The Soldano SLO pedal is a high-gain overdrive pedal from Soldano that puts the character of the company's Super Lead Overdrive 100-watt tube amp on a pedalboard. It is built around the same cascading gain stages as the flagship SLO-100 amp, and Soldano describes it as delivering "the perfect balance of gain, sustain, and touch response the SLO is known for"12.
Where the SLO-100 amp has a Clean channel and an Overdrive channel, the pedal has only one channel, voiced after the amp's Overdrive channel2. It launched in 2022, bringing the amp's cascading gain structure into stompbox form3.
The SLO-100's overdrive channel in a pedal
The SLO pedal is an amp-in-a-box design: it models the Soldano Super Lead Overdrive amp heads, including the deep bass punch those heads are known for7. Delicious Audio describes it as based on a cascading-gain-stage circuit, the same topology that gives the SLO-100 its high-gain character2. Soldano's own page says the pedal is "crafted using the same cascading gain stages as the flagship amp"1.
Because the amp has two channels and the pedal has one, the SLO pedal covers only the high-gain Overdrive side of the amp. Players who want the amp's Normal channel crunch as well are served by the SLO Plus, covered below289.
Controls
The front panel mirrors the amp. Guitar World described it at launch as having six control knobs and a side-mounted Deep switch10, with the familiar gain, volume, three-band EQ and Presence controls found on the amp, one input, one output and a power jack6.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain | Sets the preamp drive level |
| Volume | Controls the total output volume1 |
| EQ section (Treble, Middle, Bass) | Classic Soldano three-band EQ; turning each knob clockwise increases the output of that frequency range1 |
| Presence | Filters the output's high end1 |
| Deep switch (side-mounted) | Adjusts the overall output low-end punch1 |
The EQ is the same three-band section as on the 100-watt tube amp2, so a player who knows the amp will find the layout familiar. Gearnews' reviewer put it simply:
"The amp control layout is perfect and it has the tones to back up the SLO name."7
Power
The SLO pedal runs on a 9V DC power jack only, with no battery connection inside5. Soldano's warnings are specific: do not exceed 9V DC, do not use center pin positive adapters, and do not use AC power1. Delicious Audio echoes this, advising only a 9V DC power source intended for guitar pedals2. Current draw is approximately 32mA at 9V1.
The SLO pedal has no battery option and requires a 9V DC center negative supply. A center pin positive adapter or an AC adapter can damage the pedal1.
History and versions
The pedal has appeared in several finishes:
SLO pedal vs SLO Plus
| SLO pedal | SLO Plus | |
|---|---|---|
| Channels | One, voiced after the amp's Overdrive channel2 | Two: Normal (crunch) and Overdrive29 |
| Gain and volume | Shared Gain and Volume knobs | Independent Master (output) and Preamp (gain) knobs per channel11 |
| EQ | Three-band EQ, Presence, side Deep switch1 | Shared three-band EQ, Presence, and a side-mounted Deep switch12 |
| Current draw | Approximately 32mA at 9V1 | Approximately 40mA at 9V11 |
| List price | $199.99 (White, December 2024)4 | $299.99 (June 2026)119 |
Both pedals are assembled in the USA1511 and both were available to order from Soldano's Webstore as of December 20249115.
Videos
Pete Thorn
Andertons Music Co
Andertons Music Co
Questions
Does the Soldano SLO pedal take a battery?
No. The SLO pedal runs on a 9V DC power jack only, with no battery connection inside. Soldano warns not to exceed 9V DC, not to use center pin positive adapters, and not to use AC power, so a standard 9V center negative guitar pedal supply is required.
What does the Deep switch on the SLO pedal do?
The Deep switch adjusts the overall low-end punch of the pedal's output. It is side-mounted on the enclosure rather than on the front panel, so you set it once to match your amp and cabinet rather than tweak it while playing.
What is the difference between the SLO pedal and the SLO Plus?
The SLO pedal has one channel, voiced after the SLO-100 amp's Overdrive channel. The SLO Plus adds the amp's Normal channel in crunch mode, giving two footswitchable channels, each with its own Master and Preamp knobs, plus a Presence control and Deep switch. The SLO Plus draws about 40mA against the SLO's 32mA.
Is the Soldano SLO pedal made in the USA?
Yes. Soldano states that the SLO pedal is assembled in the USA, and Premier Guitar reported the same when the pedal launched in 2022. The SLO Plus is also listed as assembled in the USA.
Sources (12)
- SLO Pedal, soldano.com
- Soldano SLO Pedal High Gain Drive, Delicious Audio, 2024-03-26
- “The playing experience of both the SLO-100 amplifier's legendary channels in a powerful, compact new pedal”: Soldano doubles down on the Super Lead Overdrive tones with the SLO Plus, MusicRadar, 2024-12-06
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-12-05
- New from Soldano the SLO Guitar Pedal, Premier Guitar, 2022-11-01
- Guitar World's 30 favorite guitar pedals from the past 5 years, Guitar World, 2025-06-02
- Best Pedals of 2022: Top 5 Stompboxes you should check out, www.gearnews.com, 2022-12-26
- Best New Pedal Releases | November 2022 | Delicious Audio, delicious-audio.com, 2022-12-13
- SLO PLUS Pedal, soldano.com, 2026-06-01
- Soldano brings its legendary SLO-100 guitar amp to the floor with the SLO Pedal, Guitar World, 2022-11-01
- SLO PLUS Pedal, soldano.com, 2026-07-30
- Soldano SLO Plus Super Lead Overdive, Vintage Guitar magazine, 2025-11-14
