Marshall Class 5 v Marshall DSL 5...
- Thread starter Mr Grumpy
- Start date
I have both.
There isn’t really much of a comparison; they are very different in what they are designed to do.
The DSL is more useful to me in that it is a dual-channel amp with an effects loop. Like many DSL amps, they can get a little fizzy if the gain is pushed too high. I leave mine at around 1:00 - 2:00.
The Class 5 is a single channel amp with no loop. It has just a volume control, in addition to the bass, middle, and treble controls. There is no gain control. The sound is okay, but I have to roll the bass WAY back to avoid getting too bassy. This isn’t that unusual for this amp. Earlier models could be prone to rattling. Later models corrected this somewhat. Of course, this isn’t an issue if you just get the head version.
Class 5s can get really loud. They almost need to be cranked to get their best sound.
There isn’t really much of a comparison; they are very different in what they are designed to do.
The DSL is more useful to me in that it is a dual-channel amp with an effects loop. Like many DSL amps, they can get a little fizzy if the gain is pushed too high. I leave mine at around 1:00 - 2:00.
The Class 5 is a single channel amp with no loop. It has just a volume control, in addition to the bass, middle, and treble controls. There is no gain control. The sound is okay, but I have to roll the bass WAY back to avoid getting too bassy. This isn’t that unusual for this amp. Earlier models could be prone to rattling. Later models corrected this somewhat. Of course, this isn’t an issue if you just get the head version.
Class 5s can get really loud. They almost need to be cranked to get their best sound.
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OP
Mr Grumpy
Ambassador of Comings and Goings
Thanks Smitty - exactly what I wanted to know. The one available locally in very good condition is $400 and is the second iteration, so it drops down to 0.1 watt while still sounding good(ish), so I was thinking I can get the full range of sounds from the 9 to 3 O'clock which is where I'd like to live for late night use, and maybe crank it up sometimes. Is the low watt setting nice sounding?
OP
Mr Grumpy
Ambassador of Comings and Goings
I had the DSL 5, but didn't particularly like the lower watt setting (even with the celestion greenback I put in), so am thinking about the Class 5, but if the low wattage is no good then with no gain/master volume it'll be a no go...
I'm assuming that's green channel gain.....?????
Actually, both.
On my DSL 5C, I generally leave the green channel at 1:00 or 2:00 (depending on the guitar). I’ll push it more with lower output guitars.
On the red channel, I don’t push the gain much past 1:00 or 2:00, either. I’ll have the red channel volume about 3:00.
Keep in mind, the earlier DSL 5C amplifiers use an entirely different type of power tube. They use a 12BH7. This is a dual-element tube. So, the way you’d run your DSL 40C doesn’t quite translate across to this.
No doubt! A DSL40C at 12 noon on Red channel is a beast.
gball
Ambassador of Boogie
Not much I can add that hasn't been said, but I can say personally that if I was the kind of guy that relied on pedals for dirt it'd be the Class 5 all the way. The fundamental quality of tone is superior IMO, but the lack of master volume makes it a little tough if you need a saturated sound at reasonable volume levels.
“Pedals for dirt” work great with the Class 5. Where I found it to be lacking as a pedal platform is when using pedals that normally go after dirt, such as delays and reverb.
The Class 5 goes into overdrive the more you crank the volume. So, if you’re using a delay and you have the amp cranked, you’ll run into a situation where the delay is essentially feeding overdrive (the “overdrive” being the amp, itself), rather than overdrive feeding the delay.
To use these types of effects with a Class 5, I had to keep the amp volume low enough that the amp wasn’t overdriving, and use pedals for all the dirt, before my delay (which I use a lot). The problem with this approach is that the amp does sound better as you crank it.
I’ve heard the Class 5 described as a “mini-Plexi” in terms of its sound. I’ve never heard a Plexi in person, but I’m sure that has to be a bit of an overreaching description!
gball
Ambassador of Boogie
The one I messed around with was head, and it was plugged into a 1960A. For me at least, I think that is a pretty fair description. The tone was there, it just lacked the overwhelming volume and low-end push of a full-size head.
Really?
Cool!
Well, that is interesting. I’ve only heard mine directly through it’s own 10” speaker. I have heard it PA’d through another speaker. It sounded pretty good PA’d, but not as much with my time-based effects when cranked. As said, it does respond favorably to gain pedals. It also works well with a Strat.
I was thinking about selling mine, but maybe I’ll hang onto it and just use it with an external cabinet.
gball
Ambassador of Boogie
At least try the little sucker through some kind of sealed-back cab before you unload it.. I wouldn't have guessed that it would sound so huge but it would be a great recording amp IMO. That's why I mentioned I would choose it over the DSL: its inherent, fundamental tone is really spot-on old-school Marshall to me. Crank it and stick a Distortion+ or a DS-1 in front of it and you'd be looking at some classic tones.
The DSL40C sounds unreal through my 200 watt/4x12 Jackson/Eminence cabinet