Soldano SLO or Soldano Avenger

[supersonic]

I think I'd prefer the Avenger. The SLO is a classic, but devoid of low mids and very bright...The depth mod compensates, but does something to the bass that I didn't like. Would've liked to have tried a lower value pot on depth mod of the SLO I had, to target the lower midrange more effectively. Close, but no cigar for me.

It's all about what the amp feels/responds like for me. Sure the SLO is bright but after 5 munutes your ears adjust to any amp. I have a Slo which I don't play too much as it doesn't quite suit the band I'm in, it's definately in a class of its' own though.

 

[JakeAC5253]

The Avenger is a cool amp... it just shouldn't be marketed as a "SLO lead channel only clone"... because it simply isn't. It's too different. It's darker, has more bass, and isn't as bright and cutting as the SLO. The Avenger has slightly more lower mids to its voicing. The circuit, parts, transformers, are all very different from the SLO as well. The Avenger is Soldano's more modern interpretation of the SLO lead tone... that's been tweaked a bit.

Interesting. Almost sounds like it could be the SLO circuit but without the cathode follower for the FX circuit hardwired in place. Should let the amp breathe a bit more. I've heard an Avenger in person, never a SLO, but the Avenger is one fire breathing bitch of an amp. Want an amp that will crush your sack with big candy red heels and glitter? The Avenger will do it.

 

[philb]

I've always preferred the Avenger over the SLO but only based on clips.
I've never tried either amp.

 

[duodecim]

I've always preferred the Avenger over the SLO but only based on clips.
I've never tried either amp.

I'm on the same page. I've heard both but haven't had a chance to play them yet. The Avenger's high gain tone is one of my favourite sounds, and I would seriously consider getting one if it could go into death metal territory. As it stands, for my budget and purpose, it's too expensive for the limited usefulness – I'm not into single channel amps or amps that can't get into extreme metal easily because I don't want to pay for or haul around 3 different amps to get my clean/rhythm/solo tone. Soldano does have some great tones, but for some reason none of the actual amps on offer speak to me.

 

[Exo-metal]

Any info where the Avenger is made including transformers?

 

[Mesa\Kramer]

Any info where the Avenger is made including transformers?

Made in Seattle
Trannys I don't know

 

[DET1973]

I Bought or rather my lady Bought me a Used Hot Rod Avenger that was/is mint. I absolutely love it!!! it completely replaced my Marshall Jubilee. I feel like the Avenger has the tone of a Marshall JCM 800 but with way more gain & More low mids/Low end. It's everything i was looking for that the Jubilee did not cover for what i was trying to accomplish. I have tried my Avenger with a bunch of different speakers and it sounds great with so many that it threw me for a loop. I currently use a Marshall 1960BHW that sounds amazing with the Avenger.

 

[shane159]

I have played both, not side by side, but I like the Avenger better as well. I prefer a bigger sounding amp, and the Avenger was just that, bigger sounding.

 

[maddnotez]

my lady Bought me a Used Hot Rod Avenger that was/is mint..

You should throw her up in the classifieds

 

[FourT6and2]

Those of you talking about the Avenger, are you referring to the original Avenger with single input (which was the HR), the new dual input (Avenger), or the Hot Rod Avenger that has a loop? The loop will affect the sound if it's the same type of loop that's in the SLO. And I've read that the original single-input version was killer.

I'll do a search and see if there's a schematic out there of the Avenger and compare it to the SLO lead channel.

Preliminary search turned up this comparison of the 4th gain stage in each amp:

 

[Mr. Willy]

I had an Avenger, dual input, 100 watts. I currently own a SLO. They don't sound similar at all to me. I agree with most of the comments about the tonal differences, except that the SLO sounds much bigger than the Avenger, at least once the SLO's cranked to at least 5 on the master. If I just played metal, I'd go with the Avenger on a budget, however the SLO can do metal too, especially with a boost. The SLO just has something special going on in the lead channel that's freakin awesome. Both are great amps, but the SLO walks all over it, IMHO.

