Marshall JCM-2000 DSL 401

I bought this one used in 2009, but probably it was built back in 2003-2004.
I play classic rock, hard rock and a bit of metal (Rolling Stones, AC/DC, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Eric Clapton, Guns n' Roses, Metallica, Muse).

It has 2 channels, Clean and OD, then OD is splitted in OD1 and OD2 that has a 20dB boost. Clean has Gain, Treble, Middle, Bass controls; OD has Gain, Volume, Treble, Middle, Bass controls. There's a Master Volume knob, Accutronic 2-springs Reverb and parallel FX loop mix. Comes with a 2 switch footswitch to select Clean/OD and OD1/OD2 channels.
Master power switch to warm up tubes and secondary switch to cut signal.
In the back it has power cord, two fuses, two plug speakers output with a switch between 16ohms and 8ohms, Digital out, Send/Return FX Loop, Reverb Footswitch (not provided, fits Marshall PED801) and Channel Footswitch.
Comes with a Celestion 100W 12" 16ohms Speaker.

The back is closed with wood plates, and it has a little metal net for ventilation where you can see the glowing tubes inside.

Comes 4 12AX7 pre-amp tubes and 4 EL84 power tubes, all with Marshall writed on it.

It's easy to open and to reach inner components.
I never never never used the FX Loop: I plug my FXs directly in the main input.

I have bought the additional pedal switch to control reverb, I wished it had it from the beginning, maybe a 3-switch pedal to control everything.

I use it mainly at home, with master volume barely reaching 5 out of 10. Never gigged with it.

I use it mainly with a '94 Gibson Les Paul Standard and a '91 Fender Prodigy. My FX chain is an Ibanez modified TS-9 Tube Screamer, a Dunlop Cry Baby 535Q and a Boss ME-50 Multi Effect. I use the Boss for heavy distortion, chorus and delay, and tubescreamer and wah for overdriven wah sound.

In most cases, from the day I bought this amp, my whole FX chain fell silent and switched off. The sound from the 3 channels il so spectacular, so brown, so hot and warm that I need nothing else.

Clean channel is simply incredible with the Gibson, especially in the first half of the Gain knob. Turning the Middle knob, you can travel to full '50 vintage sound (at 0), to warm acoustic sound (at 7-8). If you want to use this channel at its best, leave the bass knob at the final quarter. Of course, like all Marshall tube amps, it lacks of screaming high tone sound, and the treble knob is way less capable of hights than cheaper solid state amps. At full Gain, there's a light distortion using the Gibson at high volumes, mainly due to humbucking output signal; with the Fender single coils the distortion is less audible.

Overdriven channel is very subtle: in OD1 and low Gain, you can bring to life a high acoustic overdriven sound, full and coloured (something like AC/DC in "You shook me all night long" or Dire Straits in "money for nothing"). At full Gain you get a lot of harmonics for many pure rock sounds (Rolling Stones but some other rock classics too). OD2, that I play at high Gain, has some incredible powerful tones for G n' R and AC/DC but even Sex Pistols, Kiss and so on.

As I stated, you cannot bring a decent heavy metal sound out of the OD2word channel, so you need a pedal for it.
For now, the amp is noiseless in all conditions. If you go really near the amp, you can ear a low humming sound, but only if you stay perfectly silent.

It never broke down. This thing is very heavy and sturdy. I always let it warm up and I try not to move it while it's hot.
And it gets really hot playing! After one hour or two the front panel is so hot that you can hardly touch it for a second or two. I've read that someone put a fan in the back to vent the hot air outside, but I'm not willing to do that for now.
I now I will change the tubes and I will try to adjust the bias by myself. I've read some instructions on the web (on the Marshall site too) and I found it very easy to disassemble: only a couple of screws.

