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Greg_L
Banned
Usually, the preamp tube nearest the input jack is the main mammy jammy and called "V1". Why Marshall decided to name this one backwards is beyond me. I don't know enough about it to even venture a guess.
minerman
Tonetard
That's what I've called that tube all along, "V1", because it's closest to the input....Actually, in this little amp, V1 is the power tube...I don't know enough about it either dude, so I've posted threads all over internetland, & hopefully, someone will be able to help me, or everyone will get tired of hearing me ask about it, & tell me to shut the fuck up....LOL...
The guy in the Marshall Roadhouse did post some clips of his modded DSL-1, dunno what speaker/mic he used, but to me, there's a pretty wide range on the gain now with clean, crunch, od1 & od2, assuming he didn't change settings, just flipping between the 4 different channels/modes....The clips are in the last post by "Donk23" here:
The Marshall Roadhouse
I think this is the guy I need to talk to, but I don't think English is his language because some of his sentences don't make sense to me...But, I'd say this guy could help me achieve what I'm after...For that matter, he might even be able to walk me through the mods he did to his amp, depending on the skill level involved....We'll see eventually I suppose...
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Greg_L
Banned
Yeah he's not too clear. He specifies which resistors and caps he altered, but the toggles and channel switching isn't too clear.
On the plus side, I'd bet all of that is very easy, and cheap, to do.
minerman
Tonetard
That's why I think English isn't his native language, might be wrong though...
Right, I've looked at buying a few resistors, & they're dirt cheap....The local Radio Shack may even have what I need, it's doubtful, but maybe...I think it'd be really cool to have the 4 modes/channels like the big DSL, but I'm not gonna get my hopes up, it may be over my head, skill-wise...
Did you listen to his clips btw??? There's definitely a difference in all of 'em, but again, I don't know if he changed any settings on the amp between the modes/channels or anything, but definitely sounds like the direction I'm wanting to go with the amp...
I think it'd look cool to have the little push-buttons for the modes rather than the toggle switches myself, but that's just cosmetic, & they might even be harder to install, dunno...
No biggie on these mods really, sure, I wanna lower the gain to a more useable range, but I think the little amp kicks as like it is right now, completely blows the Tweaker away...I could mod the fuck out of it, but I rarely even turn it on anymore man, the 'lil Marshall has become "my" amp...Had it almost a year now, hard to believe it's been that long...Just about time to buy something else too....LOL...I've already told the old lady it's been a few months since I got the Les Paul, so she knows what that means...LOL....
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Greg_L
Banned
Ha, that's one thing I don't like about the new Marshalls - push buttons. The JVM is full of push buttons, and I get it since many of them are three way switches that work in conjunction with the footswitch, but if it's all the same give me an old school metal toggle any day for looks and feel. The plastic power and standby rocker switches are lame. Always have been. I love the physical resistance and loud "clunk" of flipping on the Plexi's power and standby toggles. I don't know, it's just mechanical. It's like you're really firing up a mean piece of equipment. All systems go, thrusters engaged, missles armed, activate the rock and roll. Lol. That's what it's like. Push buttons and plastic rocker switches don't have that same effect on me.
I have not listened to his clips. I will later.
I have not listened to his clips. I will later.
minerman
Tonetard
So, the guy in the Roadhouse replied, & explained what he did to switch od2 to od1 in the DSL-1....Seems pretty simple really, other than hooking up the switch, but I sent him a pm, & I'm hoping he'll explain in more detail how to do this....
Here's what he said about making od2 into od1:
"The tube labeled V4 on PCB is:
First gain stage and ultra-channel gain stage
V2 on PCB is:
Second and third gain stage
V3 on PCB is:
Final gain stage and cathode follower
V5 on PCB is:
Phase inverter
V1 on PCB is:
Output tube
To lower the gain in ultra-channel first thing you can do is to unsolder C41.
It is the cathode resistor bypass cap of the ultra-gain stage.
You have to take it out of the circuit! Unsolder it! Do not short/jumper it!!!
You have to take out the board, because of the box shape you can only unsolder it from the underside.
Taking this cap out of the circuit is one of the three things done, when switching the bigger DSLs from OD2 to OD1 and will have the biggest impact in reducing gain.
Next thing you can do is to snip off the right leg of C60 (or unsolder it) (the one closer to the pot) taking it out of the circuit. (It creates a low-pass filter with the gain pot in OD2 to cut of the highs when gain knob is on about 7 or higher.)
