Marshall DSL vs. Carvin Legacy

[Wheelbarrow]

I'm going to buy a new amp soon, and it's going to have to be less than $1000, off ebay. I usually play with a sort of old plexi EVH-ish sound. I'm not going to get a 5150 because I need a good clean channel. I've narrowed it down to either a DSL or a Legacy. Which would sound the best for an early 80's EVH tone? I know the Legacy would be great for later VH stuff, but can it do the early stuff like Fair Warning and 1984?

I know both amps have decent clean channels, which is good because I play funk frequently and I'm taking jazz guitar lessons.

 

[Wheelbarrow]

Re: Marshall DSL vs. Carvin Legacy

I forgot about Laney amps. I've heard they sound thinner than marshalls, but you can find those for cheap too.

 

[Ascension]

Re: Marshall DSL vs. Carvin Legacy

You might also want to look for a Fender Prosonic or Super Sonic head. IMO in particular a Prosonic will nuke both the Legacy and the DSL on the crunch side BIG TIME. BTW I have a MINT TSL 60 head I will sell if you are interested I want another Prosonic head ---BADLY!!! I have owned all three amps BTW ( Legacy, DSL, Prosonic )so I'm not just blowing smoke with out experiance here!!
Between the Legacy and a DSL the DSL has the better clear chimey cleans for the funk but the Legacy has the MUCH smoother sweeter crunches.

 

[B2D]

Re: Marshall DSL vs. Carvin Legacy

I'm going to buy a new amp soon, and it's going to have to be less than $1000, off ebay. I usually play with a sort of old plexi EVH-ish sound. I'm not going to get a 5150 because I need a good clean channel. I've narrowed it down to either a DSL or a Legacy. Which would sound the best for an early 80's EVH tone? I know the Legacy would be great for later VH stuff, but can it do the early stuff like Fair Warning and 1984?

I know both amps have decent clean channels, which is good because I play funk frequently and I'm taking jazz guitar lessons.

Classic EVH tone emanates from Marshall amps... it's definitely an EL34 sound. If thats what you're really after go for the Marshall.

However... I own a Legacy and I have thsi to say. The EQ on the amp is extremely good for being non-active (the amp used 1 meg-ohm sealed pots that do not interact with each other) and with the use of a good distortion/overdrive pedal (I like my OCD) and careful settings of the amp's drive levels and EQ settings and using a humbucker equipped guitar, it's not hard to ballpark on the Legacy. The clean channel on the Legacy is far superior to the Marshall, IMO. Fuller and richer cleans and the presence switch+high treble settings will get you all the top end you want.