DSL40C Surprise:

Inspector #20

Inspector #20

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One of the local session guys who ended up with one of my two DSL40C's (a 2015 build) came by today for me to install it in the Stagecraft cabinet.

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He told me. "Dude, this is the loudest amp anyone of my friends has ever heard. It's louder than my bandmates JCM800..."

While installing the chassis, I noticed something...

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The PCB is marked DSL100-60-00 ISSUE 1. Note the flat black, 1k ohm cathode resistors....

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DSL100??? Probably just a misprint...

Then I looked at the transformers.

One is labeled "DSL100-U VT 15 06 120V RoHS"

The other is labeled " DSL 100-U VT 15 03 120V RoHS."

I never did anything to this amp but change tubes. I bought it from Zzounds in late 2015 and it was listed as "Factory Refurbished - Full factory Warranty." I never even paid attention to any of the internal markings until today.

Thoughts????
 
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Likely same board as the power tubes are mounted separately. As it has only 2 EL34s, I am sure it is simply the same board and transformers.
As for it being louder than other dude's 800, whoch 800? A 50 watt? Which speakers? Where are speakers sitting in relation to the DSL? Too many variables to mean anything from that
 
Jethro Rocker said:
Likely same board as the power tubes are mounted separately. As it has only 2 EL34s, I am sure it is simply the same board and transformers.
As for it being louder than other dude's 800, whoch 800? A 50 watt? Which speakers? Where are speakers sitting in relation to the DSL? Too many variables to mean anything from that
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Not sure.

When I was using it for gigging, it could drown out my bandmates 100watt Carvin full stack.

@Mitch Pearrow SJMP was in attendance and Todd kept complaining "That damn DSL with that f**king Russian speaker is too f**kin loud!!!! You f**kin drowned me out, Man!!!"

Now, let me explain.

Todd used to crank up and drown everyone out. At our first rehearsal, he tried to fight our bass player.

One day at rehearsal in Murrieta, I got tired of talking to him and cranked my DSL40C. I was using a Electro-Harmonix 12VR75 speaker 101db.

It totally drowned out his 100 watt Carvin full tube stack.

Mitch was there. I'm not joking...
 
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Robert Herndon said:
Not sure.

When I was using it for gigging, it could drown out my bandmates 100watt Carvin full stack.
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You can't really get more than 60 watts from 2xEL34s regardless of voltage so I dunno. I think they just share a board. Same critter other than power output.
Again, speaker choice and placement and cabinet will all determine the apparent level of one amp to another.

DSL 100H Gut Shots

<t>For your reference:<br/> The following are photos of the new, DSL 100H. The DSL 40C appears to utilize the same PCB.</t>
musiciansroadhouse.com
 
My DSL 100s were the second loudest amps I've ever played!

Only barely behind my mode fours which are 350 watt amps.

If he was playing through a super efficient speaker and the other guy wasn't, it could easily be louder.
For instance V30s vs T-75s "seem" way louder.

My humble 2 cents worth
 
Headache said:
My DSL 100s were the second loudest amps I've ever played!

Only barely behind my mode fours which are 350 watt amps.

If he was playing through a super efficient speaker and the other guy wasn't, it could easily be louder.
For instance V30s vs T-75s "seem" way louder.

My humble 2 cents worth
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Like piece of poop Vintage 30's. I hate those speakers. I've killed them in my DSL40C (when I first started and believed all the B.S. I was told) and no warranty on speakers I later found out.
 
Jethro Rocker said:
Depending where one was standing at the time, speaker choice is huge, the fact that 4x12's project so far out before starting to spread, where his master volume was set vs yours will all affect the apparent output.
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See photo for placement. We had 25 foot cables and walked outside the space and he couldn't get up over me. His speakers (vintage 30's he claimed) sounded like they were being farted to death!

I will agree that this is a childish way to handle the situation, but we were all tiring of the guitarist's behavior.
 
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Robert Herndon said:
See photo for placement. We had 25 foot cables and walked outside the space and he couldn't get up over me. His speakers (vintage 30's he claimed) sounded like they were being farted to death!

I will agree that this is a childish way to handle the situation, but we were all tiring of the guitarist's behavior.
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I think one would have to be in center about 25 feet back right in line to tell. For example, maybe dude had scooped mids set? High mids will carry through way better. When you say outside, does that mean out of view? Cause not a great judgement of volume that way.
In any case, it seems they use the same board and so the 40 is 40 watts output and the same setup exactly with 80 watts should be 3 dB louder. That does not account for mid settings or placement etc. 3 dB is very little difference in output. You can't get 100 watts output through 2xEL34s with that setup. I wouldn't be concerned over it, it is a DSL 40 and it rocks!
 
Jethro Rocker said:
I think one would have to be in center about 25 feet back right in line to tell. For example, maybe dude had scooped mids set? High mids will carry through way better. When you say outside, does that mean out of view? Cause not a great judgement of volume that way.
In any case, it seems they use the same board and so the 40 is 40 watts output and the same setup exactly with 80 watts should be 3 dB louder. That does not account for mid settings or placement etc. 3 dB is very little difference in output. You can't get 100 watts output through 2xEL34s with that setup. I wouldn't be concerned over it, it is a DSL 40 and it rocks!
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It just kinda puzzled me and today, when I saw DSL100 transformers, it started to make sense.
 
An example. We played an outdoor show about 4 years ago and sadly the soundboard was in front off to stage right. So the guitar on right had very little thru FOH cause it was unnecessary. I listened to other bands out front. The 4x12 would project and beam straight out front and in the center or stage left you could NOT hear it at all. None. Because the cab sound doesn't spread out at that distance and the soundguy set it for his side of stage. An open back smaller cab would at least spread to the other side of the stage.
 
I found this as well.

Bigger transformer will give you slightly extended frequency response at the lower end, but these frequencies are not actually needed in guitar sound nor will be heard in a band situation.
 
Jethro Rocker said:
An example. We played an outdoor show about 4 years ago and sadly the soundboard was in front off to stage right. So the guitar on right had very little thru FOH cause it was unnecessary. I listened to other bands out front. The 4x12 would project and beam straight out front and in the center or stage left you could NOT hear it at all. None. Because the cab sound doesn't spread out at that distance and the soundguy set it for his side of stage. An open back smaller cab would at least spread to the other side of the stage.
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Exactly. I can't always hear my amp on stage because of the beam effect. Weber Beam Blockers helped tremendously.
 
Jethro Rocker said:
I think one would have to be in center about 25 feet back right in line to tell. For example, maybe dude had scooped mids set? High mids will carry through way better.
Click to expand...

Very true. I’ve experienced this first hand. A scooped sound can be just as loud on a dB meter as a sound that is not as scooped, but in the mix the sound will nearly disappear.
 
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