I'm a beginner to playing the electric guitar. I have a Les Paul copy and a 30watt Marshall MG30 DFX amp. I just cannot get that electric guitar sound that I'm looking for with that complex sound and a long sustain. Is there something else I need to purchase or is it just the way I have setup the amp. I have tried different combinations of bass, treble, pressed the dfx button etc but to no avail. Any suggestions anyone (nice ones please).

I would suggest a good effects setup. Wether you get individual pedals (more expensive in my opinion) or a multi effects unit is up to you. But is sounds like you are looking for some delay and maybe Chorus. One multi effects unit that I have been real impressed with for the price is the New Digitech RP Pedals. There is the 150 the 250 and the 350. You can check them out a www.digitech.com the 150 goes for about $100.00 and the 350 is around $200.00 to $225.00. My friend has the 350 and it produces some really good sounds. Blues, Rock, Metal. And Several Signature sounds like Metallica, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Etc. Anyway hope this helps. Also you might want to try going to a good music store and have them play some of these different units for you so you can hear for yourself.

Yep! what he said.

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Hey man,
I just looked at your amp at musicians friend, you should be able to get a great clean tone and your choice of overdrive for your leads. Try this.. on the clean channel put the vol. at 12:00 and the Bass and Treble at 0.... put your guitar toggle switch in the middle or up. this gives you the best tone for playing cords. I'm sure you know but the middle plays both pickups, and up plays the neck pickup only... Start with the bass Play a E cord right by the nut. open E string A string second fret; D string second fret; G string first fret: and your B & high E open... strum the cord and roll up the bass until it stops adding bass, you will hear a point where it stops. Now play a D cord in the same pos. roll up the Treble until it stops making a difference. that will be real close to the amps sweet spot for the clean channel.
For the overdrive channel put the toggle switch down, this will give you the bridge pickup. Then I would start with the gain at 9:00 Roll back the Bass, Contour & Treble. Set the Vol. at 12:00 Do the same as you did with the clean channel: start with the bass using an E cord .. for the contour use an A cord, (Midd's) and as before a D for the Treble. Now play with the gain to get the overdrive you want. Less for cords more for lead.... You have effect's on the amp. take some time and work with the amp, the only pedal you should have is a tuner. And please be kind to the people you play with and USE a TUNER!!!!.
Hope this helps you out. Money don't buy tone. and most all of the new amps come out of the box an overkill.. more than you'll ever need.