Soldano pedal vs Wampler Slostortion pedals, what’s the difference?

[@AlexOlivari67]

The way you present your (and other builder's) gear, sets you apart from 95 % of the guitar youtubers. Down to earth, honest and knowledgable, not trying to be a f***g pop star.

[@wampler_pedals]

🙏

[@justtheworstever7316]

or trying to be some kind of morning chat show host. Nice to not be assaulted by the mannerisms of someone who appears to be high on meth and MDMA at the same time.

[@Texasbluesalley]

SLOstortion is still an underrated pedal IMO. A lot of overdrives tend to sound the same. SLOstortion stands out and is very distinct.

[@f33fifofum]

Really interesting to hear how two pedals approach the SLO sound so differently. Fantastic video Brian. I love the videos where you talk to the design choices that pedal builders make along the way. Really good insight.

[@zafira976]

Both fantastic pedals and incredibly amp-like and big sounding! Well done Bryan, love the SLO stortion

[@GTX1123]

It's nice to have choices. When I started playing 45 yrs ago, the big muff pie, mxr dist and the rare fuzz face were about it. I had no pedals but I did have an AMAZING rig. My uncle was a working musician who gave me a 65 Fender showman w permanently jumpered channels and a Marshall 8X10 hotdog cabinet. That rig absolutely SCREAMED. Plug in and dime it to 10.

[@Supergrunged]

Def enjoy another pedal builders input on new designs! And def enjoyed hearing about a past pedal I had never seen, and could learn further about! Our tastes do change over the years. And while the slostortion may not be exactly your cup of tea these days, thank you for showing, and comparing it to the new Soldano!

[@Rynenocerous]

throwing my hat in the ring for chasing tone to b back here. i don’t remember the specifics of the pod but i do remember u talking about it on there. rock on b wamps

[@bluecollarguitarist]

I’m busting out my SLOstortion for an outdoor show this weekend. I run it into the clean channel of a Carvin Belair with vintage 30s. Sounds killer. 🤘Can’t wait!

[@nickspann89]

Haha love the Warren licks, prolly why the SLO amp has always been my dream amp. You make the best OD/distortions out there.

[@truthfactreality6814]

I have the new soldano pedal. Have to say it’s seriously impressive ! I like the form factor too.

[@danielpirone8028]

I was really hoping for this sorta comparison. Always appreciated! Wouldn’t mind seeing a live Spectrograph to better help see what is going on.

[@jmaripen]

I still have the SLO on my board! My tone on it will forever live in our album (passion project) released! 😇

[@SAagreedSA]

I think the SLOstortion is rad all these years later, man. You did a great job on it. And if you do ever decide to revisit the concept, really excited to hear how that turns out!

[@paulknapik8413]

Brian! Thank you for such a Great Guitar Tone Video! I just bought The Soldano and Am tweaking it for a Santana Clapton “Journeyman” tone! You’ve been very helpful to me as I find turning the gain down gets me there! Thank You! And Also I Love How Great You Play The Guitar! I know that’s why your stuff shines! As a Player YOU KNOW What we are looking for! Tnx! Paul

[@alexwood8555]

I love your content so much Brian. I appreciate when you add so much EQ options, it makes running my amp dirty or clean pretty viable either way.

[@TheSecondNature]

I still use my wampler slostortion daily. It's been in most of the iterations of my boards, and now it landed on my band's other guitar player's board. That pedal has been with me for 10 years (since I was a teen actually) and it's a really versatile and useful pedal. Not just a distortion but a very very good boost and a great overdrive

[@phillamoore157]

Just like the amp, keeping the gain around 3 really gives you the SLO tone. I thought the SLOstortion sounded great, just not quite as tight as I had hoped. Just a bit of wooly for me. Now I know why! Brian’s videos are spectacular.

[@peddlereffects]

As someone who is learning to design & build pedals, I would be interested to know specifically how you would approach a design differently now than 12 years ago 😊

[@Soldano999]

And now i want both. The soldano has that fluid, articulate and clear "80's" tone, but your pedal and that buttery smooth fat almost steve-vaiesque sound that i really like for leads.

