This amp is a beast! Let me know what you think! 0:00 - About 0:20 - Jam Track 2:08 - Marshall DSL5CR Overview 4:12 - Isolated Tones (crunch) 6:32 - Isolated Tones (blues) 7:23 - Clean Channel 9:13 - Deep Switch 10:04 - Final thoughts This is my review of the Marshall DSL5CR guitar amplifier. ►Sweetwater - imp.i114863.net/2rQRy7 ►Thomann - bit.ly/3ffCXyO ►Sky Music - alnk.to/bin0WmE 💙(affiliate links)
@intheblues Shane .. you seriously rock 🤘 dude .. I followed your previous reviews when i bought my Fender amp and now i am watching these as i am about to get a Marshall amp. I have narrowed it down to the DSL5CR & DSL20CR and it’s for home use only. I know for a fact that 5 watts is more than enough for me but i don’t like that the 5 has a 10-inch speaker. The 20 has a 12-inch speaker and a low-power setting. Is the larger speaker a good enough reason to get the 20 watt? Can the 20 watt be used in the low-power setting and get the same quality tone at lower volumes? They are only $100 apart so price is basically not a factor .. good tone at lower volume is the main concern. Thanks 🤘
Hey Shane I upgraded the speaker to a 10inch celestion g10 greenback and now I can crank the eq all the way up and deep switch on and control my sound with my volume and tone controls on my guitar. Sounds so much more alive!
I bought this amp earlier this year and couldn't be happier! I did change the speaker to a 10 inch version of the Celestion Vintage 30 and it sounds even bigger. Versatile and takes pedals well. Also perfect for home use and even recording.
The 10 inch V30 is the best 10 inch I have heard . It sounds so huge and the lower mids are killer. Probably due to the 30 oz. Magnet . Most 10 inchers have 14 to 20 oz magnets whith most being less than 20 . The 30 oz mag gives it a ton of low end and the V10 is smoother than its 12 inch brother .
@@adamwatson6916 I definitely noticed the bigger magnet in comparison to the 10 30 speaker when I unboxed the G10 Vintage. I went with the G10 Vintage as I previously owned the DSL40C with the Vintage 30 so I knew the speaker quite well. I also noticed the smoother tone. I think the stock speaker for this amp is actually quite good, I just wanted a similar vibe to my previous Marshall.
Great review and awesome playing (as always). I picked up one of these a few months ago because I live in a townhouse and needed something that sounded great but didn’t bother my neighbors. These have a huge range of tones - clean and dirty- that work great with my guitars (a few LPs and Strats, and a Tele). I was just playing it tonight at 11PM on the .05 setting, in fact. Highly recommend this amp if you want classic Marshall sound yet want to keep your neighbors and eardrums.
I bought one from a second hand shop (thrift shop). I only bought it because of the name, I thought it was solid state, but it's a valve amp. I was seriously impressed with the sound it makes. The reverb is awesome, it's as good as what you hear on recordings. I would definitely recommend this as a practice amp or for recording.
I love my Marshall DSL5. I use it at home and for gigs. I upgraded the speaker to a Celestion G10 Creamback and it's perfect. Compared to the stock Ten 30, the 10" Creamback has deeper bass, better definition, and retains great tone when the amp is fully cranked. The stock Ten 30 is fine at low volume, but is a little boxy sounding as you turn it up and sounds overly broken up and thin at full volumes. The G10 Creamback cures all this, with no need to modify the cab to fit a 12" speaker.
I can get really nice classic crunch tones out of the red channel on the DSL 5 . Set the gain at 2 to 3 on the ultra gian and roll the guitar volume back and you will find yourself on Plexi avenue in no time
That actually sounds really open for a lower powered amp. Sometimes the lower wattage combos can sound a bit boxy if the speaker and cabinet designs aren't quite right but I really dig this one. Actually sounds like a real amp just in a smaller package 👍
I have one and its surprisingly very open sounding in fact I find it more open then my DSl 40 but I am running it through extension cabs which cures the boxy nature it has just using the stock 10 30 speaker.. it sounds huge through my JVM 2 by 12 cab
Great Review and tones, Shane. I love your reviews and basically use them as one of my TH-cam reference points. You don't talk too much, just enough to give us the facts, and opinions but you always fill the review with plenty of structured playing in a mix and solo using different settings. Many of the overseas reviewers could learn a lot from your approach. You also come across as a 'real world' player in bands etc. As a fellow Aussie (SA) I really like your approach. Keep it up mate!
I just picked one of these up this week after watching every video about them. It is literally the perfect home amp. You can fully crank it on the 0.5W setting and it's still manageable volume (95-99db). After playing with it for a few days, I think this review identifies the only issue with the amp, mainly the gap between the clean channel (which is very clean for almost all of its range) and the ultra gain channel (which is high gain). There isn't a smooth gain handoff from one side of the amp to the other, so I think most people should plan for a pedal on the clean side to find that perfect middle ground (if low/mid gain crunch is what you need). I've been hunting for the perfect home setup and have been through multiple amps and modelers before arriving at this. I can say definitively that this is what I should have done from the beginning. The DSL1 isn't enough, the DSL20 is too much, this is the perfect one.
These amps are killer! The only thing I have played that I liked as much were the newer Traynor amps. But the Marshall DSL amps are just killer up and down the line. Just make sure you don't get too many watts, tube wattage is *much* louder than solid state wattage! For *most* people, a 5 watt tube amp will suffice! A 20W tube amp might lead to the police being called!
Snagged one of these (open box) for only $350 and it's one of the best small amps money can buy. Sounds absolutely fantastic and if you're looking for nice and bluesy, on the edge of breakup sound just put an overdrive in front but back off the gain on the amp to about 9:00 or so and you're good.
