Volume drop when switching to OD

[maxdave2010]

Hey people,

I got my first valve amp a month or two ago, a Marshall JCM2000 DSL401. It's only a 40 watt combo, but it suits my needs perfectly and I love the way it sounds.

However, when I switch from clean -> overdrive, there is a very distinct volume drop. It only happens briefly, but it's enough to make Metallica's "One" or "Fade To Black" sound a bit sketchy.

Any thoughts? Anything I can do?

-Dave
(ps. I use the two-button Marshall footpedal which lets me switch from Clean -> OD and OD1 -> OD2.)

 

[Kommerzbassist]

Re: Volume drop when switching to OD

Turn the clean gain down or the overdrive volume up?

 

[maxdave2010]

Re: Volume drop when switching to OD

Turn the clean gain down or the overdrive volume up?

By volume drop, I mean it goes almost silent (only for about half a second, but that can be a lifetime in the middle of a song) before springing up to the correct volume.

I believe they all suffer from this, but I was wondering if there is anything I can do?

 

[B2D]

Re: Volume drop when switching to OD

By volume drop, I mean it goes almost silent (only for about half a second, but that can be a lifetime in the middle of a song) before springing up to the correct volume.

I believe they all suffer from this, but I was wondering if there is anything I can do?

Probably not.

Frankly it irks me that Marshall released that amp with such an obvious design flaw.

 

[maxdave2010]

Re: Volume drop when switching to OD

Probably not.

Frankly it irks me that Marshall released that amp with such an obvious design flaw.

Quite. It's a pretty crappy combo really, with the volume drop and a stupid overheating issue (i keep a desk fan running behind it, does the trick), I'm very surprised they let it slip through. It sounds great, none the less.

-Dave

 

[suislidE03]

Re: Volume drop when switching to OD

When i had it i dont remember if it cut when switching channels.. but anyway, i had a site bookmarked that had alot of mods on it, and one addressed this problem. Basically it said to take out one of the relays in the circuit.

 

[B2D]

Re: Volume drop when switching to OD

Quite. It's a pretty crappy combo really, with the volume drop and a stupid overheating issue (i keep a desk fan running behind it, does the trick), I'm very surprised they let it slip through. It sounds great, none the less.

-Dave

IMO overheating issues and channel-switching problems are things that should have been fixed in the prototype stage. Face it... Marshall could be doing a LOT better with that.

I love that Marshall sound but I will not put up with sub-par performance from a name-brand, world-class company.

I've been playing a Carvin Legacy for 10 months now and I've never been happier.

 

[Matt Blackett]

Re: Volume drop when switching to OD

I have a 401 and I've never noticed that problem. Have you tried calling Marshall? That amp does heat up a bit but I swear, I love it. I think it's one of the unsung Marshall gems.

 

[Kommerzbassist]

Re: Volume drop when switching to OD

These combos are known for those problems... although I've heard they eventually fixed that on the newer models...

Google for mods on this amp... maybe you'll find something... dunno

 

[wixedmords]

Re: Volume drop when switching to OD

Marshall addressed the issues in either 2002, or 2003. A guy on the Marshall forum contacted Marshall about the issue a year or so back.

It doesn't excuse Marshall for building it for so many years with a reliability issue.

We aren't talking about a $300 amp here. (new)

I wonder if the issue you MaxDave is having is due to dirty jacks.

 

[maxdave2010]

Re: Volume drop when switching to OD

Marshall addressed the issues in either 2002, or 2003. A guy on the Marshall forum contacted Marshall about the issue a year or so back.

It doesn't excuse Marshall for building it for so many years with a reliability issue.

We aren't talking about a $300 amp here. (new)

I wonder if the issue you MaxDave is having is due to dirty jacks.

Mine is a 2005 model, but the valves still get mightily hot when there's not a fan on them. And I've only had it for two months!

-Dave

 

[Davey]

Re: Volume drop when switching to OD

Ol Jim ain't in charge no more it sounds like. Most american cars nowadays are just crap compared to the quality that they were years ago. Same with electronics, guitars, amps, you name it.

"How can we save a buck on a thousand dollar item?" is how almost every large company is run these days.

So I fought it, I bought a BF Fender instead!

ol jim is hardly able to sign his own name these days. i saw him at the london guitar show.



and yea. that mentality is pissing e off majorly.

 

[daemon barbeque]

Re: Volume drop when switching to OD

Marshall and Gibson are both great manufacturers wich can reall make great products.But the quote of this "top" products is just %10 ,wich is the sign of the "lack of QC".Maybe modding helps Dave.

 

[B2D]

Re: Volume drop when switching to OD

IMO if you're buying an amp in that price class, any modding should be for TONAL reasons, not for fixing problems.

 

[maxdave2010]

Re: Volume drop when switching to OD

Just got an email back from marshall about my problem:

Thankyou for your email regarding your DSL 401 when changing channel there is a small dip in volume this is to ensure no surge or bang when changing channels.

I had heard that the early 401s made a horrible noise when switching channels with reverb on. This is probably their solution to that! So, it's deliberate after all!

-Dave

 

[Davey]

Re: Volume drop when switching to OD

heh..


so why can other manufacturers pull it off without a problem then?

 

[Nightburst]

Re: Volume drop when switching to OD

It's not that uncommon. I notice the 'lag' when switching inbetween channels in my Mesa V-twin as well. My old Randall combo used to 'pop' when I switched channels so I figuered that it was just because of cheap parts but my Bogner also does this popping!
I wonder what causes this? I wouldn't expect these sort of issuses on Marshall, Mesa or Bogner amps!

I have noticed it's more of an issue when the amps volume is low. Does it happen with your amp all the time?

 

[aleclee]

Re: Volume drop when switching to OD

IMO overheating issues and channel-switching problems are things that should have been fixed in the prototype stage.

I wouldn't be surprised if those probs didn't exist at the prototype stage. Too often, the designers get it right but their designs are compromised for the sake of simplifying manufacturing or reducing component cost.

 

[LesStrat]

Re: Volume drop when switching to OD

True.

Hey, Alec! What's the big idea changing your avatar? I almost didn't recognize you!

 

[aleclee]

Re: Volume drop when switching to OD

Hey, Alec! What's the big idea changing your avatar? I almost didn't recognize you!

I've had some changes going on in real life so I thought I might do a little avatar makeover.