I need to get a Plexi tone with a DSL100H (Is it possible?)

Rigo Tovar

Rigo Tovar

New member
I am looking to replicate the sound of Ace Frehley (early KISS) and the one that Glenn Tipton and K.K Downing had on their live tours (early 80's Judas Priest) with my vietnamese DSL100H. So far, I have used a Boss SD-1 to achieve a good thrash tone (early Metallica) but I would love to have a more rock oriented sound. I've heard that the DSL100H needs to have it's volume past 12 o'clock to get its tubes driven enough to deliver a good tone but I can only play it at a 0.5 volume because otherwise my room will crumble! Maybe an attenuator could be helpful but I would like to hear your opinions regarding this.

Thanks
 
Re: I need to get a Plexi tone with a DSL100H (Is it possible?)

Yeah at bedroom level this is going to be tough. However alot of early priest was boosted with treble boosters, so I would start with a slightly overdriven sound on the amp then kick it up. But like oyu said, the reason it sounds like it does is because they're getting breakup from the power section as well.

Honestly, my big tube amps don't even get turned on in the house, just not worth it to play it at 0.5. I would look into getting a practice amp as well.
 
Re: I need to get a Plexi tone with a DSL100H (Is it possible?)

Look at Phaez Amps built by Randy Fay in Canada, he has a few Plexi voiced amps that can be had in the 8 to 10 watt range that sound great. I have his SIBLY model (which stands for Since I've Been Loving You) that is supposed to sound like Page's Plexi on SRTS. Mine version is 10 watts with one EL-34 as well as wattage reduction. This actually two amps in one, the Corona amp on the bottom is a Fender Blackface type circuit.It is the white head on top. I have no idea why the photo is sideways!
getPart-1.jpg
 
Re: I need to get a Plexi tone with a DSL100H (Is it possible?)

Tell you the truth: my live rig never even gets past the garage when I bring it home. Too much trouble to set it up in the house unless I need to dial something. You don't need epic tone to practice, write, or prepare for a gig... you just need to hear yourself.

My living room practice rig is my iPad. The iRig works just fine for anything you need to do at home.
 
Re: I need to get a Plexi tone with a DSL100H (Is it possible?)

Plexi tone with a 100 watt amp that you cant turn up? If that amp is the only option ... a pedal/pedals.
 
Re: I need to get a Plexi tone with a DSL100H (Is it possible?)

I'd got with a Plexi Pedal since you have to be at such a low volume. Purple Plexi gets my vote (but there are many great ones out there.)
 
Re: I need to get a Plexi tone with a DSL100H (Is it possible?)

jimlp - Surprised I haven;'t heard of these before. do you know whereabouts in Canada he is located? Nice little collection you got there.
 
Re: I need to get a Plexi tone with a DSL100H (Is it possible?)

Kamanda~SD said:
jimlp - Surprised I haven;'t heard of these before. do you know whereabouts in Canada he is located? Nice little collection you got there.
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There are decent number of Phaez demos on You Tube. They aren't priced bad either, last I checked. They've been around for a while. A few years anyway.
 
Re: I need to get a Plexi tone with a DSL100H (Is it possible?)

Kamanda~SD said:
jimlp - Surprised I haven;'t heard of these before. do you know whereabouts in Canada he is located? Nice little collection you got there.
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Hey thanks for the kind words. Randy is located in Windsor, Ontario. The amps are a great deal, I got the SIBLY/CORONA (the white one) for $850.00 shipped. The AFD amo in the middle is killer as well, it is made to sound like Slash's amp on the AFD album, there is a killer demo on youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqLo5TdAxv0
 
Re: I need to get a Plexi tone with a DSL100H (Is it possible?)

Ace Frehley tone - circa ALIVE from that? No problem, but not at any reasonable volume in an apartment.

You need a power brake. Think Hot Plate.

Will take a little futzing with the res/pres controls too.

See this at around 3:22 for something close.

 
Re: I need to get a Plexi tone with a DSL100H (Is it possible?)

Aceman said:
Ace Frehley tone - circa ALIVE from that? No problem, but not at any reasonable volume in an apartment.

You need a power brake. Think Hot Plate.

Will take a little futzing with the res/pres controls too.

See this at around 3:22 for something close.

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****! The Spaceman himself has anwered my question! Are those attenuators the best for a DSL100H? A friend of mine tells me the best one right now its the Fryette Powerstation V2 but I haven't heard it paired with a DSL100...

Which settings do you recommend on the Resonance/Presence knobs?

