I don't dislike it but I prefer the Red1. It's a bit tighter and it allows me to play without needing the boost on at all times (I boost for leads only).

I do agree that the Green Crunch sounds a lot like the 800 RI. I also prefer the DSL to the 800 RI.

I never really got along with 800s tbh. By the time they are sounding good, they are so loud, you might as well use a Plexi (which will sound better). I've been trying to like them since the 80s and bought them several times to give them another chance but I could never gel with them. Don't get me wrong, they're cool amps but not to justify their current prices and hype. I will take a plexi with an attenuator or PPIMV over an 800 any day.

You should bust out a Boss SD-1.

yeah that's what I normally use but my main board is at the lockout this week. So I used what I have laying around.

Damnit now this thread made me buy a DSL100H. It sounds Plexi enough to me! I had a 40c and loved it but the head should be even better. I never dialed in the red channel to sound that good but I didn't know these settings at the time either.

yeah the 40c is pretty much the same, although the stock speaker is not that great. But run the 40c into a Creamback and it will sing just fine.

Definitely like the DSL better. The Plexi sounds more "real" but that super brashness is why I never got along with Marshalls.

How would you say the Xotix EP booster compares to that pedal?

If playing AC/DC style riffs with open chords n stuff, Plexi seems like the winner to me. Anything else DSL. DSL seems to have a better pick attack. Keep both!

They're almost opposites. EP Booster is the Echoplex preamp circuit, it adds a lot of low end fatness to single notes and can get almost fuzz- like at extreme settings.

The TS Mini is the Tube Screamer 808 in a mini pedal. It removes/tightens to low end and its very midrange centered, almost a cocked wah type of tone.

That's the plan.

Great comparison! If I had to choose I would probably say I would go with the DSL. I LOVE Plexis but for thew cost and value, I would go DSL all day.

I liked the Plexi better, but the DSL is no slouch.
It's nice to have both, cures the boredom.

DSL by a slight margin for me, but the Plexi is freaking killer too and if both can stay... well, yes

I got my DSL100H I ordered because of this thread and I'll be damned, with Billy's settings tweaked slightly to my preferences, it really is the best Marshall amp I've had to date. I'm running a little more gain (3 vs Billy's 2) so I did turn the bass down to 1.5, mids down to 3 and presence up to 5 and it sounds absolutely amazing. Plus with these settings the clean channel blends perfectly. I did try green crunch which was my favorite before I learned Billy's way of dialing the Red channel, but it is definitely more 800 sounding while Red is more Plexi. I'm pretty sure I will be listing the 6505 soon. Lol.

I gotta try these settings.

Nice man!! Yeah keeping the EQ low is the ticket with the DSL. :thu;

Glad it worked out!!!

DSL gurus, how does this DSL wisdom apply to the DSL20? IIRC it doesn't have all the same modes?

I would dig this functionality in a small package like my SC20 (sounds great and weighs less than a 12 of longnecks). But if the modes you all dig aren't in the DSL20...

I had a DSL20 head and by the time it got loud enough to sound really good, you would have already had better tone at slightly less volume with a DSL40C or DSL100H. It does still sound excellent for it's size and price.

Totally agree. The 100 watt DSL's sound better at lower volume then the 20 watters.

The 20 is not really suitable for much besides l, I guess at home playing. I get the little Plexi and 800, Altho the coats of those seem crazy and that’s the point I’m trying to make is costwise, I get using the little heads, or having them in the arsenal to get some of those tones. But a used DSL, either the 40, old 50watt or the 100watt heads are all pretty affordable and so pretty good at lower volumes. Or I should say just as good as the DSL 20. I got a good deal on mine and thought, I’ll keep it around for some recording stuff but I just don’t find anything I really liked about it. Missing the green crunch was a big loss for that head

Nice! What's funny is that's pretty close to how I dialed my brother's long since sold DSL 100 many years back. It sounded great, lots of Marshall tones in there but yes, they lean a little bright. He didn't gel with it and also sold his SG because doesn't like the feel of painted necks or some bs. I did my best with him but yeah... when it comes to instilling a love of Marshall and Gibson I failed, lol.

Listening to the clip again. Both amps sound so good but I would easily be happy with the DSL. I am not in the market for another tube amp right now as the 3rd Power Kitchen Sink does everything I need but the DSL would be an awesome replacement or as a backup rig. Great playing too, Billy!