All user reviews of 4/5 for the Marshall DSL100

The Marshall JCM 2000 DSL 100 is a 100 Watt, EL34 based tube amp head with two channels and a comfortable variety of tones and features. Introduced in 1997, it was hailed as the next step to Marshall's famed JCM 800 and JCM 900 series. It offered clean tones, classic, plexi-style crunch, and searing high gain previously only available in modified JCM models.

The DSL 100 features two channels with two modes each, a mid scoop switch, deep switch, shared 3 band EQ along with a global master volume and presence. The DSL also features an FX loop and footswitchable spring reverb, which is controlled independantly on each channel by Reverb A and Reverb B controls.


UTILIZATION


Channel 1 offers two modes-clean or classic crunch- at the flip of a switch.
Channel 2 is the Ultra channel, dishing up two savage levels of hotrod Marshall high gain.

In addition to the two channels and mode switches, there's also a Deep switch, which is essentially a pre-set resonance control, to add clean lowend punch. There's also a Mid scoop switch, which does exactly what it says, and creates a huge dip in the midrange curve, perfect for that scooped tone Dimebag enthusiasts love so much.

The channels are switchable via a single Marshall-style footswitch. The channels as well as the reverb can be switched with a Dual footswitch, or two single footswitches.

Obviously, with both channels sharing an EQ, some tweaking is required to get a good tone from both channels if you will be using them both. Otherwise, what might sound great on the clean channel might be too dark or boomy on the lead channel... you get the picture.


SOUNDS

Great tones are considerably easy to dial in on the DSL. With all controls at 12 O'clock, the clean channel produces a nice, workable clean that isn't too flat or bright. It's one of the best clean tones Marshall has ever produced, but it's still a Marshall clean, and it won't sparkle and shimmer like a Fender. Turning up the gain pushes the clean tone into low-volume JTM45 territory. Engaging the crunch switch brings about the signature Marshall Plexi crunch, and does it in convincing fashion.

The Ultra Channel aims to produce and surpass levels of gain that players had already getting by hacking up their JCM 800's for years. And in this regard they succeeded quite well, though in more recent years tastes in high gain may have shifted away from what the DSL brings to the table.

That being said, there are a tremendous variety of tones available simply by altering the gain, and using different guitars. An overdrive pedal also helps to cut some of the muddier lowend frequencies and peak the treble response.

The major issue with the DSL was lowend response. It was indeed muddy for a high gain amp, and the deep switch made the lowend very boomy.

Treble response on the high gain channel is also an issue, as it can be a bit tinny and fizzy with most EQ settings.



OVERALL OPINION

The DSL 100 can be had on the used market for well under $1000, and for this price point its a great investment.

The tones available in the DSL and many and varied, although its not without its issues, as mentioned above. The FX loop and reverb (which is solid-state driven) also leave something to be desired, though not altogether unusable.

There are some reliability issues with certain runs of the DSL 100, and these are all well documented on various forums, but fortunately there is also a wealth of information on how to address these issues.

Overall the DSL 100 is almost a mandatory piece to have in your collection if you're a hired gun who plays everything. It approximates many classic Marshall tones without hauling out your vintage JMP's or JCM 800's, and it also covers a variety of tonal ground.

I'm very excited to see what the new 2012 Marshall DSL 100H brings to the table.

At the time i had a valvestate head and saw this in LUKES GUITARS Ramsgate for £300 so i just got it and have never looked back.

This is a no fuss amplifier that can recreate tones going back to when the electric guitar was first born to the more modern sounds of today. Its got great power and the sound (i feel) is alot more convinsing than the mesa's that youll find out there.

Perhaps it could have done with a bit more versitility on the back, ie direct line outs etc like its younger brother Tsl.

Faultless

Kick ass valve tone in a convincing, no fuss package.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

100 W lamps, all head, four 12AX7 (ECC83) and 4 (EL34), two channels possdant plus a boost switch, which allows for the channel 1 (named "classic") sounds clean and crunch, and channel 2 (named "Ultra"), of which a high gain distortion.

The head is against team with only one qualisation 3 bands for both channels.

Otherwise, the classic in Marshall, a rverbe (adjustable per channel), and switch "Deep" (which boosts the bass) and "Tone Shift", which clear up the sound, to make it crystalline.