[@lazmonti]

Sounds like there needs to be a updated version of the Slostortion in the future. 🤔

[@alguitarchristie]

The reason I like to Soldano pedal is it works with a fender style clean, better, than any other high gain distortion i have ever had! All others have never come close, I always have to tweak them "a lot" it won't come off my board now! Love my tumnus deluxe though, into my dirty amp! It's amazing and so versatile!

[@hoobiedoobies]

Having owned and sold the SLOstorion twice, I was excited to see Soldano release their pedal. In the end, I found another SLOstortion and picked it up again - I won’t let it go this time. It’s one of the Holy Grail AIAB pedals.

[@hoodedbugler]

I was wondering about this comparison, so here we are. Mr Wampler did it himself

[@jpduder13]

I used to have a SLOstortion but I ended up selling it. It was a little dark sounding to my ear. I like a bright tone, similar to EVHs 90s detune tone. At the 13 minute mark you turned up the presence on the Soldano pedal and that really sounded great to me.

[@giancarlopaolini7529]

Great honest comparison. Yes a decade or so is a lot in terms of technical approaches hence the difference with the latest products. Does that mean that you'll be revisiting the Red Pinaccle Deluxe ? I guess you might make it a super 5150 of the first EVH era 🙂 If so I would buy it again.,

[@coalfacechris1336]

Hi Brian, Great test session, probably one of the better tests I've watched. I've had a pre-BAD SLO for a long time. AIAB pedals as you quite correctly state, have to be going into the right platform. The amp itself will impart a tone on the pedal, along with guitar, buffers and other ancillaries.

[@scotthutchens1203]

What is “pre-BAD”?

[@hogie1259]

@@scotthutchens1203 pre- Boutique Amp Distribution, who I’m sure you’re aware, distribute Friedman, Bogner, Wampler, Morgan , Soldano etc etc…

[@scotthutchens1203]

@@hogie1259 Had never heard of that one.

[@hogie1259]

@@scotthutchens1203 sorry man I figured everyone knew who Boutique Amp Distribution was. No offense I hope.

[@scotthutchens1203]

@@hogie1259 Not a problem. No offense taken. I had just never heard of it. Sounds like a high class operation. I don’t know, I just thought they were initials like the new language people talk in these days. Is it a more widespread distribution system to be able to order really good stuff like Soldano, etc. from places like Sweetwater and other sites?

[@belligerentamateur]

Oh man, I'm loving the SLO Pedal but I think I need to add yours to the collection as well after this!

[@blikketty77]

I can't comment on the Soldano pedal, to me it sounds close but not quite, but I haven't played it myself and the quality of demos I've seen vary wildly so maybe it's great for the DeMartini / Lynch / early 90s Vh things people want from Soldano branded stuff. You nailed the Warren Haynes thing with the Slostortion.

[@warrensharp6681]

Really great and honest video, thanks for being so transparent! (Sorry for the bad overdrive joke)

[@anatoly_trifonov]

Great video, useful and informative

[@shader26]

Funny. I have an SLOStorion and after I bought it years ago I got an SLO-100. I did exactly the test you did where I tried the SLOStortion into the clean channel of the SLO, and went back and forth, and honestly it amazed me how close it was. But on my Budda SD-45 though the SLOStortion doesn’t do it as much or I haven’t found the right settings.

[@coastalgeorgia6558]

got my used slostortion some 5 or so years ago. have and used many other distortions.... but keep going back to the slostotion. it's definitely my fav.

[@guitardave]

The pedals both sound great, and the you hit a chord using the SLO-30… Game over. The real amp in this case is just something else.

[@wampler_pedals]

It’s quite fantastic

[@JimijaymesProductions]

I underappreciated the slostortion when I had it. Wish I had one again.

[@devilslide01]

Hey Brian, great demo/comparison video. What gain pedals of yours would be considered pre-amps as well? I have an amp with 2 channels , but the clean is old school and has no preamp, just volume and tone control. The manual states it goes straight to the power amp. Any thoughts? I’m a big fan of the pinnacle and plexi deluxe as well

[@kaleyfantastic]

i went to school with soldano's nephew. he pronounced his last name "sol-dan-o". i hear most people call the amps "sol-dawn-o". he actually bought me my first phaser pedal when i was 15. cool guy.

[@Bishlad939]

Totally straight up .Best review from a guy that knows his onions ...Cheers Mike ..

[@TechMetalRules]

Fantastic demo and great playing.

