JCM200 DSL 50/100's

[Kapo_Polenton]

Was just watching Vinnie Moore's live UFO stuff on the DVD that was released a few years back , noticed he was playing the 2000's back then. He is getting some pretty killer tones from that thing. I know he mixed v30's with RI greenies in his cabs but wow, lead tones and rythm tones that cut but were very full. So I set off on youtube to listen to demos. Seems this amp can be had for a good price used and it consistently makes for some pretty good demos tone wise. The crunch channel sounds good to my ears. Instead of fiddling with plexis and mods, I can see why a lot of guys just play live through these bad boys. Any fans of this amp here? With all my MTS modules always going back to being Marshall flavoured, I'm thinking if ever I wanted one amp to gig with, this might be it. Forget about the 5150 I was thinking about the other day. This doe the crunch much better. Some pretty good tones here for example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Up9xVUvkxD0 (good vibrato helps too though)

 

[SkyhighRocks]

I've bought and sold a DSL 100 3 or 4 times now. I keep coming back to it and I don't think it'll be leaving anymore. Great, easy, simple tones that rock.

 

[1big1]

make sure you get one of the newer versions and i think you'll be alright. some of the early versions have bias drift issues and grounding issues in the output section where you plug your speaker cable into the head. i've got a 1998 dsl 100 that has both problems. they're pretty well documented. the fix for the output grounding can be found on the marshall forum. there are also a number of mods that folks have done that are also posted over there. one of my projects for next year is to source a new motherboard for mine.. (revision 7 or later).. fix the output ground issue (not hard) and put it back into service.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

I figure if you are handy enough with soldering and are familiar with your way around the amp, it should be easy enough to trouble shoot or rectify these issues no?

 

[mrkmas]

I figure if you are handy enough with soldering and are familiar with your way around the amp, it should be easy enough to trouble shoot or rectify these issues no?

Correct. I remember seeing the fixes for them and they were not very complex. Basic soldering skills if I remember correctly are all you need.

To answer your question about the dsl, they are killer amp especially for the used price. If all you need is 1 channel its a sure thing. The only downside for me and in general is the shared EQ.

If you plan on staying on one channel and using the guitar volume.......its a great amp.

 

[1big1]

the bias drift is a real bugger. jerry from surreal isolated it down to the point on the motherboard where the high voltage and bias voltage cross. you'd have to jumper the bias voltage over the high voltage and cut the traces. it's also a two sided board which doesn't make things easier. for me it makes more sense to replace the motherboard with a newer version. in the older versions the grid blockers were 220k. i replaced those with the standard 5.6k and made a few other tweaks and it sounds much better.. but for me it would be easier and less expensive to replace the old motherboard with a newer version with the metal film resistors. for most folks who were having the bias drift issue it seemed to solve the problem and it never came back. that's what i want.. fixed.. done.
the grounding issue is an easy fix.. imho.
the early versions were also notorious for cold solder joints. i've been through this amp a half dozen times. the bias drift has stumped people who are smarter and more experienced than me.
if you're seriously going to look into one get one that's 2002 or newer. just my .02.
modern moving lights use a lot of two sided boards. there's a special burnishing tool that they use to clean the solder out of the holes completely. if you don't do that you'll have problems with a two sided board. i don't have one.

 

[Devilinside]

I love my DSL! With my koko boost it can do anything!

 

[1big1]

after i tweaked it up and set the bias at about 65% dissipation it sounded VERY glassy.

 

[GuitarGuy503]

I owned a DSL50 brieflt and it was a great amp with the exception of the noisy garbage stock transformer. Having said that, I'd say a transformer upgrade is a must if you find the amp to be a keeper.

 

[GuitarGuy503]

 

[blackba]

the bias drift is a real bugger. jerry from surreal isolated it down to the point on the motherboard where the high voltage and bias voltage cross. you'd have to jumper the bias voltage over the high voltage and cut the traces. it's also a two sided board which doesn't make things easier. for me it makes more sense to replace the motherboard with a newer version. in the older versions the grid blockers were 220k. i replaced those with the standard 5.6k and made a few other tweaks and it sounds much better.. but for me it would be easier and less expensive to replace the old motherboard with a newer version with the metal film resistors. for most folks who were having the bias drift issue it seemed to solve the problem and it never came back. that's what i want.. fixed.. done.
the grounding issue is an easy fix.. imho.
the early versions were also notorious for cold solder joints. i've been through this amp a half dozen times. the bias drift has stumped people who are smarter and more experienced than me.
if you're seriously going to look into one get one that's 2002 or newer. just my .02.
modern moving lights use a lot of two sided boards. there's a special burnishing tool that they use to clean the solder out of the holes completely. if you don't do that you'll have problems with a two sided board. i don't have one.

The advantage of a double sided PCB is that you are less likely to get lifted solder pads (heavy components often have lifted pads). This is since the hole is plated all the way through the PCB.

The disadvantage is that it is harder to work on, but not that hard. I work on 2 layer boards all the time. Now 6, 8, etc layer boards are a real pain, those are the kinds you find in computers, cell phones, etc.

As for the DSL heads, I have liked the ones I have tried. My buddy had a JVM410 and now has a DSL50 head, he has been happier with the DSL50, but he did have problems with the used JVM410 so that factors in.

 

[racerevlon]

If you only need one channel, you only need the Chupacabra 50. NARF!!

That said, I had a DSL100 and loved it but just had too many amps at the time so sold it for a ridiculous price.

My friend has an FJA-Modded DSL100 that he's only looking for 650 PP Gift + Shipping. PM me if interested. I've played the amp and it's MONSTER--he just is selling off all his other amps as he "Went Blackstar." Has the Series One 200--holy lord that thing's loud...

 

[crankyrayhanky]

I'd say a transformer upgrade is a must if you find the amp to be a keeper.

Loved my DSL/TSL- I had 3 different ones, but they all were in the shop more than being played, that stock transformer is garbage
Salvation, Jaded Faith, DFriedman, VooDoo, Sacred Groove, & Gigmods all make better Marshall modules than the the real deal- better articulation, more options, waaay more reliable

 

[iplayloudly]

had a DSL 100 for a long time, and like a previous poster said, it was in the shop more than out it seemed. Very unreliable amp. I now have a voodoo deluxe modded DSL 50, and so far no problems. I think it has upgraded transformers.

 

[jasonP]

I've had 3 or 4 DSL's through out the years of playing guitar. I think it still is one of my favorites for the price used. Never had any problems with any of them other then short power tube life with the tubes biased as high as Marshall likes.

With the "Fortin mod" that Mike helped me with it really takes this amp to another level with like $20 dollars in parts. If anybody needs help you can do a search for my name for the thread or PM me.
A friend has been playing a DSL live I did and his sound kills.

 

[tweed]

Have a DSL50 that I did the Fortin mods on, gigging it almost two years straight now. Sounds awesome, is very reliable and I love to slam the shit out of it with an SD1 or a Bad Monkey.