hi Ken just got a SYN1 to incorporate with my Friedman Runt 20; im already blowing my entire 2nd amp fund on modules... this was a great video man and i literally just bought a used SLO module on reverb after watching this video man. be well and keep rocking!
Tonedover- I have a Runt50 head and I am considering pulling trigger on Syn1 and SLO module (maybe the engl too) How do you think the Syn-SLO works and SOUNDS with the Runt??
Excellent video! I bought the Synergy and the Soldano preamp to save money, but now I bought the Bogner Ecstacy, the Fryette Ultra Lead, the Engl Savage, the Friedman BB/BE, the Engl Powerball and the Diezel VH4. I love being able to change the preamps! I never would've been able to buy all these amps. That being said, this can get expensive fast, but $399 compared to the Diezel VH4 or Friedman BE - I get close to the same tone for a fraction of the "real amp" price. I'd wager that not many people could tell the difference - especially when recorded and in the mix. The Fractal, Kemper, Helix, new Neural Quad Cortex, sound great as well. It's a fantastic time to be a guitarist!!! Perpetual GAS has even more fuel for the never-ending gear hoard! The profiler gear is AMAZING! It's gonna be hard for the model-programmers to keep up with how fast a profiler can capture amps. The Quad Cortex captures pedals as well. Have you tried that yet?
@@kenjacobsenmusicStill a lot of people don’t understand the synergy concept... Anyway, I use it for 2 years now and personally, I don’t care if it sounds 100% exactly like the amps, for me it’s important to have a killer sound that doesn’t sound like anybody else. I sometimes put the slo or bogner module thru a el34 50/50 marshall power amp or thru another fx loop of other amps i have. This way I actually enjoy making music and explore different sounds, be creative.
I really liked the sound of the Synergy....in my experience after living thru the rack/preamp craze of the late 80’s,anytime you separate the preamp and power amp into separate pieces,it loses a little something...they aren’t both being powered and linked together in the same way as if they are together as a whole.....still,for way less money,I think it gets pretty close....great comparison...They both sounded really good..
@@kenjacobsenmusic absolutely....I think it’s one of those things that,if you are trying to replicate the real amp 100 percent,you may be disappointed....just buy the real deal....but if you want something that’s cool,gets you very close,and is modular,the Synergy stuff is great.....I have yet to try the Soldano,but I have tried the Friedman’s and the Bogner ones....I agree with your observations....do they sound exactly like the amps,No....Do they sound great,absolutely....I will say this though,I have gotten better results running the Synergy into the real amp than running it into a power amp....seems to get much closer when using the power section of the real amp...
@@kenjacobsenmusic the 2:90 is great....I have an old Marshall 9005 50x50 power amp that sounds great with the Synergy stuff....2:90 makes anything sound good..
I think if people are going into these Synergy modules expecting a 1:1 likeness to the real amp, they're setting themselves up for disappointment. I think some buyers are getting fooled by people playing the syn preamps into the power amps of the real amps they're designed after and saying "see it sounds just like the real amp!" Well... yeah no shit you're playing what is essentially a detached preamp of the real amp into the power amp of the real amp so it SHOULD sound extremely similar. Not everyone has a real MK IIC+ or SLO or XTC to plug a module into those real amp effects loops and get disappointed when they don't sound identical when they run the module into whatever other power amp they may have. They get the general vibe and voice pretty close but how that voice feels and reacts to the playing and the dynamics of it are where the rubber leaves the road compared to the real amps.
I have the same, Syn-30 head and SLO module. I got it because I was starting to end up with too many amps and only really have the space/room for one. I must really like the SLO, because I have not gotten around to buying any of the other modules yet. :D
Hey Ken. How do these compare when you just look at the sound in the room? Edit: cool guitar. I have a usa dinky that looks exactly like it. Color and all
I can't decide whether to get the SLO or Metropolous Synergy modules. My tone preferences are Clapton, Allmans, Dead, Buddy Guy, Otis Rush, Freddie King, etc. I'm getting the TDlx module, but I want something more "British" that isn't high gain - I'm thinking Cream, Beck,, etc. I know the SLO will do fairly clean tone - Clapton played an SLO 100 during the 1990s. Any recommendations?
I like the TDLX module for a Fender style sound. The plexi module is great for Marshall type tones. The SLO is really high gain. Maybe too much for your needs. Maybe the Morgan or the Freedman BE.
@@kenjacobsenmusic Thanks, Ken. I heard the SLO and TDlx into the effects return of a Fender tube amp in a local music store (they no longer stock Synergy). It was glorious. Clapton used SLOs on George Harrison's live album and it wasn't high gain. Also, Warren Haynes used SLOs for a while. I thought Friedmans were high-gain amps; I'll have to check the BE out. Thanks again for your reply.
Geez, for the difference in price, I can barely hear the difference in tone. I would go with the Synergy in a second, especially since Mike Soldano helped develop it, and I can add Plexi, Dumble, Fender, and other modules for a fraction what the individual amps would cost.
