software

I have been trying for a while to get a good metal/hardcore tone out of my DSL50 and I have trie so many different settings but the closest one I can find sounds very broken up. It's not just distorted but it sounds very broken up high pitched even when the treble is down. Any help? Would changing the tubes help greatly?

Dude no offense, but it should not be so difficult for you to find a metal/hardcore tone out of a DSL. Just what settings have you used?


Originally Posted by Brian110687I have been trying for a while to get a good metal/hardcore tone out of my DSL50 and I have trie so many different settings but the closest one I can find sounds very broken up. It's not just distorted but it sounds very broken up high pitched even when the treble is down. Any help? Would changing the tubes help greatly?

i kinda know what you mean, i have the same trouble with my DSL401. The dirty channel just seems to have a naturally abrasive sound to it. The distortion is blunt, but still has an annoying top end. Its like it breaks up in the wong place or something. I get no trouble getting straight up punk and classic rock sounds from it, but when i go for something heavier it just kinda loses it. The definition goes but the annoying top end grain remains. Very difficult to describe unless you hear it in the flesh so to speak. I find it more pronounced as the volume goes up.

How Old is your amp, and the cab your running it through??
I recently just bought a new marshall 1936 2x12 cab for to have for portability,as soon as I plugged into it the tone sounded like what your describing..I'm not saying that thats whats wrong because it may not at all but the problem with the cab was that they were new speakers.I gave them a good 8 hours breeakin in the other day by putting very loud music through it.It sounded a helluva lot better, Tho it could sound alot better(as i have the same speakers in my 4x12 and it sounds great)

I'm with frigginalex. A DSL with good tubes, EQ'd right, running into a Mesa Vin 30 4-12 with pickups, should give you every shade of metal there is.
It's possible that the tubes are old, and if so, I'd replace the EL-34's with Svets or JJ
and replace all the preamp tubes with GT-12AX7C's or Sovtek 12AX7LPS.
If that's still not heavy enough, buy a good OD pedal like a Banzai Fireball II to run in front of the amp. And, don't use any strings lighter than 10's.

It may sound strange, but put a lower gain tube in V1 like a 5751. And maybe even the PI slot. This will smooth out the tone and get rid of that nasty treble. Then just put a Boss SD-1 or Tubescreamer in front to boost the amp and there you go. I found the higher gain pre amp tubes just exacerbated the treble problem. You will still have plenty of gain in the amp. And, like GJ said, put Svet's or JJ's in for power tubes.

just don't expect it to be a mesa dual rectifier because it's not. If that's what you are trying to get out of it, get a dual rec instead. Sorry so blunt, but unless there's a problem with your amp I don't see you having a problem getting a heavy tone from it.

I know exactly what you mean...I've hated every DSL I've tried, TSL's as well for that matter. Just not a good metal/hardcore amp IMO.

I have a Dsl 50 and After putting in a new transformer and changing the power tubes to Svetlana El34, and putting in JJ preamp tubes to tame some of the nasty treble, it sounds great.
But as mentioned above, this amp is really not good for extreme heavy metal. I had a hard time using it to cover stuff like Disturbed, but it nailed all the classic, punk and Old Ozzy and Dio stuff great!

Thanks for all the help guys. So would you reccomend me replcaing the tubes in the DSL and seeing where it goes with that or selling it and buy a mesa? And if I were to buy a mesa how much would I get for the DSL?

You might get $600 - 700 for the DSL if you're lucky (and it's in good shape with the footswitch and such).


Originally Posted by sosomethingYou might get $600 - 700 for the DSL if you're lucky (and it's in good shape with the footswitch and such).

My DSL is in perfect condition w/ footswitch.

I'm having the same problems as you. I want to run it with my mesa to give me more texture but it isn't as heavy as I'd like it. All these people that say it can easily sound very heavy must not own one or have even played one for that matter. I'm sending mine to voodoo amps. That should fix the problem.... although a little pricey. About 4-hunsky! Plus extra for another output transformer. But if it'll give me the tone I want it'll be worth it. You might look into that. By the time you mod it you'll still have spent less than getting $600 for your amp and then forking out another $1000 to buy a rectifier. Just my suggestion.

P.S. Just noticed that you live in New York. That's where voodoo amps are located so you could go in an physically talk in person with the owner and get exactly what you want.

Ok, now the dillema is to either sell the DSL and buy a MESA or get a voodoo mod on the dsl. Opinions?


Originally Posted by Brian110687Ok, now the dillema is to either sell the DSL and buy a MESA or get a voodoo mod on the dsl. Opinions?

Go try the Mesa first. If you like it, go with it. If you don't, then think about modding your amp or looking at other alternatives


Originally Posted by Brian110687Ok, now the dillema is to either sell the DSL and buy a MESA or get a voodoo mod on the dsl. Opinions?get a peavey 6505 or peavey XXX. You can get thick heavy gain with them too.


Originally Posted by Xeromusget a peavey 6505 or peavey XXX. You can get thick heavy gain with them too.

I'm not a fan of Peavey. I would rather stick to marshall or mesa. Or Bogner, but thats not happening because of price.

hmm, I think peavey makes far better products than marshall. Just make sure it's not the brand name you're hung up on, but the gear itself. I'd say look around ebay for a mesa head.


Originally Posted by Brian110687Or Bogner, but thats not happening because of price.

I figure $400 for the base mods, $50 for extras, $175-ish for a new tranny, $75-ish for new tubes, etc. Personally, I'd ditch the DSL, sell a guitar you're not fond of (or save up), and get a lightly used Bogner Uberschall. They pop up all the time on Ebay for $1700-$1800, and they're hardly used because they're just too brutal for most people.

I'd drop some JJ tubes in it from Eurotubes. That's what I did with my DSL 50 and it made a marked difference.