TSL 100 or DSL 100??

RnFR

RnFR

New member
Which do you think its better, the TSL 100 or the DSL 100? I know that the only difference of the TSL is the clean mode that it has, but does this change the tone in any way? What about the effects?-are they any good?
Im trying to decide which of these two amp heads to buy, so i need all the help i can get :smokin:
 
Re: TSL 100 or DSL 100??

neither.

both suck equaly.


how many channels do you need?

do yourself a favour and check out the Laney VH100, is 10 times the amp the marshall wants to be.

or if you dont need as many channels, a GH50L or 100L those amps ROCK like there's no tomorrow.

or.. an ENGL Thunder, though the verdict is still out on that one cos i havent had the chance to try one out yet.
 
Last edited:
Re: TSL 100 or DSL 100??

I don't think I would buy either one- after reading about all the problems both of these models seem to have. I read about issue after issue on these amps, both here and the Marshall amp forum.
 
Re: TSL 100 or DSL 100??

That's a pretty closed-minded way of putting it there, Davey. ;) I expected something better from you than that.

The DSL is the better of the two, IMO. It's easier to dial in and is simpler in design. The DSL's are pretty good sounding amps. Last time I played one I had to sit with it a bit to get used to it. I'm used to the single-channel monsters. The TSL's I found not very pleasing. I didn't like the overdrive, not warm enough, and the clean was, meh, not that great. Marshall and clean don't go in the same sentence in my book. The DSL did have the better cleans from what I could get out of 'em.

In the DSL series, I like the 50 better. It's a tad warmer sounding, kinda like the 2204 was vs. the 2203 oddly enough.

These amps have no effects built in, other than the onboard spring reverb.

Your best bet is to grab your guitar and play through them both and then decide.
 
Re: TSL 100 or DSL 100??

ErikH said:
That's a pretty closed-minded way of putting it there, Davey. ;) I expected something better from you than that.
Click to expand...

well, you dont know me that well then :laugh2:


those jcm 2000 are completely un-useable for me. never could get a good tone out of em. it always sounds like a wet blanket.
 
Re: TSL 100 or DSL 100??

Davey said:
well, you dont know me that well then :laugh2:


those jcm 2000 are completely un-useable for me. never could get a good tone out of em. it always sounds like a wet blanket.
Click to expand...

Unuseable for "you", exactly. But maybe not to someone else. Jeff Beck certainly doesn't have a problem with 'em. ;)
 
Re: TSL 100 or DSL 100??

ErikH said:
Unuseable for "you", exactly. But maybe not to someone else. Jeff Beck certainly doesn't have a problem with 'em. ;)
Click to expand...

i was merely stating my opinion ;)


and what works for jeff, doesnt need to work for me ;) right back at you man
 
Re: TSL 100 or DSL 100??

ErikH said:
The DSL is the better of the two, IMO. It's easier to dial in and is simpler in design. The DSL's are pretty good sounding amps. Last time I played one I had to sit with it a bit to get used to it. I'm used to the single-channel monsters. The TSL's I found not very pleasing. I didn't like the overdrive, not warm enough, and the clean was, meh, not that great. Marshall and clean don't go in the same sentence in my book. The DSL did have the better cleans from what I could get out of 'em.

In the DSL series, I like the 50 better. It's a tad warmer sounding, kinda like the 2204 was vs. the 2203 oddly enough.
Click to expand...

Couldn't have said it better, and I own a DSL 50. ;) And the "classic" channel's clean mode was far better than I would have expected out of a Marshall. Very full, warm, and saturated clean tone. I found the low gain and clean setting on the DSL100, and even moreso on the TSL, to be thin and tinny, especially on the TSL.
 
Re: TSL 100 or DSL 100??

I think the reliability and tone of the DSL's is fine. It's the TSL's that have the bad reputation. I think it has to do with the switching relay that toggles between the two gain modes. Also, by adding more features, the quality of sound is degraded. I also don't like how they use pots with a plastic shaft.
Out of all the DSL/TSL's, I think the DSL 50 is the most useable and toneful one, just because you can turn them up to 5-7 and hear the power tube breakup. On the 100W DSL, stage volume is 3.

That said, I'd still opt for Bogner, ENGL, Laney etc, for a channel switching amp. They cut less corners.
 
Re: TSL 100 or DSL 100??

+1 on everything. DSL = better, 50 watter = better than 100 watter.

Reliability is good on the DSLs, its the TSLs that have been bad. Definitely look at Bogner, Lanley, ENGL, Splawn etc.
 
Re: TSL 100 or DSL 100??

Davey said:
well, you dont know me that well then :laugh2:


those jcm 2000 are completely un-useable for me. never could get a good tone out of em. it always sounds like a wet blanket.
Click to expand...

Wet blanket??? You've got to be kidding me!! The treble response on my DSL 50 is enough to rip your ears off!! And I'm not talking with the treble, presence and mids on 10 either but rather on very low settings. Fact is I've got an EQ pedal in the loop to help calm the treble down.

Not trying to start an arguement with you, but sometimes I wish my DSL 50 was a bit on the "wet blanket " side.
 
Last edited:
Re: TSL 100 or DSL 100??

what was that, plexi or plexi?? i say PLEXI!!! only way to go. get yourself a kit, make it, or buy a premade kit on ebay, get an od pedal, and have the best tone the guitar industry has to offer for under 2k.
 
Re: TSL 100 or DSL 100??

I used to very much dislike the JCM2000 series just because I had never heard one being used by someone who could actually play it properly...but about three weeks ago I went to see a band and they had this great crunchy/high-gain marshall tone and when I looked at their amps they were both DSL's (playing Gibsons through them mind you). Great tone, not that I would ever buy one, but because there were good guitars and good players plugged into them they sounded good.

Of the two I would also say get a DSL, I've never heard a single good thing about a TSL. But if you're not dead set on a Marshall you should at least go and try playing through the ENGL 50watt heads - the Thunder 50 and the Screamer 50 - they are around a similar price range and I think you may be very pleasantly surprised...much higher quality amps.
 
Re: TSL 100 or DSL 100??

OlinMusic said:
Get a Bogner Ecstasy

if not - DSL
Click to expand...

Not that I don't love the sound of the Ecstacy, but let's compare apples to apples here. You could almost buy two brand new DSL 50s for the price of a used Ecstacy 101b.

I should have also added that the DSL 50 is a great platform to run pedals on. It takes OD pedals very well.

Regarding reliability, I've had no issues with mine, and I've owned it for well over two years now.
 
Re: TSL 100 or DSL 100??

Speakers, speakers, speakers....

Your typical V30 and DSL/TSL match is not so good..V30s sound much better with older marshall amps..ala 800 series and previous...

DSL opens up (in a good way) with different speakers than your typical modern v30 cab....it fills out..gets more complex, and not so harsh in the top end.

I prefer the D over the T as well...
 
Re: TSL 100 or DSL 100??

Davey said:
i was merely stating my opinion ;)


and what works for jeff, doesnt need to work for me ;) right back at you man
Click to expand...

I don't disagree with you there. Your original comment came across as more "in general". I think Kindred got it right though. :laugh2: :laugh2:
 
Re: TSL 100 or DSL 100??

Woo Hoo! My First post!!!! Been lurking for a while... ANYWAY, I have a modded TSL combo with v30's which i am loving...tried the engl screamer and it wasn't for me...

Cant believe there's no love for the TSL! :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top