DSL50 - Replacement tubes

[LPJohnny]

I'm experiencing some intermittent crackling and noise.
I suspect the factory tubes that came with my amp
when I bought it a few months ago are crap. Any suggestions
on replacement tubes? Do you recommend a re-bias?

I've had good results with JJ's in my Boogie MkIII, but I don't
think anything sounded as good as the U.S. made Sylvania tubes
that it came with new in the late 80s.

Thx!
LPJohnny

 

[luvvitlowd]

I hear that SETs sound really sweet in the DSLs. I'm about to try some, myself.

 

[LPJohnny]

What are SETs?

 

[Adwex]

I think he meant SED's...also known as Svetlana Winged =C=

SED Winged "C" Tubes

 

[JonnyGator]

I bought my DSL50 with JJs already in it. While the amp is just beautiful to my ears, it may sound a bit dark, and I've not really tested the waters other than blowing the fixtures off the walls in my house with it.... The guy I bought it from has many Marshalls and he chose to put the JJs in it, so I thought he must know what's decent.... I might change them out later for something brighter, if I find out what's better in these forums....

 

[Brett Blackmore]

Before you change your tubes try and find out if it is a preamp tube. If it is a preamp tube then you can buy a replacement without having to bias the main tubes and you could even get another manufactorer as long as the type is the same. Try rotating the preamps to see if it makes a difference eg. the crackle is gone on the gain channel but is now on the clean channel etc. Your getting close... Swop it out and save your self a lot of trouble.

Cheers Brett

 

[coldsteal2]

I just had an eye opener buying JJ's for my
Vintage Modern Marshall, the original preamp tubes
were three white labled Marshall ECC83's and one
"RED" labeled Marshall ECC83.
I replaced them all with brand new JJ ECC83-S
tubes, but it also now sounded dark.
I put back in the Red Marshall Tube in the same slot, and then
it sounded fantastic, i guess that red labled tube is
a special tube.
So JJ's arent always the best tube for an amp, they are
for the DSL 401, because it needs that darker tone
to sound right.

I also had a freind that switched his original Marshall power
tubes with NOS tubes, and he had the same problem and ended
I wish Marshall would sell thier tubes everywhere like they do thier amps.
up sounding like an underpowerd Fender.
The JJ's are great in the 401 and my 900 though.

 

[DocNrock]

I suspect that red labeled tube is the power inverter tube.

 

[jetiii]

I took the original tubes out from my DSL 50 a short while after receiving it. They are OK tubes but not the same as the ones that were once made in the Svetlana factory. Save them in case you sell it someday. What you are looking for is the same tube number but with Winged C. and for the Preamp tubes I recommend Electro Harmonix 12 AX 7 EH for position 1 & 2 and for 3 & 4 you need 12 AX 7 EI as there is less chance of microphonics with these. The reason being that the gain cascades from 4 to 3 to 2 then to 1. Have the amp biased (especially if under warranty) from a Marshall certified tech. Around $200 total - You can hear my rig ( w/1960 BV) in action at the following, but some of the other videos are with an AVT stack.

YouTube - Killing in the Name