Your Preference: DSL or JVM?

[sixstrings]

Explain why you prefer one over the other in terms of tone.

 

[Anonymous]

I think the JVM is a great amp, with a lot of useable tones...but if I had to pick one I'd go with the DSL.

 

[Dallas Marlow]

I had a DSL and though it had it's share of problems I think they were mostly tube related... I stopped using JJ brand tubes and my life got a lot better in the reliability department. More than just that, I know the JVM has been used on some great albums already and has some great tones in it, but I hate the way it's built the damn thing feels like someone build it out of left over recycling materials it's just absurd.. plus when it comes to tone I by far felt that the DLS beat the JVM... JVM felt like it was over compressed and not natural.

 

[sixstrings]

Yeah there was one thing in particular that I was trying to get out of the JVM and it just didn't have it. I don't know how else to describe the sound, but the DSL and JCM 800 (when overdriven a bit) has this particular kind of gnarly midrange chirp. I wish I could come up with a better description of the sound characteristic, but whatever it is, I absolutely love it.

The JVM just doesn't have it. I tried to squeeze taht sound out of it. Orange mode on channel 2 comes closer but just can't reproduce that organic grind that I love in other Marshall amps.

As awesome as the JVM is, I'm really really wishing that Marshall will listen to the people and either make the JVM sound more like the DSL or expand the DSL line.

As far as reliability, I've never had a single problem with any JVM or DSL that I've owned. Tubes were never an issue, but I did have a friend who always had problems with his tubes. It turns out that he wasn't biasing them properly. A tech friend of mine helped him out and now he's very happy with his Marshalls.

 

[killertone]

The JVM wins for me because it sounds better for hi gain metal which is what I use it for. I also think the clean channel is better because it has more headroom and is thicker and fuller to my ears. Also, I liek the switching options and the 2 fx loops. Flexibility also makes it a winner.

The DSL sounds great, too, and excels at mid gain tones, but requires a boost to obtain super tight metal tones. I have owned many (DSLS, TSLs) and have plenty of experience to come to this conclusion.

 

[Motorpud]

^ by the look af that avatar you can take his word for it lots of marshalls
^

 

[PeteLaramee]

It's been a while since I've played one stock, but I love my modded DSL. My JVMs had more versatility live, but I like all the sounds much better in my DSL.

 

[guitar_god123456]

JVM

much more versatile than the DSL.

 

[JTyson]

I like the tone of the DSL better, and it seems to boost better than the JVM, but the JVM is way more versatile, can cover any ground without boosting, its just thinner sounding and more compressed with a little less depth. I would think the DSL is better made than the JVM, but I have had no problems with either. Neither of mine has been on the road though, so I cant really vouch for that. The JVM has a really good reverb, the DSL isint half bad. The cleans on the JVM are better, but that may be my own preference. I actually like them both, for different reasons.

 

[sixstrings]

^ by the look af that avatar you can take his word for it lots of marshalls
^

No shit man, that's a thing of beauty.

 

[sixstrings]

bump the poll

 

[killertone]

^ by the look af that avatar you can take his word for it lots of marshalls
^

 

[Marshall Freak]

I like the tone of the DSL better, and it seems to boost better than the JVM, but the JVM is way more versatile, can cover any ground without boosting, its just thinner sounding and more compressed with a little less depth. I would think the DSL is better made than the JVM, but I have had no problems with either. Neither of mine has been on the road though, so I cant really vouch for that. The JVM has a really good reverb, the DSL isint half bad. The cleans on the JVM are better, but that may be my own preference. I actually like them both, for different reasons.

+1

 

[AmpliFIRE]

VM over both IMO...