Soldano SLO vs Marshall

[gmcelroy]

Who here prefers a Marshall over an SLO?

I have an SLO and have owned a few Marshalls in the past such as the DSL100 and 2204 JMP; for some odd reason Iseem to be drawn back to the sound and feel of Marshall amps.

 

[Sixtonoize]

Just because it costs more doesn't mean that it's always better.
Play what makes you happy.

 

[glassjaw7]

I like em both for different reasons. They're quite different from each other IMO.

 

[marvcus]

Those are my two favorite amps - Plexi and an SLO.

If someone ever could correctly make a two channel head (Plexi on one, SLO gain on other), that would be the ticket.

 

[gmcelroy]

Those are my two favorite amps - Plexi and an SLO.

If someone ever could correctly make a two channel head (Plexi on one, SLO gain on other), that would be the ticket.

Hell yeah...that would be the a top seller for sure!

 

[droptrd]

Ive only had the pleasure of no more than 30 min of playing time on a SLO but I would say I definately like it better than a DSL. Never played thru a JMP

 

[droptrd]

And the tones Warren Haynes gets out of his SLO make me drool

 

[supersonic]

I'm torn between a SLO and Marsha. Not quite a Marshall but Marshall tones. Nothing beats the attitude of the SLO, they each have their place.

 

['63-Strat]

I think one of the main reasons "most" of us like marshalls is because so many of our favorite records were made with them. They (along with fender and vox) set the benchmark for how electric guitar "should" sound. There are so many choices out there today that offer all sorts of different variations on a common theme but in a lot of cases they're just different not necessarily "better." SLO's are great, but they are definitely their own thing compared to say a boosted super lead. How many amp makers essentially try to give us what we all generally want: a fender clean channel, a marshall rhythm channel and then a high gain channel (typically based on either a modded marshall or boogie to some extent)? Lots.

Ideally I would probably be happiest with something like a BF super reverb or pro reverb for cleans, one marshall for chunky rhythms (possibly boosted, or mv jmp, 800 etc.) and then another marshall (probably a boosted and attenuated super lead with post reverb/delay) for lead. Not all that different from what EJ uses, shocker . But my xtc classic and g system gets me *real* close to that and is much more practical. Doesn't change the fact that a good marshall is no joke though. They're awesome.

 

[se7en]

If I could run EL34's in an SLO, it might be a different story, but I'm just not a fan of 6L6's...so, Marshall for me...that and the rhythm sound of the SLO just sounds to gentleman-like to me. I need some raunch.

 

[Ventura]

If I could run EL34's in an SLO, it might be a different story, but I'm just not a fan of 6L6's...so, Marshall for me...that and the rhythm sound of the SLO just sounds to gentleman-like to me. I need some raunch.

I agree with this statement, albeit I'd not side with Marshall too willingly in my case... I've had a Hot Rod Plus and an SLO (both have the same hi-gain circuit), one was a 100W the other a 50W. I liked it for the high gain stuff, but man, it was limited...IMHO. Marshall to me is just TOO everyday, but probably offers more than the SLO in the sense of tonal options.

Maybe it's the 6L6's, I dunno, but the Soldanos were just too 'pristine', not enough raunch.

Just my 2 cents,
V.

 

[gmcelroy]

...that and the rhythm sound of the SLO just sounds to gentleman-like to me. I need some raunch.

That is exactly the best way to describe the rythm!

 

[JakeAC5253]

Those are my two favorite amps - Plexi and an SLO.

If someone ever could correctly make a two channel head (Plexi on one, SLO gain on other), that would be the ticket.

Wasn't that the idea behind the 5150? Ed's two favorite amps in one.

 

[marvcus]

Those are my two favorite amps - Plexi and an SLO.

If someone ever could correctly make a two channel head (Plexi on one, SLO gain on other), that would be the ticket.

Wasn't that the idea behind the 5150? Ed's two favorite amps in one.

Emphasis on correctly.

I had a 5150 for years. Not a versatile amp, but pretty cool. A few years later I played a SLO and it was everything I wanted my old 5150 to be.

 

[joepete77]

Soldano said that peavey alot from the slo in their 5150, after all , eddie was a fan of the SLO before the 5150 came out. To me, I always preferred the tone of a good modded marshall over the SlO. I even liked the Soldano modded marshalls better then the SLO. I always wondered if the SLO would sound better to me or more british if I were to install EL34?? Someone said that the reason for the 5881/6l6 in the slo is because amps with huge amounts of preamp gain dont sound good with el34, which is why they used the 6l6 due to the better headroom.

 

[JakeAC5253]

Soldano said that peavey alot from the slo in their 5150, after all , eddie was a fan of the SLO before the 5150 came out. To me, I always preferred the tone of a good modded marshall over the SlO. I even liked the Soldano modded marshalls better then the SLO. I always wondered if the SLO would sound better to me or more british if I were to install EL34?? Someone said that the reason for the 5881/6l6 in the slo is because amps with huge amounts of preamp gain dont sound good with el34, which is why they used the 6l6 due to the better headroom.

You've pretty much hit the nail on the head there. The EL34's run at a higher bias than 6L6 and as such drain the PI of its available current supply quicker than the lower bias 6L6. Once the PI current has been used up, the power tubes overdraw from the PI and as a result the voltage sags on the transients, giving it that 'cranked' sound. This is commonly referred to as 'power amp distortion' but it actually has to do with the phase inverter tube more than the power tubes themselves. Neither explanation is completely correct in and of itself, but you can now see that they are both directly related. This is why amps that are 100% preamp voiced and/or designed for a 'clean' power section use 6L6 or similar tube. It's not that that tube is darker, or more low end heavy or anything like that, just that it allows for a higher clean headroom is all.

 

[Shark Diver]

So, if Dave and Mike collaborated on an amp....

I'm not saying, but...

EL34, Higher gain SLO...

And I was promised #1.

 

[Rufus Leaking]

I tried EL34's in a SLO before - it biased within range. I was surprised by how little difference it made in the tone though. I ended up going back to 5881's which sounded better to me in that amp, and I'm an EL34 guy...