New Found Love for my DC-10!!!!!!

[Monsta-Tone]

I've been using my Mark IV A for a few months now. I've been able to get some pretty good tones out of it, using my PRS Custom 22.

I tried this guitar with my DC-10 and was unimpressed.

Then, I re-wired the guitar and got rid of the rotary switch.

I also swapped several of the Mesa preamp tubes for JJ's in the DC-10.


I tried the DC again yesterday at band practice and it absolutely rocked.


I put it up against the Mark IV and here is what I found:

Mark IV:
Cleans - are very clear and sparkly, almost as nice as my Blue Angel or Pro Reverb
Reverb - not bad, but not great. Seems to be lack-luster and unpresent at times
R2 - I could definitely live without this channel. Good crunch, but hardly any sustain.
Lead - Very sick amounts of distortion and sustain, very fat tone.

DC-10:
Cleans - not as sparkly as the IV, but more full and more sustain. Overdrives more easily and smoothly than the IV.
Reverb - more present than the IV, not as good as my Pro Reverb though
Lead - More trebly than the IV, great sustain and tone though.


Overall, I think I prefer my DC-10 more than the IV. It's much easier to dial in a great tone, the footswitch is much smaller, and it seems to sound pretty much the same each time I use it. The IV seems too un-stable tone wise. Everytime I use it, the tone is slightly (sometimes drastically) different. I use the same guitar, cords, picks, etc. each time.


Anybody else have this opinion? Or, am I simply too impatient with the IV?

I think the IV will go up for sale really soon.

 

[Monsta-Tone]

Yep, the IV is definitely for sale. I've been playing both all week and the 10 is a keeper, but I can't keep both.

Anybody else ever A/B'ed these 2 fine amps?

 

[mrmax]

Before you sell your MK IV have you tried tube swapsifferent brand 6L6's, 6V6's , EL 34's, different preamp tubes? Have you tried different brand preamp tubes? How about preamp tube swaps in the DC 10? I do own both MK IV & DC 10 amps, but I found that both can be optimized for different applications without having to decide which one to keep.

 

[Monsta-Tone]

I have tried different tubes, and the results were very impressive.

I really like the Mark IV, but I just don't think it's the right amp for me. I don't really get to play much because I have small children, so for me, an amp that is basically "Plug - & - Play," is the best choice. I also need to thin the herd so to speak. I don't need 10 amps. I would like to narrow it down to 3 great ones that cover all of the bases that I need covered.

Thanks for the advice though.

 

[LithiumZero]

What power tubes are you using in the DC-10? I need to retube mine and am looking for suggestions. Thanks

 

[Monsta-Tone]

I'm using JJ 6L6's, but I also installed a bias pot. This way, I can use any tubes that I want.

I even tried it with 6V6's for a while. I might try it again soon, just to see. I'm using a different guitar now so who knows.

 

[LithiumZero]

I was thinking about either SED, Svetlana or JJ tubes. Any experience with the SED or Svetlana?

 

[Monsta-Tone]

Not recently. The SED's get great reviews though.

If you were to start a new thread asking this question, I bet you would get lots of responses.

 

[LithiumZero]

I'll do that. Thanks

 

[edward]

FWIW, I have old Svets in my DC5 ...like them a lot. Tight bottom and rich in harmonics.

Edward

 

[LithiumZero]

Nice! I am wondering which one's to order. They offer soft medium and hard. I guess the soft break up sooner. I have green coded STR440's in there now. Any ideas?

 

[mikeymike]

any pics of the mark 4? how much will you be selling it for? what year is it? i'm not too familiar with the A designation, can you tell me what that means? I want a mark 4 or a DC-10 i've been looking at them for a while now.

 

[mrmax]

I'm using JJ's w/bias pots also in my DC 10 combo, my DC 10 head has EH Tubes. But I'm using a mixture of Boogie /EH/ Mullard tubes in my preamp sections.

 

[Monsta-Tone]

http://forum.grailtone.com/viewtopic.php?t=18657

Here is a link to the thread.

 

[RR]

I'm using JJ's w/bias pots also in my DC 10 combo, my DC 10 head has EH Tubes. But I'm using a mixture of Boogie /EH/ Mullard tubes in my preamp sections.

Gee mrmax:

Would you think this would help?

 

[mrmax]

I'm using JJ's w/bias pots also in my DC 10 combo, my DC 10 head has EH Tubes. But I'm using a mixture of Boogie /EH/ Mullard tubes in my preamp sections.

Gee mrmax:

Would you think this would help?

I'm not here to ... anyway... Have a nice day.