Soldano SLO100: Effect of master volume setting on tone

[Lasse Lammert]

For modern metal tones we all want a clean power section…tight preamp distortion with a power amp to "make it loud"…
if the power amp starts saturating the low end gets a bit squishy, the thrashy palm mutes become less tight etc…undesirable.
But that's modern metal tones….what about other styles?
The power amp can have a huge influence on the tone once it gets into saturation (be it the PI, the power amp tubes or the transformer).
In this example I wanted to show you how the power amp of the SLO reacts and behaves at different volumes.
Usually the speaker/cab plays a HUGE factor as well (that's why those 1W amps still won't give you the same sound as a cranked 100W), as the speakers start to compress and eventually even distort, to eliminate that factor Iused the awesome Two Notes Torpedo Live with an IR of my speaker and adjusted its input level to be the same throughout the test, so what you're hearing is actually the effect of the saturating power amp ONLY (how much of that is PI, transformers, tubes etc differs from amp to amp, depending on the design…this example is an SLO100 with the loop-bypass-mod).
As you can hear there's also obviously a point of diminished returns when the distortion starts to sound unpleasant.

for reference: 3 is about "full metal band rehearsal volume"

 

[fek]

That was really cool. 1 to 2 seemed to have the biggest difference and once you hit 5, things really started to fill out. To my ears anyway.

 

[Luca79]

I think the SLO is a non master volume. The volume you have there are the pre section, not power section. Correct me if i'm wrong.

 

[Lasse Lammert]

I think the SLO is a non master volume. The volume you have there are the pre section, not power section. Correct me if i'm wrong.

well, that's why different amps have different things affecting the tone at louder volume (be it the PI or power tubes or OT etc)
This can only be an example of course

 

[godgrinder]

I think the SLO is a non master volume. The volume you have there are the pre section, not power section. Correct me if i'm wrong.

It's an MV amp by normal definition (ie not non-MV like a JTM or 1959), although it doesn't have a "global master" than controls all channels like most nowadays amps.

The one he was adjusting was the "channel volume" by modern standards. The term "pre volume" (as used on early MV amps like 2203) would be the gain control in modern terms.

 

[Lasse Lammert]

I think the SLO is a non master volume. The volume you have there are the pre section, not power section. Correct me if i'm wrong.

It's an MV amp by normal definition (ie not non-MV like a JTM or 1959), although it doesn't have a "global master" than controls all channels like most nowadays amps.

The one he was adjusting was the "channel volume" by modern standards. The term "pre volume" (as used on early MV amps like 2203) would be the gain control in modern terms.

exactly..same with amps like the 5150 and recto etc as well.

but it still drives the power amp harder of ocourse (especially the PI in that case)

 

[godgrinder]

I recorded a similar comparison for a friend a while ago, not as comprehensive as I only did 3 different volume settings:
https://soundcloud.com/godgrinder666/so ... vs-18-vs-1

I think the sound difference at lower volume levels to medium volume levels might be down to the circuitry design than whether the power tubes are cooking or not. Funnily enough my HR50+ sounds pretty consistent at lower volumes...

With volume past 5 you can usually hear the power tube distortion start kicking in...

 

[fuzzyguitars]

this is a great example of how the slo opens up at three on the master but sounds best to me between 5 and 6.

then depth opens up and it begins to resonate.

super loud though at that point, even with ineffecient greenbacks.

but gloriuous lol.

 

[cecilbag]

I gigged my SLO this weekend and it really makes a huge difference when you hit 4-5. You also have to turn your cab to face the back wall otherwise you will kill small animals.

 

[Chester Nimitz]

Needs a Les Paul & a boost ...

 

[bog70]

That video tells me what I've known all along, having owned 10-12 SLO's since 1992- the fantasy about an SLO haven't to be opened up for some miraculous glory, is a tall-tale internet myth, crock-of shit.

 

[Chester Nimitz]

I could have gone for one in da 80's.

But not now and not for 4K.

 

[Stinkbomb]

Never really gave the SLO much interest but that sounded great. I'm a changed man.

 

[cecilbag]

That video tells me what I've known all along, having owned 10-12 SLO's since 1992- the fantasy about an SLO haven't to be opened up for some miraculous glory, is a tall-tale internet myth, crock-of shit.

So are you saying you don't hear the sound fill in as the power section starts pumping? I've only owned the SLO I have but it absolutely gets thicker and more full when I get higher in the volume range.

 

[bog70]

That video tells me what I've known all along, having owned 10-12 SLO's since 1992- the fantasy about an SLO haven't to be opened up for some miraculous glory, is a tall-tale internet myth, crock-of shit.

So are you saying you don't hear the sound fill in as the power section starts pumping? I've only owned the SLO I have but it absolutely gets thicker and more full when I get higher in the volume range.

Yes, as it does on most any other amp. The differences as he raises the MV are barely audible. My contention was the amp sounded great at whatever volume. ANY amp sound better turned up, not just an SLO, as I hear on various forums repeated like a parrot.

 

[Chester Nimitz]

It depends who & where you get it.

In LA im sure there are more floating around than St. Louis.

I look all the time but never see anything i have to have.

We have a dealer in town.

http://eddiesguitars.com/Soldano-Super- ... -100-Head/

I dont pay retail prices for [anything].

 

[Racerxrated]

That video tells me what I've known all along, having owned 10-12 SLO's since 1992- the fantasy about an SLO haven't to be opened up for some miraculous glory, is a tall-tale internet myth, crock-of shit.

So are you saying you don't hear the sound fill in as the power section starts pumping? I've only owned the SLO I have but it absolutely gets thicker and more full when I get higher in the volume range.

Yes, as it does on most any other amp. The differences as he raises the MV are barely audible. My contention was the amp sounded great at whatever volume. ANY amp sound better turned up, not just an SLO, as I hear on various forums repeated like a parrot.

I've had 2, and completely agree. It sounds killer at any volume. And can even be played in an apt. At 2, it sounded as good as it did at 4..at 5...at 6...and so on. Great amp at any volume. I gigged with it a few times and 1-2 was all I could use, and it sounded amazing.

 

[Racerxrated]

I could have gone for one in da 80's.

But not now and not for 4K.

they are $2500 used

Kinda like I wouldn't touch a Friedman for 4K....but used you can find deals. My first SLO was 2500, bought here on RT....second was 2200, also here.....used always.

 

[bog70]

Last SLO I owned. This one had a few mods. I also owned a purple KT-66 loaded SLO. I boot myself in the ass for selling this one a few years ago.

 

[SpiderWars]

I heard the top end get significantly less brash between 6-7. Up to 6 I would be reaching for the Treble control but at 7 the high end was fine. But that will vary with guitar and gain settings.

I got some RFT preamp tubes and decided to test them in my SLOclone last night and they both sounded awesome in V1. I think one reason for the sort of love/hate deal with the SLO is that it's not the greatest chugging amp. And what do many guitar players do when they test drive an amp? I know I'm guilty of just chugging out something simple. But after I did that for a few minutes and then actually started just playing I got lost and played for a while.