I love low powered amps with FX loops. I play at home for my enjoyment. A great amp for home use or even for the coffee shop gigs. Blues On....💙 PS. I would probably play it as clean as I could get it and let my pedalboard do the work.
If someone planned on getting their dirt tone solely from their pedalboard i think there are better choices out there than the DSL5CR. I actually decided on the DSL5CR to cut out the need for a dedicated distortion pedal. With an overdrive and a fuzz you have all the tones i can imagine you'd need on this amp (short of crystal cleans) I don't play metal but the DSL5CR can do it. I do play some hard rock at times, 80's and 90's stuff, and the Marshall has all the gain you could want on tap without the need for a distortion pedal. It's really easy to dial in a classic rock and blues sound (most of my playing) The clean channel will never be Fender clean, but it is actually surprisingly usable. Its a little dark/warm, but plenty good for what i play. My guitar has dual Filtertrons with coil split option, so its easy enough to get a pretty good clean tone with my rig. With hot humbuckers i doubt a guy looking for a really clean tone would be satisfied with this amp. I am very happy with this amp however 😎.
Absolutely one of (the) best 5 watt amps out there. I put a 12” Greenback in mine (pretty easy) and boost it with a Killing Floor or Mesa Flux Drive. My “desert island amp” for sure. Sounds terrific Shane :-)
I have the DSL 5 and 40 and I think the 5 sounds better especially for classic marshal tones . I use 12 inch speakers with mine as well but I still have the stock speaker installed I just disconnect it and plug in an extension cabinet. This amp mates well with any good speaker . I have 3 1 by 12s and 2 by 12 all with different speakers and this amp sounds incredible with all of them but my 2 favorites are the G12H30 55hz and the standard production v30 it seems that ano really likes Bass cone speakers . They really give it a balanced sound . The anp has alot of gain but can be easily tamed to get some great vintage marhsall tones . I love the 5cr so much I am looking for a used older pre reissue version becusse I really like what I hear in demo videos for that anp .
@@adamwatson6916 - agreed, I sold my 40 but did end up with a 20 - PLENTY of amp. Getting an older 5C sounds like a good idea, why not!?!? I had an older 40 and while the ultra channel was really fizzy and brittle the classic gain had a much preferred crunch tone, something this new one doesn’t offer from the classic gain side.
Man ! I wanted one of these or the 1 watt head but settled for a used Marshall DSL 20 head unit with 6V6 power tubes ! It's great and when compared to a mini silver jube sounded almost identical after swapping in vintage tubes into the DSL 20 head and away I went !
This is my only amp. I think it’s great if you play in your bedroom. It has a great tone and the distortion is mad when you have gain, awesome for metal.
It's a really nice small amp. I have the DSL40CR 1x12 and I love it. Good review Shane keep it going. I am in the USA Southeast between Nashville and Atlanta. I would like to visit Australia some time. PS: most of my interests in amplifiers have been collecting 60's USA Vintage Tube amplifiers but I like the new Innovations too.
Yeah! I've got a Bugera 5W which sounds pretty good (new valve), but it's given way to my Blackstar 1W, which is tremendous for all types of clean/crunch/dirty tones.
@@Ndlanding What a coincidence. I have one of the original Bugera V5 amps but I modded it. 10" Ragin' Cajun speaker, added a choke, and upgraded the OT. It's a sleeper. takes people by surprise. I have yet to try to Blackstar 1W but I bet it's a great studio tool.
@@brandonlesko3126 Actually, I haven't tried recording with it yet. Might try its USB audio (I THINK it's for audio out!), which is good for the neighbours. It's a very versatile amp, though, and its "EQ" control really moves it from Fender to Marshall. It's not a "tone" control. I love it.
@@keithcook3883 DSL1CR is better for bedroom use once you get the speaker broken in, that takes about 50 hours of playing time at moderate volume levels. The DSL5CR needs a bigger room to sound better.
Shane, thanks buddy! I've always loved the DSL but had only seen the large,higher wattage versions in GC. High price and loudddddd. Nothing wrong if you need that and have a good place to air her out. Id like this and a Blues Junior,be perfect for myself. Take care from Florida
I got this amp and I love it! I play mainly blues and clean stuff. But you need time to break in. Mine sounds a lot more creamy after about 50-100 hours of playing.
I have that amp and it's really a killer ... Really love it, it takes very well pedals, I bought an overdrive one to get a more bluesy tone and it's perfect.
Try the Blackstar HT5MKII...12 inch speaker, 2 clean channels that are loud and crunch up after half way, 2 ripping distortions both Marshall flavor and Soldano. That is why I sold my DSL5, after playing the two side by side the winner was very clear...The new MKII is a totally different amp from the old HT5R and tons better. I also have the HT1MKII and the HT20MKII all amazing...
It would be nice if Marshall made a 5 watt head unit in the DSL line. However, you can get the Studio Vintage head that has a 5 watt attenuator, but I bet it doesn't sound as good as a dedicated 5 watt. I have a DSL 1 watt head and it's fantastic
Great Review. I ordered it and watched this video to help me dial the tone in (Zeppelin, Hendrix, Sabbath).......I have a great tone without having to mortgage the house...Thanks!
really nice amp something about Marshall's and Les Paul and Les Paul style guitars they just work brilliantly together, I know with my Vintage V100 it has the PAF designed Wilkinson's Humbuckers something about these style Humbuckers and a cranked Marshall, perfect marriage, I would love one but in a small flat not sure the neighbours would be too happy, I could not trust myself not cranking it lol, great review mate !!
So I'll be the one to say DAMN those Behringer E906/SM57 styled mics sound really really good. So close for so much less. Good on you using these. Tone isn't Always about the brand. Killer amp killer review Shane. Killing it bro
I demo’d one of these (used) at guitar center near me. I had a hard time with it. The amp seemed very dark and muddy, no matter what I did. Maybe my knobs weren’t set right or there is some secret mojo I don’t know anything about. It sounds so good on you tube videos, I want to like it lol.
