Differences Soldano Decatone <==> SLO100 ?

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hunter

hunter

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Has anyone got experience with both amps? Would the Decatone deliver "that" Soldano tone and offer 3 usable channels or is it mandatory to get the real SLO?

How good are clean/crunch?

How much difference is there in the overdrive tone?
 
I owned the Decatone for a few years. Never owned an SLO, but have played a few. The clean is very clean not compressed. Hard to get it to sound thick, but takes to pedals well. It's very nice, but I am more into a Fender clean, say a Vibrolux or Bassman. This is different, but still good.
The Crunch channel is where I spent most of the time. Also not as compressed as you get with an SLO. It's in the hod rodded Marshall territory. Very good.
The Overdrive channel is supposed to sound more like the SLO. It is voiced like it, but not as good IMO. If you hadn't played an SLO you may love it.

Overall, it is a Soldano and is built well. Check out some of the reviews on Harmony Central. Some people swear by it. I sold it, and haven't missed it that much. But don't take that to mean it is a crappy amp. We have all sold very good amps in our day.
 
its basically a slo with all the mods that one could get done to a slo. I dont think they offer them with the deyoungs just mercury mags. Last, it is an all pcb design; where as on the slo its a pcb power board, and preamp board and rest is hand wired, and chassis mounted parts.

Also, I have never played either.. so dont ask me if I know the tonal differences between the two.
 
SLO100 is much more raw / balls out / aggressive... Decatone is a bit more tame, imo, almost geared towards hard rock as opposed to metal (does that make sense?). It can get thick but I didn't really like it that much. I thought the Avenger did all of the gainy sounds it did but better.
 
illini":3jp3ydac said:
I owned the Decatone for a few years. Never owned an SLO, but have played a few. The clean is very clean not compressed. Hard to get it to sound thick, but takes to pedals well. It's very nice, but I am more into a Fender clean, say a Vibrolux or Bassman. This is different, but still good.
The Crunch channel is where I spent most of the time. Also not as compressed as you get with an SLO. It's in the hod rodded Marshall territory. Very good.
The Overdrive channel is supposed to sound more like the SLO. It is voiced like it, but not as good IMO. If you hadn't played an SLO you may love it.

Overall, it is a Soldano and is built well. Check out some of the reviews on Harmony Central. Some people swear by it. I sold it, and haven't missed it that much. But don't take that to mean it is a crappy amp. We have all sold very good amps in our day.
Click to expand...

Pretty much what illini said...
I have two SLOs and a Deca.
The Deca overdrive channel is spongier than the SLO though.....more forgiving..
The Deca is easier to control than the SLO, but not as punchy. Thats because of the transformer difference....
The master works great when you need to keep things under control volume wise and all three channels are very usable. The Crunch channel is really good.
Punch wise though...its hard to beat a SLO.
Their both great amps.
 
Hahaha, what this thread does to me when I read top to bottom:

GAS On

GAS Off

GAS On

GAS Off

GAS On

GAS Off

GAS On

GAS Off

GAS On

etc...

:scared: :confused:
 
Owned both,
Deca was a great amp that I couldnt gel with. To get it to really roar you have to damn near max all volumes. Bill S @ Soldano HQ told me this ;all channel volumes at 8,master at 8 = 20 watts. He said to get the amp to open up and closer to the 100 watts,you have to max the globle volume.
The clean & crunch channels on the Deca shine more than the SLO.
BUT,if you want all out balls to the wall sustain,tone and "grunt",the SLO wins hands down..period!
Dont dissmiss the Decatone though...great amp,just wasnt for me.
I traded it for a VHT Ultralead.
 
John4021":3a4nwfrr said:
Owned both,
Deca was a great amp that I couldnt gel with. To get it to really roar you have to damn near max all volumes. Bill S @ Soldano HQ told me this ;all channel volumes at 8,master at 8 = 20 watts. He said to get the amp to open up and closer to the 100 watts,you have to max the globle volume.
The clean & crunch channels on the Deca shine more than the SLO.
BUT,if you want all out balls to the wall sustain,tone and "grunt",the SLO wins hands down..period!
Dont dissmiss the Decatone though...great amp,just wasnt for me.
I traded it for a VHT Ultralead.
Click to expand...

To get the best tone out of the Decatone, I found that you need to run the Global Master all the way up and pretended it isn't there. And then use the individual Master volumes on each channel.

I agree with John that the clean and crunch channels are where this amp shines. And even though we both sold ours, it is still a quality amplifier, and it may be just the thing for what you play.
 
the thing i came away with is that you really have to involve the power section or the magic is not gonna happen. it will be a very thin and brittle experience otherwise.
the cornfords are similar in that respect--mojaves too, but they seem to have more low end punch earlier into the volume taper.
 
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