That’s a great Power Amp! Fuckin’-A-Right! There’s literally no difference except perhaps a bit of sizzle on top which to me, is only noise. Yeah, there IS no difference. Pushing that much overdrive how could you tell if there was? “On Tape”, it’s identical but like you said the Fizz is not there on some. The 30 has too much gain for me. It gets WAYYY too thick. There’s a surplus of noisy gain which I wish I could subtract. That fizzy sound is awful to my ears. I have to say. I have a SLO 20 and a Synergy SLO and a Salvation Audio unit which I think the Synergy has a presence circuit that engages as you raise the gain. It cleans it up so it doesn’t sizzle as badly. I hear a brilliant difference in the amp and the Synergy Vs. Salvation which has a presence control! Thomas Adams 11:11®️🎸
The SLO module are relatively close, but the SLO itself seems tighter/clearer and more cutting. The SLO module seems less responsive and darker, little bit lifeless. The module into the SLO sounded better having more fullness and richer harmonic content, but the original SLO sounded better. Money-wise, the SLO module is good for a bedroom player or cheap rack gigging. But to me I much prefer the actual SLO, was surprised there is that much of a difference to me.
They're close, but wow what a cost difference. Thanks for the info.
Great comparison vid! Thanks for posting this. The SLO module sounds incredible. Another one to add to my list!
Thanks and good luck with slo stuff
hi Ken just got a SYN1 to incorporate with my Friedman Runt 20; im already blowing my entire 2nd amp fund on modules... this was a great video man and i literally just bought a used SLO module on reverb after watching this video man. be well and keep rocking!
That’s awesome. Please check out my video of the fantastic Bogner module. Subscribe if you like.
Tonedover- I have a Runt50 head and I am considering pulling trigger on Syn1 and SLO module (maybe the engl too) How do you think the Syn-SLO works and SOUNDS with the Runt??
Really cool video dude. Thanks for sharing it!
Thanks for the kind words
great video - the format of the initial comparison is inspired, as is the playing!
Thanks, much appreciated. Please consider subscribing
Great tone. I have the Vai and Powerball modules and was on the fence about getting the SLO. I think you made up my mind.
Thanks for the kind words.
Great info, enjoyed the sound clips too!!
Thanks 😄
Excellent video! I bought the Synergy and the Soldano preamp to save money, but now I bought the Bogner Ecstacy, the Fryette Ultra Lead, the Engl Savage, the Friedman BB/BE, the Engl Powerball and the Diezel VH4. I love being able to change the preamps! I never would've been able to buy all these amps. That being said, this can get expensive fast, but $399 compared to the Diezel VH4 or Friedman BE - I get close to the same tone for a fraction of the "real amp" price. I'd wager that not many people could tell the difference - especially when recorded and in the mix.
The Fractal, Kemper, Helix, new Neural Quad Cortex, sound great as well. It's a fantastic time to be a guitarist!!! Perpetual GAS has even more fuel for the never-ending gear hoard! The profiler gear is AMAZING! It's gonna be hard for the model-programmers to keep up with how fast a profiler can capture amps. The Quad Cortex captures pedals as well. Have you tried that yet?
Awesome dude. Yea they sound superb. Try the plexi as well. I might do a video on that one. Thanks for the subs.,
Great video, Personally i like the slo module with the mesa boogie 290 more. It’s tighter imho.
Yes, I agree it’s tighter. It sound very close and a lot less money.
@@kenjacobsenmusicStill a lot of people don’t understand the synergy concept...
Anyway, I use it for 2 years now and personally, I don’t care if it sounds 100% exactly like the amps, for me it’s important to have a killer sound that doesn’t sound like anybody else. I sometimes put the slo or bogner module thru a el34 50/50 marshall power amp or thru another fx loop of other amps i have. This way I actually enjoy making music and explore different sounds, be creative.
@@ithebastardking2800 that’s right. I really like the uberschall, tdlx and the plexi modules.
I really liked the sound of the Synergy....in my experience after living thru the rack/preamp craze of the late 80’s,anytime you separate the preamp and power amp into separate pieces,it loses a little something...they aren’t both being powered and linked together in the same way as if they are together as a whole.....still,for way less money,I think it gets pretty close....great comparison...They both sounded really good..
I agree with you. But I still think the synergy has some more options as well. But lacks the general finesse.
@@kenjacobsenmusic absolutely....I think it’s one of those things that,if you are trying to replicate the real amp 100 percent,you may be disappointed....just buy the real deal....but if you want something that’s cool,gets you very close,and is modular,the Synergy stuff is great.....I have yet to try the Soldano,but I have tried the Friedman’s and the Bogner ones....I agree with your observations....do they sound exactly like the amps,No....Do they sound great,absolutely....I will say this though,I have gotten better results running the Synergy into the real amp than running it into a power amp....seems to get much closer when using the power section of the real amp...
