Origin 20 - Two Questions (Updated - NAD!)

[Vinsanitizer]

This is another opinion thread.

I'm looking for a clear, tight sounding map for Blues, light-medium breakup, "afternoon noodling" with a Strat and a Les Paul.

Question 1:
Would the Origin 20 do this? I don't want a high gain map, I want a vintage, bluesy gritty sound with bite. I'm seeing videos that sound really great. My only concerns are whether it's flubby in the ass, and if the treble is overbearing.

Question 2:
Combo or head? I know most of you would say get the head. But I'm really preferring combos lately because they make more sense: you can use them alone, OR plug them into any external cab.

However, my concern with the combo, is: it only has a 10" speaker in it. That's pretty small considering the DSL20CR has a 12" speaker. I don't know why they're putting 10" speakers in 20 watt maps. Even the JCM SC20 combo has a 10" speaker, and that thing is $2,000! And my Mesa/Boogie Mark V:25 has a 10"-er. Conversely, the DSL20CR has a 12" speaker. Go figure. Summary: the combo version may not sound the best on its own, but it's self-contained AND it can be used with any external cab.

Either way, I'll have to do this by 10am tomorrow morning, because my local shop just got the combo and head in limited edition white, and those are usually gone by the end of the day.

Extra: they also have the white matching vertical 2x12 with V-Type speakers for $550, which is cheap compared the other Marshall vertical 2x12's.

Figures:
Combo: $750
Head: $650
Cab: $550
Head and cab: $1,200

I probably won't do this...
But I could...
Then again, just because I can doesn't mean I should...
Or does it?

 

[solarburn]

This is another opinion thread.

I'm looking for a clear, tight sounding map for Blues, light-medium breakup, "afternoon noodling" with a Strat and a Les Paul.

Question 1:
Would the Origin 20 do this? I don't want a high gain map, I want a vintage, bluesy gritty sound with bite. I'm seeing videos that sound really great. My only concerns are whether it's flubby in the ass, and if the treble is overbearing.

Question 2:
Combo or head? I know most of you would say get the head. But I'm really preferring combos lately because they make more sense: you can use them alone, OR plug them into any external cab.

However, my concern with the combo, is: it only has a 10" speaker in it. That's pretty small considering the DSL20CR has a 12" speaker. I don't know why they're putting 10" speakers in 20 watt maps. Even the JCM SC20 combo has a 10" speaker, and that thing is $2,000! And my Mesa/Boogie Mark V:25 has a 10"-er. Conversely, the DSL20CR has a 12" speaker. Go figure. Summary: the combo version may not sound the best on its own, but it's self-contained AND it can be used with any external cab.

Either way, I'll have to do this by 10am tomorrow morning, because my local shop just got the combo and head in limited edition white, and those are usually gone by the end of the day.

Extra: they also have the white matching vertical 2x12 with V-Type speakers for $550, which is cheap compared the other Marshall vertical 2x12's.

Figures:
Combo: $750
Head: $650
Cab: $550
Head and cab: $1,200

I probably won't do this...
But I could...
Then again, just because I can doesn't mean I should...
Or does it?

Hey Vinner! Just got done watching this vid before I stumbled on your thread. Thought I'd post it so you can check out different tones he demonstrates.

At first he irritated me but then I ended up really liking what he was putting down. Uses a few different guitars. I know it's a 50 but it's an Ori. It will sound the same but not quite as thumpy, when turned up.lol

 

[Vinsanitizer]

Hey Vinner! Just got done watching this vid before I stumbled on your thread. Thought I'd post it so you can check out different tones he demonstrates.

At first he irritated me but then I ended up really liking what he was putting down. Uses a few different guitars. I know it's a 50 but it's an Ori. It will sound the same but not quite as thumpy, when turned up.lol

Haha! Hey thanks bro. Well, I love that too! I'm really looking for this (see vid below) with my Strat, but if it can do this AND that, why the heck not, right?

 

[Vinsanitizer]

... I just pulled the trigger on the 20w combo, I'll pick it up before noon. Figured I better do it tonight before some snapperhead clips it first. 7-day return policy is all I need. Still interested to see the suggestions/responses to my OP. I can exchange it for any of the other configurations, so no risk.

 

[solarburn]

Haha! Hey thanks bro. Well, I love that too! I'm really looking for this (see vid below) with my Strat, but if it can do this AND that, why the heck not, right?

Yah that's real nice. Sick playing don't hurt none either.

Too bad we can't see his dials.

