Marshall JCM-2000 DSL 100

Well, i'm sure you know all about this amp by now. Basically the weird thing about this amp is the channel switching. Because you can only switch between the two ultra-gain channels or the Classic/Clean channels. So, you can only go back and forth between say the Ultra 1 channel and the Classic. If you want Ultra 1 and clean you have to first set it to clean. You can switch between the Classic and the clean becuase they share the same channel essentially. That is a very big drag if you ask me. And the other bummer is that everything shares the same EQ. I'll tell you why that is a drag later. My amp has JJ Power Tubes and Winged C pre-amp tubes.

I never use single coils, and find myself using my Fender Super Sonics. One with a JB bridge and one with a Duncan Custom. Both rock. The Custom sounds great in that guitar. I also use a Les Paul Std w/ a Jeff Beck, and a Gibson SG Special with P90's. Both are the bee knees thru this amp.

I play thur an Avatar G12H cab w/ two different 30W Celestions. Great cab. And even though it's underpowerd, it handles this head fine. I usually play live on about 5 and it's really really loud. You'd have to up to like 8 or higher to worry about blowing the cab.

I play in a classic rock cover band that does anything from Metallica to Motown and this amp does it all pretty well. It cleans up pretty nice if you roll yer vol off, so I never use the clean channel anyway. I spend most of my time on the Classic setting. People talk about how great the clean setting is on this amp, and I would have to agree that it's really nice for a Marshall. So all that being said, I'd say it's pretty versitile. However, I don't think that it's a great "heavy metal" amp, and I'll tell you why later...

I use other pedasl via the FX loop and find that it works great and is clean. My FX aren't "dirty" which is nice.

Here is where things get kinda ugly. I would say that even though this amp sounds good, it has a serious serious limitation. And this showed itself on other DSL100's and DSL50's that I played. It's the fact that the Ultra Channels have NO LOW END, even with the bass switch engaged. It's quite unbelievable how lacking it is. So.. what to do? Well, you HAVE to put an EQ pedal in the FX loop. This will help a ton, but then when you switch to the Classic setting you have to turn it off because the Classic setting has tons of low end!! It's weird. The amp should sound the way it does normally with the bass switch turn on, and then when you press the knob you get TONS. But it's not the case. It's NO low end, then when pressed a decent amount, but not enuff. So for this reason, I don't use the Ultra settins at all. Besides, the distortion is too "glassy and crunchy" anyway. Not defined and focused. I'm not even trying to go for air moving Pantera either. Too much low end and you lose yer sound on stage. I'm talking just a nice warm full sound. And either Ultra setting just doesn't have it, by a long shot.

Ok. so the Classic setting is pretty much the BEST setting. Sounds KILLER. However, there is simply not enuff gain it. It's way under powered gain wise. So, in order to make it sound great, you have to use a Tube Screamer or something in front of it. THEN it sounds really really good. But my point is... should one have to do that with this amp?? You shouldn't HAVE to have an EQ pedal or a Tube Screamer.

Let's put it this way... I hooked my little Marshall VS100 up to my cab and it DESTROYED my DSL100 and with the use of NO pedals. Now, that VS100 is Solid State and has serious drawback feature wise, but that's another review. The point is, this $225 used VS100 made me realize that I don't even NEED the DSL100. It offers me nothing that the cheap combo doesn't offer already. And that makes me really really sad. Granted, there is something about the DSL100 that the cheap VS100 has. And I think it's gotta be the tubes. But that VS100 was loud, had nice warmth thru it, and a really nice clean channel. It made me realize that the DSL100 was just not cutting it as the price tag would indicate.

Never once had a problem, but with any amp... you just never know. I'd say reliability is great with Marshalls.

Never used them, but they seem to offer a wide variety of choices on their website as far as documentation is concerned.

This amp SHOULD be at least as good as sounding as a cheap solid state VS100 and it just isn't. It's almost like the DSL100 just needs a couple more notches of each setting. More low end when the bass is engaged, more gain on the Classic setting (which to me would be darn near perfect), and a better channel switching layout. Not to mention the fact that my sound just kinda got lost on stage and seemed undefined. I just can't recommend this amp at all, and would never consider buying one again. Well, I take that back, I probl would if I could get it for $200 then keep it as a back up, but it's just not an amp that I could recommend. I've heard the 50W's sound better, but I just don't know. I've also head the TSL100's are great. I think it's a great idea, but not well executed by Marshall, and I'm a Marshall guy thru and thru. There is no better "rock" sound to my ears. Mesa's are cool if you like that modern gain tone, but a "classic" tone will get you a lot farther I think, and cover more ground. Mind you, everything is subjective. What may sound great to me, might sound aweful to you. I'm kinda picky, but I'm also very realisitic. Gimmie a good sound and let's rock. This amp just didn't do that for me. I replaced this amp with a Marshall 6100LM and it to me is one of the most awesome Marshall's ever made as far as flexability. Snag one while they are still reasonable!