I love-hate Marshalls. Love them for the tone and feel, hate them for the fact that you HAVE to crank the volume to about 1 o'clock get the tone and feel. This 5W DSL is the only tube Marshall I've owned that I enjoy playing through any more because it's the only one I've owned that sounds right at less-than-jet-engine volume. I liked my 2021 DSL5CR so much that I bought a DSL40C from 2015...but that particular DSL40C sounded so bad to my ears I ended up selling it. So much ear-splitting treble that a Strat was completely unplayable through it. SG sounded OK through it, but I still had to dial out almost all of the treble. DSL40 unfortunately sounds NOTHING like the DSL5. DSL 5 sounds glorious, even with a single-coil Strat.
About 3 years ago I got sick of swapping amps every other year and decided it was time after 15 years of playing to buy a proper full sized tube amp. I was an Orange fan (still am) cause I'd had a couple of their smaller amps and was really impressed with their solid state cr120 (I'm not a SS amp fan 95% of the time but orange knows their way around transistors lol). So I was thinking I'd get an Orange TH30, OR15 or one of their higher wattage and dollar amps but used. Also in the running was a used Marshall JCM800. I really need clean tones just as much if not more than dirty ones so the 800 didnt seem ideal. After trying all my friends gear and everything at the local music stores I was surprised to be leaning towards a Marshall DSL100 "H". The cleans were great the dirty tones were good and even better with a drive as I'd come to find out. But that was right when Marshall dropped the HR revisions. So I got a DSL100HR and havent regretted it once in the 3 years I've had it. I got one of the very first 100HR's with the earliest serial number date I've heard of. It's an absolutely killer amp. I cant recommend it enough. The versatility is what really sets it apart. You get all the classic Marshall tones in one amp plus extra gain if needed and a truly killer clean channel, what's not to like??
It sounds good in this video but live I didn't like it that much because of the speaker. He says that "we get a quality speaker" but the fact is that you get the cheapest available Celestion in this amp and many of us users replaced this to Creambacks / Greenbacks or anything else that are really considered as "quality" speakers. It makes a huge improvement on the sound taking out those fizzy overtones for example. It is still a great amp, lots of cool features, flexible volume with good sound for home use, etc...
Nice amp but I traded mine in for a DSL40CR with V30 speaker which is much more versatile. I plugged the DSL5CR into a 2x12 cab and wow! - totally transformed the sound for the better.
I bought one recently and like it very much-except for one thing; I find the Ultra Gain channel is only usable around '2' on the gain dial. I have in mind to swap out the ECC83 in V1 for an ECC832 which should tame the gain a bit. Also a mate has a 10" Celestion Sidewinder rated at 103dB. Given the 8dB increase in efficiency over the stock 95dB speaker, it should provide a significant volume boost. I'm not usually one for tinkering, but I'm hoping to get out and start gigging again and I think with a decent speaker upgrade (and a polite drummer), it might just be up to the job. Cheers for the review mate.
Sorry sold mine after a year..never could get good pushed clean or crunch tone and even swapped tubes and speakers. The clean is flat and lifeless and the overdrive just too much at any position for my blues style. Bought the Fender Bassbreaker 15 with a greenback and love it, sounds like a great old Marshall, warm and crunchy.
The red channel on this amp is milder than the red channel on the bigger models. I find the red channel in the DSL 5 is like the green ultra gain on the 40 cr . If you find the DSL 5 red channel to hot this can be mitigated by changing pre amp tubes .
Great tones! This DSL5CR looks to be a great way to get a Marshall and the tones without buying a half stack!🤣😂🤣😂 I wish Marshall would do a remake of the Vintage Modern series, it is such a great sounding amp. Great tones and jam Shane! Cheers!🎸🎸🎸👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
I have this amp and its sounds ten times better when you run it through an extension cabinet with 12 inch speakers or even 10 inch speakers. It sounds pretty good with just the internal speaker but I found it too fizzy and boxy . Ir sounds great through a cab with vintage 30 but so far my favorite cab with this amp is my 1 by 12 with a G12H30 55hz heritage n it also sounds great through my JVM 2 by 12 cab . I am eventually going to put a 10 inch greenback or 10 inch creambackcin the combo
The manual has a warning message that says only ever connect a single 1 x 16 Ohm Cabinet. Can you clarify whether this is supposed to mean a Cab with only one 16 Ohm speaker, or that its safe to use a 2 or 4x12 Cabinet wired for 16 Ohms.
I'm looking for a valve amp I can play at night and use my pedals. I'm currently using the Joyo DC15S and it sounds quiet, but the sounds are just okeyish. Would this marshall be a good option fro bedroom players not wanting to wake up the neighbours? Thank you, love your channel
I prefer the Blackstar sound but the Marshall DSL line has a few things going for it I wish Blackstar had. 1. The 1 watt model has an effects loop. 2. And a low power mode on 1 watt. 3. Also the DSL has an underrated clean channel sound.
Nice. I could live in the Classic Gain channel but if in a bad mood, the ability to FS to something dark is a treat. I want one. wait, i just checked the price.....nice but no way.
I just bought one of these after watching and listening to your video; you get really nice tones from it. But I am a bit confused about ohms and extension cabs. The quick start guide states: "A single 16 ohm speaker cabinet can be connected ..." But on the amp itself below the speaker socket, it says: "1 X 16." This is confusing. Does that mean you use one speaker cabinet with two 8 ohm speakers wired for 16 ohms? Or does that mean that any cab you use can have only ONE 16 ohm speaker?