UTILIZATION

This head is very simple to use.
HP is plugged correctly (impdance 4, 8 or 16 Ohms), the guitar and you can then start.
The handling of all is very simple. It RULES gain and volume on each channel DSIR, the qualisation (some might find too bad there have only qualisation ...), and LET'S ROCK!
Both channels are switched at the foot of course, and the rverbe with the supplied footswitch.

However, the damage boost Submitted on each channel is not switchable by footswitch, such as it is impossible to pass a clean crunch a lightweight (both on channel1) ...
For this, there are the TSL!

SOUNDS

By starting on channel 1, the clean sounds are good for the trs tonnament Marshall. trs crystalline sound, even with a certain amount of gain (my guitar is also in the EMG team ... it's mean!). This gives all of the same crunch as a lightweight Exceeds 3 / 4 of the knob.
Pressing the small switch "boost" from the channel, and we pass the "big" crunch. L also, the sounds are excellent, and turning the gain, one passes easily from bluesy sound a saturation type AC / DC. Trs Rock N Roll!

We then go to in the second channel. In this channel, we go on a dj High gain distortion. The again, it trs Rock N Roll, and there are sounds of the era Marshallian trs of JCM800. Something to take to Slash! For cons, the qualisation on this channel is not effective ... trs damage.
Pressing the switch "boost", it adds a small amount of gain that will not bring me anything ... shame, because this channel does not play with the big sounds of Neo metal (such as Mesa Rectifier or Peavey Triple X), trs fashion today (Nu metalheads, go your way!)

Cot dynamic is excellent! The amp really Ragit all the nuances of the game gives mdiator! harmonics come out with an ease dconcertante. Cot attack, there again, it is straightforward (there is no impression of choking on the strings as STL ...)

OVERALL OPINION

I possder before this head another head TSL60. I m'tais jur yet never to play on a Marshall, but when I try this head, I cracked!

A dynamic die for, this Ragit really touch your strings.

Against damage that this does not head in the course of other amp "High gain" style of Mesa Recto or Peavey Triplpe X because it does not play with the big riffs well fashion this time ... For this, we must invest in a good pedals to qualisation INSRE in the effects loop, see a good multi purpose.

The trs good when Mrs. Marshall!

Head lamps 100W (+ 4xECC83 4xEL34) etc.. etc.. all information on http://www.marshallamps.com/
No multi-effects nuisance

UTILIZATION

Extreme simplicity, two channels clean / crunch and switchable by footswitch OD1/OD2, a reverb knob (possibility of being active / disabled by footswitch), volume and gain per channel ; legalization Treble / Middle / Bass common to both, a knob of Presence and two small buttons magical "Tone Shift" and "Deep Switch", is simple lean or you turn!

SOUNDS

For my part I play mostly Blues, Rock'n'roll, or Garage-Pop (o the purchase of a Fender Bassman soon ...). Has used this amp with a Start and a simple three US Squier Strato 1 double / 2 singles. Clean channel the sound level is very well especially Dfine CRYSTAL! as well as on the Squier Stratocaster (Start with the well-sr US sounded terrible ...): funk, pop or even Gentillet blues ballad, the channel adquate. Pressing the 'tit button transformer and go to the crunch, playing with the gain knob gives a sound palette consquente enough, the lightweight crunch for beginners in many night to crunch pr feel for the blues-by-alcohol-who-is-crying, with a well-british rock, but as always well Dfine trs (very important).
Peton you type the password and the second channel to the more muscular Reserved OD1 Previous in continuity with more gain (very British) and the OD2 end to end on his worthy Angus. Two channels were revised the essence of British rock and hard rock.
INTERESTED also the Presence knob that allows the pallet yet taler. To finally arrive at the two little buttons magic. The first, "Tone Shift", once triggered provides a good sound to go specially ct heavy-metal (Submitted medium well, sound like Iron Maiden CHARACTERISTICS), id ale for mold-hairy balls. And finally the deuxime, "Deep Switch" is the big + of this amp and it gives a much warmer sound by boosting the bass and littralement attention to neighbors, ideal for hairy - the-guitar-that-frle-les-pins.
To conclude I would say that sounds this amp is made for guitarists fairly eclectic, seeking a distortion possdant a powerful but well Dfine and sublimely clean clean channel to break down the girls. However, it is clearly dominant rock: british / hard / heavy metal and even same kind Gentillet RATM (lover of death or thrash metal with this amp is not against you, the sounds are much too good). You rock your lover or MUSCL blues this amp is for you.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it since September 2004, he followed me for a few rptitions and made a lot of jealous. + Much of this amp is its clectisme rock'n'rollien, it can also allow guitarists to find their sound without having to add distortion pedals derrire 36. I sell it as a given that I have found my sound (more blues / rock 'n'roll / garage), so I'll point me to a Fender Bassman that Specializes in this kind of sound ( with a Roger Mayer Voodoo Boost derrire and will give a Crybaby!). The only complaint I have this amp is a lack of lgre me clean, it is more the type to have all the sound just rock and do Specializes in none. But that's what many guitarists research, I would therefore 8 / 10 for overall score (7 / 10 for me, 9 / 10 for everyone to strut my idiot guitarist DLIR).
If you try, contact me, I sell it alone or with an HP Marshall 2x12 ", which is more than enough to take a whole group all by himself ...

