Well damn, Cheap Marshall’s Not So Bad.

[skoora]

He has resonance and bass on zero so curious if it all goes to shit if he brings them up. But it would certainly fill it out some. But the basic tone is there.

 

[bendedavis]

The DSL amps are great. Just a shame they’re paired with Celestion Seventy 80s in combos or if you opt for the cheaper 412s. They sound great with a V30 or G12T75. I was most impressed with the clean channel where I was really only expecting the distortion to be good.

 

[Mr. Chainsaw]

I had one, I didn't like the E34Ls it came with, and the amp started to sound plasticy next to my other amps. It also did start to tub out for me as I turned up the bass+resonance. Really good bang for buck though as mentioned if you need the switching options, something cheap for gigging, or as a backup. I would disagree that it sounds better than a JCM2000 though.

 

[DanTravis62]

They don't sound bad at all - they just constantly are run with too much gain, because it's a common choice for beginners as a "my first tube amp." If you run them at grownup settings on the dial they are good sounding amps.

IMO the weakest link is the speakers the combos come with stock. Those are garbage. They really need a v30 or T75 to sound "right."

I also disagree that it sounds better than a JCM2000. For all their faults, bias drift, etc, the JCM2000 DSLs have more natural sounding, organic sounding gain IMO. I would take a JCM2k and a decent overdrive over a new DSL 100/100 times.

 

[RaceU4her]

The 100H are supposed to sound just like the 2000’s but with the resonance knob instead of the button which people like, the HR’s though are voiced a bit different from what I gather

 

[Rick Lee]

I have too many amps to be tempted by another DSL. But IME they shine on the green channel with the volume dimed and using the gain knob for volume control. Find a beater on CL for $500, do an OT and choke upgrade, add some good NOS preamp tubes and you will have a fire breather of an amp for a fraction of the price of a boutique or vintage one.

 

[angelspade]

Very solid amps...Great value for the price. There's like new one listed here in LA for $675...tempting

 

[BenoA]

My DSL50 head was my main for gigging for some years. Sounded pretty good. I remember using the green channel as a one channel amp for a while. Rolling guitar volume for clean and a ts/sd-1 for added gain. Simple and killer setup.

 

[phillybhatesme]

Rehearse with a DSL100 (not sure which and I think it changes sometimes) every week and love it.
Have a DSL20 at home and boy is it shit lolllll.

 

[Bloodrock]

A good DSL into creambacks is nothing to scoff at. Don't know why those speakers sound so good with those amps but it just works. I like a good 5751 in v1 or v2 as well to keep the gain in check.

 

[shit butt poop party]

Can this amp make bad ass tone with a boost?

 

[griff10672]

Can this amp make bad ass tone with a boost?

the crunch channel is famous for it's boosted tones .....

 

[skoora]

the crunch channel is famous for it's boosted tones .....

It’s why they had that limited SDL run that was just the green channel called Super Doopah Lead.

 

[griff10672]

It’s why they had that limited SDL run that was just the green channel called Super Doopah Lead.

are you pulling my shillelagh ??? lol ... I don't remember that .... google here I come ...

 

[dstroud]

are you pulling my shillelagh ??? lol ... I don't remember that .... google here I come ...

yup I’m looking for one now lol