Amplifier Review Is Up: Marshall Origin 20 Combo

[Dirk Hofman]

Bob, sorry if this was in the review, I haven't had a chance to read it all yet. Have you used the DSL20? Any comparisons from your POV?

[Bob Womack]

Originally Posted by Dirk Hofman

Bob, sorry if this was in the review, I haven't had a chance to read it all yet. Have you used the DSL20? Any comparisons from your POV?

I have not but have some experience with other DSLs. The DSLs tend to be more modern sounding and higher gainthan this one. The ability to pull back the guitar volume and clean up hasn't been as good to my ear, either.

Bob

[Dirk Hofman]

Originally Posted by Bob Womack

I have not but have some experience with other DSLs. The DSLs tend to be more modern sounding and higher gainthan this one. The ability to pull back the guitar volume and clean up hasn't been as good to my ear, either.

Bob

Thanks, helpful. I'll probably err on the side of higher gain over cleans.

[AX17609]

I'm going to get killed for saying this, but one caution pointed out by technicians who have actually been inside this amp is that it doesn't process power all that well. If you want to play it at bedroom volume with a nice effects loop, you'll probably be fine. But if you want to play it at a volume that brings out its real Marshallness, there's a good chance you're going to have thermal problems. Long life is not likely.

[Bob Womack]

Originally Posted by AX17609

I'm going to get killed for saying this, but one caution pointed out by technicians who have actually been inside this amp is that it doesn't process power all that well. If you want to play it at bedroom volume with a nice effects loop, you'll probably be fine. But if you want to play it at a volume that brings out its real Marshallness, there's a good chance you're going to have thermal problems. Long life is not likely.

No, you won't get killed for it, at least by me. I, too, saw the videos from the tech who didn't like the design and I saw them before I bought the amp. Now that we are six years into sales of the amp, I'm not seeing many reports of problems with them on the forums. The first generation are now out of the five-year warranty. By the way, they have said the same thing about my 1996 Marshall JTM612 ever since I bought it . Its power tubes are mounted horizontally, directly below the chassis. I got twenty-two years out of it before an original power tube (a Huntsville Svetlana EL34) died in 2018 and took a current-limiting resistor and fuse with it. $124 and seven days later it was back from the tech, working fine. I actually felt that warm feeling inside like I was finally a member of the group who have toasted a Marshall!

We'll see, and I will report it if it toasts. I'm just that way. By the way, I reported it in 2018 when my JTM612 failed, HERE.

Bob

[AX17609]

The comments I cited come from more than one source and apply only to the Origin amps. These amps appear to be tugging on the heartstrings of guitarists seeking the tones of the Series 2 JTM45 combo. The comments do not apply to all Marshalls. At least one of the reviewers is quite fond of the current DSL series, for example.

If we want to reduce this discussion to personal experience, I will be forced to tell the story of my '87 Jubilee crashing on stage with me the only guitarist in a power trio. The rest of the evening was rather quiet. I'm a little sensitive on Marshall power issues.

[darylcrisp]

Bob,thanks highly for this review and all the additional links.

I'm going to get one of these, i had not yet looked into this model but it has everything i like, and the way i like and use an amp.

I have a 65 and 68 Princeton, this will be a neat addition to the mix.

d

[edward993]

Mixed bag for me: I love reading what you put out, Bob! I recall reading stuff of old, and I've always liked your prose style as well as your insight!

So this review was spot on "Womack" quality.
The problem is I don't need this amp much as I want one! Even saw one not long ago on our Emporium pages and I went through the net-wormhole reading about it, wanting it. But I resisted the Borg, the tractor beam, the GAS. Now this thread comes up!

Truth is, as much as I think I would enjoy this amp, I am an OD from the pedals guy. I set the amp(s) according to my board, don't touch it, and play. And I don't record. I've got two old boogies that fulfill the needs of gigging and rehearsing, heft as well as grab-n-go. So I don't want an amp that admittedly "sounds good" in all the right places, yet creates a potential diversion for me. Yeah, it's a "me" problem. And likely irrelevant to many here as I type this. Perhaps if I see another one used that's priced right I may cave.

Regardless, thanks, again, for yet another excellent Womack contribution!


Edward

[Bob Womack]

Thanks for the kind words, guys! I'm glad you found it useful.

Bob

[rockabilly69]

That's a good sounding amp Bob!