Any love for the Catalinbread DLS III?

chromatuna

I am considering one of these based upon reviews and videos but a quick search here reveals mostly people selling them so I guess it's not hitting the spot for some. Any I thoughts or comments? I would be using it to give me Marshall crunch from a Fender-ish clean base. Particularly interested in the Super Bass sounds. Thanks in advance

JohnPerry

They're OK. But the weehbo range are the daddies for Marshalls in a box, specifically the JTM and JMP. Had my JTM a good while now and cannot imagine a better Marshall favoured pedal

Richardj

The DLS is a fine pedal, but I didn't find it hugely better than the TC Dark Matter which is a quarter the price.

chromatuna

Thanks. Just seen one go for £122 on eBay which is not far off the new price, I was wondering if it might go for less. Will check out the other suggestions too. 

zepp76

Also check out the Xotic SL Drive pedal, it will give you a whole choice of Marshall sounds.

boogieman

I've got one and I love it. Pushes a clean amp straight into Angus territory. I must admit I haven't tried any other plexi pedals though. £122 is pretty steep s/h, I picked mine up through the classifieds on here recently, think I paid £90.

not_the_dj

I love it, and prefer it to the SL drive.

I gig with a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe running clean and get my main crunch sound from a DLS set to Super Bass. That's pretty much my core sound for most of the set (pub rock covers).

zepp76

not_the_dj said:

I love it, and prefer it to the SL drive.

I gig with a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe running clean and get my main crunch sound from a DLS set to Super Bass. That's pretty much my core sound for most of the set (pub rock covers).

Out of interest how do the two pedals compare? What do you prefer about the DLS? I haven't tried one and am pretty interested, do I need a third Catalinbread pedal on my board? I could be tempted!

Branshen

Our resident MIAB aficionado, Photek, seems to think the Ramble Drive is the way to go if you want Marshall crunch from a pedal.

http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/69306/ramble-fx-marvel-drive-miab#latest

monquixote

I had a DLS mark 2 and it was alright but nothing to write home about

kennedydream1980

+1 for the Marvel drive :-)

chromatuna

The Marvel demos certainly sound great. Looks like you can only get them directly from the USA? Not as expensive as some boxes though.

not_the_dj

zepp76 said:

not_the_dj said:

I love it, and prefer it to the SL drive.

I gig with a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe running clean and get my main crunch sound from a DLS set to Super Bass. That's pretty much my core sound for most of the set (pub rock covers).

Out of interest how do the two pedals compare? What do you prefer about the DLS? I haven't tried one and am pretty interested, do I need a third Catalinbread pedal on my board? I could be tempted!

@zepp76 the DLS has bass/middle/treble which I much prefer to the single tone control on the SL drive. I just managed to dial in a great sound straight away with the DLS, and it's been a constant fixture on my gigging board for ages now. I got a SL drive late last year to try (guitarguitar had a special offer on them) and while it's a decent pedal it just didn't edge the DLS off my board.

chromatuna

That's my concern re the SL and even the Ramble, I have found that a mid and bass control is invaluable for tuning things just right.

Heartfeltdawn

They're decent pedals. S/h prices are usually quite low. 

JohnPerry

on MIAB pedals, low end grunt is a must - hence bass/mid controls.

chromatuna

Doing a bit of experimenting this evening I dug my Blackstar HT-Dual out of the cupboard where it has been since I last used it for some recording a few years back. The difference between this and the solid state OD pedals (e.g. MXR Custom Badass OD) I have been using is night and day, wondering why it hasn't been on my board these past years. Size and PSU I guess. May have to stop gassing for a bit and get back into this for a while and see how it sounds with the band.

simonbeckwith

+1 again for the Ramble Fx Marvel Drive