I've played for nearly 20 years, sometimes in a band, now only at home with friends, but this is my first tube amp. Passing from Marshall solid state to tube is worth the price, always. This Amp is for pure rock lovers: no digital effects built in, no heavy distortion, pure brown vintage sound. And an affordable price. Trying a lot of amps, listening at the ones my friends own (Vox AC30, Hughes & Kettner Edition Blue, Fender too), I think this one is perfect for me. OK, if you want high tone clean sound, this one isn't for you and so if you want heavy distorted metal sound. But for warm tones, it's the best combo amp you can buy.
In the range of combo tube amps for <1000euros, I think it's the best choice.
Never gigged with it, but I think it's ok for a club or a small venue.
There's nothing that really disappoints me: if I have to say, it can come out of the box with a reverb switch pedal, and maybe it becomes too hot while you play; but all we are talking about is the quest for killer tone, isn't it?

I bought this one used in 2009, but probably it was built back in 2003-2004.
I play classic rock, hard rock and a bit of metal (Rolling Stones, AC/DC, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Eric Clapton, Guns n' Roses, Metallica, Muse).

It has 2 channels, Clean and OD, then OD is splitted in OD1 and OD2 that has a 20dB boost. Clean has Gain, Treble, Middle, Bass controls; OD has Gain, Volume, Treble, Middle, Bass controls. There's a Master Volume knob, Accutronic 2-springs Reverb and parallel FX loop mix. Comes with a 2 switch footswitch to select Clean/OD and OD1/OD2 channels.
Master power switch to warm up tubes and secondary switch to cut signal.
In the back it has power cord, two fuses, two plug speakers output with a switch between 16ohms and 8ohms, Digital out, Send/Return FX Loop, Reverb Footswitch (not provided, fits Marshall PED801) and Channel Footswitch.
Comes with a Celestion 100W 12" 16ohms Speaker.

The back is closed with wood plates, and it has a little metal net for ventilation where you can see the glowing tubes inside.

Comes 4 12AX7 pre-amp tubes and 4 EL84 power tubes, all with Marshall writed on it.

It's easy to open and to reach inner components.
I never never never used the FX Loop: I plug my FXs directly in the main input.

I have bought the additional pedal switch to control reverb, I wished it had it from the beginning, maybe a 3-switch pedal to control everything.

I use it mainly at home, with master volume barely reaching 5 out of 10. Never gigged with it.

I use it mainly with a '94 Gibson Les Paul Standard and a '91 Fender Prodigy. My FX chain is an Ibanez modified TS-9 Tube Screamer, a Dunlop Cry Baby 535Q and a Boss ME-50 Multi Effect. I use the Boss for heavy distortion, chorus and delay, and tubescreamer and wah for overdriven wah sound.

In most cases, from the day I bought this amp, my whole FX chain fell silent and switched off. The sound from the 3 channels il so spectacular, so brown, so hot and warm that I need nothing else.

Clean channel is simply incredible with the Gibson, especially in the first half of the Gain knob. Turning the Middle knob, you can travel to full '50 vintage sound (at 0), to warm acoustic sound (at 7-8). If you want to use this channel at its best, leave the bass knob at the final quarter. Of course, like all Marshall tube amps, it lacks of screaming high tone sound, and the treble knob is way less capable of hights than cheaper solid state amps. At full Gain, there's a light distortion using the Gibson at high volumes, mainly due to humbucking output signal; with the Fender single coils the distortion is less audible.

Overdriven channel is very subtle: in OD1 and low Gain, you can bring to life a high acoustic overdriven sound, full and coloured (something like AC/DC in "You shook me all night long" or Dire Straits in "money for nothing"). At full Gain you get a lot of harmonics for many pure rock sounds (Rolling Stones but some other rock classics too). OD2, that I play at high Gain, has some incredible powerful tones for G n' R and AC/DC but even Sex Pistols, Kiss and so on.

As I stated, you cannot bring a decent heavy metal sound out of the OD2word channel, so you need a pedal for it.
For now, the amp is noiseless in all conditions. If you go really near the amp, you can ear a low humming sound, but only if you stay perfectly silent.

It never broke down. This thing is very heavy and sturdy. I always let it warm up and I try not to move it while it's hot.
And it gets really hot playing! After one hour or two the front panel is so hot that you can hardly touch it for a second or two. I've read that someone put a fan in the back to vent the hot air outside, but I'm not willing to do that for now.
I now I will change the tubes and I will try to adjust the bias by myself. I've read some instructions on the web (on the Marshall site too) and I found it very easy to disassemble: only a couple of screws.

