Hey people. I hope that I won't get hate from this :wizard: but I'm struggling with my tone a bit. I have an ESP Horizon II with Jb/Jazz in my guitar and I have a Marshall DSL40C with Vintage 30 speakers in it that I just recently swapped with the seventy 80. I really like metal bands and I mostly play metal but also hard rock perhaps metallica guns n roses of course avenged sevenfold... As for the metal I have Treble 6,5, Middle is 3, Bass is 8, Gain is almost 8, Presence iz 8 and resonance is 7. I'm also using tube screamer but I don't really know how to set it up correctly for each genre. So I don't think that my tone is really good because I want to get a little bit softer tone because It's a little too bright but I still want to be rocking that distortion with sustain. I could also record a short video what my tone sounds right now since I've got a zoom recorder if it will be necessary for you. But because of my TS9 I get loud noises from the amp. My drive is at 3 o' clock my tone is on 1,5 o' clock and my level is on 3 o' clock. Just want to get some opinions on settings for the tone. KEY Words : Little too bright but still want distortion/sustain. Loudness from the amp. ._.
Need some tips with the tone. Marshall DSL40C
- Thread starter benjaminc
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misterwhizzy
Well-known member
Re: Need some tips with the tone. Marshall DSL40C
Turn the drive on the pedal all the way up, the gain all the way down, and adjust the tone to taste. I’d also turn the presence WAY down.
Turn the drive on the pedal all the way up, the gain all the way down, and adjust the tone to taste. I’d also turn the presence WAY down.
PierceOkken
New member
Re: Need some tips with the tone. Marshall DSL40C
gain and distortion are basically the same things, though one is a little less "clipped" than the other. I think you have your presence way to high, your bass is also a little high, try T: 7 M:8 B: 5 or 6, this is my favourite spot on the dsl, though mine has a creamback. That might make a difference. I really like the MXr Prime distortion and Dod preamp 250 with it, the mxr is easy to find, the dod is no longer in production
gain and distortion are basically the same things, though one is a little less "clipped" than the other. I think you have your presence way to high, your bass is also a little high, try T: 7 M:8 B: 5 or 6, this is my favourite spot on the dsl, though mine has a creamback. That might make a difference. I really like the MXr Prime distortion and Dod preamp 250 with it, the mxr is easy to find, the dod is no longer in production
PierceOkken
New member
Re: Need some tips with the tone. Marshall DSL40C
But here is the best way to find your "tone" Stick everything up the middle and adjust accordingly (without the pedal) then do the same with the pedal engaged. Tone is in the ears of the hearer, it is all up to your preference
But here is the best way to find your "tone" Stick everything up the middle and adjust accordingly (without the pedal) then do the same with the pedal engaged. Tone is in the ears of the hearer, it is all up to your preference
Re: Need some tips with the tone. Marshall DSL40C
turn the drive all the way down and level all the way up, cuz the overdrive circuit is also an active low pass so the more you turn up the drive the more high end you lose and the less clear it is
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turn the drive all the way down and level all the way up, cuz the overdrive circuit is also an active low pass so the more you turn up the drive the more high end you lose and the less clear it is
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ken361
New member
Re: Need some tips with the tone. Marshall DSL40C
I owned mine for 3 years now! the main thing is to check the bias some were at 40 or so! 32 is all you really need, my tech with 36 years of experience recommends this. I wouldnt run the treb and pres past 7 on mine it was really bright new but it was also biased way to hot. Mids sound better at 6 or 7 to me because its already a scooped amp, I did have mine lower before the biasing. Creamback its at gain on 6 or so trb mids pres 7 bass 3 res 3. Depending were your playing bass can be higher at times. If your using the tube screamer as a boost keep the pedal gain off. I dont like TS pedals they color the tone and thin it out some. Work on your basic tone first
I owned mine for 3 years now! the main thing is to check the bias some were at 40 or so! 32 is all you really need, my tech with 36 years of experience recommends this. I wouldnt run the treb and pres past 7 on mine it was really bright new but it was also biased way to hot. Mids sound better at 6 or 7 to me because its already a scooped amp, I did have mine lower before the biasing. Creamback its at gain on 6 or so trb mids pres 7 bass 3 res 3. Depending were your playing bass can be higher at times. If your using the tube screamer as a boost keep the pedal gain off. I dont like TS pedals they color the tone and thin it out some. Work on your basic tone first
Last edited:
Gtrjunior
New member
Re: Need some tips with the tone. Marshall DSL40C
I have found on my Marshall that the treble knob’s frequency is pretty harsh. I prefer to lower the treble knob and bring in the treble frequency with the presence control. My Marshall is a JCM 800 so your tone stack might vary.
