Tame the Ultra Gain channel on DSL15H

[Lurre]

I have a Marshall DSL15H and I find the Ultra Gain channel too fizzy. I've read on here that you can change the V1 preamp tube to a ECC823 to tame the Ultra Gain channel whithout effecting the Classic gain channel. However i can not get a hold of that tube. I can however get a regular ECC82/12AU7. Does that have the same effect on the Ultra Gain channel as the ECC823? I don't care about the Classifc Gain channel as I never use it.

 

[SkyMonkey]

Hello @Lurre and welcome to the MF

An ECC82 in V1 would have double the gain reduction effect on the Ultra channel then an ECC823.

An ECC823 has unequal triodes of x17 (ECC82) and x100 (ECC83). Hence ECC823 (82/3).
In a DSL, both V1 triodes are only seen by the Ultra circuit.
This gives a gain reduction in one triode from x100 to x17.
The Clean only sees one triode, the x100, and is unaffected.

So, if you use an ECC82 in V1, the Ultra gets both triodes at x17.
The Clean (which you don't use) will get one x17 triode, and be cleaner and quieter.

ECC823 tubes are hard to find in Europe.
I had to get mine sent to the UK from Denmark.
The difference in my DSL40CR is noticeable, but not massive.
An ECC82 would most likely work great for your uses.
It's a fairly cheap experiment to try.

BTW. Have you tried lowering the Ultra gain and adding an OD pedal out front.
This is my preferred way of maximising the Ultra channels on my 40CR.

 

[TonalEuphoria]

Eurotubes has ECC823's and ECC832's in stock last I saw. Another thing you can do and that makes a huge difference in the overall tone and sound representation of the amp is to change the speaker out. If there is a Celestion Seventy 80 in there now, I have no love for that speaker. It's a budget line, low quality Celestion that is harsh and brittle with a mushy bottom end. Marshall and so many other amp makers use them in amps and cabinets to cut their costs. You'll be doing you and your tone a huge favor by replacing it. What you use though, depends on the tone you want and the style you play. And very importantly how the amp sounds, and how you would like it to sound. Brighter, darker, more detailed, faster breakup of the speaker, slower breakup of the speaker and so on, and so on, etc, etc.

I prefer WGS speakers these days, but there are quite a few brands out there and all makes some nice choices.

Preamp Tubes - Eurotubes

Home | Warehouse Guitar Speakers

 

[Lurre]

Shipping from Eurotubes for me is about 40 dollars. And as i only play at home i don't NEED the better tone, I just want it. But for that kind of money i'l try to find something with a lower pricetag.

The DSL15H i just a head, so it doesn't have a speaker
All jokes aside I am playing through 1x12 open back cab with a Celection Vintage 30.

 

[TonalEuphoria]

Shipping from Eurotubes for me is about 40 dollars. And as i only play at home i don't NEED the better tone, I just want it. But for that kind of money i'l try to find something with a lower pricetag.

The DSL15H i just a head, so it doesn't have a speaker
All jokes aside I am playing through 1x12 open back cab with a Celection Vintage 30.

Lol. Yes obviously. I looked at it too quick without even registering the H and my mind automatically went to thinking about the combo. Probably because I was looking at ads for them in my recent search for a new Marshall combo to add on, that the image just popped into my head. The Vintage 30 is a solid premium speaker so clearly you're fine there if you like it's character and there isn't anything wrong with it. Sorry to hear the shipping is so costly. I guess you're going to have to search out other sources or bear it. It's about half that for me, but shipping all around has gone up.

Since you can get a 12AU7, and there isn't ever much harm in having more choices and trying it in the amp to see if you like it. Why not? I did that with the DSL20CR I just picked up. I like to go through my tubes, trying different combinations till I find what sounds best for me in an amp. And unless you've already done it in the exact same amp, what works best can be very different than other amps you may have.

I'm running a balanced JJ 12AU7 in my V1 of the DSL20CR right now with Mullard 12AX7's in V2 and V3. And I went through my whole box of almost 2 dozen preamp tubes seeing what sounded like what I want. I even pulled the tubes out of two other of my tube amps to try the tubes in them. It's obviously not the same as the ECC832 or ECC823 with their uneven sides, but it still is nice. You may like it.