So the SLO had it's first outing on the weekend. and what a dramatic weekend it was.....
1) Had trouble getting the SLO's line level FX loop to play nicely with some of my pedals so at the last minute decided maybe I should check out a TC Electronics G-System. Took half a day off and spent a frantic few hours trying to redo my pedlboard and create some G-System patches in time for the gig. Just got finished in time...but started the gig feeling quite "edgy"....
2) Had a MASSIVE buzz through my system for the first two hours of the gig, before evenutally figuring out my pedalboard was plugged into a faulty power outlet. Eventually plugged into a different outlet and the noise was all gone..
3) Just as we were about to play the first set, I lost all the gain from the SLO's OD channel. Limped through the whole first set using just one channel and an unfamiliar pedal board. Quickly discovered the fault in my first break - a faulty preamp tube. Luckily I always carry spares
4) Nothing to do with the guitar rig but thought it was worth a mention - the whole left side of our PA system went down too. Spent most of the gig running on a single PA stack.
All in all it was a pretty crazy night, and not how I would have liked my frst night with the SLO to have gone. It could have been my worst gigging night in 15 years had the SLO not sounded SO DAMN GOOD!!!!!!!
This really truly is an incredible amp. It also a truly unique amplifier - a little disconcerting but in a wonderous way...
The SLO has a LOT more treble and upper mids than I have ever been used to playing with. Yet somehow manages to deliver it with no ear fatigue and in a very "smooth" manner. The "3-dimensional" feel I described in an earlier post is only accentuated as you turn the amp up and it just creates a visceral playing sensation.
What i loved about it was the way in which it created it's own space in the band mix. The guitar cut like a knife, without being obtrusive. Others in the band made a comment that the tone wasn't "fighting" for space with the keyboard player - it really opened up the overall mix and seperated the instruments.
The only thing biger than my guitar sound,was the smile on my face (once I had sorted out the hum issues). This amp sounds absolutely killer. It's a keeper.....for life!!!!!