Synergy Owners Thread

[GTR37]

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

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]

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.

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]

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.

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]

Ah, so haven't tried one then. Cool. No need for you to be smug then!

I don't need permission from you to be smug. 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.

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.

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.

 

[Whizzinby]

Wishlist: Rockerverb module.

 

[MadAsAHatter]

Wishlist: Rockerverb module.

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]

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

 

[GTR37]

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

 

[GTR37]

Synergy is saying target for the syn20 is $999 unloaded

And the FB is angry and saying it’s overpriced should be $700. WTF am I reading

 

[laxu]

View attachment 35601Synergy is saying target for the syn20 is $999 unloaded

And the FB is angry and saying it’s overpriced should be $700. WTF am I reading

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]

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.

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]

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

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.

 

[Whizzinby]

I’m not in the market for something like that, but $999 doesn’t seem too crazy. The normal one slot dock is $500, so you’re paying another $500 for a tube power section and the digital backend stuff.

Though, if this doesn’t have the integrated clean channel of the Syn30, its use-cases will be pretty narrow imo.

 

[GTR37]

I’m not in the market for something like that, but $999 doesn’t seem too crazy. The normal one slot dock is $500, so you’re paying another $500 for a tube power section and the digital backend stuff.

Though, if this doesn’t have the integrated clean channel of the Syn30, its use-cases will be pretty narrow imo.

It has a clean channel same as Astro
Just a pure clean no drive
Volume and tone and bright switch I believe
I think it just a great bedroom and recording amp
And a good way for someone to buy into the Synergy platform
I mean it has headphone out
Midi , fx loop, it a great tool for the home studio , it also has a master that Syn30 did not so you can control volumes a bit .

The biggest thing is what are the programable power amp settings and Reactance
If it programmable NFB that will add a lot more of and authentic feel to the individual mods

Like a real DRZ has no NFB
Vox no NFB
Recto Red no NFB

If you can set and store those kind of things that will somewhat address the whole the power amp makes all the modules feel and respond the same argument , to an extent

 

[GTR37]

Now I just have to figure out which modules I would want lol
Dr Zwreck, BE DLX Bogner XTC and an OG SLO would be my first picks I think of what is currently available

 

[laxu]

Now I just have to figure out which modules I would want lol
Dr Zwreck, BE DLX Bogner XTC and an OG SLO would be my first picks I think of what is currently available

I think I'd go for the Z-Wreck and IICP. Maybe Deliverance.

 

[Whizzinby]

It has a clean channel same as Astro

Nice.

 

[GTR37]

I think I'd go for the Z-Wreck and IICP. Maybe Deliverance.

They also has 3 new mods coming out sounds like one is a Toneking for sure that will do a Fender/ Vox thing

Other 2 are new partners

 

[laxu]

They also has 3 new mods coming out sounds like one is a Toneking for sure that will do a Fender/ Vox thing

Other 2 are new partners

I guess Tone King Imperial? Which is basically Blackface + Tweed. I don't think Tone King makes a Fender+Vox thing. Not sure how they will pull that off when the Imperial is a classic non-master design with a built-in attenuator. I'd imagine the custom Eminence speaker and the chassis design are also big parts of the sound of that amp.

I've only played the real thing once many years ago at a store, but it had one the most beautiful clean tones I've ever played. The Tweed side got loud real quick and I didn't know it had an attenuator so I didn't get as much out of it.

One issue with the Synergy system is that each module might benefit from a different cab/speaker(s), but you have to pick a compromise. While e.g a Greenback cab will sound good with most things, it's not going to make the most out of say a Vox preamp which would work great with Alnico Blue/Gold.

I don't think even the SYN-2 + SYN-5050 can do "left out for module 1 and right out for module 2" type deal where you just run each module into a stereo poweramp and different cabs, one dedicated to each channel? That was one of the nicest features of the Yamaha THR100HD where you could run its channels to different cabs, or run both at the same time.

SYN-20 will at least solve that for recording purposes by using IRs.

 

[Whizzinby]

One issue with the Synergy system is that each module might benefit from a different cab/speaker(s), but you have to pick a compromise.

Yeah but that’s playing guitar in general. You can use a modeler and have 147 different IRs with different cab and mic combos and you’re still making a compromise by using studio monitors or "FRFR". Any setup with a fixed primary output method will end in some form of compromise.

I find enough variance with preamps, modules etc. to make the modular & rack approach fun and useful, so long as I don’t hammer the same gain profile endlessly.

Having a couple cab options is never a bad thing though, for sure.