I have dug out my old DSL 401 over the weekend and was practicing through it and it took quite a bit of fettling just to get sounding OK. I was playing through the clean channel with a LP and OCD. It sounded a bit harsh when cranked (master at about 3 o'clock) and not very 'open' if that makes any sense at all. I used to gig with it a about 9 years ago and to my 16 year old ears it sounded alright! I've been using the rehearsal studios AC30 VR recently and the same guitar and pedals sounds much better.
Is this just an inherent sound of the amp? What can I do to make it sound better? What alternatives are there? I would love a JCM800 1x12 but at the current prices I can't justify it (well I can, but I can't). Are there decent JCM900 1x12 combos?
Cheers!
Comments
Replacing the speaker in the 401 might help, but don't expect a night-and-day change... although something like a G12H-75 Creamback might be worth trying.
I'd probably just get a JCM800 4010 and be done with it. (Which also benefits from a Creamback.)
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
the new dsl40 combo is actually better sounding I think, I dunno about the build but it certainly sounds a bit bigger and warmer.
Annoyingly it still has a fairly poor speaker though (Celestion Seventy/80).
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
I was set on a 15 until I realised it had no effects loop! Now I'm thinking a 5 and possibly modding the shell to fit a 12" speaker so I finally have a use for the Neo creamback I have...
But you might not need to. First thing I did was to put a jump lead in to jump the FX loop IN and OUT, and max the fx loop mix. Immediately the amp became clearer and louder too. The red distortion channel, previously a little fizzy and muddy, became very useable and all of a sudden the stock speaker sounded quite reasonable.
Because I'm currently using a Vox Tonelab SE through the PA for gigging, and the rehearsal room amps, I don't need to use my own amps so haven't yet swapped the 16 Ohm speaker, and I'm mindful that a Vintage 30 will add a fair bit of weight.
You can also put an EQ or a BBE Sonic Stomp Maximiser in the fx loop which gives a noticeable sonic improvement although converting the parallel FX loop to serial is even more effective here because you don't get 100% wet-dry mix with a parallel loop.
So before spending a small fortune on a new speaker, try the above first.
One thing to be aware of is speaker bolt placings, and that a Celestion replacement will drop straight in. But be mindful that even a slight difference in spacings, e g. Eminence speakers, might prove a real pain as you may have to drill wider spacings in the speaker or refit the bolts.
Finally, a new set of tubes can give a noticeable improvement and JJs have had a good review on the Marshall forum.
Now, re the DSL40c, these are decent amps that have a couple of extra buttons and the reverb has more range. BUT the EQ is shared..with the DSL401 you have independent EQ across 2 channels and the footswitch enables switching between clean (green), od1 (amber) and od2 (red) which is much more versatile. Technically the red od2 is a distortion boost and not a third channel, but for gigging you effectively have three channels to switch through.
For me the DSL401 sounds more raunchy/ballsey and the DSL40c is a little smoother/tamer. I therefore personally prefer the DSL401 to the DSL40c but YMMV. It's also surprisingly loud with the fx loop db boost..I had to use it as pure backline at an open air gig and I don't think I had it set at more than half!
Anyway, I was expecting my little DSL401 to be miked up through the PA, and if I'd have known about the PA problem and that I'd have to play through a pure backline, I'd have brought my Vox rig with 4x12 speakers. So, I was worried that the DSL401 with its single 1x12 wouldn't be loud enough or cut through the mix. But I needn't have worried because even at half power there was plenty of oomph there and it punched through the mix just just fine!
More comments from JCM800/900 combo owners welcomed please!
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
What's so weird is that such a simple 'trick' absolutely transforms the DSL401 from 'meh' into a really decent sounding Marshall Amp, even with the stock speaker. Next year I might try another speaker in it - perhaps a 16 Ohm Celestion Vintage 30.
I've actually been playing my 401 this afternoon on the red OD2 'channel' - and I can comfortably play on FULL GAIN (which sounds dreadful without the FX loop jump) with my Epi Sherry II (p/ups are upgraded to Seymour Duncan SH1 59'ers) and its just stonking!