Re: MARSHALL DSL 40 vs TSL 60
I guess I will chime in-
I used to own a DSL 401. Sorry I havent read every post in detail, so disregard any inconsistencies. I never got a chance to play either of the other combos you mentioned, so I cannot compare them. However, if I wasnt poor at the time (well, I still am, but) I would have kept that amp. The cleans were great coming from a Marshall. Very spanky, full, and it just sounded like a Marshall clean channel.
Both OD channels however needed something else.. like a Spina modded SD1. With that pushing its buttons it sounded great! I only used OD2, no point in me using OD1. It had a very warm and rounded gain tone. Hard to really characterize in relation to other Marshall amps, but it could get all of the classic and modern tones easy. I actually used it at a jam and played the trooper with the volume maxed out (loud drummer, loud guitar player, loud.. you get the picture) and it sounded sweet! I had to use the ext. speaker jack and use my Laneys speakers at the same time to provide enough volume. In the end, this is one of the reasons I wouldnt be able to use it at prac. People say its loud, but it sounds more like 30 watts to me. I must mention that at low volume it sounded excellent as well, but I had an attenuator and my SD1. Didnt have to get much over bedroom volume to get great tone.
I really cant complain except for the speaker. I threw a Celestion G12-T75 in that I took out of my Laney combo at the time, to see if it helped the tone. That was a bad decision. It put out a super piercing high end that really hurt the ears (the famous ice pick). I replaced the stock speaker within 2 minutes of playing. Waste of time. Anyhow, my ears didnt lie when I noticed the stock speaker did contribute to a buzzy sound mentioned earlier in the thread. I played it through two Eminence Legend V12 speakers in my Laney combo and it did get a bit clearer, but didnt change the tone for the better enough for me to act on it.
So, the negatives are the volume limitations (wont be much of a limit for most people), and the stock speaker. Both of which I think are hardly that negating. OH, wait! I forgot the one I had was an earlier model with the bad chip making the amp a heater. It never gave me problems, thank God, but that one time I used it at prac maxed out, I touched the knobs and they were a bit warm. Touched the face plate and had to snap my hand back pretty quick! It was also ~40 degrees (F) at the time. It still got pretty hot even at low volumes in the apartment, so be careful. I have heard of it actually causing problems.
I give it a 9 out of 10. I would like to have another if I found it for a good deal (bought the one I had in the trade section for $400+shipping!).