What kind of amplification (lamp, transistor ,...)?
Lamps
What is the power delivered?
I think 100W
What connection?
remember too ... dsl
What are the settings, the effects? ...
a clear channel / crunch channel Disto / Lead reverb

UTILIZATION

The configuration is it simple?
yep, like all the marshals in general ...
Do you get a good sound easy?
It depends on what branch to him as a guitar, but generally, yeah even when ...^^
The manual is clear and sufficient? ...
Was no manual

SOUNDS

Right for your style of music?
Marshall ca be a while ...
With what (s) guitar (s) / low (s) or effect (s) do you play?
a delay, a gibson standard, and a dean
What kind of sound you get and with what settings ("crystalline", "bold ",....)?
nan ca back there too ...
What are the sounds you prefer, you hate?
Rock, Hard, Heavy, Trash, Metal

OVERALL OPINION

How long have you use it?
I got a year or two ...
What is so special that you like most and least?
The sound dismantled, but the body double was too boring, it takes up too much space, it weighs 10 tons ...
Have you tried many other models before buying it?
Randall Warhead
How would you rate the quality / price?
blah .... always shit to slam € 800 ... even if the stuff is good ...
With experience, you do again this choice? ...
No, I need a config more ... "move"

Lamps, big reserve of power, transparency effects loop, EQ-haired, very wide-band distortion gain, nothing to complain!
Possibility to move the head 50 watts for more character.

UTILIZATION

I use it live with the scratches for its crunch and distortion for my group (power rock)
and the Baluch, I put my fractal directly in return for m used in power amp ..

SOUNDS

amp mainly oriented rock, super clear sound as long as you push a little volume, very responsive EQ, distortion from the crunch of character in his heavy metal and hollow.
The JCM 2000 is in my opinion the Rolls Royce of amps rock is less than 1500 euros.
Coupled with a quality guitar with preferably a micro splitable humbucker, it offers a range of its Haurie.

All remaining fairly neutral, but with the Marshall's, without that this does not present too presents a particularity that can affect a particular style of music.

The effects loop is at the top and allows a Pod or a fractal to fit preamp before the Tagus, to the Marshall amplifiers haurr just any lamp, then there is more than the presence plays the final, and we have a Swiss Army knife of great class.

OVERALL OPINION

the bomb on the cheap, if you want more saves and hand on different stacks, like Engl, mesa tripple, Orange ...

This amp has been one of my all time favorite amps to play. It is so easy to dial in and works so well for gigs. I got a chance to play one at a buddies house once and I knew once I hit that lead 2 button that I had to have it. I had this amp for the better part of my last bands quick career and it worked hard for me night after night. I never had a problem with it and it stayed true to its tone. I consistently got compliments on my tone all the time. So that encouragement allowed me to keep the amp for some time.

The 2 channels are very usable in both of them sound very good. The clean channel sounds great with pedals in front of it and when you crank up the gain on it you get a very good classic rock tone. Switch over to the high gain channel and click that mid boost/lead 2 button and man does this thing scream. A great lead rock tone that is very fun to play.


UTILIZATION

Marshall JCM2000 Dual Super Lead 100 Head Features:

* Classic Gain and Ultra Gain channels, each with two modes
* Deep switch adds a resonant bass boost
* Tone Shift scoops the mids
* Reverb controls for each channel
* Two footswitch jacks for changing channels and switching reverb in/out
* 100W of power
* Four ECC83 preamp tubes
* Four EL34 power amp tubes

SOUNDS

The sound was perfect for gigging! It stayed true night after night and never failed me. It was pretty consistent and took a beating. For me at the time it was a perfect gigging amp. I have recorded with it several times and never really like the tone I got from it. Could have been mics or placement but I never like how it sounded recorded. I have heard other people get a solid tone from it so maybe it was just me.

