Amp debate....Soldano Avenger, Peavey 6505+

[kannibul]

Just curious, which one, and why?

I've bought (and retuRned) a 5150II, but at the time I had my TSL. After my guitarist purchased one recently, as well as a DSL 100 + cab, I've decided those two amps are too "congested" in the mids. I remember the 5150II sounding good, but I thought at the time the TSL was better, and decided to send it back...

The Soldano Avenger intrigues me since it's (according to MF...for whatever that's worth) - basically it's the SLO's lead channel plus the depth mod.

From what I've heard, the 5150 is like a poor-mans SLO, but, it's of course not the same - probably like Line-6's "based on" approach - lol.

I do remember the 5150II having a lot of hiss, which I don't care for, and it'd be nice if the volume taper was different (not as touchy), but knowing that, I bet JerryP could take good care of those issues, and tweak it a bit to make it meaner


The other part of this is that I don't have a cab. I just have my Line6 Spider Valve 1x12 combo (which is for sale, BTW) - so I'd need to get a cab. The debate here is with the 6505+, I'll likely get a Peavey cab, with the Soldano, probably an Avatar.


Thoughts?

 

[thiswaythatway]

Go for the Avenger. I don't understand why anyone would spend $2200-$2500 on an SLO when you can grab an Avenger for around $1000. It's suppossed to be the same amp, minus the clean channel. Is a clean channel really worth over $1000?

Iv'e never played an Avenger in person but i have heard some KILLER clips from it. And while the 5150 and SLO may share some circuitry design, i don't hear any similiarities at all between them.

 

[LordOVchaoS]

Avenger... No contest. Even though it lacks in features compared to the 5150 the distortion on it is a work of art.

 

[Les Zombie]

I used to own a slo and I played a avenger yesterday and they arent the same sounding, they each have some of the same characteristics but the gain channel doesnt sound exactly the same, the slo is worth the xtra money to me. I see people say the avenger gets the slo tone for half the price but your also getting half the tone. The avenger was a nice sounding amp and I'm not saying anything bad about it but its not the amp the slo is.

 

[SFW]

I like both amps. However, I'd take the Avenger for strait up rock. Give me one on those and a good old TS9, and I'd be ready to roll.

 

[lordriffenstein]

Go for the Avenger. I don't understand why anyone would spend $2200-$2500 on an SLO when you can grab an Avenger for around $1000. It's suppossed to be the same amp, minus the clean channel. Is a clean channel really worth over $1000?

Iv'e never played an Avenger in person but i have heard some KILLER clips from it. And while the 5150 and SLO may share some circuitry design, i don't hear any similiarities at all between them.

Whoever says the Avenger is just a cheaper SLO has either never played one or is talking from his ass. I played them side by side and we tried hard to make the Avenger sound like the SLO but there´s a good reason why the SLO is much more expensive. In the end, it sounds WAY better. Twice the price better? You bet, well to me it is. Oh yes, Ed, your Avenger doesn´t count The Avenger doesn´t need the volume like the SLO, that one needs to be pretty darn loud to sound it´s best.

Don´t get me wrong, the Avenger is great, killer rocking amp and I´d take it over the 5150-hasbeen, I mean 6505, any day of the week.

 

[kannibul]

Go for the Avenger. I don't understand why anyone would spend $2200-$2500 on an SLO when you can grab an Avenger for around $1000. It's suppossed to be the same amp, minus the clean channel. Is a clean channel really worth over $1000?

Iv'e never played an Avenger in person but i have heard some KILLER clips from it. And while the 5150 and SLO may share some circuitry design, i don't hear any similiarities at all between them.

Whoever says the Avenger is just a cheaper SLO has either never played one or is talking from his ass. I played them side by side and we tried hard to make the Avenger sound like the SLO but there´s a good reason why the SLO is much more expensive. In the end, it sounds WAY better. Twice the price better? You bet, well to me it is. Oh yes, Ed, your Avenger doesn´t count The Avenger doesn´t need the volume like the SLO, that one needs to be pretty darn loud to sound it´s best.

Don´t get me wrong, the Avenger is great, killer rocking amp and I´d take it over the 5150-hasbeen, I mean 6505, any day of the week.

The only thing is the Avenger is around $500 more new, and money is an object!

What about buying a 6505+, and having it modded - that would be about the same price...

 

[thiswaythatway]

Go for the Avenger. I don't understand why anyone would spend $2200-$2500 on an SLO when you can grab an Avenger for around $1000. It's suppossed to be the same amp, minus the clean channel. Is a clean channel really worth over $1000?

Iv'e never played an Avenger in person but i have heard some KILLER clips from it. And while the 5150 and SLO may share some circuitry design, i don't hear any similiarities at all between them.

Whoever says the Avenger is just a cheaper SLO has either never played one or is talking from his ass. I played them side by side and we tried hard to make the Avenger sound like the SLO but there´s a good reason why the SLO is much more expensive. In the end, it sounds WAY better. Twice the price better? You bet, well to me it is. Oh yes, Ed, your Avenger doesn´t count The Avenger doesn´t need the volume like the SLO, that one needs to be pretty darn loud to sound it´s best.

Don´t get me wrong, the Avenger is great, killer rocking amp and I´d take it over the 5150-hasbeen, I mean 6505, any day of the week.

Well then i guess i would hate the Avenger because every time i have played an SLO i never liked the amp. I had to crank it LOUD to get that liquid gain that it's known for, but by that time i was going deaf.

 

[kannibul]

I compared a new SLO and a new Avenger side by side through the same cab once, but it was at BEDROOM volumes. I realize that's not the SLOs ideal volume, but in that situation, the Avenger smoked the SLO to me. Sounded way, way, way better.

But I'm not convinced the Avenger sounds better than the SLO at higher volumes. I hope to try that sometime.

The closest I've gotten to playing an SLO is the kit I built from Weber, which from what I know is basically a "modded" circuit. Next to that is the HR50 that Pete had. Maybe Brent had an SLO and I played on that - I don't remember if it was not - lol

 

[thiswaythatway]

I compared a new SLO and a new Avenger side by side through the same cab once, but it was at BEDROOM volumes. I realize that's not the SLOs ideal volume, but in that situation, the Avenger smoked the SLO to me. Sounded way, way, way better.

But I'm not convinced the Avenger sounds better than the SLO at higher volumes. I hope to try that sometime.

I tried the SLO a few times in one of those Guitar Center rooms so i did crank it. I had it up to 6 or 7 on the master and that was louder than what any soundguy in any club would let you play, and i still didn't like it that much. They had a VHT 50CL that i thought smoked the SLO in every way shape and form. I'm not trying to stir the pot up but since you did compare them both, someone above thinks you're talking out of your ass. Not me though as my favorite Soldano clips i have heard are all from the Avenger.

 

[zewango]

I've had both the Slo & Avenger. Different but both very cool. Wouldnt mine owning either again.
Avenger over 5150 anytime.

 

[mysticaxe]

I thought the Avenger was "based on" the SLO lead channel, but didn't have the same trannys as the SLO. From what I've heard, the trannys are a BIG part of the SLO sound...