Tweaker vs. DSL?

[Rich_S]

I've been thinking about a new Made-In-Vietnam Marshall DSL. The leading candidate is the DSL40C but it really has way more power than my "98% playing at home" needs. Since I already have a couple of 1-12 cabs around, a head makes more sense, so that suggests the DSL15H. When they scaled down for the 15H, they took out the digital reverb (no loss, in my book) but they also took out the "Crunch" mode on the green channel. That's a problem; I kinda figured I'd live mostly on the green channel crunch mode to get my late '70s/early '80s punk/new wave/brit-pop "thing" - Police, Pretenders, Plimsouls. You get the idea.

Then I noticed a used Tweaker 15 head on another forum. Big plus that it does "other" sounds; I'm more interested in a Fender clean than the Vox, but "Vox" is not a bad thing to have in your toolkit these days. The Tweaker's 15 watts is plenty for me. I like the 6V6 output stage, since I already have an EL84 "Marshall".

That brings me back to my core sound - how well does the Tweaker do those clean-to-crunch late '70s Marshall tones?

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Tweaker vs. DSL?

The Tweaker has more of the tones you're looking for. The Marshall is better suited for clean to crunchier highgain metal. The Tweaker is more of a smooth classic gain.

 

[Detroitblues]

Re: Tweaker vs. DSL?

I love my DSL40C, but I do wish it was available in head cabinet. The only reason why I chose a DSL40C (which a 1/2 volume is way too loud for anything I do) is the DSL15C or 15H does not have an effects loop. That is the ONLY reason why I spent extra on the 40 Watt.

Another option is the Peavey Micro Heads. I have the Valveking MH20 and love that amp... To my ears, its awfully close to a Marshall like amp. I'm considering trading it up for a new Peavey MH Classic 20.

 

[Agileguy_101]

Re: Tweaker vs. DSL?

Most of my experience with the Tweaker is the 40w version, but I have messed around with the 15w model. It's a great amp and IMO leagues ahead of the Marshall. There's a ton of versatility in the amp, and it's surprisingly hard to get a bad tone out of it. Go for it.

 

[Diego]

Re: Tweaker vs. DSL?

I have the Tweaker 15 head.
The Vox mode isn't particularly Voxy, but it kills at 70s Marshall tones.
The clean headroom isn't that bad (using an Emi Wizard at least...) and the clean tones are excellent.
And you can drop EL34 tubes on it for even more Marshally goodness.
Very flexible amp with plenty of great tones. It doesn't do an exact Marshall, Fender or Rectifier (hidden in the Vox mode...) reproduction, but it's still great.

 

[FuseG4]

Re: Tweaker vs. DSL?

I have owned the tweaker 15 and the DSL 50 head.
In fact I traded the used DSL for a brand new tweaker head cuz I thought the DSL was too loud. Turns out they were both too loud when at the sweet spot so I was F'ed anyways but I do think the Tweaker can cop good tones at home.

The thing I like about the DSL is it sounds like a real EL34 Marshall amp when you get it up to stage level volumes. At volumes that won't wake the neighbors it's kinda thin. And, with the shared EQ between channels, it can be hard to dial in a sound where the bass is matched between both channels so I treated it like two separate amps.

I liked that the tweaker did an approximation of a few sounds that sound rather convincing (unless matched head to head with the real thing), and it could have some warmth at low volumes and was never too bright or harsh when you dialed it up (the DSL, you have to watch the presence and the treble until you crank it). What I didn't like was that when I compared the tweaker USA mode to head with a blues jr, I thought the blues jr sounded better. Likewise I thought the tweaker AC mode did not hold a candle to a real AC15. And the brit mode was good, but the DSL was still "more like what I'd expect a british amp to sound like". The tweaker, when you switch modes, it feels like playing the same amp with different EQs. And Egnater feels like they have a certain voicing that I heard with the Rebel series, a voicing in the mids that stays around when you switch modes, that Fender, Vox, and Marshall don't have. I think the shortcoming of the amp is that the modes, to sound authentic, would need 3 kinds of power tubes. Getting those sounds out of a pair of hot cathode biased 6V6 tubes... it just feels and sounds off to me.

So like... when I think about your scenario I know I'd not go with the DSL15. To me that amp is too thin and fizzy even when you run it hard. The DSL40 or 50 needs to be loud to get it into its zone otherwise it's too thin. The tweaker is... to me, slightly hard to recommend... you ought to play it first, but it's the most friendly to the home environment. The tweaker is probably better in this case, cuz you're asking about playing at home. Otherwise I like the DSL a LOT and feel like if you're into british amps the green channel crunch mode IS glorious and if you can be LOUD then you will like the DSL more especially for getting into 80s or early 90s rock tones.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Tweaker vs. DSL?

the dsl15 is very disappointing. classic gain isnt classic or gainy enough, and the lead channel is a mess. The 5 watter is voiced much bette if you need lower volume.

The tweaker was unsatisfying to me as a Marshall substitute, but I did like its pseudo Fender tones.

if those are your choices you better try before you buy.

 

[jtougas]

Re: Tweaker vs. DSL?

Am I the only one disappointed in the bass response from my Tweaker?

 

[ken361]

Re: Tweaker vs. DSL?

Love my DSL 40 and I owned many! just change the preamp tubes to get a warmer tone and a speaker if you want,I still have the stock speaker its not that bad. I play low during the week and crank it on the weekends and it rips! Les Paul sounds great!

 

[Diego]

Re: Tweaker vs. DSL?

Am I the only one disappointed in the bass response from my Tweaker?

No.
I have a GE7 in the loop in mine with a big bass boost, about 8 db@100hz I think which is way deeper than the onboard EQ. I keep bass around 6 and then pump it with the GE7.

Surprisingly it stays just as firm at high volumes with much deeper bass than stock, unless you get the power tubes cooking and by that point the EQ governs itself.
But by itself the bass is a bit thin.

I might drop 6L6 tubes in mine and see how it goes. I tried EHX 6CA7 power tubes and they were insanely bright on breakup. Just nasty and impossible to tame.

Or I might sell it and get a 40.

 

[Agileguy_101]

Re: Tweaker vs. DSL?

It's been a long time since I played a 40, but I don't remember being disappointed in any way by the bass response.