Then add a 150K to 470K resistor (I used 220K) from the right solder pad of C60 to the lower solder pad of R83. Paralleling the gain pot, it will lower the max value, letting more signal to be grounded and decreasing gain. (Same as R21 front board in DSL100/50)
Now make these three changes switchable with a 3pdt-switch and you have got your OD1/OD2 switch."
The mods he mentioned here seem pretty simple really, other than I have no idea how to do the switch....Looks like I'll still be waiting a little while, as I've e-mailed/pm'd him about some things, & I'll probably have to order parts, which will take some time, but that's ok....I'm in no hurry at all to start on this, as I'm gonna make sure I've got everything I need beforehand, & I'm gonna make sure I know exactly what I'm gonna do beforehand too....
I might even do the mods in stages, like removing C41 first, to see if I like what it does or not, & take it from there...He did mention that removing that cap would have the biggest impact on reducing the gain, & really, that's what I'm after right now, but it would be cool as fuck to have all 4 modes/channels like the big DSL's have, & be able to crank 'em all at 3 in the morning....
Here's what he said about making od2 into od1:
"The tube labeled V4 on PCB is:
First gain stage and ultra-channel gain stage
V2 on PCB is:
Second and third gain stage
V3 on PCB is:
Final gain stage and cathode follower
V5 on PCB is:
Phase inverter
V1 on PCB is:
Output tube
To lower the gain in ultra-channel first thing you can do is to unsolder C41.
It is the cathode resistor bypass cap of the ultra-gain stage.
You have to take it out of the circuit! Unsolder it! Do not short/jumper it!!!
You have to take out the board, because of the box shape you can only unsolder it from the underside.
Taking this cap out of the circuit is one of the three things done, when switching the bigger DSLs from OD2 to OD1 and will have the biggest impact in reducing gain.
Next thing you can do is to snip off the right leg of C60 (or unsolder it) (the one closer to the pot) taking it out of the circuit. (It creates a low-pass filter with the gain pot in OD2 to cut of the highs when gain knob is on about 7 or higher.)
Then add a 150K to 470K resistor (I used 220K) from the right solder pad of C60 to the lower solder pad of R83. Paralleling the gain pot, it will lower the max value, letting more signal to be grounded and decreasing gain. (Same as R21 front board in DSL100/50)
Now make these three changes switchable with a 3pdt-switch and you have got your OD1/OD2 switch."
The mods he mentioned here seem pretty simple really, other than I have no idea how to do the switch....Looks like I'll still be waiting a little while, as I've e-mailed/pm'd him about some things, & I'll probably have to order parts, which will take some time, but that's ok....I'm in no hurry at all to start on this, as I'm gonna make sure I've got everything I need beforehand, & I'm gonna make sure I know exactly what I'm gonna do beforehand too....
I might even do the mods in stages, like removing C41 first, to see if I like what it does or not, & take it from there...He did mention that removing that cap would have the biggest impact on reducing the gain, & really, that's what I'm after right now, but it would be cool as fuck to have all 4 modes/channels like the big DSL's have, & be able to crank 'em all at 3 in the morning....
minerman
Tonetard
Ok, instead of waiting for parts & shit, I went ahead & removed C41 by un-soldering it so if I don't like the result, I can put it back....But, so far, I like what it did to the amp....Here's a quick-n-shitty clip....Granted, there's not a world of difference, but it seems the gain knob has a more useable sweep now, with the sweet spot being between 5 & 6 now, before it was maybe 4 at the most....It took longer to take the amp apart so I could get to it than it did to un-solder the cap...LOL...
I could immediately tell a difference in the sound & feel, it's more like an old-school guitar amp now, but it's still got tons of gain, so, I'm happy with what the simple little mod did...And, if I ever decide to put it back stock, won't cost much at all, & won't take very long either...But the cap will most likely stay out, as I do like the little change it made...
So, here's a quick-n-shitty clip:
LP > DSL-1H > T-75 > '57 (I did add my usual room reverb to the clip because of the dead/totally dry ISO cab...)
Amp settings:
Everything on "5" except the gain & volume, deep & tone shift were off
Volume: 10
Gain: Did it in steps, starting at "2", then "3", "5", "7", "9", & finally "10"
Modded DSL-1
Of course, the sound still gets a little too wooly/un-defined when the gain knob hits over 7, but before it was 5 or even before when it did this, so, I can live with it...Plus, before when I had it on a cleaner setting, it sounded kinda thin, like the knob wasn't up enough to give enough signal, now, it's more like an old-school amp's gain knob, to me anyway....
