DSL vs Jubilee 2525? Why such a bug price difference?

[ledvedder]

I currently have a DSL40c that I mostly play through a 212 cab. The 2525 Jubilee head has intrigued me, but I'm trying to figure out why it's almost twice the price of a DSL. I'd love to hear your comments as to what makes the 2525 twice as good as the DSL.

 

[Racerxrated]

I currently have a DSL40c that I mostly play through a 212 cab. The 2525 Jubilee head has intrigued me, but I'm trying to figure out why it's almost twice the price of a DSL. I'd love to hear your comments as to what makes the 2525 twice as good as the DSL.

Umm, well...the tone?

Jubes are really killer with a boost and blow the doors off any DSL I've played. IMO.

 

[ledvedder]

I currently have a DSL40c that I mostly play through a 212 cab. The 2525 Jubilee head has intrigued me, but I'm trying to figure out why it's almost twice the price of a DSL. I'd love to hear your comments as to what makes the 2525 twice as good as the DSL.

Umm, well...the tone?

Jubes are really killer with a boost and blow the doors off any DSL I've played. IMO.

Are they really twice the price better? I've gone the my local Guitar Center and Sam Ash, but neither of them had the mini Jubilee to try. So, I'm relying on info from folks who have experience with them.

BTW, I'm also considering an EVH lunchbox head.

 

[napalmdeath]

I currently have a DSL40c that I mostly play through a 212 cab. The 2525 Jubilee head has intrigued me, but I'm trying to figure out why it's almost twice the price of a DSL. I'd love to hear your comments as to what makes the 2525 twice as good as the DSL.

DSL = Made In Vietnam.
Jube = Made in UK. And, far superior in every way.

 

[ledvedder]

I currently have a DSL40c that I mostly play through a 212 cab. The 2525 Jubilee head has intrigued me, but I'm trying to figure out why it's almost twice the price of a DSL. I'd love to hear your comments as to what makes the 2525 twice as good as the DSL.

DSL = Made In Vietnam.
Jube = Made in UK. And, far superior in every way.

Can you explain how in a bit of detail? My local shops don't have the 2525, so I can't try it.

Also, how would they compare to the EVH LBX?

 

[Rick Lee]

Country of manufacture means nothing in the tone dept. My Vietnamese DSL 100H blew the doors off any of my made in the UK JCM2000 DSLs. Wherever it's made, it's made to company specs. A robot placing components into a PCB and then a solder bath is no different in the UK than it is in China or Vietnam. The magic is in the design and components, then quality control.

 

[Racerxrated]

The Jubilee has a unique gain due to the LED clipping. More articulate to my ears, at a low or higher volume than any DSL. Plus the eq is very responsive for a Marshall, enough low end that it is almost a Mesa lol. A boost in front makes it very ferocious and has a growl that is distinct. To my ears it's similar to a Wizard in some ways..vs a DSL tone which is generic/sterile in comparison. Not bagging the DSL as many like them but in comparison to a Jubilee it's no contest, clarity/feel/gain structure is more pleasing to my ears anyway. I tried a newer DSL 100H a few yrs back and I thought it was pretty generic sounding, although it sounded better than the EVH.

 

[SFW]

I have never played the lunchbox Jubilee. However, I have owned a 1988 black telex 2550, two British made DSLs and a MIV DSL. The Jubilee circuit is just one of those classic Marshall designs and when you put some volume to it, it just does something that other Marshall circuits just don't. It has it's heritage in the JCM800 world, but its got it's own thing. The DSL is a good amp. It is the circuit that basically started the modern Marshall sound. The Jubilee is more raw and uncompressed. It will challenge you to bring your A game with you. It's not a super high gain amp. It will take pedals very well though. I used to hit mine with a TS9 for solos. I really miss that amp.

 

[ledvedder]

Ok, so as I'm sure you can tell from my gear list, I'm a big VH fan. Can the Jubilee get into VH territory?

 

[Rick Lee]

Ok, so as I'm sure you can tell from my gear list, I'm a big VH fan. Can the Jubilee get into VH territory?

Yes, but you can get there for less money with other Marshalls.

 

[ledvedder]

Ok, so as I'm sure you can tell from my gear list, I'm a big VH fan. Can the Jubilee get into VH territory?

Yes, but you can get there for less money with other Marshalls.

But, I get very close to that with my Chupacabra.

 

[Rick Lee]

Ok, so as I'm sure you can tell from my gear list, I'm a big VH fan. Can the Jubilee get into VH territory?

Yes, but you can get there for less money with other Marshalls.

But, I get very close to that with my Chupacabra.

I believe you. So why do you want a Silver Jub? They're very cool amps. I just didn't hear anything there I couldn't get with my other Marshalls.

 

[ledvedder]

Ok, so as I'm sure you can tell from my gear list, I'm a big VH fan. Can the Jubilee get into VH territory?