Thanks again Mr. Frehley
 
Re: I need to get a Plexi tone with a DSL100H (Is it possible?)

Rigo Tovar said:
****! The Spaceman himself has anwered my question! Are those attenuators the best for a DSL100H? A friend of mine tells me the best one right now its the Fryette Powerstation V2 but I haven't heard it paired with a DSL100...

Which settings do you recommend on the Resonance/Presence knobs?

Thanks again Mr. Frehley
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Don't bother with an attenuator. I don't know if Aceman has used one, but they're best for taking a little volume off at a gig. You can attenuate a cranked tube amp to bedroom level, but it sounds like buzzy crap when you do. Unfortunately a lot of that tone you're after is the sound of a cranked amp pushing a lot of air; you simply can't capture the speaker part of the equation at bedroom level.

In terms of actual solutions, look into a modeler or practice amp if you can. If you want to use the DSL100, you'll have to lean heavily on preamp gain and see how close you can get in terms of tone. The amp was essentially designed to do that so it should sound decent even if it isn't 100% what you're looking for.
 
Re: I need to get a Plexi tone with a DSL100H (Is it possible?)

I was going to chime in but Foamy and Ace covered it all. The DSL100 covers most of the historic tones of the Marshall very correctly and closely. It is a Swiss Army knife Marshall. The big thing being you are not going to get a lot of those tones without moving some air. I saw Glenn Tipton and K.K Downing 3 times in the 80's and I am dialed into what you are going with there. Keep in mind in the studio Judas Priest uses a variety of amps including smaller solid state Marshalls, MGs and Valvestates.
 
Re: I need to get a Plexi tone with a DSL100H (Is it possible?)

Securb said:
Keep in mind in the studio Judas Priest uses a variety of amps including smaller solid state Marshalls, MGs and Valvestates.
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THANK YOU!

When people poo-poo the VS, I gotta remember to remind them of this...
 
Re: I need to get a Plexi tone with a DSL100H (Is it possible?)

dystrust said:
Don't bother with an attenuator. I don't know if Aceman has used one, but they're best for taking a little volume off at a gig. You can attenuate a cranked tube amp to bedroom level, but it sounds like buzzy crap when you do. Unfortunately a lot of that tone you're after is the sound of a cranked amp pushing a lot of air; you simply can't capture the speaker part of the equation at bedroom level.

In terms of actual solutions, look into a modeler or practice amp if you can. If you want to use the DSL100, you'll have to lean heavily on preamp gain and see how close you can get in terms of tone. The amp was essentially designed to do that so it should sound decent even if it isn't 100% what you're looking for.
Click to expand...

Good points; I have only played a couple of amps with them (both THD Hotplates, by the way). But my goal was also not tone - but volume...and not on that amp.
 
Re: I need to get a Plexi tone with a DSL100H (Is it possible?)

It won't do NMV Marshall tone. If you have owned a DSL and a NMV, then you will understand. The DSL is heavy on the cascaded pre-amp gain. It sounds completely different.

It will get somewhat close to a old JMP/800 MV sound however on the crunch channel, and the lead channel does a modded 800 sort of tone.

The DSL is it's own flavor, and it's good. Do not buy one hoping to emulate a vintage marshall.
 
Re: I need to get a Plexi tone with a DSL100H (Is it possible?)

I don't get this obsession with bedroom tone. This isn't a gig. Half the time when I'm working on stuff at home I don't even plug in, and the other half I use the irig. I bring this up because I sense an imbalance in the force: how much time are you spending tweaking your gear as opposed to playing it?
 
Re: I need to get a Plexi tone with a DSL100H (Is it possible?)

2ndhandband said:
I don't get this obsession with bedroom tone. This isn't a gig. Half the time when I'm working on stuff at home I don't even plug in, and the other half I use the irig. I bring this up because I sense an imbalance in the force: how much time are you spending tweaking your gear as opposed to playing it?
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Some guitarists are hobbyists who mostly (or exclusively) play at home. I think it's fair to say their needs and priorities don't necessarily line up with those of someone who plays out.
 
Re: I need to get a Plexi tone with a DSL100H (Is it possible?)

Little Pigbacon said:
Some guitarists are hobbyists who mostly (or exclusively) play at home. I think it's fair to say their needs and priorities don't necessarily line up with those of someone who plays out.
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Most guitarists are that IMO....

And I'm the opposite; I'll tweak in the music room, but live, rawk out with your....you know the rest.

All of that is lost in crappy PA and horrible room full of screaming people and the Leslie like effect of flying panties on the highs...

DECENT BALANCE4D MIX BEATS ALL.
 
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