I've played for nearly 20 years, sometimes in a band, now only at home with friends, but this is my first tube amp. Passing from Marshall solid state to tube is worth the price, always. This Amp is for pure rock lovers: no digital effects built in, no heavy distortion, pure brown vintage sound. And an affordable price. Trying a lot of amps, listening at the ones my friends own (Vox AC30, Hughes & Kettner Edition Blue, Fender too), I think this one is perfect for me. OK, if you want high tone clean sound, this one isn't for you and so if you want heavy distorted metal sound. But for warm tones, it's the best combo amp you can buy.
In the range of combo tube amps for <1000euros, I think it's the best choice.
Never gigged with it, but I think it's ok for a club or a small venue.
There's nothing that really disappoints me: if I have to say, it can come out of the box with a reverb switch pedal, and maybe it becomes too hot while you play; but all we are talking about is the quest for killer tone, isn't it?

Just got this amp for $420. I'm a songwriter who plays originals in different styles, but all the stuff is kind of edgy and garagey. I need a good clean sound, a good semi-gainy, airy rhythm distortion, a high gain punk, thrashy rhythm sound, and a nasty high-gain metallish lead sound. I can get all these sounds with the aid of a Tube works Overdrive, vintage DOD Overdrive, and a Milkbox conpressor. So, I have to say this amp is pretty versatile.

Dig, sometimes I get the impression that folks want to turn on the freakin' amp, crank it up and get the perfect tone. Forget it! That's not gonna happen. Even if you spend $4000 bucks. You've got to know what you want in your head and suffer to get it. This amp has the goods to allow you to do that. If you don't like that growly, ballsy Marshall tone to begin with don't buy this. If that's the tone you basically want, you can work with this amp to produce a myriad of blissful tones from nasty metal stuff to sweet, clean honey. But use your noodle. Don't give up, be fierce in your desire to get the tone you want, and I think you'll be rewarded.

Just got it, so I don't know, but I will be using a fan behind it, due to the overheating issue I've read about.

I've been a rock n roll freak for about 45 years, starting off with the drums, but committing seriously to the guitar about 10 years ago.
I've been in several bands, but only one as a guitarist. This is my first Marshall tube amp. I've been working with an AVT 150 for six years and I like it alot. I think you can't get a better solid state, but it ain't the tube sound. I had a Fender DeVille with 4 10s, but the overdrive was a bad joke and I couldn't get enough gain without horrendous feedback. I play an Ibanez RG450DX which isn't a super ballsey guitar and the Marshall gives it some nougies. To me, the thing I love, is that I didn't pay a hell of a lot and I got the great basic Marshall tube sound with three channels and reverb. From there, I feel I can do just about anything and it's all gonna have that great Marshall tube sound. The first night I got this thing I only got three hours of sleep, cause I spent the whole night finding the sounds I needed. And I found them. Now it's daily tube bliss. Ya know, one final thing, for a single speaker amp, this thing has amazing presence and it's loud as crap. Getting all this blissful sonic s--t for $400 bucks--man, somebody up there likes me!

Pretty versatile but not as many features as a lot of those all-in-one copy cat amps out there that want to cram in as many features as possible while keeping the costs down. unfortunately those amps usually end up sounding like crap. The 401 is a basic 2 channel amp with a footswitchable boost for the od channel. If you want fancy effects, there is an effects loop which allows you to blend it in via the front controlls. The good thing about this is that you can upgrade your effects later withoug swapping out the whole amp. It does however have a built in spring reverb which I find is more than enough for every day use. What is it missing? A lead boost for the clean.

The clean is prestine. With the gain at about half you get just a touch of drive which is where most solid state amps fail. Most pedals and solid state amps fail miserably when you are tying to get a clean with a slight drive and end up sounding harsh with a "static" like ticking sound generating the od. This usually leaves me wanting it either clean, or with enough drive to mask the overly digital clipping. The DSL Clean has no such problem and gives you smooth drive that is barely noticable.

