Marshall DSL 100 or Mesa Single/Dual Recto

mwalluk

mwalluk

New member
The great debate has begun and GAS is hitting me hardcore. I'm considering selling my DSL and picking up a Recto. I use a Gibson Les Paul Studio Deluxe and play modern rock, lately it's been more harder rock edge. I use a 212 cab with a Celestion Vintage 30 and a Classic Lead 80. Thoughts?
 
Re: Marshall DSL 100 or Mesa Single/Dual Recto

mwalluk said:
The great debate has begun and GAS is hitting me hardcore. I'm considering selling my DSL and picking up a Recto. I use a Gibson Les Paul Studio Deluxe and play modern rock, lately it's been more harder rock edge. I use a 212 cab with a Celestion Vintage 30 and a Classic Lead 80. Thoughts?
Click to expand...

No real opinion, but when I had my DSL100, I used to run a Maxon OD808 in front and it was the titties for some brutal tone.
 
Re: Marshall DSL 100 or Mesa Single/Dual Recto

Go out and play both.

I will say this, you've posted a number of threads on looking at different amps so I think the DSL isn't working for you. I'd take my no.1 and just go amp shopping for a day.
 
Re: Marshall DSL 100 or Mesa Single/Dual Recto

I was rocking out a MESA SINGLE RECTIFIER RECTOVERB at the store. Sounded nice. Only had lower volume levels. Didn't have a chance to really crank it. The DSL is a love hate thing. It sounds good, but I need better.
 
Re: Marshall DSL 100 or Mesa Single/Dual Recto

I say if you can afford it, BOTH. Seriously.

I'm running a TSL602 and a Mark V. It is really great being able to switch between a classic Marshall sound and the Mesa. The Mesa offers up super cleans and smooth to super heavy distortion that the Marshall just can't provide. OTOH, the Marshall is always ready to fire that sweet Marshall overdrive tone that the Mesa can't duplicate - it can come close, but the Marshall tone is really distinctive to my ears. I can hear the difference.
 
Re: Marshall DSL 100 or Mesa Single/Dual Recto

Ideally yes LEX, however I gotta rob Peter to Pay Paul. Sell my amp to finance another.
 
Re: Marshall DSL 100 or Mesa Single/Dual Recto

mwalluk said:
Ideally yes LEX, however I gotta rob Peter to Pay Paul. Sell my amp to finance another.
Click to expand...


I hear ya buddy. In that case, for you, I'd recommend the Mesa. From other threads it seems like you're having troubles with Marshall's clean section. Me too. I much prefer Mesa's clean section. Lots of useable tones within the clean section. When it comes to distortion the Mesa has a wider, more useful range over the Marshall. (I'll probably get flamed for saying that) IMO, the DSL/TSL just offers up 2 levels of Marshall crunch. the Mesa should get you almost limitless levels of crunch and distortion.

**please note, my comments on the Mesa are based on the Mark 5, not the rectifier series.
 
Re: Marshall DSL 100 or Mesa Single/Dual Recto

lex666 said:
I hear ya buddy. In that case, for you, I'd recommend the Mesa. From other threads it seems like you're having troubles with Marshall's clean section. Me too. I much prefer Mesa's clean section. Lots of useable tones within the clean section. When it comes to distortion the Mesa has a wider, more useful range over the Marshall. (I'll probably get flamed for saying that) IMO, the DSL/TSL just offers up 2 levels of Marshall crunch. the Mesa should get you almost limitless levels of crunch and distortion.

**please note, my comments on the Mesa are based on the Mark 5, not the rectifier series.
Click to expand...


Truth.


I used to have a Tremoverb that I liked. Recently rocked out a single rectoverb which sounded amazing.
 
Re: Marshall DSL 100 or Mesa Single/Dual Recto

A wise man once told me to purchase a mesa mark 5 because it can kind of emulate rectifier tones, as well as do its own thing.

he also told me to not purchase a marshall because it never sounds great without anything driving it.
 
Re: Marshall DSL 100 or Mesa Single/Dual Recto

I say play a dual and make your decision. It will be your amp so really it doesn't matter what others think. Its your preference that matters.
 
Re: Marshall DSL 100 or Mesa Single/Dual Recto

Have you tried an OD pedal to boost the front end of the marshall? A lot of artistst (and forum bro's too!) get heavier, tighter and darker tones with a marshall that way.
It's a non expensive way to open up more tonal possibilities for you.
If you are set on getting that rectifier sound then just get one.
 
