HELP! JMD:1 501 OR DSL 401 (tube combo)

[bluesrocker1000]

I am stuck on deciding between these two, I play all sorts of styles but I mostly crave a 'fat' heavy blues sound.

I dont usually go for digital amps but the JMD:1 blows my head off!!! (judging from all the demos on youtube)

I have only tried the DSL and i have previously owned a JVM half stack which i had to sell cos it was too big for me. but unfortunately i cant afford the combo version as my budget is £600.

I need a heads up on which amp is better and why, it will hopefully help me decide.

A big THANKS in advance!

[surfnorthwest]

IMO go for the JMD1. Why, because it will get great blues tones and you have so much versitility with it. Need to move away from thinking of it as a digital amp, yes it has a digital preamp (a very good one) but you drive this through a EL34 power section and that is where you get your sweet tube amp sound. Very underrated amp.

[malmsteen_SVK]

go for JMD:1 501 combo, thats great choise i got one too :) it makes me really happy with his sound and posibilities. Btw. 50W is really loud!!!

[burnsy]

Can I wave a small flag for the DSL401.
Cant comment on the JMD as I've never used one but I suspect it will get fairly close to being 'all things to all people' and you will be able to get your desired sound out of it.
I can comment on the DSL401 as I've used one extensively for about seven years now. I needed a smaller amp for the smaller club gigs which could not accommadate my half stack. The DSL401 was a good choice for me as it was a 1x12 combo and took up less floor space than other units. OK, so you've only got Clean, Crunch and overdrive but that should be enough for the bluesy tone you seek. This is similar to the sound that I use and I stick pretty much to the Crunch channel (OD1) with a modest amount of gain, and play the amp in the same way that I use my Vintage Modern head, i.e. run everthing from the guitars controls. Works great, back off the volume to clean up, and wind it up for solos. I don't even use the footswitch with mine, just set and forget. It's never gonna produce that head through a 4x12 sound but it gets pretty close.
I'd say find a friendly retailer, take your own guitar, and sit and play with the two of 'em.
p.s. If you go for the DSL401, throw the speaker away and drop a Vintage 30 in there.

[bluesrocker1000]

Cool, some great advice there guys!

Why is the JMD:1 cheaper than the DSL if it is more versatile? because it is made abroad perhaps?

it has digital pre-amps, digital FX and tubes! its a bargain i think, it truly is UNDERRATED!

...But the DSL is made in the UK and has a Sturdier build to it, and less things/features to go wrong...maybe.

[surfnorthwest]

There is nothing inheriently wrong with the build quailty of the JMD1. Marshall has simply developed a very good sounding versitle amp at a competitive price point. Because of all the competition and choices in the gear market today consumers need to move away from the thinking that more expensive gear is better gear. Burnsy make some good points for the DSL 401, in the end it should come down to what your needs are.

[guitarest]

I love this amp so much (head version) she has become my number one amp. She will be playing her 4th gig tomorrow night since I have given up primary bass duties and gone back to lead. I love the amp and since copying Chris's lead tone on the Marshall Theater the band loves her even more than I do.... I would gladly pay another grand if I had to again for another head should this one die.