Tell me about the Soldano SLO 30.. Good for more than 80's? Thrash?

  • Thread starter Thread starter napalmdeath
  • Start date Start date
napalmdeath said:
Definitely like the voicing and punch. I'll have an SLO30 tomorrow. I have an SD-1, Zakk Wylde OD, Custom Badass OD, GT-OD, and Fortin TS-9. I'm sure one will do just fine! I'm guessing the cheapest of the bunch, the SD-1 will still reign supreme. It does with my Friedman! 🤣 It's got that grit that pairs so well with big and warm.
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I use the MXR GT-OD with my SLO 100. They work great together.
 
I'm another who boosts the crunch channel of the SLO with an SD-1. It's in the same realm soundwise as my old JMP 2203. Both need the bass tightened up a bit with a boost, but great otherwise. I have an older SLO-100, but I'm sure it'll work out the same in practice. I add just a bit more gain, if necessary, from the SD-1 and back the SLO crunch gain down to 8-9 if I need it tighter. It's extremely flexible and tunable in my experience.

The great thing is the crunch really cleans up nicely when you step off the SD-1 and roll back the guitar volume, so you have a nice semi-clean for live. (Go to singles and you can get an actual clean out of it.)

I also find the EQ of the SLO works great between the channels when you dial in crunch first. It's a little loose on the OD channel, but that doesn't much matter if you save it for just single note leads....also lets you turn up the volume to balance that to cut through the mix for solos.
 
napalmdeath said:
Definitely like the voicing and punch. I'll have an SLO30 tomorrow. I have an SD-1, Zakk Wylde OD, Custom Badass OD, GT-OD, and Fortin TS-9. I'm sure one will do just fine! I'm guessing the cheapest of the bunch, the SD-1 will still reign supreme. It does with my Friedman! 🤣 It's got that grit that pairs so well with big and warm.
Click to expand...
Throw an eq in the loop and smack the front with the TS9 on the lead ch with gain down at 1-2 and OD drive level to taste. Plenty tight, but the beauty is it's not thin, still good heft to the tone. Killer thrash tone there IMO.
 
MetalHeadMike said:
Throw an eq in the loop and smack the front with the TS9 on the lead ch with gain down at 1-2 and OD drive level to taste. Plenty tight, but the beauty is it's not thin, still good heft to the tone. Killer thrash tone there IMO.
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Oh yeah. MXR 10-band goes in everything I've ever owned. Probably the only piece I've gear I've never sold! 🤣
 
MetalHeadMike said:
Me too and me either...LOL! I wouldn't be happy without it.
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Jesus.. I have no desire to even try an EQ in the loop, this thing has an ASSLOAD of low end! I put some Ruby 6L6GC-MSTR's in it, rolled some preamp tubes, (a Tungsol in V1, JJ ECC83S's in V2 & V3, and a Sovtek LPS in the PI). This thing is near perfect with the bass and depth at noon, presence up a little higher, treble down a little lower. The Tungsol brightens it up, and is much tighter than the stock EH 7025's. The JJ's are tighter as well, yet warm, less round, (less woofy) than the EH's.

As per my suspicions, the SD-1 wins out as the boost of choice. I also run a Boss CS-3 Compressor after the SD-1, and it's so damn good sounding. And as many have said in YouTube videos, and reviews, it only gets tighter and punchier when you get the volume going. This is a fabulous amp. I absolutely love everything about it. Tone to die for, and it hits like a sledgehammer!
 
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napalmdeath said:
Jesus.. I have no desire to even try an EQ in the loop, this thing has an ASSLOAD of low end! I put some Ruby 6L6GC-MSTR's in it, rolled some preamp tubes, (a Tungsol in V1, JJ ECC83S's in V2 & V3, and a Sovtek LPS in the PI). This thing is near perfect with the bass and depth at noon, presence up a little higher, treble down a little lower. The Tungsol brightens it up, and is much tighter than the stock EH 7025's. The JJ's are tighter as well, yet warm, less round, (less woofy) than the EH's.

As per my suspicions, the SD-1 wins out as the boost of choice. I also run a Boss CS-3 Compressor after the SD-1, and it's so damn good sounding. And as many have said in YouTube videos, and reviews, it only gets tighter and punchier when you get the volume going. This is a fabulous amp. I absolutely love everything about it. Tone to die for, and it hits like a sledgehammer!
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Awesome! I haven't rolled any tubes in mine, they are some weird brand I've never heard of that came stock, but it sounds great with them. It get's super tight but still beefy. It's just got great tone IMO.
 
