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Average Price: $607
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Description
Unleash a sonic storm with the Marshall JCM 2000 DSL 50, a powerhouse guitar amplifier head that brings a legacy of tone to your fingertips. This amp is designed for guitarists who demand versatility and pure valve warmth from their gear. With its Dual Super Lead (DSL) architecture, the JCM 2000 DSL 50 offers two footswitchable channels: Classic and Ultra, each with its own distinct voice and dynamic range.
The Classic channel's Clean/Crunch modes deliver everything from sparkling cleans to the iconic, gritty Plexi crunch. Meanwhile, the Ultra channel's Lead 1 and Lead 2 modes take you from searing rock tones reminiscent of a hot-rodded JCM800 to a metal meltdown with even more gain and compression. Each channel's mode has been individually voiced, ensuring you have a mini arsenal of Marshall tones at your command.
The amp features a Deep Switch that adds a resonant bass boost, perfect for those gut-punching lows, while the Tone Shift switch offers a scooped midrange ideal for modern metal genres. With separate reverb controls for each channel, you can dial in the perfect ambient touch. Plus, the effects loop with +4 and -10 dB switching allows seamless integration of external gear, whether rack-mounted or stompbox.
Key Features:
- 50-watt all-valve head with 4x ECC83 and 4x EL34 tubes
- Dual footswitchable channels: Classic (Clean/Crunch) and Ultra (Lead 1/Lead 2)
- Deep Switch for enhanced low-end resonance
- Tone Shift switch for scooped mids
- Separate reverb controls per channel
- Series effects loop with +4 and -10 dB switching
- Includes PED801 single-button footswitch for channel switching
Product specs
| Brand | Marshall |
| Model | JCM 2000 DSL 50 Dual Super Lead 2-Channel 50-Watt Guitar Amp Head |
| Finish | Black |
| Year | 2000s |
| Made In | United Kingdom |
| Categories | Guitar Heads |
| Color Family | Black |
| Electronics | Tube |
| Impedance | 16 ohms, 4 ohms, 8 ohms |
| Number of Channels | 2 Channels |
| Number of Inputs | 1 Input |
| Output Power (Watts) | 50 |
| Power Tube Type | EL34 |
| Reverb | None |
FAQs
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What are the core tonal characteristics of the Marshall JCM 2000 DSL 50?
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The Marshall JCM 2000 DSL 50 is known for its versatile tone, offering both classic Marshall crunch and modern high-gain sounds. Its two channels allow for a range of tones from clean to heavily distorted, making it suitable for various music styles.
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Is the Marshall JCM 2000 DSL 50 suitable for live performances?
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Yes, with its 50-watt output and robust EL34 power tubes, the Marshall JCM 2000 DSL 50 is powerful enough for live performances, providing ample volume and presence to cut through a band mix.
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Does the Marshall JCM 2000 DSL 50 have built-in reverb?
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No, the Marshall JCM 2000 DSL 50 does not include built-in reverb, so players may need to use external effects pedals or units to add reverb to their sound.
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What types of power tubes does the Marshall JCM 2000 DSL 50 use?
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The Marshall JCM 2000 DSL 50 uses EL34 power tubes, known for their warm, harmonically rich sound, which contributes to the amp's classic British tone.
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Can the Marshall JCM 2000 DSL 50 handle different speaker impedances?
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Yes, the Marshall JCM 2000 DSL 50 is compatible with 16 ohms, 8 ohms, and 4 ohms speaker cabinets, providing flexibility in matching with various speaker setups.
Videos
Sonic Drive Studio
Marshall JCM 2000 DSL50 vs DSL100! (OLD vs NEW)
Reviews
PROS
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Exceptional clean channel, surprisingly crisp and clear for a Marshall
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Versatile sound, suitable for genres from Blues to Metal
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Impressive crunch on the clean channel, great for rock
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Series effects loop maintains tone integrity
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Excellent build quality, reliable for gigging musicians
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Powerful yet manageable 50W output, ideal for various venues
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Deep switch adds body and fullness to the Ultra Gain channel
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Great pedal platform, enhances versatility
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Touch-sensitive response, complements various guitar types
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Foot-switchable reverb with separate controls for each channel
CONS
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Lead channels can sound thin without additional pedals
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Single EQ for both channels can result in overly bright cleans
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Lacks footswitch option for all four modes
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Deep switch not independently adjustable for channels
4.5 out of 5
Based on 6 Reviews and 25 Ratings
240
Great rock amp but weaker cleans
This has been a workhouse for driven sounds and has loads of power for any venue. The driven tones range from a little broken up to saturated, compressed and mean. The cleans let it down though. They aren't bad but they lack character and definition.
The head is as solidly built as any marshall and will handle being on the road it's whole life, without any complaints at all. The controls are typical marshall. Easy channel switching with buttons or pedal and all the pots feel sturdy and have a good level of resistance. No sloppy pots here. A big plus for the gigging musician.
Solid amp and come at very reasonable prices.
125
Amazing amp all around, anything from Pop/Punk to Metal to Country.
