SLO 30 vs 100 bottom end?

[Speeddemon]

What preamp tubes do you recommend?

If you can find an original (NOS) RFT 12AX7 for V1, this will make the overall tone slightly thicker/bolder, maybe a hint smoother.
And then throw in 2 5751's in V3 and V4 to tame the red channel. These are 70% gain opposed to 100% gain that a standard 12AX7 brings.
The character remains, it will still chug like nothing else, but instead of the insanity kicking in at 12 o' clock on the Red gain knob, it now maybe starts around 1:30-2 ish. And because of this shift in gain, you can even coax some lower gain for 70's rock/hard rock as well from the red channel... or smoother leads that aren't sooo compressed and saturated.

The Creambacks are nice, but if you pair it with H30 greenbacks (ideally the 55Hz cone ones) or G12-65's, it will tame more of the strident highs and give you some thickness in return.

 

[midnightlaundry]

100

 

[njshred]

To cut volume in half, you need to reduce power tenfold. What this means is, a 10 watt amp is half as loud as a 100 watt one. A 30 watt amp is not a lot quieter in practice, maybe 15%.

Of course the 30 is smaller and lighter, but either need to be attenuated to open up their power sections in most scenarios.

 

[John4021]

People are forgetting the SLO 100 has a very useful Level on the Effects Loop. The 30 does not
Use it as a Global Master

Someone on here had Jeremy(some guy who builds amps...lol) add a Global Master on a SLO

 

[innogator]

Was torn between these a while back and went with the 100. Didn't want to be stuck always wondering. I'd also recently sent from some of the Marshall studio series to the big brothers and definitely like the feel of the big iron amps more.

 

[SQUAREHEAD]

In my opinion, Big glass 100w amplifiers sound and feel much more full with nicer punch, even when matching lighter dB volumes with a low wattage EL84 amp.

 

[harddriver]

Money is an issue. Its the one reason why I haven’t gotten one sooner. I was playing a 50 watt evh 5153 and it kinda’ got that tone but its too aggressive and too bright and too tight. Compared to the SLO Synergy module (which is my main point of reference) there's a night and day difference between the two. (I had always heard the SLO/ 5150/ Recto had very similar circuits). I’ve also never played a SLO 100 at full volume. I’ve only ever tried them out in stores with the volume set pretty low.

That’s also been kinda the other thing. I have the SLO Synergy module. Its not as full sounding as the real amp, but it gets in the ballpark. So I can kinda’ get SLO tone on a budget. (And I can get it moderately quiet for just jamming at home).

There are other amps on my radar. I’d thought about a Herbert, Revv G120, MK7, an Uber Ultra , Wizard MTL, Splawn Nitro… ect. But now that I can afford a SLO, I kind of want to scratch that itch first.

I Guess the 100 is the way to go. Hmmm…

You said you have played the 100 and it is your dream amp and that you loved it when you have played it. so an SLO 30 would be a disappointment for you down the road IMHO. Even at low volumes the 100 will punch harder and will be more satisfying to play.

I would wait until you have the funds for an SLO100 and if you had to sell it you would retain more of your purchase value. You should see some of the BAD SLO's on the market and most SLO guys will tell you they sound and perform just like the older ones just without the mystique of the Deyoung transformers.

 

[DanTravis62]

You said you have played the 100 and it is your dream amp and that you loved it when you have played it. so an SLO 30 would be a disappointment for you down the road IMHO. Even at low volumes the 100 will punch harder and will be more satisfying to play.

I would wait until you have the funds for an SLO100 and if you had to sell it you would retain more of your purchase value. You should see some of the BAD SLO's on the market and most SLO guys will tell you they sound and perform just like the older ones just without the mystique of the Deyoung transformers.

I agree with this.

I think the SLO30 is great sounding, but if I was gassing for the tone really hard, I'd wait it out and save for a 100.

I'd probably be happy with the 30, but I know exactly how this goes. You'll always wonder what you're missing.

I would wait and save as long as possible, and then pull the trigger when a 100 comes up - either a great deal on a BAD, or a sanely priced DeYoung loaded one.

 

[harddriver]

I agree with this.

I think the SLO30 is great sounding, but if I was gassing for the tone really hard, I'd wait it out and save for a 100.

I'd probably be happy with the 30, but I know exactly how this goes. You'll always wonder what you're missing.

I would wait and save as long as possible, and then pull the trigger when a 100 comes up - either a great deal on a BAD, or a sanely priced DeYoung loaded one.

With the newer Bad ones you get the depth mod and a good effects loop as well and the prices are more reasonable. Since he has played the 100 I think he would be craving the 100 if he settled for the SL30....I know I would.

When I play my 50 watt Marshall it just doesn't punch, fill the room and give me the same playing experience my 100 watters do, even running the 100's at the same lower volumes they are just bigger and better all around IMHO and most who have done the A/B of 50 watts to 100 watts will tell you the very same thing.

Here's a new production SLO 100 for $2750, that isn't a bad price.........
https://reverb.com/item/87046089-soldano-slo-100-custom-head-recent

 

[paulyc]

Buy the hundred, pull two tubes to cut it to 50 watt (half the ohm load on the selector switch) and run it into an attenuator or a Fryette Power Station.

EDIT : You could also have a triode/pentode switch installed to cut the 50 to 30 watts or so…

 

[harddriver]

Buy the hundred, pull two tubes to cut it to 50 watt (half the ohm load on the selector switch) and run it into an attenuator or a Fryette Power Station.

