poorguitarist Posted May 10, 2002 Share Posted May 10, 2002 I desperately need a new amp but I don't know enough about them to know what to get in the end... mind helping me a bit? I know a guy who is willing to sell me his JCM 2000 DSL 401 combo for $450. Its pretty much in mint condition and in full working order. I heard a whole lot of bad things about it reliability-wise, but he's had it for a while with no problems... is this an ok deal? I know that its better than its $700 normal tag but if the amp isn't good any amount of money will be too much! I'm also thinking about going the head + cab route by buying used over Ebay.. I pretty much want to stick to Marshall right now, thats the sound that I'm going for. What heads would you recommend I check out? Right now I have about $700 but as far as the setup goes I can always get the cab later on down the road. What would you do?? I live out in the middle of nowhere and nobody around here stocks any of these amps, let alone any other decent ones. Thanks in advance for any help! - John P.S. I would most likely buy a cab for the DSL down the road too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daddyelmis Posted May 10, 2002 Share Posted May 10, 2002 Originally posted by poorguitarist: I desperately need a new amp but I don't know enough about them to know what to get in the end... mind helping me a bit? I know a guy who is willing to sell me his JCM 2000 DSL 401 combo for $450. Its pretty much in mint condition and in full working order. I heard a whole lot of bad things about it reliability-wise, but he's had it for a while with no problems... is this an ok deal? I know that its better than its $700 normal tag but if the amp isn't good any amount of money will be too much! I'm also thinking about going the head + cab route by buying used over Ebay.. I pretty much want to stick to Marshall right now, thats the sound that I'm going for. What heads would you recommend I check out? Right now I have about $700 but as far as the setup goes I can always get the cab later on down the road. What would you do?? I live out in the middle of nowhere and nobody around here stocks any of these amps, let alone any other decent ones. Thanks in advance for any help! - John P.S. I would most likely buy a cab for the DSL down the road too.I've got the little brother to the DSL401, the DSL201 (20 watts). No problems, great amp. The knock I've heard on the 401 is that is gets pretty hot -- I thinks it's the same basic chassis as the 201 but runs at 40watts, generating more heat out of the power tubes. Somewhere I read about somebody clipping a small fan to blow on the tubes . . . might help. $450 seems like a good price for that amp, the 201's go for about that used on eBay. Overall, I really like the 201 -- you can crank the power tubes for that marshall sound at reasonable volume. For me personally, I would have no use for a 100 watt head (and I don't think most folks do). They look cool, but generally you can't crank them past 3 without killing people, and you don't get that cranked marshall sound at 3. You could go for the 100 watt head if you also buy a power brake (another marshall box that allows you to drive the amp without the massive volume) -- although some folks think the brake changes the tone. Check out harmony central (www.harmonycentral.com) for amp reviews. good luck. www.ruleradio.com "Fame is like death: We will never know what it looks like until we've reached the other side. Then it will be impossible to describe and no one will believe you if you try." - Sloane Crosley, Village Voice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poorguitarist Posted May 10, 2002 Author Share Posted May 10, 2002 Thanks for the reply... I knew about hot they get, I was thinking about doing like you said and hooking a small Radio Shack fan up to it. This amp that I'm buying seems to be reliable so hopefully I wouldn't have any problems. The main thing I care about is the sound... DSL, 1 ; Head, 0 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baronedo Posted May 10, 2002 Share Posted May 10, 2002 I have a 4 year old Marshall Valvestate which works pretty well. However, I would check out their new AVT valvestate line. They have some killer sounds and effects including an acoustic simulation setting which sounds really neat. Here's a link you can check out and view and listen to Marshall's video presentations on their new AVT amp line, including sound demos. If I were buying one, I'd probably go for the higher powered combo with two 12" speakers but I believe they also sell piggy back versions. http://www.musicplayer.com/CDA/Player/Main/1,2228,Lessons-Guitarist-5161580,00.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trick fall Posted May 10, 2002 Share Posted May 10, 2002 My favorite Marshall is the single channel JCM 800 50 Watt Head. The one I have is built really solidly unlike some newer Marshall models I've used/owned. I've seen a bunch on e-bay for not too crazy a price. I was able to pick up mine for 450.00 here in NYC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chip McDonald Posted May 10, 2002 Share Posted May 10, 2002 Originally posted by trick fall: My favorite Marshall is the single channel JCM 800 50 Watt Head. The one I have is built really solidly unlike some newer Marshall models I've used/owned. I've seen a bunch on e-bay for not too crazy a price. I was able to pick up mine for 450.00 here in NYC.Used to see those around in combos a fair amount, around $400-500. Not a Super Lead or MK II combo, but for metal a good thing... it seems like those, and other 80's foils like 2nd gen Charvels and Kramers have vanished into thin air - when they're all good, and at one time really plentiful. Where'd they go? One of the other guitar guitar teachers where I work brought his old Charvel 3 to the store yesterday, and it was remarkable how nice of a guitar that was, especially considering how cheap it sold for - it'd be a $1,000 guitar quality wise now... Same goes for the old Kramer Pacers. ? Guitar Lessons in Augusta Georgia: www.chipmcdonald.com Eccentric blog: https://chipmcdonaldblog.blogspot.com/ / "big ass windbag" - Bruce Swedien Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strat0124 Posted May 10, 2002 Share Posted May 10, 2002 The 50watt head is one of my faves as well. The DSL401 sounds good, but if my buds amp is any indication, very unreliable. I don't think I'd gig with it. You might want to look for something Mesa or Soldano for that high gain stuff. Both companies made a small combo that sounds pretty damn good. I saw a "metal" oriented band using RocPro's, seemed to work well for them, and I'm sure they go cheap. I'm of the mindset if it sounds good to you, go for it regardless if the gear experts like it or not. Down like a dollar comin up against a yen, doin pretty good for the shape I'm in Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poorguitarist Posted May 11, 2002 Author Share Posted May 11, 2002 Yeah, the reliability problem is what I'm most worried about. I might go for the $450 head, its down to the used DSL and that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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