is the dsl401 enough????

S

strat_master

New member
Hi guys my friend is telling me that the dsl401 is not enough to gig with? he said that 40 watts would not be enough and if i added an ext cab it would lower the overall output? is this true?

Thansk for the advice in advance guys
 
Re: is the dsl401 enough????

I think that 40 watts would be good in most cases. I've heard some people around here that gig with 40 watts (maybe even alittle lower than that). You could get something like an extra 1x12 cab and I believe (someone correct me if I'm worng) you won't cut the overall power. Besides if anything you can always mic your amp. :)
 
Re: is the dsl401 enough????

Yeh 40 watts Tube is plenty for gigging...anywhere that would need over 30watts should be miced really..
And no, with an extra cab theres still the same power there only the extra speaker can handle more volume..
 
Re: is the dsl401 enough????

adding a cab will not cut your overall power (at least with my experience) and 40 watts tube is PLENTY to gig with especially if the venue has a house PA.

ive seen a band at a local venue using little solid state crate amp mic'd to the PA :laugh2: it was a funny site but i guess it got the job (for the bad music they played, lol)
 
Re: is the dsl401 enough????

The DSL is enough, your friend needs some educating. The only advantage of a 2x12 or a 4x12 is maybe a bit of bottom. I have a 3 year old DSL 401, it has 100 + shows with me, it's has all the balls u need, granted it is hotrodded some,but it is plenty loud at rehearsal and live. Remember, under most sircumstances your are miked, so it will sound like a monster thru the pa. Our PA is 2 Sound Bridge 2x15 cabs 2 1x18 Subs 4 Carvin 1x15 monitors, 2400 watts on the mains, 800 on the subs 1000 on the monitors, the PA rack has a Furman Power conditioner, BBE Sonic Maximixer, 2 Alesis Midiverbs, 1 30 band MXR EQ for the kick drum and snare, 1 30 band MXR eq for the vocal mix, a DBX compressor for each vocal mic, and DOD Crossovers for the subs. I am telling u this becasue this is a serious PA, and my 401 and my band mates JTM60 1x12 combo's sound monsterous...and all in an handy one arm carry in box......give it hell
 
Re: is the dsl401 enough????

your friend is an idiot, smack him in the face, that dumb punk :blackeye:

:)
 
Re: is the dsl401 enough????

TXROB- how'd you hot rod your DSL401? I put new tubes in mine and added a fan, is there anything else that can be modded?
 
Re: is the dsl401 enough????

40 'tube' watts is plenty of power but a 1x12 setup can still sound small in a band situation. That has been my experience anyway.
Adding another speaker will just distribute the wattage differently.

By the way, I think that particular amp is really pushing those tubes to get 40 watts.
 
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Re: is the dsl401 enough????

Pushing tubes is very very good if you want a nice overdriven sound and distributing wattage is also good because it provides more fullness to your sound and also increases tht amound of bass you can thrash out....

So yes..
 
Re: is the dsl401 enough????

Well, on the hot rod issue, my band mate with the JTM60 is a tube nut. He found that the bias setting on 2 different DSL 401 was set at 116mA, instead of the 126mA to 140mA it's supposed to be set at. Thats why they run hot, have someone set the bias about 130mA and it will run cooler, and sound warmer. I use a matched set of JJ tesla tubes, power and preamp. He also found a missed solder joint on the OD2 filter cap, that was making a white noise hiss from a bad ground.
 
Re: is the dsl401 enough????

40 watts is plenty on stage, especially if you want to get the tubes working, i think i like the pushed sound alot better than running a high wattage amp on 1 or 2, and if it is not loud enough get it miked through the PA
 
Re: is the dsl401 enough????

Its plenty Ive played a gig setup with micd 15 watt solid state. Looked hilarious but it worked. That venue holds at least 500 hundred aswell.
 
Re: is the dsl401 enough????

40 watts from any all-valve amp will outgun a 150w solid state amp man :)

wattage is juice in, not juice out - a 30w AC30 is enough for most gigs! hell, a 4w champ could hold a small club gig..

and yeah - txrob - good info! i set mine to 137ma, i read it on a website somewhere.. just a EH EL84 matched set i got off ebay! the stock tubes these amps ship with are pretty crappy.. im waiting till i get some cash, then i might upgrade the speaker..

tom
 
Re: is the dsl401 enough????

I've got the same problem there too. I was having a dilema between a DSL 401 and a JCM900. anyway I've already sticked to the JCM, i tested the DSL 401 personnally with my LP standard and I should say open air gigs, its better to be miked up.
The sound is definately going to be better than any solid state amp however for 40watts to gig, perhap even indoors with all the shouting and drums and bass and things going around, its still better to get it miked up. IMO =)
 
Re: is the dsl401 enough????

I ran my VHT Pitbull in Class A mode (runs about 30 watts max) into a 2x12" cabinet, UNmiced, and had no problems being heard in a venue of about 2-300 people. I wasn't even turned up all the way :laugh2:. The 40 watts will be enough, especially if you know how to EQ your amp to cut through the mix.
 
Re: is the dsl401 enough????

Your friend's on crack. :)

The only reason to run a tube rig with more than 40-60 watts is if you need a ton of headroom.
 
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