MadAsAHatter
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I would have preferred if they used 2 EL34s or 6L6s like how the Marshall Studio amps are done. Even running at 20 watts the big boy tubes sound much more full than EL84s to my ear.
Synergy Owners Thread
- Thread starter Mongillo19
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paisleywookiee
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True. But it’d be heavier. The Blug power section sounds SO good, I think it’d work well for a lightweight platform for this.
MadAsAHatter
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The Studio amps weight about 20 lbs. Not class D light, but not really heavy either. What kind of wuss are you if you can't lift something that's the equivalent of a big bag of cat food.
laxu
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Some things I could see added on the SYN50 at least:
- Switchable presence/depth/master similar to Fryette PS-100, in case you want to run different negative feedback on one module vs the other, use the other option as a solo boost etc.
- Silent recording feature of the SYN30 with a built-in load. Would go well with IR capabilities, and still keep the real head's poweramp behavior.
- Power scaling maybe? It doesn't need volume reduction, but maybe power scaling could be useful if you want it to behave like a smaller amp. As an example I liked the "low voltage" 30W mode on the clean channel of the Bogner Goldfinger because it was a bit sweeter, less dynamic range swing and more sag to it. A Egnater Tourmaster style per-channel power scaling matrix would also be a pretty dope feature.
IICP in a IR-X like pedal would be a big hit, and releasing one right after the Mesa IIC reissue would be really cashing in on the hype. Since it's not a licensed product there should probably be no issue making one either.
laxu
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I've kinda gotten interested in the Synergy stuff again. I've been wanting to buy a real deal tube amp, and had been eyeing a used Mesa Mark V 90W, but now am thinking if a SYN-50 with a IICP + Z-Wreck module might be more interesting since the price even new is similar to a used MKV 90W. I think I'll wait and see if they release something new after NAMM.
Elric
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Uh, no, it wouldn’t. LOL. That Blug thing is still a kooky niche product and likely always will be. They should have used 6v6’s or better yet, done it off the 2x6L6 30W head they already made… IMHO
paisleywookiee
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"Kooky niche product"? Have you played one? It feels and sounds better than any 20w tube amp, and is now being ripped off by H&K, Blackstar, Victory, and eventually another bigger name. Not exactly niche.
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Elric
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Shrug it’s a SS reamped micro-tube amplifier (IIRC). The technology is used by exactly one company. It’s weird. If it were going to revolutionize amplification it would have done so already. Would bet that if they offered a tube version and a Blug version, the tube version would outsell it by a significant margin (you and LaXU vs everyone else, LOL). People go Synergy because they want real tube gear. Moot point anyway, I guess since it’ll never happen.
GTR37
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100% agree the 30 was great why fix what isn’t broken
Synergy kind of reminds me of NDSP , glacier slow progress and makes some silly decisions
Like how they could not have released a SYN 4 they had the design w the M4 and the RM4 it worked fine and could have been easily reproduced
laxu
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It's exactly this kind of thinking why modern technology struggles to take hold with guitarists.
Hell, I'll admit it took me a long time to be willing to give the Amp 1 a try. It also took me time to admit it sounded and felt just as good as the 4x more expensive Bogner I had. I'll even admit I still doubt my decisions sometimes and think I should buy a tube amp to have that "real deal" reference. And then probably be disappointed that it doesn't actually sound any better.
But I agree it's a moot point, Blug is unlikely to want to license his tech. I do hope he makes a poweramp only version after the Amp X is released because that could be the best thing for modelers, SYN1/2, preamp pedals etc.
paisleywookiee
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Ah, so haven't tried one then. Cool. No need for you to be smug then!
I know it’s not going to happen. I just think it’d be cool, that’s all. 20w amps are mostly dumb, IMO. I’ve had two baby Mesas, and they can work, but 50w is better.
Elric
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I don't need permission from you to be smug.Ah, so haven't tried one then. Cool. No need for you to be smug then!
