DSL100H vs Silver Jubilee Reissue Marshalls - Classic Rock

[JimmyO]

So, although I have a couple of good amps that I gig and rehearse with I do not yet have a Marshall and have recently been thinking of purchasing one to get that classic crunch tone. I will be looking for something decent on the used market, but out of the new models the DSL100H and Jubilee reissue look like they have tones in the classic crunch ballpark. Both have a half power switch and a way to go from clean/crunch to a lead tone. The JVM looks like it is setup for more modern tones and has more modes and channels that I would need.

The styles I play are mostly classic 60s, 70s and 80s rock, and blues and some jazz and country. My other amps cover the jazz, country and blues side of things and I am looking for that big open chord crunch tone that cuts through the mix but is not too saturated. Although i am not a fanboy I do like the tones that Joe Bonamassa gets from both amps. I do not play metal and would not likely have much use for the red channel on the DSL, other than perhaps a sustaining lead tone. I know that the DSL is made in Vietnam vs the UK but it is also half the price, and probably much cheaper used.

How do they compare in terms of tone and also importantly reliability and quality of construction? The classic marshall tones of Led Zep, Aerosmith, ZZ top, Slash and GnR, Cream, and Hendrix would be the kind of gain levels we are talking. I have tubescreamers etc to push the crunch tone into a lead tone if needed. If any of you have any advice on settings, that would be awesome.

 

[allbutromeo]

Re: DSL100H vs Silver Jubilee Reissue Marshalls - Classic Rock

Look for a used Vintage Modern
https://www.youtube.com/user/ProGuitarShopDemos

 

[Sleepy]

Re: DSL100H vs Silver Jubilee Reissue Marshalls - Classic Rock

jubilee > jvm > old dsl series > new dsl series

just imo

ive seen some ebay STEALS on used vintage moderns too

 

[chadd]

Re: DSL100H vs Silver Jubilee Reissue Marshalls - Classic Rock

I don't want to come off like a fanboy but I love my Mesa Roadster. Lots of great classic rock tones in there and the "tweed" setting on the clean channel absolutely rips with the gain cranked up. I sold my Marshalls when I got it, it's that good. Paired with a greenback loaded Marshall cabinet, it doesn't sound like a typical Mesa

 

[JimmyO]

Re: DSL100H vs Silver Jubilee Reissue Marshalls - Classic Rock

The vintage modern sounds nice. So Jubilee, vintage modern, DSL. Anyone have any reliability experience with the new DSLs or the Vintage modern series? What makes the Jubilee so much more awesome and worth the extra money?

 

[ken361]

Re: DSL100H vs Silver Jubilee Reissue Marshalls - Classic Rock

The new ones of the DSL seems to be good, I had my 40c 7 months now and going strong. Have Not read too many problems with them. Seem to be better made besides the MDF/HDF construction. The chassis mounted power tubes are a plus.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: DSL100H vs Silver Jubilee Reissue Marshalls - Classic Rock

What makes the Jubilee so much more awesome and worth the extra money?

Nothing inherently really. All the classic tones you listed before, Led Zep, Hendrix, Cream, GnR, were made with earlier era Marshalls. The DSL's and Jubilees are cool but are bit different animals.

Half power switches are pretty useless, they are better at being used for a different tonal option rather than as a volume reduction. The difference between 50 watts and 100watts is usually about half a notch on the volume knob.

The vintage modern is really a single channel amp just with a boost that is switchable. The jubilee is a defacto 3 channel amp (in reality it has modes not separate discrete channels) but has a difficult time functioning as one. What usually winds up happening is a compromise to get a good lead tone the controls are set too high for your clean tone. So either the clean tone has to be dirty or the lead has to be weak. Now usually a Jub fan will run a long and say "but i get squeaky clean by setting the knobs high then using the volume knob on my guitar to get a clean tone... Which true does work, but congratulations you just disappeared from the mix.

The only one of the amps you mentioned that does channel switching well is the DSL. It does nice cleans and with the different modes you can get varying levels on crunch that cover a lot of ground. Its actually pretty versatile.

