Premier Guitar’s Pedalmania series just featured the SoloDallas EX Tower, placing it alongside two new Warm Audio drives in what they called “the final round” of tone exploration. In this episode, contributor Tom Butwin dives deep into why the EX Tower exists, where it came from, and why it still matters for guitarists today.
What he discovered is exactly what we’ve spent years trying to preserve at SoloDallas:
the unmistakable harmonic signature, compression, and presence that defined the biggest arena tones of the 70s and 80s.
And yes—he heard it immediately.
The History Behind the EX Tower
In the review, Tom explains the origin of the unit:
The EX Tower is based on the Schaffer-Vega Diversity System (SVDS)—the wireless system used by virtually every major touring act from the mid-70s to the mid-80s. But the secret wasn’t just wireless freedom. The SVDS added:
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Musical compression
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Harmonic saturation
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Low-mid punch
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Subtle EQ shaping
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A unique boost behavior
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A signature “feel” that changed how guitarists interacted with their amps
Players back then didn’t know why their tone felt better through the SVDS. They only knew they didn’t want to plug in without it.
The EX Tower recreates the tone-shaping mainframe of the original wireless unit, without the wireless components—giving modern players access to that same musical magic.
Using the EX Tower: Not Just a Pedal—A Tone System
Tom walks through the I/O and placement:
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Audio In (front): Guitar or any instrument
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¼″ Out (rear) and optional XLR Out
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Best placed after overdrives and before modulation/delay
He notes this placement unlocks the intended harmonic lift and compression the original SVDS delivered on stage.
Inside the Tone: What the Controls Actually Do
Input Compander (Compression + Saturation + EQ Behavior)
Tom highlights the compander as the heart of the EX Tower.
Dialed low:
• Subtle compression and clarity
• A warm low-mid push that sits perfectly in a mix
Dialed high:
• Thick harmonic saturation
• A vintage-style growl that feels alive under the fingers
He instantly recognized the sound.
Output Control (Up to 30 dB of Boost)
With up to 30 dB of clean usable gain, Tom kept the Output around noon, noting how easily it can push an amp or stack dynamically with other drives.
Optical Limiter (Nearly Endless Sustain)
On the back panel, Tom highlights the optical limiter:
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Produces long, singing sustain
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Adds a studio-like polish
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Works beautifully for lead tones or expressive rhythm work
This circuit is a defining part of why players in the 1970s described their rigs as “bigger,” “faster,” and “more responsive.”
Mode Switch (Boost On/Off)
Engage or bypass the onboard boost circuit entirely—another nod to the flexibility of the original SVDS.
Footswitch Compatibility
Tom appreciated that a latching footswitch can toggle the whole unit, making it fully stage-ready for modern pedalboards.
All-Analog, True Bypass, and Built Like the Original
He points out:
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Fully analog signal path
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True bypass
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Working VU meter
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A physical design inspired by the original studio/rack SVDS mainframe
It’s not just a pedal—it's a faithful tool built to deliver a specific, historic tone behavior.
What Tom Heard
Throughout the demo, the EX Tower delivered:
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Harmonic lift
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Fuller low-mids
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Cleaner transients
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Touch-sensitive saturation
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Sustain that effortlessly blooms
Whether used alone or at the end of a gain chain, Tom consistently reached for words like “cool,” “amazing,” and “really, really great tones.”
Why This Review Matters
At SoloDallas, we’ve spent the last decade chasing one mission:
Give modern players access to the tone-shaping behavior that defined rock guitar’s most iconic era.
Hearing Premier Guitar spotlight the EX Tower’s history and authenticity means the world to us—and to every musician who still believes tone is both art and science.
If you're new to the world of SoloDallas, the EX Tower is the closest you can get to stepping into the control room of a 1979 arena stage.
Try the EX Tower
Experience the compression, harmonic richness, sustain, and presence that shaped a generation.
Link to Post: https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/gear-roundups/pedalmania-round-3-vintage-tone-options-reborn