I really like the Mesa 90/90 with synergy stuff
@@kenjacobsenmusic the 2:90 is great....I have an old Marshall 9005 50x50 power amp that sounds great with the Synergy stuff....2:90 makes anything sound good..
I think if people are going into these Synergy modules expecting a 1:1 likeness to the real amp, they're setting themselves up for disappointment. I think some buyers are getting fooled by people playing the syn preamps into the power amps of the real amps they're designed after and saying "see it sounds just like the real amp!" Well... yeah no shit you're playing what is essentially a detached preamp of the real amp into the power amp of the real amp so it SHOULD sound extremely similar.
Not everyone has a real MK IIC+ or SLO or XTC to plug a module into those real amp effects loops and get disappointed when they don't sound identical when they run the module into whatever other power amp they may have. They get the general vibe and voice pretty close but how that voice feels and reacts to the playing and the dynamics of it are where the rubber leaves the road compared to the real amps.
I own the Syn 30 head and the SLO module, would fit right in here. The omph from the Mesa is noticable tho.
Yes, but I did use the the SLO heads power amp so I could bypass the Mesa.
I have the same, Syn-30 head and SLO module. I got it because I was starting to end up with too many amps and only really have the space/room for one. I must really like the SLO, because I have not gotten around to buying any of the other modules yet. :D
Hey Ken. How do these compare when you just look at the sound in the room?
Edit: cool guitar. I have a usa dinky that looks exactly like it. Color and all
Same difference in the room as far as I’m concerned. Cool man play the crap out of it!
I 'm planning to get the SN-1 preamp with the SLO and Bogner Ubershall ;)
Cool man, check out this video. ua-cam.com/video/Tng1CT5Ktak/v-deo.html
I can't decide whether to get the SLO or Metropolous Synergy modules. My tone preferences are Clapton, Allmans, Dead, Buddy Guy, Otis Rush, Freddie King, etc. I'm getting the TDlx module, but I want something more "British" that isn't high gain - I'm thinking Cream, Beck,, etc. I know the SLO will do fairly clean tone - Clapton played an SLO 100 during the 1990s. Any recommendations?
I like the TDLX module for a Fender style sound. The plexi module is great for Marshall type tones. The SLO is really high gain. Maybe too much for your needs. Maybe the Morgan or the Freedman BE.
@@kenjacobsenmusic Thanks, Ken. I heard the SLO and TDlx into the effects return of a Fender tube amp in a local music store (they no longer stock Synergy). It was glorious. Clapton used SLOs on George Harrison's live album and it wasn't high gain. Also, Warren Haynes used SLOs for a while. I thought Friedmans were high-gain amps; I'll have to check the BE out. Thanks again for your reply.
Dude, dirty Shirley all the way for you! I have that and the SLO also. JTM 45 pounds all the way! That’s what you want! Check it out
That a Jackson Stars? So killer.
It’s Jackson custom USA Soloist.
that 7 string is a m monster bro!
The module sounds good enough to me. The differences are minimal.
Yea.
Does the synergy have the crunch channel?
Depends on the module. There are tons of options. On the SLO yes channel 1 can be dialed in for a great crunch tone
Geez, for the difference in price, I can barely hear the difference in tone. I would go with the Synergy in a second, especially since Mike Soldano helped develop it, and I can add Plexi, Dumble, Fender, and other modules for a fraction what the individual amps would cost.
Yea, it’s still tubes as well. Go for it.
That’s a great Power Amp! Fuckin’-A-Right! There’s literally no difference except perhaps a bit of sizzle on top which to me, is only noise. Yeah, there IS no difference. Pushing that much overdrive how could you tell if there was? “On Tape”, it’s identical but like you said the Fizz is not there on some. The 30 has too much gain for me. It gets WAYYY too thick. There’s a surplus of noisy gain which I wish I could subtract. That fizzy sound is awful to my ears. I have to say. I have a SLO 20 and a Synergy SLO and a Salvation Audio unit which I think the Synergy has a presence circuit that engages as you raise the gain. It cleans it up so it doesn’t sizzle as badly. I hear a brilliant difference in the amp and the Synergy Vs. Salvation which has a presence control! Thomas Adams 11:11®️🎸
You mean the Soldano power amp?
The SLO module are relatively close, but the SLO itself seems tighter/clearer and more cutting. The SLO module seems less responsive and darker, little bit lifeless. The module into the SLO sounded better having more fullness and richer harmonic content, but the original SLO sounded better.
Money-wise, the SLO module is good for a bedroom player or cheap rack gigging. But to me I much prefer the actual SLO, was surprised there is that much of a difference to me.
I’m glad you found this comparison useful.
ya, but with a Strat, will it play the Intro to Sweet home Alabama? LOL
Probably
Sounds indiscernible to me
Yea, thanks
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