Old SLO100's ROCK!!!

[johnnyjellybean]

AS some of you may know, I had SLO100 # 008 from the 87 NAMM show for most of it's 22 year existence and recently traded it for a Killer 59 Historic flametop LP. Well I missed the amp enough to go out and buy a 1989 SLO #174 which I just recieved today(which I was also lucky to find!). This thing is sick! It's different from #008 in that it has more gain on both the crunch channel and lead channel. Mike Soldano says he never changed the design but I know for a fact that, at the very least, the routing of the signal path changed with the introduction of a slightly different circuit board somewhere around 90-91. I've owned a couple of others that were post 91 and there are just not the same. It was in 93 that I picked up a 2nd SLO direct from Mike at the old factory and after AB-ing my 2 amps , realized that there was something very different between the 87 and the 93. I called Mike saying that the new amp sounded thinner and not as creamy sounding and he replied that nothing was different. I couldn't unerstand how that was possible and so I opened the 2 amps side by side and low and behold saw 2 different preamp circuit boards. Anyway, all this to say that if you ever have a chance to buy or even play a pre 1990 SLO100, check it out! They flat out KILL!

 

[stefvorcide]

that's nice to know!!

BTW, It's totaly off-topic, but I didnt thought there was a nice studio in Laval
nice lil amps you've got bro.

 

[Greazygeo]

Did they have the same tubes in them?

 

[johnnyjellybean]

Did they have the same tubes in them?

Yep!!

 

[PeteLaramee]

that's nice to know!!

BTW, It's totaly off-topic, but I didnt thought there was a nice studio in Laval
nice lil amps you've got bro.

I like your avatar. I think maybe you've spent too much time at Sex Si Bon.

 

[Greazygeo]

I want to try an SLO one of these days. Happy with my Wizard's but think an SLO would be right up my ally.

 

[trey85stang]

damn.. now I want to see some side by side gut shots of the pre and post 90 boards.

 

[yngzaklynch]

Clips!!!!!!!!!!

 

[J.B.]

damn.. now I want to see some side by side gut shots of the pre and post 90 boards.

It's all I have, but this is a '91 I had.

 

[MrDan666]

Those SLO100's are a lot simpler inside than i thought!!

Very nice, clean wiring and build quality

 

[mysticaxe]

Those SLO100's are a lot simpler inside than i thought!!

Very nice, clean wiring and build quality

+1. I wouldn't have thought a high gain monster like the SLO would have a board that simple (of course, I'm an idiot when it comes to that stuff).

 

[MrDan666]

Those SLO100's are a lot simpler inside than i thought!!

Very nice, clean wiring and build quality

+1. I wouldn't have thought a high gain monster like the SLO would have a board that simple (of course, I'm an idiot when it comes to that stuff).

Yeah I guess its pretty simple because its shares the EQ with the different gain modes. Doesnt require as much component-wise as an amp with seperate EQ's for each channel.

I do like the way Soldano wire the power tube sockets across like that. Makes it look very clean!

 

[johnnyjellybean]

Here's the 89........... some of the differences are definitely noticable and some such as the routing on the PCB have to be looked for carefully

 

[trey85stang]

hmm.. the differences look minimal.. hard to believe there is much difference in tone between the two. not that i doubt that there isnt any differences... just saying.

 

[loudgtr]

hmm.. the differences look minimal.. hard to believe there is much difference in tone between the two. not that i doubt that there isnt any differences... just saying.

Yeah, I'm sure there's little difference.

Soldano doesn't design an amp that is the benchmark for high gain back in the mid '80's and then change the design if it doesn't sound right or even better.

Tubes were probably the difference or the fact that some components sound better after numerous hours of current flowing through them, making the older one having the instant advantage.

Just MHO

 

[thiswaythatway]

I want to try an SLO one of these days. Happy with my Wizard's but think an SLO would be right up my ally.

I hate SLO's so i know you'd like one.

 

[thiswaythatway]

Soldano doesn't design an amp that is the benchmark for high gain back in the mid '80's and then change the design if it doesn't sound right or even better.

I wonder how that saying came about? Since 9 million people were touring and recording with JCM800's, i think Marshall deserved that title, especially when amps like the SLO are trying to sound like a good Marshall. IMHO

 

[eternal_idol]

the diffrance is more than minimal...

Caps are diffrent, routing is diffrent(ie look at the white caramic resitor on the old one, its not there on the new one.

Are we sure this old one is stock?

Brae

 

[loudgtr]

Soldano doesn't design an amp that is the benchmark for high gain back in the mid '80's and then change the design if it doesn't sound right or even better.

I wonder how that saying came about? Since 9 million people were touring and recording with JCM800's, i think Marshall deserved that title, especially when amps like the SLO are trying to sound like a good Marshall. IMHO

Some of those Marshalls were modded by guys like Soldano...

Look for all the Soldano's behind these guys!!

Ahhh Gary Moore's Soldano and LP tones are incredible, way better than any Marshall tone I've heard from him IMHO.

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=i6IO5EN49 ... annel_page

EVH best live tone ever!! Best live solo (playing wise as well) I'd say as well; when the sound of the video finally settles

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=_qgPbI0Gf ... re=channel

Then there's Clapton and Knopfler' Soldano tone...more vids if you want.

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=kInoeTycY ... =1&index=5

Benchmark baby!!

 

[Greazygeo]

I want to try an SLO one of these days. Happy with my Wizard's but think an SLO would be right up my ally.

I hate SLO's so i know you'd like one.

A friend of mine had a HR something or other and that was pretty cool.