Marshall DSL vs TSL

[y2stevo]

So I had a gig last thursday, Where we were playing with another band and using their equipment inc Amps.
I use A DSL 50 through a Marshall 2x12 with 2 G12t-75's. I was playing through A TSL 100 through some sort of ENGL 2x12 cab, looked like this http://www.engl-amps.com/e212vh.html , the other 2 ENGL cabs are vertical so I assume thats the one he had, so they have CelestionÆ V 30's.He also said he had just put in "MESA" Pre amp tubes,(I guess they were Mesa branded 12ax7's with a different level of gain) and that it really changed the sound to his liking (now this band playd very heavy metal so he had his gain knob up fully on both lead and crunch channells)

Mabye it was The Difference between the TSL and DSL, or the preamp tubes or the G12t-75s to V 30s, but I really didnt like the tone compared to what I Liked from the DSL.

WE play alot of classic rock and the like and The tone I like to have would be something like EVH mixed with Brian May.

The rhythm tones I was getting out of it seemed more like the sterile, dark, grainy tones I seem to be only able to get out of the higher gain mesa Amps On my POD XTlive.
I Didn't mind the Lead Tones but they seemd to have the same characteristics of the rhythm tones.

I'm asking what made this big difference to the tone of what I at least thought were very similar amps?

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Marshall DSL vs TSL

I think the DSL's sound better. The Marshall 1936 2-12 cab isn't one of my favorite sounding cabs, although it sounds like it's working fine for you. I still think Vin 30's sound better with Marshalls than G75T's.

The bottom line is how you set up your rig, compared to him. Different style of music, different guitars, different pickups.

 

[Young Angus]

Re: Marshall DSL vs TSL

Haha this is actually an interesting thread, but with a title like "dsl vs tsl" a lot of people might not respond because they might just think it's a typical "which one is better" thread...of which there have been hundreds comparing those two amps in the past.

I agree that those v30's would be cooler sounding speakers...but with your DSL, not a TSL. Love those ENGL cabs though, you can literally kick the crap out of them and you can't hurt them!

 

[y2stevo]

Re: Marshall DSL vs TSL

Haha this is actually an interesting thread, but with a title like "dsl vs tsl" a lot of people might not respond because they might just think it's a typical "which one is better" thread...of which there have been hundreds comparing those two amps in the past.

I agree that those v30's would be cooler sounding speakers...but with your DSL, not a TSL. Love those ENGL cabs though, you can literally kick the crap out of them and you can't hurt them!

Hehe :smack:

 

[Kommerzbassist]

Re: Marshall DSL vs TSL

All I can say is that preamp tubes have a HUGE impact on the sound of the TSLs because what is supplied stock has to be the cheapest crap around... I swapped them out for a 7025 highgrade in V1 and Chinese 12AX7s for everything else from TAD and it's great. I also play through a 2x12 with Vintage 30s.

Btw I think the TSL is cooler... I use the lead channel alot

 

[y2stevo]

Re: Marshall DSL vs TSL

All I can say is that preamp tubes have a HUGE impact on the sound of the TSLs because what is supplied stock has to be the cheapest crap around... I swapped them out for a 7025 highgrade in V1 and Chinese 12AX7s for everything else from TAD and it's great. I also play through a 2x12 with Vintage 30s.

Btw I think the TSL is cooler... I use the lead channel alot

Thats the thing though, I still have the stock preamp tubes (Though i've swapped the one in the V1 position but noticed little if any achange in tone)
And original Poweramp tubes actually, And I still don't think i;ve played a more versatile or better (IMO) sounding amp!

 

[Kommerzbassist]

Re: Marshall DSL vs TSL

Thats the thing though, I still have the stock preamp tubes (Though i've swapped the one in the V1 position but noticed little if any achange in tone)
And original Poweramp tubes actually, And I still don't think i;ve played a more versatile or better (IMO) sounding amp!

lol don't get me wrong, I still liked it better when I bought it (obviously it had the stock tubes when I tried it out) BUT since I changed them I'm kinda tube spoiled and they really make a difference here.

Btw poweramp tubes are winged Cs aka real Svetlanas so those are fine. At least that's what comes stock in the TSL.