TSL vs DSL

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smdb

smdb

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Is there much of a tone difference between a Marshall TSL and a DSL.
 
I'm actually playing a TSL right now, it's fine sounding amp. However, I prefer the DSL and plan to get another one someday. If you REALLY need that lead boost/3rd channel, the TSL is good. I am more of a one channel w/ light OD boost guy, so I really like the green channel on the DSL boosted over all of the other available options.
 
other then reliability issues the tsl wins for me for channel 3 great high gain tone.
 
155":k3mdnqfs said:
other then reliability issues the tsl wins for me for channel 3 great high gain tone.
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Hmm, we'd have to agree to disagree on that. I found the 3rd channel to be pretty much useless and pure fizz, good for solos I guess, but for anything else... :thumbsdown:
 
DSL is a soild amp that has seen more backlines than probably any other amp.
 
So would the second channel on the DSL be pretty much the same as the second channel on the TSL?
 
Where are you in STL? I could let you check out the TSL i'm using if you'd like.
 
The DSL sounds better to me. I've owned several DSL 100s/50s, TSL100s/60s... and the DSL sounds warmer, a bit thicker, and bigger sounding.
 
sutepaj":wvmw3uyh said:
Where are you in STL? I could let you check out the TSL i'm using if you'd like.
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I am in Overland.. Page and 170
 
Wow, I haven't seen a TSL vs. DSL thread in years.

Anyway, my vote goes to the DSL. If I wanted more options I would step up to a JVM410H....
 
My modded DSL is my favorite Marshall I've ever owned. :thumbsup:
 
wow...long time since I've seen one of these threads.

Do a search of the forum...there's some heated discussions that myself and a few others got into on the debate.

I have both TSL100's and DSL100's. Both are great amps. I think the TSL got a bad rap at the beginning, but if you spend the time, it'll sound great. I'd say the TSL is a little more flexible and the DSL is a little more organic sounding.


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Holy crap! A DSL vs TSL thread! This is like 2003 all over again!
:lol: :LOL:

Anyway, I had a TSL back in the day. It was a fine amp. Never had any issues with it. No it's not a vintage Marshall, but it's versatile and sounded really good to me. The DSL is a great amp as well, they sounded damn near identical to me. Maybe I'm deaf or something :dunno:

Here are some ancient clips of my old DSL thru a 1960A with G12T75s.

https://www.soundclick.com/player/single ... i&newref=1
https://www.soundclick.com/player/single ... i&newref=1
https://www.soundclick.com/player/single ... i&newref=1
https://www.soundclick.com/player/single ... i&newref=1
https://www.soundclick.com/player/single ... i&newref=1
This was a jam with a backing track. The rhythm track isn't the TSL:
https://www.soundclick.com/player/single ... i&newref=1
 
Hey guys (& gals), What are some recurring issues with the TSL head/combos?
 
I would go with the DSL. There's not even a close comparison between the two
 
TSL is my back-up amp at the moment. It's got a modern Marshall tone and not a bad amp, but I hate the parallel fx loop! Worse than useless.
My brother has a DSL and side by side they're pretty similar. DSL has a little more grit on the gain channel than ch. 2 of the TSL. I'd have gone with the JVM if it was going to be more than a back-up. Price difference was a deciding factor in my circumstance.
 
There are very few circuit differences in the main board of both amps. The EQ board is where they go their separate ways. That and the TSL has a few extras thrown in such as the VPR mode (which simply limits the signal coming off the phase inverter plates, if i recall correctly), and some FX loop extras. Both suffered from some manufacturing defects along the years, in the form of bad parts and poorly made circuit boards (issue 5 comes to mind) but overall a properly cared-for JCM 2000 can be very reliable.

Tonally, they're both workable in a pinch as stock, but i have a set of base mods i perform on every JCM 2000 that comes across my bench that helps unlock what they are capable of. My modded DSL totally slayed my H&K Triamp in a medium-high gain shootout.
 
I've had both, I'd take a DSL over a TSL anyday tonewise. The DSL is fatter with a bit more depth to it. I didint have the TSL long enough to have technical issue's, but I just could not get the tone I wanted, even after a full retube/bias.
I've heard of several issue's with them, lots of trouble with the footswitches, you might dig a bit over on the Marshall forum, they come up all the time over there ;)
 
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