 

[FourT6and2]

Found an Avenger schematic. At first glance, seems to be a bit different from an SLO. A few value differences here and there. Might build one to see how it goes.

 

[311splawndude]

Old threads are old.

 

[Mr. Willy]

Old threads are old.

Thanks for the input!

 

[JB6464]

Those of you talking about the Avenger, are you referring to the original Avenger with single input (which was the HR), the new dual input (Avenger), or the Hot Rod Avenger that has a loop? The loop will affect the sound if it's the same type of loop that's in the SLO. And I've read that the original single-input version was killer.

I'll do a search and see if there's a schematic out there of the Avenger and compare it to the SLO lead channel.

Preliminary search turned up this comparison of the 4th gain stage in each amp:

So if I was to mod my 98 HR100+ to the specs of the SLO that you show in your pic , do you think the HR gain stage would sound like the SLO gain stage ?

 

[FourT6and2]

Those of you talking about the Avenger, are you referring to the original Avenger with single input (which was the HR), the new dual input (Avenger), or the Hot Rod Avenger that has a loop? The loop will affect the sound if it's the same type of loop that's in the SLO. And I've read that the original single-input version was killer.

I'll do a search and see if there's a schematic out there of the Avenger and compare it to the SLO lead channel.

Preliminary search turned up this comparison of the 4th gain stage in each amp:

So if I was to mod my 98 HR100+ to the specs of the SLO that you show in your pic , do you think the HR gain stage would sound like the SLO gain stage ?

I think there might be a few other differences beside that (and the transformers obviously). It was just an example of one of the differences. I will go through both schematics tomorrow and compare. But also your HR doesn't have a clean channel right? Part of the SLO's sound is the Normal/Clean channel bleed. That affects the Overdrive channel a tiny bit. Plus the loop, which the HR also doesn't have.

 

[Racerxrated]

SLO does something at volume that an Avenger, HR or anything else for that matter doesn't. You really have to be in front of one to get it. Maybe if the Avenger has the DeYoung transformers it would get that same power/bloom? Not sure but when I think of the HR100 I had compared to an SLO it's just not close. If you want an amp that gets close try a VHT Deliverance. Closest I've heard to an SLO and there are a few others that agree..Greg(gbsmusic) here on RT has a VHT D120 and I bought his old SLO....he agrees that the Deliverance is just a bit short of the SLO but for a 3rd of the price....have a friend who sold an Avenger a few months ago try my SLO and he said it didn't even compare.

 

[duesentrieb]

Those of you talking about the Avenger, are you referring to the original Avenger with single input (which was the HR), the new dual input (Avenger), or the Hot Rod Avenger that has a loop? The loop will affect the sound if it's the same type of loop that's in the SLO. And I've read that the original single-input version was killer.

I'll do a search and see if there's a schematic out there of the Avenger and compare it to the SLO lead channel.

Preliminary search turned up this comparison of the 4th gain stage in each amp:

Hi Mike,

when toying around that area, read the volts on the cathode of the CF. These are adjusted by the ratio of the plate/cathode of the 4th stage (!). So using 220k/2k2 should result the same as 100k/1k. The cap makes a (minor) difference - voltswise, just a high mid bump). Adjust the 4th stage cathode R so, that you will get 180V-190V on the cathode of the CF!. (more clearity than anything in the 200V or above area).
This will make a huge difference in sound.

The HR vs. SLO difference is made here (no idea about the Avenger) and also the resistor values in front of the gain pots and the value of the gainpots (1M vs. 500K). 500k are way brighter than 1M pots.

Olaf

 

[duesentrieb]

btw: Lasse Lammert has a HR100+ (modded to SLO spes) vs SLO vid online

 

[Mr. Willy]

btw: Lasse Lammert has a HR100+ (modded to SLO spes) vs SLO vid online

His videos sound great, but they all sound very similar. He could make a Plexi and Rectifier sound the same in a mix. His video might give a slight idea of the differences, but it isn't transparent, IMHO.