Are 1 Watt Valve Amps Still Worth it In 2024? - The Marshall DSL1 Combo

[@carlmcgregor2707]

Out of all the YT guitar 'influencers'. Dagan is 100% the most rock n roll out of them all.

[@quainejohnson4808]

Some of the other guitarist ytbers are so ckickbaity it's really tiresome

[@dinonoce]

His knowledge impresses, as much as his playing, he’s a real guitar nerd.

[@danielserrano343]

I literally bought this amp last Christmas after watching your first review of it. What a lovely little apartment amp for rock sounds. It won't do the other 1,000 things the digitals do, but I rarely use those sounds. The pure sound of a valve amp is the thing I need 99% of the time, and this thing does it, and very very well. The sound of my childhood.

[@Slamster1996]

"it won't do the other 1000 things the digitals do. The pure sound of a valve amp is the thing I need 99% of time and this this thing does it well." This one.

[@Flukey_1970]

I litterally bought a DSL1 from PMT Newcastle a couple of month ago and i absolutely love it after only using digital. Next step pedal board.

[@999slawter]

Hey, I am mind a guitar noob, but I own this amp and also a mini pedal board and I just would like to say the Electro Harmonix Ram's head (fuzz) the Nobels odr (overdrive) mini and the Noise reaper (noise gste) are working like a charm with this amp.

[@glenh2752]

My home setup is a DSL1 head into a Victory 2x12 with Creambacks. It sounds amazing and you can crank it without damaging your ears or annoying the neighbours!

[@Tee-mq2zn]

I've got the same cab, got the V40 amp, and good to hear it can power it.

[@glenh2752]

@@Tee-mq2zn nice setup. I remember Martin Kidd saying that the G12M Creambacks sounded great at low volume hence they put in certain cabs or combos. Tempted to get a V30 cab too.

[@florisvanlingen]

I used to have a DSL1 head, but to be honest my 20watt Jubilee sounds better at low volumes than the 1watt amp did. It has way more headroom for cleans as well. These small combo's really shine when you take them anywhere and still have the feel and sound of a tube amp.

[@glenh2752]

@@florisvanlingen I’m actually eyeing up one of the studio series amps. The jubilee has a master volume right? Do you dial that down or use an attenuator?

[@TwistedIdentity]

These little DSL amps are incredible. I have the DSL5CR and its probably my favorite little combo I've ever owned (I've owned nearly 60 amps big and small)

[@honkytonkinson9787]

I’ve had a dsl 5 for a few years and it’s a great practice amp! The price came back down so I’ll recommend it again. I put a G10 creamback in it and it sounds amazing! I don’t know how it compares to a real Marshall, but it’s 5 watts, so I don’t thinks it’s actually comparable that way. Compared to other tube amps I’ve played it’s really nice!

[@jordanpratt3821]

Wow, I am pleasantly surprised at how good that sounds. Makes me want one.

[@borncrazy24]

Same…. Along with 5 other amps I heard this week! Luckily I am aware that I have a problem. I just don’t seem able to correct it!!

[@Thirteen31Music]

@@borncrazy24I hear that 😂

[@a.j.garrett9639]

That's one of the best goddamn videos I've ever seen on KZbin! You basically set the level for a review on that amp, brother. I'm blown away that was amazing. The amp looks great sure, but my God you look like you were having a ball and I enjoyed that so much. And that even made me want to play a Kramer guitar which I can't say I've ever wanted to do before but God damn it looked amazing

[@JC-DC]

I'm literally playing mine at Midnight on the .1 watt setting, its so Awesome

[@chocolatecookie8571]

So cute! The amp has massive sound. I think that is the guitar of Dagan. Special customized guitar. And thanks for clarifying about the difference between digital and the valve amp. I think there will be an revival of tube Marshall amps again. Soon everyone will be talking about Marshall, lol.

[@smcha4]

I recommend anybody with this amp get a 1x12 cab for it (mine has a greenback). Complete gamechanger, with the option of portability without the cab for travelling with. It is very 'boxy' and fizzy with the stock speaker though.

[@yiannisfaitakis]

Bought this 2 weeks ago and it’s been the most FUN amp I ever owned. I see it as a wannabe bedroom JCM 800. The amounts of gain on tap is ridiculous for a 1watt amp. It has very sweet, punchy cleans that are very nice and inspiring to play. With the right tweaking it is a chameleon of an amp and can do from clean, to funk, to blues and SRV inspired sounds all the way to old school metal. Incredibly fun little piece of gear. I am really happy i got one.

