Not loving my tone...

[punchlinechar]

How's it going guys?

About 5 months ago I bought a DSL40C, and I liked it at first. After playing through it for a few months, I realized that it really doesn't have enough balls for me. I think putting from fresh tubes in may help the problem, but even with my pickup booster, it really doesn't crunch enough. I bought the 5150 OD a few weeks ago, and while I love the saturation, it still has that kind of hard pedal gain sound unless I run it on the Ultra Gain channel on the amp.

I'd really like it if you guys could help me out with some ideas for settings, or maybe recommendations for other pedals. I plan on picking up for a 5150 50w in the next year, but I figure I have some nice gear already, and I must not be setting it up right if I'm not liking the sound.

I'm playing a Chapman ML-3 Bea btw, for context. TIA!

If this is in the wrong part of the forum I'd appreciate it if a mod could move it.

 

[Gtrjunior]

Re: Not loving my tone...

Take a pic of your current amp settings.
That DSL should scream, especially with a boost.
It’s a damn good amp.

 

[dave74]

Re: Not loving my tone...

Have you tried the overdrive with "clean-boost" settings(gain near 0 and level up) going into the high-gain channel/mode?

 

[Kamanda~SD]

Re: Not loving my tone...

What guitar(s) are you putting through it?

 

[ken361]

Re: Not loving my tone...

Had mine for over 3 years now and still dig it, power tubes can go pretty quick sometimes. I like the chinese rubys and there priced well bias it 32 gets that VH Alice in chains tones. Thicker Metallica type tones lead 2 gain at around 3. I boost mine with a Fryette SAS EF86 pedal it gives it balls dynamics like most won't due to its tube and AC power high voltage power and makes a great cleans in the clean mode.

 

[ken361]

Re: Not loving my tone...

The crunch I can get the gain very similar to the red but I like the red 1 for a lot of stuff too.Unboosted crunch just has enough for acdc highway to hell type riffs so there isnt a whole lot put a Creamback in!

 

[Demanic]

Re: Not loving my tone...

Run a Metalzone into the clean channel.

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[Mincer]

Re: Not loving my tone...

What sound are you going for vs the sound you have?

Or a Palladium into the front of it!

 

[Demanic]

Re: Not loving my tone...

What sound are you going for vs the sound you have?

Or a Palladium into the front of it!

But make sure to use the clean channel.

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[Gtrjunior]

Re: Not loving my tone...

But make sure to use the clean channel.

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That’s no fun!!

 

[Demanic]

Re: Not loving my tone...

That’s no fun!!

Running distortion into a dirty channel usually just makes for mud and uncontrollable feedback. A boost or overdrive is a different story.

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[LLL]

Re: Not loving my tone...

After playing through it for a few months, I realized that it really doesn't have enough balls for me.

How low do you have the master volume? :naughty:

PRO TIP: "balls" in a tube amp = a sweating, hard working phase inverter tube & power section

 

[FuseG4]

Re: Not loving my tone...

The clean channel has the most thump and punch, I would start with having the clean channel volume on at least 3 or 4 and then try the pedal. If you're loud enough you can get saturated tones from the green channel that still have oomph, the red channel for me is for when you want to solo and want extra mids, bite, and lots of compression.

 

[mxaniac]

Re: Not loving my tone...

Maybe 5 months of playing resulted in hearing loss :lol:

 

[punchlinechar]

Re: Not loving my tone...

What guitar(s) are you putting through it?

Chapman Ml-3 Bea, Jackson Dinky, and also and LTD EC

 

[punchlinechar]

Re: Not loving my tone...

What sound are you going for vs the sound you have?

Or a Palladium into the front of it!

I play metal, so I like a thumping tight low end. I was thinking about getting a tube screamer, but the amp really doesn't have a ton of gain it seems. Like, I can't get feedback if I wanted to

 

[punchlinechar]

Re: Not loving my tone...

Is it possible that I have faulty tubes? I did buy it used. It has a Creamback in it also.

 

[punchlinechar]

Re: Not loving my tone...

The clean channel has the most thump and punch, I would start with having the clean channel volume on at least 3 or 4 and then try the pedal. If you're loud enough you can get saturated tones from the green channel that still have oomph, the red channel for me is for when you want to solo and want extra mids, bite, and lots of compression.

So, I just tried running the clean channel at 4, and when I tried playing clean to start it made a really awful noise. I think I may have to invest in tubes...

 

[Demanic]

Re: Not loving my tone...

I play metal, so I like a thumping tight low end. I was thinking about getting a tube screamer, but the amp really doesn't have a ton of gain it seems. Like, I can't get feedback if I wanted to

I know that I'm repeating myself. Get the cleanest sound that you can. Then hit it with a nasty distortion pedal. Don't go overboard with the bass and treble on the amp. Use the tone controls on the pedal for that. Boost the mids with the pedal, to your taste, but cut them with the amp tone control.
Thank me later.

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[punchlinechar]

Re: Not loving my tone...

Maybe 5 months of playing resulted in hearing loss :lol:

That's a distinct possibility :laugh2::laugh2: