Anyone try one of the new Marshall Origin 50 heads yet?
- Thread starter hydro
- Start date
Nostalgic Distortion
New member
Re: Anyone try one of the new Marshall Origin 50 heads yet?
I have the Origin 20 Head & I’m pretty darn happy with it!!! I’ve also spent quite a bit of time with the 50 combo, it’s essentially the same beast IMHO...
That said it is definitely more of a pedal platform amp than a Plexi clone, so don’t expect to be able to get EVH tone just by dimming it. You can get some decent breakup with the boost pulled, a humbucker equipped guitar, & the gain/master volume up but it’s nothing super special? They are also a little bit on the bright side with the stock TAD tubes but I was able to get that sorted with a set of Mullard EL34’s.
As far as the Origin as a pedal platform it’s absolutely awesome!!! I’ve yet to find a dirt box or any effects really, that didn’t sound great!!! Another suggestion if you get one is to run a EQ pedal through the loop & bump the mods slightly. This will give you a more Plexi-ish, Classic Rock, clean-ish tone that’s a bit closer to what most people think about when they hear the name Marshall...
I have the Origin 20 Head & I’m pretty darn happy with it!!! I’ve also spent quite a bit of time with the 50 combo, it’s essentially the same beast IMHO...
That said it is definitely more of a pedal platform amp than a Plexi clone, so don’t expect to be able to get EVH tone just by dimming it. You can get some decent breakup with the boost pulled, a humbucker equipped guitar, & the gain/master volume up but it’s nothing super special? They are also a little bit on the bright side with the stock TAD tubes but I was able to get that sorted with a set of Mullard EL34’s.
As far as the Origin as a pedal platform it’s absolutely awesome!!! I’ve yet to find a dirt box or any effects really, that didn’t sound great!!! Another suggestion if you get one is to run a EQ pedal through the loop & bump the mods slightly. This will give you a more Plexi-ish, Classic Rock, clean-ish tone that’s a bit closer to what most people think about when they hear the name Marshall...
Diego
New member
Re: Anyone try one of the new Marshall Origin 50 heads yet?
They finally found their way to Chile and man they're so cheapppppppppppppp it's killing me.
I'm really trying real hard not to sell my Tweaker 15 and buy the Origin 50 head. I honestly can't justify it any less, but I just ****ing want to.
But then, maybe I should be smarter and get something that does high-gain from the get go, like a Jet City. I dunno.
They finally found their way to Chile and man they're so cheapppppppppppppp it's killing me.
I'm really trying real hard not to sell my Tweaker 15 and buy the Origin 50 head. I honestly can't justify it any less, but I just ****ing want to.
But then, maybe I should be smarter and get something that does high-gain from the get go, like a Jet City. I dunno.
Empty Pockets
BadHairDayologist
Re: Anyone try one of the new Marshall Origin 50 heads yet?
They sound okay but their build quality leaves a lot to be desired. Every time I touch one I'm afraid of breaking it.
They sound okay but their build quality leaves a lot to be desired. Every time I touch one I'm afraid of breaking it.
L
Little Pigbacon
Guest
Re: Anyone try one of the new Marshall Origin 50 heads yet?
I get the same feeling with my 2007 JVM. It’s a shame when built quality gets squeezed out. Durability is part of having truly nice things.
I get the same feeling with my 2007 JVM. It’s a shame when built quality gets squeezed out. Durability is part of having truly nice things.
Empty Pockets
BadHairDayologist
Re: Anyone try one of the new Marshall Origin 50 heads yet?
The JVM feels solid compared to the Origins. They're ridiculously light and flimsy for tube heads.
The JVM feels solid compared to the Origins. They're ridiculously light and flimsy for tube heads.
Nostalgic Distortion
New member
Re: Anyone try one of the new Marshall Origin 50 heads yet?
Yeah mine just stays at home as my practice amp....
I don’t think I’d want to do a European tour with it, but IMHO you do get what you paid for?
Personally I’d suggest a DSL over the Origin as a only amp or main amplifier, but the Origin does have its place in my collection...,
Yeah mine just stays at home as my practice amp....
I don’t think I’d want to do a European tour with it, but IMHO you do get what you paid for?
Personally I’d suggest a DSL over the Origin as a only amp or main amplifier, but the Origin does have its place in my collection...,
Empty Pockets
BadHairDayologist
Re: Anyone try one of the new Marshall Origin 50 heads yet?
You might if you've ever had an amp stop working before an important gig but who am I to judge?
I tried them out at the local music store a while back. They sound pretty awesome. No idea regarding "build quality", I don't tend to judge amps by picking them up and comparing weight.
You might if you've ever had an amp stop working before an important gig but who am I to judge?
hydro
Prayin' to Cheeses
Re: Anyone try one of the new Marshall Origin 50 heads yet?
I like the simplicity of the layout and the price point, obviously. Just wondering if they *sound* like Marshalls traditionally do. With a fairly simple circuit, I wonder if that will help reliability at all... fewer things to break, etc.
I like the simplicity of the layout and the price point, obviously. Just wondering if they *sound* like Marshalls traditionally do. With a fairly simple circuit, I wonder if that will help reliability at all... fewer things to break, etc.
GuitarStv
Sock Market Trader
Re: Anyone try one of the new Marshall Origin 50 heads yet?
Reliability of an amp is necessary of course. I've had problems before from bad tubes, scratchy pots, blown speaker, capacitors in old amps that were on their last legs, a bad input jack, and a dead fuse. If you have reliability issues related to . . . anything that causes reliability issues in an amp, then that would be a valid point and cause for concern. But you've been saying that the amps are not reliable because they aren't heavy. Personally, I've never had an amp stop working before an important gig because it didn't weigh enough.
