Synergy MetroPlex Module Review - A different Plexi Flavor!

[@RMosack]

Love to know how this compares to the Synergy Plexi module.

[@Eventual420]

The pile of sweaters... LOL. Thank you for this set of Synergy videos. I like this one, there's some low gain goodness in there, and some serious Marshall crunch. Killer playing, all the way thru. You rock Henning. Wish more modules would come.

[@JimijaymesProductions]

I'm guessing this module is based on the plexi mode of the metroplex, would be cool if it was tricked out like the actual thing but I guess would cost a lot more, good sounds would work well with the tdlx module

[@JimijaymesProductions]

Dante Bouzas oh really that's pretty cool.

[@richardross9296]

Does Kiana knit your sweaters?

[@markusnowak6191]

interesting module... it sounded so "open" (transparent) to different pickups.. and in some way a little bit "glassy"...

[@guitarvcsgearsanctuary]

I have the 30 watt synergy combo. I also have the slo and Dirty Shirley modules. I'm considering upgrading to either the 50 watt head or go all rack. The reason is the cbos clean channel just isn't right It's sterile and the td ororgan do a better job. Do you think this setup is road worthy? .

[@davidfaustino4476]

This is user error. The built in clean channel sounds amazing.

[@-thirteen]

I would love to know how this compares to the Salvation Duoplex.

[@zenlandzipline]

I have both. Plus I also have a Jaded Faith JTM module. I know this was 4 years ago, but let me know if you still want an opinion on it.

[@HipsterEatinShark]

⁠@@zenlandziplineWould love to hear an opinion

[@zenlandzipline]

@@HipsterEatinShark ok. The Duoplex is more like a stock Marshall Plexi head. It has that spikey sharp high end jangle. It’s very authentic to a real Plexi. The 2 “input” volume knobs work great, just like a 4 hole Plexi. Blend them together like you are jumping the inputs like the old school days. It also has a switch to “stack” the 2 inputs. Gives more tonal options and more gain. It’s an excellent module if you want a base Marshall tone and tweakable sound. The Metro is less tweakable in a sense. But, in some ways, it’s more tweakable, because the range of the eq knobs further. You can take out more treble if you want to. To match the low end up, you would run the Metro with the bass at about 1 o’clock to get it to match what the Duo would put out at about 10 o’clock. The Metro has a mid frequency that can’t be dialed out. I’m not saying it’s a big mid hump…it’s not. It’s a small mid hump that is always there even with the mids turned all the way down. Overall, the Metro is smoother sounding. Let me say this: I can crank the Metro gain up to about 2 o’clock and turn the treble down to get that spikey piercing high out, a little verb and delay and get a great lead sound with no overdrive pedal added. It’s great all on its own. Because it’s 2 channel, you could set 1 channel up with the gain at about 7-8 o’clock and the other at 2-5 o’clock and have awesome crunch rhythm sound and awesome higher gain lead sound. One thing about the Metro: it has more gain from the get-go than the Duo. You can’t really get the Metro to run clean. Even with the gain almost all the way off, there is still breakup. The Duo can be set at lower gain. The gain on the Duo is more versatile than the Metro. Conclusion: Duo is more versatile tone and gain wise, Metro is more versatile for the fact that it’s a 2 channel module. Both are awesome, I couldn’t pick just 1. They are very different. That Metro run loud (I use a VHT Classic power amp, stereo, 120 watts each side) with some 4-12 cabs with greenbacks is an 80s metal dream. The Duoplex run through my same rig I can get Hendrix tones and with a Tubedriver get Eric Johnson tones almost exact. Now I’m all hot and bothered thinking about how great my rig sounds so ima go crank it up and spend some time in tone heaven. Also: I have a Jaded Faith JTM module that is sort of a best of both the Metro and Duoplex. I love that module.

[@zenlandzipline]

@@HipsterEatinShark ok bro. Upon further review (I just cranked the rig up and played through both) I’m gonna say Duoplex is better. It’s way more versatile, and you can pretty much get the Duoplex to sound like the Metro, but there are sounds the Duo can get that the Metro can’t. Both have tons of gain if you want it. But Metro can’t get the old classic clean Marshall sounds, like if you want to play Hendrix with a strat on the neck pickup type of thing (Hey Joe tone). And the Duo can get you that 80s hair metal (Dokken) thing, and I can get Eric Johnson with it, too. Metro, you’re pretty much stuck in hard rock territory, like Judas Priest Sabbath VH type. But Duo can do that too. Remember, Anthony from Salvation Mods has been doing this module thing for many years, whereas George from Metropolous hasn’t ever done any of the preamp module stuff. He’s more of a Marshall head guy, and does them as good or better than anybody. So again, I’d say Metro is more of a 1 trick pony, where Duo can do what Metro does, plus a whole lot more. Duoplex FTW Don’t forget Jaded Faith. Rob does modules as good as Anthony. I also have a Fender Twin module from Salvation (Anthony) and his Dumble module. Both are out of this world. The Twin has a Deluxe mode, too. Big and thick. Plus a “pushed” mode, that makes it distorted. And I have a Vox/Matchless module from Jaded Faith (Rob) that is a dual channel and it’s unbelievable. And some Egnater designed modules. I’ve been in the preamp module game for 15 years. With a good tube power amp, these modules kick ass and sound as good as the amps they are designed from.

[@HipsterEatinShark]

@@zenlandzipline Thanks so much to take the time, man! I am on the fence about whether to pick up the Metroplex (the module, not the head) or Synergy's Uberschall while the prices take a small dip for black friday, which... you know, they are so night and day from each other lol. I appreciate the explanation. I tend toward more classic metal tones (or at least would with the Synergy Metro) and am okay pulling back the volume for a "clean" with some grit to it... long ago I used to do most everything either on a JCM 800 2204 head--that I sold and regretted it big time lol--and a Laney GH100L. Both were single channel designs, so you adopt a kind of playing style to that I think. And of course, some of the Salvation and Jaded Faith preamps are just fantastic, so... ya know, trying to build this very organic chain for metal ala "Brave New World" or maybe "Unleashed in the East" with a little more hair. Anyway, this is very helpful, I appreciate your time!

[@silverstone3228]

epystch i dont have an fx loop in my marshall head can i still use this or not?

[@commercialking]

no

[@coreysousa6480]

I notice your Sag is set to oh about 10 o’clock.

[@AndreiGrozea]

the god damn mustache tho ahahaha

[@justinbouchard]

MetroPlexual

[@MW47742]

Oje, am Marshall klingt es ja noch bescheidener....

[@robbah9939]

Another synergy video in a 3575 part ad.

[@Mrav79]

First? Love all plexy flavours :)

[@MW47742]

Klingt in meinen Ohren am fender combo leider richtig schlecht, eher wie ein gewöhnlicher Verzerrer! Hatte vor, mir das Teil sofort zu kaufen...jetzt nicht mehr.

[@demantoid418]

I am starting to hate Synergy ; )

[@cyberspace6174]

Lass uns endlich mit diesem ganzen Synergy-Scheiss in Ruhe.

[@DerEchteBold]

Ich glaube das hier war das letzte Video in der Reihe ...aber ich denke für die ganzen Hater sollte er, nur zum Spaß, noch mindestens fünf weitere machen ; )

[@kospandx]

Am NAMM 2018 hat Synergy uns mehrere neue Modulen gebracht. Fünf weitere Videos ist wohl möglich. (My apologies for any language errors; German is my fourth language.)

[@StudioChimiel]

We all know that wasn't "chapstick"...

[@t.c.494]

Wow, the first metro-branded product that sounds like crap. Congratulations on going the way of Marshall.