Greatwhitenorth
Well-Known Member
I use the Bad Monkey just like this. Having the separate bass and treble controls is nice for shaping the tone a little further. It colors the tone slightly, but in the right way, at least for me.
The Official Marshall DSL40c Information Thread
- Thread starter Micky
- Start date
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I use the Bad Monkey just like this. Having the separate bass and treble controls is nice for shaping the tone a little further. It colors the tone slightly, but in the right way, at least for me.
rlowe
Active Member
I also tried that same exact set from Doug's tubes HG with better balance than the stock JJ's. I also installed 2 E34L's from Eurotubes nice and punchy!. The stock speaker in this amp is no longer piercing in the treble range after break in period, in fact I have to kick in extra treble to bring some back-no mod's. I gave myself aprx. 6-7 months to evaluate. Using certain boost od pedals gives it a bit more roar!So, over the holiday break I got the courage up to roll in Doug's Tubes "tone kit" which is their specially picked preamps for the DSL, along with their suggestion of matched Ruby power tubes. Below is what it consists of:
2 matched Ruby EL34BSTR's
1 Tung Sol 12AX7 for V1
2 Ruby 7025SS for V2 and V3
and a Sovtek 12AX7 LPS for V4
I set the bias at 36.4 left and 36.2 on the right, but this might be a bit too low. I didn't measure plate voltage...not feeling THAT courageous just yet....just went with 38mv as my base that seems to be the normal measurement that has been posted here. I have only been able to play at lower volume so far but I could tell right away I'll be able to dial in some treble, finally. I have been running the treb. at about 2 on the dial and the Bass at about 8 up to this point. This tube "cocktail" seemed to have really cleaned up the Classic 1(green) channel (a good thing in MY book). The red channel is still a little fizzy for my taste but I I'm reserving my opinion until I can crank the amp a bit....apartment living is the pits for this sort of thing. Besides, I usually stay on green1 and go with pedals for my dirty sounds anyway.
I AM happy with the results so far, but the real test will be when I play with the band at level. I'm also proud of myself for being able to swap tubes and set the bias...something I knew nothing about 5 months ago...but thanks to the great info here it was a "breeze". You guys rock. I will admit, it took my hands about 45 minute to stop shaking after I was all done.
I can't wait to see...or hear what it sounds like at the next band rehersal.
I guess I should mention I'm still running the stock speaker, that should have enough time on it to be broken in (4 months of at least once a week playing??? practices/gigs) and guitar was a 2013 Trad Les Paul.
It is nice to see everyone experimenting with tubes as it relates to tone!
That, and the speaker have the 2 biggest impacts, your playing does the rest.
Best part is, with a nice set of tubes in your amp, you can use the originals as a spare set.
That, and the speaker have the 2 biggest impacts, your playing does the rest.
Best part is, with a nice set of tubes in your amp, you can use the originals as a spare set.
Greatwhitenorth
Well-Known Member
Well folks, I finally bit the bullet over the holidays and clipped the C19 cap. I really didn't want to nullify my warranty but I figured that I could solder it back if I didn't like the results and no one should be the wiser.
The effect is Major to say the least. I'm really happy with the tone so far, but I may play with assorted caps after I get used to it. I typically was using the Green channel and pedals to get my dirt, but this really sounds good IMHO. I'll report back if and when I make any changes. Thanks again for all the good information in this thread. I really appreciate it.
The effect is Major to say the least. I'm really happy with the tone so far, but I may play with assorted caps after I get used to it. I typically was using the Green channel and pedals to get my dirt, but this really sounds good IMHO. I'll report back if and when I make any changes. Thanks again for all the good information in this thread. I really appreciate it.
Jethro Rocker
Well-Known Member
Did it first week I had mine, it really works for me in balancing the channels. Push the front as memtioned, I can go from cleanish - clean enough - to dirt on Green, and solo with more level on Ultra channel. Look forward to tryimg it on Thursday's show.
