Synergy Owners Thread

[aivoryuk]

100% especially when we are talking hi gain stuff , the higher the gain the less dynamic range and more compression
if you take same player
Same guitar , same pickups
Same cab , the end result if you had an amp switcher going between 3 or 4 real heads would be more like subtle differences in many cases ,
The difference in feel to the player would likely be more noticeable

Some of it I think is (well for me anyway) I will dial in a module to the sound I hear in my head regardless if the module is known for that sound
Most of the modules I have are a similar flavour but there but I can detect the subtle differences.

 

[laxu]

FWIW, I always like to post this when the subject of whether the power station is a decent stand alone power amp or not:



While you can hear differences there, IMHO, the 50W PS2 is absolutely holding its own against the most legendary rack power amps ever.

A lot of folks make claims about the Power station amps somehow being too linear in response, like it's a bad thing; but as you mention, it can be ideal depending what you've got it coupled to; and what you are looking to accomplish.

AFAIK none of Fryettes designs are wildly skewed in terms of frequency response.

If you already have the 100 I'd absolutely try it out with one of the preamps before going with some other solution.

If you have the Presence and Depth that high on the Power Station, it does take on more of a "traditional" amp characteristic. I find that the controls on my PS-100 can be somewhat subtle until halfway and the last 3rd of the knob is the most dramatic.

Using modelers into it, I find I don't really need the Presence and Depth with something like Fractal, but found the Presence useful for brightening the Hotone Ampero 2's amp models a bit as they are overall darker than e.g captures. Could do that with global EQ, but then the captures are affected as well.

Got some fierce tones out of the Hotone through the PS-100.

For me it's perhaps best not to buy into the Synergy system. If all this tariff war bullshit happens, then the cost of the modules could become unpalatable in Europe real quick.

 

[MadAsAHatter]

This is the most helpful thing you could have said, thanks so much! :)

However, why do you think a PS-100 would be much different than "half of a 2/90/2" though? They're both dedicated poweramps made by Fryette that can accept KT88's, right?

Even though it's a PS2, the video @Elric posted is a good comparison of how it would differ. It's not a 1:1 mono replacement for a 2/90/2 if that's what your looking for. The 2/90/2 has bigger iron and a different design which would contribute to a different tone and feel from a PS-100.

Don't get me wrong, the PS-100 is great used as a stand alone power amp. That's how I've been using mine for a while now and really like it. Bonus points for all the other features it has. If you're expecting it to just be a mono version of a 2/90/2 there's a chance you'd be disappointed. It will have a different tonal influence like in the video and a little bit different feel to it.

If you're wanting a solid 100 watt power amp to use with Synergy and/or a few other random preamps I think you could be happy with it. That is keeping in mind it won't be a direct replacement for your 2/90/2 and assuming you like the tone.

Random thought... You may end up liking both the PS-100 and 2/90/2 for different reasons and want to keep both around. If that's the case DeLisle makes a 4x4 and 8x8 preamp/power amp selector that would allow you to switch back and forth without having to move cables around.

4x4: https://www.delisleguitar.com/shop/de-lisle-preamp-power-amp-selector-with-fx-loop/

8x8: https://www.delisleguitar.com/shop/de-lisle-preamp-power-amp-selector-8x8-with-fx-loop/

 

[Whizzinby]

FWIW, I always like to post this when the subject of whether the power station is a decent stand alone power amp or not:



While you can hear differences there, IMHO, the 50W PS2 is absolutely holding its own against the most legendary rack power amps ever.

A lot of folks make claims about the Power station amps somehow being too linear in response, like it's a bad thing; but as you mention, it can be ideal depending what you've got it coupled to; and what you are looking to accomplish.

AFAIK none of Fryettes designs are wildly skewed in terms of frequency response.

If you already have the 100 I'd absolutely try it out with one of the preamps before going with some other solution.

