Marshall DSL 401?

Goodcleanfun · 04-03-2012, 11:46 AM

So... I saw one of these w/ JJ tubes for £240. It's been a bedroom amp for 7 years and the seller sent me a video of it working (I know it's a current video because he said "hey, goodcleanfun, this is the amp. It works" and then yes, it worked.

I like the price, but reviews for this thing are all over the place. It get's 5/5 on some sites, then HC just destroys it, saying it's fizzy and flubby and whatever else.... there is no consensus.

Anyone here got any words of wisdom to share about this amp? I'm thinking of buying it for that price and if I don't dig it, I can get that back pretty easily I would have thought, especially with the JJ tubes throughout (4 x ECC83S, 4 x EL84).

Thoughts?

SmokestackElRopo · 04-03-2012, 12:30 PM

Yeah.....I changed out the speaker to an Eminence Red Fang and now in the process of breaking it in. I hear that JJZ are the best tubes to run however I run the shuagang chinese tubes.

***mobprop667*** · 04-03-2012, 12:43 PM

I have one. A little fizzy on the dirty channel, but the clean channel is crisp. Haven't put pedals thru it yet, but it should be great.

Jack W · 04-03-2012, 01:35 PM

I had the tsl 602, was just to big for my needs.
The dsl had better reviews than the tsl and I liked my tsl.
I would say its a sweet amp!

cmcoram · 04-18-2012, 08:09 AM

I have the DSL201. It is a bit hissy, but it's a good amp. I run an Eminence RedCoat Governor in it, and JJ Tubes.

gtimach1 · 04-18-2012, 12:58 PM

I've had my 401 since they came out. I like the clean channel a lot. Dial in a little gain and it is great for classic 60s-70s rock.

Plenty of variety between the two main channels and gain settings. Never much used the extra overdrive.

Had a few minor repair issues over the years, but I've been very satisfied with the performance. It was my first tube amp and after playing through the clean channel and dialing in some gain, I never wanted to play anything but a tube amp.

Sounds great at rehearsals and at gigs.

USAPatriot · 04-19-2012, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goodcleanfun

So... I saw one of these w/ JJ tubes for £240. It's been a bedroom amp for 7 years and the seller sent me a video of it working (I know it's a current video because he said "hey, goodcleanfun, this is the amp. It works" and then yes, it worked.

I like the price, but reviews for this thing are all over the place. It get's 5/5 on some sites, then HC just destroys it, saying it's fizzy and flubby and whatever else.... there is no consensus.

Anyone here got any words of wisdom to share about this amp? I'm thinking of buying it for that price and if I don't dig it, I can get that back pretty easily I would have thought, especially with the JJ tubes throughout (4 x ECC83S, 4 x EL84).

Thoughts?

Was the guy standing in front of the camera when he spoke to you or was he off-cam? -Rod-

Chondropython · 04-19-2012, 03:55 PM

I have had used one as my main amp for band practice and gigs for about 2.5 years now, and love it. Make sure you get a 2004 or later model, as the earlier ones have overheating problems... there is supposedly an easy mod to fix this, but why bother if you can avoid it.

A few months ago, I replaced the stock speaker with a WGS British Lead and put all NOS glass in it... wow! I didn't think the amp was bad before this, but these mods completely changed the amp and took it up several notches.

Like has been stated above, this amp sounds best on the clean channel. I leave it on this channel and use pedals for OD.

It's a great amp... good luck.

04-03-2012, 11:46 AM	#1 (permalink)
Goodcleanfun Senior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Auckland, NZ Posts: 1,012 Thanks: 0 Thanked 12 Times in 6 Posts	Marshall DSL 401? So... I saw one of these w/ JJ tubes for £240. It's been a bedroom amp for 7 years and the seller sent me a video of it working (I know it's a current video because he said "hey, goodcleanfun, this is the amp. It works" and then yes, it worked. I like the price, but reviews for this thing are all over the place. It get's 5/5 on some sites, then HC just destroys it, saying it's fizzy and flubby and whatever else.... there is no consensus. Anyone here got any words of wisdom to share about this amp? I'm thinking of buying it for that price and if I don't dig it, I can get that back pretty easily I would have thought, especially with the JJ tubes throughout (4 x ECC83S, 4 x EL84). Thoughts?

