What's the deal with Soldano loops? (Mod content)

[blackba]

There are few loops if any, metro loop possibly that don't suck a little tone out of the amp.

For instance the loop in my Bogner sucks tone and I hate to have to use it, and always avoid it!

I agree, effects loop tend to change or suck tone, which is why I like them to be switchable if possible.

As for the SLO loop, I have never played an SLO, but the effects loop is generally the biggest knock against the SLO that I see in threads and reviews.

 

[Even Bigger D]

Cool. I like the rack stuff as well. My heads are the rackmounts.

My current gigging rig:

You ought to calibrate the color hue on that camera. It looks off

How do you have all that wired up? I assume it's w/d/w, but how does the extra preamp come into it?

 

[sinfish]

Cool. I like the rack stuff as well. My heads are the rackmounts.

My current gigging rig:

You ought to calibrate the color hue on that camera. It looks off

How do you have all that wired up? I assume it's w/d/w, but how does the extra preamp come into it?

I have the same setup in Purple (top rack only) heavy as hell. I hope you have a strong back for that rig! The things you sacrifice for tone!

 

[Piero the Guitarero]

I've heard that Soldano/Jet City loops are only really designed for line level rack gear also. Can anyone comment on that? Or if it's easy to mod it to run at instrument level.

From the german Tube-Town forum, I'll quote Olaf (Duesentrieb)

The loop of my Slo sucked, so I was forced to use it dry,
I used a dummy load, into the effects and used a poweramp,
first a Peavey Classic, later a VHT 2-50-2

The attached file shows how to decrease the level (one resistor [1,5k] & one cap[22µF/63V])

EDIT: has to be a 63V Capacitor

 

[marshall]

No problem with the SLO loop. I've used the T-Rex Replica, Eventide Timefactor and currently a Providence Chrono Delay in the loop

 

[joolzriff]

whilst we are on this Loop topic...........Is it an easy job for a local tech to Take the Loop OUT of the circuit entirely ? i wrote to soldano about getting it removed and its quite expensive plus the shipping to washington state is pricy...
thought id try it out of the circuit as i'll never ever use the loop....see what last % of tone i can get out of this thing.

 

[Even Bigger D]

whilst we are on this Loop topic...........Is it an easy job for a local tech to Take the Loop OUT of the circuit entirely ? i wrote to soldano about getting it removed and its quite expensive plus the shipping to washington state is pricy...
thought id try it out of the circuit as i'll never ever use the loop....see what last % of tone i can get out of this thing.

You won't hear any change in tone when the loop is "removed". The loop design is such that the loop send and return stages are actually tone-affecting parts of the amp and are always supposed to be in the circuit even when the loop is not in use. It's wired so that having nothing in the loop is exactly the same as bridging a cable across the loop. So you wouldn't want to remove either stage, and if you did so the amp wouldn't sound like a SLO any more (less gain, rougher, less sustain etc.). Really, all that would be left to remove is the mechanical jacks themselves, and taking them out would have no benefit - they switch themselves out of the circuit when there's no cable in the loop jacks anyways.

If you don't use the loop the best bet is to forget it's there. Problem solved

 

[Shark Diver]

You ought to calibrate the color hue on that camera. It looks off

How do you have all that wired up? I assume it's w/d/w, but how does the extra preamp come into it?

I use a GRX4 that the send of the head goes into one loop, the X99 into another. the head or X99 goes back into the return of the SLO loop. Head is slaved. That way the X99 gets the power section as well pumped up. Slave into a Suhr stereo Mini Mix with fx in parallel. To the SM 50 x 2 for stereo. It is a quick 2 cable chnge and I can take the head out if I'm lazy and don't want the head. I use 2 Mesa Road Ready Thieles with EVM 12Ls. Really a great little compact rig. Gsystem fx FX are run through the GRX as well so I bypass the Gsystem front end unless I want the wah or to tune. It is in the back of the bottom rack. One cable to the Gsystem, plug in guitar, 2 speaker cables and one AC cord to a regulator. Easy, quick and unlimited tones.

I have the same setup in Purple (top rack only) heavy as hell. I hope you have a strong back for that rig! The things you sacrifice for tone!

Well this is my old rig, so my back is happier.

 

[sswanson]

So, I've been roaming the internet trying to find info on amps, since I'm buying one probably on Saturday, if not next week.

The Soldano/Jet City loops seem to get really mixed reviews, some peple loving them and some hating them.

There seem to be two issues with the loops on these amps, firstly that they're line level and not instrument level, secondly that they're pre EQ.

My question is, how does this really affect the tone? I can't find loop comparesson videos for Soldanos or Jet City's.

Is it an easy mod to 'correct' these issues to create a post EQ, instrument level loop in the 100 watt JC?

Cheers,

Tawlks.

The mod to adjust the signal level is simple, I don't know about the rest of it. Ebtech also makes a product called a "line level shifter". That might be an easier option. I have not tried one so I don't know how well they work.

Here is a link...

http://www.ebtechaudio.com/llsdes.html

 

[marshall]

So, I've been roaming the internet trying to find info on amps, since I'm buying one probably on Saturday, if not next week.

The Soldano/Jet City loops seem to get really mixed reviews, some peple loving them and some hating them.