Also it seems these amps are somewhat inconsistent. I have heard a lot of terrible sounding ones and I've owned and played several amazing sounding ones. Since this amp is discontinued from Marshall you are only going to get it used so try it out before buying.

OVERALL OPINION

I wish they would put a choke in the amp to take pressure off the transformers. I always want to replace the transformers with Mercury but never got the chance. I have read that they sound even better when having proper trannies in there.

The amp is a great amp for just about any purpose. It is priced pretty low so you can find it around $650 used if you take some time and especially in this down market. I recommend anyone who needs a good work horse amp that you can gig nightly and beat,, well this maybe your amp.

The Marshall JCM2000 DSL100 has been the flagship model for quite awhile. It was basically a replacement or upgraded version of the JCM800 that was so famous throughout the decades. The amplifier features two channels with different voicings, four EL34 tubes, four 12AX7 tubes, two modes per channel, an effects loop, reverb and more.

UTILIZATION

The amp is a great go-to amp for testing various pedals and guitars as it's a straight forward two channel amplifier that's easy to dial in. It takes pedals great, is somewhat versatile and has a good amount of features. The voicings on the channels also help enable this amp to be tailored to your playing style. The loop and the reverb are nice additions that should really be in every Marshall amp, in my opinion.

SOUNDS

The sounds can be a bit hit or miss depending on if you like the Marshall sound or not. The amplifier, while having a decent amount of gain, doesn't have tons of "usable" gain. Once you start really cranking the gain, I find it gets to be a bit buzzy. I prefer backing the gain down and using a boost pedal. Once you do that, you can get some awesome 80s metal tones. The clean tone on this, however, is nothing to write home about. I find it to be fairly bland and not very exciting at all. However, I normally don't expect much from a Marshall when it comes to clean tones simply due to the way they have their tone stack in the circuit. I prefer the Fender/Mesa style tone stack for clean tones.

OVERALL OPINION

These amplifiers go really cheap on the used market, and if you're looking for your first Marshall, this should be one the first amplifiers you check out. It's not quite as organic and huge sounding as the JCM800, but it has its own thing going on. It's also way more versatile than the JCM800, so you take the good with the bad. The features on this amp are great for the used prices, especially since people unload them for as low as $400ish at times. Just keep watching eBay for great deals.

This amp has been one of my all time favorite amps to play. It is so easy to dial in and works so well for gigs. I got a chance to play one at a buddies house once and I knew once I hit that lead 2 button that I had to have it. I had this amp for the better part of my last bands quick career and it worked hard for me night after night. I never had a problem with it and it stayed true to its tone. I consistently got compliments on my tone all the time. So that encouragement allowed me to keep the amp for some time.

The 2 channels are very usable in both of them sound very good. The clean channel sounds great with pedals in front of it and when you crank up the gain on it you get a very good classic rock tone. Switch over to the high gain channel and click that mid boost/lead 2 button and man does this thing scream. A great lead rock tone that is very fun to play.

Marshall JCM2000 Dual Super Lead 100 Head Features:

* Classic Gain and Ultra Gain channels, each with two modes
* Deep switch adds a resonant bass boost
* Tone Shift scoops the mids
* Reverb controls for each channel
* Two footswitch jacks for changing channels and switching reverb in/out
* 100W of power
* Four ECC83 preamp tubes
* Four EL34 power amp tubes


UTILIZATION

I would usually keep the tone shift and deep switch on at all times. When I disengage them it seemed to loose something. I generally stayed on lead 2 because I think it had a bit more mids in it that sprang up which I liked.

The feel of the amp was really nice and forgiving. It has a nice plexi sag to it but a snappy attack of an JCM 800. I only had to replace the tubes once when I had it but I had GT tubes in there and it was afire breather. Once I put ECC83's and El34 from GT the amp just came to life.

I didn't read the manual since I bought it used. The good thing is if you need the manual you can go on Marshall's website and download it for free.

SOUNDS

The sound was perfect for gigging! It stayed true night after night and never failed me. It was pretty consistent and took a beating. For me at the time it was a perfect gigging amp. I have recorded with it several times and never really like the tone I got from it. Could have been mics or placement but I never like how it sounded recorded. I have heard other people get a solid tone from it so maybe it was just me.

