Amps on the Brain!

eoin5

Two questions.

1: What do peoples thinks of the Marshall DSL401 combo? How does it compare to the Hotrod Deluxe? I'm getting an amp for someone into classic rock and heavy metal and I'm not sure which would suit better.

2: Has anyone played the Lunchbox amps? http://www.barryrudolph.com/newtoys/toys6/ztampslunchbox.html . What people are saying seems mad outta something so small...

Fingers Mcginty

eoin5 wrote: »

I'm getting an amp for someone into classic rock and heavy metal and I'm not sure which would suit better.

Definitely not the Fender. I had one and it won't do the metal thing. The overdrive channel on the hot road always sounded buzzy to me. Never owned a Marshall. Some of the others might be able to advise you on the Marshall...I've never played through a DSL. Can I ask what your mate's budget would be? Also would it be used for gigging or bedroom practice?

boycey

As Fingers pointed out the Fender is definitely out, without a pedal stuck in front of it anyway, and even then I dont think you'd really get that sound. Again, haven't played that particular Marshall so in the old tradition of ask about oranges and get told about lemons I'll make an alternative suggestion...
Randall RG50 TC...
http://www.guitarampkeyboard.com/en/73876

Great little amps for the money and right on the money for classic rock and metal, and a good bit more! I advised my jamming buddy to get one a few years back and have spent a lot of time with it, it gets a big recomendation from me.

One last thing- Fingers asked is it for bedroom use? - any of them is gonna be overkill really if thats the case (though in fairness the Randall can pull off some good tones at low volume) - maybe a modeller from Line 6 or similar would be a better purchase for the meantime, if that is the case.

eoin5

Thanks lads, looks like the Fender is out. The story is this guy wants to get rid of his old Marshall stack which is too big and loud and get something more handy sized. Its gotta be gigworthy though. I've agreed to take the stack off him and get him an amp to replace it, I'd go to about the grand mark. The brands he likes are Fender and Marshall but I wouldnt rule out other brands completely.

thegom145

If you're looking for a marshall around the grand mark for heavy rock/metal this is pretty tasty: http://www.thomann.de/ie/marshall_2266c_vintage_modern.htm

I tried one out recently and was really impressed, if you wanna try one out most of the Dublin music stores have em afaik.

eoin5

thegom145 wrote: »

If you're looking for a marshall around the grand mark for heavy rock/metal this is pretty tasty: http://www.thomann.de/ie/marshall_2266c_vintage_modern.htm

I tried one out recently and was really impressed, if you wanna try one out most of the Dublin music stores have em afaik.

That looks really nice alright, I ordered the other one while boards was down though :rolleyes:

Eoin Madsen

Exactly what kind of old Marshall stack was he replacing? If we're talking pre-1990s then I'd have recommended against the DSL401, to be honest.

-Chris-

Pity you didn't do more research than 3 replies on boards. I've played the Deluxe and the 401 and I'd have the Deluxe every time.

It's OD channel is cack, but it takes pedals really well and so you can get classic rock or metal tones out of it if you put the right pedals in front.

The 401 is living off its name/badge only, it doesn't sound like a proper Marshall imho.


My €0.02

eoin5

-Chris- wrote: »

The 401 is living off its name/badge only, it doesn't sound like a proper Marshall imho.

I'll find out what its like soon enough

Eoin I'm guessing its an early 80s jcm800 (he said it was 70s but they didnt make them then according to wikipedia), its a trebley thing with lovely strong midrange, the perfect amp for a bass player to be staring across at.

darrenw5094

I had a Marshall 401 recently and was not impressed at all. Clean channel was bland and dead. There was a volume spike when you changed from OD1 to OD2 which share the same EQ and volume control....WTF Marshall.

The OD2 was ok when the gain was at 9 o'clock. Sounded ok-ish for ACDC and the classic rock. But overall, not a great amp. Also, the speaker was not a Celestion Vintage 30 or similar. It was a lower quality Celestion.

I have had a JVM combo, Plexi reissue and JTM45 reissue and they are much better than the DSL401.

