Marshall DSL100

[JonnyG92]

Well, a few months ago i traded my Orange Tiny Terror for my DSL which I love and hate. I love it because it does what I want it to and I hate it because it doesn't do it as well as I want it to.

I played a DSL in McAllen that had awesome tone (for me, anyways). The clean was swirly (I don't know if anyone's every heard a swirly clean channel) and the OD was over-the-top and awesome, especially for what I played. Maybe it was the Peavey cab.

But this DSL has a decent clean although it's either too bright or too mellow and the Crunch switch just makes it louder, not necessarily crunchier like the McAllen DSL did. I felt like I could use the McAllen Crunch channel and never have to use the OD1/2 channels.



Tl;Dr My DSL doesn't sound like the DSL I thought it would sound like.

Do I send it to a shop to see if the quality is compromised or just trade it off until I find something I like?
I've been eyeing Hot Rod Deluxes/Devilles and VOC AC15/30s for awhile now, but I just want this Marshall to work for me.
I'm going for a Keith Urban type of grit but just can't seem to pull it off.

 

[mwalluk]

Re: Marshall DSL100

I would personally trade/sell it for something that suits you better. Even though it's a solid amp, it pretty much is even (doesn't suck but doesn't excel).

 

[mwalluk]

Re: Marshall DSL100

Keith Urban's Rig Rundown

Amps and cabinets

Notes: Keith uses many different amplifiers.

- vintage Fender amp heads

- Suhr amplifier head

- Marshall '69 Super Bass

- Alessandro open back 2x12 cabs

- Matchless DC30 2x12 combo's
- Matchless 2x12 Cab's
- Matchless DC30 head
- 2002 Marshall JTM 45 offset reissue

Marshall JTM45 Amp Head

- Marshall JCM800 2203 head:

Marshall JCM800 2203 Vintage Series 100W Tube Head

- Marshall 4x12 cabinets

Marshall 1960AX or 1960BX 100W 4x12 Guitar Extension Cabinet Straight

- Hiwatt Custom 50 amps and Cabinets

Hiwatt DR-504 Custom 50 50W Tube Guitar Amp Head Black

- 65 Amps

- Bad Cat amps (according to Bad Cat website)

 

[mwalluk]

Re: Marshall DSL100

You may wanna look into some older Marshalls. Could probably land a used 800 for around a grand.

 

[hareek]

Re: Marshall DSL100

I would consider getting it checked out before going through the hassle of selling it and finding something new. An amplifier is all circuitry and electronics. Theoritecally, a DSL100 in Texas should sound the same as a DSL in Beirut assuming the same guitar and amp settings are used. Assuming you have already accounted for the guitar and amp settings, it may need new tubes or just be a lemon. I've always found the DSL's and TSL's to be great amps though.

 

[UberMetalDood]

Re: Marshall DSL100

First of all, where did you play it? If you played it inside of a music store then that could be an issue if you compare it to playing at home. The next thing is the bias. It sounds like your amp is biased too cold. It might be the tubes. Try something punchy like Tung-Sols in your power section and cleaner preamp tubes like Mullards.

The speakers make a huge difference. If you played that one through a 4x12 and then went home and played yours through a 1x12 or 2x12, it's not going to be the same. How new are your speakers? If your speakers aren't broken in yet then you won't get a good sound.

Also even though all DSL's are built the same and sound the same, your amp could have different sweet spots. Maybe you need to tweak a few things.

Furthermore, most people who go to shops to demo gear don't bring their own guitars. It's not a good idea to demo gear with Les Pauls unless you use Les Pauls at home because Les Pauls sound great through any amp. It could be that the pickups you were using were punchier, clearer, etc...

Lastly, think about the space you're playing in. Most amps sound great in a wider space than at home. Then you take them home and don't hear it like you expect because the acoustics are different.

 

[everdrone]

Re: Marshall DSL100

I felt like I could use the McAllen Crunch channel and never have to use the OD1/2 channels.

haha the mcallen crunch!

I just traveled down there this week, their mcallen airport has the back massage chairs that I like for $1 fun time :biglaugh:

I recommend a jcm 2204 over any other marshall all day for rock and roll! marshall is super midrangy though, tons of midrange and extremely loud, so watch out when you get into the marshall 100 watters, way too much power and not enough low end for my tastes of downtuned heavy rock. I dont know much about keith urban type tones tho

cheers san antonioer :beerchug:

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Marshall DSL100

How old are your tubes? When was it biased last? What speakers are you using?

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Marshall DSL100

The DSL can be tweaked with better tubes and bias, and sound better, but as soon as I heard Keith Urban, I knew amp selling and shopping would be a better option.

A Zakk Wylde type gig.....yeah, dial in the DSL and use it.

Modern roots/country/pop? Look at Bad Cat, Matchless, 65 Amps, Dr. Z, Fender Supersonic, Vox.

 

[Red_Label]

Re: Marshall DSL100

I currently own a DSL50 head (as well as an Engl Powerball 2 and an Egnater Rebel 20).

The DSL is a great amp! But it must be acknowledged that it's a better rock amp than a country amp. I've been gigging in country, rock, and metal bands since the '80s. The DSL currently is my backup to the Engl, because I'm in a drop-tuned metal band at the moment. The DSL actually does a helluva job for that, even with my 7-string. And I'd have NO problem even using it to fill-in with my old country-rock band if they asked me. But there are certainly much better amps for that. My old Bogner XTC and especially my old Shiva were better choices. Urban has used both of those amps.