Re: Marshall DSL 100 or Mesa Single/Dual Recto

I don't appreciate Marshalls. In a fight between a Mesa and a Marshall, Mesa wins (IMO, don't flame me) because of the more high-gain options. I've never believed in using a pedal to drive an amp. My dream rig? A Gibson Explorer with Blackouts into a Wah into a Carvin V3. In my opinion, if you have a drive pedal, it makes it harder to go clean.
 
Re: Marshall DSL 100 or Mesa Single/Dual Recto

Nightburst said:
Have you tried an OD pedal to boost the front end of the marshall? A lot of artistst (and forum bro's too!) get heavier, tighter and darker tones with a marshall that way.
It's a non expensive way to open up more tonal possibilities for you.
If you are set on getting that rectifier sound then just get one.
Click to expand...

I've started doing this. It works pretty well but you do loose a lot of volume knob dynamics.
But even if you have a really, really killer OD pedal, it's not gonna be as cool as getting the natural gain out of an amp that was built for that... The DSL gets pretty bad sounding (mushy, blurry) when you push it too hard, whereas a recto was specifically designed to maintain clarity and punch with an ass-load of gain. You don't need to push a dual rec with anything to get it to do that, either.
IMO the DSL runs out of useful gain on the red channel/lead 1 with the master around 5 and the gain also around 5. Anything more than that (including boosting the crunch mode too much) and things get way blurry. It's hard to balance any kind of clean tone with that because of the shared EQ. There's too much difference in the bass! I dunno, maybe a Mesa is your best option.
 
Re: Marshall DSL 100 or Mesa Single/Dual Recto

mwalluk said:
Truth.


I used to have a Tremoverb that I liked. Recently rocked out a single rectoverb which sounded amazing.
Click to expand...

I have a Dual Rec Tremoverb that I traded a guitar to a fellow forumite for. That amp is without question my most favorite Mesa I've ever heard or played. I like it better than the Singles or 3-ch Duals.
 
Re: Marshall DSL 100 or Mesa Single/Dual Recto

FuseG4 said:
I've started doing this. It works pretty well but you do loose a lot of volume knob dynamics.
But even if you have a really, really killer OD pedal, it's not gonna be as cool as getting the natural gain out of an amp that was built for that... The DSL gets pretty bad sounding (mushy, blurry) when you push it too hard, whereas a recto was specifically designed to maintain clarity and punch with an ass-load of gain. You don't need to push a dual rec with anything to get it to do that, either.
IMO the DSL runs out of useful gain on the red channel/lead 1 with the master around 5 and the gain also around 5. Anything more than that (including boosting the crunch mode too much) and things get way blurry. It's hard to balance any kind of clean tone with that because of the shared EQ. There's too much difference in the bass! I dunno, maybe a Mesa is your best option.
Click to expand...

I couldn't of said it any better.
 
Re: Marshall DSL 100 or Mesa Single/Dual Recto

Also, The DSL isn't really much of a channel-switcher. It's like 3 related amps in the same head unit, each with it's own forté. Sounds like you do need an amp that switches channels well.
yeah dude, it's time to move on, just play mesas until you find the one. Try to find some used bogners, splawns, and oranges, too. Play anything decent. You'll find something that tells you "this is it".
Someday I'll be in the same spot. The DSL does a few things pretty well but it's not teh uber pwnzors at any one thing. Like the HRDx almost. The price is right and it is pretty versatile, but I know there are amps out there that do the same things but much better.
 
Re: Marshall DSL 100 or Mesa Single/Dual Recto

I'm the ying to your yang! I have a Road King and play mostly 70's/80's rock and a little bit of modern stuff. The RK does a good job of getting those classic Marshall tones but it's not quite the same. I finally just ended up buying a Marshall and will use the RK for what it does best; modern tones.

For you; get the Mesa. It's the foundation for what most of the music you play is based upon.

Don't use a hammer to drive in a screw
 
Re: Marshall DSL 100 or Mesa Single/Dual Recto

Instead of the dual recto, may I recommend investing in a Mark V?

3 channels, each with 3 different voices. Add to that different rectifier settings, wattage, and variac, you've got one heck of a flexible amp.

The tones contained within should solve your GAS problem for at least another 2 or 3 weeks. :joke: :)

Seriously, try it. I've found nothing but absolute bliss from each voicing.
 
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