Hot Rodding a DSL40C???

Bocc69 said:
I have a single 12 extension cab for my DSL40c. I've even used my cabinet. And it surely brings the amp to life a bit....but for me, it kind of defeats the purpose of having a small, manageable combo amp.

I think it's a good amp overall, but it has its limitations for sure, most of which you discuss in detail. . I've replaced the tubes, but I've never gotten it back to where it was when I first brought it home.

At the band room, I use the "house" ibanez tube amp. No idea of the model, it sucks, and I hate it. But, that little ibanez amp is the number one upgrade to making my DSL40 sound great!!:)

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What tone are you looking for??? From the DSL40C...
 
Don O said:
Curious as to why you need lubricant in a tube socket? To me it seems bare metal to metal is a better source of electron flow than having a solution in the flow. (n)
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Hey, Don...this Super Slick Stuff is ultra light. No residue. I felt like I was flexing the PCB when swapping tubes. A little of this on a Q-tip made the tubes seat with little effort.
 
chilipeppermaniac said:
Not sure DonO, but maybe it is along the lines of how electrolytic grease is recommended in some automotive applications.
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Nope. Its light, light, light and seems to evaporate.

11 OZ, Super Slick Stuff Lubricant, Is A Non-Petroleum Base Cleaner/Lubricant, Penetrates & Cleans Rust, Dirt, Grime, Grease, Protects From Moisture, Wear, Rust & Corrosion & Leaves No Oily Residue, Does Not Contain PTFE, Silicone, Wax Nor Graphite, Use On Any Metal Or Between Metal Moving Parts In Locks, Chains.......
 
Bocc69 said:
I have a single 12 extension cab for my DSL40c. I've even used my cabinet. And it surely brings the amp to life a bit....but for me, it kind of defeats the purpose of having a small, manageable combo amp.

I think it's a good amp overall, but it has its limitations for sure, most of which you discuss in detail. . I've replaced the tubes, but I've never gotten it back to where it was when I first brought it home.

At the band room, I use the "house" ibanez tube amp. No idea of the model, it sucks, and I hate it. But, that little ibanez amp is the number one upgrade to making my DSL40 sound great!!:)

View attachment 25229
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Click to expand...

I went from almost selling my brand new DSL40C + Attenuator/Tubes/Speaker in disgust for $375.00 to getting a great tone from it.

Nothing smaller can give me the punch I want. Nothing bigger fits in the trunk of my Mustang.
I don't own a truck and don't want to buy one.

I can help you get the tone you want out of it. It really is a great amp, but it isnt "tuned" properly from the factory.

I disagree with all the suggestions to clip C-19 and replace the cathode bypass with 1.0uf or whatever.

Yes. The stock speaker is somewhat one dimensional, and a Creamback, Veteran 30 or ET-65/90 all really sweeten and improve the amps tone.

The stock power tubes are as good as anything you can buy....the real tone is in your choice of preamp tubes.

I've tried every modern and vintage tube I could find in mine and I am happy to share my combinations with you.

No soldering. No clipping. Just 4 tubes and a speaker swap...

Enquire Within...
 
smitty_p said:
Interesting...

A 12AU7 is a very low gain tube.
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Yes, indeed it is. I discovered that this tube gave me greater range of the gain knob, more useable gain from the amp's own overdrive, and a sweeter, fuller, richer overdrive when the TS-9 was engaged.
 
Cool. I just changed the phase inverter (PI) tube in my little DSL5C to a 5751, also.

There were no tonal changes, per se, but it seems to have knocked a bit of the fizz off the Ultra channel.

After that, I also put an Electro Harmonix 12AX7 in the V1 position. Again, not much of a tonal change, except it seems to add a bit more harmonics. I also tried a Sylvania 12AX7 in V1, but I couldn't really tell a difference between that and the stock valve.

This Gold Lion 12AX7 has me interested, though...

Over on the Marshall Forum I learned about the WGS Green Beret speaker. That has my attention. I need to look into that.
 
With any other 12Ax7 tube, Lead 2 was so thick and undefined that it was unuseable...and boosting Lead 2 just made it worse. The 12AU7 totally changed the amp's character. Lead 1 is also more defined, but the biggest change is how much chug that Lead 2 can put out on palm muted passages and yet still retain clarity and string/note articulation.
 
smitty_p said:
Cool. I just changed the phase inverter (PI) tube in my little DSL5C to a 5751, also.

There were no tonal changes, per se, but it seems to have knocked a bit of the fizz off the Ultra channel.

After that, I also put an Electro Harmonix 12AX7 in the V1 position. Again, not much of a tonal change, except it seems to add a bit more harmonics. I also tried a Sylvania 12AX7 in V1, but I couldn't really tell a difference between that and the stock valve.

This Gold Lion 12AX7 has me interested, though...

Over on the Marshall Forum I learned about the WGS Green Beret speaker. That has my attention. I need to look into that.
Click to expand...

I'm a believer in WGS.

I would suggest you try this:

V1: 5751
V2: 12AX7
V3: ECC83MG
V4: 5751

Very smooth, creamy overdrive with full mids and low end, less gain overall per degree of gain knob movement, yet more clarity and articulation.

The 5751 in V1 will reduce "Green Channel" gain also. If you wish to keep the higher gain level on the Green Channel, just put an ECC823 in V1.
 
The B759 Gold Lion is a beast. Very high gain tube, yet still musical. This is THE tube for all Valvestates. Nothing is better. However, the gain is 'sweeter' when boosting a lower gain tube....IMHO.
 
Also, beware of the knock off Genelex Gold Lion B759 tubes. The genuine has gold pins and a yellowish-gold marking on the glass. It's also Russian made.

If it's not Russian, it is likely a copy. I paid about $49.00 for mine from Amplified Parts in Arizona when they are in stock.

Let me get some pics shortly.
 
Oh, and a Tube Screamer is a 100% requirement. It doesn't really add gain...it just makes the Les Paul sound like it weighs 100 pounds....big, huge speaker pulsation...but with absolute clarity.

I don't think I could get this without a TS or some copy of it, like a Green Monkey or East River Drive....
 
@smitty_p - I am convinced through actual testing that the 5751 in the PI needs a ECC83MG in V3 to really shine. I swapped tubes back to back and with a standard ECC83 in V3, the effect of 5751 (both GE and JJ sounded and behaved the same) was not dramatic...and as you say, it reduced the fizzyness... but when combined with the ECC83MG, the effect was much more pronounced....and with the 12AU7 in V1, the 5751 effect became more dramatic.

This combo really sounded good too but I wanted more grit:

V1: 5751
V2: 5751
V3: ECC83MG
V4: 5751

Ask Don O. He's running 5751 in the V1 slot of his DSL40C.
 
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