TSL100: Who REALLY loves it?

[Jessie Sammler]

I've read about a lot of opinions and experiences with the Marshall JCM2000 TSL100 100-watt tube head. Some people think it's okay; some hate it. Has anyone found lasting love with it? If so, what other gear do you use with it -- cabs, guitars, pickups, pedals, etc? What kinds of tones do you go for? And, finally, have you had much experience with different tubes?

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: TSL100: Who REALLY loves it?

i mean it doesn't sound bad but there are better-sounding amps for about the same price.

lots of other great pieces of gear fall victim to this same problem. i like 'em but they're competing with DSL's and Recto's and JCM800's and lots and lots of other things that most people would rather have.

give me a JCM800 or a two-channel single rec for that heavy heavy gain gain tone that the TSL does but better.

 

[ACH91332]

Re: TSL100: Who REALLY loves it?

TSLs are okay at best and that is the common consensus. I've had the same experiences as you where people say they hate it or it is alright but not that great. I've played one and I was just like "Eh.. it's okay but I'd rather play my JVM." Where as another buddy of mine has a DSL and I couldn't put my guitar down. I mean idk the DSL and TSL aren't day and night as far as tone and it was awhile ago so I can't really comment on the TSL for tone right now but I remember not really gelling with it too much. I notice subtle things and its more of the feel of the amp that gets me and I just remember the DSL not falling within my specs.

Empty Pockets pretty much summed it up. It would probably be an amazing amp if it was cheaper. The whole bang for your buck concept would take over. For the price range it is in there's just way better options if you are looking to spend that money.

 

[mwalluk]

Re: TSL100: Who REALLY loves it?

It's a solid amp. I used to own one. I was able to get a nice clean tone and a good rhythm distorted channel, never really used the other channel though. I mainly use ESP EC 1000 (emg 81/60) or EC400VF (SD JB/59). I was def able to get a good tone out of it. One of the bands that my band tours with, only uses a TSL100 and swears by it. To each his own. They are serviceable amps and will last if treated correctly. If you find one used pick it up. However, if you are looking new (look else where).

The one thing I absolutely HATED was the $%$*&%^ footswitch. It's trash. It costs over $125 for a new one and the will literally only last a couple weeks. I went through 2 in the time I had mine, the other guy I know who has a TSl went through five. That adds up. Marshall really dropped the ball on that one.

I recommend going with DSL. I switched over and sold my TSL for a DSL. Other than an extra channel and seperate EQS, the TSL falls way short of the DSL. DSL will have a better overall tone.

Speakers used 16 ohm Vintage 30s, Classic Lead 80s and EVM12L Classic.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: TSL100: Who REALLY loves it?

^ If they had separate EQ for the DSL it would be a perfect amp. My style is so heavily influenced by that super-hi-gain turn-of-the-century hardcore punk sound that i've always been tempted to pull the trigger on a DSL...but then i know i'd just end up setting it up for clean and medium-crunchy and using my pedals to take it any further than that.

Seen lots of hard-working musicians sound really good with all kinds of amps. All kinds of JCM2000's included. When i was more into the modern metal scene i'd see a band with a TSL, a band with a 5150, and band with a Dual Rec almost every weekend...5150's and Recto's did that sound better cuz they're bigger and meaner...TSL's super high gain mode sounds thin and buzzy comparatively.

The game changed when Orange started getting more popular tho. Lots of cats hate that modern Oranges don't sound like 70's Oranges but what they sound like are BETTER modern Marshalls...which is good to me

Oh and those new JVM's are insane. Love 'em.

So yeah. If you're looking to buy a TSL...you should look around.

 

[lex666]

Re: TSL100: Who REALLY loves it?

I own a TSL602 and I personally love the amp. I should disclaim that I've never had the opportunity to compare the tone with other Marshalls, other than my other VS65R - but that not a fair comparison.

Anyways, I think the amp is great but that's after a tube swap and some speaker changes and the addition of an extension cab.

Right now I'm using 2 Celestion V30's in the combo and the stock Heritage and Vintage speakers in my extension cab.

My goal for this amp was to nail 'traditional' Marshall tones. I think this amp nails it.

The cleans I'm not in love with, but they are usable. I think there's certainly room for improvement, but I mostly use 2 channels of hi gain, and thats where this amp shines for me.

