5150 and SLO schematics compared...

[Twisteramps]

Re: 5150 and SLO schematics compared...

Originally posted by rstites:
T
Pete, I'm pretty sure that the preamps are the only Soldanos you'll see sockets on the circuit board, and those are just preamp tubes so no real heat do damage anything. I know you won't find that on the SLO, but maybe I misremember that HRs.

Ross

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I didn't say anything about circuit board mounting... it's just I've seen pics of some SLOs that had the tube sockets pop riveted to the chassis. That would make them a total pain in the ass to replace... And stuff like that is going to wear out eventually.

I found a decently priced source for ceramic tube sockets to use on my amps, so I'm pretty jazzed.

Pete

[Metalcop]

Re: 5150 and SLO schematics compared...

Pete, you kind of missed my point. I wasn't saying that the Peavey was worth three times what they are charging. Only that IF they charged three times as much, they would get more respect. A lot of people judge Peavey (and other amps) on their price, not the sound they produce. Peaveys are built like tanks, they are extremely tough. Granted they aren't hand built to military specs like the Soldano. I don't think that the Peavey sounds like the SLO, it doesn't. But as you stated it is a good value for a high gain amp. The Peavey has more gain than the SLO, to some players this is a good thing. The SLO only goes so far, you don't get up into Swedish Death Metal territory. Not sure if thats a good or bad thing? If Peavey wanted, they could probably make an exact duplicate of the SLO, albeit with cheaper parts and sell it for half the price. They used it as a starting off point and as you said they changed a few bits and parts here and there and came up with a totally different sound. I stand by my original assessment that the Peavey is a fantastic value. The Soldano is a fantastic amp, but not the greatest bang for your buck.

[rstites]

Re: 5150 and SLO schematics compared...

Pete, I misread. I never thought of that as an issue, but I supposed you're right. What's a better way: a basic bolt/washer/nut?

[DerekB]

Re: 5150 and SLO schematics compared...

The SLO does nothing for me at all and I would take a 5150 over one anyday cause I am a metal player and the SLO is weak in the Gain department.I was really disappointed when I finally played an SLO a couple weeks ago and felt the tone was overall just dry,harsh and weak.

Derek

[rstites]

Re: 5150 and SLO schematics compared...

The SLO pretty much defines modern high gain sounds. It has plenty of gain for metal. (May lack some bass if you're a nu metal player.) If you're an experienced player with that description, I'd conclude that the particular one you played had issues. I've never heard anyone complain about the SLO lacking gain before.

[ken5423]

Re: 5150 and SLO schematics compared...

I've been playing guitar for over 2 decades and 3 months ago I had $3,500 to spend on an amp. I first tried the Soldano SLO and then went to another shop and tried the Peavey Triple XXX. I did this 2 times,bouncing from one to the other. I ended up buying the Triple XXX.....IMHO it sounds BETTER then the Soldano!!! Ripoff or not....I paid $879 for the X compared to $3000 for the SLO.If you are in the market for an amp that covers every aspect of "old school metal" or "nu-metal" then you are an idiot if you don't check out the Triple XXX...PERIOD!!! It's an incredible tone machine. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[Chuckracer]

Re: 5150 and SLO schematics compared...

Um...ookay!

[DerekB]

Re: 5150 and SLO schematics compared...

Originally posted by rstites:
The SLO pretty much defines modern high gain sounds. It has plenty of gain for metal. (May lack some bass if you're a nu metal player.) If you're an experienced player with that description, I'd conclude that the particular one you played had issues. I've never heard anyone complain about the SLO lacking gain before.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Im not a Nu Metal player and I take back not enough gain it did though feel dry and harsh.The particular one I played also had the Depth mod on it which made it sort of loose sounding.I have owned tons of different high end amps and the SLO was a let down for me.I love 800's with SD-1's in the front and I will have to go back and roll back the gain and see how one works with the Soldano

Derek

[Chuckracer]

Re: 5150 and SLO schematics compared...

Make sure you turn it up, too. These puppies can sound pretty lame at low volume. I can well relate to trying to get a feel for one in a store...ain't gonna happen!

