Settings for good tone from Gibson SG and Marshall TSL601!!!

[Kroeger]

I have a Marshall TSL601 combo and Gibson Angus Young SG, however I cannot seem to dial in a good metal sound from it. It sounds muddy rather than crisp, and I cannot get a good 'chunk' for Rhythm either.

Any settings or opinions on this amp will be gratefully received.

Thanks

[adamcbest]

i had the very same amp and the very same issue.. could never get a sound i liked even after having it 4 years.. i sold it... my style is similar steve vai, satch, petrucci, etc... not exactly metal, but high gain leads.. i think it would be harder to dial in a full blown metal sound from it..

the tsl601 did nothing for me. what i have found about marshalls is you absolute love the sound, or really don't. if you can't find anyhting you like, then you're probably not a marshall guy. try a 5150, or if you have the money, try a mesa. there are other high gain amps.. soldano, engl, bogner, etc.. but i don't have experience with those.

[Gresh]

Good many comments around this forum on the TSL100 which is similar. I had one and found it very unfocused and buzzy/fizzy. Had it modded and it wound up sounding fantastic but it was just too much amp for me in the long run...wayy too loud and in order to get the best tone out of it, I had to run it really loud.

Wound up with a mesa nomad and a rivera tbr that I feel are both much more utilitarian and toneful than even the modded TSL, and wayy better than stock.

[EnigmaUV7]

The biggest mistake people make with Marhsalls is not enough mids and too much presence. I don't own a TSL, but I have played several. Try this:

Bass 8 to 9
Mid 4 to 5
Treble 6 to 8
Presence 5 to 6

I don't remember how the drive/gain knobs are on TSLs, but you shouldn't need a gain of more than about 6 for the Angus Young sound. And if there is a mid shift, don't use it, it gives you more modern voicing. BTW, it seems to me like the TSL and especially DSL heads sound better than the combos. Still, you should easily be able to dial in some nice sounds with your amp. If not, maybe you just don't have good tone in your hands, nothing to do about that but practice.

I can say without a doubt that the DSL100 head absolutely rocks. That's my favorite Marhsall these days. It has plenty gain at low volume too. You could always pick up the head and 2x12 cabinet and still have room to get a 4x12 later, which is the true Marshall sound.

[Drew]

see, I used to use even less presence and more mids than that- try 2 and 6, respectively.

The tsl's lead channel killed for heavy rhythm work- some great tool-like chunk their in a way that sounds nothing at all like tool, but still seems appropriate, some how. With the gain and mids up, it was a total zakk wylde sound, and towards the end of my time with one, i found that, by goign weasy on the treble, say 3-4, not only did it sound much better mic'd but it sorta drifted into love in space-era satriani territory- cool.

-D

[Algiman]

Marshalls really need to be pushed hard to sound the way they should - low volume just does not work well with them. Once you get the master volume past half way the sound changes radically as the power amp distortion starts to kick in.

I use 100W 6100's and even for loud gigs I use a power break so I can push the amp harder without going deaf. I'd recommend giving that a go.

Once you push the power amp that hard the whole feel of valve amps changes for the better