 

[solarburn]

... I just pulled the trigger on the 20w combo, I'll pick it up before noon. Figured I better do it tonight before some snapperhead clips it first. 7-day return policy is all I need. Still interested to see the suggestions/responses from my OP. I can exchange it for any of the other configurations, so no risk.

You get it in white?

 

[Vinsanitizer]

You get it in white?

Yeah, that's the whole reason I snagged it ASAP. White LTD Marshalls go quick, and these just arrived at the local store yesterday. So I did an online purchase tonight, drive down and pick it up late morning.

If it sounds like the video I posted, I'll be loving it. If it also sounds like the video you posted, I'll be adoring it.

 

[solarburn]

Yeah, that's the whole reason I snagged it ASAP. White LTD Marshalls go quick, and these just arrived at the local store yesterday. So I did an online purchase tonight, drive down and pick it up late morning.

If it sounds like the video I posted, I'll be loving it. If it also sounds like the video you posted, I'll be adoring it.

HNAD!!!

Hope it delivers for you! Looking forward to seeing the white pic.lol

I'm not going to look at one till you get yours. Mitch is going to lose it!

 

[Vinsanitizer]

HNAD!!!

Hope it delivers for you! Looking forward to seeing the white pic.lol

I'm not going to look at one till you get yours. Mitch is going to lose it!

Is Mitch a big fan of the Origin?

 

[solarburn]

Is Mitch a big fan of the Origin?

And white!

 

[Georgiatec]

I think you made a good choice Vin. You can always hook the combo up to an extension cab if you want a bigger sound. The Origins will be perfect for your described choice of music and with a decent OD pedal will do a lot more too.

 

[fitz]

Still interested to see the suggestions/responses from my OP.

Don't get stuck on your first impression - I almost put mine back in the box.
Tubes and speakers make a BIG difference with this amp.
Volume makes the amp respond drastically different.
The stock VT-Junior is a decent speaker with a little more headroom than the 10" GB.
EQ in the loop is a game changer.
Looking forward to your thoughts on the O20.

 

[fitz]

I'm looking for a clear, tight sounding map for Blues, light-medium breakup, "afternoon noodling" with a Strat and a Les Paul.

Question 1:
Would the Origin 20 do this? I don't want a high gain map, I want a vintage, bluesy gritty sound with bite. I'm seeing videos that sound really great. My only concerns are whether it's flubby in the ass, and if the treble is overbearing.

Question 2:
Combo or head? I know most of you would say get the head. But I'm really preferring combos lately because they make more sense: you can use them alone, OR plug them into any external cab.

1. yes
2. yes

 

[C-Grin]

congrats, I think it will do exactly what you want. I have a Or20c and really like it. The stock tubes in mine were garbage, I’d plan on a swap there. Put a 12AY 7 in V-1 and it will tame the gain. The amp wants to run WFO so don’t get discouraged. Put in on the low power setting and crank the volume and gain then back down slightly to taste. Bass way down mids way up treble noon or less, tilt at noon and presence at least at noon. IMHO. Enjoy. To get the most from mine I use a John H attenuator.

 

[paul-e-mann]

Haha! Hey thanks bro. Well, I love that too! I'm really looking for this (see vid below) with my Strat, but if it can do this AND that, why the heck not, right?

You cant get these tones with your Peavey Classic 20??

 

[Vinsanitizer]

You cant get these tones with your Peavey Classic 20??

Nah. The gain channel on those is like a JCM 800 with more low end, and the clean channel is brassy. They don't take pedals well, for me anyway. It's a great little map, but not for this. It's a good Classic Rock map.

 

[Mitchell Pearrow]

You are going to love it Vin
HNAD
Congrats and we want pics !!
And yes I am a fan of the Origins I actually bought a pair of the 50 H’s but had to sell one in a time of no work. :-(

Cheers
Mitch

 

[Vinsanitizer]

Here it is. Been playing it for about an hour since about noon. Hard to put it down. With my Strat I am getting the same exact tones from it that are in the video I posted above (see below again).

 

[wakjob]

Hey Vin.... what are you using for pickups?

I recently got a Suhr Thornbucker which is an A4 magnet P.A.F. lower output humbucker, and the first thing I noticed was how much less the overall "tightness" was compared to every other pickup I own. It's not "flabby" by any means, just more tactile feeling and very responsive to playing dynamics.

It really synergizes with that cranked NMV Marshall thing.

 

[Vinsanitizer]

Alright, so right off the bat the FX loop isn't working. The dry signal just passes through, but no effects. I know what I'm doing after 42 years, so I've done all the proper t-shooting. Does this amp REQUIRE the included footswitch in order to activate the FX loop? If so, that's frigging stupid, and I have never heard of that in my life.