I can attest that using an external cab with 12 inch speakers makes this sound much bigger and fuller sounding . I have tried it with a half a dozen different 1 by 12s and a 2 by 12 . It mated well with very speaker I tried it with but my favorites were the G12H30 55hz and the vintage 30 both of which have 444 bass resonance cones so maybe there is something to that. It sounded bigger and more balanced with the 55hz as well as more open and less compressed . Now that I think about it there was 1 speaker that did not thrill me which was the G12H30 anniversary but its more that one being my least favorite rather than it not sounding good I just could not quite get the sweet spot with that one with the bass boost off it was somewhat shrill and had a raspiness that bordered on harshness but it had a very nice woody and openness to it but was just a bit too shrill and had too much prescence but with the bass boost on it was too bass heavy boxy and mid scooped . The hertiage 75hz H30 was really nice much smoother than the anniversary and much less raspy and much less present also alot more compressed and less woody bordering on being almost to soft and compressed at times but this could be easily corrected with a change in settings . With the V30 it sounded well like a marshall with a v30. Tried it with a greenback reiisue and it sounded nice very vintage and warm . Great classic rock tone but probably 2nd least favorite becuase it was too soft in the low end and was the least clear of all the ones I tried but still sounded great . Also ran it through a jvm 2 by 12 with a marshall vintage 30 and marhsall hertisge speaker. Quite an open and woody sound quite big sounding as well and had a very nice hollow quality to it that did not come with the 1 by 12s . Had a very nice mid to late 70s hard rock tone to it very 1976 live alex lifeson tone .. also very old school metal when I pulled out my MXR distortion 3 which I previously did not love but do now with this setup . The sound stays surprisingly tight despite it being an open back cabinet . Probably the least compressed sound of all the speakers I tried with this anp quite a bit more dry sounding as well . This is a good setup to add low end to the amp without using the bass boost which is the one thing about this amp i do not like it makes the amp sound to boxy muffled but sometimes can sound too bass lite and shrill without out it depending on the cab and speaker which is why I liked H30 55 hz cab the v30 cab and the jvm 2 by 12 tw best they put the amp in the sweet spot I between having the bass boost on and the bass boost off.
Been using my DSL40 as a bedroom amp on the 20 watt channel and it sounds quite good, but this could make a nice living room amp. Just need that white tolex finish 👍
As usual-your video's helped decide on this amp for my small studio. Thank you. Hey Shane-What would I need to do to acquire that "Muddy Waters" poster behind you?😋
Shane, I know this video is from a couple of years ago, but you did a comparison of the Marshall Origin 5 and the Bugera 5. How would you compare the DSL 5 vs the Bugera?
Hey Shane. Not a question about this amp but what do you reckon about the Marshall JCM2000 DSL401 made in England 2005 does it need a replacement speaker. thanks man I live in Victoria too.
Wow! This is the perfect amp as a foundation Amp for a multi-effects pedal. I’m always looking around for when my 1994 Peavey Bandit 112 Teal Stripes dies, which I don’t know if it ever will???
Hey thanks for the video! Does the both channel volume effect the tone? Sometimes i want a little bit more quiter even in 0.5w. It is important for me.
I got one of these in January this year. Sounds fantastic loud and soft, and has a lot of tones. It’s not cheap but I think it’s priced right for what it is.
Do you know any crappy guitar players you can bring on the show when you demo stuff so I know what it would sound like for me please…
Yes 🤣🤣💀
I feel you
😂👍🙃
Crapy player rocks 😂😂😂🎶🎸I feel you man two years later lol 😝
Yes, me lol 👋 about to buy one of these from sky music
This amp is a beast! Let me know what you think!
0:00 - About
0:20 - Jam Track
2:08 - Marshall DSL5CR Overview
4:12 - Isolated Tones (crunch)
6:32 - Isolated Tones (blues)
7:23 - Clean Channel
9:13 - Deep Switch
10:04 - Final thoughts
This is my review of the Marshall DSL5CR guitar amplifier.
►Sweetwater - imp.i114863.net/2rQRy7
►Thomann - bit.ly/3ffCXyO
►Sky Music - alnk.to/bin0WmE
💙(affiliate links)
@intheblues Shane .. you seriously rock 🤘 dude .. I followed your previous reviews when i bought my Fender amp and now i am watching these as i am about to get a Marshall amp. I have narrowed it down to the DSL5CR & DSL20CR and it’s for home use only. I know for a fact that 5 watts is more than enough for me but i don’t like that the 5 has a 10-inch speaker. The 20 has a 12-inch speaker and a low-power setting. Is the larger speaker a good enough reason to get the 20 watt? Can the 20 watt be used in the low-power setting and get the same quality tone at lower volumes? They are only $100 apart so price is basically not a factor .. good tone at lower volume is the main concern. Thanks 🤘
Hey Shane I upgraded the speaker to a 10inch celestion g10 greenback and now I can crank the eq all the way up and deep switch on and control my sound with my volume and tone controls on my guitar. Sounds so much more alive!
I bought this amp earlier this year and couldn't be happier! I did change the speaker to a 10 inch version of the Celestion Vintage 30 and it sounds even bigger. Versatile and takes pedals well. Also perfect for home use and even recording.
The 10 inch V30 is the best 10 inch I have heard . It sounds so huge and the lower mids are killer. Probably due to the 30 oz. Magnet . Most 10 inchers have 14 to 20 oz magnets whith most being less than 20 . The 30 oz mag gives it a ton of low end and the V10 is smoother than its 12 inch brother .
@@adamwatson6916 I definitely noticed the bigger magnet in comparison to the 10 30 speaker when I unboxed the G10 Vintage. I went with the G10 Vintage as I previously owned the DSL40C with the Vintage 30 so I knew the speaker quite well. I also noticed the smoother tone. I think the stock speaker for this amp is actually quite good, I just wanted a similar vibe to my previous Marshall.
