Does the DSL 100 sound good at low volume?

dolphinstreet · 10-03-2008, 09:36 AM

Or do you need to crank that sucka?

I am wondering if a power soak/attenuator is needed in order to play at "practice level".

torgeot · 10-03-2008, 10:38 AM

It sounds decent, but it really sings when it's cranked. I have a weber attenuator, makes a subtle difference.

RiverRatt · 10-03-2008, 11:53 AM

I'm perfectly happy with my DSL50 whether it's cranked or I'm practicing at home with the wife and kids in the next room. It does sound better when cranked but IMHO the master volume serves just as well as an attenuator, and you won't have to pay $300 to use it.

FWIW, on the Voodoo amp website, they state that all their DSL and TSL sound clips were recorded with the master vol. on 1.

steelhorse · 10-03-2008, 04:43 PM

Sounds great either way!

Stretchy · 10-03-2008, 10:54 PM

It provides a very good sound at "home" volume (no apartment volume!). But even if, I bought an attenuator for my DSL 100 in order to get the full tone. I use a THD.

But I have to gently disagree with the saying that Master volume acts like an attenuator, complete different beast to me! Power tubes distortion is part of THA sound! And to have power tubes distortion, you need to crank the master volume up a bit, to the breaking point of the power tubes, which on a DSL 50 or 100... is pretty loud!

With Master volume down and gain up, you provide pre amp distortion! In order to have a "perfect" distortion tone, 4 elements have to align!

1) Pre amp tubes distortion (gain up)
2) Power tubs distortion (Master volume up)
3) Speaker distortion (cranked all the way)
4) The actual sound waves generated by massive decibels

In order to have the "perfect" tone, you have to have it all. With a master volume down you get #1, with an attenuator, you can get #2 whitout losing your hearing. Only by cranking the master volume up without the attenuator can you get 3 and 4.

If you want to have a "perfect" tone a low volume. Use a full tubes 5 watts amp (like epiphone Valve jr) and crank it up. I've settled to using an attenuator to approximate this perfect tone!

solarburnDSL50 · 10-08-2008, 08:43 PM

I think about 2.5/3 on up on the volume you get that pre/power tube combination working together for a fizz free tone. Anything under 2 on the red channel has a bit of hair or fizz and less body to it because its basically all preamp.

Doesn't bother me a bit the difference between bedroom level playing and band level. I know what the amp can do when its time to open up them valves.

I boost mine always which adds some body at lower volumes anyways. I don't care for the amps gain unboosted in stock form or modded by Voodoo which I have. The red channel needs a little body added to it. You will see alot of us DSL guys boost lead 1 and the crunch channel. Just my preference.

axl2 · 10-09-2008, 08:03 AM

I boost mine with the TS808 Or Marshall Blues Breaker Boost Pedal II. And I put an EQ in the back to get "my" frequencies out.

Brett Blackmore · 10-09-2008, 11:26 AM

I was dissapointed with my Tom Sholl2 power soak as the amp did not sing like I expected (it does sing but I thought it would be a LOT more with a power soak) - so I now use a Guvnor2 pedal to make it more creamy. Sounds great!

cheers Brett

RiverRatt · 10-09-2008, 04:14 PM

I didn't say the master volume was the same as an attenuator. When you crank the amp and put an attenuator on it, you're definitely getting some power tube distortion, but I don't think the trade-off is worth it. solarburnDSL50, great comments. I think that's what I was trying to get across and didn't. If you want to spend $300 or more for a dubious improvement at bedroom levels, go for it. Like the man said, I know my amp's gonna sound great when I get out of the house and crank it. I'm not trying to impress anyone at home when I'm playing. My wife, kids, dogs, cats and neighbors couldn't care less what the tone is like, as long as they can't hear it.

steelhorse · 10-09-2008, 04:19 PM

The last sentence is to the point and so true river! LOL

And I'm of the same mindset, I set the amp up at low levels when need be that sounds good and don't even worry about the attenuator anymore. The difference is minimal imo.

Which is why I'm trying to sell it. I so rarely use it.

10-03-2008, 09:36 AM	#1 (permalink)
dolphinstreet Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Camrose, Alberta, Canada Posts: 21	Does the DSL 100 sound good at low volume? Or do you need to crank that sucka? I am wondering if a power soak/attenuator is needed in order to play at "practice level". __________________ Free guitar lessons My 18 watter - Heatseeker

10-03-2008, 10:38 AM	#2 (permalink)
torgeot Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 27	Re: Does the DSL 100 sound good at low volume? It sounds decent, but it really sings when it's cranked. I have a weber attenuator, makes a subtle difference. __________________ - JCM2000 - DSL100 - 30th Anniversary - 6100LM - few Lesters, Strats, and Ibby's

10-03-2008, 11:53 AM	#3 (permalink)
RiverRatt Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 60	Re: Does the DSL 100 sound good at low volume? I'm perfectly happy with my DSL50 whether it's cranked or I'm practicing at home with the wife and kids in the next room. It does sound better when cranked but IMHO the master volume serves just as well as an attenuator, and you won't have to pay $300 to use it. FWIW, on the Voodoo amp website, they state that all their DSL and TSL sound clips were recorded with the master vol. on 1.