Yeah, I’ve swapped emails with Steve on this on multiple occasions and he will straight up tell you there is very little tonal difference between any of his power amps unless you crank them to ear bleed volumes. There are some minor differences in feel or where you may set the eq at different volume ranges but nothing that will make one decidedly better than the other. (Aside from functional differences, IO etc)

 

[GTR37]

One of the odd things about the structure feature
Is the Steve guy from Namm said it was Fryette who designed the 20IR power section , but in a recent stream Fryette says he had nothing to do with it and only played the amp once

 

[Elric]

Some of it I think is (well for me anyway) I will dial in a module to the sound I hear in my head regardless if the module is known for that sound
Most of the modules I have are a similar flavour but there but I can detect the subtle differences.

Yes, without any point of reference, my ears always make a bee line for ‘my’ tone.

If I A/B against some other thing (ie Iam trying to cop someone else’s tone) I will come up with something different but I do not do that as much at this point being older and not playing a lot of covers, etc.

 

[Badonkey Kong]

Dang!

 

[Mongillo19]

Dang!

 

[laxu]

 

[GTR37]

I don’t think they sound all that similar the core tone and character is there but the Synergy sounds thinner and brighter to my ears lacking lows and low mids
SLO is a much fuller tone

 

[laxu]

I don’t think they sound all that similar the core tone and character is there but the Synergy sounds thinner and brighter to my ears lacking lows and low mids
SLO is a much fuller tone

Note that there's also a few differentiators:

SLO 100 with Suhr Reactive Load vs Synergy with its own load.

When he switches quickly between the two they sound closer than earlier in the video.

Still, I'd say both sound like a SLO. You are going to have compromises with the 20W power section, and maybe a different structure option would have helped, or using the same loadbox on both.

 

[GTR37]

Note that there's also a few differentiators:

SLO 100 with Suhr Reactive Load vs Synergy with its own load.

When he switches quickly between the two they sound closer than earlier in the video.

Still, I'd say both sound like a SLO. You are going to have compromises with the 20W power section, and maybe a different structure option would have helped, or using the same loadbox on both.

Oh 100%
You have to compare apples to apples and it unlikely a 20 watt is going to ever have the girth of a 100 unless your talking like an MT15

 

[DISTORT6]

It's not pronounced SLOW. It's S - L - O. Spell it out.

 

[GTR37]

It's not pronounced SLOW. It's S - L - O. Spell it out.

I find his BE DLX compare to real amp was actually pretty close , this one to me seems like there is more differences

 

[Stratzrus]

Many of us already have Power Stations. I have a PS-100 so if I picked up a Synergy SYN20IR it would be a natural choice for situations where 20 watts wouldn't provide enough clean headroom.

As nice as having the big Fryette power amp would be, for my uses it would defeat the attraction of the Synergy head due to its portability. Paired with the PS-100 it's still a pretty portable rig.

I'm also considering using it, if I do decide to pick one up, with my Fender FR-12/Archangel preamp rig. That could provide a very lightweight but easily giggable amplification option for small to medium sized venues.

 

[Stratzrus]

For those who already own a Synergy, what are your favorite high gain modules and what do you like about them in particular?

 

[aivoryuk]

For those who already own a Synergy, what are your favorite high gain modules and what do you like about them in particular?

My most hi gain module I have is the Powerball - it is a very versatile module.
It can do clean - has a useable crunch on the green channel.
The red channel has more gain then you could ever need and is tight.

 

[pft2024]

It's not pronounced SLOW. It's S - L - O. Spell it out.

Now Im embarrassed! I cant believe I did that! Please forgive! Workin on a Friedman BE50 Deluxe/BEBB, Deliverance, and Dr Z Comparison next

 

[pft2024]

I don’t think they sound all that similar the core tone and character is there but the Synergy sounds thinner and brighter to my ears lacking lows and low mids
SLO is a much fuller tone

Im wondering if I should try both either through the same mic'd cab or both going through the Suhr RLIR.

 

[GuitarJon]

It's not pronounced SLOW. It's S - L - O. Spell it out.

Gotta love the language polize