After trying the Soldano pedal, Soldano mini, the Soldano Synergy module, and now even the ReVolt SLO channel, I can safely say that the Synergy module comes the closest to the original SLO amp. Mike and the Synergy team crushed it on that one.
Welp I hope Synergy throws ya something for this series of vids 'cause I was on the fence on getting one but now I need the SLO and the HBE. Well done and worth a sub.
This tone you're getting is probably the best I've heard from you since I started watching. All the Synergy stuff to be honest. They really have something with this concept. You can't get more real than real!!!
Wow. Great intro and love the Soldano tone: this is THE high gain guitar sound to me, singing sustaining and very expressive. And that Musicman J2k blends perfectly with that SLO preamp for a great Steve Morse singing lead (nice playing Henning!). Need to save money for buying one in 2018.
Note, the hot rod 50 with hi-lo inputs is not the same circuit as the SLO. The HR50+ OD channel is the same, ( very minor component diff.) The HR50 is kind of a hy-brid between the crunch and the od channel. Schematic for HR50+ is out there, and I reverse engineered one for the HR50.
Hahaha thank you. They are very different animals. This is like comparing a marshall slp plug in to a jcm 900 claiming " see it's almost just like a real plexi" hahaha
I thought the opening track had never sounded better than now. Then I heard the module! Then I heard the Soldano proper! I still think the original sounds a hair fuller, but the Synergy was impressive, no doubt about it!
Sounds great, nice playing too! The difference between amp and Syn-setup is minimal. It could be down to a variation in preamp tubes. Having 6L6s in the Syn poweramp definitely helps to get the right bass response.
You never turn the "Sag" knob why? It would be great to hear what it's made for. Otherwise, Synergy modules have been created to replace the preamp stage of your amp. So it would be interesting to hear it that way too (into the Effects Return I mean), don't you think?
Well... someone needs to do in depth reviews of this stuff... otherwise you have quick demos with a sound or two of each module in ONE setup.... those videos are cool, but some channel needs to go nuts and look at it in depth... that is what I do.... so there are 11 modules and that means 11 in depth videos... what can I do?
I can't disagree much, but maybe it would be better for them to host it since it is full on commercial marketing at this point. Don't get me wrong, I would love to try one, and I think it is a great idea, but I am a marketer that has spent years in SEO, and I can see that you guys have an opportunity to do things right. I'd hate to see you blow it. Guitcon was a good start and you have some good ideas. I watch all that is going on and believe McKnight has a lot of good insight that can help greatly. I've been deep into the interweb thingy since it started. I rank videos and web sites. It's what I do. As white hat as possible...LOL! I wish you all the best!
@@EytschPi42 Your soldano, it doesn't sound like an SLO as well. It has differences in the circuit. In essence it has 1 gain stage more and 1 cathode follower formation less, it also has a different master volume, different bypass cap for treble on it, different treble peaker after the first stage, it has a smaller value resistor on the 4th gain stage AND the cathode bypass cap in stage 4 and the first (6!) after the loop return and the loop is different level wise. That is before touching the power section. The way it is modded, if he added an extra tube in there without vactrols and who knows what in preamp voltage, you are talking about a slightly to more different amp vs an SLO than you would think. In essence comparing it to an SLO voiced module, it can be different. Vs a real SLO it's darker looser and with less gain despite the extra stage, something that I think is audible here. By the way the synergy modules? Only two preamp tubes...4 gain stages. It has some solid state stuff in there. In all fairness other modern amps do. It is not "wrong" and I don't even think it's THAT important to sound quality, but I wish they'd stated it, right now it's like they are recreating the preamp with each module. Obviously you CANNOT have a six tube preamp with just two...just saying. You can go fairly identical with engl, splawn, marshall preamps thought. Those can be done fairly easy with just two tubes.
