Marshall DSL5C speaker upgrade

[AJK1]

I just bought a new DSL5 Combo as my practice amp, and upgraded the standard speaker with a Celestion Creamback Made in UK
What a difference !
Much nicer clean tones, fuller and richer
On the Overdrive channel it fattens things up and takes a lot of the fizz out of the distortion, makes for a great typical Marshall rock sound
It’s a great upgrade
Next I’ll be replacing the cheap tubes with some Electro Harmonix ones and see how that should improve the tone even more

 

[KStopper65]

How'd u fix a 12 inch speaker in it?

 

[AJK1]

How'd u fix a 12 inch speaker in it?

It’s a 10 inch

 

[Brek]

I have the 10in creamback, great speaker, mine is in a cab 46cmx40cmx30cm (hwd), i have tried it with my dsl15/20 and my friedman pt20 all sounded on the money with it.

 

[KStopper65]

It’s a 10 inch

Ah ok

 

[xland]

Great choice. Creambacks are my favorite speakers. I've used a 12" 65W in my Bassbreaker 15 and installed the 10" version in my Origin 20.

 

[drugprowlingwolf]

I know the cream back is a great speaker - but all new speakers sound fizzy and harsh until you put them through the paces. Maybe you did that already? Putting it out there for those who might not have the coin for a new speaker.

Exceptions would be broken in/treated speakers like scumbacks (great!) or Celestion heritage series (great too!)

Are these differences as pronounced at practice volumes or when the amp is louder? I’ve been pondering putting one in my brown deluxe.

 

[rich85]

Replace the tubes with JJ. EHX tubes are bright. JJ will settle the overall brightness of the amp down a bit.

 

[AJK1]

Replace the tubes with JJ. EHX tubes are bright. JJ will settle the overall brightness of the amp down a bit.

Good to know, thx for the tip

 

[rich85]

Good to know, thx for the tip

I have both brand new JJ and EHX tubes here so I have compared them. But I think its why JJ are so popular for Marshall amps as it will reduce even more of that "fizz" (even AC/DC stick to JJ)

 

[AJK1]

I know the cream back is a great speaker - but all new speakers sound fizzy and harsh until you put them through the paces. Maybe you did that already? Putting it out there for those who might not have the coin for a new speaker.

Exceptions would be broken in/treated speakers like scumbacks (great!) or Celestion heritage series (great too!)

Are these differences as pronounced at practice volumes or when the amp is louder? I’ve been pondering putting one in my brown deluxe.

Yeah that’s true, but I just love the sound of Creambacks and Greenbacks and use them in my other amps and speaker boxes

 

[drugprowlingwolf]

Yeah that’s true, but I just love the sound of Creambacks and Greenbacks and use them in my other amps and speaker boxes

I hear ya. I’m a big Brit speaker guy myself. If you ever get bored/adventurous with a 1x12 the scumback j75 pvc is KILLER in a 1x12. Very highly recommended.

my love for greenbacks almost kept me from hanging onto my ac30 - some playtime transformed the stiff Alnico blue speakers.

I like to crank the bass and volume and pound on the neck pickup - I’ve noticed good results but it does take time. A smarter approach would probably be to run music through it for hours on end, but hey.

 

[AJK1]

I have both brand new JJ and EHX tubes here so I have compared them. But I think its why JJ are so popular for Marshall amps as it will reduce even more of that "fizz" (even AC/DC stick to JJ)

Cool, I think I’ll go buy some today !

 

[AJK1]

I hear ya. I’m a big Brit speaker guy myself. If you ever get bored/adventurous with a 1x12 the scumback j75 pvc is KILLER in a 1x12. Very highly recommended.

my love for greenbacks almost kept me from hanging onto my ac30 - some playtime transformed the stiff Alnico blue speakers.

I like to crank the bass and volume and pound on the neck pickup - I’ve noticed good results but it does take time. A smarter approach would probably be to run music through it for hours on end, but hey.

I have a 2x12 speaker box with Greenbacks in it that I’ve had for 15 years and it has softened over the years but in a good way
It sounds so gooey and chewy and absolutely kicks ass
I run my Ac15 with a Greenback through it and the sound is huge

 

[rich85]

Cool, I think I’ll go buy some today !

Let us know how it goes! If my theory is correct a Creamback and JJ Tubes and that DSL is gonna sound absolutely amazing.

 

[AJK1]

The Creamback speaker sounds great, it has smoothed out the mids as the standard speaker was a bit shouty and had a forward presence, the Creamback has a much more ‘English Sound’ that I like and has a little less fizz
I’m ordering some new valves for it tomorrow as my local store has nothing that will suit
I’ll report back after the new valves are in
It’s a valve amp specialist supplier and I’ve emailed them as to what valves they recommend, but I’m leaning towards JJ’s
Back soon

 

[JohnnyN]

JJ ECC83S are nice sounding and strong tubes. If you should find it to become a bit dull, I can recommend a Tungsol RI 12AX7 in V1.

 

[AJK1]

I just swapped out the preamp 12ax7’s for the JJ 12ay7‘s and it makes such a difference
My amp now sounds more Classic Rock and the distortion is half what it was which to me sounds amazing
No more fizz, much more balls
Great upgrade

 

[Big Monk]

The Celestion G10N-40 is a real sleeper.

 

[rich85]

I just swapped out the preamp 12ax7’s for the JJ 12ay7‘s and it makes such a difference
My amp now sounds more Classic Rock and the distortion is half what it was which to me sounds amazing
No more fizz, much more balls
Great upgrade

Good to hear! I might have to get one and do the same.....