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I'm looking to make the upgrade into the world of tube amps, and was initially looking at the DSL401, but have been reading that this amp can't really hack high gain stuff. I play mostly hard rock and metal such as Foo Fighters, Queens of The Stone Age, Iron Maiden, Metallica and occasionally stuff like Mudvayne.

I have tried the amp out for a bit, which i found alright but i couldn't get an aggressive enough tone from it while i messed around with it. Sounded nice though and the cleans were pretty impressive.

Would this amp be suitable for the styles of music and can it be used for high gain? If no please help recommend some suitable amps that i can try out. Any opinions much appreciated.

I'm willing to spend £500 = $950 maximum!

Thanks!

Opps, one more thing, i'm mainly interested in buying a combo since i play in my bedroom most of the time and want something relatively portable. Anything around the 40 watt mark is fine for me!

hay man, what guitar/setup do you have at the moment? Marshalls are what the Foos use, although I think Josh Homme uses Ampeg...dunno about metallica or Iron Maiden.
An amp like that is pretty much the industry standard for crunchy rock IMO. If you stuck a distortion pedal in front it might broaden your options a bit.

i've been in a similar market for some time
i've tried a bunch of stuff
dsl 401
dsl 50
mesa f-30
mesa f-50
mesa dc-5
traynor ycv 40wr
rivera quiana

i thought the dsl 401 was not worth the money
to me, and my ears aren't the worls best, it sounded like cheap, plastic impersonation of a marshall (FWIW i think the pod does a better job)
i was equally unimpressed with the dsl 50 - which was much better but much mroe expensive
for under 950 you can get a R-30 or R-55 rivera or chubster (used of course)
and a traynor ycv40 new (almost 2 of them actually) tihs amp had much better cleans, but the lead channel might be a bit too quot;vintagequot; sounding for the bands you're after
it was for me
but, then again, give the right pedal in front of it (which i haven't tried) it might be perfect

hope that helps a bit

Actually, I'd beware of 'boutique' amps... not sure why, I guess it's because all these successful guys use fenders, Mesas, Marshalls and Oranges, and if it's good enoguh to get THEM successful, then it's good enough for me!!!


Originally Posted by Jimbojsrhay man, what guitar/setup do you have at the moment? Marshalls are what the Foos use, although I think Josh Homme uses Ampeg...dunno about metallica or Iron Maiden.
An amp like that is pretty much the industry standard for crunchy rock IMO. If you stuck a distortion pedal in front it might broaden your options a bit.

I'm using a Marshall MG30DFX with an Epiphone Les Paul Custom which will soon have a pair of Custom and Jazz pickups installed. Thats it, i mainly just play at home so its suited me well, but i'm getting to the point where a change is due. The Foo's, Metallica and Mudvayne all use Mesa's. If i could replicate the Foo tone that would be ideal, but then i want to have enough gain to go beyond this for heavy stuff.


Originally Posted by Bluelinei've been in a similar market for some time
i've tried a bunch of stuff
dsl 401
dsl 50
mesa f-30
mesa f-50
mesa dc-5
traynor ycv 40wr
rivera quiana

i thought the dsl 401 was not worth the money
to me, and my ears aren't the worls best, it sounded like cheap, plastic impersonation of a marshall (FWIW i think the pod does a better job)
i was equally unimpressed with the dsl 50 - which was much better but much mroe expensive
for under 950 you can get a R-30 or R-55 rivera or chubster (used of course)
and a traynor ycv40 new (almost 2 of them actually) tihs amp had much better cleans, but the lead channel might be a bit too quot;vintagequot; sounding for the bands you're after
it was for me
but, then again, give the right pedal in front of it (which i haven't tried) it might be perfect

hope that helps a bit

The DSL401 is the only tube amp i'v tried out. How would you compare the Mesa F-30 and F-50 it in terms of both the distortion and clean channels? I'm thinking the Mesa's might be out of my budget as well.

they're not if you consider used
i liked the f-50 better than the f-30 (but i tend to like 6l6 amps more than el 84s
that being said, the Dc-5 was better than all of em (get on eused)


Originally Posted by Bluelinethey're not if you consider used
i liked the f-50 better than the f-30 (but i tend to like 6l6 amps more than el 84s
that being said, the Dc-5 was better than all of em (get on eused)

Really, never come across that amp yet, but will now consider that. Have you made a purchase yet or are you still looking?

