I also have both (4100 & DSL 50) and I think if I had to keep only one it would be the 900. These are two good amps that provide hours of pleasure to many guitarists! Thank you for this great review!
I bought a 100w 2000 Head when it first came out. Killer amp for anything. Perfect for lower drop tuned guitars with active pickups. 900 sounds great too.
Killer demo as usual! I feel like both are good at what they do but in a full band context the low end of the 900 clears up more space for the bass player to occupy. I feel most people that complain about Marshall's are people who don't spend a lot of time playing in bands, that's where Marshall's thrive especially a 900.
Great comparison. I found this video couple of days ago and today I bought JCM200. And it sounds great itself, but with TS9 it is just crushing :) Thank you!
Hands down the 900 all day long! and with the Les Paul Showcase Custom, Firebird and the Jackson, it just screams that 90's metal vibe hardcore. I love the 900 on both cabs the Mesa OS Slant 4x12 and the Marshall 1960A 4x12
Really glad you did this comparison. Feature wise I always thought these two series had a lot in common and was curious about them. They both sounded really awesome!
pedal is on in the video,so yes ;) ..the dsl needs less gain in combination i found out.My JCM 900 MKIII 50watt likes more gain from the pedal than DSL(almost clean boost).
For the high gain heavy chug chug stuff it's a wash. Both slightly different but both good. The lower gain stuff with the firebird I think goes to the DSL. There's a harsh graininess in the 900 that detracts from the sound IMO. I had a 900slx and I traded it in for a DSL 100 and even after replacing the motherboard I still don't regret it. Just suits my playing better. Thanks for making these videos man great playing 🤘
Both sound amazing! I would be happy with either amp. DSL50 sounded a bit more compressed, probably due to the wattage, and the JCM 900 sounded a bit more open. Love how Marshalls sound, they are great in the mix! Nice playing BTW!
I bought a 100w jcm 2000 dual super lead in like 1999 and ended up trading it in for a 900 after a month of trying to get a good sound. I had always used my brothers 900 prior. It sounded great on its own but just wouldn't cut it in a live band situation. After many hours of adjusting and experimenting just couldn't get it to cut through how I like it. It blended in too much with the bass and always sounded too solid state to me. The 2000 does have a great sound for modern metal though...
I think the DSL killed it in this one IMO. Not that the 900 sounded bad (a well played 900 never does, lol). Anyways, thanks for the very comprehensive comparison both in and out of a mix. I wish these sorts of videos existed ten fucking years ago.
JCM 2000 smokes the 900. But…I’m a tad biased for a couple reasons. One, I just acquired a JCM2000 100 watt and I prefer the deeper tones similar to my 94’ Boogie Tremoverb Dual Rectifier. Great playing! Thank you
Every time I would listen to the mixes while I was making the video I would honestly change my mind on which I preferred. At the end of the day I’m glad I own both hahaha. Cheers -Ryan
Funny that I hear it the complete opposite lol!. To me there is far more clarity in the 900 and to be honest one of the best sounding 900's I've heard. I also have both and always found the 900 better in a live mix, whereas the dsl sounds better at home. Great comparison video.
The 900 just has less perceived gain in the video. It seems over the years that "hard rock" became synonymous with more gain and lower tunings as the decades passed. I have a dsl40cr and I'm pretty sure I can get almost any tone I want with the amp and pedals.
The only effects used in the video is a little bit of delay on the leads and I sometimes use a wah on the leads and of course a TS9 in the Boost Section. Some people get confused when they read my signal chain and think that there’s an EQ or something in there... there isn’t. Cheers -Ryan
The dsl and 900 sound good I think the dsl has more sustain and resonance. These make the 800 sound like shit! Why is the 800 considered the Mecca of Marshall’s? It is time for us to admit that the 800 had its time in the 80s but is over rated now!
It's because of the recent reassurge in Blues, Bluesy Rock, Doom Metal, Stoner Rock and so on, all of the amps, guitars, and pedals associated with this got a major popularity boost.
Sooo.....i have a 4500 (50w version of your 4100) and I'm hoping to buy a 2004 JCM 2000 within the next few days. Sorry for not understanding your whole chain, but is this basically amp-cabinet-mic-recording withouut any modeling going on? Most of what i see on YT is modeling cabs and to me, they sound nothing like the real thing. Thanks!!
Exactly! Signal Chain here is just start to finish what the guitar is plugged in through to the amp and then on its way back to the computer. No modelling. I like the idea of "If it sounds like shit... it's my fault" hahaha! Cheers -Ryan
@@Crypticmaskguitar thanks for the quick reply!!! I've heard a lot of 900 videos with cab sims and it sounds nothing like mine lol. I'm hoping to get the 2000 within the next couple days and be able to compare it to my 900....and keep whichever I think sounds better. Thanks for posting your vids!!! Very helpful!!!
I think Marshall still makes killer amps like the 410. The 2000 has practically the exact preamp section just one more gain stage for heavier stuff. The 2000 was built as a modded 800. I don’t understand why people dig the 800 so much. Everyone that I’ve played on including the reissues had like no gain. I agree that the second overdrive channel on the 2000 is fizzy if you put the gain above 2.5. The 800 is over rated!
