Thoughts on the Marshall dsl1 combo ?

[Elkoki]

Looks like an interesting little amp , was browsing local ads and I’d seen one for $300 . I heard a few YouTube clips and it sounds quite good , I would use it as a practice amp for my apartment not looking to gig , not looking for loud raging amp .

For those who own it .. how do you like it ? Do you use it often ? Does it sound good hooked up to a bigger cab ?

 

[efstop]

I have one. You'll want to hook it to a 16 ohm speaker anyway; the emulation via the headphones isn't ideal.
When I first got mine I hooked it to a Vintage 30 1x12" but I have a couple of Greenback 1x12" cabs now.
Use the .1W setting. 1W is too loud in an apartment.

 

[Sullen]

I was looking at this amp yesterday also….

I too am looking for apartment volume small size light weight Marshall tone. Would like to hear owners thoughts as well.

It sounds really great in the YouTube demos.
This one has me just about sold.

 

[Elkoki]

I was looking at this amp yesterday also….

I too am looking for apartment volume small size light weight Marshall tone. Would like to hear owners thoughts as well.

It sounds really great in the YouTube demos.
This one has me just about sold.

Most of the reviews I’ve seen are positive, I think we just gotta have realistic expectations since it’s quite small . Based on the videos I’ve seen it does have that nice Marshall tone in a small package .. I found a used one on Amazon for $250 , im not sure I would spend the full $400 on it new . For that much I would probably consider getting something bigger like Katana 2x12 combo and keep it on the 0.5 watt mode and should you ever need more power, its there .

 

[chetmorton]

I don't have the combo, but I have a DSL1HR head version. And I have an Origin 5 combo that has the same 8" speaker. I tested the DSL1 into the Origin 5 speaker and it sounded kind of boxy to my ear. I'm running my DSL1HR through a 1x12 cab and it sounds pretty good pushed with a clean boost (TS9 or SD-1). A lot of people swap out V1 for a lower gain tube to tame the ultra gain channel. A 5751 tube reduces the gain some, and a 12AU7 lowers it further. These will both affect the green channel as well. There is also a ECC823 tube that will lower the gain on the red channel to the 12AU7 level, but keep the green channel at the 12AX7/ECC83 level. Right now I have an ECC823 in V1. It opens the amp up a bit and seems to have less compression than the stock V1 tube. IMO It's a decent amp if you can pick one up used for cheap and run it through a larger speaker.

 

[Elkoki]

I don't have the combo, but I have a DSL1HR head version. And I have an Origin 5 combo that has the same 8" speaker. I tested the DSL1 into the Origin 5 speaker and it sounded kind of boxy to my ear. I'm running my DSL1HR through a 1x12 cab and it sounds pretty good pushed with a clean boost (TS9 or SD-1). A lot of people swap out V1 for a lower gain tube to tame the ultra gain channel. A 5751 tube reduces the gain some, and a 12AU7 lowers it further. These will both affect the green channel as well. There is also a ECC823 tube that will lower the gain on the red channel to the 12AU7 level, but keep the green channel at the 12AX7/ECC83 level. Right now I have an ECC823 in V1. It opens the amp up a bit and seems to have less compression than the stock V1 tube. IMO It's a decent amp if you can pick one up used for cheap and run it through a larger speaker.

What style of music do you play ?

 

[Southwest]

I have the DSL1HR too. I run mine into a 1x10" (butchered Code 25) cab with a Celestion Goldback. I agree the 1W setting is loud for an apartment but I like the tone more, so I use a cheap Bugera attenuator to drive it at friendlier volume.

I already had the speaker when I went for the DSL, otherwise I would have bought the combo you are considering. Somewhere down the line I think you'll decide you want to swap out the speaker or run an extension cab though.

 

[efstop]

Any Marshall combo with a detachable speaker works great with a DSL1HR and an adapter to mate a pair of cables
Celestion Eight-15 and Ten-30
Using a combo gives you a backup, too LOL

 

[chetmorton]

What style of music do you play ?

I'm playing (or more accurately trying to play) mostly early 80s metal like Priest, Scorpions, etc. I like a mid-forward tone and with a TS9 or SD-1 used as a clean boost this amp will give that.

 

[Sullen]

I have the DSL1HR too. I run mine into a 1x10" (butchered Code 25) cab with a Celestion Goldback. I agree the 1W setting is loud for an apartment but I like the tone more, so I use a cheap Bugera attenuator to drive it at friendlier volume.

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I already had the speaker when I went for the DSL, otherwise I would have bought the combo you are considering. Somewhere down the line I think you'll decide you want to swap out the speaker or run an extension cab though.

Ha!
That’s a great idea!!

I saw one of those codes on Craigslist a while back for 120, I almost bought it just to check out the sound of it for that price.

I didn’t even think about using it as a cabinet (!!) I would’ve totally grabbed it.

 

[Southwest]

Ha!
That’s a great idea!!

I saw one of those codes on Craigslist a while back for 120, I almost bought it just to check out the sound of it for that price.

I didn’t even think about using it as a cabinet (!!) I would’ve totally grabbed it.

Just remember it only works if you've already done the craziest mod ever and put a $200 speaker in a $100 amp. Like I did.

The OEM speaker in the Code is really awful IMHO. There are plenty of better options out there.

 

[Sullen]

Just remember it only works if you've already done the craziest mod ever and put a $200 speaker in a $100 amp. Like I did.

The OEM speaker in the Code is really awful IMHO. There are plenty of better options out there.

Oh I missed the replaced speaker note!
That’s a good mod imo, it’s a nice sleek cabinet now.

That’s one thing I gotta give to the code series, they’re pretty nice looking amps.

 

[Elkoki]

I was looking at this amp yesterday also….

I too am looking for apartment volume small size light weight Marshall tone. Would like to hear owners thoughts as well.

It sounds really great in the YouTube demos.
This one has me just about sold.

Did you end up buying one ?

I did , found one on Craigslist for $220 ,I figured if I didn’t like it I could probably resell it for the same or a few bucks more ..

Honestly I really like this amp . I live in an apartment and it can easily be very loud but also have very very useable tones played quiet . The 0.1 watt mode is what I usually keep it on .. It definitely has a pleasant Marshall crunch for rock / punk , bluesy stuff , 80s rock etc … and the cleans aren’t too bad . I really enjoy it .. it’s also super responsive to your guitar’s volume knob . It cleans up really nice when rolling the volume down . the FX loop is also really fun to play with a loop pedal . I prefer the distorted tones over the Boss Katana .. they’re just so much more pleasant to my ear ..

I can see why some people would say the down side is the speaker especially when if you’re used to playing through bigger combos or half stacks .. it won’t give you a massive oomph especially if all you do is chug and want a massive wall of sound .. it’s got the Marshall tone in a small package and I really like what it is . I’m sure through a big cab though it would sound amazing .