Synergy SLO vs Soldano x88r REVIEW!!

[@EliPorterMahn]

Great video, Ken. I planned on getting this very module for my Synergy 5050, and this video has me sold on it! The tone is crushing.

[@e_riffs]

That tone is insanely heavy! Stoked to see more.

[@Manik530]

Definitely one of those close enough moments where you know it’ll sound amazing in a mix

[@RickHollis]

Thanks Ken. The grain is identical. Just a slight difference in eq tone, but you really have to listen for it.

[@LeMouk]

Hey Ken! I saw Unearth 12 years ago in Switzerland, and even shared a few words with you after the show, nice memories...I’m glad to see that you’re still doing great! I have the VHT 2/56/2 Black Beauty poweramp, to fuel my Triaxis. It has been my main gigging rig for the last decade, it just rips. That setup killed my amp GAS for a while, but I have a growing interest in that Synergy stuff. Back then, I was really interested, almost obsessed, in the VHT GP3 preamp, but it was discontinued at the time, hard to find used in 230V EU version, and S.Fryette was in legal bullshit for the VHT name, so I lost hope. But then, 10 years+ later, I heard of Synergy amps, particularly the SYN2. With the Deliverance and UltraLead modules, it could well be the ultimate GP3! Or should I say, GP4+ : 4 channels, MIDI, IR output, 1U instead of 2, and the two modules being by the same builder than the SYN2 and my trusty old poweramp, I guess it would be a great setup. I’m just wondering how these modules would sound with my 6L6 poweramp, the Deliverance and Pitbull heads being designed for EL34s...?

[@MangoOverload91]

Holy moly, that tone. I was on the fence about getting a Synergy just so I could have a Soldano at a price I can manage (without having to wait for the used market to finally grace me), not anymore.

[@realtruenorth]

Thank you for giving us your opinion. Thats what i wanted to hear.

[@garyrsingleton]

Only thing my man, maybe some more playing overall. The ratio of talking to playing is a little one sided.

[@LordofTheRigs]

That's because there's more to say than to listen too

[@realtruenorth]

@@LordofTheRigs make a longer video 😉,, I liked all the talking,, but more playing would have been good. ✌️

[@EliPorterMahn]

The talking was informative, and the demo at the end got the point across

[@garyrsingleton]

@@EliPorterMahn so, looking back, yeah Ken talked too much. Anyone could look up the information about the whole synergy setup even back then quickly on google. Ratio is just off. Hopefully he is replying to fishman emails

[@EliPorterMahn]

@@garyrsingleton There's also hundreds of videos on the synergy stuff other than this one, not hard to look those up either. ;)

[@EchoKraft]

Very cool Ken !

[@neonether]

Bit more low-end beef on the x88r, other than that almost identical. Amazing!

[@herve.franco]

The soldano X88r always have been my favorite. That's why i still own my Line 6 POD X3. Its modelisation (even if a bit digital sounding) is so satisfying for high gain and down tuning.

[@JTHarrisHF]

Damn SMOKIN tone dude!! Good shit!!

[@louistorres]

This video made me buy the Synergy SYN1, Soldano SLO and Fryette Pitbull modules. After being driven mad, I just shipped all that shit back yesterday! Great video but I definitely had an awkward experience with Synergy.

[@dangood2287]

Really? Why? What power amp did you use?

[@mikehowards2235]

Badass man. Looking forward to more videos!

[@davidfuller581]

That's almost identical. Wow.

[@edes01]

Love the review Ken!!

[@KB_Joys]

The difference with the depth on the head is the circuit is in the negative feedback, the driver tube. Not sure how it us implemented into the standalone preamp.

[@nazrelkennedy]

i owned Soldano x88r with 1968 Basketweave Marshall 4x12 cab which had produce a warm, hi gain and punchy guitar tone sound.

[@bastianwiedenhaupt]

Niiiice sound, never played one of the Soldanos pre's.... Best wishes from Germany 🇩🇪👌🎉

[@saturnoenllamas]

sound coming till 2:46

[@EzVanHalen]

This. This is great content.

[@jonathanstubbsguitar5340]

The difference is so so slight, and that might just be a placebo, no one would ever be able to tell live or in a mix!

[@user-qr7ee2cp4y]

That is one nice setup you have.....

[@Janesch]

The actual playing could have been a bit longer.

[@williamlynch3491]

Crushing

[@geezberry8889]

soldano sounds better, it's a bit thicker and more depth. Likely because the Synergy doesnt have as many preamp tubes.

[@EliPorterMahn]

When you use it with the synergy 5050 tube power amp youll have 5 preamp tubes just like the real head and 4 6L6s

[@UnixStudios]

Ok so the synergy stuff is slightly detuned (you recorded the soldano pre first huh) but how did the strings stretch on an evertune??? 🤔🤔🤔 other than that I can’t tell the difference; I suppose my ears are just as Fd up as yours

[@MarkLondon.]

What were the settings on your Maxon ? My slo sounds less Grindy.

[@LordofTheRigs]

Upside down V

[@BagusWibisono]

Hi.. they have EVH 5150 amp modulation?

[@YsAbTones]

do you use a mesa trad or oversized ?

[@EliPorterMahn]

Im betting on OS

[@njmetfan]

My God man!!!

[@mathiasmouret5288]

difficult to compare with this type of sound. The X88 is not a metal machine ... Please, remove the maxon and play ... lead, crunch ...

[@dangood2287]

Drop some more names

[@wangbar1]

I can’t tell the difference.

[@girtha1134]

Is the Fryette versions as good as the VHT?

[@TheKensusi]

Same!

[@insideoutNOTW]

Btw, if you have a VHT power amp, Freyette will swap out the faceplate for a Freyette faceplate if you want for 60 bucs

[@girtha1134]

Inside Out I actually wanted the VHT. I grew up seeing that logo in the rigs of my hero’s to have one now is a dream come true!

[@insideoutNOTW]

@@girtha1134 very cool! I grew up in that era, I saw Steve Lukathur with the Marshall head with only the preamp section being used with a 2150 in a small club in 84. I'm using the older VHT 2092 poweramp right now with some scumback M55pvc and M75pvc. What did you end up getting?

[@girtha1134]

Inside Out well currently I own a Peavey classic 50/50 (bought new in 95 sold in 01 bought back in 03), Marshall el34 100/100 (3rd one I’ve owned over the years), and a VHT G-250-02. 2150 is on my wish list 😉

[@johndoe69696]

Talks are excessively long.

[@CringeOnion]

Talk less and more guitar plis