Closest one i've heard yet, but not surprising, as the Hot ROD/SLO preamps are fairly simple (compared to other high gain ones) . Also the synergy and the Soldano have the same amount of gain stages, (4) and that's not the case for all the synergy preamps with them all having 2 tubes max.. The Soldano sounds a bit more compressed and dark, probably due to having a bit more gain (that's what soldano's do with more gain), probably due to the fact that not all pots are made equal (and tolerances aren't really very tight on pots...) and setting them both at 3 o clock doesn't mean that they will have the same amount of gain
SLO's do sound darker with more gain. It's because they basically have a bright switch hardwired. Bright switches (generally) bypass high frequencies past the gain knob, so they have more effect on lower gain. As you set the gain higher the low and high shelf come together and it gets "darker" (or technically, less bright)
Merci for this very nice demo !!! I love so much the Soldano sound, but I hate the 50 ms attack on an overdrived solo that let the sound make a piss of high level sound and noise. You see what I'm speaking about ? Question : is it possible to reduce or stop (or smooth) this noisy attack (first, with only the synergy (or real SLO) and second, by using, for example a compressor with a delay of activation at 0 to reduc gain from 0 to 50 ms ? (or any other solution). Sorry if my english is not good.
Such an awesome intro tune. Haven't watched many of your videos over the years. But in the last few months of amp shopping I've almost always ended up watching your reviews. Looking at the grandmeister 40, synergy syn-30 with slo , or markV 25. Which would you pick?
@@EytschPi42 Thanks for the reply! Would you spend the extra cash for the syn-30 or go with the dock? Got both in my cart right now but have never used either.
@@Lee-wu2up what do you think your doing with overdrive and distortion pedals in the front of an amp? You absolutely could plug this in the the front of a clean amp. Not how I would use it or how it's meant to be used. It would just sound different. Which kinda defeats the purpose of buying something designed to sound like their more expensive counterparts.
@@jeffp5730 I never said you couldn't, only that it's not how it works/is designed to work. Sure a distortion pedal is technically a preamp, but there's context to this conversation and, to me, it seems pretty obvious I was talking about plugging two amp preamp sections into each other and the design of this hardware and it's intended useage. I'm at a loss as to why you'd even make this response and tag me.
I love your reviews if you were choosing an amp with the ability to go direct would you say these are better sounding than the hughes and keptner spirit 200
@@EytschPi42 thanks I am up grading my kit from a modded classic 30 that I really love the sound of but we are wanting to start going direct and so far I have not really liked the bias or the kemper videos as much as the HK and so I am a little Leary of going that direction without being able to play through one
the real amp seemed to have more resonance and a bit more percussive. All of their modules seem really close. Probably no one would even notice in a live mix and probably a recording too. Anything to never use a digital model fizz box is ok in my book
9:37 "beautifully voiced" mah I don't think so, it sounds very bad that cab sim! the real cab with the e609 and the torpedo sounds waaaaay better. In the end all the analog cab sim sounds the same, and they sound bad, it's much better to use a simple IR loaded in the DAW
EytschPi42 as i said, for my taste it sounds bad! In the mix It sounds better, but in the end it's not something i would use, because it sounds "fake" , in particular for the bass/middle frequencies.
Come on man. Sure its compared with a Soldano but not an slo. If you are gonna compare a fender bassman plug in to the real thing would you use a fender twin or a 15 watt blues junior as a reference amp? That said, I hear a noticeable difference between this module and amp and I can only imagine there would be a greater difference between the module and amp it claims to be able to mimic. At least " modelers" are getting away from packing the unit full of low quality and near useless effects.
Ya gotta realize it's more than just tone, as freq. amount of dist. etc., Soldano just has a feel to it that can't be duplicated. That thing sounds ok but even on utube u can tell the diff.
After trying the Soldano pedal, Soldano mini, the Soldano Synergy module, and now even the ReVolt SLO channel, I can safely say that the Synergy module comes the closest to the original SLO amp. Mike and the Synergy team crushed it on that one.
I'm on the fence between synergy SLO ii module or the new X88ir rack preamp.
Welp I hope Synergy throws ya something for this series of vids 'cause I was on the fence on getting one but now I need the SLO and the HBE. Well done and worth a sub.
