Marshall DSL401 Problems?

Discussion:

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freaksho

2004-02-17 03:12:40 UTC

I just did some tube amp shopping today. I was looking for a small
combo with the classic Marshall crunch gain. I found it and more in
the JCM 2000 DSL401 (40W all tube combo). I LOVED LOVED LOVED IT! It
has LOTS of power and all the Marshall grind I could have hoped for -
perfectly delivered the magic tones of Led Zep, AC/DC, and everything
else bluesy and tasty I could think of. I think I learned that the
only way to get the Marshall sound is to get a Marshall! (all tubes
only, of course). And with a little tone adjusting and maxing out the
gain I even got really close to really mean metal and grunge tones,
including the the deep chug chug chug of Metallica et al. An amazing
unit!

BUT,

Doing some web review reading tonight I heard A LOT of complaints
about reliability - e.g. overheating and tube failure, shoddy
soldering, footpedal failure, reverb wigout. So I'm looking for any
advice and/or experience with the DSL combo line anyone may have. Is
this line any less reliable than other Marshalls? How about compared
to other tube amps in general? If all I have to do is attach a small
cooling fan to avoid problems then it's definitely worth it to me.

Thanks.

PMG

2004-02-17 03:48:33 UTC

Permalink

Post by freaksho
I just did some tube amp shopping today. I was looking for a small
combo with the classic Marshall crunch gain. I found it and more in
the JCM 2000 DSL401 (40W all tube combo). I LOVED LOVED LOVED IT! It
has LOTS of power and all the Marshall grind I could have hoped for -
perfectly delivered the magic tones of Led Zep, AC/DC, and everything
else bluesy and tasty I could think of. I think I learned that the
only way to get the Marshall sound is to get a Marshall! (all tubes
only, of course). And with a little tone adjusting and maxing out the
gain I even got really close to really mean metal and grunge tones,
including the the deep chug chug chug of Metallica et al. An amazing
unit!
BUT,
Doing some web review reading tonight I heard A LOT of complaints
about reliability - e.g. overheating and tube failure, shoddy
soldering, footpedal failure, reverb wigout. So I'm looking for any
advice and/or experience with the DSL combo line anyone may have. Is
this line any less reliable than other Marshalls? How about compared
to other tube amps in general? If all I have to do is attach a small
cooling fan to avoid problems then it's definitely worth it to me.
Thanks.

That model does have an ugly reputation because of heat problems, and
a few other things related to modern mass production. I think using
four EL84 tubes complicates things, because EL84 tubes are known for
creating a fair amount of heat.

Not that Marshall hasn't used just about every popular tube at one
point or another, but most people think of the EL34 tube, not the EL84
tube, when they think of the Marshall sound. But I think that most of
the currently produced Marshall amps will share the 401's mass
produced amp problems.

A JTM45 reissue would give you roughly the same amount of power (I
think less) but those use 6L6/KT66 type output tubes, and they have no
master volume (if you like those), and I think they stopped making
those recently. The 1987x RI would have about 50watts, again, no
master volume. That one would have EL34 tubes. Then the Superlead RI
would be 100watts, again, no master volume.

Now all those reissue amps, have printed circuit boards, but leads to
the pots and tube sockets, and they aren't rat's nests inside, and
also aren't filled with ribbon cables.

So you should find them a whole lot more dependable than the DSL and
TSL lines of amps. Question is, do they have a sound that you can
work with, which I can't tell you.

Now I can almost guarantee that Scott & maybe someone else will tell
you about the advantages of getting an old Marshall if you really want
a Marshall sound. So I won't waste my time, since they can explain it
better. But I pretty much agree with the old Marshall concept.

Pete

--
Now you know why I used the qualifier "practically" --Bender

Graeme Roy

2004-02-17 04:21:35 UTC

Permalink

I have one and I like the sound alot. Yes, they do run hot - and yes his can
over time cause you problems. I run a cheap small fan on mine, problem
solved.
Graeme

Tony Novacheck

2004-02-17 07:39:52 UTC

Permalink

Try to find a JMP MkII ML series ... still relatively inexpensive, easy to work
on, and a killer sound.

Post by freaksho
BUT,
Doing some web review reading tonight I heard A LOT of complaints
about reliability - e.g. overheating and tube failure,

Haven't had the problem ...

Post by freaksho
shoddy
soldering,

Have had that problem ... got a full trade in for it 10 months after I bought
it. But I started bringing it in for the same problem off and on since less
than a month after I got it.

Post by freaksho
footpedal failure,

I've heard that they put a cheap switch in there, and have heard of this being
a problem, however I haven't had the problem yet ... after 3+ years.

Post by freaksho
reverb wigout.

Never heard of this one.

Post by freaksho
So I'm looking for any
advice and/or experience with the DSL combo line anyone may have.

