Founded in 1962 and the epitome of an iconic rock 'n' roll brand, the very name Marshall Amplification conjures up images for those in the know. Whether it be a wall of Marshall amps supporting Jimi Hendrix, The Who, Deep Purple, or “this one goes to 11” as canonized in the movie This Is Spinal Tap, there is no amp made that carries the cache of Marshall. Continuing in that tradition, the Marshall DSL40CR Combo Amp is an all-in-one portable rig that has that unmistakable Marshall sound.
With 40 Watts of power and a 12” Celestion V-Type speaker, the DSL40CR delivers gentle edgy breakup to ultra-high gain massive distortion and everything in between. Powered by two EL34 tubes and a preamp section sporting four 12AX7 tubes, this classic tube combination is time tested and true. While the DSL40CR does not deliver a distortion-free clean tone, all the distortion sounds are extremely malleable. The cleanest sounds will deliver a nice edgy breakup that responds to your touch and dynamics as a guitarist. But if you are looking for an amp that has a sparkling clean tone, this is not the amp for you.
The DSL40CR features two channels with different voicing. The Classic Gain channel features the vintage Marshall sound of the ‘60s and ‘70s, and the Ultra Gain Channel delivers the massive sound that started in the ‘80s, reminiscent of the Marshall JCM800 and JCM900 amps from that era. Each channel is controlled by a Gain, Volume and voicing pushbutton control. These channels can also be toggled live from the included footswitch. Overall volume is controlled by a dual Master Volume section.
The DSL40CR features the normal Bass, Middle, and Treble controls, while the Presence adds high-end bite and Resonance controls low-end response, adding bass boost and depth. Two separate digital reverbs control each amp channel, enabling your rhythm and lead reverbs to be preset at your favorite setting. MC found the reverbs to be more subtle than comparable analog spring reverbs, but set high enough, the reverbs are useful. The DSL40CR’s emulated headphone and line outputs are designed to model of Marshall’s 1960 cabinet tone and use the tube power section. This feature allows players to enjoy the sound of a cranked amp for silent practice or direct recording. Marshall states, “The DSL40CR’s adjustable power settings ensure you get authentic tube tone at any volume. Unlike traditional attenuation methods, this amp reduces power by adjusting the signal to the EL34 tubes rather than bypassing them. This means you get the same dynamic response and harmonic richness whether you’re playing at bedroom levels or pushing the amp to full stage volume.”
The Stealth Black option, available exclusively at Guitar Center, is a beautiful looking amp. Weighing in at 50 lbs., this tough and well-made amp is medium in size, and on the heavier side, and does not feature castors.
$749 Black and Gold