04-03-2012, 12:30 PM	#2 (permalink)
SmokestackElRopo Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Oklahoma City OK Posts: 1,239 Thanks: 275 Thanked 22 Times in 9 Posts	Re: Marshall DSL 401? Yeah.....I changed out the speaker to an Eminence Red Fang and now in the process of breaking it in. I hear that JJZ are the best tubes to run however I run the shuagang chinese tubes. __________________ Marshall Valvestate VS 100 R, Marshall JCM 900 4102 Combo, Marshall Vintage Modern 2266C combo. Marshall Valvestate VS 102R DSL 100 class5 and JTM 45 heads. Epi les paul ultra w/490R & 498T. 2007 Gibson Les Paul standard desert burst Plekked and GForce Lord of the blues pups, Gibson Les Paul Supreme Goldtop 57 classic and 57+.

04-03-2012, 12:43 PM	#3 (permalink)
*mobprop667* GUITAR DR AND GUITAR PIMP Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 8,327 Thanks: 185 Thanked 1,222 Times in 219 Posts	Re: Marshall DSL 401? I have one. A little fizzy on the dirty channel, but the clean channel is crisp. Haven't put pedals thru it yet, but it should be great. __________________ One ugly Rat Ass Bastard

04-03-2012, 01:35 PM	#4 (permalink)
Jack W Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 190 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Marshall DSL 401? I had the tsl 602, was just to big for my needs. The dsl had better reviews than the tsl and I liked my tsl. I would say its a sweet amp!

04-18-2012, 08:09 AM	#5 (permalink)
cmcoram Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Jacksonville, NC Posts: 554 Thanks: 11 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Marshall DSL 401? I have the DSL201. It is a bit hissy, but it's a good amp. I run an Eminence RedCoat Governor in it, and JJ Tubes. __________________ Chris '07 Epi Elitist LPC w/EMG JH Pickups '07 Mexi-Fender '72 Tele Deluxe RI '06 Epi Les Paul Custom w/GFS Fat PATs Digitech RP500 Boss SD-1 Digitech Bad Monkey Marshall JCM 2000 DSL201 Marshall JCM 2000 TSL60 Peavey ValveKing 100 Marshall MG412SL w/G12T-75s and Wizards Laney 412SL w/G12M-70s 3 chords, 3 minutes. God Bless Johnny Ramone. Time spent on the MLP and Marshall Amp Forums is time NOT spent playing my Les Paul and Marshall amp.

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04-18-2012, 12:58 PM	#6 (permalink)
gtimach1 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 749 Thanks: 0 Thanked 7 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Marshall DSL 401? I've had my 401 since they came out. I like the clean channel a lot. Dial in a little gain and it is great for classic 60s-70s rock. Plenty of variety between the two main channels and gain settings. Never much used the extra overdrive. Had a few minor repair issues over the years, but I've been very satisfied with the performance. It was my first tube amp and after playing through the clean channel and dialing in some gain, I never wanted to play anything but a tube amp. Sounds great at rehearsals and at gigs. __________________ PRS Custom 22, Gibson LP Custom & Gibson LP Studio Gibson LP Traditional , Gibson LP Traditional MS Gibson SG & Flying V, Fender Am.St. Tele & Strat Rickenbacker 360/12 , 360v64, 350v63 G&L Legacy & ASAT "Bluesboy (All Lefties) Amps:Mesa Mini Rectifier 25 Head & Mesa 1x12 cabs, Vox AC15C1, Roland Cube 30X, Mesa TA-15 Head Marshall DSL401,Fender Blues Jr. ,

04-19-2012, 03:55 PM	#8 (permalink)
Chondropython Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 569 Thanks: 1 Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts	Re: Marshall DSL 401? I have had used one as my main amp for band practice and gigs for about 2.5 years now, and love it. Make sure you get a 2004 or later model, as the earlier ones have overheating problems... there is supposedly an easy mod to fix this, but why bother if you can avoid it. A few months ago, I replaced the stock speaker with a WGS British Lead and put all NOS glass in it... wow! I didn't think the amp was bad before this, but these mods completely changed the amp and took it up several notches. Like has been stated above, this amp sounds best on the clean channel. I leave it on this channel and use pedals for OD. It's a great amp... good luck.

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