The od is another story. As said by others here, its a little sterile and dead in comparison and only starts to shine when you set the master volume well over half way. A change in seaker did help (Celestion Vintage Neo) but it was a change in valves that did the most. All in all, i'm still not happy with the overdrive but it IS good enough for live use as well as rehearsals and sounds a lot better than a lot of others I have tried. Then again, I could be just fussy because I am comparing it to the clean channel? ;)

No problems yet but I have a lot of marshall gear and none of it seems to give me trouble. It DOES get very hot, to the point where you cant touch the metal front face/panel for more than a few seconds but its a 2001 model and still going strong.

Took my jtm45's to the Milton Keynes head office for a service and the guys there are great.

Its a great amp for rehearsals and live shows. Its small yet has enough power and good tone but I honestly cant recommend anyone to spend well over ??500 for new one. Look for a deal second hand or on ebay and you will not be disappointed.

Mine was made in 1998, which is one of the earliest versions of the this amp. I personally feel the first couple yr. models definitely are voiced a little different than the later ones (not saying it's bad, it's just different). I purchased it used in Austin, where I live.

mine is the 100 watt head version (Modded). At the store I bought it @, I had the amp tech drop a Massive stand-up output transformer into the amp plus 6550 power tubes. Needless to say, this beefed up the sound considerably. The clean channel doesn't wimp out like it would before, and the Red channel is more ballsy, with more warmth and sustain.
I play Power Blues/Rock n Roll. i.e. Johnny Winter, Albert Collins, Hendrix, DB II, Stones.

This amp is versatile, one just needs to plug in different guitars, for what you like. I don't know what it sounds like with a heavy metal guitar w/ EMG's sooo...you'll have to check that out...

It has 2 channels, I always leave the 'clean' on the crunch setting put the gain @ about 12 o'clock (that's still pretty clean sounding). the Red channel is usually set @ 2-3 o'clock on the gain 1 setting. If I want 'more' I hit the dip switch for gain setting 2.

Here's where I cheat a little...On top of having the amp set for a pretty clean sound (blues power, baby) I um....ahem, run it through a 2004 Boogie cabinet loaded with 70 watt Vintage 30's. yes I know 70 watts?? huh? they made those for a little bit, they're clearer sounding. Also I use a very heavy gauge dual copper speaker wire to connect the amp to the cabinet! yes! Go audiophile, Go!! Also, in my pedal setup I use an overdrive pedal to push the red channel for leads and such. Just bought the Xotic AC Booster pedal, this sounds REALLY good on the Red channel, a bit of a compromise on the clean channel though.
Don't use the effects loop, yuck!
Love the reverb. I do wish the amp wouldn't fizz out. Occasionally, I hear it. On the red channel it will fluff balls, as opposed to punch balls.

With the upgraded output Xformer and the 6550 tubes, it had plenty o' power. I tour around regionally, and play clubs in my hometown.

I play 3 strats out live. one is a custom shop w/god only knows what pups those are. the other is a '68 reverse white strat (yea, I know dorky) but a damn good guitar it can do some tonal things that the custom shop can't. the 3rd is set up with really high action for slide. 58-13 gauge. tuned to Eb. this combo with this amp is very musical.

The only time I've ever really wrestled with the amp is @ one club in particular. They have the stage power setup so that when the stage cans light up they suck almost all the power coming out of the wall. 120 v goes down to about 90v. NOT good for the Xformer!! and no, this does make one achieve 'Brown Sound' Nirvana, I'll take the shotgun please!

This amp, when running smoothly can go from Winter to Hendrix, to ACDC to Keef, to modern day shred, you just need to be willing to turn knobs. oh yeah, do not use JJ preamp tubes in this amp, sounds super brittle!! Try Groove tube preamp. I don't know what kind of Power Tubes are in this amp, I think they're Svetlanas...not too sure.

I wouldn't call the distortion brutal, with the upgrades it saturates more, and punches and sings. The clean channel clips @ higher volumes. For instance, if you have 2 cabinets plug this amp into both side by side, put the clean on almost noon and the Red channel on 1 o'clock. This is when the amp sounds best!