[@marianne7659]

I bought the DSL1 head and 1x12 Marshall cabinet. It sounds great I don’t like digital

[@drewbaisden3475]

I have the 50th Anniversary JMP and JCM800 in both heads and combos, bought them all as soon as they came out. The heads are still sealed in the orig boxes but both combos I've taken out and played and they are great. I don't play often anymore but if you want a Marshall for the bedroom or study that the wife won't come after you for or want a Marshall tube amp easy for an old guy to tote around to a friend's house these things are perfect.

[@ro307805]

I have the head unit connected to the 1x10 angled cab from the old Marshall Mini-stack and it’s amazing. Play it every day in my living room

[@5678Donovan]

Every time I hear you play you inspire me to play. Awesome show.

[@LightBranches]

A mint used one just popped up on my local Long & McQuade, for a very nice price...your demo sold me on it. Damn you, Dagan!

[@jonnyznoord6044]

Ich hab Einen seit Jahren . Bin sehr zufrieden !

[@nmcgregor1990]

This just cements the fact that I love the voicing of Marshall amps. I've been trying to get together a rig together for a little while, but literally every time I stray away from Marshall, I'll hear one and just come crawling right back 😂

[@larrywest1083]

I have a DSL20CR and I love it!

[@TheVaseys]

I’ve got the 1w head connected to the 12” cab in my guitar space…absolutely love love love it! 😂

[@Cosmo__Kramer]

Got the 40 version play it everyday and i have other tube amps and modelers...great amps!!

[@tragically1969]

Yep, they are great little amps, i have the DSL5, its fecking loud!

[@bradbunyan1902]

There’s nothing wrong with that tone. Great lil amp!

[@pjstamm2112]

Great video! And what timing - I just found out 90 minutes ago that the DSL1CR that I ordered months ago is shipping today. Woohoo!!

[@taz4965]

I have the blackstar HT 1 and it’s great thru a celestion greenback cab. I love that you can crank it all the way but still avoid too many complaints from the neighbours

[@mattlau]

The first time I started gigging seriously, I started looking for an amp that could do 1 thing good and use pedals to add flavor. It’s still the way I prefer to play even in the sea of digital amps. Nothing wrong with either, but I don’t like fiddling with so many settings and a single channel tube amp is perfect for me. Using the volume knob to clean up the signal is a valuable skill. Learn the dynamics and you’ll make any amp sound good!

[@EamonBJWyse]

Big fan of the DSL-1 head. Especially for recording.

[@johnriley1536]

Love my little big DSL Combo

[@PinkertonJM]

I have the 20 watt head and it's great! Thanks for the video 🤘🤟🎸

[@markmcdonald5711]

I've had this amp in my bedroom for the last 6 months, changed out the cheap chinese tubes for some sovteks, a 12at7 instead of the stock 12ax7 in the V2 socket for less gain in the high-gain channel and it's ready to rock! Takes about 50 hours to break-in the speaker before the bass sounds right then you have a real practice amp.

[@xcx8646]

We need valve amps for home use with even lower wattage.. Even 1w is too loud. The volume Dagan is playing at here isn't 'home' volume. It would be great if Fender, Vox and Marshall each made master volume valve amps with reverb and a fraction of a watt of power that allowed us to really drive them at home realistically. I can dream.

[@mikeybeazley3]

I mean, this amp has a 0.1 watt setting, which he shows in the video. Can’t really get any lower than that 🤷🏻‍♂️ …still probably pretty loud though to get a good sound 😂

[@xcx8646]

@@mikeybeazley3 Yes - so that's one. The Bugera V5 makes two - although I find that amp too dark. So the point still stands: where are the 0.1 valve amps from Fender, Vox and so on? Even 1w is loud.

[@mikeybeazley3]

@@xcx8646 i think it’s a refusal to innovate old technology. Hell, fender won’t even add effects loops or master volumes. They just expect you to move to a modeling unit instead, it seems. Still, their tone master amps, which are modeling, don’t have any cool modern features. Alternatively, you can try a power attenuator between the amp and speaker.

[@fly5150.]

These are really great for practicing if your only other amp is a bloody massive stack which you can't bring anywhere

[@canadianintheukbrian]

What I love about is the sound of a valve amp I never really gravitated to the digital sound , I had a digital amp really good but farting about getting a tone etc I just can't be arsed i have old school thinking plug the guitar in a go I know this amp can go at .5 watt , but just concerns me being in a small flat , but I will one day take my guitar down to PMT and plug it in , give it a listen , maybe take it in a quiet room, just test it out, its seems like the perfect home players amp,

[@ericschuppert9011]

I also have the combo, fantastic little fellow!

[@natjes6017]

Really great playing with great tones 😁

[@phildale8451]

I have Supro blues king 8, 1 watt of utter bliss. Blows away all the modelling stuff and I wouldn't swap it for anything. For the purists 1 watt valve amps are the only way to go. IMO

[@andrewyale2069]

Great video, and I love mine!