Also I’ll give a +1 on the advise about keeping the gain low on the tube screamer. I feel like that pedal excels at pushing a dirty amp more-so than using the pedal’s dirt on top of an already dirty amp. By raising the level of the pedal it will hit the front end of the amp harder and cause the amps preamp section to really submit.
I have found on my Marshall that the treble knob’s frequency is pretty harsh. I prefer to lower the treble knob and bring in the treble frequency with the presence control. My Marshall is a JCM 800 so your tone stack might vary.
Also I’ll give a +1 on the advise about keeping the gain low on the tube screamer. I feel like that pedal excels at pushing a dirty amp more-so than using the pedal’s dirt on top of an already dirty amp. By raising the level of the pedal it will hit the front end of the amp harder and cause the amps preamp section to really submit.
Lake Placid Blues
New member
Re: Need some tips with the tone. Marshall DSL40C
How many loud hours are on the Vintage 30? If the Vintage 30 is not thoroughly broken in, that could be your problem.
How many loud hours are on the Vintage 30? If the Vintage 30 is not thoroughly broken in, that could be your problem.
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: Need some tips with the tone. Marshall DSL40C
I think Ken 361 is right. The bias is all over the place on that amp, and Marshall usually biases them on the weak side, but a few members here noticed they were biased too hot. Find someone, preferably free, who can adjust it for you. After that, learn to dial your amp in to taste.
I think Ken 361 is right. The bias is all over the place on that amp, and Marshall usually biases them on the weak side, but a few members here noticed they were biased too hot. Find someone, preferably free, who can adjust it for you. After that, learn to dial your amp in to taste.
Re: Need some tips with the tone. Marshall DSL40C
Uhh I have at least Idk maybe 60-80 hours on it?
Uhh I have at least Idk maybe 60-80 hours on it?
Lake Placid Blues
New member
Re: Need some tips with the tone. Marshall DSL40C
It should be broke in then, provided they were loud hours.
It should be broke in then, provided they were loud hours.
devastone
New member
Re: Need some tips with the tone. Marshall DSL40C
Start with checking the bias. If it is still too bright, do a search on "marshall dsl40c c19 mod" or "marshall dsl40c bright cap mod", it tells you how to remove the bypass "bright" cap on the gain channel. On the Soldano SLO it was known as the Warren Haynes mod.
Start with checking the bias. If it is still too bright, do a search on "marshall dsl40c c19 mod" or "marshall dsl40c bright cap mod", it tells you how to remove the bypass "bright" cap on the gain channel. On the Soldano SLO it was known as the Warren Haynes mod.
stratguy23
New member
Re: Need some tips with the tone. Marshall DSL40C
DSLs are voiced extremely bright in the red channel. I would never use the conventional scooped setting that OP started with.
My starting point with DSL red channels is actually extremes - treble at 0, mids and bass maxed, presence at 0, resonance at noon. Then bring up treble/presence, bring down mids/bass/resonance to taste.
OP might also want to try the green channel on crunch mode with gain maxed. With that setting and the JB pickup and TS overdrive, OP might be able to dial in a righteous metal/hard rock tone without having to fight with the red channel.
DSLs are voiced extremely bright in the red channel. I would never use the conventional scooped setting that OP started with.
My starting point with DSL red channels is actually extremes - treble at 0, mids and bass maxed, presence at 0, resonance at noon. Then bring up treble/presence, bring down mids/bass/resonance to taste.
OP might also want to try the green channel on crunch mode with gain maxed. With that setting and the JB pickup and TS overdrive, OP might be able to dial in a righteous metal/hard rock tone without having to fight with the red channel.
FuseG4
Our Neighbor Totoro
Re: Need some tips with the tone. Marshall DSL40C
Back when i had a dsl and a drive pedal, i did just like this guy says. Especially with the green channel, with the bass kept medium-low and gain mazed it should crunch like a decent marshall, then add the drive pedal.
And the drive pedal with Level cranked way up, Overdrive way down.
Amp must be very loud for these settings to sound good, thats why I sold it. Couldn't get That Sound without master volume on at least 3.5/10. Once the master volume is above half i noticed the amp smooths out a LOT and you can start to increase to presence and treble without it being harsh
Back when i had a dsl and a drive pedal, i did just like this guy says. Especially with the green channel, with the bass kept medium-low and gain mazed it should crunch like a decent marshall, then add the drive pedal.
And the drive pedal with Level cranked way up, Overdrive way down.
Amp must be very loud for these settings to sound good, thats why I sold it. Couldn't get That Sound without master volume on at least 3.5/10. Once the master volume is above half i noticed the amp smooths out a LOT and you can start to increase to presence and treble without it being harsh