Great review and awesome playing (as always). I picked up one of these a few months ago because I live in a townhouse and needed something that sounded great but didn’t bother my neighbors. These have a huge range of tones - clean and dirty- that work great with my guitars (a few LPs and Strats, and a Tele). I was just playing it tonight at 11PM on the .05 setting, in fact. Highly recommend this amp if you want classic Marshall sound yet want to keep your neighbors and eardrums.
I bought one from a second hand shop (thrift shop). I only bought it because of the name, I thought it was solid state, but it's a valve amp. I was seriously impressed with the sound it makes. The reverb is awesome, it's as good as what you hear on recordings. I would definitely recommend this as a practice amp or for recording.
It works good for small hole in the wall dive bar gigs also when you don’t need a big loud amp
Just picked up the 40 watt version and love it. This 5 watt little guy sounds great too.
I love my Marshall DSL5. I use it at home and for gigs. I upgraded the speaker to a Celestion G10 Creamback and it's perfect. Compared to the stock Ten 30, the 10" Creamback has deeper bass, better definition, and retains great tone when the amp is fully cranked. The stock Ten 30 is fine at low volume, but is a little boxy sounding as you turn it up and sounds overly broken up and thin at full volumes. The G10 Creamback cures all this, with no need to modify the cab to fit a 12" speaker.
I put a Celestion Vintage 10 on mine, it's awesome too!
I can get really nice classic crunch tones out of the red channel on the DSL 5 . Set the gain at 2 to 3 on the ultra gian and roll the guitar volume back and you will find yourself on Plexi avenue in no time
That actually sounds really open for a lower powered amp. Sometimes the lower wattage combos can sound a bit boxy if the speaker and cabinet designs aren't quite right but I really dig this one. Actually sounds like a real amp just in a smaller package 👍
I have one and its surprisingly very open sounding in fact I find it more open then my DSl 40 but I am running it through extension cabs which cures the boxy nature it has just using the stock 10 30 speaker.. it sounds huge through my JVM 2 by 12 cab
Great Review and tones, Shane. I love your reviews and basically use them as one of my TH-cam reference points. You don't talk too much, just enough to give us the facts, and opinions but you always fill the review with plenty of structured playing in a mix and solo using different settings. Many of the overseas reviewers could learn a lot from your approach. You also come across as a 'real world' player in bands etc. As a fellow Aussie (SA) I really like your approach. Keep it up mate!
Agreed I don’t even own a geetar but I like watching and learning on this channel
This one goes to 11
I just picked one of these up this week after watching every video about them. It is literally the perfect home amp. You can fully crank it on the 0.5W setting and it's still manageable volume (95-99db).
After playing with it for a few days, I think this review identifies the only issue with the amp, mainly the gap between the clean channel (which is very clean for almost all of its range) and the ultra gain channel (which is high gain). There isn't a smooth gain handoff from one side of the amp to the other, so I think most people should plan for a pedal on the clean side to find that perfect middle ground (if low/mid gain crunch is what you need).
I've been hunting for the perfect home setup and have been through multiple amps and modelers before arriving at this. I can say definitively that this is what I should have done from the beginning. The DSL1 isn't enough, the DSL20 is too much, this is the perfect one.
These amps are killer! The only thing I have played that I liked as much were the newer Traynor amps. But the Marshall DSL amps are just killer up and down the line. Just make sure you don't get too many watts, tube wattage is *much* louder than solid state wattage! For *most* people, a 5 watt tube amp will suffice! A 20W tube amp might lead to the police being called!
Do you think a 20 watt tube amp is loud enough to fit a venue of say, 500 people?
I just started to learn guitar
Bought a 50w origin thinking radio in my car is only 50w so won't be that loud
Big mistake😂
I love little combo amps like this. My favorite right now is an Orange Crush 20rt.
Snagged one of these (open box) for only $350 and it's one of the best small amps money can buy. Sounds absolutely fantastic and if you're looking for nice and bluesy, on the edge of breakup sound just put an overdrive in front but back off the gain on the amp to about 9:00 or so and you're good.
I love low powered amps with FX loops. I play at home for my enjoyment. A great amp for home use or even for the coffee shop gigs. Blues On....💙
PS. I would probably play it as clean as I could get it and let my pedalboard do the work.
If someone planned on getting their dirt tone solely from their pedalboard i think there are better choices out there than the DSL5CR. I actually decided on the DSL5CR to cut out the need for a dedicated distortion pedal. With an overdrive and a fuzz you have all the tones i can imagine you'd need on this amp (short of crystal cleans)
I don't play metal but the DSL5CR can do it. I do play some hard rock at times, 80's and 90's stuff, and the Marshall has all the gain you could want on tap without the need for a distortion pedal. It's really easy to dial in a classic rock and blues sound (most of my playing) The clean channel will never be Fender clean, but it is actually surprisingly usable. Its a little dark/warm, but plenty good for what i play. My guitar has dual Filtertrons with coil split option, so its easy enough to get a pretty good clean tone with my rig. With hot humbuckers i doubt a guy looking for a really clean tone would be satisfied with this amp. I am very happy with this amp however 😎.
@@smartacus88 Thanks for the information. Blues On....💙
that's one amp I want to check out in person someday. sound good!
I have one and love it! It's loud, even at 1w mode, but sounds great at bedroom levels
I found this to be the perfect bedroom amp. All the sound, at 'bedroom' levels.
Absolutely one of (the) best 5 watt amps out there. I put a 12” Greenback in mine (pretty easy) and boost it with a Killing Floor or Mesa Flux Drive. My “desert island amp” for sure. Sounds terrific Shane :-)
I run my DSL1 through a 112 greenback boosted with a Wampler Pantheon. If I was just going to record, I’d never use another amp.
