DSL love?

[TX6Strings]

Damn! That's pretty sweet! Too bad it's well beyond my iron abilities...lol

I've owned a DSL50 for a little over a year now and find it to be a pretty good amp. Got it in a trade and haven't had any bias drift problems with it but I'm not sure of the year.

The green channel in the clean mode is pretty good but can get a little too bass heavy if you run the amp as a two channel and need to turn the bass up for the red channel.

The green channel in cruch mode is pretty cool and cleans up well with the guitar volume depending upon where you set the gain. It works pretty well with my OCD but I haven't had the chance to run it with my TS.

The fx loop is ok...I'm running a DD-6, CE-5 and a Microvibe in the loop and can tell a drop in the high end when engaged. Another forum member on here I know complained of the same problem and slight volume loss when he had a DSL100.

I've heard rumors/wishful thinking of a mod to make the modes on both channels foot switchable but haven't seen any hard and fast evidence myself. Although it would be cool.

clean/crunch has been done
http://www.marshallforum.com/workbench/ ... -last.html

 

[Rogue]

Pick up a newer DSL100MLB with the Black piping and you'll be good to go--you should be able to get one easily for under $1000. I just let mine go to a deserving chap for $600 and it was brand new--played twice.

I have been wanting another Marshall for a while now and the DSL I thought might be a reasonable option. One came up on craigslist fairly cheap and local. I don't know what year it is though. I asked the guy if he knew when it was made or could give me a serial number.

Now I just need to know what the problematic years/models are. Any ideas?

IMHO the DSL is all about YOU learning how to play IT.

I think that is the key to all Marshalls.

 

[BenoA]

IMHO the DSL is all about YOU learning how to play IT.

I think that is the key to all Marshalls.

+1 Well said buddy!

 

[jasonP]

DSL's are great amps and shine at louder than bedroom volumes. I have installed a choke and 95% of the Fortin mods on my DSL 50 and the thing is a beast now.

And the crunch channel boosted, without modding the amp, is heavenly!

Are you referring to these mods?

http://www.rig-talk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=40652&start=0&st=0&sk=t&sd=a

And how does a choke effect the tone?

I take it you are fond of the clean channel in crunch mode? I think I have a fair idea of the OD channel's sound, but I'm real interested in that crunch mode.

The clip posted by jasonP....is the clean tone he's getting in part due to the mods or is that the stock clean? Sounds nice.

Also, jchop posted something about a bias drift being a problem. Anyone else had that issue?

Choke will effect feel of the amp and make it sound tighter. Just makes the amp feel better to play.
No the amp stock has a awesome clean tone as well as great crunch channel... boosted it kills. The red channel stock is ok.. you have to run the bass boost in with the bass knob set low.
The Fortin mod tightens up the amp and really sounds great. I'm actually thinking about selling mine just because I would like to make room for my other 3 amps I built myself.
For what a DSL can be had used there are great amps for the money. I would look for a 2003 year is when they changed main boards.
Jason

 

[Devilinside]

Get it, it will not disappoint! The clean channel sounds great though I don't use it often. I use the suhr koko boost on the red channel but do not set the gain boost on the amp and I keep the gain at about 12 o'clock. With the right boost this amp can actually get pretty heavy and tight. I love mine!! I'll work on getting some clips on here.

 

[PeteLaramee]

I have a modded DSL 50 and I love it.

 

[LedZep77]

I think the DSL's are great and they are perfect gigging amps. Surprisingly nice cleans with a nice Marshall crunch. Just grab a boost and you're set.

 

[BenoA]

I think the DSL's are great and they are perfect gigging amps. Surprisingly nice cleans with a nice Marshall crunch. Just grab a boost and you're set.

And they are very easy to dial something good out of them.

 

[LedZep77]

I think the DSL's are great and they are perfect gigging amps. Surprisingly nice cleans with a nice Marshall crunch. Just grab a boost and you're set.

And they are very easy to dial something good out of them.

Indeed

 

[jasonP]

I think the DSL's are great and they are perfect gigging amps. Surprisingly nice cleans with a nice Marshall crunch. Just grab a boost and you're set.

And they are very easy to dial something good out of them.

Yes totally agreed.

 

[Rogue]

Get it, it will not disappoint! The clean channel sounds great though I don't use it often. I use the suhr koko boost on the red channel but do not set the gain boost on the amp and I keep the gain at about 12 o'clock. With the right boost this amp can actually get pretty heavy and tight. I love mine!! I'll work on getting some clips on here.

I'd love to hear some clips of the crunch channel both boosted and not boosted. Of the clips I've heard, it seems the OD channel sounds best with moderate gain.

 

[Rogue]

Choke will effect feel of the amp and make it sound tighter. Just makes the amp feel better to play.
No the amp stock has a awesome clean tone as well as great crunch channel... boosted it kills. The red channel stock is ok.. you have to run the bass boost in with the bass knob set low.
The Fortin mod tightens up the amp and really sounds great. I'm actually thinking about selling mine just because I would like to make room for my other 3 amps I built myself.
For what a DSL can be had used there are great amps for the money. I would look for a 2003 year is when they changed main boards.
Jason

Thanks. The one I'm looking at is a 1998, so it's probably got the old board. It does seem the bias drift problem was moreso with the tsl than the dsl. Still, it is a known problem and will play a factor in a purchase for sure.

 

[Devilinside]

Yeah you can't get crazy with the gain or it muds up pretty bad, that's why I can't say enough about the koko boost because its very natural sounding and really tightens up the DSL if you need it to. Using the extra boost on the amp just has no clarity to me.