Old Dsl vs New Dsl

RazorDave · 11-06-2009, 02:47 PM

Hello! Does anyone know if the new and the old Dsl's are exactly the same? I have two of the original heads from the 90's. I was at guitar center the other day, fiddling with the Dsl's they have there, and to me they have somewhat of a different sound.

80's Rocker · 11-06-2009, 03:29 PM

Well most people will tell you that all tube amps sound a bit different even if they are of the same model. As far as I know though the only difference is that there is black piping on the new one and white on the old one. I think that is all but I have been wrong before.

Brett Blackmore · 11-06-2009, 03:43 PM

Hi,

no, as far as I have heard there is no major difference. The DSL series was designed and produced according to plan and the vendors did not change - I am sure there were minor variations from suppliers as nothing can be sooo constant, but it is not like the claims made for the 900 series - which did differ over the years.

Maybe they had different valves...?

Cheers Brett

Apula Mawanga · 11-06-2009, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RazorDave

Hello! Does anyone know if the new and the old Dsl's are exactly the same? I have two of the original heads from the 90's. I was at guitar center the other day, fiddling with the Dsl's they have there, and to me they have somewhat of a different sound.

The new and old DSLs are exactly the same (apart from the piping). However, the new DSL comes with an MC412 cabinet, which is cheaper than the 1960 series. The cost-cutting occured in the cab, and the tone difference you heard was in the cab, not the head. The new cab has different speakers to any variety of 1960 (Rocket 50s). Hope that helps

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brett Blackmore

Hi,

no, as far as I have heard there is no major difference. The DSL series was designed and produced according to plan and the vendors did not change - I am sure there were minor variations from suppliers as nothing can be sooo constant, but it is not like the claims made for the 900 series - which did differ over the years.

Maybe they had different valves...?

Cheers Brett

I love your username!

thrawn86 · 11-06-2009, 06:32 PM

There are subtle differences in sound, despite being the same product. And yes, the kind of valves used way back in the 90's will differ greatly with what is available today, so that will indeed make a difference in sounds.

+1 on the cabs comment.

jcmjmp · 11-06-2009, 08:43 PM

There are changes that happened on the DSL series between 1997 and the current production that will affect the tone and some of the functionality, but the differences are subtle.

tarznamps · 11-07-2009, 01:08 AM

black piping
different tolex covering
different back panel (I think)

jaek · 11-07-2009, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tarznamps

black piping
different tolex covering
different back panel (I think)

Correct. Went to Guitar Center the other day, while I didn't play it cause the retarded staff I did see that there was different pipping, different tolex, owning a 2005 DSL and it has real grainy tolex and these had smooth tolex. Also the back cover is silver instead of gold.

SGed · 11-07-2009, 04:44 PM

I think the back panels on all the Marshall heads are no longer secured with wood screws. They have threaded screw receptacles mounted in the cabinet. I don't know exactly when they started this, but it sure was needed.

Procter2812 · 11-07-2009, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SGed

I think the back panels on all the Marshall heads are no longer secured with wood screws. They have threaded screw receptacles mounted in the cabinet. I don't know exactly when they started this, but it sure was needed.

Yeah! good shout for marshall!

I have TSL with wood screws... then my 800 RI from 2008 has the recessed nuts with small bolts... much better! slower but better

donkost · 11-07-2009, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaek

Correct. Went to Guitar Center the other day, while I didn't play it cause the retarded staff I did see that there was different pipping, different tolex, owning a 2005 DSL and it has real grainy tolex and these had smooth tolex. Also the back cover is silver instead of gold.

Retarded staff at GC... imagine that? haha Anyway, I have one of the "new" DSL100MLB models from last April and the back cover is gold. They did go with black piping to match the MC412 cab which has no piping. Same with the tolex covering- it matches the MC412 cab. My tolex is quite grainy though- not smooth at all. The head itself is fantastic and I was glad to be able to purchase one new with the full warranty. People generally knock the MC series cabs but I find nothing wrong with it personally. It's a full size cab (not like the smaller MG), built solid, has all of the mono/stereo switching features of the 1960 cab, and has a nice punchy low end. Sure, the Rocket 50 Celestions inside are not Greenbacks or Vintage 30's but at the price of this package the MC cab was basically a freebee. Sounds fantastic on the Classic gain crunch channel hit in the front with a MXR 6 band EQ or your choice of clean boost.

11-06-2009, 02:47 PM	#1 (permalink)
RazorDave Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 97	Old Dsl vs New Dsl Hello! Does anyone know if the new and the old Dsl's are exactly the same? I have two of the original heads from the 90's. I was at guitar center the other day, fiddling with the Dsl's they have there, and to me they have somewhat of a different sound.

11-06-2009, 03:29 PM	#2 (permalink)
80's Rocker Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: stuck in the 80's! Posts: 424	Re: Old Dsl vs New Dsl Well most people will tell you that all tube amps sound a bit different even if they are of the same model. As far as I know though the only difference is that there is black piping on the new one and white on the old one. I think that is all but I have been wrong before. __________________ 80's Rocker Epiphone Les Paul Stantard Marshall JCM 800 2204 1960 Cab Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer Charvel Model 1 '87 Kramer Baretta Rock On!

11-06-2009, 03:43 PM	#3 (permalink)
Brett Blackmore Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Bingen, Germany Posts: 362	Re: Old Dsl vs New Dsl Hi, no, as far as I have heard there is no major difference. The DSL series was designed and produced according to plan and the vendors did not change - I am sure there were minor variations from suppliers as nothing can be sooo constant, but it is not like the claims made for the 900 series - which did differ over the years. Maybe they had different valves...? Cheers Brett

11-06-2009, 08:43 PM	#6 (permalink)
jcmjmp Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 2,714	Re: Old Dsl vs New Dsl There are changes that happened on the DSL series between 1997 and the current production that will affect the tone and some of the functionality, but the differences are subtle.

11-07-2009, 01:08 AM	#7 (permalink)
tarznamps Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Music City, USA Posts: 232	Re: Old Dsl vs New Dsl black piping different tolex covering different back panel (I think) __________________ Tarz-N-Amps Marshall Heads - JVM 210, JTM 45, JCM 2000 DSL 100, JCM 800 2203, JCM 800 2205, JCM 900 4100, Vintage Modern 2466, 1987x Plexi, Haze 15 Marshall Cabs - 1960AX/BX, 1960A, 1960AV, 1965B, 425A/B, 1936, Haze A/B Marshall Combos - Class 5, JMP 4140 Club & Country, DSL 401, JTM 615 www.TarzNAmps.com/pix

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11-07-2009, 04:44 PM	#9 (permalink)
SGed Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 51	Re: Old Dsl vs New Dsl I think the back panels on all the Marshall heads are no longer secured with wood screws. They have threaded screw receptacles mounted in the cabinet. I don't know exactly when they started this, but it sure was needed.

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