[@PeedyJ]

Dude, both of these pedals sound great!

[@Telorchid]

Honest and gracious comparison. Both pedals are capable of very great sounds, given ideal positioning and tweaking in the matrix of guitar-amp-tone controls. Yes, the actual Soldano amps are killer.

[@GTX1123]

Which higher end dist pedal is the best? - IT DEPENDS. Depends on the amp, your pickups etc. It's why I have more than one on my board. For that classic 70's crunch with sag, nothing beats the Wampler Pinnacle - ESPECIALLY when you roll your guitar volume back where it cleans up quite well. For metal it's the Octonaut Hyperdrive. It's nice to have a lot of choices.

[@guitardave]

“If I were to re-do the SLOstortion..”. Do it. Do it! Actually, I’d love to have a Wampler pedal based on the Crunch mode of the SLO - just a fantastic sound. That would get my money Day 1 :-)

[@aliasdandavisofficial]

You've mentioned this one thing a few times (I'd REALLY like to see a video about it) : what you would "approach differently now", and why (me personally, I don't hold the same opinions about gear that I had a decade - and I've never designed anything).

[@poronkusema1162]

Great demo - well done! Both pedal sound great and amplike enough for my taste.

[@TM42]

This was great! I'd love to see more comparison videos like this!

[@DGW2013]

I have the new Soldano SLO pedal. Kicked my BE OD off the board I like the Wampler sound. Has a nice fat Warren vibe.. oh boy

[@greendragon2471]

Love the video brian! Love your videos. Always love geeking out

[@chilloutbroseph]

Seems to me they did a good job on the pedal. It’s not an SLO-100 but you can get good sounds out of it.

[@MisterTee]

They both sound great. I get he impression the SLOstortion would be good into an amp like a deluxe reverb or something else that has an always on bright cap.

[@Patriotic327]

Wondering that myself

[@ikestoddard2458]

GREAT SET OF TIME HACKS!!! Thank you, Brian.

[@heavymetal6910]

Brian I AM using my Bravado Head and I wouldn't change it for the world as it can be whatever I want it to be depending on the pedals I use it with. I use the higher gain Jam pedals Tubedreamer and push it with a Maxon OD808 with level 100% drive 0% and its a match made in heaven with the Bravado head. Built to last a lifetime the way amps should be made.........Rock On Brian.

[@wampler_pedals]

🙏

[@mikeyohe4750]

Great job. Great explanations!👍

[@paulsonn1308]

Thanks for the video Brian

[@Bobby_Digital37]

I like the Wampler version better, much better!!! It sounds just like Warren Haynes tone to me… the Soldano, not so much 🤷🏽‍♂️ really wish you would reissue the original SLO 🙏🏽

[@TheFilthLA]

I'd love to hear you take another crack at an SLO style distortion pedal. Give Soldano a run for their money!

[@wampler_pedals]

I would say the our phenom pedal is the most closest to that

[@TheFilthLA]

@@wampler_pedals Duly noted!

[@JONNIE_ROCKER]

I still use my early modell plextortion. Love it

[@reverendg5937]

I have SLO-stortion. Don't need that other pedal. Thanks, Brain.

[@nickspann89]

I played the new SLO pedal and it sounded good but I feel like I could get all those tones with my Sovereign pedal I’ve had forever. Wampler wins again.

[@Boomsterblak]

Great clip..love how you do things...my tumnus has always on status...is awesome.

[@bluemetaltele5860]

Never apologize for trying to get a "Warren Haynes-type" Soldano tone.

[@m0j0b0ne]

Based on what I'm hearing, it might be worthwhile to obtain an SLO pedal, even if you already have the 30W SLO head/combo, because the amp has shared EQ, and it's probably a good deal cheaper than a three-channel amp of similar quality. The Wampler SLOstortion sounds really good, too; just different, and I rather like the very effective midrange knob-the Soldano products have that kind of tone stack that keeps you out of trouble by being perhaps a bit too subtle. (though maybe less so at gig volume) Great and instructive video, thanks!

[@terryenglish7132]

Excellent video. Yeah, the Soladono self clone effects' EQs and amp's EQ weren't jibbing. I've noticed TC effects, that use a very powerful and to my ears good sounding EQ section, don't work well w a lot of other makers effects that have a different EQ approach that might sound good by itself. Maybe ears prefer just one frequency peak in each range . The Wampler pedal sounded great; that hint of fuzzyness was very nice. The Soladono, going by demos I've heard captures the amp pretty well, but sounds somewhat harsh.