I have the DSL 5 and 40 and I think the 5 sounds better especially for classic marshal tones . I use 12 inch speakers with mine as well but I still have the stock speaker installed I just disconnect it and plug in an extension cabinet. This amp mates well with any good speaker . I have 3 1 by 12s and 2 by 12 all with different speakers and this amp sounds incredible with all of them but my 2 favorites are the G12H30 55hz and the standard production v30 it seems that ano really likes Bass cone speakers . They really give it a balanced sound . The anp has alot of gain but can be easily tamed to get some great vintage marhsall tones . I love the 5cr so much I am looking for a used older pre reissue version becusse I really like what I hear in demo videos for that anp .
@@adamwatson6916 - agreed, I sold my 40 but did end up with a 20 - PLENTY of amp. Getting an older 5C sounds like a good idea, why not!?!? I had an older 40 and while the ultra channel was really fizzy and brittle the classic gain had a much preferred crunch tone, something this new one doesn’t offer from the classic gain side.
you fit a 12 inch in there
@@oldguyjammin9732 check ECC
823 IN V1 position for getting out of fizz sound ;)
Man ! I wanted one of these or the 1 watt head but settled for a used Marshall DSL 20 head unit with 6V6 power tubes !
It's great and when compared to a mini silver jube sounded almost identical after swapping in vintage tubes into the DSL 20 head and away I went !
This is my only amp. I think it’s great if you play in your bedroom. It has a great tone and the distortion is mad when you have gain, awesome for metal.
It's a really nice small amp. I have the DSL40CR 1x12 and I love it. Good review Shane keep it going. I am in the USA Southeast between Nashville and Atlanta. I would like to visit Australia some time. PS: most of my interests in amplifiers have been collecting 60's USA Vintage Tube amplifiers but I like the new Innovations too.
I've got one and it's my main.
5 watts is very loud. I mostly use it at 0.5 and love all the tones.
5 Watt amps are fun and everybody should have one.
There's something cool about cranking a low watt amp all the way up and hitting some power chords.
Yeah! I've got a Bugera 5W which sounds pretty good (new valve), but it's given way to my Blackstar 1W, which is tremendous for all types of clean/crunch/dirty tones.
@@Ndlanding What a coincidence. I have one of the original Bugera V5 amps but I modded it. 10" Ragin' Cajun speaker, added a choke, and upgraded the OT. It's a sleeper. takes people by surprise.
I have yet to try to Blackstar 1W but I bet it's a great studio tool.
@@brandonlesko3126 Actually, I haven't tried recording with it yet. Might try its USB audio (I THINK it's for audio out!), which is good for the neighbours. It's a very versatile amp, though, and its "EQ" control really moves it from Fender to Marshall. It's not a "tone" control. I love it.
Awesome review, awesome amp. I have it for a year. I mostly use it at low watt mode. In 5w mode, it is very very loud for home use. 0.5w sounds great.
Would you say this is OK for bedroom use or would the smaller 1 watt version be better
@@keithcook3883 if you are in an apartment flat, dsl1cr would be better.
@@keithcook3883 DSL1CR is better for bedroom use once you get the speaker broken in, that takes about 50 hours of playing time at moderate volume levels. The DSL5CR needs a bigger room to sound better.
Shane, thanks buddy! I've always loved the DSL but had only seen the large,higher wattage versions in GC. High price and loudddddd. Nothing wrong if you need that and have a good place to air her out. Id like this and a Blues Junior,be perfect for myself. Take care from Florida
This Marshall seems made for bedroom and basement rockers. Takes pedals and is versatile enough for most at home and not at a gig players. Sweet!
Excellent little amplifier, the Celestion speaker really makes the amp sound bigger than what it is, great review
I got this amp and I love it! I play mainly blues and clean stuff. But you need time to break in. Mine sounds a lot more creamy after about 50-100 hours of playing.
Outstanding tone Shane the gain is plenty i love it and im gonna get one
I have that amp and it's really a killer ... Really love it, it takes very well pedals, I bought an overdrive one to get a more bluesy tone and it's perfect.
Shane, so happy you didn't sell the Tokai. Sounds awesome.. Def a keeper.
Try the Blackstar HT5MKII...12 inch speaker, 2 clean channels that are loud and crunch up after half way, 2 ripping distortions both Marshall flavor and Soldano. That is why I sold my DSL5, after playing the two side by side the winner was very clear...The new MKII is a totally different amp from the old HT5R and tons better. I also have the HT1MKII and the HT20MKII all amazing...
Neat review. I’ve never been a fan of Marshall amps, but this sounds great and I love the attenuation setting.
Sounds massive for a 5-watter. Good stuff
It would be nice if Marshall made a 5 watt head unit in the DSL line. However, you can get the Studio Vintage head that has a 5 watt attenuator, but I bet it doesn't sound as good as a dedicated 5 watt. I have a DSL 1 watt head and it's fantastic
Great Review. I ordered it and watched this video to help me dial the tone in (Zeppelin, Hendrix, Sabbath).......I have a great tone without having to mortgage the house...Thanks!
Awesome video as always. I've got a DSL 40C and it really rocks!
really nice amp something about Marshall's and Les Paul and Les Paul style guitars they just work brilliantly together, I know with my Vintage V100 it has the PAF designed Wilkinson's Humbuckers something about these style Humbuckers and a cranked Marshall, perfect marriage, I would love one but in a small flat not sure the neighbours would be too happy, I could not trust myself not cranking it lol, great review mate !!
Liked and Subscribed because of the attenuated section. Really needed that 🤣. Now I'm going to go buy this amp lol
Music is the silence between the notes you play. Great opening track!
Yes, sounds like the two front switches are a holdover from the old DSL100's I have a 100w head (DSL100) from 1999, that button was great!
You got some great sound out of that 5W Marshall. Excellent demo!
Amazed that it’s not bigger. No just because of the volume, but the tone has nice warmth and body.
I just love mine. Perfect for practicing at home.