It is a dependable amp, but I have to replace the power tubes every 6 months due to gigging. That's normal, if that didn't happen I'm not playing enough. I don't own a backup. I need one though.

The amp did blow through the tubes in 2 months after I had the modification done. This was to be expected. Think of it as an organ transplant. It takes a little time for things to settle down.

All in all its a good amp, I do wish Marshall would stop skimping on the internal components that lie on the PC board. ex: Right out of the box the new 5150 III has more power and clarity because it's built with better components. Whereas with this model Marshall I had to shell out some cash to get it running right. Marshall should reconsider some things and stop making that silly Vintage/Modern, digital reverb, Really??

Umm...I think we all know how soon Marshall gets back to your emails....like NEVER!!!

I've been playing for 14 yrs. Professionally for 8. If it were stolen or lost of broke beyond repair. I would take that as the high sign from G_d that its time to move onto a different amp all together.

I think suits me better than a Boogie head, especially the newer ones. I don't like the new 3 channel ones...

The DSL suites me better than the TSL. The TSL I found, compresses too much, and doesn't sing.

I wish this amp was better made, less B.S. more solidity!

I rate it an 8 because i've dorked with the original amp like i stated previously.

Not sure what year
64W Two Channel
Tube
Great for Blues, Rock, Heavy Metal and Clean as well.

I play either a Washburn N4 or a Strat with half stacks and a hotrails on the bridge. Boss Compressor, Boss Ds-1, Boss Metal Zone and Boss Noise Gate in that order between the guitar and the front of the amp. I do not use stomp boxes thru the effects loop because the effects loop is designed for racks.

I get anywhere from single coil Texas Blues tone to Heavy Metal. The clean channel is beautifull. I sometimes use the compressor sustainer to make it just a little fuller with single coils. For Humbuckers... no need.

The gain channels are great, although I like the OD1 just pushed a little further with my Boss DS1 and Compressor during solos. If I want a lot of gain, I use the clean channel with the Metal Zone engaged.

It is just a Fat Tone Machine. I went with the 40Watt heat, since I do not play arenas and I prefer to have less watts to get break up from the tubes at lower volumes.

It has been rock solid, but I treat it with respect.

Have not had to use them, but I once spoke to Mr. Marshall at the NAM show and he's a super nice guy.

The amp is great... no other way to explain it. I believe the OD2 gain level could be a little less than some people would expect, but the amp reacts great to my pedals... which I do not us many off. The clean channel is fantastic. Not what you would expect from the stereotipicall Marshall sound.

I have been playing for 26 years. And for a long time, I tried to emulate the Marshall sound with all kinds of gadgets.. but could never get the real tone I wanted. I finally broke down... got a Marshall... and I have only played Marshalls since. I am not saying that it is the best Amp in the world, just the one I like best. I use a JCM2000 TSL60 with a 1960A cab for larger situations, and it has a bit different voicing, a little deeper and chunkier... great as well, and you can use the same pedals without really changing settings between both amps.

2002 DSL 401
2.5 Channels

Post Phase Inverter Master Volume (Huge feature for those who intend to use it in very small venues or even at home)

I wish the Parallel FX loop could go from 0:1 to 1:0 wet:dry ratio but it's fine for the FX that SHOULD go after the pre-amp like Reverb, Delay, (all time effects).

Surprised to find a DI Output for silent recording. Very convenient for gigging or recording.

8/16 ohm switching with the option of using both internal/external cabs together is real nice too.

Both 2.5 channels + Reverb are footswitchable.

Using a PRS Custom 22, stock Dragon II pickups, no effects.

What You Need To Do Before You Play:
Change R31 to 27k ohms Change R36 to 33k ohms. Set bias to 550 millivolts (Service Bulletin Issued for Pre 2003 DSL 401s)
Tung-Sol 12AX7 Reissues in V1/V2/V4
(NOS Mullards + Balanced NOS Mullard in V1/V3/V4 if you can afford it)
JJ 12DW7 in V2
JJ EL84 Matched Quad For Power Section
Celestion 16ohm Vintage 30 Speaker Change
Patch Cable through FX Loop Send/Return
Put Amp in very corner of the room to emulate a closed back.

