Have you ever loaded in for a gig, loaded in a half stack or even a 2×12 combo amp, set up your tone perfectly only to be told to turn your amp to tone-sucking volumes by the sound man?
Or maybe you’ve been invited over to a jam session at a buddy’s house, and bringing a large stack would be overkill, and too heavy to be worth bringing? Not to mention lugging around your pedal board and all your cables to craft your sound for a 2 hour jam…
If so, you’re probably in the market for a portable amp. An amp that can cut through a mix without being mic’d up to a P.A. An amp that has great cleans and plenty of distortion on hand so that you don’t need to bring an assortment of overdrive pedals.
If you found this page then you’re evaluating Marshall’s DSL40CR. Is it the perfect gigging amp? Read below to decide (spoiler, I think it is!)
Multi-Channel Versatility
The DSL40CR is a 2 channel amp, delivering sounds ranging from crystal clean tones to burnt-earth scorching distortion.
But two call it a 2 channel amp does it a disservice. It really is a 4 channel amp, all switchable if you purchase Marshall’s 6 button foot pedal for it. (In addition to operating the channel switching, the 6 channel foot switch also allows you to switch the effects loop on and off and set the Master to Master 1 or Master 2).
Each of the amp’s two channel’s has two different modes:
- Classic Gain Channel – Clean Mode: This mode delivers clear, warm clean tones.
- Classic Gain Channel – Crunch Mode: This mode delivers break-up distortion, similar to classic Marshalls ( I think it sounds like it’s emulating the 800 sound). Personally I spend alot of my playing time on this channel, and use it with the BOSS SD-1 pedal at times for truly sonic intensity).
- Ultra Gain Channel – OD1 Mode: This mode gets us into modern, high gain sounds, reminiscent of the JVM series.
- Ultra Gain Channel – OD2 Mode: This is like the OD1 mode on steroids. Great for really heavy sounds, but can get a little compressed sounding.
Marshall DSL40CR Features
In addition to the multiple channels listed about the DSL40CR comes with a host of other great features.
Stock it has four 12AX7 preamp tubes and two EL34 power amp tubes.
It has two reverbs, one for each channel. The reverb is serviceable, but rather quiet. It works nicely if you just need a splash of reverb but if you want something more luscious you’ll want to run a separate reverb pedal in through the FX loop.
It also has two separate master volumes, one for each channel. This allows you to set two different over all master’s for each of the channels so that you could either balance the channel’s to your liking, or even operate it like a lead boost.
It ships with a 2 channel footswitch which allows you to switch between the Classic Gain and Ultra Gain channels, as well as turning the effects loop on and off.
It has a tone shift button which reconfigures the mid-frequencies, giving it a bit of a scooped sound for modern metal.
The resonance control gives you access to the lower frequencies of your sound in order to increase the bottom end in the power amp section (separate from the EQ controls).
The presence control allows you to control the upper frequencies in the power amp section (separate from the EQ controls).
The back panel gives you the ability to send audio in, midi in as well as giving you an emulated out jack for sending the signal to headphones or a mixer using a Softube designed studio cabinet emulation.
You can also connect external speakers via the back panel in different combinations of ohms and number of cabinets supported.
Marshall DSL40CR Speaker
This amp is paired with a Celestion V-Type speaker that to my ears sounds fantastic with the amp.
Many players do like to play around with upgrading the speaker, but in my experience this is a matter of taste and not a necessity. I have no plans on upgrading the speaker as the one it comes with sound great.
So, What Makes the DSL40CR the Perfect Gigging Amp?
Why do I think this amp is the perfect gigging amp?
The DSL40CR is easy to carry, much lighter weight than other amps I’ve owned (50lbs vs the 80lbs Mesa Lonestar I used to own).
All of the channels on this amp sound great, you can take this amp by itself, one cord and no pedals, plug straight into the amp and get killer Marshall tones.
The tones of this amp sound good at any volume. This amp can be played quietly and sound fantastic for home use, or be turned up and easily cut through bass, drums and another guitar for practice sessions with the band. And of because of it’s ability to sound great at any volume it will be able to be mixed in with a band setting with relative ease.
If you’re looking for a portable, self-contained, great sounding work horse of an amp, the Marshall DSL40CR should be on your list of amps to try out.