Marshall DSL, TSL or a Mesa Dual Rectifier?

[Perry D]

i am planning on upgrading my half stack and im stuck between these choices. i play anything between rock and metal. i need to find somthing that will have a good ballsy sound but at the same time be pretty versatile (if thats the word im lookin for). im not worried about the price too much because they are all relatively the same. I have played all 3 and they sound awesome to me. i just need to find something about one of them that stands out from the rest. So if anyone has any advice to give me it would be greatly apreciated. Thanx!

 

[TimmyPage]

Re: Marshall DSL, TSL or a Mesa Dual Rectifier?

I would take the DSL personally, because it has nice cleans and really thick ballsy-ness. The Recto has the best distortion I have ever heard, my only issue with it is that the clean isnt that great. Ive never tried teh TSL, sorry.

 

[Perry D]

Re: Marshall DSL, TSL or a Mesa Dual Rectifier?

i was kinda leanin towards that way. anyone have any clue what the difference between the DSL and the TSL are?

 

[Gunny47]

Re: Marshall DSL, TSL or a Mesa Dual Rectifier?

If you get the cheaper of the Marshall cabs, then the DSL will BLOW the TSL out of the water. The TSL will have NO warmth what-so-ever with the standard 1960A cab. BUT, if you get better, warmer speakers (especially the vintage speaker cab) and a retube, the TSL will be a great amp for you. See, I really like the TSL122 combo. The speakers in it are very similar to the vintage 30s, kinda a cross between the vintage 30s and the greenbacks. If you play the TSL with an okay cab, don't expect much, but if you got a good cab, then you will be surprised how much it changed the sound of that amp. Very versitile too and has a great clean channel.

The DSL is a great amp too. More natural sound than the TSL, but not as good of a clean channel and less versitility with the one EQ. Got a real ballsy sound though out of the normal crunch channel. I'm sure you can dial in as good of a crunch sound with the TSL, but the TSL is not as straightforward. I really like both amps, but never decided which one I liked better myself with good speakers and tubes.

 

[OlinMusic]

Re: Marshall DSL, TSL or a Mesa Dual Rectifier?

I prefer the DSL all the way, but it doesn't get heavy enough like a Dual Rec if you are playing metal

 

[paytojt]

Re: Marshall DSL, TSL or a Mesa Dual Rectifier?

I have a dual rec tremoverb and I have no problem getting a great clean sound out of it! Plus you get the famous distortion (if that's what you're looking for).

 

[OlinMusic]

Re: Marshall DSL, TSL or a Mesa Dual Rectifier?

The tremo-verb is a very different story than the "Dual Rec" usually meaning the SOLO model.

The solo is wayyyy more ballsy and more buzz saw like (though i have heard people set them smoothly. Not as much "bloom"

The T-verb is much browner, sweet cleans, and sweeter gain

 

[Mkf411]

Re: Marshall DSL, TSL or a Mesa Dual Rectifier?

If you're not worried about price, I would take a look at Voodoo Amps mod of a TSL. The sound clips sound very good to me http://www.voodooamps.com/soundclips.html

Also, what about the Mesa Stilleto. That's supposed to me more British. Haven't tried one, but worth a look. Of course, DSL is a favorite of mine, but from a build quality standpoint, Mesa probably has them beat. Never spent much time with a Dual Rec, though.

 

[34029324079]

Re: Marshall DSL, TSL or a Mesa Dual Rectifier?

I have thought about this alot, and...

+1 for dual recto!!!!

why you may ask?

famous tone, and versatility. Think incubus and Foo Fighters. Then think heavy chug a chug chug ( I love chugging)...

The new dual rectos have an awesome effects loop that allows you to select a channel (clean wet) and through the effects only on that channel. You should see the pedal that comes with that amp...you can dial in a popporri of sound with that baby ...I have played them and I love the tone personally; it depends what type of hard rock you want - ya it can do the cult, but if you really want "The Cult" tone go marshall...