Of course I haven't tried one. From a product development standpoint it's a dumb idea: me trying one wouldn't change that. I'm speaking purely from a business decision standpoint as someone who has already built a rig and isn't buying the new box no matter what it looks like.I think most users will find the 20W tube version loud enough. A lot of people will use the direct capabilities and internal load, etc. A lot of people buying Friedman and Marshall 20W boxes are going to find this thing compelling, I'd guess.
Fair enough. Sounds like we're just looking at it from different angles. I'm sure it would be interesting if they did that, but they are probably more concerned making products that are going to succeed in the market than making something that would satisfy our curiosity here. A lot of great sounding gear has flopped due to customer biases, etc. The Blug stuff may sound fantastic. No one cares in this context, they'd skip Syn altogether and buy that box if they were willing to compromise on 'tubeness'.
Syn already has a 50W pure tube amp. So I think the new smaller 20W lunch box with some direct out features (where digital actually shines) to replace the 30W makes a ton of sense from a marketing standpoint even though I am not in the market. I would not be surprise if they do do a bigger wattage amp with similar features, too, if it really does well.
I think the 20W lunch box thing will appeal to the type of person looking at a modular tube preamp system; much more so than some well regarded but ultimately "impure" in most customers eyes, hybrid amp.
On the IR-X a bunch of people lost their mind when they found out there was an A/D conversion in the FX loop, f.ex.
The Synergy thing's entire point is that it you are getting the variety of modeling on some level but you never have to say to yourself, does this really sound like a tube amp?
Blug should build a power amp for modelers. I'd find that a much more interesting use of the tech, myself. Modeler people have already bought into the idea that you don't have to have tubes to sound good.
MadAsAHatter
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You can get Rob/Jaded Faith to mod an MTS into a Rverb. Pretty sure he could do it to one of the old dual channel Egnaters as well.
But yeah, Synergy is missing out on some good potential modules. They definitely need something based around the Orange sound. I'd love to see them come out with a couple of their original designs not based on any particular amp too.
GTR37
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The thing that is sort or bothersome about synergy lately is I am seeing a lot of QC issues on the FB on new products
Bent and damage pots
Bent modules that don’t fit in the chassis’s
Missing parts like thumbscrews
Broken voicing switches
I know the mail might damage some stuff but can’t blame them for missing parts
Or poor crooked lettering on the faceplates
Bent and damage pots
Bent modules that don’t fit in the chassis’s
Missing parts like thumbscrews
Broken voicing switches
I know the mail might damage some stuff but can’t blame them for missing parts
Or poor crooked lettering on the faceplates
GTR37
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well this is interesting about 44.00 in
Coles notes
the Syn20 Ir
Is his favourite of the Syn lineup and his favourite amp product of the year he says modules sound noticeably better in it than the syn2 / syn 50 or other Syn chassis’s
- 3 new modules coming in 2025 so far that he thinks are the best they have done yet , one is a Vx/Fender thing , guessing probably a ToneKing
Coles notes
the Syn20 Ir
Is his favourite of the Syn lineup and his favourite amp product of the year he says modules sound noticeably better in it than the syn2 / syn 50 or other Syn chassis’s
- 3 new modules coming in 2025 so far that he thinks are the best they have done yet , one is a Vx/Fender thing , guessing probably a ToneKing
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laxu
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The SYN-2 is IMO the one to complain about. That is expensive for half a rack preamp.
The SYN-30 has disappeared from Thomann and Sweetwater listings. I wonder if they intend to replace it with the SYN-20, and whether they'll release an updated SYN-50.
GTR37
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SYN 30 has been discontinued according to them
I suspect this will trickle into a 50 watt but probably not for a long time
At a $999 price point that pretty competitive especially that you can have it running into a cab and a daw at the same time
I wish it was a 40 watt 6l6 but really at home studio and practice volume 20 watts is probably good
Plus the 3 power amp settings and reactance so you likely have control of
Negetive Feedback, pres , depth
laxu
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Yeah I'd prefer if it was a bit more powerful too. 30-40W would already be a lot better. I had zero complaints about the 35W Victory VC35 lunchbox head I had, it did great against my 50-100W amps.
20W for high gain modules just seems like it's not quite enough, unless it comes with big transformers ala e.g PRS MT15. Sure it will get loud, but it might not have the kind of punch you want.