Mods for a Soldano Slo

[Soloist1]

Re: Mods for a Soldano Slo

Add another for the stock SLO with KT66's. Sounds awesome. I've been getting a thicker bottom end by dialing the presence out. I even like mine at bedroom levels. Not the same as having it cranked, but still a pleasing tone.

I have the Tung Sol KT66's in mine currently. Haven't tried or heard the 5881's they have out yet but from what I'm hearing all the new production Tung Sol's are getting great reviews.

[TheUntalentedOne]

Re: Mods for a Soldano Slo

I love my SLO . I very rarely use the lead channel though .

I use the cruch channel with an overdrive in front . The overdrive is more of a clean boost and I actually have 2 in series . Sometimes just the amp , sometimes one or other of the overdrives and for some leads both overdrives .
Anyone else rather have the crunch than the lead channel ?

Mark

[Chuckracer]

Re: Mods for a Soldano Slo

Yup, that's how I ended up using mine. Crunch channel with a Analogman modded Tubescreamer in front of it. I still used the lead channel for solo's cause I needed the volune boost, but still with the Tubescreamer in front acting as a clean boost and the amps gain at like 4 or so.

[TheUntalentedOne]

Re: Mods for a Soldano Slo

Great minds think alike Chuck ? [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]
I just think the crunch channel has more bite to cut thru' . My gain on the crunch is 5-6 but the lead is 4 when I use it . Mids are close to max .
Oh , and I also pull 2 power tubes .

Mark

[Chuckracer]

Re: Mods for a Soldano Slo

Damn...I guess maybe!
My settings were: Crunch engaged, gain dimed, OD channel gain 4, bass 7, mids 5, treble 6, volumes loud, presence 3.

I agree, it has more personality on the crunch channel.

This was with Celestion 65 watt speakers, a bit of a strange bird. I WILL have another SLO someday...that was "my" amp.

[rstites]

Re: Mods for a Soldano Slo

I can definitely see using the crunch setting for rhythm and kicking in the overdrive channel for leads. The crunch cleans up pretty well with a guitar volume control too, so you can really get 3 (4 with a pedal) good sounds out of the amp. However, after taking Chuck's advice and putting a 5751 in V1, the clean channel has really come alive on the SLO. That takes it from being a "functional on a high gain amp" clean to a very good sounding clean channel, especially with lower output humbuckers and even singles (which I usually don't like with the SLO). I also like what it does to the overdrive channel. My only issue with the crunch sound is that I don't like how it and the overdrive work with the shared EQ as much as the straight clean sound with the overdrive.

I'm with Chuck on the 65's too. I have 2 Marshall '79 4x12s with original 65's in them. I've had one of them forever and picked up the other cheap a couple of years ago (mislabeled ebay auction [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] ). I've used the first 4x12 with about a dozen different Marshalls, Egnaters, Soldanos, Mesa's, rack systems, etc. for years. It's the most constant part of my rig!

[Chuckracer]

Re: Mods for a Soldano Slo

Those speakers are a terrific match to the SLO. I played mine through a v30 cab and a 75 cab, and I can see how people trying it for the first time would run screaming, basically!

I forgot about the 5751 trick. I did this in my current Marshall JMP100 with the Hotmod in it, and it cleaned things up nicely. Still tons of gain, but a much more "defined" gain.

[toddstaples]

Re: Mods for a Soldano Slo

I remember this very well [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[ QUOTE ]
They sounded amazing in that single recto! Damn, that was a good sounding amp!
I once totally fooled Toddstaples with it...I had it and the SLO on a couple of cabs, trying different things. He came in, listened for a bit, then asked me to play the same parts through the same cabs, but using the Recto instead of the SLO.

It WAS the Recto!

[/ QUOTE ]

[rstites]

Re: Mods for a Soldano Slo

[ QUOTE ]
Those speakers are a terrific match to the SLO. I played mine through a v30 cab and a 75 cab, and I can see how people trying it for the first time would run screaming, basically!

I forgot about the 5751 trick. I did this in my current Marshall JMP100 with the Hotmod in it, and it cleaned things up nicely. Still tons of gain, but a much more "defined" gain.

[/ QUOTE ]

I really don't see the V30s being a good match for Soldanos, but I'm not a real fan of V30s to begin with. I'd bet that the old Celestion 25s and 30s would sound pretty good with the SLO too. I actually like the same things with the old Marshalls. I really wish I'd never sold my '79 Marshall 2203. It came with the 4x12 I mentioned above. It's the only amp I wish I had back. It was special, and with JMP prices through the roof I can't justify the money to pick another up now anyway.

[Souldigger]

Re: Mods for a Soldano Slo

Thread resurection. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] So the SLO wouldn't be a great amp to practice with at lower volumes? I've been searching for a head to play out with and thought I might look at a SLO, but I need to be able to practice with it too at home and not irritate my roommates. I've heard mesa single rectos are good at lower volumes, but I've always wanted a SLO. I tried to go play one today, but the only Soldano dealer in the area is no more. What do you think a good price would be for one, $1900?

-Jason

[rstites]

Re: Mods for a Soldano Slo

The SLO will work fine at lower volumes for practise. The issue is that they really don't come alive and sound their best until they're turned up a bit, like most tube amps. This is one of those things that gets thrown out because someone will complain that the SLO doesn't sound good enough to justify the $ and yet they only played the thing in the store at conversation levels or only play at home in their bedroom. If you're playing out, you'll appreciate it fine and you already understand the differences in practise-at-home volumes vs. play-with-the-band volumes.

I don't know where current prices are on SLOs, and it will depend on what mods that head has too.