Although i like the amp i feel that the shared Eq takes away from the tonal possibilities of the amp. it is hard to find a happy medium between a good clean and a good distortion setting but it takes time and i feel that i have found that happy medium. :)

When i first bought the amp I was happy with the tone, then after a while i started to notice things that i didnt like about the tone. the highs were a little fizzy and the lows a little muddy. so i changed the tubes myself with some EH EL34 and gold plated EH12AX7 very nice tone,(i heard some people saying this is a hybid amp, YOU ARE DUMB ASSES, look up the meaning of ALL TUBE, duh). one thing to remeber when changing tubes is to REBIAS THE DAMN AMP!!!!! you do not know how many of my freinds ask me how i got the tone to be so good. it seems people dont know that you have to rebias every time you change tubes it will make a WORLD OF DIFFRENCE!!! I rebiased it around 80MV very warm tone. the distortion is fuller without being muddy. cleans are cleaner with more headroom. this amp is not for nu metal. it does 80s metal perfectaly but i like it for more of a warm creamy overdrive. If any of you read this there is a great site that helps guys like me to achive the best tone out of the amp its marshallampforum.com. they have great tips on how to get the best tone

never had to have it repiared, have giged sevral times without any problems

it is a great amp when you get the bias right and a set of new tubes. I feel that the amp could atleast have had a seperate eq for the clean channle for the price of the amp but i guess the less there is on the tone circuit the better the tone.

Has clean channel and high gain channel. Overall it does what its advertised to do. The eq isnt anything special, which is a common trend among marshalls. Turning the Trebble and Mid knobs doesnt change the sound a whole lot, and the reverb isnt anything special either.

I own a 72' American Tele, Gibson Les Paul Supreme, and 59' Gibson Les Paul Standard Reissue. I play mostly Hard Rock and Alternative styles, and it has that great punk rock sound, but i wasnt satisfied with the high gain channel. The clean channel is pretty good for a Marshall but the high gain channel just didnt cut it for me. I also own a JTM 45 which i use with a 1960A cab. Ive tried both heads with the cab and the Dsl doesnt even compare with the Jtm 45. The sound is actually horrid at volumes around 2-3, but once you get it up around 6-7 it gets better.

Nothing has gone wrong so far, but im gonna be changing the tubes next weekend.

This will be short cause I there isn't much to say about the emp. I've owned a Peavey XXX for a few years before that a Mesa DC-10. I happened upon a DSL and a 1960a for 500 bucks and I couldn't pass it up. Features are crap. No switch for the FX loop. One set of tone controls for both channels. Not enough low end or gain for what I need to do. And this is supposed to be a high gain amp.

I'm playing progressive metal, influenced by Tool, Deftones, Lamb of God and In Flames. I tried and tried but could not get this amp to fit into my set up. The clean is very nice I must say, way better than the XXX but I rarely use the clean channel without some kind of FX. So it tends to muddy up with heavy FX. At max gain the sound gets mooshy and loses definition. The med and low-gain sounds are quite nice for your AC/DC classic rock sounds. So over all its just not a big contender for high-gain applications. Good for classic and pop rock, but not much more.

Shit. My buddy I bought it from had it go out on him after he had transported it in the back seat of his pick up. I don't remember what the problem was but it had to go into the shop. Since I've had it, its started to make a crackling sound every once in a while, loudly if the volume is up. I pretty much quit messing with it since then. I don't want it to burn up before I can get rid of it.

no idea

Like I said, not a real good high gain/metal amp. If your set on marshall tone, go buy a VHT CL-50 or 100 you can a used cl-50 for about the same price as a DSL and it will be plenty loud I promise and it will give you the tone you expected from a marshall and much much more. I love my XXX too, that thing is a terror. I wouldn't trade it for anything less than a Diezel.

I was trying out a few guitars as I was buying a guitar (strat & teles I Tried out) and I tried it in 3 amps. JCM800 Reissue, TSL100 and DSL100 and out of the 3, The DSL100 was the best. Im defently getting one of these when I get some cash together

I tried the amp out with 1 USA Strat & 1 Mexican Strat & 2 USA Telecasters (no humbuckers in them). And they sounded great with the DSL100. The gain was really good. My uncle was impressed...although he preffers his JCM900 setup.

This amp was set up with a Marshall 4x12 1960A Cab.

I dont know as I dont own one

Havent dealt with them.