Reliability wise I wouldnt worry too much about any of them though I havent seen under the hood of a new Jubilee they might be pewp but I seriously doubt it. Some guys get bent out of shape over the whole UK vs Viet thing. I dont sweat it at this price point, in fact there were issues with the older UK DSL's bias supplies that has been fixed in the newer ones. Even by the end of the original JCM800 run Marshall was starting to cut corners on quality. The only thing I gripe on is I hate the new tolex. To me it looks and feels cheap.

The biggest thing I think you will fight is the volume level and getting enough gain at workable volumes. For that the DSL is the best choice. If you can crank a 100 watter to at least 4 on the master then the others might become contenders.

If you are willing to run a single channel amp up loud there is another amp out there that does very well and can be found used for a bargain.... but you have to get past the name on it. That is the Marshall Kerry King Signature. Its basically a JCM800 with a boost in front. You can find these pretty cheap when in reality they are great amps. Dont let the name on it fool you, its a JCM800 and covers the same range as a JCM800 and a bit more. The only downsides are...single channel, loud as hell, no effects loop. (though i gotta admit even the loops on the Jub and VM leave a bit to be desired)

But at the end of the day I still get the feeling you would be happiest with a DSL.

 

[JimmyO]

Re: DSL100H vs Silver Jubilee Reissue Marshalls - Classic Rock

Thank you for the detailed response. Very helpful information. You are totally right in considering the volume levels, as I had an old band mate with a JCM800 and even with an attenuator it never got cooking before it got too loud. Will check out the Kerry King model though, if I can find one local to try. If the new DSLs are reliable, running one in the green channel crunch mode may work - turning down for cleans and boosting for leads. At least the new DSLs are at every Marshall dealer so I can really run through all the tones before making a decision.

 

[d1dsj]

Re: DSL100H vs Silver Jubilee Reissue Marshalls - Classic Rock

out of those 3 I would probably go for the DSL first, as much as I love my Jubilee the DSL is IMO more versatile. Alternatively speak to John Jolly about his Blackstar, I'm sure he'd give them the nod! Designed by Ex Marshall guys for that hotrodded Marshall roar.

 

[dystrust]

Re: DSL100H vs Silver Jubilee Reissue Marshalls - Classic Rock

First and foremost if you need channel switching, reverb, and squeaky clean, get the DSL.

That being said, I want to add my $0.02 as a dedicated Jubilee fan. The Jubilee is in theory a two channel / mode amp, but it's a compromise as Edgecrusher said. It technically has a 3rd mode, but the 'rhythm clip' is only switchable via a front-panel pull pot and it causes a reduction of rhythm mode volume when engaged. I agree 100% with remarks about balancing volumes; the Jubilee preamp works a lot like early Mark series Mesas where you have a gain control shared by both channels. The rhythm mode stays reasonably clean with the input gain on about 6, but starts to break up after that. Volume between the two modes is balanced with the Lead Master control, but it interacts with the input gain; at higher input gain you need to set the lead master higher, otherwise the rhythm mode is louder than the lead one (at least with the rhythm clip off). I typically run mine with the input gain on 6 and ride the guitar's volume for cleaner sounds; I have a foot switch but rarely use it. The Jubilee does have an excellent master volume and doesn't need to be crushingly loud to sound decent. The amp starts to sound really good around 2.5 on the output master, and sounds its best around 4-5. Above that and it starts to over-saturate and excessively compress. I can't comment on the effects loop since I don't typically use it; the tone controls are after the loop if it matters to you.

One might ask if the amp is such a one-trick pony, why do I like it so much? In short because it's the most amazing Marshall-flavored 'trick' I've ever heard. The tone is in a more classic ballpark like a JCM800 or JMP, but it has a little bit more gain and a much more responsive tone stack. Compared to a DSL or JVM it has less bass and gain, and probably needs to be run a little louder to sound its best. Compared to the suggested 2203KK with the boost on, the Jubilee has a bit less gain / bass, but better clarity. OTOH a Jubilee has more gain than an unboosted 2203KK, and doesn't need to be run quite as loud to sound good.

