Marshall DSL Tube Heads Review 

This what I want my bedroom to look like!

THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING THE FX LOOP ON THE 20 WATT HEAD!!!! The 15 watt DSL head didn't have one, and that royally pissed me off. I asked Marshall via Twitter if they'd upgrade the DSL15H to include an effects loop and their response was "thanks for your input. We're always listening to user feedback", or something like that. It's 5 more watts than the previous mini head, but I'm glad they listened to my input.

I am still within 24 hours of buying the DSL100HR and I am blown away. This is my first tube amp and I don't think I could be happier with the responsiveness, and that tone... that amazing tone. To quote Ferris Bueller's Day Off... "It is so choice. If you have the means, I highly recommend you picking one up".

Should have had the 6 button switch ready and included.

Nick's bedroom looks awesome with all that Marshall gear! :) I need to redecorate the same way with Marshall heads, 4x12's, ,2x12's, and combo amps lining every wall of our house (after I win the lottery of course)! I already know I'm getting the DSL1HR soon, and will trade in my DSL40C for the DSL40CR. And even though I wasn't in the market for a 100 watt head, I can't pass up the great deal on the DSL100HR because Sweetwater is selling it for $150 less than everyone else at the moment!

I have the 100 HR head and it's amazing. He's right about the power stage not affecting the tone. This amp is super versatile from crisp cleans to 70's rock to crushing gain for metal(add a TS-9 or overdrive pedal).

DSL20HR for the win! EL34's, FX loop, high/low power - excellent!

1 watt! Sounds great! Less Filling! ..... I am a huge Marshall fan. Sure, there are other great amps out there, but I have tried the "latest and greatest" a few times and came back to Marshall each time. I currently use a JVM410HJS and it is amazing with a wide range of options, settings and sounds, but this DSL 100 would make me quite happy and it's definitely more affordable. I am not about to change amps because the JVM is a keeper and I do use different sounds, but the DSL does sound amazing and ready to rock.

"Four hours worth of gain to go." Never heard it worded quite like that lol.

When it comes to Marshall amps Nick Bowcott knows his stuff.

I hate these kind of reviews with backing tracks which you can not hear the pure tone of the product

Am I losing my mind... what is up with the reverse “Marshall” logo in the background? *Anyone also miss the old-school Marshall logo where the last “l” droops down? HORNS UP! \m/

I'm pretty impressed at how this guy was casually (but not crazy like most shredders and reviewers) was easily displaying the characteristics of that exact Marshall tone... like, this is maybe the first review I've seen where it actually sounds like a Marshall. I still won't buy it cause I'm not a Marshall guy but really awesome job man; very impressed and would definitely recommend to anyone looking. Cheers!

In 1.13 my eyes saw the Randy Rhoads signature amp. If you dont know it is the White JMP. Man i wish i had one😍. By the way that amp is awesome!

You Dear Sir are never what I expect. Great presentation, good playing, and some humor. Almost makes me wish I was a guitar player instead of bass. Great sounding amps by the way too.

A Marshall demo wouldn't be right without Nick.

I had a hot rodded Marshall JCM 900 MkIII and a Full stack of Marshall 1960A and JCM 900 Lead 1960B cabs. It had that Marshall Roar, it had a 35 foot tall tidal wave of sound when cranked. I know because when dimed I would out of necessity to avoid being crushed under an actual Tidal Wave-I would turn around and look at the Marshall to make sure that it was only Roaring sound and not an actual 35 foot high wall of sea water that was about to cascade over me. My Marshall has a quivering, pulsing sound when playing very very loud, it was thrilling. The distortion was so beautiful I could play it like I play my violins. I once timed the sustain and after counting slowly to 60 I stopped. I could play long continues notes with thick creamy distortion that nothing on earth has come to sounding as good. The power chords were so thick and crunchy and my palm muting blew my mind. I could play with just my left hand striking the strings , no right hand required. Lastly my Stratocaster tremolo arm could get me way down low notes and then as I slid to the higher notes the Roar would make my day, every time. There came a time of two years when injuries meant I could not even hold a guitar. I tried everything, football shoulder pads, motocross shoulder pads + two straps, one over each shoulder. I looked like a band member from "Kiss". Nothing worked. Top it off I was forced to move. So I sold that rig....the absolutely most painful mistake of my life. You see after I moved I was put on strong pain meds and also I was declared permanently disabled. So I no longer had to work 40 hrs a week and drive 137 miles a day. That meant my body could stop being beat up and I could rest. Somehow I can play guitar again. No, I still can't hold a guitar using a strap and that means I have to play sitting down, at least I can play once more. I just can not get that sound from my other 15 amplifiers/cabs. I have been putting off purchasing a new Full Stack because of the cost. I just checked Sweetwater and the new Marshall DSL100HR is only $749. vs. the marshall JCM 900 at $2099 -WOW! That means I can get that DSL100HR head and the Marshall 1960 A and JCM1960B speaker cabs at $949 each for a total of $1649 for the entire rig. I can afford that. I have a Marshall DSL40CST and while I like it, it's not a full stack. It does not Roar, it is loud enough to hurt your ears, but from a single 12" speaker it's a different sound, not the Marshall Roar that I crave. Thanks Nick for posting your video. I am an American, but I rode my new 1976 T140V Triumph Bonneville 750 against every Japanese motorcycle maker from 1977 to 1992 and my Triumph won against hundreds of those Japanese machines while not suffering even one loss. Later I became an engineer. It was my Made In Meriden England Triumph that changed my life. Yes I know the DSL100HR is not made in England, not at $749. But, It is still a Marshall. The JCM 900 MkII changed my life so I hope your new DSL100HR can get me back to where I want to be sonically. My Sweetwater Sales Engineer Is Joseph Secu I recommend Joe at (1) 800 222-4700 ext. 1232! Call and ask for Joe if you don't already have your own personal Sales Engineer. He works hard to get you the gear you want and makes sure it has no problems. He will replace it if it does. Joe knows that I have been telling him for the last 4 years that my last purchase (I have spent @ $15,000 to replace my entire studio) will be a Marshall Full Stack and the saving alone on this DSL100HR puts me closer than ever. Peter Nelson

