Played the New DSL 100H

[just42dave]

i have one in my living room to be opened as we speak,,,ill give my 2 cents later today. Believe me I've been down the amp flippin road for a while but something told me get this amp and get a legacy 3 rig and get a 6505 combo. All amps that will suit me fine as ill blow 3400 on a head and it sounds eeeeh ok and sits not getting played and Im scared to take it anywhere or scratch/dent etc.. I think Ill like it

 

[Red_Label]

LOT of hyperbole in this thread.

I've got an original DSL50 and it's a very solid amp. Hardly "dog shit". Was it as versatile or "booteek" sounding as the Bogner XTC, Shiva, Twin Jet, H&K Triamp, VHT UL, Engl Powerball II, or Elmwood M60 that have also graced my man cave over the past few years? Maybe not. But those amps weren't 4-5 times better sounding (not even twice as good)... despite the fact that they cost 4-5 times as much. I will say that the cleans on the [old] DSL are typical Marshall fare -- uninspiring and flat. But the OD tones are good tones and I'd have NO problem gigging that amp.

 

[primerib]

I dont know man, the older ones i have played literally fell apart on themselves at band volumes, all of them just sounded like dog shit

OP just surrendered his credibility for his review with this very comment. If you think the old ones sound like "dog shit", then your opinion on the new ones is meaningless to me. Thank you for clarifying.

 

[glpg80]

I dont know man, the older ones i have played literally fell apart on themselves at band volumes, all of them just sounded like dog shit

OP just surrendered his credibility for his review with this very comment. If you think the old ones sound like "dog shit", then your opinion on the new ones is meaningless to me. Thank you for clarifying.

I said they fell apart at band volumes - and all of them exhibit the trait/sound like crap when they do it. Regardless, i had no idea i personally write amplifier reviews for your viewing pleasure and your viewing pleasure only. I'll surely make sure to PM you for worthiness and roll out the red carpet before i make a post about gear on a forum called rig-talk ever again

Get over yourself

LOT of hyperbole in this thread.

I've got an original DSL50 and it's a very solid amp. Hardly "dog shit". Was it as versatile or "booteek" sounding as the Bogner XTC, Shiva, Twin Jet, H&K Triamp, VHT UL, Engl Powerball II, or Elmwood M60 that have also graced my man cave over the past few years? Maybe not. But those amps weren't 4-5 times better sounding (not even twice as good)... despite the fact that they cost 4-5 times as much. I will say that the cleans on the [old] DSL are typical Marshall fare -- uninspiring and flat. But the OD tones are good tones and I'd have NO problem gigging that amp.

I never played a DSL that screamed versatility, features, or held together better than other comparative amplifiers in the same price range including other marshall's on the market. I have no idea why this turned into a DSL bashing contest based on my experiences with both series alone. What you get for your money is simply subjective as it is strictly tonal preferences. Half of the amplifiers in your list i would gladly play a DSL over in a heartbeat. Just because it has a high dollar price tag next to it does not guarantee it will sound great. It only guarantee's the amplifier will sound different. That is all.

 

[just42dave]

mines ok not enough to fuk with anyone about and I have had 40 amplifiers in the last 4-5 years alone and im keeping it and felt like throwing my last dsl of a bridge...flame on bitches I agree with the OP

 

[LP Freak]

mines ok not enough to fuk with anyone about and I have had 40 amplifiers in the last 4-5 years alone and im keeping it and felt like throwing my last dsl of a bridge...flame on bitches I agree with the OP

Good news.

 

[skoora]

Seriously ?? I just played one today.. thought it sounded like dog shit. I had one back in 06 and I wish I never sold it. I see now why it was a good amp.. I didnt see it at the time I had it. the new ones however... garbage.. imo. I am actually quite shocked that you guys are rteally liking it as much as you are.. thats cool though..

Big +1. I actually played one today (the new Vietnam one) and it was total crap. Very brittle, nasally overdrive. It made the original UK DSL's sound like an Ecstasy. I absolutely fucking hated it

I think the originals are OK and quite serviceable in a gig situation. I wouldn't use one to record but live they sound pretty good if you don't go crazy with the gain and control the top end. I would much rather use a UK DSL as a backline than a JCM900. A good pedal into green crunch on a UK DSL is pretty happening. Plus the Hi gain channel sounds like a sweet fuzz pedal when you get it up there. Fu Manchu has been using these straight in, no pedal for their live set (at least last time I saw them) and it nails that tone with the gain high.

 

[Red_Label]

I never played a DSL that screamed versatility, features, or held together better than other comparative amplifiers in the same price range including other marshall's on the market. I have no idea why this turned into a DSL bashing contest based on my experiences with both series alone. What you get for your money is simply subjective as it is strictly tonal preferences. Half of the amplifiers in your list i would gladly play a DSL over in a heartbeat. Just because it has a high dollar price tag next to it does not guarantee it will sound great. It only guarantee's the amplifier will sound different. That is all.

I dunno what to say man. On the one hand the DSL is "dog shit". On the other, you'd gladly play one over half of the HIGHLY PRAISED amps on the list of amps that I've owned. I'm convinced that you and I would always be 180 degrees apart on what constitutes great amp tone.

Enjoy... whatever it is you like...

 

[napalmdeath]

I dont know man, the older ones i have played literally fell apart on themselves at band volumes, all of them just sounded like dog shit - nothing a re-bias or simple tube change could do. The re-issue to me seemed MILES ahead with tons of tonal pallet options. Better volume manners and really held together well.

You're right though, for the right price i wouldnt mind owning a 100H at all - that amp covered classic rock tones better than my 5150 did back when i did it for a paycheck.