Reliability of an amp is necessary of course. I've had problems before from bad tubes, scratchy pots, blown speaker, capacitors in old amps that were on their last legs, a bad input jack, and a dead fuse. If you have reliability issues related to . . . anything that causes reliability issues in an amp, then that would be a valid point and cause for concern. But you've been saying that the amps are not reliable because they aren't heavy. Personally, I've never had an amp stop working before an important gig because it didn't weigh enough.
BenPerkins
New member
Re: Anyone try one of the new Marshall Origin 50 heads yet?
Are these heads cathode biased? Thank you
Are these heads cathode biased? Thank you
dystrust
New member
Re: Anyone try one of the new Marshall Origin 50 heads yet?
With weight I think EP's biggest concern is that the transformers aren't up to the task. I would also be concerned about overly-light PCBs that are prone to flexing.
I've never had an amp with those issues, but I had an old laptop where the GPU literally broke loose from the motherboard due to PCB flexing.
With weight I think EP's biggest concern is that the transformers aren't up to the task. I would also be concerned about overly-light PCBs that are prone to flexing.
I've never had an amp with those issues, but I had an old laptop where the GPU literally broke loose from the motherboard due to PCB flexing.
GuitarStv
Sock Market Trader
Re: Anyone try one of the new Marshall Origin 50 heads yet?
The difference between a hella thick PCB and a hella-thin one is going to be a few ounces at most.
Output transformers are sized for the amplifier during design. A heavier transformer doesn't guarantee better reliability or sound. It's just heavier. The Origin 50 uses TXOP-91013-01 as the output transformer and the 20 uses TXOP-91012-01. Are there known specific problems with these transformers? Are there reports of the Origin amps blowing them regularly? If there are, then that's what we should be discussing.
I don't own a Marshall Origin, and don't really have any skin in this game. Just tried one and thought it sounded lovely. If their reliability sucks, I'd like to hear about the specifics of what makes them suck so I can figure out if it's easily fixable (replacing crappy pots/jacks) or something fundamentally wrong with the design of the amp. But don't tell me that it sucks because it's not heavy enough. If that's a concern, it can be fixed with some lead ballast and duct tape.
The difference between a hella thick PCB and a hella-thin one is going to be a few ounces at most.
Output transformers are sized for the amplifier during design. A heavier transformer doesn't guarantee better reliability or sound. It's just heavier. The Origin 50 uses TXOP-91013-01 as the output transformer and the 20 uses TXOP-91012-01. Are there known specific problems with these transformers? Are there reports of the Origin amps blowing them regularly? If there are, then that's what we should be discussing.
I don't own a Marshall Origin, and don't really have any skin in this game. Just tried one and thought it sounded lovely. If their reliability sucks, I'd like to hear about the specifics of what makes them suck so I can figure out if it's easily fixable (replacing crappy pots/jacks) or something fundamentally wrong with the design of the amp. But don't tell me that it sucks because it's not heavy enough. If that's a concern, it can be fixed with some lead ballast and duct tape.
LowBudgetViking
New member
Re: Anyone try one of the new Marshall Origin 50 heads yet?
Totally wanted the Origin to be the answer to my Plexi Jones.
.....not quite.
Maybe with the right tubes biased correctly and it cranked you're getting there. But the one I played I didn't get a sniff of that...which bummed me out because I'd checked out so many reviews and clips and was genuinely impressed.
I agree with the statement that it sounded more like a pedal platform than anything else.
Totally wanted the Origin to be the answer to my Plexi Jones.
.....not quite.
Maybe with the right tubes biased correctly and it cranked you're getting there. But the one I played I didn't get a sniff of that...which bummed me out because I'd checked out so many reviews and clips and was genuinely impressed.
I agree with the statement that it sounded more like a pedal platform than anything else.
Lake Placid Blues
New member
Re: Anyone try one of the new Marshall Origin 50 heads yet?
The 20 watt ones are. The 50 watt ones are fixed (adjustable) bias.
The 20 watt ones are. The 50 watt ones are fixed (adjustable) bias.
El Dunco
Sock Supplier to RHCP
Re: Anyone try one of the new Marshall Origin 50 heads yet?
My JVM hasn't crapped out on me in the almost 10 years I've owned it.
My JVM hasn't crapped out on me in the almost 10 years I've owned it.
NecroPolo
New member
Re: Anyone try one of the new Marshall Origin 50 heads yet?
Had a little test run of the 20W head. It sounded sweet through a Greenback cab. The response reminded me of a Plexi rather than a JCM800. I'd say if you're into the Marshall thing, for the money it is rather hard to find a better and more authentic Marshall sounding amp.
Had a little test run of the 20W head. It sounded sweet through a Greenback cab. The response reminded me of a Plexi rather than a JCM800. I'd say if you're into the Marshall thing, for the money it is rather hard to find a better and more authentic Marshall sounding amp.
Ascension
Well-known member
Re: Anyone try one of the new Marshall Origin 50 heads yet?
I agree with you. I ran one of the 20 watters side by side with both a PRS MT15 and the little 20 watt JCM800. Like the Origin but it was a one trick pony. The crunch tones were nice and very Plexi like, not super high gain but the amp was very dynamic and touch sensitive. It did seem quite lightweight and fragile in comparison to the JCM 800 and the MT 15 in build quality though.
I agree with you. I ran one of the 20 watters side by side with both a PRS MT15 and the little 20 watt JCM800. Like the Origin but it was a one trick pony. The crunch tones were nice and very Plexi like, not super high gain but the amp was very dynamic and touch sensitive. It did seem quite lightweight and fragile in comparison to the JCM 800 and the MT 15 in build quality though.
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