Just modded my amp to Friedman specs.. Holy balls!

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Re: Just modded my amp to Friedman specs.. Holy balls!

Post by Danger Mouse »

griff7628 wrote:extra gain isn't really needed.
You really do say the oddest things... :lol:
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Re: Just modded my amp to Friedman specs.. Holy balls!

Post by AiRdAd »

have you done anything with a 'depth' dial? Ryan put one on my old soldano, and it was great. I've got them on my two marshalls as well. you can thicken up the sound at lower volumes.
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Re: Just modded my amp to Friedman specs.. Holy balls!

Post by Optical »

Depth controls are usually pretty easy on any tube amp which has negative feedback. The depth control goes in series with the nfb back to the phase inverter. I put them on all my amps :)

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Re: Just modded my amp to Friedman specs.. Holy balls!

Post by godgrinder »

Optical wrote:Also the SLO tone isnt totally locked up in the transformers. Ive built a SLO and done a lot of transformer swapping, including a deyoung set and it isnt as important as internet folklore suggests. The cheaper Soldano models dont have 100% the same preamp circuit so of course they are going to sound a little different.
Isn't there basically 2-3 minor differences between the SLO and HR preamp? I had both and found the gain structure virtually the same but the SLO has the big 3D-ness which aren't there in any other derivative of that circuit I've tried. I didn't buy into the whole magical transformer bizzo either... until I tried one.
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Re: Just modded my amp to Friedman specs.. Holy balls!

Post by godgrinder »

AiRdAd wrote:have you done anything with a 'depth' dial? Ryan put one on my old soldano, and it was great. I've got them on my two marshalls as well. you can thicken up the sound at lower volumes.
I remember Ryan saying the hardest part about the depth mod is drilling the hole on the chassis. :rofl:
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Fryette Pittbull CL | Marshall 2203KK | Krank Rev 50 | Mesa Mark 2A

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Verellen Meatsmoke | Synergy SYN1 | Mesa Studio

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Re: Just modded my amp to Friedman specs.. Holy balls!

Post by Optical »

godgrinder wrote:Isn't there basically 2-3 minor differences between the SLO and HR preamp? I had both and found the gain structure virtually the same but the SLO has the big 3D-ness which aren't there in any other derivative of that circuit I've tried. I didn't buy into the whole magical transformer bizzo either... until I tried one.
I think it depends on your perspective, yes there are about 3 component value differences and that is insignificant from an electrical component perspective. But those components are right at the start of the preamp and that means the harmonic content generated by that first stage (the SLO generates more harmonics), and that multiplication of that harmonic content through subsequent stages means that the net result is quite significant from a tone and playing dynamics perspective. For example, there are only two component differences (which set the first stage mids content) between a SLO and a dual rec preamp and the end result is quite different sounding circuits.

Edit, just looked at the HR circuit again and there is a cathode follower missing in the HR and the power amp NFB is different too. Not really going to sound or feel close to a SLO imo. Anyway, I think the point is unless you are swapping OPTs with everything else being the same, there are too many other variables which will dominate the differences experienced.

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Re: Just modded my amp to Friedman specs.. Holy balls!

Post by higainer »

Dredge.

Saw the latest Tone Talk interview with Mike Soldano.
The new BAD built SLO’s should start appearing in 10 weeks according to Friedman.
Will be interesting to see how they stack up to the OG SLO’s.

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Re: Just modded my amp to Friedman specs.. Holy balls!

Post by griff »

higainer wrote:Dredge.

Saw the latest Tone Talk interview with Mike Soldano.
The new BAD built SLO’s should start appearing in 10 weeks according to Friedman.
Will be interesting to see how they stack up to the OG SLO’s.
Agree. Apparently the new transformers he uses sounds slightly better.
I really like the idea of the 30w SLO eh

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