Borrowed my mates DSL50 to try out

[_tom_]

and all I can say is I'm really, really impressed :o I thought I'd hate it since I've only ever heard it through his valvestate cab and thought it sounded shite. Through G12H30s its $%&#ing awesome. It's like my Laney but with more clarity, less fizz and more of that proper Marshall roar that I want. I was going to change preamp tubes etc to try and get that out of my laney but I'm tempted to save up and get a DSL50 now :o Plugging into my laney after that was just a bit disappointing :(  Heres a quick comparison clip, not amazing cos I'm plugging my SM57 straight into my laptops soundcard but you can hear a bit of a difference, its much bigger in the room.

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=493678&songID=6986813

[Will]

If you want to be put off the DSL feel free to trek down the 50 miles to my place.
Master volume JMPs are a bit cheaper than DSLs too. More crunchy but still fat.

your clip makes the DSL sound quite thin, the complete opposite of my old JCM900.

[_tom_]

Yeah it has a bit less bass but its much clearer and middier than the laney which I like :) The classic crunch channel is really nice as well, a bit fatter than the ultra gain channel which I used on that clip. I just couldnt be arsed to set it up for that cos I allready had it set up quite nicely on the ultra gain (which was only at 9:00 and thats more than enough).

[Twinfan]

You need to remember that your Laney isn't on top form at the moment Tom!

What valves were in each head by the way?  They can make a big difference.

Before you change your rig, I'd spend a small amount getting your GH checked out.  Maybe you could send it to MartinW?

[_tom_]

True, but before plugging the Laney in I did put a load of contact cleaner on the valve pins then pull them in/out of the sockets a few times. Didnt get any big changes in volume/punch etc so I'm guessing its ok for now..

My valves are Svetlana Winged C EL34s, his are whatever stock EL34s come in DSLs. Both have stock preamp ones.

[Twinfan]

Try swapping the preamp valves over and see if that improves your Laney.  It might be that yours are shot.

Power valves are less important unless the amps are cranked.

Have you tried EQ-ing your Laney to sound like the DSL?

[Oli]

I got rid of my Laney (vh100r) a while ago, for the same reason you're not liking you GH- too much fizz that i never got dialled out, tried different valves and really wanted to like it, but it just didn't happen. Now i'm rocking the Marshalls (900s at the moment, but planning a Ceriatone 2204 build at some point), i just think the Laneys need to have some adjustments to get rid of the fizz, and they really need to be opened up very loud to sound good.

[_tom_]

Yeah I'm thinking about trying some new preamp valves first to see if that'll get the fizz away, but since playing the DSL I'm missing the marshall upper mid thing which the Laney just doesnt have. Dont know which valves to try though there are so many, even after making threads asking which I still dont know what to do :lol: Might try some EI Elites as they get good a good write up on Watford Valves, the only thing they didnt like about them was their reliability, but apparently thats not such an issue with the newer ones (watford valves report was in 2001). Seriously considering getting a DSL or maybe a ceriatone/martamp JCM800 if that'd really be much better than the DSL? Definitely not as versatile anyway...

Twinfan I dont have time to change the preamp ones round, he wants it back asap, I was only borrowing it to see if it was his amp or cab that was $%&#ed - turns out its his cab :P

edit - nevermind, changed the preamp tubes round, sounds the same with or without the TADs :P

[Will]

I got some Mullard ECC83s from America yesterday. Better than stock Marshalls atleast, I can't compare to many, but I like them :)

[Twinfan]

Sounds like you like the JMP onwars Marshall upper mid thing Tom.  Me, I prefer the earlier JTM low end emphaisis that the Laney also has.

Sounds like you've got amp GAS!

[FELINEGUITARS]

Yeah - I had a preference for MArshall over Laney
Always found the Laney's a bit wooly sounding with Humbuckers whilst the Marshalls had that upper mid thing dialed in nicely. Being a fan of 80s rock I guess the Marshall was the primary amp of choice so it is also what my ears are tuned to.

[_tom_]

Sounds like you like the JMP onwars Marshall upper mid thing Tom.  Me, I prefer the earlier JTM low end emphaisis that the Laney also has.

Sounds like you've got amp GAS!

Yep definitely, it just has more punch and agression that I want. Then again when you havent played the DSL before the Laney (A/Bing them I guess you call it) you dont really notice it as much! I'm seriously considering getting Martin at Martamp to make me up a 50w JCM800 or something with my leftover student loan money next summer :P Depends how much it'll cost really.

[Twinfan]

If Martin makes it, it'll be a good 'un  ;)

[_tom_]

Yeah.. will a JCM800 sound similar to a DSL but with less gain? I had the gain on that clip at just above 9:00 on the ultra gain channel, which is just about right for me I think, do 800s do that without a boost or are they more of an ACDC level of gain? The crunch channel sounds great with a Rat in front of it as well :)

[Twinfan]

I'd say a JCM800 would be ideal for you Tom.  That's what the GH is based on after all, and you seem to like that!