I gotta say when I first got this amp, I hated it, but after months of experimentation, I now think it's the most versatile little thing on the planet.

It's a Post Phase Inverter Master Volume Amp (PPIMV) meaning that whatever signal created in the pre-amp stage is sent through the V4 PI before hitting a Master Volume Potentiometer. This means you can have PI distortion (which in theory is output stage distortion and distorts smoother than pre-amp gain) without power-tube distortion (only available at very high volumes). In most other tube amps, the Master Volume comes before the Phase Inverter so that PI distortion and Power Tube distortion are no longer independent.

Simply put, for those who aren't getting enough Bass response from the OD channels, max the OD Volume. Always, unless you hear a "fizz" which is the PI tube distorting TOO much. To get even more saturation, use a patch cable through the FX loop and turn the FX setting to maximum because there's a gain circuit in the FX loop, amplifying the pre-amp signal even more. For a beautiful saturation, I run my bridge humbucker at about 6-Volume, 9-Tone, and the OD1 at 5-Gain, 10-Volume. If in doubt, try to get less gain through the Gain knob, and more though PI distortion and you'll notice the sound is much fuller. If there isn't a noticeable difference between OD1 and OD2, you're setting the Gain too high or you're keeping your guitar volume too high. If you're doing things right, it's gonna sound similar to a Vox AC30. At balls out volumes, it'll sound closer to a deep Marshall tone.

The Clean channel actually sounded better with the stock Goldback speaker strangely but it's still good. I use it mainly with the Cu22 pickups in parallel for an acoustic-like clean. I actually used to use the Clean channel exclusively before I figured out how to use this amp (and the slight modifications) but now the OD channels get 85%+ of my time.

I usually keep the Reverb above 5.

If I wasn't lazy and afraid of circular saws, I'd fabricate a 1x12 closed back extension cabinet with the same width as the combo to make a mini-stack.

Reverb and FX potentiometers died because I assume the heat from the Power tubes melted them (had the bias set at 1.375V w/o changing R31/R36). Pre-amp cuts out sometimes... I think it's a tube problem and not the circuitry.

Worthless. Trust me, I tried multiple times. I'd rather eat burned popcorn than go through Marshall customer service. I think my problem is that I tried to contact Korg USA (which is Marshall's USA distributor)

I love this thing. I wish it wasn't so damned heavy (even heavier now with the V30) because I bring it everywhere and I'm afraid I'm gonna drop it one day... and break my toes.

Clean, Overdrive 1, Overdrive 2, Reverb, effects loop, D.I out

I have only the stock valves in and i think they sound pretty good, The best feature the amp in my view is the gain for the clean channel because it gives you just that little bit more when using clean. The distortion channels are good too but ive heard changing the valves to some better one changes the tone of the OD 1 and 2 quite alot. The reverb is nice but controll over the reverb time would be nice

Ive had this amp for just under a year and it went wrong about 5 months after purchase, i think it was the preamp but im not too sure. One thing i dont rate about it at all is the heat it gets to! after a couple of hours of it beeing on it does get really hot, so much so that you cant touch the front pannel!
I dont have a backup amp fpr gigs but this one serves its duty well, i havnt had a problem at a gig with it yet.

The first time it went wrong we thought it would cost an absolute bomb to post back but when we rang up marshall they were really helpful. They sent a postal service to come and collect it and then gave us a date when it was really to be sent back. ALL free of charge! Another thing is, if you live near the marshall factory you can have it booked in. So you just drive to the factory and have a look round while your amp gets fixed.

I do like this amp, but an upgrade will deffinatly be happening if i continue with gigs. I dont use the distortion on the amp that often because i use a boss gt8. The amp makes this sound well with a thick warm tone.