I didn't even try to dial the mic in either, whatever position it was in the last time I recorded anything is where it's at now, to be honest, I'd have to open the ISO cab to look, but IIRC, it's about the usual spot, the cap meets the cone thing, an inch or two from the speaker...LOL....It's been a while since I've even fired the amp up, fuckin' fake drums have been taking all my time...LOL...
So, I've took the plunge, guess I'll have to finish the other mods up eventually, & turn this thing into a full-blown, 4-channel/mode DSL....that I'll be able to crank/dime at 3 am, without waking or pissing anyone off...
I could immediately tell a difference in the sound & feel, it's more like an old-school guitar amp now, but it's still got tons of gain, so, I'm happy with what the simple little mod did...And, if I ever decide to put it back stock, won't cost much at all, & won't take very long either...But the cap will most likely stay out, as I do like the little change it made...
So, here's a quick-n-shitty clip:
LP > DSL-1H > T-75 > '57 (I did add my usual room reverb to the clip because of the dead/totally dry ISO cab...)
Amp settings:
Everything on "5" except the gain & volume, deep & tone shift were off
Volume: 10
Gain: Did it in steps, starting at "2", then "3", "5", "7", "9", & finally "10"
Modded DSL-1
Of course, the sound still gets a little too wooly/un-defined when the gain knob hits over 7, but before it was 5 or even before when it did this, so, I can live with it...Plus, before when I had it on a cleaner setting, it sounded kinda thin, like the knob wasn't up enough to give enough signal, now, it's more like an old-school amp's gain knob, to me anyway....
I didn't even try to dial the mic in either, whatever position it was in the last time I recorded anything is where it's at now, to be honest, I'd have to open the ISO cab to look, but IIRC, it's about the usual spot, the cap meets the cone thing, an inch or two from the speaker...LOL....It's been a while since I've even fired the amp up, fuckin' fake drums have been taking all my time...LOL...
So, I've took the plunge, guess I'll have to finish the other mods up eventually, & turn this thing into a full-blown, 4-channel/mode DSL....that I'll be able to crank/dime at 3 am, without waking or pissing anyone off...
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Greg_L
Banned
Pretty cool. Congrats on getting in there and not shocking yourself or hurting the amp. Up to 7 sounds great to me. 7 is ok. 9 & 10 are too much. 10 does kind of have that flattened power tube kind of sound though.
minerman
Tonetard
Thanks dude, but to be honest, I was more worried about hurting the amp than I was hurting myself...LOL...I've had that little thing apart before, this is the first time I've took the board out & stuck a soldering gun to it though, rolling tubes is one thing, but the soldering gun is another....LOL...
As much as I'd like to have the 4 mode/channel thing, dunno if I'll go through with it or not man...There's an awful lot of tiny little shit in there I could fuck up really, really easily if I'm not careful, so I'm gonna think on it until I hear back from a couple guys with some more info, & then decide if I'm gonna do all the other stuff or not....Honestly, this little mod made it a better amp to me, & I was really happy with it before....
.Tonight I realized my eyes aren't what they used to be, just a year or so ago, I'd have no problem seeing little shit that's on that board, tonight, I really struggled keeping my focus...I've noticed on the way home for a few months now that oncoming headlights absolutely blind me, & shit gets blurry once in a while, but working on that tiny little board hammered it home, I'm probably gonna have to get some glasses...LOL...Guess I'm gettin' old....My hearing ain't what it once was either, I think that's one reason I can't hear the subtle differences in sounds like you & others can....I guess all these years of coal mining & rock-n-roll are taking their toll on me...
.To be honest, I was worried it would take too much gain away, but it's about "right" for me, like you said, anything over 7-8 basically is too much, & I'd probably never use that much gain on anything anyway, even if I did, I'd boost it with an od pedal to tighten it up, so, I think the simple little mod is good....Makes it a little more "Marshall-y" to me, like a modded 800 or something...There's definitely a difference in the gain, I haven't noticed anything that it did to the tonestack or anything else, so again, I'm happy with it...
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wavewarrior
New member
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Greg_L
Banned
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wavewarrior
New member
Funny stuff!
