Marshall DSL 100 vs. JVM410H

[PowerTube]

Okay, I've now narrowed my decision down somewhat and it's between these two. I can get a used DSL 100 for around $600.00-ish or a JVM 410 for around $1000.00. I also will consider an EVH or a Splawn, but I doubt I'll find either in the range I'm wanting to keep it in.

But the price notwithstanding, which is your choice between these two Marshalls and why? Whatever I get will be ran across a Marshall 1960A cab, which I don't have just yet.

[roodyrocker]

I'd say JCM 2000 (DSL 100 or DSL 50). They are cheaper used, not to complicated, and they mic up well through a PA system. Among my amps I have a couple DSL 50's and lately that's what I've been using for my band's live gigs.

[PowerTube]

I'd say JCM 2000 (DSL 100 or DSL 50). They are cheaper used, not to complicated, and they mic up well through a PA system. Among my amps I have a couple DSL 50's and lately that's what I've been using for my band's live gigs.

Thanks for the input, but why do you prefer it over the JVM other than the price?

[84sups]

The EVH 5150III 50 water runs about $1000 and I hear its a tone monster. I was just staring at one in GC the other day but decided not to plug it in because they didn't have a decent cab even close to it. It was in ivory too the color I want.

[clifffclaven]

A friend of mine has a 5153 50 watter- hes selling his jvm. Ive played both, both are awesome. jvm is more versatile i think. man that 5153 is a gain and tone monster tho. You should definitely try one.

[PowerTube]

A friend of mine has a 5153 50 watter- hes selling his jvm. Ive played both, both are awesome. jvm is more versatile i think. man that 5153 is a gain and tone monster tho. You should definitely try one.

Believe me, I want to.

[PowerTube]

Update: I just called Guitar Center and asked about EVH. He said that the last time he had any EVH amp in stock was (brace yourself) 2008.

But I was pleasantly surprised that he has the DSL100H in stock, so I plan to go and try it out tomorrow.

[DonP]

Love my DSL100, but it's a 1998 vintage.

Are the DSL100H made in Viet Namm?

[roodyrocker]

I should clarify, I'm referring to the older DSL not the current version that is sold new today. The older ones say JCM 2000 on the front. As to why I would take the older DSL over the JVM, yes price. It's quite a bit cheaper and also more straight forward. But both are good.

[Radiohead]

Can't comment on the DSL but I do have both the EVH 5150 III (50 Watt) and the JVM410H. Both are excellent amps. The JVM410 is way more complicated with 4 channels and 3 gain stages per channel - Basically 12 distinct separate tones, separate digital Reverb per channel, two Master Volumes with Resonance and Presence controls, serial & Parallel Loop, all assignable per channel. The high gain channel on Red has got a tonne of gain available and is a little noisy but not crazy IMO. I have an ISP Decimator pedal that I have tried with this channel in the loop and found it really did not help. The little bit of noise does not bother me at all, but I don't expect a cranked 1/2 stack to be whisper quiet. The little bit of noise is definitely there and while you will read a lot about it on the internet, to me is it way over blown and not a problem. The JVM410 has a whole lot of Marshall Tones available and sounds great a low volumes too. Of course, it sounds even better once it's opened up.

While I do like the 410 and will keep it around for a while, I plug into the EVH ten times more often. The EVH is a very easy, straight forward amp that sounds incredible to my ears - hands down the best (the absolute best) $1000 I have ever spent on any guitar gear. I love all three channels but mostly hang on the blue and red channels. More gain available than anyone could ever need. The EVH takes all pedals very well with the exception of a distortion or over drive pedal on the already high gain channels. IMO this is not needed anyway as there is loads of gain in this amp but I do know some people like to kick on a TS or OCD for a boosted solo tone. I think the same would hold true if you were to put an OD pedal in front of the heavily saturated/distorted channels on the 410 as well. With the high gain saturated tones already on the amp the distortion pedal does not add anything and almost takes away from the sweet overdriven tone of the amp IMO.

The EVH amp has that EVH tone if your looking for it that tone. Place an EVH Flange and Phaser up front and you have lots of great EVH tones to play with. The amp again sounds great a low volumes. What else can I say about the EVH amp? One night, my buddy and I where jamming with a Mesa Boogie Mark V. We had been playing for about an hour and we were having a great time. We were really enjoying the high gain Mesa tones and the Mark V is a great amp. After a while I turned on the EVH to compare and we had both amps going at the same time. The EVH tone just over took the Mesa. After about 3 chords, my buddy and I both had this sh*t eating grin on our faces like school boys seeing your first Playboy. We were amazed at how good the EVH sounded even next to a much more expensive boutique amp. This amp just makes me smile

One thing, I do not play with active pickups often. I do have one guitar with EMG's (81/85). Both amps sound good with these pickup but for only these pickups I would give the edge to the JVM410. Maybe it is just the EMG Marshall combo that sounds familiar to my ears. I have the Marshall set up with a 1960B cab with V30's and I have the matching EVH 4x12 Cab for the EVH Head. The EVH Cab sounds great. Best cab I have by far. The EVH Cab makes every amp I have sound better. The 1960B Cab is good but not as good as the EVH. I guess what I am trying to say is the Cab is also playing into my comparison and recommendation for the EVH over the JVM410.

Hope this helps,

[P I K A]

Been tryin to tell you powertube EVH is the ticket

[Big Al]

I have compared my JVM410 to a friends new DLS and I preferred the JVM. The DSL sound very fizzy and did not have the low end like the JVM. Maybe if I had more time with the DSL, I could have found a sweet spot in the EQ section. Not sure how big of a difference there is in the new DSL and the older one but I have read things that seemed to point that if you wanted a DSL, go for the older ones.
The JVM's are not complicated and fairly easy to dial in. My Mesa Roadster is a pain to dial in.
The other guitar player in my band plays an EVH 5150 III and it is a good sounding amp. He always complains about the second channel not being clean enough or dirty enough but it is loud and cuts through the mix pretty well.

[jdr94]

JVM all the way. I got great sounds from my old jvm410 and its way more versatile in my opinion

[PowerTube]

Thanks, guys. All of this has been some helpful input, so now I just need to go and try some of these amps out, through whatever means I can.

One thing that clears some confusion for me is to understand that the current DSL100H is NOT the JCM 2000 DSL 100. Why they gave two amps practically the same exact name is beyond me. It makes no sense.

I see that the used EVH 5150 III's are going for roughly the same price as the used JVM410H, so unless something really just turns me on about either version of the DSL, that's the route I'll probably go. But again, this is only after I try them out.

As far as getting repairs done someday if needed, does the Marshal have an advantage because it's so common or does it make any difference?

[roodyrocker]

The older Marshall DSL (JCM 2000) seems to be a good platform from a service standpoint. A friend of mine who is a tech mods them for customers. The newer DSL, well the only experience we had with one so far is when we walked into a store to try out a new one. It would power up but otherwise was dead, no sound no matter what we did!