DSL trouble.

IIRC, my best tube rollout in the DSL40C was....

V1 ECC823
V2 Genelex B759 Gold Lion
V3 EC83MG
V4 12AT7 GE

This was when I was using two of them working in a Judas Priest tribute band and hitting both amps pretty hard.
 
DSL amps are plagued by a voodoo curse.
All kinds of things keep going wrong.

In fact I think some of the DSLs are some of the poorest designed and built amps I have ever worked on.
Seymour Duncan convertible
DSL 50 & 100 JCM 2000
These are examples of really bad designs, in fact horrific engineering crap materials.

But players like the way the amp sounds - (one particular channel one particular mode).
So, they keep fixing the DSLs over and over again. They won't buy other amps.

They say DSL (40 CR) and DSL 50 and 100 JCM 2000 have a certain sound that no other amp has.

But eventually DSL will reach a point where it's no longer fixable.

I keep telling these guys to buy Fender EVH III amp instead.
It really does have a nice sound, and it has parts / support in all kinds of ways.
 
Amp Mad Scientist said:
DSL amps are plagued by a voodoo curse.
All kinds of things keep going wrong.

In fact I think some of the DSLs are some of the poorest designed and built amps I have ever worked on.
Seymour Duncan convertible
DSL 50 & 100 JCM 2000
These are examples of really bad designs, in fact horrific engineering crap materials.

But players like the way the amp sounds - (one particular channel one particular mode).
So, they keep fixing the DSLs over and over again. They won't buy other amps.

They say DSL (40 CR) and DSL 50 and 100 JCM 2000 have a certain sound that no other amp has.

But eventually DSL will reach a point where it's no longer fixable.

I keep telling these guys to buy Fender EVH III amp instead.
It really does have a nice sound, and it has parts / support in all kinds of ways.
Click to expand...

Hmmmm....

I ran two of them, 5 nights a week for 2 years and never had an issue....I can't imagine what could be harder on them than that.

EVH III???

The Made in China amps are that good???

20220210_084600.jpg

20220210_084546.jpg

20220210_084555.jpg
 
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I ran it this morning, it started off fine. After about 20 or 30 minutes of playing it started to sound muffled, then the sound had some slight crackling. I left it on for a few more minutes to see if it would get worse. Came back and it was kicking like nothing happened.
Played for a while longer and nothing happened, it stayed normal.
Left it on stepped away, came back, played a little more and it started to muffle again.
It seem so random and intermittent.

I'm gonna start the swapping out process. I hope V1 is the culprit. While I'm in there I'll check the bias on the power tubes ... can't hurt.
I think Marshall recommends 35mA. I'll look it up to make sure.
 
LiveeviL2000 said:
I ran it this morning, it started off fine. After about 20 or 30 minutes of playing it started to sound muffled, then the sound had some slight crackling. I left it on for a few more minutes to see if it would get worse. Came back and it was kicking like nothing happened.
Played for a while longer and nothing happened, it stayed normal.
Left it on stepped away, came back, played a little more and it started to muffle again.
It seem so random and intermittent.

I'm gonna start the swapping out process. I hope V1 is the culprit. While I'm in there I'll check the bias on the power tubes ... can't hurt.
I think Marshall recommends 35mA. I'll look it up to make sure.
Click to expand...
You could also try the chop stick troubleshooting method and tap a tube one at a time and see if the issue comes and goes.
 
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LiveeviL2000 said:
I ran it this morning, it started off fine. After about 20 or 30 minutes of playing it started to sound muffled, then the sound had some slight crackling. I left it on for a few more minutes to see if it would get worse. Came back and it was kicking like nothing happened.
Played for a while longer and nothing happened, it stayed normal.
Left it on stepped away, came back, played a little more and it started to muffle again.
It seem so random and intermittent.

I'm gonna start the swapping out process. I hope V1 is the culprit. While I'm in there I'll check the bias on the power tubes ... can't hurt.
I think Marshall recommends 35mA. I'll look it up to make sure.
Click to expand...
You might as well be proactive while swapping any tube by cleaning the tube sockets with electronic contact cleaner spray. Make sure the solvent has evaporated before turning on the amp.
 
LiveeviL2000 said:
I ran it this morning, it started off fine. After about 20 or 30 minutes of playing it started to sound muffled, then the sound had some slight crackling. I left it on for a few more minutes to see if it would get worse. Came back and it was kicking like nothing happened.
Played for a while longer and nothing happened, it stayed normal.
Left it on stepped away, came back, played a little more and it started to muffle again.
It seem so random and intermittent.

I'm gonna start the swapping out process. I hope V1 is the culprit. While I'm in there I'll check the bias on the power tubes ... can't hurt.
I think Marshall recommends 35mA. I'll look it up to make sure.
Click to expand...
It's not a bias issue but checking the bias doesn't hurt.

If it were a bias issue, the problem would happen on all channels not just the one.
 
Crackle after warm up arcing will cause that, it's unfortunate the single sided solder pads are on the bottom of the pcb board
for inspection. Why a failed or cold solder connection will expand loose continuity with heat cools down makes contact again.
 
chilipeppermaniac said:
That is why I mentioned it, Blinky. Some folks with some versions of board had issues. Marshall would supply updated newer boards to correct problems.
Click to expand...
Marshall offered a Revision 20 board but charged roughly $220 for it, totally screwing the buyers instead of fessing up to a clear failure on their end. @froman5150 is currently awaiting said board after months now
 
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