Synthing armor - how do slots work?

[SailorDaravon]

Did a search and couldn't find an answer. Do all armors, bought or synthed, have the same slots regardless? Like if I bought a Brandline (sp) or synthed a Brandline, it would have the same slots regardless? Or if I synth a buyable armor, I can do something to give it more/different slots? If so, how is that done? I've got a gigaline board currently I'd like to make, but the stuff is expensive, and I'm a CAST so I'd need to make sure I've got an Extra slot in there.

Also semi-related; did we ever figure out a way to increase def/eva with photons when synthing armor boards, or is it only elemental stats that you can affect?

I did a search for all this here and on PSUpedia, sorry if it's been answered before >_>

[Realmz]

i'd guess yes

[Schubalts]

Well, I synthed a busterline yesterday, and it had the same slots as the store version. So, I'm going with yes, too.