NAD - Marshall JCM 2000 DSL 100

[GuitarIv]

So a few days ago I opened up a thread regarding the reliability issues I experienced with chinese made amps and my anger caused by this. To keep the story short: both my Valveking and my Jet City took a cr@p on me and made me realise once more that the old saying "you get what you pay for" is certainly true.

So I started looking for affordable alternatives online, something that would withstand the test of time or rather my playing for a couple of hours daily and I found a used JCM 2000 DSL 100 in a town nearby. The old made in UK version for 600 bucks. Only problem was that as a student I was still broke. I had a drink or two with my dad the same day and told him what had happened. Awesome as he is he conspired with my mum, got that exact amp and they gave it to me as an early christmas/birthday gift. Needless to say my parents are awesome! 

So where do I start? This is my first Marshall and the first higher quality amp I own and I think I finally understand what the fuss is all about now. As good as the tones are that the Valveking and the Jet City give you, there's just something I hear and feel in the JCM that makes me smile everytime I hit the first few notes. I know there's a lot of hate out there for the DSLs since they are the first heads to represent the "modern" Marshall sound, but just the sheer variety of sounds coming out of this thing really satisfies me. I know I'm still in the honeymoon period but one thing I can say for sure: my G.A.S. levels have dropped massively.

The layout is pretty simple, you have one shared EQ section for both channels, seperate gain, volume and reverb controls, a tone shift button to scoop mids and a deep switch to add some serious thump to the sound, really cool when playing by yourself at home with singlecoils. Both channels have the option to add some dirt with the push of a button, channel 1 is divided into clean/crunch, channel 2 has OD1 and OD2. FX loop has a line level switch.

Starting with the clean option on channel one you get an instant Hendrix Little Wing sound in conjunction with a Strat, it's nowhere as clean as a Fender would be but surprisingly spanky and pristine contrary to what you usually hear about Marshall. I love that clean sound with a bit of dirt in it.

The rhythm option puts you into AC/DC territory, somewhere on the edge between rock and roll and hard rock. Veeery cool for all things crunchy. The note separation and the high mid bite are what most people expect when they think Marshall and the JCM delivers. Awesome!

OD1 paired with a Tubescreamer: Now that is where I'm at home. I love my metal, but it was Metallica and Megadeth that got me started on that genre in the first place. If you know your Kill 'em all and Peace sells sounds, this is where the meat and the potatoes are. Finest Thrash as you would get it from a boosted JCM 800, the descripton in the manual hits the nail on the head. Probably my favourite sound so far. No need for a 5150 there for me personally 

OD2 is what I would truly consider the lead channel. It saturates everything up to a point where tight riffing starts to become somewhat mushy, but you get a really nice creamy, singing and sustaining solo sound. Think Sweet child o' mine or Still got the blues.

So far I tested the amp with my Strat (Sinner/Slowhand/Slowhand), a friends stock Les Paul and my Jackson Rhoads with the EMG 81/60 combo. To summarize: Strat: Hendrix, Les Paul: Slash/Gary Moore, Jackson: Early Metallica/Megadeth. The JCM reacts to your picking, your guitar, your pickups and takes pedals like a champ. I'm in love.

Next up is a full retube and maintenance service from a tech to make sure everything is in the best possible condition as the head is a 2004 model and used. No need to have another amp give up on me because of old tubes or dirt. 

Now before I end this lengthy review there are some negative things to say as well: the shared EQ section together with the missing option to switch between clean/crunch and OD1/OD2 via footswitch take away some versatility for live use. You also have to choose wether to use the footswitch for reverb or channel switching, there are two seperate outputs on the back. Other than that: happy as a man could be 

I'll report back as soon as I have some more mileage on this baby. Untill then...

Cheers!

[Telerocker]

Nice catch, hope the DSL serves you well. I'm not a Marshall-guy, but the DSL's get bashed a little too easy. I heard players ripping great tones out of those Marshalls: master up, gainlevel not too high, OD-box in front.

[Brow]

Good score!

I've recently gotten 1 myself too:

https://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=33176.0

[blue]

Sounds like you're enjoying your new amp, Congratulations.  As I mentioned in my new pedal post yesterday, the Mad Professer Orange Evolution Underdrive pedal could be a solution to the clean/crunch switching on the green channel; if you have it set to crunch, engaging the pedal would clean up the sound.  I've tried it with a Marshall SL5 and it worked pretty well.  I imagine any EQ with a gain/volume control should be able to do something similar

[CommonCourtesy]

I used to own this amp! It was the first head I bought about 5 years ago. Was in a pop punk band back then and it did the job ok, for what it was worth. Very mid-rangey and fizzy at times, I saved up for a 6505+ now I'm playing slightly heavier music. Got that a couple of years ago and sold the Marshall but can't help but feel I should have kept it for functions and stuff like that. The green channel with the crunch switch pushed in cranked can make a very good chugging tone!