I'd like to have some of what you're smoking. I've owned (2) DSL50's, and older DSL100. Fell apart at band volumes? Sounded like dogshit? I re-tubed and biased all mine, and I couldn't disagree with you more. I'll take an older, used for $500-$600, over a Vietnam-made for $899 any day. Again, I think you're high, and can't fathom how you've reached these conclusions, owning the older ones, playing the newer ones, and owning a JVM. As a matter fact, I was going to buy another, and chose my (second) JVM205H.

 

[napalmdeath]

I dont know man, the older ones i have played literally fell apart on themselves at band volumes, all of them just sounded like dog shit

OP just surrendered his credibility for his review with this very comment. If you think the old ones sound like "dog shit", then your opinion on the new ones is meaningless to me. Thank you for clarifying.

Agreed. OP is an idiot.

 

[Heritage Softail]

I have an old DSL100. Bought it used and it had =C= tubes, and I put in some good 12ax7 tubes I bought from Just42dave. It sounded pretty good. I tried the EQ in the loop and I gotta say it is a really fun amp. Boost it a bit. Sounds great and I don't need to hire an amp body guard to watch it.

I love my DSL100. Best cheap amp I ever bought. The new model sounds interesting. Maybe it has some manufacturing quality inconsistencies? Whatever. Them little Vietnamese kids work much better after their nap and Barney video.

 

[sahlomonic]

FWIW I played a DSL15H the other day through a 75 loaded Marshall straight cab.


WOW.

I was surprised at the gain knob for the Red channel - I had it down to about 1.5 and it was more than enough to do Lynch stuff on it. Past that and it started to get muddy quick and over-saturated. Honestly if the 15 watter sounds that good I'm anxious to play on a DSL100H.

 

[glpg80]

I never played a DSL that screamed versatility, features, or held together better than other comparative amplifiers in the same price range including other marshall's on the market. I have no idea why this turned into a DSL bashing contest based on my experiences with both series alone. What you get for your money is simply subjective as it is strictly tonal preferences. Half of the amplifiers in your list i would gladly play a DSL over in a heartbeat. Just because it has a high dollar price tag next to it does not guarantee it will sound great. It only guarantee's the amplifier will sound different. That is all.

I dunno what to say man. On the one hand the DSL is "dog shit". On the other, you'd gladly play one over half of the HIGHLY PRAISED amps on the list of amps that I've owned. I'm convinced that you and I would always be 180 degrees apart on what constitutes great amp tone.

Enjoy... whatever it is you like...

I did not say the DSL was dog shit. You need reading comprehension. I said "when they fell apart at band volumes they just sounded like dog shit". Not to be confused with they sound like shit regardless of how they are used.

Nothing wrong with having different preferences - if everyone liked the same amplifiers and played the same gear then life would be very monotonous. I have not played a DSL that sounded as good as the 100H model they re-issued. Not saying they all sound bad because obviously i would take one over half of those models you mentioned.

Agreed. OP is an idiot.

I simply wrote a god damn amplifier review. I am not forcing you or anyone else to believe anything. Get off my topic and write your own if you feel so inclined. While you're at it, check the 2 year old attitude at the door. That does not give you a right to slag others on the forum because you disagree with an opinion ESPECIALLY when others seem to like the new DSL voicing as well.

 

[Lord Toneking]

Never played the new 100H but my buddy just picked up a DSL 100 watter off craigslist and an I have to say that Im pretty impressed with it. I actually think it sounds better in a band setting (at volume) then just by itself. I like it much better than the TSL and JVM he had

I'd have to put that amp in one of the best 'bang for the buck' amps out there

 

[se7en]

What's the 'H' stand for?

 

[rupe]

I never cared for the tone and feel of the originals either but I never found them prone to "falling apart" at high volumes either...quite the contrary actually. If they all truly fell apart at stage volume, there's no way that they would be the most common back-line amp supplied today by sound and rental companies. I saw Reb Beach with Night Ranger a few years back and all he used was a DSL (supplied for him by the sound company) with a Boss distortion and his tone was perfect for that gig.
In fact, you'd be surprised by who's actually using one of these live these days (hidden of course).

I haven't played a new one yet so no comment in that regard.

 

[Shiny_Surface]

What's the 'H' stand for?

Hey Zack,

Vietnam made...

 

[blackba]

What's the 'H' stand for?

H stands for Head
C stands for Combo

There is a DSL40H and DSL40C for example.

So it seems like the new DSL100H is significantly different than the old DSL100, whether that is a good thing, is what is up for debate.

I will say I like the original DSL50 and DSL100 amps. If they are good enough for Sgt_Thump, they are good enough for me.

 

[se7en]

What's the 'H' stand for?

Hey Zack,

Vietnam made...

Hmm...Well, hopefully they'll be reliable. Orange has half of their production in Asia now.

 

[Red_Label]

What's the 'H' stand for?

H stands for Head
C stands for Combo

There is a DSL40H and DSL40C for example.

So it seems like the new DSL100H is significantly different than the old DSL100, whether that is a good thing, is what is up for debate.

I will say I like the original DSL50 and DSL100 amps. If they are good enough for Sgt_Thump, they are good enough for me.

When I picked-up my DSL50 last spring I had sold my Bogner XTC Classic a couple of months earlier and my line of reasoning for being able to live with the DSL was "if they are good enough for Iron Maiden and Gary Moore, they're good enough for me". So the whole "dog shit" comment earlier in this thread just doesn't wash with me. I still have the DSL and though it doesn't seem to have the sonic richness of my P2P Straub and Lickliter heads... it's still a good amp for playing rock and hard rock and I'd have no qualms at all about gigging it.