So I'll be the one to say DAMN those Behringer E906/SM57 styled mics sound really really good. So close for so much less. Good on you using these. Tone isn't Always about the brand. Killer amp killer review Shane. Killing it bro
That intro jam… so tasty.
Superb review Shane
Sounds really good! Not for me, but great way to have Marshall tones at bedroom levels. Who doesn’t want to be Gary moore in the bedroom!!…. Wait
ASK his wife! ;oP
@Ben Hackett (Former wife!)
I am trying to be jimmy page and alex lifeson in my living room .
You nailed the Satriani lead sound🤟👍🎸
I love mine. It’s all I need.
I demo’d one of these (used) at guitar center near me. I had a hard time with it. The amp seemed very dark and muddy, no matter what I did. Maybe my knobs weren’t set right or there is some secret mojo I don’t know anything about. It sounds so good on you tube videos, I want to like it lol.
I love-hate Marshalls. Love them for the tone and feel, hate them for the fact that you HAVE to crank the volume to about 1 o'clock get the tone and feel. This 5W DSL is the only tube Marshall I've owned that I enjoy playing through any more because it's the only one I've owned that sounds right at less-than-jet-engine volume.
I liked my 2021 DSL5CR so much that I bought a DSL40C from 2015...but that particular DSL40C sounded so bad to my ears I ended up selling it. So much ear-splitting treble that a Strat was completely unplayable through it. SG sounded OK through it, but I still had to dial out almost all of the treble. DSL40 unfortunately sounds NOTHING like the DSL5. DSL 5 sounds glorious, even with a single-coil Strat.
After watching this twice Shane happy to say my DSL is on its way from Sweetwater
Great intro jam...knew I should've got this instead of a LaneySuperCub
About 3 years ago I got sick of swapping amps every other year and decided it was time after 15 years of playing to buy a proper full sized tube amp. I was an Orange fan (still am) cause I'd had a couple of their smaller amps and was really impressed with their solid state cr120 (I'm not a SS amp fan 95% of the time but orange knows their way around transistors lol). So I was thinking I'd get an Orange TH30, OR15 or one of their higher wattage and dollar amps but used. Also in the running was a used Marshall JCM800. I really need clean tones just as much if not more than dirty ones so the 800 didnt seem ideal. After trying all my friends gear and everything at the local music stores I was surprised to be leaning towards a Marshall DSL100 "H". The cleans were great the dirty tones were good and even better with a drive as I'd come to find out. But that was right when Marshall dropped the HR revisions. So I got a DSL100HR and havent regretted it once in the 3 years I've had it. I got one of the very first 100HR's with the earliest serial number date I've heard of. It's an absolutely killer amp. I cant recommend it enough. The versatility is what really sets it apart. You get all the classic Marshall tones in one amp plus extra gain if needed and a truly killer clean channel, what's not to like??
Sounds great mate! Keep it up. Cheers!
Perfect demo, thanks!
Great review, my man! 👍🏻
Wow, those distorted tones sound fantastic!
Great review Shane 👍👍
It sounds good in this video but live I didn't like it that much because of the speaker. He says that "we get a quality speaker" but the fact is that you get the cheapest available Celestion in this amp and many of us users replaced this to Creambacks / Greenbacks or anything else that are really considered as "quality" speakers. It makes a huge improvement on the sound taking out those fizzy overtones for example. It is still a great amp, lots of cool features, flexible volume with good sound for home use, etc...
Great video - one question - can it teach me to play the blues??
haha welcome, Mark! :) Hope you are well mate. We should do a video together on the tech channel at some point :)
@@intheblues absolutely, brother. Hit me up on my channel email and we can tech it up!!
Great Classic Rock sounds! Not wimpy at all!
Great demo !!
Nice amp but I traded mine in for a DSL40CR with V30 speaker which is much more versatile. I plugged the DSL5CR into a 2x12 cab and wow! - totally transformed the sound for the better.
Thanks for another great review, Shane
Great review! Ive got the 40cr. Great tone and feel!!!
Great review!
I bought one recently and like it very much-except for one thing; I find the Ultra Gain channel is only usable around '2' on the gain dial. I have in mind to swap out the ECC83 in V1 for an ECC832 which should tame the gain a bit. Also a mate has a 10" Celestion Sidewinder rated at 103dB. Given the 8dB increase in efficiency over the stock 95dB speaker, it should provide a significant volume boost. I'm not usually one for tinkering, but I'm hoping to get out and start gigging again and I think with a decent speaker upgrade (and a polite drummer), it might just be up to the job. Cheers for the review mate.
Sorry sold mine after a year..never could get good pushed clean or crunch tone and even swapped tubes and speakers. The clean is flat and lifeless and the overdrive just too much at any position for my blues style. Bought the Fender Bassbreaker 15 with a greenback and love it, sounds like a great old Marshall, warm and crunchy.
This amp totally rocks for 5-watts and was dirt simple getting great tones.
@@intheblues Opinions vary....
The red channel on this amp is milder than the red channel on the bigger models. I find the red channel in the DSL 5 is like the green ultra gain on the 40 cr . If you find the DSL 5 red channel to hot this can be mitigated by changing pre amp tubes .
@Adam Watson - Suggestions on which tubes to put in?
What a great little home recording amp!
this one is always on my radar,
I have the DSL5C and like it.
Great tones! This DSL5CR looks to be a great way to get a Marshall and the tones without buying a half stack!🤣😂🤣😂 I wish Marshall would do a remake of the Vintage Modern series, it is such a great sounding amp. Great tones and jam Shane! Cheers!🎸🎸🎸👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
It's not inexpensive though.