This amp is an amp that is used constantly in my studio. I use this head with a JCM 900 4x12 cabinet, and it gets those classic Marshall tones everyone is talking about. What people do not realize about this amp is that the clean tones are AMAZING. They sparkle, chime, just like any other amp would. But they are original to Marshall. These tones are not meant to emulate a "Fender Clean", or a "Vox Clean". These are Marshall Cleans. I find I have to set this amp a little bit brigher then my normal settings to get the clarity in the overdrive that I am looking for. When you switch to the clean channel, since there is only 1 EQ for 2 channels, the cleans are a bit bright. I woulod recommmend buying an EQ pedal for your clean tone, to bring out the bass frequencies and tone down the highs. I would recommend this amp to anyone who is looking for that classic Marshall look, and is someone who loves that british tone. Great amp overall, and have had no problems.
169
Awesome head. The Marshall Sound!
Best clean Marshall ever! Great pedal platform. The gain channel is damn good too with some tweaking.
186
Tone Machine
I've had this amp a few years and it does everything from Blues and Country up to Hard Rock and Metal. It pairs really well with a Les Paul (Obviously)
94
Great sounding Marshall amp
I have been playing through my dad's old JCM 2000 for a couple of years now, and it has to be one of my favorite sounding amps. I mainly use my PRS Custom 24 through it, and play blues rock stuff on it (a bit of clapton, stones ect.) and it just gets the perfect sound for me.
Awesome Marshall tone
This amp is perfect for getting Iron Maiden tone and other Heavy Metal bands.
41026
more review, and how often do you gig with it?
Artist usage
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Tony Iommi's official site mentions that he used a variety of amplifiers, including a Marshall JCM 2000 DSL 50, among others such as Laney GH 100 TIs and a vintage Vox AC30, highlighting his diverse amp setup.
In the linked article you can see diagram of Jeff Beck's live setup from around 2003. It includes 3 Marshall JCM 2000 DSL 50 heads, one for the main sound, 2nd as a backup and 3rd as a slave for monitors.
His tech described the main one (marked as Proto 0001 on the diagram) as being a prototype version, different from what production models are. From 2010 interview with Steve Prior (link dead, archived version), Beck's tech at the time, for Guitar.com:
That’s what people don't understand really. How can I get that tone like Jeff Beck? You can’t because the amplifier you’ll never find anywhere else. If anything ever happened to that amplifier he'd be lost anyway. There’s just no amplifiers that sound like that one. Even Marshall don't know why it sounds the way it does. There’s a couple little extra components in the pre-amp gain stage, which shouldn’t really account for the sound of the amplifier. The amplifier is more bassy than any other DSL50. There are another DSL50s that don’t sound anything like it. It’s the first proto-type, so its circa 1994. He, alongside a few other guitarists, was given that one about 10 months before they revised the circuit board three or four times and then actually put that one into production. To this day that one still survives. The other nine that everybody else had all caught fire or developed faults, went straight back to Marshall, and then they fault-found as well as they could and ended up cleaning up the circuit board manufacturing techniques.
The backup head was a production model though:
Another Marshall DSL50, but it’s nothing like the original one. It’ll only be a backup for 10 seconds while I have the back off and put new tubes in. If it’s any more involved than that, he’ll have to just play that. Any one of the spares would be [suitable, but not as good] for the rest of the show. That’s the problem. We can’t, having tried and having researched the situation at great lengths with all the designers at Marshall, they can’t find any tangible reason why that amplifier sounds different to any other one.
In the Premier Guitar "Acid Bath Rig Rundown" video, guitarist Sammy Duet is seen using the Marshall JCM 2000 DSL 50 amplifier. Duet mentions that these amps are easy to get, sound good, and likes that they feature two lead channels.
(MAMI uses) two Marshall JCM2000 50W Dual Super Lead heads running through a 280W 1960AV angled 4x12" cab and a 100W 1960AX (or possibly a 50th Anniversary) angled 4x12" cab. -SCANDAL HEAVEN
In a twitter post made by Syu on April 25th, 2018, he is seen using a Marshall JCM2000 Dual Super Lead tube amp.
"I used my basic live rig: a couple of Fender Twins and a Marshall JCM2000 with a Tone Tubby cab and speakers with hemp cones. I just love them. They sound great and last a long time. It’s pretty much the same setup as when I did that Rig Rundown with you guys."
Kennedy uses a JCM2000 DSL in this live photo. This is not his usual amp setup as The Maine are usually seen playing Orange Amps.
Kengo Matsumoto uses the Marshall JCM 2000 DSL 50 amplifier. Although its appearance remains as the original JCM 2000, the internal components have been replaced with a 50-watt used amp. Matsumoto prefers its rock sound for live performances, typically setting it to crunch, though he finds it challenging to record with. This information is detailed in his gear list on Equipboard.
Album Usage
The Marshall JCM 2000 DSL 50 has been featured on the following albums:
Genre Usage
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Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Marshall JCM 2000 DSL 50, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
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