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MetalHeadMike said:
Awesome! I haven't rolled any tubes in mine, they are some weird brand I've never heard of that cam stock, but it sounds great with them. Yet it get's super tight but still beefy. It's just got great tone IMO.
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It's definitely a beefy amp.. Mine had all EH 7025's, power tubes were "Boutique" labeled 5881's. Friedman's using these "Boutique" branded tubes also in their preamps.. I suspect they are Psvane Chinese private labeled for B.A.D. This thing really came alive with the Ruby 6L6's. Biased them at about 42mA, being a 30 watt tube. The 5881's were at 32mA, but they're 23 watts. Got more headroom and less break-up with the 6L6's. I've got the gain at about 4-5. Definitely made a difference.

I tried a GE 5751 in V2, but it kinda neutered it a bit, didn't like it.
 
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My SLO 30 boosted with my SD-1 is possibly the greatest sounding and feeling tone I've had to date.... and Ive had pretty much all of them... It is just fun to play and 'dig in'.... My guitar player plays an SLO 100 and they just create this sonic bloom and wall of sound together... no harsh frequencies, plenty of cut. Tried other OD's but that SD-1 won out pretty easily... level maxed, drive off, tone to taste... it just works.

Sidenote.....finally went the Strymon route and got the Strymon Dig. I'm a lead guy..... this is the best pedal I have ever bought and I may need 2 now. Best delay I have ever used for my needs... I don't do the ambient or U2 tap tempo type stuff... In the loop of the SLO for liquid leads with warm repeats that don't get in the way, The SLO with SD-1 and Dig = best tone for me that I've had in 20+ years of my flipping and chasing.. all live applications for me...gigs and rehearsals. Even my bandmates had that 'holy shit' reaction.
 
napalmdeath said:
It's definitely a beefy amp.. Mine had all EH 7025's, power tubes were "Boutique" labeled 5881's. Friedman's using these "Boutique" branded tubes also in their preamps.. I suspect they are Psvane Chinese private labeled for B.A.D. This thing really came alive with the Ruby 6L6's. Biased them at about 42mA, being a 30 watt tube. The 5881's were at 32mA, but they're 23 watts. Got more headroom and less break-up with the 6L6's. I've got the gain at about 4-5. Definitely made a difference.

I tried a GE 5751 in V2, but it kinda neutered it a bit, didn't like it.
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I think that's what they are "Boutique" labeled and that's power and all preamp in mine. I've read quite a bit from folks really liking the 7581A in the amp.
 
suhrimmetal said:
My SLO 30 boosted with my SD-1 is possibly the greatest sounding and feeling tone I've had to date.... and Ive had pretty much all of them... It is just fun to play and 'dig in'.... My guitar player plays an SLO 100 and they just create this sonic bloom and wall of sound together... no harsh frequencies, plenty of cut. Tried other OD's but that SD-1 won out pretty easily... level maxed, drive off, tone to taste... it just works.

Sidenote.....finally went the Strymon route and got the Strymon Dig. I'm a lead guy..... this is the best pedal I have ever bought and I may need 2 now. Best delay I have ever used for my needs... I don't do the ambient or U2 tap tempo type stuff... In the loop of the SLO for liquid leads with warm repeats that don't get in the way, The SLO with SD-1 and Dig = best tone for me that I've had in 20+ years of my flipping and chasing.. all live applications for me...gigs and rehearsals. Even my bandmates had that 'holy shit' reaction.
Click to expand...

I gotta say, after tinkering and dialing it in, Holy shit was what I was feeling. And I'm inclined to agree with you.. It could easily be the best sounding amp I've ever played, let alone owned.
 
suhrimmetal said:
My SLO 30 boosted with my SD-1 is possibly the greatest sounding and feeling tone I've had to date.... and Ive had pretty much all of them... It is just fun to play and 'dig in'.... My guitar player plays an SLO 100 and they just create this sonic bloom and wall of sound together... no harsh frequencies, plenty of cut. Tried other OD's but that SD-1 won out pretty easily... level maxed, drive off, tone to taste... it just works.

