To those curious about "boutique" amps...

[eschoendorff]

Re: To those curious about "boutique" amps...

I like my DSL 50 just fine. In fact, I don't think I'll even mod it. I like how the green channel sounds so - and I know that this might surprise some people - I'm going to use the green channel.

I also heard/read somewhere that the C12 has less influence over the sound of the red channel as the gain is increased. The way I understood it is that the C12 was part of the circuit until the gain was maxed and then it was basically bypassed. Can anyone comment on this?

 

[Red_Label]

Re: To those curious about "boutique" amps...

I like my DSL 50 just fine. In fact, I don't think I'll even mod it. I like how the green channel sounds so - and I know that this might surprise some people - I'm going to use the green channel.

I also heard/read somewhere that the C12 has less influence over the sound of the red channel as the gain is increased. The way I understood it is that the C12 was part of the circuit until the gain was maxed and then it was basically bypassed. Can anyone comment on this?

Interesting. I TOTALLY dig the Green channel. What bugs me is that sudden drop in ballz when you switch from green to red. I'd like to set the green for my rock rhythms, and then kick-over to red for solos. But the bottom just drops out when I do that. Right now I'm fine, because the volume boost on my G-System (in the loop) boosts me just fine for solos. But it still bugs me to use two-channel amp as a one channel amp. If that ends-up being the case, then I'm fine with it. Cause the amp really does sound great. And I do dig the red channel. But if I spent time on the green one and then switch over that noticeable drop bugs me. Were it not for that little issue, I'd be completely satisfied.

 

[Soulcrusher_X]

Re: To those curious about "boutique" amps...

Also from what Ive read on the DSLs, the 50s still came with decent (Drake?) trannies and a lot of dudes swear by them for this reason.

If your buddy has never played a Splawn of any kind, he will be in for a treat when he gets it. I loved both of mine, and my next 'big' builds will be Marshally/Splawny.

 

[woemoejack]

Re: To those curious about "boutique" amps...

I know exactly what youre saying dude... because I'm totally digging this $250 Peavey Windsor over my Shiva at the moment... not a permanent switch due to total lack of cleans, but this thing is a freakin beast

 

[eschoendorff]

Re: To those curious about "boutique" amps...

Also from what Ive read on the DSLs, the 50s still came with decent (Drake?) trannies and a lot of dudes swear by them for this reason.

If your buddy has never played a Splawn of any kind, he will be in for a treat when he gets it. I loved both of mine, and my next 'big' builds will be Marshally/Splawny.

Mine has the Drake trannies. I don't have anything to compare them to, but as long as I'm running at 16ohms, things sound pretty good to me.

 

[Soulcrusher_X]

Re: To those curious about "boutique" amps...

I like my DSL 50 just fine. In fact, I don't think I'll even mod it. I like how the green channel sounds so - and I know that this might surprise some people - I'm going to use the green channel.

I also heard/read somewhere that the C12 has less influence over the sound of the red channel as the gain is increased. The way I understood it is that the C12 was part of the circuit until the gain was maxed and then it was basically bypassed. Can anyone comment on this?

I havent looked at the scheme for the DSL, but it sounds like it's a treble bypass, just to keep a decent amount of treble in the signal at lower gain settings.

 

[Soulcrusher_X]

Re: To those curious about "boutique" amps...

Mine has the Drake trannies. I don't have anything to compare them to, but as long as I'm running at 16ohms, things sound pretty good to me.

Well, I dont know what the 100s use, but I thought they were different, and had frequent failures. The Drakes are what most of the 'classic' Marshalls used, if that says anything?

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: To those curious about "boutique" amps...

It's all about finding what you like. One man's junk is another man's treasure. I've been guilty of buying boutique and I've found I liked some standard production stuff as much or better.

Heck, I've got a Vox AC15, a Fender Vibrolux Reverb and a Bogner Shiva. If that isn't a mix of stuff, I don't know what is. I'll tell you what though, the standard production Vox AC15H1TV probably inspires me the most out of all of them (figure that one, amidst a boutique amp and a vintage amp). In my immediate future I probably see myself selling the Vibrolux Reverb. While I dig the Bogner, it may eventually get sold due to me simplifying things (it's a big half stack and I don't play that loud anymore). That's not an insult to the vintage or boutique crowd, it's just that once you find that tone in your head, the other tones from the other rigs don't really matter. When I was younger I loved the compressed sounding refined crunch of the Bogner and it's low mid punch, but as I'm getting older I like the kerrang of that signature Vox chime. That's not to say that mid scooped sparkle of the Fender isn't as good as the Vox or that the Bogner's cleans or overdrive can't hold their own (they can), they're just different palettes if you will.

 

[mwalluk]

Re: To those curious about "boutique" amps...

Awesome dood! Thanks! Dunno if I'll have time to snip that tonight, but I'll guarantee it'll happen by next weekend!

Def let us know how it turns out....

 

[mwalluk]

Re: To those curious about "boutique" amps...

I like my DSL 50 just fine. In fact, I don't think I'll even mod it. I like how the green channel sounds so - and I know that this might surprise some people - I'm going to use the green channel.

I also heard/read somewhere that the C12 has less influence over the sound of the red channel as the gain is increased. The way I understood it is that the C12 was part of the circuit until the gain was maxed and then it was basically bypassed. Can anyone comment on this?

That's true. Anything over 6 it essentially reverts. That being said, 6 on the red channel is MASSIVE amounts of gain.

 

[aleclee]

Re: To those curious about "boutique" amps...

Save yourself the dough and just get a good example of the classics that the so-called boutique amps are based-on.

