Marshall DSL100

This is an amp that many claim was the best amp for years to come out of the Marshall stable. I did buy one of these when they first came out, guessing that they are a great amp and listening to everyone else - so I gave them the money and took away a spanking new DSL100

Great I thought, I'll need a new cab to go with it, so out came the plastic card and I had a 4x12 cab. What a pity it was a let down for me.

Most guys will know that Marshall amps are generally loud, and this thing is no exception. You could use a power brake or similar - but that in my view will unduly stress the amp and shorten it's effective life considerably.

It's a two channel thing (if I remember correctly) and sure enough, the clean channel wasn't, and for me at least, the lead channel wasn't. I did like how it looked (don't we all) and so I convinced myself that the money was well spent and that this was the best thing since sliced bread and I had to keep it - after all it was a Marshall.

If you think I was harsh above - that's nothing. For me, this amp was a poor amp. I came from the arena of a Mk III boogie and lets make no mistake that the DSL100 was not even on the same planet. I could have bought say a 2203 or JMP800 and had a great sound, but oh no - I bought one of these. Many guys will be saying 'what the hell is he on about' and these will be the same guys that play these and nothing else - so what is there to compare the DSL100 with in their case - simply nothing.

For some musicians this is the amp of their dreams. For me, I took it back to the music shop and advised them that I was looking for an amp - the sales guy said 'hmmm I know what you mean - it's too restrictive - two channels and neither is a winner', of course I knew exactly what he meant. So when you go and see those rave reviews, you have located a reviewer who has either never played the amp for any time, or he simply has not got a clue, or lastly, it suits his playing. I guess there are many wimps around reviewing amps these days.....

The amp was made up to Marshall standards which are good generally, but it just lacked the sounds I want from an amp and at the price I was not prepared to keep it. I took it back and bought a TSL60 and my comments on that amp are on the TSL60 page on this web. That was another Marshall product that I ultimately sold because of various issues all sound related - read about what I thought of that amp on the respective page.

I doubt if I will ever buy another DSL100.......