no loop, or open her up and bypass it? Since it's mainly studio stuff loop really wouldn't come into play.

 

[espquade]

I agree, brother! For that price those options should be standard on new SLO's!! The thing is that Mike wants the SLO to remain stock as it was when first released in 1987. Europe requires a removable power chord and they have to modify the amps for EU customers before shipping....instead of redesigning with a removable type on the chasis! If you buy a new SLO and want the options....they charge you! When building a new SLO from scratch it doesn't take anymore time to install the Depth or switches.... shouldn't charge more for it!

Bryan

Agreed !

 

[Shark Diver]

If you buy a new SLO and want the options....they charge you! When building a new SLO from scratch it doesn't take anymore time to install the Depth or switches.... shouldn't charge more for it!

Bryan

Why wouldn't it take extra time to install options? And why shouldn't they charge you for that extra time? They probably charge too much because they really don't want to do them? IDK

And a guy who tells you he doesn't charge for options has the price already built in.

 

[steve_k]

Wow...I'm upset I wasted time reading this posted...STUPID!!!

Who the fuck are you ?

Honestly if your upset that you read this post then Please by all means go back to the Gear Page because here at Rig Talk we have the option to express are opinions even if YOU don't agree with them !

You really got to watch the Soldano/Cameron/Modded Marshall butt-hurt around "100% Stock & Budget Rig Talk" site....

One thing about an SLO, to get the goods, it has to have the volume. While this holds true for many tube amps, with the SLO, it is more so than some other amps. But, once you get there, it is sweet. Definitely an amp I would buy back when I get done testing them all

The factory depth mod will help you out at lower volumes. Contrary to some of the other opinions, I like a hell of a lot of bottom when I play. Not sure about you, but it is make or break in an amp for me. With the scoop/Hayne's mods, this will better sculpt the EQ between the lead and crunch channel. However, as gain levels are increased, they become irrelevant.

The loop, while I didn't use it, fell short of some of the loops found on other amps. For rack gear, you can adjust the send level and make up for the db loss. For pedals in the loop, it didn't work for me.

Steve

 

[1923ford]

again...STUPID!!!

He expressed HIS opinion, in which I did not agree...yet he has the INCREDIBLE sense of intellect to respond stating "we have the option to express our opinions even if YOU don't agree with them".

I rest my case!!!

 

[Wizard of Ozz]

I don't gig out and would be using mostly in studio for recording and such , so maybe it isn't the best choice for that application , but I would really like to add it to the collection .

When I had one before it sounded great when it was cranked to the sky and maybe your right at that volume you don't need the depth mod , but correct me if I'm wrong because if it was stock you could easily dial in or dial out the amount of low end without affecting the iniital tone right ?

I found that the effects loop was not as transparent as the Diezel VH4 and
the VHT CLX I also had at the time .

I still dig the overall vibe and tone off the amp , but I really wish that the above mentioned things could be addressed , so yeah maybe the amps not for me , but i do remember reading other posts where these issues were also a concern to some .

For strictly "studio/home/small club use"... there are many other options. Unless you want to have a fully stocked, super studio.

I've also owned the VHT UltraLead and Diezel Herbert, and both of those fx loops do sound better (more transparent, less change to your tone) and are more functional than the SLO. But the SLO loop does work as designed. Pedals just don't work well with it, as they simply don't have enough output. This is the major complaint most have regarding the SLO loop. The loop honestly ins't as horrible as many would have you believe on these forums. I'd give the SLO loop a solid 8/10 ... but you need to use rack units or a pedal with line level (+4 dB) output.

Bottom line: Nothing sounds like a SLO.

(not even the other Soldano models like the Avenger, Hot Rods, et al which everyone likes to say sound the same as the SLO )

 

[Wizard of Ozz]

lol, I have no idea what Marshalls go for. I only ever see the modded ones here for $5k.

 

[espquade]

again...STUPID!!!

He expressed HIS opinion, in which I did not agree...yet he has the INCREDIBLE sense of intellect to respond stating "we have the option to express our opinions even if YOU don't agree with them".

I rest my case!!!

Your original reply ...said you were upset you wasted your time reading my post only to come back and read some more and waste your valuable time replying with more of your worthless contributions .

Dude or Grandpa will you PLEASE go back to the Gear page where you belong !

 

[espquade]

I don't gig out and would be using mostly in studio for recording and such , so maybe it isn't the best choice for that application , but I would really like to add it to the collection .

When I had one before it sounded great when it was cranked to the sky and maybe your right at that volume you don't need the depth mod , but correct me if I'm wrong because if it was stock you could easily dial in or dial out the amount of low end without affecting the iniital tone right ?

I found that the effects loop was not as transparent as the Diezel VH4 and
the VHT CLX I also had at the time .

I still dig the overall vibe and tone off the amp , but I really wish that the above mentioned things could be addressed , so yeah maybe the amps not for me , but i do remember reading other posts where these issues were also a concern to some .

or strictly "studio/home/small club use"... there are many other options. Unless you want to have a fully stocked, super studio.

I've also owned the VHT UltraLead and Diezel Herbert, and both of those fx loops do sound better (more transparent, less change to your tone) and are more functional than the SLO. But the SLO loop does work as designed. Pedals just don't work well with it, as they simply don't have enough output. This is the major complaint most have regarding the SLO loop. The loop honestly ins't as horrible as many would have you believe on these forums. I'd give the SLO loop a solid 8/10 ... but you need to use rack units or a pedal with line level (+4 dB) output.

Bottom line: Nothing sounds like a SLO.

(not even the other Soldano models like the Avenger, Hot Rods, et al which everyone likes to say sound the same as the SLO )

Thanks for this because at the time I was just using pedals with no line drive I will try that

 

[espquade]

lol, I have no idea what Marshalls go for. I only ever see the modded ones here for $5k.