Sergio

Ive a 2nd hand marshalldsl401 on adverts.ie at the moment if your interested.its in perfect condition and has never been used for gigging,ive got the user manual and footswitch included.

eoin5

Colinboy wrote: »

Ive a 2nd hand marshalldsl401 on adverts.ie at the moment if your interested.its in perfect condition and has never been used for gigging,ive got the user manual and footswitch included.

I've one ordered, what did you think of yours?

Eoin Madsen

eoin5 wrote: »

Eoin I'm guessing its an early 80s jcm800 (he said it was 70s but they didnt make them then according to wikipedia), its a trebley thing with lovely strong midrange, the perfect amp for a bass player to be staring across at.

Well, the 2203 and 2204 appeared in the mid-late 70s, and the first amps labelled as JCM800 in the 80s were the same models. He could be right. Either way, they're great amps; you're doing pretty good out the deal.

Though I'd be surprised if he was happy with a DSL401 as a replacement. I'd go so far as to say that it's comparatively junk.

Fingers Mcginty

Eoin Madsen wrote: »

I'd go so far as to say that it's comparatively junk.

ouch

darrenw5094

eoin5 wrote: »

I've one ordered, what did you think of yours?

How much did you pay for it, just out of curiousity?

Eoin Madsen

Fingers Mcginty wrote: »

ouch

Well, the original JCM800 makes most amps sound like crap. :pac: Plus, none of the new JCM amps sound much like the old Marshalls. And lastly, the DSL401 has a quad of EL-84s in the powerstage, which is probably going to give you a sound more like a classic Vox than a classic Marshall when it comes to cranking it. Probably anything sporting a pair of EL-34s would have been a better match.

I know I'm generalising the output valves a little there, but you know... I'm valve-biased. :pac:

Fingers Mcginty

This ain't sayin much but when I had a POD the JCM setting was always my favourite. Was a lovely sound for bedroom practise. Akso the stack setting on the microcube is also my fav. :cool:

eoin5

Eoin Madsen wrote: »

Well, the 2203 and 2204 appeared in the mid-late 70s, and the first amps labelled as JCM800 in the 80s were the same models. He could be right. Either way, they're great amps; you're doing pretty good out the deal.

Though I'd be surprised if he was happy with a DSL401 as a replacement. I'd go so far as to say that it's comparatively junk.

The guy is doing me a big favour. He said he wanted someone to make use of it. He said he'll take any gigworthy fender or marshall for it but I didnt want to shaft him with an MG or similar.

I might try changing the order, what do you think would be a good versatile marshall combo without straying too far from a grand? Someone mentioned one earlier in the vintage moderns, that looked nice.

Eoin Madsen

eoin5 wrote: »

I might try changing the order, what do you think would be a good versatile marshall combo without straying too far from a grand? Someone mentioned one earlier in the vintage moderns, that looked nice.

My experience of modern Marshall valve combos only includes the JCM900 and JCM2000 series amps, and nothing I've come across has ever impressed me in those.

That "vintage modern" that was linked to certainly seemed closer by its specs. But I dunno. Most of the time modern Marshalls are trading heavily on the brand - even when they're good, they're still overpriced. It's kind of hard to recommend a Marshall at all.

darrenw5094

eoin5 wrote: »

The guy is doing me a big favour. He said he wanted someone to make use of it. He said he'll take any gigworthy fender or marshall for it but I didnt want to shaft him with an MG or similar.

I might try changing the order, what do you think would be a good versatile marshall combo without straying too far from a grand? Someone mentioned one earlier in the vintage moderns, that looked nice.

If you are spending a grand, the newer JVM range would be a step up from the JCM2000 range. But for the midrange crunch and great clean, a used Orange Rockverb would be the man. Or any other valve Orange really.

Sergio

eoin5 wrote: »

I've one ordered, what did you think of yours?

Its not a bad amp and has nice tone overall but i didnt think the OD channels were great and lacked abit more gain and clarity.
I bought the new series one from blackstar and the gain from their OD channels are fantastic and would blow your head off.:D