Ive been playing for 2 years (i'm 16) and ive wanted a marshall valve amp for a while. I was set on saving up for a 2nd hand JCM900 or 800 but This sounds twice as better so I will defently get this.

I ended up getting a Fender Stratocaster Mexican with HSS configuration I didnt try it with the DSL100 but I reckon it will sound awesome. I also own a Squire stratocaster.

very simple setup, similar to older Marshalls except it has four channels.

i have the DSL 100 and a 1960A cab... half stack.

the sound from this amp is amazing.......and very loud.

i can't understand from reading some of the posts on this board why you guys are having such a problem.....get your ears cleaned bro.

this is probably one of the best amps availible for any music. every band i know uses them. from metal to nu metal, from country to jazz and no one i know has a complaint. they love it.

its' not the amp......this amp is a solid 10.

i have had mine 1 1/2 years and it works perfect....i check the tube bias from time to time.

they are good. called them with setup questions and they had great answers and suggestions.

i've been playing thirty four years and i've have been through tons of gear. from racks to pedals, amps, combos and poweramps.

my setup is simple Marshall DSL 100 and a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe.

((( stereo )))

i use a Rocktron Intelefx and a Gibson SG standard.....thats it.

i have no trouble nailing down any tone, sound or feel.

The JCM 2000 is argulably the greatest rock amp of all time. It has everything a guitar player of any style needs: headroom in the clean channel, rediculous amounts of gain, unparalleled road-worthyness, and suprising simplicity to top it off. The only complaint: the clean channel can sometimes sound bassy if you have the bass eq up to made the heavy channel beefy. I wish there were two seperate eq settings for the channels, but Marshall adresses that with the TSL series (which is basically a DSL on steroids).

Had the amp for almost a month, and I've gotten every sound I've looked for. If you set the eqs and gains right, it has a suprisingly large range of tones. I've gotten everything from new hardcore metal grind and old thrash/speed metal tones, all the way to good old rock sounds and jazz cleans full of headroom. It's the most versatile amp I've ever played.

As far as road-worthyness and construction goes, Marshall is legendary. How many beat-up Marshalls do you see that still sound incredible? Let's put it this way: I have a Marshall 1959 Lead Head that my dad used in the 70's, and aside from inevitable scuffs from countless gigs over the years, the thing works like new. I expect to have this one for the next 30 years as well. I'd absolutely buy another one if it ever got stolen (You'd better believe that I'd beat the poor bastard who tried to steal my gear!)

Traded another amp to a friend for this one, so I don't have a factory warranty. The original owner seldom used it, and evey more rarely giged with it, so it was in near-mint conditon when I got it (except for one little tear in the vinyl, but a little Gorilla Glue fixed that!) I have no problem taking it somewhere if it ever needs fixed. Word has it that Jim & Co. are great about fixing stuff if you're ever in town and need a repair at the factory.

I've gone on record as saying that another amp sounded better than Marshall. I will now retract that statement, and say that Marshall is undoubtedly the king of amplifiars. Like I said above, I've been using my dad's old Marshall for the past 5 years, and when I got that other amp, I thought that I had found something new and great. I thought about it, and every time I ever walked off stage and someone told me how great I sounded, I realized: that Marshall had been behind me every time. I always got compliments on the originality of my tone. And it's funny, because there was once a point in time when I thought: "EVERYBODY USES MARSHALL!!! Why would I want to sound like everybody else?" The answer is simple: there is really no "Marshall sound." Marshalls are tools. You use them to build your own tone and it becomes your very own personal amp that nobody else has. The "Marshall sound" is whatever YOU want to be. That is what makes this amp great.

We all know the features of this amp!!! but any way: it's a 2 channel amp. the clean alternates between a really clean sond and a crunch. the lead chanel just sais every thing.
Changind between the crunch and clean sound is not an option a "foot switch option.... you can only change it be fingher (or by any point part of your body! but no: no foot switch for this option! no nead!!!!!!!!!!! looool)

Oh!!! you can also count with a deep switch... and of corse: you can only change the mod..... (try to gess......) with your finger!!!

It also as the normal FX loop, and and a switch in-put for changing between lead and clean/crunch

It has no effects... wich is normal... and a good thing in a valve amp... but as a nice reverve...

I've tried lots of guitar with this amp... a tele with HR1 and a alnico pro 2, a strat w/ HR1 (Seymour duncan) and noiseless, a Jazzmaster with a Superdistortion and a humbucker from hell (both from dimarzio - and yes... i had to make some changes so they could fit), a 1 gison les paul, a superstrat - ibanez - RG, and many more...)

