Interestingly, with this tube combination, the DSL40C settings - when set totally by ear - almost mimicked the VS265 settings identically. The VS265 is never adjusted appreciably from its rehearsal/performance settings shown.
Zoom in to see the dial positions (in red characters) and notes:
And a shot of the DSL40C post tube swap:
Interesting points between the two amps:
1997 Valvestate VS265 2 X 12 Emminence Gold Backs
The VS265 has a 'Contour' control knob which functions to scoop the mids. Since I accompany a very mid-rangey bass in this group, I tend to fatten my tone a bit. The 'FX Loop MIx' also functions as a slight volume and mid boost when engaged, even with nothing in the loop.
With the mids cranked to '10' and boosted slightly with the FX Mix, I am able to roll some of the mids off with the Contour, which has a 'coloring' effect. It's subtle, but seems to add more low frequency to the mids without affecting their ability to cut through.
The 'Power Dimension' button is designed (according to Marshall) to act like an attentuator - giving a more saturated tone at low volumes. In actual use, it functions like a mid boost.
If you crank the gain on the VS265 to '10' it never gets flubby or muddy, even with a Soviet Genelex Gold Lion 'B759' in pre-amp position V1.
2015 DSL40C 1 X 12 WGS 55Hz Reaper
The DSL40C does not have a 'Contour' control, but allows highs (Presence) and lows (resonance) to be boosted or cut to suit your tastes.
Notice that mids are fully boosted and then 'colored' with the 'Tone Shift' which trims some of the 'edge' off the mid frequencies, but doesn't add any muddiness.
'Lead 2' is always 'On,' which gives a mid boost and a more pronounced gain effect. Switching between Lead 1 and Lead 2 is dramatic. Lead 1 sounds thin in comparison. Lead 2 is thicker, harder-hitting in general, with a much more aggressive gain effect for the same amount of knob movement in Lead 1.
So, if you consider the effect that is being used on each amp, the settings - when set totally by ear - are nearly identical and the tones are very similar.
If you increase the gain on the DSL40C above about '5' on the dial (12 O'clock) the tone gets muddy and undefined. The gain on this amp - at least on this one I have here - is totallu unuseable on 'Lead 1' above '7' (dial setting) and above '5' (dial setting) on 'Lead 2.'
The most noticeable difference between the two is where the two amps score on the aural spectrum.
On the VS265 - Think of Mustaine's rhythm tone on 'A Tout Le Monde.' The twin 12" speakers really add depth and presence to the tone. Sounds like a half stack when recording direct out.
On the DSL40C - Think of Angus Young's tone on 'Let's Get It Up.'
The tones are very usable, but in very different ways.
All the 'muddiness' that I was attributing the the WGS Reaper 55Hz was actually the result of too high a gain setting!!!!!!!
