Marshall JCM 2000 - DSL vs TSL

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Bad.Seed

Bad.Seed

Well-known member
Starting this off, I've owned a number of JCM 2000 DSL's. I generally really dig them. My last one, I had modded with a Classic Tone OT and Choke, and had the deep button replaced with a pot to act as an adjustable resonance knob. It sounded damn fine. I only sold it because I bought my Friedman JJ and needed to recoup some costs. I still miss it.

Anyways, I've been looking to grab another 2000, and a Mint Tsl 100 popped up for $450 locally. I've read most people prefer the DSL to the TSL, but I was under the impression the TSL just had a 3rd channel, so I didn't know how different it would be from the DSL.

Any experience with both?
 
They do sound very similar, but the TSL has a bit of fizz to it. FWIW, I like both okay.
 
think the TSL had some reliability issues though a mint one for $450 id definitely grab
 
RaceU4her":27nreplr said:
think the TSL had some reliability issues though a mint one for $450 id definitely grab
Click to expand...

Yes, IIRC the TSL combo had a reliability issue which there's now a fix for. I think the footswitches for the entire series had problems, too.
 
I wouldn't touch one with a 10-foot pole. Love the DSL, hate the TSL - too dark and fizzy.
 
napalmdeath":7nx3gi0k said:
I wouldn't touch one with a 10-foot pole. Love the DSL, hate the TSL - too dark and fizzy.
Click to expand...

I have not had them side by side, but I have never been pleased with playing a TSL. The DSL's are much better sounding amps.

If you want a good and cheap three channel, look at the JSX and XXX. They are much better than the TSL IMO. But if you only need two channels, get the DSL.
 
I recorded with a TSL and I had a lot of trouble dialing it in which is unusual for a Marshall. Not saying they can't sound good because I'm sure someone will post a clip of a smokin TSL but to me it was grainy, cold and uninspiring gain. The DSL is easy to get killer tones out of.
 
TSL-Breakdown central. Thinner by a large margin soundwise vs a DSL.
DSL for the win.
 
napalmdeath":3llnhcoq said:
I wouldn't touch one with a 10-foot pole. Love the DSL, hate the TSL - too dark and fizzy.
Click to expand...

I agree with this. I can get along with a DSL , but I can’t choke a decent sound out of a TSL. Completely different animals
 
TSL is a fizz box, I really didn't dig mine. Some people can use pedals in-front to smooth it out but don't expect "liquid" overdrive.

Also DSL has less to go wrong
 
My DSL sounded better than the TSL head I had, but I actually had issues with both of them. Bias drift on both, and failures in the foot switch setup on the TSL. The new boards are supposed to solve the drift issues on both of them, but I'm not sure it actually did, Ive not changed it in my DSL. I sold the TSL very soon after getting it. Its thinner and fizzier sounding than the DSL, as has been stated. I was not real impressed with the loop in either of them. I kept my DSL, its a matching orange head/cab (orange crunch) but I back burnered it for the time being, I have other amp projects that are more pressing at the moment. There are some killer tones in the lower gain channel of the DSL boosted with a kook boost, so I'll come back to it later.
The TSL seems to be a totally different animal, despite it being presented as a further version of the DSL with an added channel. They sound very different
 
I don't think they are the least bit comparable. The TSL may of well been named something totally different. It's not like they have a common root.
 
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