There seem to be two issues with the loops on these amps, firstly that they're line level and not instrument level, secondly that they're pre EQ.

My question is, how does this really affect the tone? I can't find loop comparesson videos for Soldanos or Jet City's.

Is it an easy mod to 'correct' these issues to create a post EQ, instrument level loop in the 100 watt JC?

Cheers,

Tawlks.

The mod to adjust the signal level is simple, I don't know about the rest of it. Ebtech also makes a product called a "line level shifter". That might be an easier option. I have not tried one so I don't know how well they work.

Here is a link...

http://www.ebtechaudio.com/llsdes.html

I had the Ebtech years ago and didn't think it was very good.
The Line Level should be a non-issue as their are plenty of Line Level pedals around these days

 

[Even Bigger D]

I use a GRX4 that the send of the head goes into one loop, the X99 into another. the head or X99 goes back into the return of the SLO loop. Head is slaved. That way the X99 gets the power section as well pumped up. Slave into a Suhr stereo Mini Mix with fx in parallel. To the SM 50 x 2 for stereo. It is a quick 2 cable chnge and I can take the head out if I'm lazy and don't want the head. I use 2 Mesa Road Ready Thieles with EVM 12Ls. Really a great little compact rig. Gsystem fx FX are run through the GRX as well so I bypass the Gsystem front end unless I want the wah or to tune. It is in the back of the bottom rack. One cable to the Gsystem, plug in guitar, 2 speaker cables and one AC cord to a regulator. Easy, quick and unlimited tones.

Interesting - does that mean when you're running the X99 you've got both EQs in line? Seems like it would...

 

[Shark Diver]

I use a GRX4 that the send of the head goes into one loop, the X99 into another. the head or X99 goes back into the return of the SLO loop. Head is slaved. That way the X99 gets the power section as well pumped up. Slave into a Suhr stereo Mini Mix with fx in parallel. To the SM 50 x 2 for stereo. It is a quick 2 cable chnge and I can take the head out if I'm lazy and don't want the head. I use 2 Mesa Road Ready Thieles with EVM 12Ls. Really a great little compact rig. Gsystem fx FX are run through the GRX as well so I bypass the Gsystem front end unless I want the wah or to tune. It is in the back of the bottom rack. One cable to the Gsystem, plug in guitar, 2 speaker cables and one AC cord to a regulator. Easy, quick and unlimited tones.

Interesting - does that mean when you're running the X99 you've got both EQs in line? Seems like it would...

Yes, but it isn't an issue since I do no drastic eq'ing and the X99 is rotary. So I set the head eq for the head and adjust the x99 for itself. Actually it makes the fixed, shared eq on the head not any issue for me.

 

[Bantam Menace]

On every other amp I've owned I've been able to get a volume boost in the loop for solos...the SLO you just get more distortion if you increase signal level in the loop. I also remember it being weird if you switched channels with something in the loop?

 

[duesentrieb]

From the german Tube-Town forum, I'll quote Olaf (Duesentrieb)

Must be a pretty old quote, Piero

As much as I dig Soldano amps and esp. the SLO, I think he did a much better job with the Decatone loop.

 

[Shark Diver]

On every other amp I've owned I've been able to get a volume boost in the loop for solos...the SLO you just get more distortion if you increase signal level in the loop. I also remember it being weird if you switched channels with something in the loop?

Most guys I know use a reducer. So it's on for rhythms and off for leads.Not sure about the switching thing, I've never had an issue.

 

[duesentrieb]

I also remember it being weird if you switched channels with something in the loop?

Absolutely. Just think where it is located - you don't have any way to balance the levels between the channels with something hooked to loop - the channel volumes are after the loop, so you put totally different amounts of signal level into the fx unit, which gives you volume bumps/drops when switching channels.

 

[Shark Diver]

I also remember it being weird if you switched channels with something in the loop?

Absolutely. Just think where it is located - you don't have any way to balance the levels between the channels with something hooked to loop - the channel volumes are after the loop, so you put totally different amounts of signal level into the fx unit, which gives you volume bumps/drops when switching channels.

Ah. That makes sense. I just never ran my stuff that way.

 

[duesentrieb]

Well, the amp was created in the 80s (firstly w/o loop AFAIK) and I do understand that due to its (excellent) reputation and being a milestone/trademark, Mike is not willing to change anything inside.

Btw: the amp sounds even more awesome with the loop taken out of the circuitry IMO.

 

[Giga]

whilst we are on this Loop topic...........Is it an easy job for a local tech to Take the Loop OUT of the circuit entirely ? i wrote to soldano about getting it removed and its quite expensive plus the shipping to washington state is pricy...
thought id try it out of the circuit as i'll never ever use the loop....see what last % of tone i can get out of this thing.

It's easy; it doesn't involve more then snipping two legs on two resistors on preamp tubesockets and adding one wire. With the wire you jump over the preamp stages involved in the loop so to speak. I've tried it and didn't like it. As some said the tone gets more grating/less smooth.

Giga

 

[dulrich1227]

great read ... i have a slo on the way... i have an 11rack that i have been using but was pondering making a shift to pedals with the slo. Best to run everything out front? Anything i should look for in a pedal or add to the chain?