Greatwhitenorth
Well-Known Member
Told you so.
It's not that I didn't trust you guys. I was a bit of a chicken sh!t to be honest.
The Red channels now sound far more pleasing to me. I couldn't get anything nearly as good as what I was with the Green channel and pedals before the cap was removed. The only reservations that I have now are if the amp will cut through as well at band volume and will I miss some of the bite that it previously had. Time will tell.
ken361
Well-Known Member
Would be nice to hear a before and after with the cab mic'd
Greatwhitenorth
Well-Known Member
Would be nice to hear a before and after with the cab mic'd
I really wish I would have done just that. I've only ever used my iPhone to record myself playing. I'm not sure how well it would have come out.
I have been the same forever as well...Guitar, chord, amp. Shoot, never even used reverb live. But last month I bought a TC mojomojo OD just to try out and see. It opened up my 40c big time with both a nice clean and crunch boost. In escenence adding a third channel to the amp. A transparent pedal is what you want on a Marshall, one that keeps the amps tone intact and just adds extra coloring.
I don't think that I will ever be a pedal board guy or anything but a few select ones is definitely on the agenda.
MarshallDog
Well-Known Member
Glad you like it but I kinda figured you would
I have ended up a 100 pF cap in its place for,what it's worth.
Rahlstin
Well-Known Member
I run Two OCD's Awesome pedal. One is set with just a hair on it the other is set pretty aggressive. The DSL40C and the 100H love those pedals and your guitar is very open and not squashed.
jlinde1973
Well-Known Member
I've biased mine anywhere from 55-80% and found that it sounds the best at about 77% or 42ma. Any less and it just sounds sterile, any more and its too sizzly. Those are the stock chinese el34s. I'm sure different tubes will sound better at different bias settings.
jep1210
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Out of curiosity I located cap C19 while I was fumbling around in there during my tube swap/biasing escapade this weekend. That damn thing is TINY!!!
I saw the pictures posted here and they don't do justice to the true size...or lack there of....of C19. There was a time I considered swapping it out for a different value, but my soldering skills are not up to the tasks. 
Especially for a channel I don't use that much...however with the mod maaaaybe....
Natedog_37
Member
Would be nice to hear a before and after with the cab mic'd
Was thinking about doing this if I grow the balls to do the mod.
jep1210
Member
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Would be nice to hear a before and after with the cab mic'd
Some where in this enormous thread, someone posted that very video.
Sadly I have NO idea what page it was.
Penguinchit
Well-Known Member
I'm still in the tempted stage. Partially the warranty and partially because I know my skill level probably isn't good enough to make a difference yet.
Someone's bound to video the show and then someone else is bound to post said video here, right?
What pedals? There's a pedal called the Awesome? I'm curious because my Soul Food, although a great pedal, doesn't cut it for me. When my drive is turned up, it just has a "digital" sound to the overdriven tone. Like I'm using a Spider 3 amp or something like that. Am I looking for a warmer, smoother overdrive?
rlowe
Active Member
Keep in mind a pedal choice is partially subjective to preference. Personally I like an Ibanez tube screamer used as a boost (Green or Red channel) and maybe a little gain just unbelievable.
I tried the OCD and was too dark and fuzzy for me.
No, he is referring to the Fulltone Obsessive Compulsive Drive aka "OCD".
Greatwhitenorth
Well-Known Member
Out of curiosity I located cap C19 while I was fumbling around in there during my tube swap/biasing escapade this weekend. That damn thing is TINY!!!
All I have done so far is clipped the capacitor, and you're right, it is tiny. I have done some soldering with pickups, but I have a couple of buddies who would be happy to help me do it and they have the tools for the job. I'm a hands on guy so it's always good to learn something new so that I can tackle it myself in the future. That's why this thread is so helpful to me.
I really didn't care for the Red channel, pre mod, but now it's really a ton better. Maybe not perfect quite yet, but usable which is the key. Keep in mind that this is all my perception and your results may vary.
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