I have a chance to pick one up for cheap. What do I need to look out for? Is there a year(s) to stay away from? Overheating board issues? Bias issues?
I was gonna say stay away from the ones from 1990 to 2020 but if youre getting it cheap then it doesn't matter, go for it!
They fixed the JCM-2000 bias drift boards 2005 and after. The year of the amp should be on the back bar code.
$550? ..get one. DSLs I feel aren't going to be THAT cheap for much longer. I'm sitting with a DSL50 and DSL100 heads with no issues at all. One of the best of the crop IMHO. Tight with juuuust enough compression and sag that balances out very well. These amps made my 2x Boogie Mark III heads jump the back seat - go figure.
I guess you’ve got a decision to make @CROWEMAG. If the bias drift was fixed by the release of the 2005 models, is there a chance this one was repaired later on? Is it a fairly easy fix? (inexpensive?)
My DSL50 is a 97. No problems so far. Knock on wood. At this point I'm thinking it is too cool of an amp, and I paid so little for it, that I would be crazy to sell it. I do worry about it catching the pcb'itis and start in with the bias drift issue. No signs of it so far though. I have also read accounts of JVM's having this issue. So that would be DSL's, TSL's, and JVM's. Pcb tube amps in general put the fear into me. My DSL is the only pcb amp I own at this point.
As far as brand new JVM2 and JVM4 amps, I know of no issue with any of the pbc for amps that come straight from the factory (believe you me JVM2 and JVM4 have a lot of pbc).
I don't think that's cheap enough for an amp that may or may not have the bias drift issue. If you try before you buy Look for redplating tubes..output tubes that have super browned screen print. Massive hum. Good indicators of overheating...or monitor pin 5 of the op tubes with a multimeter, but I doubt the seller will let you pull tubes to do so. Buying sight unseen?..no way. If it turns out it has it, and you can't do the repair yourself and have to pay bench time+ parts, you could have a grand into it in no time. At a grand you have quite a few options other than that dsl. Not a bad price if it doesn't have the issue, or has already been repaired.
You'll enjoy the slx. I was going to say that you might want to take a look at the DSL100H if you can afford it, a much better option than the DSL100.
I Miss my ole sl-x..a guy traded me a 2015 Gibson ES339 studio AND a Mesa Mini recto 25 for it so it was a deal I couldn't refuse..lol. I only had $500 in the sl-x. I'm always on the lookout for another. Not to rain on the parade, but Google Marshall sl-x br 3..it's something to be aware of.
Well it seems this one has already had the B3 issue and fix. I got this head for $400 as all of the sockets are super loose and need replacing. It seems as though the tubes all run really hot as well. What would cause that? I plan on changing the filter and bias caps. Then new power tubes and bias. I noticed a few things......loud pop when hitting the standby. Seems to happen more often than not. Then after powering the amp down you can hear a real quite little sound. Almost like a digital water drop “dweep”. What’s that all about?
The first thing to check is how the amp is biased. If the power tubes are running 'hot' ...the amp is most likely running under biased...I would check that immediately. You'll need a bias probe and a multimeter to check it... Should be running anymore then 36mA per tube.... I wouldn't replace the power tube sockets just yet. You can retension them with a simple jeweler's screwdriver... There is plenty of youtube videos instructing you how to do this. If you replace the filter caps get the F&T caps... Their cheap and easy to install. They also ime, sound the best. I tried the JJs once, and they didn't sound like the originals, the F&Ts do...
