Guitar Gear Forum

I recently got a Syn30 head and I am really digging it.

The synergy with the slo module is amazing. I found some videos on you tube of guys playing Soldano slo and the tone is nearly identical.

My cab doesn’t have a lot of bottom end so I have to add a bit with an eq in the loop. But the character is absolutely there.

But it’s made me accept that whatever I play though, I sound like me. I mean, I have always thought this but damn.

I guess I’m done tone chasing(yeah right)

I had the Syn2 for a while. It sounded awesome. But I got tired of the rack format eventually. If I decided to use Synergy again, the heads are definitely the way to go. I like the fact the Syn30 has its own clean channel. Makes it easy to use with a single module.

With the Syn2, I had the option of 2 modules but I had to factor in clean sounds. I kept a BE/BB module on slot 1 to give me a clean and a crunch channel. Then used slot 2 for heavier tones.

With the Syn30 the clean channel taken care of already so having a single slot makes sense and makes the whole system more affordable. I may pick one up eventually.

Yeah, I love the idea of the Synergy stuff. Maybe one day I will actually do it lol.

Friend of mine has been using the Syn 2+Peavey Classic as his main rig for a while now and he loves it. I still haven't gotten to play thru it myself

Congrats!

I have been using a Syn30 head for a few years.
I have owned all the versions of the head, combo and rack,
and had many of the modules... and played them all (derp).
Absolutely love it, it always sounds and feels great!

Have a blast with it!

I have the SYN-1 and the IICP module and use it with my 1972 JMP and Fryette Power station. I can select any of the 2 channels or the JMP using my Boss GT1000 in 4cm. It is a crazy awesome rig and the Mesa Mark tones are legit

They should make a series of single channel modules for like $250.

I have a Syn-1 that I mainly use with a PS2. Module wise I have the BE (came for free with the Syn-1 from Sweetwater), Vai, 6505, SLO, and had a Deliverance which I should have kept.

Agree on the SLO! That is my #1. The Vai is really good, and the 6505 sounds really good to me also. The BE sounds like a Friedman. A little too polished for my tastes but I could see how many would love it. Sold the Deliverance when I stumbled across a WTB post, but should have kept it. The SLO gets 75% of the playtime though.

I'd like to see them make a 100w head with 2 slots + the Syn30 clean channel. Basically the whole enchilada. It would probably be expensive, around $2k but it would be a great flagship model.

I had an Egnater Dual M4. Should have kept it.

I have a SYN-1. It seems to be awesome, but I haven't played any hair metal or thrash as of late.

Mods I have:
Syn IICP
Syn Friedman BE
Eggy SL
Eggy VX
Eggy GNR (SL2X)

I REALLY need to get an EG5 again. It was the best sound ever. Like Ratt in a box.

I need to bring a power amp to the office since I don't get to play at home anymore.

GuitarBilly wrote:I'd like to see them make a 100w head with 2 slots + the Syn30 clean channel. Basically the whole enchilada. It would probably be expensive, around $2k but it would be a great flagship model.

that would be pretty awesome

My syn1 has been sitting under my guitar rack for 6+ months now. I’ll pick up the 2cp when it goes on sale next.

Do the preamps have the same sort of feel and interaction with the poweramp as regular tube amps?

I have been sort of getting curious about these also. Especially with using a stereo tube poweramp.

Shask wrote:Do the preamps have the same sort of feel and interaction with the poweramp as regular tube amps?

I have been sort of getting curious about these also. Especially with using a stereo tube poweramp.

Yes and no. Yes, it interacts like a real preamp. But if you're running say, a Friedman module on the Synergy into a Fryette Power Station, the end result is a blend of both. So it won't sound exactly like a Friedman amp.

I think that expectations need to be adjusted, since the power amp is a big part of the amp tone.

But when I had the Synergy, I also had the Friedman Runt. So I was able to do a more apples to apples comparison, A/B'ing the BE module and the Runt preamp into the same Runt power section. In that scenario, they sounded exactly the same, it was uncanny.

But obviously when you're running different brand modules into the same power amp the results will be different than just using an entire amp of that brand.

Statutory Gape wrote:They should make a series of single channel modules for like $250.

That's what the original Randall MTS and Egnator modules that started it all were. Been in the MTS Modular world for way too many years and still have an RM 100 and about 20 something modules. Mostly Jaded Faith, Salvation and other modders work. Do have one modded by Friedman to be a HBE and an amazing one by Voodoo to be a kinda Jose mod. These all work in the synergy ecosystem. So cool that this stuff is so compatible. I still think the RM 100 power section with it's ability to mix and match power tubes and bias in pairs is awesome. The tube boards had tons of issues but if you had one that didn't burn up your in luck.

ibenhad wrote:

Statutory Gape wrote:They should make a series of single channel modules for like $250.