Depends on what it's based upon. What does a Two Rock cost relative to a Dumble? Is a Victoria really more expensive than a clean vintage Twin? I doubt I could find a real Plexi for the price of a Germino.

Heck, even when it comes to "modded Marshalls",you could make a good argument that Soldano is more authentic than any Marshall 'cause they were doing that sound before anything like that was built in a Marshall factory.

 

[Scott_F]

Re: To those curious about "boutique" amps...

Save yourself the dough and just get a good example of the classics that the so-called boutique amps are based-on.

I won't say that the boutique amps don't deliver. Most of them do! And I won't say that I didn't love my Bogners (or VHT, or H&K, etc). Cause I did!

But this past week and a half with my new [to me] Marshall DSL50 has been quite a revelation to me. This beeotch sounds every bit as sweet, juicy, chewy, organic, roaring, etc as the Bogner XTC Classic that I sold a few months ago did. Yes, the Bogner had superior cleans, and MIGHT have had something in the low-end that the Marshall doesn't have. But honestly, this DSL sounds so sweet I don't miss the Bogner at all. And I could buy 3-4 DSLs for the price of the Bogner!

I spent several hours yesterday re-doing my pedal board, and wiring my TC G-System back into it as well. I've got the G-Sys switching channels on the Marshall, as well as giving me a volume boost on solo-lead patches. All-in-all I couldn't be happier with my rig right now!

BTW... I played through a bunch of older rock like ACDC, Def Leppard, and a bunch of "newer" rock like AIC and Collective Soul and the Marshall just slayed for all of it. Besides scooped-Mesa type metal and country or jazz... this Marshall will do anything that any of the boutique amps I've owned or played will. Add to that the fact that the classic Marshall roar/kerrang is often not exactly duplicated in supposedly much more "capable" amps. My Bogners had something of their own for sure (low mids). But the high-mid Marshall sound really does it for me like no other. At this point I'm not really drooling over other amps. Just at the possibility of getting a second DSL50 to have as a spare/stereo setup and all at a price that's half of the boutique amps.

Glad you found what you want, but IMHO you're painting with way too broad a brush.

 

[zzmoore]

Re: To those curious about "boutique" amps...

I do not have a problem with the way a DSL sounds, and it is great they fit your hands/ears so well.
But I got to tell you.....I have worked on a few of those Multi-PCB, Ribbon Connector, Lead Dress nightmares, and they are not fun.
I think THAT is where "boutique" amps excel. Take a Fender that Lupe assembled in 1963.....Rebuild it in 20012, and it will be great for another 50 years. In 50 years, every DSL ever made will have been E-Wasted.
Best

 

[Red_Label]

Re: To those curious about "boutique" amps...

Glad you found what you want, but IMHO you're painting with way too broad a brush.

Please give details regarding this statement. Most of my commentary was specific to my own tastes, experiences, requirements, etc.

And the rest was mainly aimed at guys who GAS for expensive amps and somehow think they are possibly being limited by their non-boutique gear, that may in fact be just fine. I know... because I used to think somewhat that way. And having been through expensive amps, I can say that for the vast majority of players out there, the middle-tier amps are every bit as capable as the boutique stuff.

Add to that the fact that many top-level, big name pros have been through the boutique amp brands and ended-up back where they started, with the household name brands. And in many cases that wasn't due to endorsement deals, sig models, etc. Many just did it because they play what they want to play and what they prefer.

At any rate... far be it from me to suggest that anyone not try, buy and enjoy boutique brands. But I did want to suggest that after all the money, tweaking, and time spent with them... they may find themselves back where they started. Just like I did...

 

[Red_Label]

Re: To those curious about "boutique" amps...

I do not have a problem with the way a DSL sounds, and it is great they fit your hands/ears so well.
But I got to tell you.....I have worked on a few of those Multi-PCB, Ribbon Connector, Lead Dress nightmares, and they are not fun.
I think THAT is where "boutique" amps excel. Take a Fender that Lupe assembled in 1963.....Rebuild it in 20012, and it will be great for another 50 years. In 50 years, every DSL ever made will have been E-Wasted.
Best

Could not agree more with you and stated as such. The build quality is definitely where most all boutique builders shine. NO question about that. My Bogners were NO doubt built much better than my factory DSL was. I haven't been inside it yet, but I was inside the Bogners often.

In regards to my personal definition of "boutique"... I'm talking about the high-brow brand names that have come to prominence this past two decades. Not vintage Marshalls and Fenders. Stock, "average" amps were built better back then. Well... like today's buotique amps are built. In some cases, even better.

 

[xxxplorer]

Re: To those curious about "boutique" amps...

Please give details regarding this statement. Most of my commentary was specific to my own tastes, experiences, requirements, etc.

And the rest was mainly aimed at guys who GAS for expensive amps and somehow think they are possibly being limited by their non-boutique gear, that may in fact be just fine. I know... because I used to think somewhat that way. And having been through expensive amps, I can say that for the vast majority of players out there, the middle-tier amps are every bit as capable as the boutique stuff.

Add to that the fact that many top-level, big name pros have been through the boutique amp brands and ended-up back where they started, with the household name brands. And in many cases that wasn't due to endorsement deals, sig models, etc. Many just did it because they play what they want to play and what they prefer.

At any rate... far be it from me to suggest that anyone not try, buy and enjoy boutique brands. But I did want to suggest that after all the money, tweaking, and time spent with them... they may find themselves back where they started. Just like I did...

Well said! Isn't the only brush we paint with to form opinons our own anyways? If I used someone elses tone, I may hate it!