nightflameauto
Active member
Alerted to this thread by an online acquaintance that knows I've been kicking around a DSL20 for the past year or so. Thought I'd throw my worthless opinion in.
Downtuned with bass (Nazgul/Sentient pickups
https://app.box.com/s/6j095xcjqkik4iwv0x3y7vps71w1vhi1
https://app.box.com/s/ph4j9z8fwkpkelfxr0yncve536301dni
And something I'm currently working on in standard E, no bass yet (GFS Redactive Gold Pickups
https://app.box.com/s/exmjqodilp8kh9sctf0d6i40wourhm3n
That last one gives you a great idea of how crunchy and "real" the damn little thing can sound. The secret was sticking a much, MUCH lower gain tube in V1. I ended up with a JJ 5751 there, and two Sovtek 12AX7WA tubes in V2 and V3. The stock tubes give you some really nasally, nasty and super compressed can-o-bees tones unless you keep the gain on both channels way below noon. After the change over I can run the green channel around noon and still be fairly clean with a little crunch if I really dig in. Cranked up it'd make a great rock tone and can be boosted into 80s metal territory. Red sounds tremendous up to noon, then starts to saturate into lead territory depending on your pickups. That last clip is gain around 1 o'clock on the red channel with no boost, but active pickups. No post EQ on it either.
Throught a 4x12 it might surprise you. Is it a 100 Watt DSL? No. A 100 Watt cranked up can get the neighbors to call the cops on you. The 20 can get them annoyed. Especially through a 4x12. But the really surprising thing is how good it sounds turned down. It's still a Marshall though, and will sound better cranked up.
If you're just looking for a practice amp for good tones at bedroom/tv volumes? It's a good fit. However, it's also able to handle itself well in a recording situation, or in a band setting if you get to mic it up. I'm kinda in love with the stupid little thing, but YMMV. Hope the clips at least give you something to chew on.
Right out of the box, yes, this is absolutely true. They give them a TERRIBLE tube compliment for the circuit at the factory. After some experimenting I'd say I've managed to get some OK tones out of one. Mines the combo I stuck a greenback into so I can pack it over to my bass playin' buddy's house for jams, but the recordings I have are all through a Mesa widebody 1x12 with a C90.BrokenFusion":oceh2xep said:
Downtuned with bass (Nazgul/Sentient pickups
https://app.box.com/s/6j095xcjqkik4iwv0x3y7vps71w1vhi1
https://app.box.com/s/ph4j9z8fwkpkelfxr0yncve536301dni
And something I'm currently working on in standard E, no bass yet (GFS Redactive Gold Pickups
https://app.box.com/s/exmjqodilp8kh9sctf0d6i40wourhm3n
That last one gives you a great idea of how crunchy and "real" the damn little thing can sound. The secret was sticking a much, MUCH lower gain tube in V1. I ended up with a JJ 5751 there, and two Sovtek 12AX7WA tubes in V2 and V3. The stock tubes give you some really nasally, nasty and super compressed can-o-bees tones unless you keep the gain on both channels way below noon. After the change over I can run the green channel around noon and still be fairly clean with a little crunch if I really dig in. Cranked up it'd make a great rock tone and can be boosted into 80s metal territory. Red sounds tremendous up to noon, then starts to saturate into lead territory depending on your pickups. That last clip is gain around 1 o'clock on the red channel with no boost, but active pickups. No post EQ on it either.
Throught a 4x12 it might surprise you. Is it a 100 Watt DSL? No. A 100 Watt cranked up can get the neighbors to call the cops on you. The 20 can get them annoyed. Especially through a 4x12. But the really surprising thing is how good it sounds turned down. It's still a Marshall though, and will sound better cranked up.
If you're just looking for a practice amp for good tones at bedroom/tv volumes? It's a good fit. However, it's also able to handle itself well in a recording situation, or in a band setting if you get to mic it up. I'm kinda in love with the stupid little thing, but YMMV. Hope the clips at least give you something to chew on.