Its a good idea having the FXloop on the switch. I dont need excessive cable going to and from the amp. Leave the pedal board by the amp and the switch stays with me

Great demo and just what I was looking for as a comparison of the 1-watt and 20-watt.

Marshall DSL1HR comes with Quantity of (2) 12AX7/ECC83 100% Gain Factor used for preamp Quantity of (1) 12AU7/ECC82 19% Gain Factor used for power amp Can anyone tell me if I switched the power tube from 12AU7/ECC82 with it's 19% Gain Factor to a more powerful tube such as the 12AY7/6072 or 12AV7/5965 which has a 45% Gain Factor, but actually may less more power but more gain. Would that provide more than the standard 1 watt power from the 12AU7? Preamp tube Gain Factor Alternate names 12AX7 100% ECC83, 7025, 6681 5751 (Phillips) 70% 12AT7 60% ECC81, 6201, 6679 These tubes (below) have less gain but more power! 12AY7 45% 6072 12AV7 41% 5965 12AU7 19% ECC82, 5963, 5814, 6189 Actually when I reconsider these above preamp tubes it seems to me Marshall is already using the 12AU7/ECC82 which has the least gain and should have the most power! So I have answered my own question. It is limited to the 1 watt using the 12AU7/ECC82. I will still post this, just in case anyone has the same question. Or if anyone can point out a mistake in my logic. Peter

I have a metropoulos amp but the DSL50 was my first amp. Im starting to think I may long for this one again. Green crunch channel with a tubescreamer. I remember....20 years ago

Thanks for this very instructive and well done review

I was thinking of getting a dsl 100h. But it didn't have a master volume. This changes everything. Someday new dsl 100h, you'll be mine.

A great sounding amp is to be able to make any kind of guitar sound good that's the classic Marshall amp tone.

Okay, this has to be the best sounding amp I`ve ever heard. I'm thinking of getting a 5 watt or a 1 watt.

You're welcome, 5:43

I wanted the backward logo jvm at the behind

Nick Bowcot wadda guitar player and Marshall guy, I'll be picking up a DSL 100 and i'm also getting 1 for my son.... Nothing is better sounding than a Marshall! That's how a guitar should sound!

Can the DSL20 get the same beefy tones as the DSL100 at 05:46 or is the only sound difference the overall volumes between the amps?.Thanks

Thanks Nick! I love your demos! These look really cool and I'm going to check out the smaller ones for some studio and rehearsal tools!

Since Softube/Universal Audio worked on the speaker emulated output, are there A/D+D/A converters and a DSP chip, perhaps using impulse responses? That would be pretty cool and a first of its kind (as far as I'm aware) on a tube amp.

the brit flag single cut washburn was cool and sounded good .... had some usa custom shops just hated the necks and frets on them.... I have the jcm 2000 tsl 122 doubt I will ever switch amps

Great review, sir... Sorry to ask something kind of off-topic, but why JVM Marshall logo is inverted?

Great review Nick! Love the 20watter

Can you do another DSL20HR demo without a loud backing track? It's not clear whether that backing rhythm track is the DSL20 or another amp. With that rhythm track so loud, the DSL20 sounds thin from all the harmonic squeals. Otherwise, this is a great demo. I like your playing, Nick.

I am SOLD on one and I will be placing my order @ Sweetwater on Sunday, 4/1/18

That backwards Marshall logo is just awkward with everything around it haha.

Love this dude

Hello,,does the Dsl100hr has pentodo/diode swich to change to 50W? And is the big boy already available on Marshall oficial distributor in Spain? Cheers mate!

Midi switching on all the modes. Man, now I'm tempted to buy one of these!