Anyways... another great choice to do country on a budget would be the Egnater Rebel 30 or Renegade 65. Both have good clean channels and OD channels.

 

[JonnyG92]

Re: Marshall DSL100

Thanks for all of the input guys, it seems like I already knew the answers to my questions...

1) Get it retubed
2) I'm playing in my bedroom, not GC
3) I used the same guitar in both amps
4) Marshall DSL isn't a country amp per se
5) speakers need an upgrade (4x12 MG cab)
6) never biased it, bought it used and skimped on getting it retubed biased (kind of a no-brainer kind of thing to do, but I'm like that)

I'll give it an upgrade and maybe try tweaking with a few pedals and see where that takes me. I know a majority of his tone is from the Mosfet Fulldrive and the 4 compressors he takes on tour, but I'm not out to copy him, just use it as a starting block.

Thanks again for all of the responses!

 

[nedcronin]

Re: Marshall DSL100

I agree with the retube & bias 100%. These amps need a hot bias to sound "right". No offense intended, but don't upgrade the speakers in that cab. Just get a new one. You can usually find a 1960 cab used for 3-400 bucks. If you swap the speakers in that cab it won't sound as bad, but those MG cabs are total junk. They sound like they are made of paper for crying out loud. IMO speakers and cabs are the most overlooked part of an amps tone. The DSL is a righteous amp and you should be able to get good tones from it with not much tweaking if the tubes & bias are good and you mate it with a decent cab.

 

[UberMetalDood]

Re: Marshall DSL100

I agree with the retube & bias 100%. These amps need a hot bias to sound "right". No offense intended, but don't upgrade the speakers in that cab. Just get a new one. You can usually find a 1960 cab used for 3-400 bucks. If you swap the speakers in that cab it won't sound as bad, but those MG cabs are total junk. They sound like they are made of paper for crying out loud. IMO speakers and cabs are the most overlooked part of an amps tone. The DSL is a righteous amp and you should be able to get good tones from it with not much tweaking if the tubes & bias are good and you mate it with a decent cab.

I don't agree that it needs a hot bias. Marshalls seem to have pretty efficient power sections. I'm not saying that design wise or technically speaking, but I've experimented with hot & cold bias settings on a DSL, JCM800 and 1987x. I think the key to a good DSL tube sound are Winged C's and smooth preamp tubes like Mullards or Tung Sols if you spend more time on the drive channels.

 

[JonnyG92]

Re: Marshall DSL100

I don't agree that it needs a hot bias. Marshalls seem to have pretty efficient power sections. I'm not saying that design wise or technically speaking, but I've experimented with hot & cold bias settings on a DSL, JCM800 and 1987x. I think the key to a good DSL tube sound are Winged C's and smooth preamp tubes like Mullards or Tung Sols if you spend more time on the drive channels.

I spend a good majority of my time on the clean channels. I spend 60% of time in the Clean, 30% on crunch and the other 10% on OD1 and OD2.

 

[SAVAGE DISTORTION]

Re: Marshall DSL100

re-tube it:fing2:

 

[UberMetalDood]

Re: Marshall DSL100

I spend a good majority of my time on the clean channels. I spend 60% of time in the Clean, 30% on crunch and the other 10% on OD1 and OD2.

In that case try exactly what I prescribed, Winged C's and Mullard preamp tubes. The Mullards I have sound smooth, clear and detailed. I like Tung Sols for driven stuff, but Shuguang are kind of my go-to preamp tubes. Don't bias it hot or you'll run your tubes out faster and your clean sounds will probably sound more compressed and not feel right. If you bias too cold then it won't break up the way you want it to and your fingers will struggle more to squeeze out little minor overtones here and there. Those are my observations at least.

 

[gilaltom3]

Re: Marshall DSL100

Thanks for all of the input guys, it seems like I already knew the answers to my questions...

1) Get it retubed
2) I'm playing in my bedroom, not GC
3) I used the same guitar in both amps
4) Marshall DSL isn't a country amp per se
5) speakers need an upgrade (4x12 MG cab)
6) never biased it, bought it used and skimped on getting it retubed biased (kind of a no-brainer kind of thing to do, but I'm like that)

I'll give it an upgrade and maybe try tweaking with a few pedals and see where that takes me. I know a majority of his tone is from the Mosfet Fulldrive and the 4 compressors he takes on tour, but I'm not out to copy him, just use it as a starting block.

Thanks again for all of the responses!

Dear God, get rid of that cabinet. Nothing will sound good out of it. I have one and I can't even bring myself to put it up for sale because then some other poor b@stard will have to use it.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Marshall DSL100

Dear God, get rid of that cabinet. Nothing will sound good out of it. I have one and I can't even bring myself to put it up for sale because then some other poor b@stard will have to use it.

+1. This should be your first step. Then re-evaluate the amp with decent speakers.

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Marshall DSL100

I agree with UberMetalDood. You owe it to yourself to try some tube swapping, or as some call it, "amplifier blueprinting".

The Winged Cs power tubes are what I use in my Mesas, and I highly recommend them. The Tung-Sols and Mullards are probably what I would try for pre-amp tubes.

I think a better cabinet is in order too. I don't have as much experience with Marshalls as I do with Mesas, but I have played a DSL through a Marshall cab with V30s and came away with a smile on my face!

Let us know how it comes out.

Bill