Great demo! The DSL sounded more like a tube amp - because it is. The 900 has diodes in the signal path. Clearly both Marshalls sound like Marshalls. The 900 needs a pedal badly. The DSL doesn't.
... But the diodes.... Silver Jubilee's have diodes in the pre-amp. No one up in arms about that... But anyway. Doesn't matter one bit. Talking about bits. Anyone using digital wireless to connect their guitars to their amps???
I also have both (4100 & DSL 50) and I think if I had to keep only one it would be the 900. These are two good amps that provide hours of pleasure to many guitarists! Thank you for this great review!
I bought a 100w 2000 Head when it first came out. Killer amp for anything. Perfect for lower drop tuned guitars with active pickups. 900 sounds great too.
Killer demo as usual! I feel like both are good at what they do but in a full band context the low end of the 900 clears up more space for the bass player to occupy. I feel most people that complain about Marshall's are people who don't spend a lot of time playing in bands, that's where Marshall's thrive especially a 900.
Great comparison. I found this video couple of days ago and today I bought JCM200. And it sounds great itself, but with TS9 it is just crushing :) Thank you!
Hands down the 900 all day long! and with the Les Paul Showcase Custom, Firebird and the Jackson, it just screams that 90's metal vibe hardcore. I love the 900 on both cabs the Mesa OS Slant 4x12 and the Marshall 1960A 4x12
I agree, I like them both but I lean towards the 2000
Really glad you did this comparison. Feature wise I always thought these two series had a lot in common and was curious about them. They both sounded really awesome!
Both amps sound good awesome playing! 💯
i love my JCM 900 High Gain reverb...with my Les Paul.....what a sound !!!!!!!!!! Buy the way...you video´s are great !!!
great demo as usual, but holy, that solo you played on that firebird gave me goosebumbs
Nice quality content, fantastic playing and great tone dude 👍 What can I say more than these? Rock on!
Thanks! Cheers -Ryan
JCM 2000 sounds "pedal-ish" but in a good way ... JCM 900 sounds better for me and less fatiguing, underrated amp.
pedal is on in the video,so yes ;) ..the dsl needs less gain in combination i found out.My JCM 900 MKIII 50watt likes more gain from the pedal than DSL(almost clean boost).
For the high gain heavy chug chug stuff it's a wash. Both slightly different but both good. The lower gain stuff with the firebird I think goes to the DSL. There's a harsh graininess in the 900 that detracts from the sound IMO. I had a 900slx and I traded it in for a DSL 100 and even after replacing the motherboard I still don't regret it. Just suits my playing better. Thanks for making these videos man great playing 🤘
Great video!! Both actually sound really good!!
Excellent shootout sir! It really helped to figure out which way to go with buying one or both of these great heads.
2000 sounds great.
I liked the jcm2000 , and btw you were getting a lot of sun lately.
Man! I can feel my burns through the computer just looking at the Thumbnail! HAHA Cheers -Ryan
Really enjoyed the tones and the riffs/solos. I like my tones to have as much as possible high end as well. Love the DSL.
Amazing playing!
Both sound amazing! I would be happy with either amp. DSL50 sounded a bit more compressed, probably due to the wattage, and the JCM 900 sounded a bit more open. Love how Marshalls sound, they are great in the mix! Nice playing BTW!
Great video. I liked the jcm 2000 better.
900 is more Marshall sounding , the 2000 is a brilliant amp with extreme gain but I like clean Chanel's with my own overdrive
Great audio thanks! Well I guess Ihave to get a jcm2000 and both like Adrian Smith! LOL more $ required
I bought a 100w jcm 2000 dual super lead in like 1999 and ended up trading it in for a 900 after a month of trying to get a good sound. I had always used my brothers 900 prior. It sounded great on its own but just wouldn't cut it in a live band situation. After many hours of adjusting and experimenting just couldn't get it to cut through how I like it. It blended in too much with the bass and always sounded too solid state to me. The 2000 does have a great sound for modern metal though...
I think the DSL killed it in this one IMO. Not that the 900 sounded bad (a well played 900 never does, lol). Anyways, thanks for the very comprehensive comparison both in and out of a mix. I wish these sorts of videos existed ten fucking years ago.
JCM 2000 smokes the 900. But…I’m a tad biased for a couple reasons. One, I just acquired a JCM2000 100 watt and I prefer the deeper tones similar to my 94’ Boogie Tremoverb Dual Rectifier. Great playing! Thank you
Hey man, very nice comparison. Could you please do the JCM 900 vs JVM410h?
It's on the list! Cheers -Ryan
Oh, I'm looking out for that one!
Sample 3 ROCKS!!
Nice playing fella.Made me grind my teeth a bit on that 7 string riff.and that's a good thing.lol
What are you setting the bias at on the DSL 50 ? Also thanks for the videos! You’re a great player and have killer tone and ideas. MJG
I'm bias because I have a JCM2000 DSL50 but to me it sounds much more alive in this video. The 900 sounds like it's being squished.