We dare not speak his name though ....

 

[espquade]

Wow...I'm upset I wasted time reading this posted...STUPID!!!

Who the fuck are you ?

Honestly if your upset that you read this post then Please by all means go back to the Gear Page because here at Rig Talk we have the option to express are opinions even if YOU don't agree with them !

You really got to watch the Soldano/Cameron/Modded Marshall butt-hurt around "100% Stock & Budget Rig Talk" site....

One thing about an SLO, to get the goods, it has to have the volume. While this holds true for many tube amps, with the SLO, it is more so than some other amps. But, once you get there, it is sweet. Definitely an amp I would buy back when I get done testing them all

The factory depth mod will help you out at lower volumes. Contrary to some of the other opinions, I like a hell of a lot of bottom when I play. Not sure about you, but it is make or break in an amp for me. With the scoop/Hayne's mods, this will better sculpt the EQ between the lead and crunch channel. However, as gain levels are increased, they become irrelevant.

The loop, while I didn't use it, fell short of some of the loops found on other amps. For rack gear, you can adjust the send level and make up for the db loss. For pedals in the loop, it didn't work for me.

Steve

Thank you Steve !

 

[thiswaythatway]

Wow...I'm upset I wasted time reading this posted...STUPID!!!

I'm upset about the fact that you're upset and still took the extra time to express your upsetness.

 

[Bronco]

Wow...I'm upset I wasted time reading this posted...STUPID!!!

 

[diagrammatiks]

the original design of the slo had no effects loop and no depth knob.

Some people like it. It was added in because some people requested it.

It's not stock because it's not the way Soldano designed the amp.

The clean channel was added in much later was well.

 

[espquade]

Wow...I'm upset I wasted time reading this posted...STUPID!!!

I'm upset about the fact that you're upset and still took the extra time to express your upsetness.

Exactly my thoughts !

I'm glad I started this thread because I have learned somethings about the SLO that I didn't realize .
I still think the effects loop could use a Send and return Level , but would that affect the tone ?
and for my use the Depth knob would be quite useful , but for the guys gigging out with it I guess it would not be such an issue .

I still love the tone of the SLO , but still would change a couple things , but to those who make it work stock thanks for the imput

 

[Digital Jams]

So, any tone examples we can hear with mods vs no mods? low volume? hi volume?

I know sgtdump has lots posted on his yt channel that back his thoughts up.

 

[duesentrieb]

Wow...I'm upset I wasted time reading this posted...STUPID!!!

I'm upset about the fact that you're upset and still took the extra time to express your upsetness.

Exactly my thoughts !

I'm glad I started this thread because I have learned somethings about the SLO that I didn't realize .
I still think the effects loop could use a Send and return Level , but would that affect the tone ?
and for my use the Depth knob would be quite useful , but for the guys gigging out with it I guess it would not be such an issue .

I still love the tone of the SLO , but still would change a couple things , but to those who make it work stock thanks for the imput

If one places the loop after the tonestack and the channel volume, the channel volume acts as a send level and a master (which should be for all channels then) is the return level.

btw: to get the amp good sounding at lower volumes it just needs a 470k resistor wired between the treble and the two volumes in this amp.

And there's also more than just "one" depth mod for it (normally people are speaking about the 100nF + 1M/4n7 thing), but using different values for the pot and the cap makes it more reasonable at any volume.

Its not rocket science btw, some reading in the right forums will give you the idea - the biggest problem is the question if you want to touch it or leave it dead stock, looking at the price.

I do like SLOs a lot

 

[FortinAmps]

I will make this brief and straight to the point ...

I have been looking at Soldano SLO's again and read that Soldano offers a mod to address the effects loop issue that they know is inferior , yet this is an upcharge .... WTF... if they know the loop sucks why don't they just address this already on the SLO instead of charging extra for it ???? Honestly that really pisses me off It is not like the amp is cheap to begin with !

Also , just about every person I have spoke to who has played and owned one says the depth mod is crucial and a must have to tame the overall brightness that these amps seem to have . I owned an SLO before and that was the reasons I sold it at the time because I found the loop worthless and the amp was too bright for anything but solos . I really wish it had the depth mod at the time , but just unloaded it for something else.

I spoke with Bill at Soldano and he mentioned that the depth mod gave the amp more thump and a better low end response , but that it is optional ... Call me crazy , but if I was a amp builder and I found ways to improve the sound and feel of an amp I would want to add those features to it , but Soldano would rather charge additional for them .

I guess because the amp is reasonably priced to begin with ( 3700.00 ) why not charge extra for features that will actualy make the loop useable and give it a better bottom end. Hint..... SARCASAM inserted here....

I still want an SLO , but I will now only consider one with these options and most likely buy used !

END OF RANT !!!!!

Hey Kevin,
Just use a rack effect (+4db) that has input and output level controls and you'll be fine

Stomp box pedals is where the problems is because the send level is too hot for them.
Cheers,
Mike

 

[Even Bigger D]

I prefer the X88/X99 (or better yet CAE 3+SE) + SM100R circuit topology to the basic SLO one. Maybe it's just me, but I do think channel EQs need to be separate and in front of effects inserts. So I agree the loop is not quite right on the stock model. This issues can also be corrected in a multi-amp wet/dry and/or re-amped rig using multiple stock SLOs, and that's what a lot of the pros do I think - a good alternate solution to going with the rack units.

That said, the depth mod really strikes me as a bedroom wanker tool. I've never once been on stage with a Soldano rig and though "I wish my frequencies overlapped the bass player more". The SLO sounds a little mid/high emphasized by itself, but that's because it's not meant to be played by itself. It's meant to sit in a mix.