Sounds good Shane 👏
I have this amp and its sounds ten times better when you run it through an extension cabinet with 12 inch speakers or even 10 inch speakers. It sounds pretty good with just the internal speaker but I found it too fizzy and boxy . Ir sounds great through a cab with vintage 30 but so far my favorite cab with this amp is my 1 by 12 with a G12H30 55hz heritage n it also sounds great through my JVM 2 by 12 cab . I am eventually going to put a 10 inch greenback or 10 inch creambackcin the combo
The manual has a warning message that says only ever connect a single 1 x 16 Ohm Cabinet. Can you clarify whether this is supposed to mean a Cab with only one 16 Ohm speaker, or that its safe to use a 2 or 4x12 Cabinet wired for 16 Ohms.
Seriously good playing!
Great video. I like how you demo-ed heaps of sound options. Have you tried the DSL 1C little bloke?
I'm looking for a valve amp I can play at night and use my pedals. I'm currently using the Joyo DC15S and it sounds quiet, but the sounds are just okeyish. Would this marshall be a good option fro bedroom players not wanting to wake up the neighbours? Thank you, love your channel
I prefer the Blackstar sound but the Marshall DSL line has a few things going for it I wish Blackstar had.
1. The 1 watt model has an effects loop.
2. And a low power mode on 1 watt.
3. Also the DSL has an underrated clean channel sound.
You just proved the Marshall sounds better and performs better. Thanks?
Outstanding review
Thank you! Cheers!
Nice. I could live in the Classic Gain channel but if in a bad mood, the ability to FS to something dark is a treat.
I want one. wait, i just checked the price.....nice but no way.
I just bought one of these after watching and listening to your video; you get really nice tones from it. But I am a bit confused about ohms and extension cabs.
The quick start guide states: "A single 16 ohm speaker cabinet can be connected ..." But on the amp itself below the speaker socket, it says: "1 X 16." This is confusing. Does that mean you use one speaker cabinet with two 8 ohm speakers wired for 16 ohms? Or does that mean that any cab you use can have only ONE 16 ohm speaker?
Cool! Have you tried the emulate out on headphones or audio interface?
Sounds really good for a 5 watter Shane! Sometimes the
I can attest that using an external cab with 12 inch speakers makes this sound much bigger and fuller sounding . I have tried it with a half a dozen different 1 by 12s and a 2 by 12 . It mated well with very speaker I tried it with but my favorites were the G12H30 55hz and the vintage 30 both of which have 444 bass resonance cones so maybe there is something to that. It sounded bigger and more balanced with the 55hz as well as more open and less compressed . Now that I think about it there was 1 speaker that did not thrill me which was the G12H30 anniversary but its more that one being my least favorite rather than it not sounding good I just could not quite get the sweet spot with that one with the bass boost off it was somewhat shrill and had a raspiness that bordered on harshness but it had a very nice woody and openness to it but was just a bit too shrill and had too much prescence but with the bass boost on it was too bass heavy boxy and mid scooped . The hertiage 75hz H30 was really nice much smoother than the anniversary and much less raspy and much less present also alot more compressed and less woody bordering on being almost to soft and compressed at times but this could be easily corrected with a change in settings . With the V30 it sounded well like a marshall with a v30. Tried it with a greenback reiisue and it sounded nice very vintage and warm . Great classic rock tone but probably 2nd least favorite becuase it was too soft in the low end and was the least clear of all the ones I tried but still sounded great . Also ran it through a jvm 2 by 12 with a marshall vintage 30 and marhsall hertisge speaker. Quite an open and woody sound quite big sounding as well and had a very nice hollow quality to it that did not come with the 1 by 12s . Had a very nice mid to late 70s hard rock tone to it very 1976 live alex lifeson tone .. also very old school metal when I pulled out my MXR distortion 3 which I previously did not love but do now with this setup . The sound stays surprisingly tight despite it being an open back cabinet . Probably the least compressed sound of all the speakers I tried with this anp quite a bit more dry sounding as well . This is a good setup to add low end to the amp without using the bass boost which is the one thing about this amp i do not like it makes the amp sound to boxy muffled but sometimes can sound too bass lite and shrill without out it depending on the cab and speaker which is why I liked H30 55 hz cab the v30 cab and the jvm 2 by 12 tw best they put the amp in the sweet spot I between having the bass boost on and the bass boost off.
@@adamwatson6916 WOW! I'd believe it too!
@@adamwatson6916 Golly gosh! That was an exhaustive review! Well done!
Been using my DSL40 as a bedroom amp on the 20 watt channel and it sounds quite good, but this could make a nice living room amp. Just need that white tolex finish 👍
sounds fantastic!
As usual-your video's helped decide on this amp for my small studio. Thank you.
Hey Shane-What would I need to do to acquire that "Muddy Waters" poster behind you?😋
Shane, I know this video is from a couple of years ago, but you did a comparison of the Marshall Origin 5 and the Bugera 5. How would you compare the DSL 5 vs the Bugera?
Great review Shane I have one but please do a bassbreaker 007 it’s really underrated in my opinion if you like. The dsl you will love it
Great video , but just one doubt .. does this 5watt amp have enough headroom on the clean channel??
Nice little amp. A keeper I would say.
Hey Shane. Not a question about this amp but what do you reckon about the Marshall JCM2000 DSL401 made in England 2005 does it need a replacement speaker. thanks man I live in Victoria too.
This reminded me that my hoodie is out of tune. Thanks!
Wow! This is the perfect amp as a foundation Amp for a multi-effects pedal. I’m always looking around for when my 1994 Peavey Bandit 112 Teal Stripes dies, which I don’t know if it ever will???
Hey thanks for the video! Does the both channel volume effect the tone? Sometimes i want a little bit more quiter even in 0.5w. It is important for me.
I think the Blackstar ht5r mkii combo sounds good as well
I got one of these in January this year. Sounds fantastic loud and soft, and has a lot of tones. It’s not cheap but I think it’s priced right for what it is.
Hi, great video ! Would you say that this amp is powerful enough to be on stage ? (miked to a PA system of course ! :-)) Thanks