DSL100HR. Is it just me?

[311splawndude]

Tried that can't get a decent sound out of it other than clean or light breakup. Maybe there's something wrong with it.

That would be my guess. Did you do any tube rolling? There should be a lot more there then light breakup.

 

[NotThatBrightCap]

Oh noez, my Jubilee is really just a Vietnamese tranny.

but does it love you long time

 

[NotThatBrightCap]

It would get you out of a bind but it wouldn't be my first choice.

 

[jabps]

I watched Leon Todd's review of VHT Ultralead yesterday and what caught my ear was mention about stiffness of VHT which reminds him DSLs and I have to agree. The same with JVMs and Jubilees. Not fun amps to play at all. For example remped JVM sound superb on Ola Englund album but in person there is a lot of missing. I like DSL40 CR more than 100W because added compresion helps the amp to be more like JCM800 feel-wise.

See this is a good example of what works for one player might not work for another.

I've had multiple VHT/Fryette amps and the JVM is not even in the ballpark "to me" when it comes to stiffness. To me the JVM is liquid and forgiving to play, my Ultra Leads, SigX's are not. To me you really need to have your shit together to handle Fryette stuff.

Now when I had my chops together years ago it came down to the JVM and Sig as my main amp, I went with the JVM because ultimately I wanted more Marshall flavor. Fast forward to a couple years ago and bought another SigX and the stiffness to me stood out like a sore thumb vs. the JVM. Love the Sig but let it go because I just don't want to put the time into getting my chops together anymore. Frankly one of the great things about Fryette's stuff is what you put in that's what your going to get., no hiding on those things.

As an aside, I've never liked any version of the DSL's. I tried many times to bond with the 2000's and it just never happened. I've never liked the Jube's either, probably one of my least liked Marshalls. On the flipside, I see/hear guys get unbelievable tones out of them though, just not me. Further note, per Santiago the JVM designer, nothing in that amp was taken from the DSL series. The design basis of the JVM was a (if I remember correctly from his recent interview ) was 800's, modded 800's and the JTM series. Outside amps that were used as reference the OG 5150 and Dual Rect. I think there was another high gainer that was used as reference as well.