 

[Lake Placid Blues]

Re: DSL100H vs Silver Jubilee Reissue Marshalls - Classic Rock

I have been playing and gigging a Jubilee for about 25 years. I won't dispute the input gain knob compromise problem in general. However, one thing I learned in those years is that the input gain compromise is not much of problem if you use PAFs and single coils.

If you play with JBs, Distortions, and Customs it is more of a problem. High output pickups compress the front end of Jubilees rather than juice it. This causes you to get lost in the mix if you turn down as somebody pointed out above. With high output pickups it's best to just set it up for high gain tones only.

So what pickups do you use to play classic rock and rockin blues? If your guitars are loaded with PAFs and single coils then I think a Jubilee or a Vintage Modern will give you a better tone for that kind of music than a DSL will. The tone quality of a good Jubilee is special.

I think a Vintage Modern, even though it doesn't really do channel switching, is a good machine for those genres as well. For those styles of playing you don't need or want clean cleans, but smokey cleans that you get from turning the volume knob down on your guitar. That is what that amp excels at.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: DSL100H vs Silver Jubilee Reissue Marshalls - Classic Rock

The tone quality of a good Jubilee is special.

Just exactly what makes it special? Other than being your preferred flavor of coolaid give me something quantifiable that makes it "special"

Is it all the diodes in the preamp that does it?

Btw not implying at all that it sounds bad I just think its silly to imply that there is something extra in it. It is a unique design in the Marshall range and sounds a bit different but special... you are going to have to be more specific than that.

fact of the matter is the tones he cited that he wanted were not created with any of the amps hes looking at.

 

[JimmyO]

Re: DSL100H vs Silver Jubilee Reissue Marshalls - Classic Rock

fact of the matter is the tones he cited that he wanted were not created with any of the amps hes looking at.

Great point, and one that needs an explaination. I have a JTM45 clone that sounds awesome but has no effects loop or master volume. Was hoping to get a master volume Marshall to get crunch at a lower volume and throw an analog delay in the loop. Was just looking at what Marshall is currently selling for these tones, without going full plexi reissue.

I play les Paul's with paf style pickups and strats with 50s and 60s style pickups.

 

[Lake Placid Blues]

Re: DSL100H vs Silver Jubilee Reissue Marshalls - Classic Rock

Just exactly what makes it special? Other than being your preferred flavor of coolaid give me something quantifiable that makes it "special"

Is it all the diodes in the preamp that does it?

Btw not implying at all that it sounds bad I just think its silly to imply that there is something extra in it. It is a unique design in the Marshall range and sounds a bit different but special... you are going to have to be more specific than that.

fact of the matter is the tones he cited that he wanted were not created with any of the amps hes looking at.

But the amps they used could not be used at the volume levels they had them at to get those tones today.

A Jubilee gets closer to THOSE tones, and the feel, at more reasonable volume levels.

 

[dystrust]

Re: DSL100H vs Silver Jubilee Reissue Marshalls - Classic Rock

Just exactly what makes it special? Other than being your preferred flavor of coolaid give me something quantifiable that makes it "special"

A Jubilee is special IMO because it improves on an already amazing rock tone, the Marshall 2203/2204. That extra little bit of gain is nice; you'd need a boost pedal with a 2203/2204 to reach the same levels. Ditto the tone stack; you'd need an EQ with the 2203/2204. Lastly the master volume; you can get similar sweetness/grind out of a Jubilee at much more manageable levels than a 2203/2204. It isn't the perfect amp for every tone or genre, but it really excels for classic rock, hard rock, and metal tones.

Regarding higher output pups my primary guitar from 2001 (when I got my Jubilee) until 2010 had a Duncan Custom in the bridge; I use mostly PAF-ish humbuckers now. The balancing act was a bit more difficult volume-wise, but still possible. It's also possible that LPB and I have different opinions regarding excessive compression or saturation.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: DSL100H vs Silver Jubilee Reissue Marshalls - Classic Rock

Great point, and one that needs an explaination. I have a JTM45 clone that sounds awesome but has no effects loop or master volume. Was hoping to get a master volume Marshall to get crunch at a lower volume and throw an analog delay in the loop. Was just looking at what Marshall is currently selling for these tones, without going full plexi reissue.