This tone you're getting is probably the best I've heard from you since I started watching. All the Synergy stuff to be honest. They really have something with this concept. You can't get more real than real!!!
That intro was so good!!! Probably my favourite intro so far from you.
i think I want. SLO module for sure. Wonder if a 5150 module will ever be made.
5 years later… but yes (6505)
Wow. Great intro and love the Soldano tone: this is THE high gain guitar sound to me, singing sustaining and very expressive. And that Musicman J2k blends perfectly with that SLO preamp for a great Steve Morse singing lead (nice playing Henning!). Need to save money for buying one in 2018.
Sounds almost identical, which isn’t surprising since Mike Soldano and Dave Friedman helped develop the Synergy.
I think it was Steven Fryette, Bruce Egnater and David Friedman
Love your channel Henning. Exactly what I needed right now!
Are there any sweaters left in all of Germany? 👍
Nein!
Only non-ugly ones.
😂🤣🤣🤣
They sound extremely similar! Thanks for this!
close enough to be in the "save money and get the cheaper option" category.
Freakin' awesome tones, fantastic produced track, and some serious spaceman sweaters! Keep it coming Henning!
Note, the hot rod 50 with hi-lo inputs is not the same circuit as the SLO. The HR50+ OD channel is the same, ( very minor component diff.) The HR50 is kind of a hy-brid between the crunch and the od channel. Schematic for HR50+ is out there, and I reverse engineered one for the HR50.
Hahaha thank you. They are very different animals. This is like comparing a marshall slp plug in to a jcm 900 claiming " see it's almost just like a real plexi" hahaha
Sounds amazing ! Great playing brosef . That module sounds killer .
Ok SLO is on the way, Im stoked about this module!
I LOVE this Module! Best Leadsoud I‘ve ever heard 😍
I thought the opening track had never sounded better than now. Then I heard the module! Then I heard the Soldano proper! I still think the original sounds a hair fuller, but the Synergy was impressive, no doubt about it!
For me the difference is the power section 50 w sounds different
I would love to see this video updated, comparing the module in the syn50 head vs a real Soldano.
Even though it not METAL, this is some mean ass playing!!!! I mean that with the most respect.
Throw a 808 in front and an eq behind soldano and you have metal tone.
What is that song called? Melody for DAYS! Had me banging my head instantly, lol. I want to buy that single.
That module got some sweet leads.
I once saw a christmas sweater with a giant sparkling turkey on it with the words "I am not a chicken" it might have been right up Hennings alley.
Sounds great, nice playing too!
The difference between amp and Syn-setup is minimal. It could be down to a variation in preamp tubes. Having 6L6s in the Syn poweramp definitely helps to get the right bass response.
Where did you get that all purple (even knobs) Soldano sick looking amp!?
used
You never turn the "Sag" knob why? It would be great to hear what it's made for. Otherwise, Synergy modules have been created to replace the preamp stage of your amp. So it would be interesting to hear it that way too (into the Effects Return I mean), don't you think?
you should be hearing it into he FX return in EVERY demo I did! When I use the Fender Hot Rod!
Have the number of views from all this overload of Synergy sunk in yet? Your playing is awesome, but is a Synergy enema next?
Well... someone needs to do in depth reviews of this stuff... otherwise you have quick demos with a sound or two of each module in ONE setup.... those videos are cool, but some channel needs to go nuts and look at it in depth... that is what I do.... so there are 11 modules and that means 11 in depth videos... what can I do?
I can't disagree much, but maybe it would be better for them to host it since it is full on commercial marketing at this point. Don't get me wrong, I would love to try one, and I think it is a great idea, but I am a marketer that has spent years in SEO, and I can see that you guys have an opportunity to do things right. I'd hate to see you blow it. Guitcon was a good start and you have some good ideas. I watch all that is going on and believe McKnight has a lot of good insight that can help greatly. I've been deep into the interweb thingy since it started. I rank videos and web sites. It's what I do. As white hat as possible...LOL! I wish you all the best!