[@peterhicks6328]

I knew a guy when I was in college who had a pair of small marshall amps like that one that he used for stereo speakers

[@jasonpost1771]

Digital amps sound digital never been a fan! I’ll take a valve any day! You can’t beat that warm tone 🤘🏻🔥🤘🏻

[@layol692k7]

what an amazing lil amp

[@ce152capt100]

I’m surprised at how rich that thing sounds!

[@christiantaylor4027]

Sounds fantastic. Turn it up........

[@brianschiller4053]

For home practice, I haven’t found anything that works as well for me as my 1 watt Marshall jvm1h. Use a decent cab and it won’t sound boxy. With modelers, I just end up trying to mimic the sound of that amp.

[@rickyred001]

GWWWAAAAN Dagon !!! Play Paradise City on that !

[@DavidBrown-it9ig]

Rings like a bell!

[@danielsguitarchannel1992]

Very good amp as I had one. Better than using digital amps.

[@idanshahar]

Damn, sounds crazy good.

[@philcorymusic]

Sounds Great! ❤

[@tlabamba7741]

“You can get a little head” lol yeah we could all use that😂

[@ChainsawSlammer1.3.8]

I feel I can play with it Metallica, Pantera, Carcass riffs and with pretty good sound.

[@InhalerOfTheRifftree]

I learned, despite my best efforts, that you can't beat a valve amp. The response, feel and tone can't be emulated... yet.

[@tymanngruter1808]

Is that with that fligthcase? Cause its a little amp with a huge sound included! 🤤

[@johnriley1536]

Please do one with a pedalboard. 🤘

[@jucaguitar]

Every tube amplifier only shows its true tone when it is pushed to its limit. It's much easier to push a small amplifier to its limits.

[@matthewbradley9430]

Great sounding amp. Does anyone know the make/model of the guitar?

[@dannyadamson2198]

I’m looking at the fender champion 2 for my first amp. I figured I’ll grow into it and not have to buy a second amp down the road. Any advice?

[@bclmax]

ive got a blackstar and and an orange...i refer the blackstar.

[@HEXiT_]

needs a 12" speaker same with the dsl5. other than that there great responsive amps.

[@thecollector3780]

Any chance you guys can demo a JVM410H or the combo amps? Thanks

[@adiohead]

I used to take a little 5W solid state amp and a Rat pedal to practice when I was a kid. One of these would have been awesome!

[@milkandmeat]

The DSL1hr has been great for me

[@portuguesebeer5069]

Awesome video, Dagon! Can you also review the 20W head with the matching cab? Cheers from Portugal 🤘🍺🇵🇹

[@millermonsterair]

ngl, the DSL1 head, hooked up to at least a 1x12 loaded with ANYTHING except a seventy 80 and it sounds INCREDIBLE... sounds like crap with a seventy 80 speaker tho, and in this little combo form... seriously tho, the DSL1 amp head is a good little amp head. so is the DSL5 head too!... i cannot stand little combos, with their little crappy speakers.

[@omursaraslan6316]

I’m so glad I didn’t overpay for one of these when I was looking to buy an amp. Got myself a Kustom defender 5w. Takes pedals like a champ. Swapped the speaker with a v30. No headroom? No problem. Compressor does the job. I can gig with it without ever putting a mic in front of it. Don’t waste your money on Marshall kids

[@matthewtyler-jones8317]

Really, I should have DSL 1 in my little spare bedroom studio. "Sadly" (for my long suffering wife) I bought a bargain DSL402 instead

[@christiantaylor4027]

I would name it Napoleon.

[@svitlanaostapchenko5642]

Don’t laugh! But can I use headphones?

[@monkeyrater]

you almost lost me till you hit 1pm

[@jarnoschotsman4121]

2.55 Sex Pistols!!🤘🏼

[@mahmam3128]

I got one and it's awful, do yourself a favor and get either a katana or a desktop amp, both my katana 50 and yamaha thr sound wayyyyy better both clean and distorted

[@dingalarm]

No offence, but I still don't get what's the big deal with valve amps 🤷🏻‍♂️ They just overdrive/distort when turned up. These days, many solid-state amps do a great job anyway (and no expensive valve replacements are needed). TBH, I think it's visual more than anything else (a bunch of glowing glass tubes & chunky transformers....phwoarr! 😂).

[@thejakefromstatefarm6768]

Sure it sounds great when you play it but you but the average 13 year old on it and whats it gonna sound like?

[@adiohead]

Can sound the same if they've practiced enough.

[@g-man2725]

ITS A DAM MARSHALL>>>>OF COURSE ITS BAD ASS. You have sold me on more amps than any of the other youtube chumps. I got the 20dsl. This 1 watt is bad ass also.