Its a 1x12 combo amp thats all tube. 3 channels and an EQ for clean and distorted. it has reverb a standby switch, footswitch, effects loop and a direct out which is really helpful for recording (a feature the other JCM2000 DSL heads dont have!)

im playing this amp with a PRS santana se and a fender mexi strat and the clean tones are ok. not really inspiring but one step above a PA head id say. OD1 is kinda like a vintage marshall where it doesnt get too distorted but pushes the signal hard. its closer to the distorted clean channel than OD2. OD2 is like the JCM 800 or 900. its not a true metal sound but it is HEAVY. if youre a fan of van halen randy rhoads or newer santana this is a great channel. like all tube amps the louder you play it the better it sounds so crank it up some if you feel uninspired. i also want to mention marshall made their fame and fortune on stacks and half stacks not 1x12 combos. unless you enjoy the sound of a crappy cabinet buy a decent 4x12 and you will be amazed at the improvement. i tested it against a 15 watt line 6 spider and the little line 6 had more bass!

I have used this amp for about 5 years now and it cranks hard still. make sure to get the tubes changed or you will wonder why an all tube marshall sounds like a crappy practice amp

the only thing that has gone wrong was the reverb tankwent out but you can buy a new one for $20 to $30

i have not dealt with customer support but i was trying to build my own marshall 2 button footswitch and i couldnt find schematics anywhere online

Its a great amp overall. not for metal players but if you like guns n roses, earlier ozzy, nuno bettencourt, or any rock n roll up to the late 80's this is your amp. once again buy a 4x12 for it if you buy one because marshall sucks at building combo amp enclosures but their cabinets rock. if it were stolen i might buy something else due to my huge dream theater fascination and all the options out there.

My DSL 401 was a 2007 model that I purchased new from my local music shop. The amp is very versatile, can go from jazz, to blues, to rock and classic metal.

This is a simple 40W EL84 driven, 2 channel amp, clean and distortion with spring reverb. The distortion channel has a second gain stage for more saturation. The lack of a volume control on the clean channel is frustrating. Also, lack of bias points on the back would have also been very useful. When rebiasing the amp the whole chasis needs to be taken out the cabinet and you need to then locate the bias pins on the PCB. All the other JCM2000 series amps have the bias points on the back so why not the combos?

It is quite well assembled though, it seems strong and sturdy and coulld probably take a fair bit of bashing.

Sadly this amp does not sound very good at all on the overdrive channel which is why I no longer have it.

It has a good clean channel, bright and warm and stays pretty tight. It's ideal for blues, jazz, country etc. The lack of a separate volume control is bloody annoying though. You have to find a balance with the overdrive channel and it usually means sacrificing the tone on the overdrive channel because you have to bring the master volume down so the clean channel isn't deafening when you switch to it.

Now, the overdrive channel in my opinion is pretty poor. The amp has been voiced with too much gain and too much treble. High notes are shrill and harsh. Low notes are flabby, loose and undefined and the amp overall has a nasty fizzy muddy character. Using the neck pickup will take obviously take away some of the harshness on the high end but the low end gets even more muddy and flabby. It just doesnt sound musical and isn't pleasant to my ears at least and at ??450 this is no way worth it.

In an attempt to improve the sound, I replaced the stock speaker with a Celestion G12T-75 and did and did a retube all round with JJ Tesla tubes and has the amp rebiased. This improved things a little bit, the amp sounded abit smoother and tighter but still pretty mediocre and wasn't worth the money.

The spring reverb is pretty good, at least on the clean channel, but on the overdrive channel it seems to make the amp sound even more fizzy.

It hasn't failed on me but it's only beed used at home and did one short gig. However, there is a serious design flaw with this amp. It gets extremely hot, to the point when it's too hot to touch the front. This is really worrying. Also, the valves just plug directly into the PCB. This is worrying as the heat eventually results in cold solder joints which can cause the amp to fail. When the tech installed the new valves for me he told me that some of the joints had cold soldered around the valve sockets. Very worrying.

One year warranty but I havn't dealt with Marshall so cannot give an opinion.

This amp is a real let down I'm afraid. Marshalls are made for dirt, crunch, and rock n roll. This Marshall lacks an acceptable overdrive channel and for a valve driven amp its very disappointing.

The heat issue is very worrying and there's just no way I'd ever use this amp for frequent gigging.

In this price range, there are far better sounding, more reliable amps.

This one just didn't do it for me, and after a year of being frustrated with the tone, I finally decided to get rid of it.

My advice is to stay away from it.

Thanks for reading