The Clean Chanel is very nice! it doent bit the fender tone... but is very nice indead! if you ad reverb... you get very nice, clean, sharpy, thine tones if you like... or... you can even change the mids and bass and get thicker sounds

The Crunch chanel is vey nice! you can make nice rock sounds...play nice riffs.... alternating between indy style or grunge. Really nice

The lead chanel....... is very nice if only use it for soloing....
because... the distortion is just to darm mudy! it was a big deception for me! iven when you turn on the "deep"... it will still sound mudy... heavier... the mudy. I tried many eq. but.... it's not just a powerfull big distortion amp.

The amp has power... is good for some kinds of sound... you can even play grunge or hard rock.... but the mud is always there! You get the impretion that the distortion is.... over distorted... but with no power! very strange! No way you can play really heavy things with this amp! No way.

And the problem... apears to be in the marshall design... I think! It's always like this!

I learned that even Slash changes is tubes so he can get the desired sound!!! (and he plays a JCM800... with special modifications)

For some reason this amp sells! but it's not an easy task... changing the tubes... and it's expensive!

Please! I really recomend that you try some other things before buying this amp! there are lots of amps out there! some better and some mutch mutch better (and some worts, of corse!!) marshall is not the only amp maker in the world.... and many people who buys them... as to change the tubes to get the sound they where expecting... think about that...

The only thing you are buying... is the name!the label!.... and one thing is sure! the amp is very beautifull and afordable... but if money is the problem... and tube is a need... try fame... or ashdown...

This is the one downfall I have with this amp. It has Crunch and Super lead. It also has the ability to tune in on a clean channel. It is not super clean, but does the trick. However I have not found a way to switch from clean to crunch quickly. It requires a fair amount of adjusting, from gain to EQ. It keeps things simple, but I think that stepping up to a TSL would be a good move. Cleaner cleans and more EQ options. I bought mine used, so I didn't have much to choose from.

Wow, when you want the crunch, watch out. I play this through a Genz Benz 212 and it pumps out tone. Lots of power and great tone (for crunch and lead). Not the amp for clean tones.

I am a plug and play guy, and this works great for me to just rock out. I play lots of Punk and Alternative with some (power) pop.

Bought used 4 years ago and has never given me a problem.

Overall, I love having this thing behind my. I would like to trade up to the TSL someday, but this gets the jobs done. If clean isn't your thing, then this amp might just be for you. If you like to mess around with some clean tones, I would keeping looking.

There's good features in this amp.
Two footswichable channels with separate volume and gain, the clean channel has a switch for the crunch.
The reverb is footswitchable.
The amp has a deep switch for more bass power, a good equalization controls, send return, 4-8-16 ohm speaker selection, 220-110v.

The amp is good but marshall lost a lot of tone in the road, in the years.
I tried a lot of amps and this is the worst (or one of these).
First of all, place good tubes in it and use good speakers (as 1960ax or 1960av), then the sound can be decent.

The deep switch is a good idea and useless at the same time, too much bass create confused chords, for more bass response i prefer to use better speakers.

The clean channel is good but a jcm800 is better 1000 times!
The crunch channel create a good saturation in the preamp, with high volumes (when also the power tubes are saturated) can be very good, but at low volumes isn't great too.
The amount of distortion of the second channel is good, but the distortion is insipid, without definition, it's not a valve distortion, it's an hybrid amp and i don't like it.

I prefer the pure sound of tubes in saturation, I have a '73 marshall jmp with a ts9 overdrive, it has more amount of distortion and pure tube quality, round tone, no noise, how can i compare they?

The reverb doesn't make a lot of sound changes; when activated, seems to be switched off.

All the marshall amps maded from '90 are very awful.
All the amps are maded in strong cab, but with stupid PCB's, fragile boards with cheap solders, and VERY AWFUL TRANSFORMERS that broken down after 1 year of hard use.

Bleah, puke! Jim Marshall should have shame to build those amps with dagnall output transformers!

Dagnall's OT makes a horrible sound and have bad building system, tend easily to have short circuits in the windings, breaks and ruin the power tubes!!!

If you want a "PRO" amp, upgrade your jcm900 - 2000 with Mercury Magnetics or shinrock transformers and you will hear incredibly improvements in tone!!!

I had only two years of warranty, after it i didn't have support but a lot of troubles... then i sell it!

In the years, marshall became a company that makes inane amps.
They save money in all the components.

For the beginners and who play the amp at lower volume this amp is OK, but i don't know why some people buy a 100w head to use the volume max at 3....

But for pro users or trained ears, I dissuade deeply!

If you want a good modern amp with modern brit sound, buy a mesa road king, or search a vintage used amp!

If you want a good jcm2000, replace the OT with a shinrock transformer, and possibly make an hand wired circuit...but it became a good plexi...