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Greg_L
Banned
I remember back in the 90s Nigel was trying to create an amp capo. It was a joke obviously, but his idea was that a guitar capo compromises the integrity of the instrument, so he developed a giant plaid band that goes around the cab to change the key of what you're playing.
minerman
Tonetard
Well, I think I gave up too soon on the DSL-1 mods...The guy "Donk23" that walked me through the cap clip has literally made a diagram that I could follow with no problems, so I'm gonna do the od1/od2 switch in a few days....I'm hoping he'll do the same for the green crunch switch too...Looks like my DSL-1 might have the same features as the big boys, only at a low-watt setting....Pretty stoked, & that was really, really nice of that guy...Check out the thread, & scroll down to his last couple posts today:
The Marshall Roadhouse
I might even hook the od1/od2 switch up to the tone shift, I rarely use it, & that way I would have one less hole in the front of the amp I'd have to drill...I'm gonna wait until I hear back from him before I try that though, but again, that was really kick-ass of him to do the little diagram, color-coded the amp's board to match, so there's no confusion at all....Pretty stoked!!!!
The Marshall Roadhouse
I might even hook the od1/od2 switch up to the tone shift, I rarely use it, & that way I would have one less hole in the front of the amp I'd have to drill...I'm gonna wait until I hear back from him before I try that though, but again, that was really kick-ass of him to do the little diagram, color-coded the amp's board to match, so there's no confusion at all....Pretty stoked!!!!
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Greg_L
Banned
Cool man, that's awesome. I personally have never liked the tone shift on DSLs. If it were mine, that'd be a perfect place for the mini toggle.
You could probably find a button too if you don't want a toggle. Hell you might even be able to re-purpose the tone shift switch to work Lead 1/2.
You could probably find a button too if you don't want a toggle. Hell you might even be able to re-purpose the tone shift switch to work Lead 1/2.
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wavewarrior
New member
Minerman, sounds like a good plan, if I would have kept my DSL1C I would do it too.
Have you guys seen the new Marshall DSL5C amp yet?
They're not made in the UK, but getting ok reviews, priced around $450.
Has fx loop and a 1 watt switching option.
Have you guys seen the new Marshall DSL5C amp yet?
They're not made in the UK, but getting ok reviews, priced around $450.
Has fx loop and a 1 watt switching option.
minerman
Tonetard
Greg: Yeah dude, I was talking about just using the existing tone shift button for the od1/od2 switch if it's not too much work...But, it may be best to just leave the tone shift as-is, because I'm sure it's wired into the tonestack, & switches different resistors at different values in/out somehow....
Wavewarrior: Yeah, I saw those when they came out, I even posted about 'em here, but I'd already got my 1w DSL, so really, nothing I'd be interested in....Combo only too, & since I've got the ISO cab with 3 different speakers to use in it, a combo just ain't for me...Sure, I could disconnect the speaker, but I like heads a lot more than combos...
Wavewarrior: Yeah, I saw those when they came out, I even posted about 'em here, but I'd already got my 1w DSL, so really, nothing I'd be interested in....Combo only too, & since I've got the ISO cab with 3 different speakers to use in it, a combo just ain't for me...Sure, I could disconnect the speaker, but I like heads a lot more than combos...
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Greg_L
Banned
I think that's a terrible demo. That amp sounds as small and thin as it actually is.
minerman
Tonetard
I agree Greg, that demo doesn't sound good at all, but there's a guy over at the Marshall forum that has one, & says it's gain/red channel is actually voiced a little different than the other/newer DSL's, having a little less gain, but I don't know for sure...He's modded his kinda like I'm doing mine, but I haven't heard any clips....But, I bet it'd sound a lot better through a 12" speaker...
Since I'm here, gonna ask a pretty dumb question, actually, a few of 'em but here goes:
The little white thingies I've got circled are actually capacitors, right???
And, the numbers on 'em are their values, right???
And, where would I get some of these things for spares???
And, could different types of these things be swapped/substituted for the originals???
Lemme know, I'm gonna try to get a little parts list started for the mods I'm gonna do, order 'em all at once, & have everything here before I start on the od1/od2-clean/crunch switches/mods....
I'm guessing Lt. Bob would be a good candidate to answer these questions, but if anyone else knows, please do let me know....
Since I'm here, gonna ask a pretty dumb question, actually, a few of 'em but here goes:
The little white thingies I've got circled are actually capacitors, right???
And, the numbers on 'em are their values, right???
And, where would I get some of these things for spares???
And, could different types of these things be swapped/substituted for the originals???
Lemme know, I'm gonna try to get a little parts list started for the mods I'm gonna do, order 'em all at once, & have everything here before I start on the od1/od2-clean/crunch switches/mods....
I'm guessing Lt. Bob would be a good candidate to answer these questions, but if anyone else knows, please do let me know....