Never had a problem with the footswitch. Mine has been 100% so far. I've had this amp for almost 10 years without any problems other than the tubes needing a replacement.

 

[mwalluk]

Re: TSL100: Who REALLY loves it?

^ If they had separate EQ for the DSL it would be a perfect amp. My style is so heavily influenced by that super-hi-gain turn-of-the-century hardcore punk sound that i've always been tempted to pull the trigger on a DSL...but then i know i'd just end up setting it up for clean and medium-crunchy and using my pedals to take it any further than that.

Or set it to clean and high gain and use the pedal over the clean to get crunchy......


I do agree with the TSl sounding a lil thin and buzzy, it does depend on the speakers though. However theres a couple quick mods that are cheap like the c12 you could do to help that out.

 

[mwalluk]

Re: TSL100: Who REALLY loves it?

I guess it all comes down to your style and tonal tastes.

 

[mwalluk]

Re: TSL100: Who REALLY loves it?

The TSL and DSL can come extremely close to a 800 with subtle differences.

 

[lex666]

Re: TSL100: Who REALLY loves it?

Thin and buzzy was my reason for swapping out the speakers in the cab. V30's should fix that problem.

 

[korovamilkdud]

Re: TSL100: Who REALLY loves it?

TSL wants so badly to be a JSX when it grows up.

 

[mwalluk]

Re: TSL100: Who REALLY loves it?

TSL wants so badly to be a JSX when it grows up.

Ya except the JSX sux though.... Come on Satch hardly uses his own amp.... Seriously though, the JSX isn't that great of an amp. Don't get me wrong, it's a solid amp but there's tons I would choose over it. That's just my tastes tho.

 

[korovamilkdud]

Re: TSL100: Who REALLY loves it?

The TSL wants so badly to be a JSX or a Laney VH100r when it grows up.

Anyway, I love my JSX, I think it's the ****.

 

[xxxplorer]

Re: TSL100: Who REALLY loves it?

JCM 800 all the way... too many buttons on those TSLs... blah

 

[mwalluk]

Re: TSL100: Who REALLY loves it?

As long as you get something that's not a Peavey Valveking or a Line 6, you should be fine.

 

[Koreth]

Re: TSL100: Who REALLY loves it?

The other guitarist in my band has one and absolutely loves it. I don't care much for it myself. It could just be how he has his dialed in, but the red channel sounds unpleasantly thin and fizzy to me. The green channel's cleans are meh, but they do at least make for a decent edge-of-breakup sound, which his where he has his dialed in.

I absolutely agree about the foot switch. A couple months ago he started having trouble with his. Initially, the buttons gave out. Rather than paying $200 dollars for a new switch, new stomp buttons were purchased and the younger brother electronics nerd swapped them out. All was fine and dandy till the cord started shorting out. A new socket and cable later, the switch works again. Then the new cord started shorting and had to be fixed. The Ch1 LED also no longer lights up.

To boot, there's been at least one time when the amp has had to be opened up to have solder joint's re-flowed because said joints had cracked and rendered the amp inoperable.

But he loves the sounds he's getting from it, so who am I to fault him for having found his tone?

 

[mwalluk]

Re: TSL100: Who REALLY loves it?

Like to also mention, that the JCM2000 series meshed the best in a band situation than my previous amps did. I used to play a Peavey XXX, Mesa Dual Rect Tremoverb, Randall RM100 and a couple others, none of which sounded as good as my marshall. I will admit, I prefer the DSL over TSL. Love the DSL.

 

[Thunder]

Re: TSL100: Who REALLY loves it?

I have one and feel the DSL and older model Marshalls have far better tone! It probably would sound better with a few upgrades like caps, MM choke/OT, and different tubes. I've been thinking about doing it.

 

[eschoendorff]

Re: TSL100: Who REALLY loves it?

This thread make me glad that I passed up the TSL 60 head and went with the DSL 50 instead!

 

[apj]

Re: TSL100: Who REALLY loves it?

This thread make me glad that I passed up the TSL 60 head and went with the DSL 50 instead!

I can only compare the DSL 100 to the TSL 60, I've owned both and was much happier with the DSL. I never did this to mine but apparently they benefit quite a bit from a transformer.