[SEAN RAF]

Re: 5150 and SLO schematics compared...

I have a Peavey 5150 MK1 combo which is responsible for my continued interest in playing guitar. It suits me...we're arguing futile reasons here. It's better than any Soldano, Mesa Boogie, Bogner, Uber, Engl...whatever, it's my tone. You don't like them? Don't buy them. Best amp I ever heard. If they were ten times the price, I'd have to have one.

Sean.

[rstites]

Re: 5150 and SLO schematics compared...

Good point, Chuck. These are a bit like the 800s in that you have to get them up a bit to get them breathing. Also, I've found Soldanos to be much more finicky about pickups than most amps out there. I don't know why, but they seem to love some and hate others. I think they do better with medium gain or lower gain pickups - no need to push the front end on them.

Derekb, I would encourage you to give it another shot because to me the SLO sound is very much an idealized JCM800 pushed with the ultimate pedal type sound. (yeah, it's a weird description, but I think you follow me) If that's a sound you like, the SLO would be the first amp I'd recommend to someone looking for a 'boutique' high gain head. That's not to say that it still may not have the right voicing for you. If you can, I'd try as many of these amps as possible. You certainly have a lot of choices at the price range of the SLO. Like I said somewhere else, I think the VHT UL (and CL), the Egnaters, the Bogners, etc. are certainly great amps and hold their own too. (I'll also come right out and state that pretty much all of them offer more features than the SLO and usually for less money. You definitely buy the SLO for the lead channel and the build quality. If the first doens't do it for you, I'd definitely look elsewhere.)

I haven't tried the Peavey XXX, but I'll try to avoid looking at the stupid face plate and try one the next time I get a chance. I have no doubt that it's a good bang-for-buck, like the 5150 and some of the other all tube Peaveys, but I have serious reservations about it hanging with the afore-mentioned amps. I guess that makes me a bit biased going in, but as an engineering type I can pretty much guarantee you that you can't get an amp to market with that many features and that low of price without some major corner cutting...

Ross

[Twisteramps]

Re: 5150 and SLO schematics compared...

Originally posted by ken:
I've been playing guitar for over 2 decades and 3 months ago I had $3,500 to spend on an amp. I first tried the Soldano SLO and then went to another shop and tried the Peavey Triple XXX. I did this 2 times,bouncing from one to the other. I ended up buying the Triple XXX.....IMHO it sounds BETTER then the Soldano!!! Ripoff or not....I paid $879 for the X compared to $3000 for the SLO.If you are in the market for an amp that covers every aspect of "old school metal" or "nu-metal" then you are an idiot if you don't check out the Triple XXX...PERIOD!!! It's an incredible tone machine. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">If you like it, take it to a tech and have it properly biased. Most new amps (and Peavey and Mesa especially) are biased cold - it makes the tubes last longer. It also doesn't sound as good.

Pete

[taxistationary]

Re: 5150 and SLO schematics compared...

I'm sure that a Soldano can kick a 5150 all around the town, but for around $500 (used) i think the 5150 is worth it. The Soldano's are great, but for the price of 1 used soldano i could problay pickup 2 used 5150 stacks!! BUT! If you guys want to try a REAL amp, check out a Roland JC-120!!! [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

[Twisteramps]

Re: 5150 and SLO schematics compared...

Everyone seems to be in agreement - the 5150 is a great deal. However, where it gets sketchy is where people say it's as good or better than an SLO. I guess we could agree to say it's 'different' [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

I got good tones out of mine, but it was a little too grainy and high-endy/tinty sounding for my taste. It also sounded much better cranked than at bedroom levels... low volume playing on the thing sounded like a metal bucket filled with angry bees.

BTW, I bought a 5150 1/2 stack (block logo even!)a few years back for $500! You can get great deals on em... every now and then they show up locally for $350-$425.

Pete

[Boxcar Willie 84]

Re: 5150 and SLO schematics compared...

Sketchy eh...I take your rig, you take my lingo, huh? [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]