Also it seems these amps are somewhat inconsistent. I have heard a lot of terrible sounding ones and I've owned and played several amazing sounding ones. Since this amp is discontinued from Marshall you are only going to get it used so try it out before buying.

OVERALL OPINION

I wish they would put a choke in the amp to take pressure off the transformers. I always want to replace the transformers with Mercury but never got the chance. I have read that they sound even better when having proper trannies in there.

I wouldn't record with it, but I would beat the crap out of it in clubs and bars. It is priced pretty low so you can find it around $650 used if you take some time and especially in this down market. I recommend anyone who needs a good work horse amp that you can gig nightly and beat,, well this maybe your amp.

* Classic Gain and Ultra Gain channels, each with two modes
* Deep switch adds a resonant bass boost
* Tone Shift scoops the mids
* Reverb controls for each channel
* Two footswitch jacks for changing channels and switching reverb in/out
* 100W of power
* Four ECC83 preamp tubes
* Four EL34 power amp tubes


UTILIZATION

Very simple straight forward Marshall amp, its one of the best Marshall amps in years. and is very versatile, its a plug and play amp, just like a Marshall should be!

SOUNDS

Les Paul's and Strats
Cleans: Passable, they can be coaxed out of it, but don't expect pretty pristine shimmery cleans, They can be okay, just takes work, if you put a chorus on the cleans they can be really good, it just takes work like I said.

Crunch: This is where the amps shines in my opinion, Very articulate rock'n'roll Marshall grind. With a strat its pure bliss. I actually ENJOYED playing this amp with a strat on the neck pup, just makes you feel like you're playing with Hendrix, or are Froosh on stage, super super great dirtyish overdrive. With the Les Paul this channel is very much a Rock machine, think JCM800 with a little more gain, put a TS9 in front of it and you have your Hard Rock rhythm channel.

Ultra Gain: This is the weakest channel in my opinion. It has its uses, but is very muddy and shrill if you put the gain too high, it might be better with an EQ and Boost, for leads, but other than that i really just do not like it that much, if you want to play chugga chugga metal it also might be ok, but i prefer the crunch channel/button way more.

OVERALL OPINION

Overall, the good outweighs the bad, but it definitely has its problems, if you want a great crunch amp I'd say go for it, if you want super super high gain, don't.

- 100 watts
- all tube
- 4 preamp 12ax7, 4 power EL34
- 2 channel
- green channel - clean/crunch
- red channel - lead
- effects channel
- spring reverb
- classic marshall styling
- classic marshall look
- 1 button footswitch (used for either channel switching or reverb on/off)
- 4, 8, and 16 ohm speaker connections



UTILIZATION

As with most marshall amps and tube amps in general, you really need to pump up the volume on the DSL to find the sweet spot. I find that keeping the master volume about 2 is a priority. If you can get above 4, you will fall in love with the tone.

The look of the amp is classic marshall...no crazy LED lights, no space age looking junk...only the goods that Marshall is known for. Very straightforward and simple operation.

The one thing that I wish that Marshall would have considered or actually implemented when designing this amp would be to have the green channel foot switchable. You either need to be on the clean setting or the crunch setting. I usually will keep it on the crunch and use my guitar's volume knob to roll down for a clean sound.

SOUNDS

Currently, this is my go to, all around amplifier that I use whether it's live on stage or recording in the studio. I'm not really a picky tone chaser. I know what i like and prefer to keep it simple. The DSL does that in spades. Plug in, turn up and you're ready to rock.

I use a few effects with the amp...mainly a Boss SD-1, NS-2 noise gate, CH-2 chorus, and a Rocktron Banshee talk box. All perform very well with the amp. The gate and chorus are run through the effects loop. I play in a Bon Jovi tribute band so the DSL really gets me to where I need to be in terms of 80's, 90's and now rock.

OVERALL OPINION

This is my 3rd time owning a DSL. I previously sold the amp twice thinking I could use something else or go to a modelling setup. Each time I've been proven wrong. I always come back to this amp. I've made a pact with myself to NOT sell this amp again.

For an amp with what some would view as a limited amp in part because of the channel setup/switching, this amp can go from the cleanest of cleans to rip your face off metal (with the added use of overdrive pedals).

I dare anyone to plug straight into one of these with a Les Paul, switch to the green/crunch channel, turn the channel gain up to about 8 or 9, turn the master volume up to 4, hit an open G chord and not feel like you're rocking a 100,000 seat stadium!