Writing | Oct 11 2022
Choosing the right amp can be a bit of a journey. My goal was a versatile one – an amp that could handle clean tones, gritty crunch, and satisfying overdrive, all while being reasonably portable and budget-friendly. After checking out Marshall's midrange options, I found the Marshall DSL40CR, priced at around $750 (it's around $1000+ these days!).
It was a bit pricier than I had hoped to spend, however, it checked off a lot of boxes. Tube amp, excellent brand, combo amp, loud and portable. Online reviews and YouTube demos looked good. I also haggled a bit and found a good deal on it, getting a new one for around $650. In hindsight it's an amazing deal.
I was impressed by the DSL40CR's loudness and tonal qualities. It delivered outstanding clarity, even with heavy overdrive. The amp's responsiveness to playing style and its versatility with clean, crunch, and two overdrive settings, along with a tone shift button, allowed for a wide range of tones.
The ability to switch between 20-watt and 40-watt modes is a bonus, making it suitable for recording in the house or loud garage jamming. The 6-button footswitch was a worthwhile addition, enabling easy on-the-fly tone changes. Worthy add-on.
Some reviews noted a slight pause when switching tones. I found it unobtrusive in live settings and I'm not switching tones during takes when I'm recording.
The amp's standout feature is its remarkable tone, delivering that signature Marshall sound in a convenient package. It eliminated the need to fiddle with settings, allowing me to focus on playing.
I feel link I'm a better player because of this amp. The combination of my Les Paul and the DSL40CR just sounds amazing every time and makes playing really fun. In the world of amplifiers, the Marshall DSL40CR is a "sound" investment that truly delivers.
Oct 11 2022 | Choosing the right amp can be a bit of a journey. My goal was a versatile one – an amp that could handle clean tones, gritty crunch, and satisfying overdrive, all while being reasonably portable and budget-friendly. After checking out Marshall's midrange options, I found the Marshall DSL40CR, priced at around $750 (it's around $1000+ these days!).
Sep 12 2022 | Love my looper. Some advice. If you're using one, make sure to set it up with an effects loop (see the image). This helps keep your original loop sound intact while letting you tweak your live sound. It may seem like a small detail, but it makes a big difference. With this setup, you can loop a clean track and jam over it with a turned-up overdrive.