Rumy 73, You have some kind of cognitive issue going on?
@@EytschPi42 Your soldano, it doesn't sound like an SLO as well.
It has differences in the circuit.
In essence it has 1 gain stage more and 1 cathode follower formation less, it also has a different master volume, different bypass cap for treble on it, different treble peaker after the first stage, it has a smaller value resistor on the 4th gain stage AND the cathode bypass cap in stage 4 and the first (6!) after the loop return and the loop is different level wise. That is before touching the power section.
The way it is modded, if he added an extra tube in there without vactrols and who knows what in preamp voltage, you are talking about a slightly to more different amp vs an SLO than you would think.
In essence comparing it to an SLO voiced module, it can be different. Vs a real SLO it's darker looser and with less gain despite the extra stage, something that I think is audible here.
By the way the synergy modules? Only two preamp tubes...4 gain stages. It has some solid state stuff in there. In all fairness other modern amps do. It is not "wrong" and I don't even think it's THAT important to sound quality, but I wish they'd stated it, right now it's like they are recreating the preamp with each module. Obviously you CANNOT have a six tube preamp with just two...just saying.
You can go fairly identical with engl, splawn, marshall preamps thought. Those can be done fairly easy with just two tubes.
Closest one i've heard yet, but not surprising, as the Hot ROD/SLO preamps are fairly simple (compared to other high gain ones) . Also the synergy and the Soldano have the same amount of gain stages, (4) and that's not the case for all the synergy preamps with them all having 2 tubes max.. The Soldano sounds a bit more compressed and dark, probably due to having a bit more gain (that's what soldano's do with more gain), probably due to the fact that not all pots are made equal (and tolerances aren't really very tight on pots...) and setting them both at 3 o clock doesn't mean that they will have the same amount of gain
SLO's do sound darker with more gain. It's because they basically have a bright switch hardwired. Bright switches (generally) bypass high frequencies past the gain knob, so they have more effect on lower gain. As you set the gain higher the low and high shelf come together and it gets "darker" (or technically, less bright)
There's a tube in the unit as well for 3. Whether it's the Syn1 or an MTS amp. Cascades from the input stage to the 2 in the module.
Was going to say the same about the pots. Should have try to get the same eq by ear not pot position. Otherwise one of the best comparison videos
Merci for this very nice demo !!!
I love so much the Soldano sound, but I hate the 50 ms attack on an overdrived solo that let the sound make a piss of high level sound and noise. You see what I'm speaking about ?
Question : is it possible to reduce or stop (or smooth) this noisy attack (first, with only the synergy (or real SLO) and second, by using, for example a compressor with a delay of activation at 0 to reduc gain from 0 to 50 ms ? (or any other solution). Sorry if my english is not good.
Danke schon Herr Pauly. Das ist sehr gut. Spater bro!
Somebody has heard a song called De Música Ligera from Soda Estereo. The song that hennings playing sound like it a lot
si, se lo robo !!!plagio !!! a cerati !!!
song was great. very well produced tones. nice playing as well.
0:40 in and it already sounds like Satriani's tone!!! Fucking Awesome!!! :)
The Intro reminds me of How much love by Vixen
GREAT JOB BRO
"Vergleichbar" rolls off the tongue much easier. I'm a native English speaker and the word "comparable" messes with me still.
Love your vids
Such an awesome intro tune.
Haven't watched many of your videos over the years. But in the last few months of amp shopping I've almost always ended up watching your reviews. Looking at the grandmeister 40, synergy syn-30 with slo , or markV 25. Which would you pick?
Synergy for sure!
@@EytschPi42 Thanks for the reply! Would you spend the extra cash for the syn-30 or go with the dock? Got both in my cart right now but have never used either.
good job Henning Pauly!
Dein Pullover, ist der Hammer,
Please tell me you have that intro song released somewhere
Sounds like How Much Love by Vixen
It's like Glen Fricker is standing behind the camera.