Yes, but you can get there for less money with other Marshalls.

But, I get very close to that with my Chupacabra.

I believe you. So why do you want a Silver Jub? They're very cool amps. I just didn't hear anything there I couldn't get with my other Marshalls.

Well, it started with wanting to get a lower wattage head. I've been looking at the Ceriatone SOY, Peavey 6505 mini head, Peavey Classic mini head. A few others. Then, looking through various videos has lead me to the 2525.

 

[Rick Lee]

Oh, I was thinking of the big 100w head. Haven't tried the small ones.

I have a GK 250ML and I swear it nails the Cabo Wabo tone perfectly.

 

[Beyond Black]

Country of manufacture means nothing in the tone dept. My Vietnamese DSL 100H blew the doors off any of my made in the UK JCM2000 DSLs. Wherever it's made, it's made to company specs. A robot placing components into a PCB and then a solder bath is no different in the UK than it is in China or Vietnam. The magic is in the design and components, then quality control.

But it means everything when it comes to the difference in price, which is what the OP asked.

 

[Beyond Black]

The Jubilee has a unique gain due to the LED clipping. More articulate to my ears, at a low or higher volume than any DSL. Plus the eq is very responsive for a Marshall, enough low end that it is almost a Mesa lol. A boost in front makes it very ferocious and has a growl that is distinct. To my ears it's similar to a Wizard in some ways..vs a DSL tone which is generic/sterile in comparison. Not bagging the DSL as many like them but in comparison to a Jubilee it's no contest, clarity/feel/gain structure is more pleasing to my ears anyway. I tried a newer DSL 100H a few yrs back and I thought it was pretty generic sounding, although it sounded better than the EVH.

Your Jubilee description and Gary Holt's endorsement of them is giving me irresponsible urges this close to the holidays.

 

[Racerxrated]

The Jubilee has a unique gain due to the LED clipping. More articulate to my ears, at a low or higher volume than any DSL. Plus the eq is very responsive for a Marshall, enough low end that it is almost a Mesa lol. A boost in front makes it very ferocious and has a growl that is distinct. To my ears it's similar to a Wizard in some ways..vs a DSL tone which is generic/sterile in comparison. Not bagging the DSL as many like them but in comparison to a Jubilee it's no contest, clarity/feel/gain structure is more pleasing to my ears anyway. I tried a newer DSL 100H a few yrs back and I thought it was pretty generic sounding, although it sounded better than the EVH.

Your Jubilee description and Gary Holt's endorsement of them is giving me irresponsible urges this close to the holidays.

I'm tellin ya, throw any boost in front and they are firebreathers. And the only Marshall that had a celestion designed for it..the Marshall Vintage. Which became the V30. So if you have a cool V30 cab the Jube rules with it. IMO.

 

[napalmdeath]

Country of manufacture means nothing in the tone dept. My Vietnamese DSL 100H blew the doors off any of my made in the UK JCM2000 DSLs. Wherever it's made, it's made to company specs. A robot placing components into a PCB and then a solder bath is no different in the UK than it is in China or Vietnam. The magic is in the design and components, then quality control.

In terms of build quality, there's a substantial difference. In terms of tone, I've owned the DSL100H, and DSL40C, (twice), and 2525H twice. Neither "blew the doors off" the 2525H. The Jube is more polished, and articulate, and has a more prominent Marshall roar to my ears. It just has a better quality sound, and as stated, built much better. I would take the 2525H over a DSL any day, as you can hit that "sweet spot" much easier, and quicker, and how sweet it is! It's the superior amp.

As far as the LBX, I've had one of those as well. The volume taper sucked, and went from quiet to turn that shit down, in a hurry. Which, to me, defeats the purpose.

 

[Rick Lee]

In terms of build quality, there's a substantial difference.

But wherever they are built, they are built to Marshall's specs. If it's a lower build quality in Vietnam, it's because Marshall designed it that way, specified which materials to use and QC'ed it. If they were inconsistent with lots of issues, some good, some bad, that might be a country of origin issue. And we all know the UK-made JCM2000 amps had a ton of issues, most of which have been addressed by now. Those were design issues - bias drift, short-lived output jacks, board-mounted pots that are a pain in the ass to replace when, not if, they go scratchy. The DSL 100H addressed those issues and, IMHO, blows the doors off the JCM2000 versions, despite the country of manufacture. I only pulled the chassis on my Silver Jub once, and it was a very cool design and build. But it could have just as easily been built in SE Asia, if they had planned to make it more than a special or limited edition. They made exponentially more DSL 100Hs, so building those numbers in Vietnam made a huge difference in profitability. I don't think their target market for the Silver Jub RI is the same bunch of people.

 

[Rex Rocker]

Aren't the transformers in the Asian DSL stuff significantly less robust than what Marshall use for the UK stuff, though?