Excellent suggestion! I run my 68 plexi this way all the time......the benefits are you get lower volume yet the amp still hits like a 100 watter due to the 100 watt output transformer mass.........That's a Win Win....... that address any volume issues, also saves on tube wear since you are only using up a duet versus a quartet.

With running it as a 50 watter he may not need an attenuator or a Power Station.

 

[bubucci]

Had both side by side and it was tough to decide. The fact that it was hard to decide should tell you something. Ended up keeping the 100 for the bigger sonic footprint, but I eventually sold it too. I have to say, there was something special about the 30. Not quite as big sounding, but the tone itself was more interesting to me and if I were to buy another SLO, I’d personally grab a 30

This^.
The 30 has more midrange and voicing is closer to Deyoung SLOs. Similar difference in Marshall camp with 2204 vs 2203.

 

[fek]

Get the 100. Maybe there was something wrong with the 30 that I had, but I did not like the overdrive channel at all. Normal dimed with a boost was great though. Even had another forum member spend the night with the 30 and he didn't like it either. We both love the 100 though.

 

[Simon Dorn]

If there is 100, brain automatically wants 100. It’s how we, humans, operate

You answer is correct, Sir.

 

[Simon Dorn]

I have the 100.
Volume barely gets to 1 on the dial, most of the time, at home. I've played the 30 several times, and it sounds splendid.
If I had to do it again, I'd get the 100.
The master volume is great. It's the sound. Would I be OK with the 30? Yeah.
Would I wish I had the 100? Yeah.
No practicality to it. I just want the big un.
It never fails to impress. And on those rare occasions when I turn it up to 5+ on the volume...it's a thing you'll never forget. A thing the 30 won't do.

What's kinda funny: I didn't like it with the Master on 5.

 

[LPMojoGL]

What's kinda funny: I didn't like it with the Master on 5.

Its loud af. The thickness is overrated, imo. Anything pushing the speakers that hard sounds bigger.

 

[the rossness]

With the newer Bad ones you get the depth mod and a good effects loop as well and the prices are more reasonable. Since he has played the 100 I think he would be craving the 100 if he settled for the SL30....I know I would.

When I play my 50 watt Marshall it just doesn't punch, fill the room and give me the same playing experience my 100 watters do, even running the 100's at the same lower volumes they are just bigger and better all around IMHO and most who have done the A/B of 50 watts to 100 watts will tell you the very same thing.

Here's a new production SLO 100 for $2750, that isn't a bad price.........
https://reverb.com/item/87046089-soldano-slo-100-custom-head-recent
View attachment 388680

Yea, I saw that. I’ve been looking around. $3k seems to be the average used price. With shipping and tax, that amp comes to just under $3k. And I can probably afford one $3k amp. However, another $1k for a good attenuator/load box is a bit of a stretch at that point.

I can reliably get a used SLO 30 for $1700- $2k, which is more affordable and was hoping I could still get the big-bottom end out of it like its big brother, but from all the responses, it seems like I’d be disappointed.

Ceriatone is also making a handwired SLO clone for $1800. But it’s brand new and there are none of them out in the wild yet. No reviews either :/
https://ceriatone.com/hot-rodded-fas-100/

 

[harddriver]

Yea, I saw that. I’ve been looking around. $3k seems to be the average used price. With shipping and tax, that amp comes to just under $3k. And I can probably afford one $3k amp. However, another $1k for a good attenuator/load box is a bit of a stretch at that point.

I can reliably get a used SLO 30 for $1700- $2k, which is more affordable and was hoping I could still get the big-bottom end out of it like its big brother, but from all the responses, it seems like I’d be disappointed.

Ceriatone is also making a handwired SLO clone for $1800. But it’s brand new and there are none of them out in the wild yet. No reviews either :/
https://ceriatone.com/hot-rodded-fas-100/

Try pulling two tubes on a 100 watter first, you may not even need an attenuator after doing so. Even though the SLO30 is lower wattage 30 watts would still be loud as hell and still will not punch or have the large bottom end response.

With pulling two tubes and setting your impedance in half the amps lowend will still punch like a 100 watt amp even though it is running at 50 watts.

If you pull two tube and are running a 16 ohm cabinet your would set your impedance selector to 8 ohms, if using an 8 ohm cabinet you would set it to 4 ohms. If you ever want a full 100 watt you always would have that option to install all 4 power tubes back in at any time.

You will never get the big bottom end with the SLO30, it's has to do with the difference in output transformer mass and how it relates to the overall dynamics and speaker excursion.

Read this article about the Mojave 50 watt Scorpion that runs a 100 Watt output transformer for this very purpose and it works the same way pulling two tubes in any 100 watt amp.

https://legendarytones.com/mojave-ampworks-scorpion/

 

[harddriver]

Yea, I saw that. I’ve been looking around. $3k seems to be the average used price. With shipping and tax, that amp comes to just under $3k. And I can probably afford one $3k amp. However, another $1k for a good attenuator/load box is a bit of a stretch at that point.

I can reliably get a used SLO 30 for $1700- $2k, which is more affordable and was hoping I could still get the big-bottom end out of it like its big brother, but from all the responses, it seems like I’d be disappointed.

Ceriatone is also making a handwired SLO clone for $1800. But it’s brand new and there are none of them out in the wild yet. No reviews either :/
https://ceriatone.com/hot-rodded-fas-100/

For 1800 I would stay away from the Ceriatone unless his transformers are the same or better than waht BAD is now using for the SLO's.

 

[Simon Dorn]

Its loud af. The thickness is overrated, imo. Anything pushing the speakers that hard sounds bigger.

Yes, it's loud AF and it kinda thinned out at that Volume and was overly middy aka too much mids.