Nice!
Oh good I wanted to hear a review of the Soldano Hot Rod amp, well it isn't a review of the amp but it's close enough ! Thx
Would like to hear the Marshall jcm 800 module.....have you done one for it ?
yes
Great video,....
I could not tell a difference between the Synergy and the SLO head.
Wow...that sounds like a cranked up 70's Marshall JMP...which is no surprise b/c that is Mike Soldano's favorite amp and inspiration for the SLO.
I really would love to hear an example of the modules played through an amp that has no fx loop. A good clean/neutral sounding amp.
You can’t do that, you need to plug synergy modules into the FX return of you loop to use them
Why..? That's not how it works.. you'd be doubling up on preamps..
@@Lee-wu2up what do you think your doing with overdrive and distortion pedals in the front of an amp?
You absolutely could plug this in the the front of a clean amp. Not how I would use it or how it's meant to be used. It would just sound different. Which kinda defeats the purpose of buying something designed to sound like their more expensive counterparts.
@@jeffp5730 I never said you couldn't, only that it's not how it works/is designed to work.
Sure a distortion pedal is technically a preamp, but there's context to this conversation and, to me, it seems pretty obvious I was talking about plugging two amp preamp sections into each other and the design of this hardware and it's intended useage. I'm at a loss as to why you'd even make this response and tag me.
I would love to hear these with Barefaced cabs!
I love your reviews if you were choosing an amp with the ability to go direct would you say these are better sounding than the hughes and keptner spirit 200
the h&K has a more flexible speaker simulation, but the synergy has better preamps
@@EytschPi42 thanks I am up grading my kit from a modded classic 30 that I really love the sound of but we are wanting to start going direct and so far I have not really liked the bias or the kemper videos as much as the HK and so I am a little Leary of going that direction without being able to play through one
How does it sound through a BE100 head?
good
Dude!!! Rock out why don't you!!! Go Pauly Go!!
the real amp seemed to have more resonance and a bit more percussive. All of their modules seem really close. Probably no one would even notice in a live mix and probably a recording too. Anything to never use a digital model fizz box is ok in my book
FLAG! IMPROPER USAGE OF "THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID" 5 Demerits. Nice vid:) I'm gwine hafta try one of these units for myself.
"hafta".... really?
Yuht. (Yessah) Our love WILL find a way jus'...yuht.
9:37 "beautifully voiced" mah I don't think so, it sounds very bad that cab sim! the real cab with the e609 and the torpedo sounds waaaaay better. In the end all the analog cab sim sounds the same, and they sound bad, it's much better to use a simple IR loaded in the DAW
but how did that track sound?
EytschPi42 as i said, for my taste it sounds bad! In the mix It sounds better, but in the end it's not something i would use, because it sounds "fake" , in particular for the bass/middle frequencies.
Loved that cheasy intro song.
Come on man. Sure its compared with a Soldano but not an slo. If you are gonna compare a fender bassman plug in to the real thing would you use a fender twin or a 15 watt blues junior as a reference amp? That said, I hear a noticeable difference between this module and amp and I can only imagine there would be a greater difference between the module and amp it claims to be able to mimic. At least " modelers" are getting away from packing the unit full of low quality and near useless effects.
You are funny german, lol. Nice melody.
will these work in the Randall MTS?
yes
Yes but only one channel. I believe you can pre-select which one.
The Egnater dual channel amps will switch channels on Synergy modules.
Yes, it's just a preamp.
soda stereo song !!! de musica ligera....
well im eating crow bcus ive been dogging you out for being a fkg goof ,,, but was really good intro song and video ,,, so my apologies
I like the module more than the Soldano amp
Torpedo IR- instant George Lynch.
Musica ligeraaaa
ET phone home!
4:30
Ya gotta realize it's more than just tone, as freq. amount of dist. etc., Soldano just has a feel to it that can't be duplicated. That thing sounds ok but even on utube u can tell the diff.
Gotta be the power transformer in the head
Oh hell this farter