*gas indulging rant off*

 

[RGN]

Re: Marshall DSL, TSL or a Mesa Dual Rectifier?

Do you want a Marshall or Mesa tone? I wouldn't even consider the TSL myself. I have owned both the DSL50 and DSL100 and liked them both. The DSL50 is a great head IMO and I think its cleans are very underrated. If you want a more numetal, nasal heavy tone go with the Mesa.

The Dual Rectifier isn't my thing but I hear a lot of great music made with them so they obviously work VERY well for some people.

 

[Jeff Dunne]

Re: Marshall DSL, TSL or a Mesa Dual Rectifier?

I can't stand either Marshall, or the cabinets... anything newer than the JCM800 series cabinets has a particle board BAFFLE, not just backboard.

That said, I hate Mesa cabinets even more.


If that's all you have to choose from, I'd get a 2ch Dual Recto or a Single Recto and run it through a 1960AV.

 

[muttonchopsrule]

Re: Marshall DSL, TSL or a Mesa Dual Rectifier?

if you're looking more for balls out distortion tones, then that's a tough choice. but as far as versitility, the dual rec wins hands down. not only do you get three completely independent channels (two if you get an older model), but youhave the choice of running 6L6 or EL34 tubes, which IMO is the most overlooked and least taken-advantage-of feature on the recs. not to mention the choice of tube or SS rectification.

that said, if you end up in a guitar center to A/B these amps, PLEASE try the dual rec through a marshall cabinet, or really anything other than the mesa cabs.

 

[stevie_bees]

Re: Marshall DSL, TSL or a Mesa Dual Rectifier?

The TSL has a cracking clean, and you have to have a bit of a play around to get the 2 dirty channels singing, but it's worth the effort.

 

[Binnerscot]

Re: Marshall DSL, TSL or a Mesa Dual Rectifier?

I would have to vote for the Dual Rec. Its clean is more than good enough to me. I think the clean channel gets its bad rap from the fact that a lot of people expect it to sound like a Fender clean. Its not jangly, but sounds very good, at least I like it better than Marshall cleans - its "pushed" mode offers some pretty cool tones also. The two dist channels are so flexible you can get lost in a sea of "how do I want to sound today", but it will always have the Mesa flavor. It had the widest range of usable distortion sounds of any amp I have ever used.

 

[Perry D]

Re: Marshall DSL, TSL or a Mesa Dual Rectifier?

that said, if you end up in a guitar center to A/B these amps, PLEASE try the dual rec through a marshall cabinet, or really anything other than the mesa cabs.

What is wrong with Mesa cabs? Are they made differently or something?

 

[muttonchopsrule]

Re: Marshall DSL, TSL or a Mesa Dual Rectifier?

they just don't sound good IMO. i don't know what it is about them, because i've heard plenty of other V30 loaded cabs that sound great, but the mesa cabinets just sound too shrill and grainy to me.

 

[Loserchief]

Re: Marshall DSL, TSL or a Mesa Dual Rectifier?

May i add an Engl Powerball to your list of amps to consider. it should be around the same price range, but it will be a lot more versetaille than the three you've listed. Ballsy, tight and super high gain sound when used for metal, but capable of beautiful cleans, nice blues and sweet hardrock(lots of tweaking and adjusting possible). If you don't need that much gain you could look for a blackmore signature.

 

[fenderiarhs]

Re: Marshall DSL, TSL or a Mesa Dual Rectifier?

I would go for the TSL but.........it needs new tubes, good speakers and make sure it is biased properly.

The independent eq is a must for me.

 

[brit84]

Re: Marshall DSL, TSL or a Mesa Dual Rectifier?

neither, get a genz benz el diablo 100, it easily blows marshall and mesa away

 

[Perry D]

Re: Marshall DSL, TSL or a Mesa Dual Rectifier?

neither, get a genz benz el diablo 100, it easily blows marshall and mesa away

is that the one that has the blue lights all over it. if so i have played and it is amazing.