DSL15 vs. AC15 vs. Super-Sonic

[guitarplayer100]

I'm geting some amp that would work for smaller gigs and maybe practice. I'm mainly looking at Marshall DSL15, Vox AC 15 and Fender Super-Sonic 22. First two are in the same price range and SS is about 300$ more. I don't need really clean cleans so Marshall's will be just fine. SS seems to be more versatile thoug... I've played on SS already, I like it (can do some gain stuff too), going to try Marshall but can't try Vox since it's not in stock in my area. The only problem of SS is price. There is still some space for recomendations left.

 

[Securb]

Re: DSL15 vs. AC15 vs. Super-Sonic

I have not played the DSL 15 but the cleans on my DSL 100 are amazing. My Marshall VS100 and MG30 also had nice clean tones. All three are nice amps, given the choice I would go with the Marshall DSL15.

 

[guitarplayer100]

Re: DSL15 vs. AC15 vs. Super-Sonic

Yeah I've heard some great things about DSLs. I really like the option for 7.5 watts which would be great for practice in room. Marshalls are really good for dirty stuff though while Fender wins on cleans, Vox is in between I guess but has some cons - the most important is weight... 50lbs for 15watt amp is a bit heavy...

And forgot to mention... I play on Strats or teles mostly.

 

[IM4Tone]

Re: DSL15 vs. AC15 vs. Super-Sonic

Not fair for me to voice my opinion really, because I've never played either the Marshal or that particular Vox, but I will tell you, I love the SS22....so versatile: Clean, Fat, or Overdriven from slight to quite heavy.

 

[guitarplayer100]

Re: DSL15 vs. AC15 vs. Super-Sonic

I dig it too, but price is bigger than Marshall's but it's more high end Fender amp while DSL is entry level tube amp. I can't try Vox and it's really heavy for such a "weak" amp.

 

[Wattage]

Re: DSL15 vs. AC15 vs. Super-Sonic

I recommend looking at the Tiny Terror as well if you have a chance.

I'd take the DSL out the 3 you mentioned. My tech chased me away from the SS, lots of issues apparently.

I did like it though.

 

[guitarplayer100]

Re: DSL15 vs. AC15 vs. Super-Sonic

I'm not a big fan of Orange sound. I don't really know what is bad about DSL because I haven't tried it yet but I think I'd buy it before Tiny Terror based on youtube vids.

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: DSL15 vs. AC15 vs. Super-Sonic

The SuperSonic's issues are easily rectified....ever seen a Boogie on the inside??? Talk about issues there!
Get another cable for the reverb tank, get the cable and isolate the 7 pin DIN, the ground wire T piece has some flex that gets worn through, then it short circuits two resistors inside the amp( Who designs these things??? )
I also set the Bias somewhat colder...I do not play swampy blues

I like my amps firm, not stiff and pingy, also shortned the cable for the footswitch, reduced the pop when chaning channels (at normal levels there is none anyways, just balance the volumes until they match up, and it goes away)
Also chopped off the plastic jack for the speaker, soldered a flat angled Switchcraft on instead....
Now it works nicely, even turned it back to stock speaker and reverb tank.

The colder bias made me like the Eminence lightning bolt speaker.

Needs new tubes anyways now, 3 years of playing is hard work

 

[Securb]

Re: DSL15 vs. AC15 vs. Super-Sonic

Not fair for me to voice my opinion really, because I've never played either the Marshal or that particular Vox, but I will tell you, I love the SS22....so versatile: Clean, Fat, or Overdriven from slight to quite heavy.

I will say since Fender got into the gain game (in the 80s IIRC) they have done dirt right. Still the DSL is my choice.

 

[Myaccount876]

Re: DSL15 vs. AC15 vs. Super-Sonic

I'd go with the Vox. It takes overdrive/distortion/boost/fuzz pedals very, has nice bell-like cleans, smooth OD on the normal channel cranked, and a jangly top boost channel. It has a softer low end, pronounced mids, and bright and present highs. The EQ section is also very interactive between controls: For example, changing the treble control will also change the amount of bass and mids. The tone cut control is also really useful, and the amp has a beautiful sounding built in reverb. A very versatile amp. It can also do vintage/old school heavy metal really well when you really push it. It's open back cabinet also really fills a room/stage, and is LOUD - don't be fooled by the 15W rating which is only the rating for its clean headroom. It's great for everything except bass-thumping metal. I love Vox's AC line.