If I'm not mistaken, Dave Grohl uses Mesa Rectos for distortion and Vox AC30s for cleans. An above mentioned Mesa might be right up your alley then.

hey matrixman, are you a member of musicianforums? i thought i saw this exact thread on there in the guitar section. Anyway ive played the the dsl401 at a guitar center and i thought it was a solid amp. but i really think your paying a little too much because it has the marshall name. look into a peavey 5150, XXX , or a used mesa.

There are quite a few quality amps out there. Are you set on all valve? If not, a Marshall AVT 50 might be a good idea. You get a decent amp that you can play at bedroom levels, but would handle gigs if you need to. If you want to stick with valves, try a TSL, as it's got an agressive 3rd channel that might handle the Foo's stuff. It's 60watts, but you'd have to crank the 40watter to get the sound you're after. You could also look at Laney and Ashdown, aspecially their Fallen Angel combo.


Originally Posted by gtg10khey matrixman, are you a member of musicianforums? i thought i saw this exact thread on there in the guitar section. Anyway ive played the the dsl401 at a guitar center and i thought it was a solid amp. but i really think your paying a little too much because it has the marshall name. look into a peavey 5150, XXX , or a used mesa.

Hehe, yeah i posted it there as well!


Originally Posted by BiuIf I'm not mistaken, Dave Grohl uses Mesa Rectos for distortion and Vox AC30s for cleans. An above mentioned Mesa might be right up your alley then.

Dave use to use this combination but now they just use the Mesa Rectos for both distortion and cleans.


Originally Posted by stevie_beesThere are quite a few quality amps out there. Are you set on all valve? If not, a Marshall AVT 50 might be a good idea. You get a decent amp that you can play at bedroom levels, but would handle gigs if you need to. If you want to stick with valves, try a TSL, as it's got an agressive 3rd channel that might handle the Foo's stuff. It's 60watts, but you'd have to crank the 40watter to get the sound you're after. You could also look at Laney and Ashdown, aspecially their Fallen Angel combo.

Well i was pretty much set on a tube amp because they sound the best from what i'v heard. About the TSL, i'v heard some people say they don't like the tone of the TSL601's, haven't tried it myself but will give it a shot.

I want a gig capable amp but with good bedroom level tones that is preferably tube.

I'd like to go for a Mesa but since i'm in the UK there really too expensive, at least over here. As gtg10k mentioned i'll check those peavey out, anyone got any opinions of these amps?


Originally Posted by matrixman_397Well i was pretty much set on a tube amp because they sound the best from what i'v heard. About the TSL, i'v heard some people say they don't like the tone of the TSL601's, haven't tried it myself but will give it a shot.

I want a gig capable amp but with good bedroom level tones that is preferably tube.

I'd like to go for a Mesa but since i'm in the UK there really too expensive, at least over here. As gtg10k mentioned i'll check those peavey out, anyone got any opinions of these amps?

I've got a TSL601, which I love. Obviously each person has their own ideas on what sounds great. The 601 isn't necessarily going to sound great at bedroom levels 'cos you can't drive the power valves to give you that great full on Marshall tone. At gigging volumes I think it sounds great and is very versatile. You might want to use a distortion pedal for your bedroom practicing and let the amp sing at gigs.
I hear what you're saying about Mesa's, rip off Britain strikes again, but there are enough good amps made over here to give you your sound. There's nothing quite like spending a Saturday afternoon annoying the hell out of music shop assistants trying every amp you can as loud as you can!! Have fun and goodluck with your search.