SLO-30 Super Lead Overdrive 30-watt Tube Head - Metal Grille Review

Straight up the ladder dude!

Straight up the ladder dude!YES, YES, YES!!

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Yup, it's goodness all the way!

Received the SLO 30 just before Christmas, so I've had plenty of time to work with the amp and use it in various situations. I've been playing for 46 years and used a lot of great amps over time. I put this one right up there with the best that I've ever plugged into. I currently own a great "D" style amp and a Boogie Mark V as my main amps, along with Mesa Maverick and Stiletto… read more for live or studio...enter the SLO 30. It really is an incredible amp and it's not just a high gain monster, though it is that as well. The sound is the same as the 100W big brother and every bit as tight with a ton of headroom, but you can achieve power amp compression earlier in the master volume's range than the SLO 100. Cleans with stay clean, in case you're worried about that. I personally think that this is the amp that most people should get that are looking for the SLO thing. Plenty of volume to make a loud drummer go away...if you want that kind of power, yet flexible enough to use at very low volumes for practice with very good sound. The SLO 30 is very easy to dial in a get whatever tones that you want with the exception being the mid range control pot having a bit of a wide Q range, meaning that if you want to carve out certain frequencies in the EQ's middle range without affecting frequencies that you may not want to cut or that you may need, your best bet is going to be to put a 10 band graphic EQ or run a rack EQ in your effects loop. Then again that's something I do anyway regardless of the amp. But I find myself doing minimal sculpting with the SLO 30, if any at all. Others have covered this amp pretty well and I agree with all positive reviews on it. I really don't have anything negative to say about it. I could gripe about the effects loop not having a volume control, but I'm not, as it serves it's intended purpose just fine. You really have to try hard to get a bad sound out of it. And the punch? Nothing kicks like an SLO. Run it to a good cabinet and your set. Cabs I have been using include an Avatar G212 Traditional loaded with a V30 and G12H-30, a Mesa Rectifier Traditional 4 x 12 with V30's, and a Marshall 4 x 12 with G12T-75's. All cabs sound amazing with it. I haven't done a review on any product anywhere in years. The SLO 30 is worth the effort. As with all past dealings with Sweetwater, they are great and I can highly recommend them as well as the Soldano SLO 30.

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Oh my god

My lovely wife bought this for me as a Christmas gift. Tube amps have been in my rig for 25+ years; I've always wanted to try a Soldano, and now that I have, I most definitely understand the hype. Individual notes in a chord ring like a bell even on more overdriven settings. If there is a downside, it is that there is no hiding a mistake; what you play is what the amp sends out… read more … loudly.

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The Best Amp on the planet

I'm not a pro nor do I play as well as the pros but, I'm a decent player & super guitar tech and I do gig with a Classic rock & blues cover band regularly in the Austin, Texas area. My tone is the center of my universe and the source of nearly all the complements I get for my playing ability. I think the other reviews (sweetwater) on this amp are very accurate and I would echo everything… read more they have already stated. I also agree that the price of this amp seems like a lot however, if you consider the fact that it's a hardwired amp, it's really not that bad. Then pile on the absolute best build quality I've seen. The only fault I see is that the control knobs are kinda cheap for this caliber of amp and also the power cord they give you does not look like it matches the quality of the rest of the amp. But, those things can be changed and they are no big deal. The sounds from this amp are incredible. I also own the Bogner 3534 and these amps can sound very much alike. The SLO-30 has a fuller lower end than the 3534. Which would I buy if I could only have 1? If I could only have 1, I would go with the 3534 if I could only own 1 because of the 3 channel versatility without the need for a separate boost pedal. If you can own both, definitely get both. This Amp, like the 3534, inspires not only the player but also the audience. I've had people tell me on breaks how much my sound sends chills up their spines!

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Honestly

A little about myself first. I'm a home player that owns 8 amps, 19 guitars, bunch of pedals. I don't gig, I'm not a Steve vai, or Eddie Van Halen. I have gone from those 100watt heads and in my older age I can handle the 50w or below range well. I decided to buy this amp because my 58th birthday is coming up. I am buying several Marshall studio series amps (have always been a Marshall… read more fan since the 70's.). It's what I grew up with. After watching a lot of videos, researched tones and the guts of the Soldano SLO 30, I decided to buy it. Yes it's a lot of money but I can tell you that you only go through this life once. Be happy while doing it. The cleans are more incredible in person, love the presence and depth knobs, it chugs as Ola says! It's one of those amps that comes around not very often. Get it and you'll be happy you did. I am. Hey and it goes to 11 of course lol. I'm currently researching cabs that would go well with this gem. I'm very very happy with this amp.

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