 

[guitarplayer100]

Re: DSL15 vs. AC15 vs. Super-Sonic

Yeah, I went to my local shop and played on DSL and I was a bit disappointed, so yeah, I prefer SS, but looked up Vox and it seems to be really cool amp for it's price. So I think that DSL is out of game and maybe Princeton Reverb joins if I find it anywhere for resonable price of course (it was in my local store the same price as SS few months ago). And BTW, I'm not a big fan of BJR because I think it really isnt worth it's price.

 

[Myaccount876]

Re: DSL15 vs. AC15 vs. Super-Sonic

If you go with the Vox, I recommend getting a treble booster and running it into the normal channel turned up a bit, and take advantage of the tone cut control. You'll thank me later.

 

[El Supremo]

Re: DSL15 vs. AC15 vs. Super-Sonic

My brother just got an AC15. Really superb sounding combo with his strat. The spring reverb is nice as is the tremelo feature.
Not the most tight sounding of bottom end responses, but we'll see if one of my od pedals or treble boosters can fix that. He's no metal player anyways, so just for the heck of it.

I've got no experience with the other 2, but the clips I've heard from the Super Sonic sound very promising

What music are you playing anyways?.

 

[vivanchenko]

Re: DSL15 vs. AC15 vs. Super-Sonic

The DSL 15 sounds great if you use volume as gain and gain as volume on the red channel. Then play loud or use an overdrive for bedroom levels. That power tube distortion is big and sweet. Preamp distortion doesn't sound good and i I never use it. Most if not all tube amp's preamp distortion sounds like POS unless there are SS components there used in a proper way. Don't waist your time with it.

 

[Securb]

Re: DSL15 vs. AC15 vs. Super-Sonic

If you go with the Vox, I recommend getting a treble booster and running it into the normal channel turned up a bit, and take advantage of the tone cut control. You'll thank me later.

 

[HALENisking]

Re: DSL15 vs. AC15 vs. Super-Sonic

How often do you use pedals? For many people the vox amps are the ultimate pedal platforms. Like El Supremo asked, what genres do you play and what are your preferences?

My vote personally is the Super sonic however. And I barely use pedals (probably because I never feel the need to with my SS :wink: )

 

[JeffB]

Re: DSL15 vs. AC15 vs. Super-Sonic

As a big Marshall fan, I will say avoid the dsl15. It is not in the same league as its bigger brethren. The gain channel is nigh unusable, unless you are a young teenager.

 

[Jeremiah]

Re: DSL15 vs. AC15 vs. Super-Sonic

Maybe also look at the Night Train combo for a more modern Vox sound.

 

[Myaccount876]

Re: DSL15 vs. AC15 vs. Super-Sonic

I wouldn't recommend the Night Train combo unless you are willing to swap speakers or modify the circuit a bit - especially if you can get an AC15. I have the original Night Train 15 watt head, and I had to do a few mods to get it where I liked it, and built a nice 2x12" to go with it. I did play through the combo, and while it is different, I encountered some of the problems I remember from the old stock NT (like an overly bright tone stack, fizzy note decay, and the higher gain settings weren't very usable IMHO).

 

[guitarplayer100]

Re: DSL15 vs. AC15 vs. Super-Sonic

I'm playing more bluesy-rock or classic rock stuff mostly (with strat or tele), I don't really use high gain and if I need more gain I use my drive pedal. What about hot rod/blues deluxe? They are for sure bigger (40watts) but since they have master volume I think I might look up this Blues Deluxe since it's cheaper than SS. BJR lacks of functions so that's what I don't like about it ( it may sound a bit boxy too). I don't have time to really take care of modding everything so I need it to be great out of box.