[dave_mc]

sweet

[GuitarIv]

Telerocker: Yeah, that's absolutely true. I finally understand why everyone says Marshalls like to be played loud. Now if I only could get my hands on a proper attenuator... well, story for another day 

Brow: Nice! Imho the second mode on the OD channel could be executed better but as said the first mode slays with a proper boost especially for Thrash. Lately I find myself spending a lot more time on the green channel though so I feel your love for it haha 

Blue: Funny you would mention the Mad Professor pedal, I've been tempted to get the HBE Paul Gilbert Detox for a while now, seems like that option is off the market now so eventually the Underdrive will find it's way into my home, turning the DSL into a three channel amp sounds neat. How well does it perform? Like can I crank the rhythm gain and get instantly back into clean territory or does it need some further turns on the guitars volume pot?

CommonCourtesy: I'm sure swapping some tubes might help to get rid of fizz, I'm not hearing any to the point where it gets annoying but I tend to keep the gain under 5 and the V60 speakers in my ENGL cab aren't fizzy to begin with. Did you use it with g12-75s? Standard in most Marshall cabs and known for their top end sizzle. The 6505 is cool but way to high gain for the music I play nowadays. 

Cheers!

[blue]

The Underdrive works in the same way as turning down your volume pot, so it'll clean up, and maybe lose volume, in the same way.  The difference is you have EQ so you can lower the mids which helps clean up, and put a bit of sparkle back in with the high control.  And of course, a tap of the foot is faster than twisting a knob.  How clean it gets really depends on how dirty it is to start with :)  a punchy, AC/DC sort of sound should clean up pretty well, but a higher gain sound isn't going to work quite as well.    I set mine up with a crunchy amp for rhythm, the underdrive for a cleanish sound, and a boost for pushing the amp harder.  Works well.

[CommonCourtesy]

CommonCourtesy: I'm sure swapping some tubes might help to get rid of fizz, I'm not hearing any to the point where it gets annoying but I tend to keep the gain under 5 and the V60 speakers in my ENGL cab aren't fizzy to begin with. Did you use it with g12-75s? Standard in most Marshall cabs and known for their top end sizzle. The 6505 is cool but way to high gain for the music I play nowadays. 

Cheers!

Possibly, though its not an option as I don't own the head anymore! I did use it G12-75's in a Marshall 4 x 12, since getting the 6505+ though I've installed 2 V30's which give a good cut and snarley sound. The JCM2000 just wasn't doing it with that heavy sound I was looking for. My gain was on 5 as well, and I used a tubescreamer but the Peavey just offers more low end punch and gain!

[GuitarIv]

Blue: I have to go to my local store and try it out myself, but your description sounds convincing 

CC: Yeah I get what you're saying. A 6505 is always a safe bet when going for high gain applications. The JCM does it as well just different, more laid back and old school sounding. Kinda apples and oranges 

[CommonCourtesy]

I do miss it sometimes though, and alot of heavy drop tuned bands are reverting back to JCM800's and stuff after stints with Peavey's and Oranges. That cranked sound of a JCM800 is so nice, even in low tunings sometimes. But I'm happy with my 6505+ for what I need it to do, combined with a Nailbomb bridge pickup my guitar is now a tank!

[GuitarIv]

Update: got myself a JCM 800 1960 Lead cab from the early 80's used and dammed it opened the amp up! It has a single 16Ohm input and 260Watts RMS. I haven't removed the back yet to confirm but from everything I read so far it should have the Celestion G12-65 speakers. Full yet tight lows, healthy and warm midrange yet crunchy and sweet highs. The JCM sings and jumps into harmonic feedback now like I haven't heard it before, sooo nice! 

[GuitarIv]

Such a joy waking up every morning, this being the first thing I see hahaha 

[richard]

I've heard that it can be difficult to get the shared EQ set so that it's good for both channels. What is your experience so far ?

[Brow]

I've heard that it can be difficult to get the shared EQ set so that it's good for both channels. What is your experience so far ?

I've found that with mine tbh. I use mine on the green cleaner channel with the crunch switch on as a contrast to my Splawn. So I don't see it as a huge negative personally.