Mine isn't a combo, but from what I hear they pretty much have the same
problems. Just make sure that if you get it, save your receipt and document
every problem you ever have with it. And take it into your warranty shop for
every little problem you might have with it. If you keep meticulous records,
there will be no doubt or argument with Marshall if they have to end up eating
it. Although Guitar Center didn't have to give me a new one, they did because
I kept my records, and I put up a little sob story about having to bring it to
the shop 5 times for the same problem, and then told them that after I called
KorgUSA, they were going to have me ship it to them and pay shipping, and I
wouldn't have an amp for several months, etc. They just gave me a new one for
the old one, and haven't had a single problem with that new one so far. It
even sounds better than the other one.

Post by freaksho
Is
this line any less reliable than other Marshalls?

Depends on which Marshalls ... better than any of the Valvestates, but doesn't
compare to anything before (not including) JCM 800's. Although I will admit
that the JCM 800's are marginally better sounding than the 2000's.

Post by freaksho
How about compared
to other tube amps in general? If all I have to do is attach a small
cooling fan to avoid problems then it's definitely worth it to me.

I don't know if that's such a good idea ... but I'd ask someone with more of a
technical knowledge of tubes.

Post by freaksho
Thanks.

Lostpup198

"The human race divides itself politically
into those who want to be controlled,
and those who have no such desire."

-- Robert A. Heinlein
(1907-1988)

Rich Koerner

2004-02-17 08:34:45 UTC

Permalink

Old Reliable, http://timeelect.com/73oldmar.htm

High Tech Reliable, if you're lucky, http://timeelect.com/mar2k.htm

So, as the number of parts go up, so does the risk of failure.

The labor bill for service, also is directly proportional, to the number in the parts
consist.

It's simply, a case of MORE places, for an intermittent problem, to hide.

Regards,

Rich Koerner,
Time Electronics.
http://www.timeelect.com

Specialists in Live Sound FOH Engineering,
Music & Studio Production,
Vintage Instruments, and Tube Amplifiers

winnard

2004-02-18 02:36:48 UTC

Permalink

Post by Rich Koerner

Old Reliable, http://timeelect.com/73oldmar.htm
High Tech Reliable, if you're lucky, http://timeelect.com/mar2k.htm
So, as the number of parts go up, so does the risk of failure.
The labor bill for service, also is directly proportional, to the number in the parts
consist.
It's simply, a case of MORE places, for an intermittent problem, to hide.
Regards,
Rich Koerner,
Time Electronics.
http://www.timeelect.com

Good lord. Why on earth do they have to use so many componants on a
modern amp and still not get as good a sound as the old'n days?

winnard

Tony Hwang

2004-02-18 03:05:20 UTC

Permalink

Post by Rich Koerner

in the parts

Post by Rich Koerner
consist.
It's simply, a case of MORE places, for an intermittent problem, to hide.
Regards,
Rich Koerner,
Time Electronics.
http://www.timeelect.com

Good lord. Why on earth do they have to use so many componants on a
modern amp and still not get as good a sound as the old'n days?
winnard

Hi,
Ever hear od KISS?(Keep it stupid and simple)
Tony

PMG

2004-02-18 03:48:07 UTC

Permalink

Post by Tony Hwang

Post by winnard
Good lord. Why on earth do they have to use so many componants on a
modern amp and still not get as good a sound as the old'n days?
winnard

Hi,
Ever hear od KISS?(Keep it stupid and simple)
Tony

Or to put it another way, there're too many parts to get the sound of
the old'n days. One key ingredient is not having too many
ingredients.

But looking at it another way, being able to operate an amp from the
old'n days well is an acquired skill.

Pete

--
Now you know why I used the qualifier "practically" --Bender

winnard

2004-02-18 04:07:56 UTC

Permalink

Post by PMG

Post by Tony Hwang

Post by winnard
Good lord. Why on earth do they have to use so many componants on a
modern amp and still not get as good a sound as the old'n days?
winnard

Hi,
Ever hear od KISS?(Keep it stupid and simple)
Tony

Or to put it another way, there're too many parts to get the sound of
the old'n days. One key ingredient is not having too many
ingredients.
But looking at it another way, being able to operate an amp from the
old'n days well is an acquired skill.
Pete

Buying the '72 50 watt Marshall forever changed my life for the better.
Using only the knobs on the guitar is all it takes to rock the world. I
feel sorry for the tube bashers of the world.

winnard

Bernard M. Piller

2004-02-17 08:53:17 UTC

Permalink

Marshall today has a lot of quality problems with the soldering. Once
you get the "preamp tubes go dark" problem, open the chassis, resolder
by hand and you will not get the problem again.

Put a passive cooler on the bridge rectifier and put a fan in the case
to cool the power section.

Look at my DSL combo service page:
http://www.piller.at/music/dsl201/

Mike Kallay

2004-02-20 18:50:17 UTC

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Bernard M. Piller

2004-02-20 21:39:33 UTC

Permalink

get the heater wire problem fixed
To me, the possibility of it going dead again was too great a risk.

The lose reverb tank and heater wire problem are very common, unfortunately.

But they both are easy to fix - which is no excuse for Marshalls current
quality problems. I just want to say that if you love the sound of your
amp, you don't need to sell it.
Just use longer screws to secure the reverb tank and follow the pictures
on my website to resolder the heater wire. Once resoldered manually it
will not fail again.

Bernard

--
www.piller.at