Every time I would listen to the mixes while I was making the video I would honestly change my mind on which I preferred. At the end of the day I’m glad I own both hahaha. Cheers -Ryan
Funny that I hear it the complete opposite lol!. To me there is far more clarity in the 900 and to be honest one of the best sounding 900's I've heard. I also have both and always found the 900 better in a live mix, whereas the dsl sounds better at home. Great comparison video.
Both awesome amps, so is the 800 and the Jubilee. You can't go wrong with either.
is that 900 stock? They generally sound much less mids lows than that.
Your tests are very good, thank you.
For me the real difference is that the jcm900 seems to have more “body”, more bass and mids. It seemed to get a fatter tone :)
The 900 just has less perceived gain in the video. It seems over the years that "hard rock" became synonymous with more gain and lower tunings as the decades passed. I have a dsl40cr and I'm pretty sure I can get almost any tone I want with the amp and pedals.
What tubes are you running in your jcm 2000?
JCM 2000 DSL50 VERY GOOD
Had a DSL50, JCM 900 dual channel, SLX 50w and Mk3 50w heads... I got rid of the dual channel 900 and kept the others
The 2000 sounds smother. I was I could get my recordings to sound like this.
The JCM 2000 was the last great Marshall. Whatever your preference is, you can not take that away from it.
Hmm to my ear and in experience when you play a head through different cabs with different speakers you alter the sound radically.
That’s why I use the sane cabinet for each of these comparisons. Cheers -Ryan
I like em both🤘🤘
Me, too! Cheers -Ryan
I wish you could compare both amps just playing straight in without any effects whatsoever.
The only effects used in the video is a little bit of delay on the leads and I sometimes use a wah on the leads and of course a TS9 in the Boost Section. Some people get confused when they read my signal chain and think that there’s an EQ or something in there... there isn’t. Cheers -Ryan
YOU PLAY WERY ROLL MAN!!!!!!!
DSL is better, but not great ... I’d only use that 900 to double/thicken a rhythm, maybe ... but then, I’m not really a metalz hedz ...
The dsl and 900 sound good I think the dsl has more sustain and resonance. These make the 800 sound like shit! Why is the 800 considered the Mecca of Marshall’s? It is time for us to admit that the 800 had its time in the 80s but is over rated now!
It's because of the recent reassurge in Blues, Bluesy Rock, Doom Metal, Stoner Rock and so on, all of the amps, guitars, and pedals associated with this got a major popularity boost.
I prefer the 900 in samples 1&2 and the 2000 in sample 3
What effects are you using ?
Signal Chain is in the description… Just a Boost, Wah, and Noise Gate, though. Stereo Recording. Cheers -Ryan
Sooo.....i have a 4500 (50w version of your 4100) and I'm hoping to buy a 2004 JCM 2000 within the next few days. Sorry for not understanding your whole chain, but is this basically amp-cabinet-mic-recording withouut any modeling going on? Most of what i see on YT is modeling cabs and to me, they sound nothing like the real thing. Thanks!!
Exactly! Signal Chain here is just start to finish what the guitar is plugged in through to the amp and then on its way back to the computer. No modelling. I like the idea of "If it sounds like shit... it's my fault" hahaha! Cheers -Ryan
@@Crypticmaskguitar thanks for the quick reply!!! I've heard a lot of 900 videos with cab sims and it sounds nothing like mine lol. I'm hoping to get the 2000 within the next couple days and be able to compare it to my 900....and keep whichever I think sounds better. Thanks for posting your vids!!! Very helpful!!!
Is that a 4100 model jcm?
Yessir. Thumbnail shows that, as well. Cheers -Ryan
TriCrow Studios thanks man!
2000 = Fizz, 900 = Less Fizz, 800 = The Last of the good Marshalls.
I think Marshall still makes killer amps like the 410. The 2000 has practically the exact preamp section just one more gain stage for heavier stuff. The 2000 was built as a modded 800. I don’t understand why people dig the 800 so much. Everyone that I’ve played on including the reissues had like no gain. I agree that the second overdrive channel on the 2000 is fizzy if you put the gain above 2.5. The 800 is over rated!
I think that jcm2000 sounds better for Lower tunings And modern stuff but jcm 900 sounds so cool
Pd make more videos with the jcm 2000🥺
I will be doing more with the JCM 2000! We have a bunch of older videos with it, but I didn’t play it in mixes. Cheers -Ryan
Great demo! The DSL sounded more like a tube amp - because it is. The 900 has diodes in the signal path. Clearly both Marshalls sound like Marshalls. The 900 needs a pedal badly. The DSL doesn't.
I'm pretty sure the 2000 also has diodes in the signal path?
... But the diodes....
Silver Jubilee's have diodes in the pre-amp. No one up in arms about that...
But anyway. Doesn't matter one bit. Talking about bits. Anyone using digital wireless to connect their guitars to their amps???
@@XzanderVillo Nope. DSL has no diodes in the signal path. Just for the channel switching and FX loop.