[@Studio31Zero]

Hi Brian, I always enjoy your videos. What are your thoughts on Warren DeMartini's Soldano tone?

[@wampler_pedals]

I love it!

[@carrielittlecplaster1620]

the slostortion has been on my board a long time. i traded a 1986 ce2 for it. i can get good tones no matter the amp. my olny complaint is it is noisey when cranked. but i use it at lower gain settings. its a really good overdrive. may get the new one idk.

[@axelnetzband1977]

Both sound great But - for me - less noise (SLO) is a killer feature

[@eryckcrypton6412]

Fantastic educational content!

[@bradconklin2878]

Great sounds all around!

[@DavidRFIT]

Hi there Brian, I have a question for you: I like Bluesbreaker style circuits so I'm eyeing a Wampler Pantheon (or even better the new Pantheon Deluxe). BUT. A requirement I have for my pedalboard is that the overdrive that goes right before my Revv G3 distortion can tighten it, like a Tubescreamer or Klon would. For example, a cheap Caline Clear Sky that I have does the job perfectly, but is not a great overdrive by itself. I also tried a Wampler Sovereign and it does the exact opposite, bloating the Revv G3 and un-tightening it in a pretty bad way. So, would a Pantheon serve that purpouse (other than being the very good overdrive that it is when used by itself)? Thanks!

[@wampler_pedals]

It certainly can, but it won't do it iin the same way a klon or ts style circuit will, as those circuits are very mid-heavy which crunches an amp channel up wonderfully. The pantheon doesn't have that huge mid bump so you'll probably want to turn the bass down a bit when stacking it but it should work great for this as well.

[@jasonstone1046]

Awesome vid mate.

[@jackshittle]

I feel bad that in the 90's we forced out guitar player to ditch his Crate full stack and buy a Soldano Hot Rod 100 Plus and one 4x12. He thought Crate was the apex of guitar amps. After we forced him (because he wouldn't do it on his own) to try the studio's Soldano, he showed up at practice two weeks later with his new Soldano rig. We lived & gigged in Seattle where Michael lived so there was a lot of access to his amps. Maybe had Soldano pedals been available he could have just gotten one of those - who knows?

[@ThrashingTheDeath]

I still love mi SLO! Hey Brian, this tele is awesome!! Can I ask you what's the bridge pickup??

[@wampler_pedals]

It’s a custom thing exclusive to Whitfill guitars, this guitar is basically a Les paul in a tele body. Set neck, LP scale, LP hardware, wiring etc.

[@aristocaster]

Very good video, kudos.

[@j.hammer573]

I realize it’s KZbin and I’m not in the room but I liked your pedal a bit more. I don’t have a Soldano amp for a point of reference.

[@moose5206]

best pedal maker in the world.

[@austinfailz]

I wish Soldano would make a crunch version of the pedal like the mini head has. Then I could have both pedals on the board.

[@alguitarchristie]

Set it for a Lead tone,then use your volume control on your guitar for crunch! It will save you the extra bucks!!!

[@JD-nh7vb]

Very good video!

[@mattwicks4788]

Brian, I can't tell you how badly I want you to make a mini DS-1 and give it the Wampler treatment. I would be first in line to give you my money.

[@drixxv2435]

Just my honest ears telling me, the SLO still has the defined clarity even at max gain.

[@diego_oliveiras]

Giving the fact that you would design the Slostortion differently, what about a v2? :D

[@CC-fi3pp]

I feel like you're a bit of an unsung hero of the pedal world.

[@brandonhamilton370]

JHS At+ or Wampler SLOStortion? im stuck between the two!

[@wampler_pedals]

Honestly- look up our phenom pedal. It’s way better than the slostortion. Between that and JHS is just preference.

[@brandonhamilton370]

@@wampler_pedals thanks for the response. Def sounds a lot like slostortion for half the price. My local L&M has both of these pedals that’s why I ask. I have an angry Charlie v3, but it just seems too mushy and 70s sounding, I want something more 80s. I’ve heard the @+ doesn’t do well with stacking though, so I’m a bit torn between which one to get! Thanks again!