Sidenote.....finally went the Strymon route and got the Strymon Dig. I'm a lead guy..... this is the best pedal I have ever bought and I may need 2 now. Best delay I have ever used for my needs... I don't do the ambient or U2 tap tempo type stuff... In the loop of the SLO for liquid leads with warm repeats that don't get in the way, The SLO with SD-1 and Dig = best tone for me that I've had in 20+ years of my flipping and chasing.. all live applications for me...gigs and rehearsals. Even my bandmates had that 'holy shit' reaction.
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I have a DIG as well. I'd be curious to get your setting for that!
 
napalmdeath said:
I gotta say, after tinkering and dialing it in, Holy shit was what I was feeling. And I'm inclined to agree with you.. It could easily be the best sounding amp I've ever played, let alone owned.
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It's pretty inspiring for sure.... I can't imagine it thru a 4x12 cuz it sounds so damn good with my Suhr 2x12. Have a full 4hr gig on Saturday and so stoked to here my rig through all of it. Don't disregard the crunch channel... it retains a lot of the plexi type fullness and roundess to jcm800 tones.. and boosted is really great. Glad you are diggin it.
 
napalmdeath said:
I gotta say, after tinkering and dialing it in, Holy shit was what I was feeling. And I'm inclined to agree with you.. It could easily be the best sounding amp I've ever played, let alone owned.
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Told you both...LOL! I had a Gower 2203x, Fryette CLX and D60, and a 2555x here next to the SLO30, and they're all gone. It's just a killer amp IMHO. Tone, punch, grind, heft, and the feel is great.
 
suhrimmetal said:
It's pretty inspiring for sure.... I can't imagine it thru a 4x12 cuz it sounds so damn good with my Suhr 2x12. Have a full 4hr gig on Saturday and so stoked to here my rig through all of it. Don't disregard the crunch channel... it retains a lot of the plexi type fullness and roundess to jcm800 tones.. and boosted is really great. Glad you are diggin it.
Click to expand...
I play mine either through a 412/212 together or two 412s and a vector active sub...it's INSANELY good! I prefer the 412/212/sub combo, talk about filling the room. I know the amp alone has tons of bass, but the sub fills out a freq range no amp can touch with zero flub. Just makes for wrecking ball of a thick tight sound.
 
jbru91 said:
I have a DIG as well. I'd be curious to get your setting for that!
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I'm mono mic'd live fyi.... but I have it time noon, time 2 dotted eight, repeats 10clock, mod deep, type 12 bit, mix noon on both... adjust to room a bit but this pedal is f'n beautiful.
 
MetalHeadMike said:
I play mine either through a 412/212 together or two 412s and a vector active sub...it's INSANELY good! I prefer the 412/212/sub combo, talk about filling the room. I know the amp alone has tons of bass, but the sub fills out a freq range no amp can touch with zero flub. Just makes for wrecking ball of a thick tight sound.
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I think the bottom end can get a bit loose and tubby for high gain.. at least with my 2x12..... but the simple, little sd-1 brings some magic for sure. And I'm not saying it's a flabby low end... I actually love it stock... but to get the razors edge.... it does need that push. What's great.... is with 2 pedals... I cover everything from Blue Oyster Cult to 3 Doors Down to Alice and Sevendust.
 
suhrimmetal said:
My SLO 30 boosted with my SD-1 is possibly the greatest sounding and feeling tone I've had to date.... and Ive had pretty much all of them... It is just fun to play and 'dig in'.... My guitar player plays an SLO 100 and they just create this sonic bloom and wall of sound together... no harsh frequencies, plenty of cut. Tried other OD's but that SD-1 won out pretty easily... level maxed, drive off, tone to taste... it just works.

Sidenote.....finally went the Strymon route and got the Strymon Dig. I'm a lead guy..... this is the best pedal I have ever bought and I may need 2 now. Best delay I have ever used for my needs... I don't do the ambient or U2 tap tempo type stuff... In the loop of the SLO for liquid leads with warm repeats that don't get in the way, The SLO with SD-1 and Dig = best tone for me that I've had in 20+ years of my flipping and chasing.. all live applications for me...gigs and rehearsals. Even my bandmates had that 'holy shit' reaction.
Click to expand...

What version SD-1 you guys use? Any goes?
I am thinking to buy my first boost and basically my first pedal overall for the SLO-100, and thinking what to get. Sadly missed Griff’s Klon clone run, some complications with paypal.
 
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