Just got DSL100H

[flashtilley]

Hi,

I'm new to this forum but just purchased the new DSL100H. I'm really happy with this amp and have always been a Marshall fan. However, I'm still trying to dial in my dirty tone. I've played a Fender Twin for years and the DSL is a completely different beast but more of what I'm looking for tone wise. I'm getting a fizzy/harsh/gritty type tone in the gain channels and would like to get a more tighter/thick or maybe a little darker type of tone - think a growling drop D for example. Has anyone had a chance to play around with one of these amps? Do you have any advice or suggestions or different tubes I could try? I have heard sound clips of this amp online and I know what it's capable of as we'll as what the older UK built DSLs are capable of. I have played the older ones and this amp definitely sounds very similar. I'm sure there must be something I can do to achieve the tone I'm looking for. I'm a big fan of Slash type tones and modern hard rock tones. Kind of like Creed or Breaking Benjamin tones as well.

Thanks in advance!

[surfnorthwest]

Welcome to the Roadhouse and congrats on your new amp. I do not own a new DSL but have heard them and they're anything but "fizzy"

If you are looking for the drop D hard sound make sure your in channel 2 and put the gain on about 75% and crank up the Resonance. That amp has a lot of gain. Also as you probably know the type of pickups that might have sounded great with your Fender might not with your DSL.

The amp has many tones, be a patient and keep tweaking, you will find it.

[youtube][/youtube]

[flashtilley]

Thanks, I will try that! I do find that my Studio sounds a little darker than my Standard so pickups definitely make a difference.

[longfxukxnhair]

Welcome to the forum Flash

What speakers are you running the DSL thru?

[surfnorthwest]

In that demo Chris George is using one of his newer Les Paul's. That one has Bare Knuckle Abraxas pickups in it which are consider vintage hot.

To many players make the mistake of buying a really high gain amp then on top of it using really hot pickups. You get much better tone IMO in high gain amps when using more vintage PAF pickups.

[flashtilley]

I'm using the stock GT-75s in that cab.

[dukealexan]

I'm using the stock GT-75s in that cab.

Is the cab also new? would take a little time to break in the speakers if it is. Try a reverse setting on lead 2, crank the volume with a lower gain.

[flashtilley]

No, the cabinet is about 3 years old. I've tried everything and just can't seem to get the tone i'm happy with. It sounded good in the store at the time and on all the youtube clips ive heard... but then again, I couldn't find that tone on the older DSLs either. I have rented older DSLs on a couple occasions and the first time I rented it, it sounded great and had that beefy drop D type of growl but the second time I rented it, sounded all fizzy and thin. If it helps, it seems I get really close to the sound I want when played at very low volumes but as soon as its cranked, it loses that tone. Tubes maybe? What are the stock tubes used in the DSLs?

[Herbvis]

How loud are you playing? I tried one out at a store and noticed it was rather buzzy at low volumes. I would guess this is to compensate for a possible loss of highs when you really crank it up. Cool amp though.

I experiment a lot with my 2203 clone amp. If I put a very small 10pf "brightcap" on my amps master volume, I get a similar type of buzziness at low volumes. But at gig levels it mellows out and adds a nice sizzle to the top end.

[surfnorthwest]

Try a TungSol in V1 V2, cheap enough to try that. Not sure what the stock tubes are but I smell JJs

[GuitarBuilder]

Have you experimented with the guitar tone/volume controls?

[flashtilley]

yeah I played around with the volume/tone on the guitars. Anyone know a good place to order TungSol tubes online?

[flashtilley]

Just as an update, I pulled the electro harmonix 12AX7 preamp tubes out of my Fender Twin and put them in my DSL100 replacing those awful chinese stock tubes and it made a world of difference. Sounds way better now. Not muddy and fizzy anymore. Next step is replacing the stock EL34s. I put the awful Chinese preamp tubes in my fender twin and they don't sound too bad in there.

[surfnorthwest]

That is good to hear, sometimes that is all it takes. I suspect the stock EL34s could be improved also. For the price point on the new DSL retubing it with better glass wouldn't annoy me at all.

Glad you got it worked out, I think you own the hottest 100 watt amp on the market under 1k.

[flashtilley]

Yeah I'm really loving it now. :-)