Soldano SLO vs modelers

GuitarJon

GuitarJon

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Update: here's a new comparison with my Quad Cortex (the amp model and a capture)



I got a real Soldano recently for the first time in my life! It's an incredible amp and I think it lives up to its reputation. Of course I want to compare the SLO 30 to a bunch of amps but also modeling platforms of course! I will be posting all the different modeling comparisons here in this thread to keep things organized.

First up is a comparison between the SLO vs the Solo 100 OD model in the Helix/HX. The results are interesting! Which platform should I do next? I'm thinking Quad Cortex?

Check out the first episode:

 
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A is Helix and B is Soldano? The difference I hear on my macbook pro is that A has more mids and B more presence ...

Edit: so it's the other way around. Very nice! Actually in isolation the B sounds a little more muffled in a way .
 
SKU said:
A is Helix and B is Soldano? The difference I hear on my macbook pro is that A has more mids and B more presence ...

Edit: so it's the other way around. Very nice! Actually in isolation the B sounds a little more muffled in a way .
Click to expand...

Bonus points for going in blind first! :)
 
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SKU ruined my blind guess, lol, but I didn’t notice any appreciable difference until the descending lick before the “chorus” that didn’t sound like it wouldn’t be easily eq-able. The real amp sounds smoother in the high end and a little more open. But of course this test is invalid because you’re using third-party IRs 😂😂😂
 
"It's perfectly fine to prefer the $3,000+ amplifier........"

*gulp*

1708704749567.png


:rofl
 
In context I kind of preferred Helix, but in isolation the Helix clip sounded really weird to me and the amp was much better. Guessing the settings being a bit more extreme to match the real amp tone kind of make it sound a little odd. I did some similar tests with my Jet City that was modded to the SLO circuit. Not exact but the settings were maybe a bit closer between them. I dig the Helix model!

 
I think this is the first time I guessed correctly which is which based on tone I liked better.

Also love the little pause after "impedance curve" 😄
 
Helix's Soldano models have always been great, IMHO. Anyone splitting hairs between the Stomp and the SLO head in this shootout needs to have their ears checked - they're a couple EQ tweaks away from being indistinguishable from each other. Remarkable for a device which is 1/5th of the price of the amp it models.

I'd love to hear the Quad Cortex next, @GuitarJon. I was never impressed with the SLO models on the QC when i had mine, but i hear they've drastically improved with recent updates.
 
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They both sound great. Nice comparison @GuitarJon .

The real amp has more harmonics and saturation which smooths it out nicely. Helix Native was a bit more focused, tighter. Either one works well in a mix imo. I love Native but haven't really worked much with the Soldano model -- looks like I need to though. :grin
 
Lysander said:
Helix's Soldano models have always been great, IMHO. Anyone splitting hairs between the Stomp and the SLO head in this shootout needs to have their ears checked - they're a couple EQ tweaks away from being indistinguishable from each other. Remarkable for a device which is 1/5th of the price of the amp it models.

I'd love to hear the Quad Cortex next, @GuitarJon. I was never impressed with the SLO models on the QC when i had mine, but i hear they've drastically improved with recent updates.
Click to expand...

The qc will be next. I haven't checked yet but I hope it has the depth control. Cortex capture will be interesting...

FuzzyAce said:
They both sound great. Nice comparison @GuitarJon .

The real amp has more harmonics and saturation which smooths it out nicely. Helix Native was a bit more focused, tighter. Either one works well in a mix imo. I love Native but haven't really worked much with the Soldano model -- looks like I need to though. :grin
Click to expand...

It's a fun model! As I said in the video I prefer my real amp as it feels and sounds a bit more bouncy and the amp model is more stiff. I did enjoy playing through the Helix model more than the Fractal model of the SLO.
 
Lysander said:
I'd love to hear the Quad Cortex next, @GuitarJon. I was never impressed with the SLO models on the QC when i had mine, but i hear they've drastically improved with recent updates.
Click to expand...
Yes, QC SLO model was overhauled. Also if you have access to the amp you can capture it. So Jon could do that also. My #1 preset on the QC is a capture of my SLO30. If I just want a direct version of the amp, I don't even have to power it up or bother with a model.

Most amps don't have a million settings for me personally. Even one as versatile as the SLO... The SLO has maybe five or six basic settings I like/use, which makes sense, its a two channel amp. So, if you have access to the reference gear and know what you like from it; capture devices are a whole new world if you can get a good snapshot of it.
 
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