That's what the original Randall MTS and Egnator modules that started it all were. Been in the MTS Modular world for way too many years and still have an RM 100 and about 20 something modules. Mostly Jaded Faith, Salvation and other modders work. Do have one modded by Friedman to be a HBE and an amazing one by Voodoo to be a kinda Jose mod. These all work in the synergy ecosystem. So cool that this stuff is so compatible. I still think the RM 100 power section with it's ability to mix and match power tubes and bias in pairs is awesome. The tube boards had tons of issues but if you had one that didn't burn up your in luck.

I've been thinking about a used RM20, but the used heads don't look like they're in good shape. And the mods cost up to $400 completed anyway. Instead, I was eyeing the ENGL Fireball 25 since it has a power soak and a noise gate onboard...

Yeah for sure. You can still find the Randall modules on the cheap sometimes. But honestly I think the current Synergy modules are better build and having the 2 channels per module really expand the system.

But the system is backwards compatible so anything made previously by Randall, Salvation etc will still work.

You can also load Synergy modules on the older Randall hardware without any mods.
You'd lose the channel switching compatibility but there are some guys modding the older units to have the channel switching.

A modded RM100 head with Synergy modules would be great.

Statutory Gape wrote:

ibenhad wrote:

Statutory Gape wrote:They should make a series of single channel modules for like $250.

That's what the original Randall MTS and Egnator modules that started it all were. Been in the MTS Modular world for way too many years and still have an RM 100 and about 20 something modules. Mostly Jaded Faith, Salvation and other modders work. Do have one modded by Friedman to be a HBE and an amazing one by Voodoo to be a kinda Jose mod. These all work in the synergy ecosystem. So cool that this stuff is so compatible. I still think the RM 100 power section with it's ability to mix and match power tubes and bias in pairs is awesome. The tube boards had tons of issues but if you had one that didn't burn up your in luck.

I've been thinking about a used RM20, but the used heads don't look like they're in good shape. And the mods cost up to $400 completed anyway. Instead, I was eyeing the ENGL Fireball 25 since it has a power soak and a noise gate onboard...

The fireball 25 is awesome.

GuitarBilly wrote:
A modded RM100 head with Synergy modules would be great.

Pretty sure there are a few Dual Channel USA Egnater MOD 100 heads floating around.

I had several MTS amps back in the day as well. Didn't move them around much, but that was an issue I had with them. Heaviest amps I have every had! Came with spring loaded handles on the sides to help with moving them.

However, external bias points, mixing and matching power tube capabilities, 3 module slots on the 100W heads, and several modders out there made it one of my favorite platforms. Jaded Faith Friedman correct spec Brahma was my #1, followed by a Salvation Mashall+. Would easily give either one of those a shot with the Syn-1 platform again if they came up for sale at a decent price.

GuitarBilly wrote:

Shask wrote:Do the preamps have the same sort of feel and interaction with the poweramp as regular tube amps?

I have been sort of getting curious about these also. Especially with using a stereo tube poweramp.

Yes and no. Yes, it interacts like a real preamp. But if you're running say, a Friedman module on the Synergy into a Fryette Power Station, the end result is a blend of both. So it won't sound exactly like a Friedman amp.

I think that expectations need to be adjusted, since the power amp is a big part of the amp tone.

But when I had the Synergy, I also had the Friedman Runt. So I was able to do a more apples to apples comparison, A/B'ing the BE module and the Runt preamp into the same Runt power section. In that scenario, they sounded exactly the same, it was uncanny.

But obviously when you're running different brand modules into the same power amp the results will be different than just using an entire amp of that brand.

That sounds like how it always was with rack gear and mixing / matching different brands together. I just didn't know if all the extra electronics of how it works took something away from a simple tone and feel of a tube setup.

It seems like if you want a modern rack system, this is pretty much the only way to go. Not much rack gear has been made in the last 20 years, so if you want something more modern sounding than like a MP-1 or something, it seems like this is the only way if you want all tube.

I do think the either of the Synergy heads sound and feel like a real head, and don't not sound like rack units at all. Flip side is, the modules tend to sound a bit more alike because the way the heads do this.

For me, I don't really care if a module sounds like the real amp, just if is a cool sound.
The Uber is a good example. I personally never got along with the real head, but the module
is fantastic.

Think of synergy this way. Where else can you get a legit slo preamp for $900? ($765 on holidays)

Meant to post this in another thread.