10-03-2008, 04:43 PM	#4 (permalink)
steelhorse Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 1,512	Re: Does the DSL 100 sound good at low volume? Sounds great either way!

10-03-2008, 10:54 PM	#5 (permalink)
Stretchy Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Québec, Québec, Canada Posts: 82	Re: Does the DSL 100 sound good at low volume? It provides a very good sound at "home" volume (no apartment volume!). But even if, I bought an attenuator for my DSL 100 in order to get the full tone. I use a THD. But I have to gently disagree with the saying that Master volume acts like an attenuator, complete different beast to me! Power tubes distortion is part of THA sound! And to have power tubes distortion, you need to crank the master volume up a bit, to the breaking point of the power tubes, which on a DSL 50 or 100... is pretty loud! With Master volume down and gain up, you provide pre amp distortion! In order to have a "perfect" distortion tone, 4 elements have to align! 1) Pre amp tubes distortion (gain up) 2) Power tubs distortion (Master volume up) 3) Speaker distortion (cranked all the way) 4) The actual sound waves generated by massive decibels In order to have the "perfect" tone, you have to have it all. With a master volume down you get #1, with an attenuator, you can get #2 whitout losing your hearing. Only by cranking the master volume up without the attenuator can you get 3 and 4. If you want to have a "perfect" tone a low volume. Use a full tubes 5 watts amp (like epiphone Valve jr) and crank it up. I've settled to using an attenuator to approximate this perfect tone! __________________ SG400 LP Standard DSL 100

10-08-2008, 08:43 PM	#6 (permalink)
solarburnDSL50 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: WashingTone Posts: 108	Re: Does the DSL 100 sound good at low volume? I think about 2.5/3 on up on the volume you get that pre/power tube combination working together for a fizz free tone. Anything under 2 on the red channel has a bit of hair or fizz and less body to it because its basically all preamp. Doesn't bother me a bit the difference between bedroom level playing and band level. I know what the amp can do when its time to open up them valves. I boost mine always which adds some body at lower volumes anyways. I don't care for the amps gain unboosted in stock form or modded by Voodoo which I have. The red channel needs a little body added to it. You will see alot of us DSL guys boost lead 1 and the crunch channel. Just my preference. __________________ DSL50 - Voodoo modded Fender Tele GT HH coil split 212 G12K-100/V30 Pedals just for the Marshall: Bad Monkey Boosta Grande Wah Aphex Xciter in loop Delay in loop

10-09-2008, 08:03 AM	#7 (permalink)
axl2 Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Mahone Bay, NS, Canada Posts: 35	Re: Does the DSL 100 sound good at low volume? I boost mine with the TS808 Or Marshall Blues Breaker Boost Pedal II. And I put an EQ in the back to get "my" frequencies out. __________________ Marshall DSL 100 Head Marshall AVT 20- Combo Epiphone Les Paul-Seymour Duncan Pups Fender Showmaster- Seymour Duncan Pups Takamine Electric Acoustic Epiphone Acoustic Boss GE7 Ibanez DL10 Delay Ibanez TS-808

10-09-2008, 11:26 AM	#8 (permalink)
Brett Blackmore Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Bingen, Germany Posts: 198	Re: Does the DSL 100 sound good at low volume? I was dissapointed with my Tom Sholl2 power soak as the amp did not sing like I expected (it does sing but I thought it would be a LOT more with a power soak) - so I now use a Guvnor2 pedal to make it more creamy. Sounds great! cheers Brett

10-09-2008, 04:14 PM	#9 (permalink)
RiverRatt Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 60	Re: Does the DSL 100 sound good at low volume? I didn't say the master volume was the same as an attenuator. When you crank the amp and put an attenuator on it, you're definitely getting some power tube distortion, but I don't think the trade-off is worth it. solarburnDSL50, great comments. I think that's what I was trying to get across and didn't. If you want to spend $300 or more for a dubious improvement at bedroom levels, go for it. Like the man said, I know my amp's gonna sound great when I get out of the house and crank it. I'm not trying to impress anyone at home when I'm playing. My wife, kids, dogs, cats and neighbors couldn't care less what the tone is like, as long as they can't hear it.

10-09-2008, 04:19 PM	#10 (permalink)
steelhorse Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 1,512	Re: Does the DSL 100 sound good at low volume? The last sentence is to the point and so true river! LOL And I'm of the same mindset, I set the amp up at low levels when need be that sounds good and don't even worry about the attenuator anymore. The difference is minimal imo. Which is why I'm trying to sell it. I so rarely use it.

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