I like the 100watts dsl, gotta have one it's is so heavy and tight tone from it. but before that imight go with the Plexi studio 20watt first and see how loud is that for wedding gigs

my 1998 Valvestate VS100 footswitch had LEDs

that was awesome. I love the sound of all the heads. great demo. thanks

why would anyone ever want to turn the effects loop off??

Is he only using the head or the main amp along with it.

Still hoping marshall will bring back the vintage sounding - simple "Class 5" but with 15 watts that would be awesome .

I have one and I'm very happy!! It's a hot amp!!

Does the original footswitch with channel switch and reverb work with the 100hr?

Does anyone know when this 6 button Footswitch will be available for the 100hr???

Why demo an amp with phaser chorus and other rubbish? That's like an ad for the new baby blue Tesla but the car's painted black for the photo shoot because the camera man likes black.

Why the JVM head has mirrored logo in the background?

What pickups did you have in this guitar ?

My 2013 DSL40C footswitch has leds

Who is this old guy? Is he famous?! He plays like he is 😎

Hi there are you able to share with us how you have dialed in your tone on OD1 Ultra gain please?

Are these going to be manufactured in Vietnam, like the DSL's are currently?

They need to make a 50w version!

6 button footswitch is too big. 2 button switch. 1st button toggles between clean and crunch WITH LED’s 2nd button toggles between OD1 and OD2 WITH LED’s. Am I the only one that wants this? WTH

I'm happy with my dsl I love it

His playing is bleeding style. Nice

is the "tone shift" button for both channels ? or just Lead channel ?

well explained

need a 50 watt

Good man.👍

At no point in this review did I hear anything remotely sounding like a JCM 800.

Fantastic

Can’t decide on the 20watt or the 40watt. :/

Is it made in China? Does it use diodes for its "gain" circuit...just like. Built in Boss DS1?

What Jackson is that?

If you’d like to hear the Marshall DSL40c in a hard edged rock ‘n roll setting, check it out here ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-aBy3VuvcDYk.html

does it go to 11?

Are those new dsl made in england?

What is the "output" button? is it pentode/triode? If so, then high - 100 watt, low - 50 watt? Please, answer

Just eyeballing that Randy Rhoads JMP Signature head in the back...... lol

This guy sounds like Lemmy!

What does he mean american voiced ?

Metal to review a marshall, with backing track... jesus

I would take the Marshall MG 100 FX over any Marshall DSL and all day long..

I feel so bad for left handed guitarist. Not only do they deal with a smaller market of guitars, but they have to deal with looking like monsters when they play. Maybe not a monster, but it feels like I’m wearing the wrong prescription or something when I watch a lefty guitarist. lol

20 watt is garbage! I have 3 other Marshall's and love them. Had to get rid of the 20 watt because it sounds terrible. 5 watt dsl5c sounds great. FYI

This is the greatest example of missing timing ...and missing the point of doing a guitar demo.

Badass head, hell yes

The problem with many of these amp reviews is they always get some guy who can't really shred to do the demo. Get a seasoned shredder who can at least use proper palm muting and the amp will sound a lot better.

Lame the 20 watt doesnt have the modes

Thumbs down for the backing track. Give us unadulterated amp sound!

Не для метала, да?

"this one has LEDS" hello???? It's 2018!! Very disappointed

Que porra foi essa em 10:26 ? RGRGRGRGRGRGG

I think they need to have another guitar player come in to actually play through it

this video should be pulled ASAP. definitely "doctored" up the audio for sales. purchased the DSL100HR new in the box. i must say in my 45 years of playing this is the worst amplifier i have ever heard. amp was plugged into a 2 x 12 cab loaded with 75 watt celestions, then a 4 x 12 EVH cabinet with the same crappy tone that emanates from this head. guitars used were gibson les paul studio loaded with SD black outs and a gibson explorer loaded with EMG active pickups. no body whatsoever in the tone of this amp , even the clean channel was terrible which blew my mind for a marshall. reverb only worked for a few minutes then fades out, put amp in standby then turn back on and reverb works, a few minutes later it is gone again. it sounds like a really bad solid state head. also when i plugged in the effects loop to my pedal board it sucks the life out of the amp, at which point it sounded like a fisher price walkie talkie. push buttons for stages are the cheapest junk i have seen. after 2 hours of turning knobs no sweet spot was found. back in the box it goes for a full refund. ! i own a plethora of high and low end amps. my bugera 333 test amp literally blows this amp away ! DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME or MONEY. sorry but this is the politest way i can put this review.

He is almost as bad as me! lol

Seems like a nice guy but his guitar playing is mediocre at best...

This guy can't play in tune, and timing is pretty rough :/

That guy can barely play! Why does he do reviews?

good sound, bad player.

Same old scratchy, flat and dull tone from modern Marshall amps. Shame that most kids won't know any better than this and think it's great.

The original ones made in England were the best.