Hot Rodding a DSL40C???

Inspector #20

Inspector #20

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Since I cannot seem to sell this amp, I might consider modding it, either something along the lines of the Folkesson or Senes mod....

The main problem with the DSL40C - and Don O verified this - is it turns to total mud with the gain above 1/2 on lead 1 and above 9am on lead 2. It works OK for AC/DC stuff, but not for anything heavier, like covering Ratt or Dokken.

Thoughts, Amp Gurus????
 
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I'm not really a tightwad, I just hate buying things then seeing them sit unused until I sell them for 30% of what I paid for them. I guess it's my conservative upbringing....:-)

I guess there are a couple of ways to approach this problem.

1. Have the amp modded.

This could be either the Fokkelsson or Senes mod, which is popular on DSL40C's, oir something similarto what Tim caswell did to $39. I have actually been in touch with Tim a couple of years back and he was kind enough to send me a diagram of his 'SIR #39' modification, but I do not think this could be applied to a DSL40C because of the circuit board arrangement.

2. Buy an overdrive pedal.

The only time I ever used an overdrive pedal was back around 1983 when I ran my guitar through a Traynor YBA-2A bass rig. At that time, I used a DOD FX-50 for gain and a DOD-FX90 for lead/solo tone.

Getting deep into uncharted waters here....and, I have no idea if I can drive the amp harder (more gain) without the 'flubbiness' and break up coming back that I get on the Lead 1 & Lead 2 settings now.

Hmmmmm.....
 
Watch this video..at around 4:10, he ups the gain on red channel, eventually going all the way to 3'O-clock.

There is NO WAY IN HELL this amp will run like this in stock condition!!! I played through 3 different DSL40C's at Guitar Sinner and ALL of them behave just like mine. Don O's DSL40C was tested (graciously by him on my behalf) and his responds in the same fashion - gain past 12'O-clock is total muddiness.

 
Robert, I posted a comment in the youtube with your quote about the muddiness and testing various examples of this amp. Let's see if he answers

I also posted a PM to a pretty knowledgeable Marshall amp guy in the Marshall Amp Forum and am waiting his reply. DO you go to that forum as well?
 
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chilipeppermaniac said:
DID you notice he is playing a Les Paul BARITONE at 4:10-4:25? Then a LP after 4:29?
Has Marshall made any circuit mods over the different years this was made?
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Marshall has claimed no circuit mods, only speaker upgrades, but I have found the EXACT muddy behavior on the Creamback equipped DSL40C's as well.
 
guitarweasel said:
A few questions;

1. Would you consider getting a better quality amp?
2. Head, or combo?
3. Budget?
Click to expand...

Hey! Good Morning! and thanks for responding...

I have some time to work this out. Our drummer is out 9 weeks with shoulder surgery, and we leave tomorrow to visit my wife's dying Father in Nicaragua for a month.

To answer your questions though, I have indeed thought of getting a better amp. I think my point - at least at this time - is not taking a huge loss on this DSL40C, which has inclined me to look for possible solutions. Between the cost of the amp, the Weber Attentuator and the custom 50 watt reaper 55Hz, and multiple sets of tubes, I have $900.00 wrapped up in this and getting lowballed in the $275.00/$300.00 range. I know price shouldn't be a consideration, but the principle of losing 50% of the values of some purchased stuff bugs the practical side of me.

I have a Line 6 HD75 head and vintage Jackson 4X12 cabinet, but I can't transport this in my own car. When I was with Maxon-Axxe, we had a moving truck to transport gear. Having something that fits in my car is important. The DSL40C fits but I couldn't go much bigger than that physically speaking.

Budget is very flexible. I am definitely going to do some extensive testing before I lay down cash again...although this trip to Central America will take nearly all of my current reserves.

What kind of suggestions do you have????
 
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chilipeppermaniac said:
weasel, Robert has owned many more expensive amps and combos and yet still does not get the sound he is after.
Click to expand...

A big stack - even a half stack - just isn't practical for me anymore. I had a 2203 Marshall with a 1965A 4x10 cabinet for a very long time. It had the right tone and I used a delay pedal to give me some sort of reverb effect. It had enough gain to cover heavier songs and never got muddy, no matter how hard you drove the gain. Never used any kind of overdrive/boost/distortion with it.
 
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