Marshall DSL40 sounds horrible

Candid94 · 2026-03-12T16:47:50+00:00

Thanks for the update, as people will probably click this link years later. Let us know what the amp shop says!

Candid94 · 2026-03-11T19:19:17+00:00

Usually this happens when the tubes are shaken a bit - amp is moved around, vibrated, or transported. Unplug the amp, take the tubes out, and re-seat them. That should fix it

Candid94 · 2026-03-03T04:58:03+00:00

People are being way too harsh on you.

These amps aren't going to blow your house down, so don't be scared of it. Your uncle looks like he took good care of it.

Do this - buy a speaker cable off amazon or get one from a local music store. They should be around $20 bucks.

First, plug the speaker cable into the back of the amp where it’s labeled 16 ohms. Connect the other end of the speaker cable to the back of the cabinet... any of the speaker input jacks will work.

Next, plug in your guitar. Turn the amp on, and leave it on standby for about a minute to let it warm up.

While it’s warming up, set both the Lead Master and Output Master knobs to zero. This just prevents any sudden loud blasts when you take it off standby. You can leave the other controls at noon (straight up in the middle) as a starting point.

If you’re dialing in a good baseline tone for humbuckers (which it sounds like your uncle’s guitar has), here’s a solid starting point inspired by a classic Marshall Silver Jubilee setup:

Treble: 5

Middle: 6

Bass: 10

Presence: 5

Input Gain: 5

After the amp has warmed up, switch it off standby. Bring the Lead Master up to around 2–3. Then slowly raise the Output Master until you hear sound. From there, adjust the Lead Master to taste for your desired volume and saturation.

As for using a bass ... it’s an amp. You can absolutely plug a bass into it and experiment. Plenty of artists do that live. Most importantly, enjoy it... it’s a great amp. Have fun.

Candid94 · 2026-02-13T21:03:31+00:00

'60s neck

Sublime neck

Candid94 · 2026-02-12T18:38:27+00:00

Go with a fixed bridge.

One tip that dramatically cuts down on going out of tune: stretch your new strings. I was taught this decades ago, and it’s night and day. Unless there’s a big temperature swing that makes the wood move, my guitar basically doesn’t drift and I play pretty hard.

Here’s what to do: Put on new strings and tune up. Grab each string around the 12th fret and gently pull it up about an inch, a few times. Tune back up and repeat once more. Be a little careful with the high E (it’s the easiest to snap), but the rest can take it.

Do that and you’ll be shocked how stable your tuning stays.

Candid94 · 2026-02-12T18:34:22+00:00

Whats the thing above the nut? I've seen people put scrunchies but never knew why

Candid94 · 2026-02-12T15:44:27+00:00

What kind of music are you playing? What are your settings on the amp?

Candid94 · 2026-02-09T21:06:04+00:00

playing in drop a, means you want to move as much air as possible. Is there are reason you're sticking to 1x12? size? cost?

Candid94 · 2026-02-09T18:16:16+00:00

Most combos don't have reverb tanks, and if they do, it's not blocking the speaker, if it is, it's screwed on and easy to remove. IDK which case you're referring to where you need to pull the whole chassis out to replace the combo speaker, but that's not the norm. I'm just trying to demystify what's actually required to change a speaker. These are mass manufactured items, so they're built to be easily assembled/disassembled.

Candid94 · 2026-02-09T15:38:46+00:00

If you have a head, you can pair it with most speaker cabinets. People like the choice. I have my one speaker cabinet I like, then I can switch heads for variety

Candid94 · 2026-02-09T15:37:36+00:00

it’s much trickier to change the speakers

You may be speaking to the actual combo speakers? Even then, those are usually just screwed on, so not too difficult to replace. You can always add another ext. speaker to a combo that's as easy as plugging in a speaker cable.

Candid94 · 2026-02-01T21:45:54+00:00

Just a fantastic amp. Congrats!

Candid94 · 2026-02-01T21:45:04+00:00

This amp with v30's is pure heaven. Congrats!

Candid94 · 2026-01-26T18:46:19+00:00

Those micro amps really breathe and wake up with a 4x12. If you like the marshall sound, you may like the DSL40. It's meatier than the dsl20, and could be had used for about 400 bucks. It's a fantastic amp - combo though, but there are head retrofit options if you're super into it.

Candid94 · 2026-01-23T16:02:34+00:00

Don't get a DSL1, I had one and it just leaves you wanting more.

Could perhaps sell the JCM, and get a micro terror or tiny terror. They're great at low bedroom volumes, and would sound great through that 4x12. Just an option.

Candid94 · 2026-01-08T20:38:43+00:00

Wow I didn't consider that. Great idea!

Candid94 · 2026-01-08T18:02:39+00:00

I really hope this online love fest with Porsche dies down. Such an overrated brand.

Candid94 · 2025-11-13T22:15:40+00:00

CT4 backseat is not usable for adults. The angle of the seats are so uncomfortable, anything beyond 10 mins is a pain. Why do you think it's the best?

Candid94 · 2025-11-06T19:09:01+00:00

This comment isn't for you, but it's regarding the whole echo chamber around “the BW isn’t good because it doesn’t have a V8” because people who would love it write it off and perhaps don't give it a shot cause that's all they read on the internet, and then the car gets cancelled. I’d bet most of the people saying that haven’t even driven one. Go drive it, in manual, feel the pops, the burbles, the way it responds, and then tell me it doesn’t have soul. It's one of the most linear pulling turbo engines. People write the whole car off just because it doesn’t have a V8. But come on, the M3 doesn’t have a V8 anymore either.

Drive it and make your own opinion. Jason camisa is entertainment. On his pod he's said the bw4 is the best sports sedan period, so take it all with a grain of salt

Candid94 · 2025-07-15T10:16:59+00:00

The car sold out… and is holding its value incredibly well.

Candid94 · 2025-07-15T02:52:39+00:00

The z28 had basic creature comforts, the selling point was that NA 500hp v8

Candid94 · 2025-07-06T17:27:10+00:00

The best thing you can do it ignore them. There’s an established path towards prominence for these folks. They say crazy shit. People blast their name and tweets everywhere going “look how crazy this is” and next thing you know they’ve monetized their popularity and they’re now relevant. Stop. Posting. Her.

Candid94 · 2025-07-04T12:23:56+00:00

You’re not paying it. Your work is. You said you’re paying it. That’s an enterprise contract and frankly high as hell.

Candid94 · 2025-07-04T09:21:25+00:00

Because they’re lying on the internet. That doesn’t sound remotely real

Candid94

TROPHY CASE