I play les Paul's with paf style pickups and strats with 50s and 60s style pickups.

Why not mod it with a PPIMV and an effects loop? You say its a clone so i say go for it. If you need a bit more crunch without volume add attenuator to knock a few DB off and rock out until your eyes pop out.

 

[JimmyO]

Re: DSL100H vs Silver Jubilee Reissue Marshalls - Classic Rock

Why not mod it with a PPIMV and an effects loop? You say its a clone so i say go for it. If you need a bit more crunch without volume add attenuator to knock a few DB off and rock out until your eyes pop out.

Ha ha, not bad suggestions. I love the tone of this amp, perfect for early Clapton and blues. Can get crunchy too and has a nice warm tone with a crunchy edge. Haven't modded it as:
A) I like its tone for my blues stuff and it takes pedals real well. I don't really want to change its tone.
B) when I add up the cost of the mods and the attenuator I would be close to DSL100H territory price wise. I guess when I think about paying for parts vs a new amp, getting a new amp is more exciting.
C) once in a while I do play 80s rock, early van halen etc and having a bit more edge than the warm JTM45 tone would be nice.

Thank you all for the responses. Glad to see a loyal fan base for the silver jubilee, vintage modern and DSL.

 

[JimmyO]

Re: DSL100H vs Silver Jubilee Reissue Marshalls - Classic Rock

But the amps they used could not be used at the volume levels they had them at to get those tones today.

A Jubilee gets closer to THOSE tones, and the feel, at more reasonable volume levels.

How loud are we talking? An earlier post said that in the range of 2.5 - 5 on the master gets the good tones. Is this bar gig levels or indoor arena levels? Would be awesome to get that classic crunch at the regular bar gigs etc. if it's the kind of amp that I could turn down for rehearsals and open up at a smallish/medium gig without killing the audience/singer I'm definitely interested. I like the idea of having the extra headroom in reserve before it gets too compressed. Having a dedicated clean channel is nice but not a must have. I tend to vary my tones from my guitar volume and tone controls, and have a classic crunchy rhythm sound, turn down for clean and turn up and boost for leads.

I'd be playing it through a closed back 2x12 with Eminence Guvnors

 

[RealtyViking]

Re: DSL100H vs Silver Jubilee Reissue Marshalls - Classic Rock

Look for a used Vintage Modern
https://www.youtube.com/user/ProGuitarShopDemos

jubilee > jvm > old dsl series > new dsl series

just imo

ive seen some ebay STEALS on used vintage moderns too

What is a steal on a 100 watt Vintage Modern head? I am not seeing any current sold listings on eBay to give me an idea of market price. I don't even know what they went for new.

 

[dystrust]

Re: DSL100H vs Silver Jubilee Reissue Marshalls - Classic Rock

How loud are we talking? An earlier post said that in the range of 2.5 - 5 on the master gets the good tones. Is this bar gig levels or indoor arena levels? Would be awesome to get that classic crunch at the regular bar gigs etc. if it's the kind of amp that I could turn down for rehearsals and open up at a smallish/medium gig without killing the audience/singer I'm definitely interested. I like the idea of having the extra headroom in reserve before it gets too compressed. Having a dedicated clean channel is nice but not a must have. I tend to vary my tones from my guitar volume and tone controls, and have a classic crunchy rhythm sound, turn down for clean and turn up and boost for leads.

I'd be playing it through a closed back 2x12 with Eminence Guvnors

My main cab these days is an Ear Candy Buzz Bomb 2x12 loaded with Eminence Wizards, so they should be reasonably comparable volume-wise. Lead master at 6+ and output master at 2.5 is usable for a bar gig. It's loud enough to get over a drum kit, but shouldn't be over-powering unless you're in a really small room. The loudest I've ever run it at a show was output master at 4, but that was in a larger room. It sounded absolutely great, but would have been a bit much in a small bar. I've never played in anything approaching an arena, but I wouldn't be worried about hearing myself.