[@joshguthriemusic8090]

LOVE that Tele ❤️🤗

[@joshludge]

These pedals are Damn Sick!

[@tonycannell1162]

Would love to get a peak at the circuit of the Soldano though. How unique is it?

[@wampler_pedals]

Totally unique, it's not a clone of anything. It's op amp based.

[@tonycannell1162]

@@wampler_pedals Many thanks. I've just got my hands on one. A really neat PCB and you were right about it's uniqueness. A little difficult to tame via my Brownface, but so much gain.

[@1vexed73]

Feels like we need a wampler clean pedal for effects loop that takes pedals well?

[@robertprice5039]

I have been not as much a fan of “Amp in a Box” pedals since I have been using lower wattage amps. I main dirt pedal is the Deluxe Paisley Drive for my current band, doing Retro Style music, and if I was playing Hard Rock it would be the Pantheon. I want the dirt pedal to compliment the amps sound, and not cover it up.

[@kram21]

I would redo it ! I think you will be better than Soldano”s version I would like it for the Warren Haynes- Gary Moore tone( gary’s gain was actually reported Marshall guvnor pedal)

[@waynegram8907]

Is wamper going to make a mini Solano pedal soon? I hope it has a mode switch to get those 80s Clapton tones , ratts warren demartini, Warren Haynes, etc the mode switch would be presets to nail those tones

[@wampler_pedals]

I doubt we will do a soldano thing

[@waynegram8907]

@@wampler_pedals Try to make a Rivera Stage 4 amplifier pedal to get those TOTO hold the line and Michael Jackson beat tones because this Rivera Stage 4 creates that tone right out of the box. It would be nice to have a pedal that gets those rivera amplifier Toto Hold the line guitar tone

[@jameshalbert181]

Great now I want one pretty sure this video is going to drive up the price on reverb

[@CrazedFandango]

I wish higher gain pedals would feature a noise gate.

[@rockstardr]

Please.....Do a stereo reverb with midi and presets....

[@wampler_pedals]

Lol, I gotcha 😉

[@terryenglish7132]

Have you looked under the hood ? What's producing the distortion in the effect ?

[@wampler_pedals]

Yes, opamp based

[@marvinmartin3438]

Dude, I love that pedal! How many watts is it? Is it frequency compensated? Are the knobs finger compatible? Is it gig bag ready? Can it get me the EVH "negro sound?" Asking for a friend

[@kodykindhart5644]

You’d be a better person if you just tried being a good person Just some advice from the friend you were asking for

[@Paul_Lenard_Ewing]

It took ol' Mike 2 years and 13 prototypes. You need to be the position that you don't have a life :-) Being an old guy 75. My life is wake up and do WTF I want. Responsibility and guilt free. Guilt free is a real biggy!!! You don't know until you've been there, LOL. You will have to wait.

[@yowild9629]

Well iff the EQ on amps tone stack is passive you should put all controlls on max and it will be like no EQ

[@wampler_pedals]

Not exactly. That’s because all of those filters will still affect the eq. Use this site and you can see for yourself: www.guitarscience.net/tsc/marshall.htm#RIN=1300&R1=33k&RT=220k&RB=1M&RM=25k&RL=517k&C1=470p&C2=22n&C3=22n&RB_pot=LogB&RM_pot=Linear&RT_pot=Linear

[@harrisonstokes8140]

Now I am going to reverb to find a SLOstortortion and buy it.

[@kram21]

Soldano should make a low gain switch on their pedal - the lowest level of its gain is 2 much

[@guitardave]

Yeah, I wish it covered the sounds of the SLO crunch channel. Maybe a Soldano SLO Crunch pedal would be an idea for the future.

[@ericskinner7355]

So what is your favorite distortion that you make? And which is most versatile?

[@ericskinner7355]

I was just wondering...

[@mico5003]

Hallo #Marshall Amplification, it is time to reissue Shredmaster! As we are flooded this year with pedals whom its origin are thy mighty amp! Bryan, I dig em both which they have their own field, except in send/return, Soldano has uppercut. If I have to choose cheaper one wins.

[@fretBeastForever]

It doesn`t sound really loud enough!

[@austinskinner]

First takeaway is that YOUR amp sounds infinitely better than that Fender. BravADo to you.