J
JLR
Active member
Got a '98 that rips. Love the MSG sized rig in a small room.
SgtThump
Real OG
I have a ‘98 DSL50 that doesn’t appear to have the “bias drift” issues I read about. I had a few JCM2000 DSLs waaay back in the early 2000s and nobody talked about a bias drift problem. It’s almost like the Internet hyped it up?
Nah, couldn’t be.
I’ve always loved these amps. They rip!
Nah, couldn’t be.
I’ve always loved these amps. They rip!
WizardAmpIphoneClip
Well-known member
I have an '09 too. Looks brand new. Lead one cranked with the red Maxon od. Killer amp
TheGreatGreen
Well-known member
I never understood how these things have always managed to stay so cheap when they’re as great as they are.
DanTravis62
Moderator
The internet most certainly did not make up the bias drift issue - you can literally find the serial numbers affected by it if you want with google. I've been asked to "fix" like half a dozen of them at least.
edit: It can happen to any of the early ones, but is uncommon in the 90s ones and is most common in 02 and 03 models.... marshall literally revised the board in 2004 to fix this issue that "the internet made up" LOL.
But I agree, they JCM2000 DSLs are great sounding amps, I vastly prefer them to the newer DSLs
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BenoA
Well-known member
I used to rock a DSL50 half stack in the mid-2000. I remember back then on HCAF they were not the flavor on the month but I always got a great sound from mine. I was mostly using it as a one channel amp, rolling guitar volume for clean and pushing with a SD-1 or TS9 for more gain. My ears are still ringing from those days. In the last years it had a pair of KT77 in it. I should have kept that amp but sold it some years ago to pursue my gear journey.
SgtThump
Real OG
I said the internet “hyped up”, not “made up.”
Also, I thought I saw people saying it happened to most amps before 2004. If it’s really most common on 02 and 03 models, that makes a lot of sense to me. That matches my personal experiences.
So even though you wanted to be a dick, I still learned something. Thanks!
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Laputan Machine
Well-known member
DSLs rule. The green channel on them sounds super close to the 70s Marshalls that get glazed the most. Red channel is sort of spongey sounding but it's alright.
BABMusic
Well-known member
Mine was from 1998 I believe, and it never had a bias drift problem either. I never should have sold it.
ChurchHill
Well-known member
Mine's from early 2000, bought it new, never had any bias drift problems.
When I need an amp that will cover any style that I play, it's the one I grab the most. Never lets me down. Maybe not my all-time favorite, but it's a true workhorse.
Seen more of these on stages than just about anything else. If they all had major problems or didn't sound good, I doubt they'd still be a backline staple.
When I need an amp that will cover any style that I play, it's the one I grab the most. Never lets me down. Maybe not my all-time favorite, but it's a true workhorse.
Seen more of these on stages than just about anything else. If they all had major problems or didn't sound good, I doubt they'd still be a backline staple.
Laputan Machine
Well-known member
Man I just looked up the prices on these, they are STILL at $500-600 bucks. Crazy. That's what I was paying for them in 2008-2009.
SgtThump
Real OG
NeubyWanKaneuby
Well-known member
There's one near me with a 1960A cab for $800, but it needs to be retubed according to the seller.
Alpha Stryke
Well-known member
The 2K "bias drift" PCB's is a real issue. Its heat related IE : The more hours on the amp from use the more heat generated.
The faulty PCB's epoxy composition after too much heat becomes conductive in the bias circuit area causing "runaway bias".
It is a real thing.
50 watt DSL's didn't have as much issue as 2 less power tubes and less heat.
The faulty PCB's epoxy composition after too much heat becomes conductive in the bias circuit area causing "runaway bias".
It is a real thing.
50 watt DSL's didn't have as much issue as 2 less power tubes and less heat.
Alpha Stryke
Well-known member
kitteH approved !
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SgtThump
Real OG
Seems like I’m one lucky guy! I’ve owned several and none had the issue. I didn’t realize the late ‘90s versions didn’t have the issue.
BABMusic
Well-known member
The tubes will cost a bit, but biasing the amp is about as easy as it gets. Those convenient external bias knobs (every amp should have) make it so easy.
Alpha Stryke
Well-known member
Any JCM 2000 100 watt DSL from 98 to 2004 has the potential for the bias drift problem.
Depends how many hours on the amp.
J
jasonP
Well-known member
I've probably owned a DSL 100 from every year and I never had an issue with one of them, other then just replacing tubes, not sure what Marshall was thinking biasing these amps so hot.
Green channel boosted sounds awesome. I like how these amps have a cool roar to the sound and more spongy feel to them when cranked up. Red channel can get a little loose and find the JVM to be better at higher gain more modern tones then the DSL.
