@@adamsakran8708 while i agree with you for the most part not really. Theres a guy in Oz that has the schematic for free on how to turn the origin 20 into a jcm800 preamp with about 25$ worth of parts. Headfirst amplification. Its badass as hell too
I went with the Origin 20 . I had the opportunity to play it. I plugged in my Gibson 72 les Paul Custom. It was a marriage made in heaven. It blew my mind. I'm an older Rocker and there is a sound that feels genuine to me. I also play a 74 Jazzmaster on the Origin wow . I want that sound . I got that Jimmy page sound straight out! "Highly Recommend"
I have the origin 20 and I can say that it is not only for vintage sounds. Leaving the gain between 4 and 5 gives you a dynamic clean tone that works well with distortion or overdrive pedals. I have tried it with maxon, boss, trex and with all of them it responds very well, it is an amplifier that receives the pedals very well Instead, the DSL20 pigeonholes you for its cleanness into a heavier type of genre. For me the origin 20 is more versatile
I've been playing an origin 20 for a couple of years now and it's by far the best amp I've owned. Plenty clean headroom for pedals but also a sweet overdrive on both the pre and post channels. I use an Audiostorm power soak so I can drive the power amp and it sounds amazing. I use a Klon clone and Rat as my pre pedals along with an old pod HD300 for delay and modulation and I've got a hall of fame 2 on the fx loop. All going into a Harley Benton 2x12 with 2x Celestion G12 Vintages. Low cost Rig, Great sounding Rig. Luv and Peace.
The DSL is definitely a bit more versatile on its own, however with a tube screamer Infront the Origin is totally capable of metal. And quite simply, when they played a big chord, the DSL sounded good, but the Origin had some serious balls, such a classic sound that I love
@@golf5555555 ya hard rock Origin is good for that, but i think it's best suited for classic rock and blues. Marshall DSL is definitely better for metal, but you can still use these amps for anything. i tried them both in person, and i like both for different reasons.
I definitely prefer the origin for a Marshall tone. I could see the DSL being good for thrash metal or something, it seems pretty scooped. But if you want a straight vintage Marshall sound without spending money for a JCM800 or something, the origin seems like the way to go
@@bugass81 Doesn't make sense - it means he will buy Origin only to be his 1-channel, clean-channel amp. To use the pedals. And what about the rest of the amp?
what rest of the amp? Sounds from his comment like he would be running the marshall at a volume where it would be clean. so to get a distorted sound he can use pedals to hit the preamp harder and do a little bit of extra compression and mid scooping to get the effect he is looking for.
@@ValleysOfSaturn why amps for years only had one channel, you have a volume level and a gain knob. the volume is used to control the volume, and the gain knob was used to add distortion and overdrive. that's why people learn about tone control, if you want a clean sound don't turn the gain up so high. that's how all the classic bands used them for years, and to get gain that's why pedals existed since the mid 60's. when you engage an overdrive pedal or Tubescreamer into a distortion pedal, that's what you'll hear. even heavy metal bands use a clean channel for there pedals. whenever an amp has two separate channels, it splits the signal, now there's nothing wrong with that, but i notice alot of people even when i first picked up the guitar in 2000 at age 16 rarely ever switched channels. i usually see people with a pedal or two in front of them, and it's like that even today. after awhile you get tired of having to go to your amp, in the beginning as a beginner i think having a two channel amp is fine, because your gonna want to experiment with clean and gain channel, but once you get used to playing after awhile that's when you start buying some pedals. from then on you'll get used to it to the point where you won't bother going to your amp as often.
THE DSL20 IS LEGEND! All the forum complainers thinking that the master volume should drive the line-out (which is wrong on SO MANY levels) led to many people second guessing the amp when doing research. You do not want the master volume to control the line out, also the master volume effects the power amp and every fool knows that the line out on this amp is from pre-amp only. Just buy one! It is incredible. Don't listen to 14 year old kids in pajamas on gearpage that have no idea about signal path or pro gear use.
Exactly. Its an absolute monster. And the origin 20 can be modded to modded jcm spec 800 for like 30 bucks. Headfirst amplification in aus has the schematic for free
Actually if the line out is done properly it would be tapped right off the output transformer and captures the complete sound of the whole amp. Like soldano Suhr and others do. If not then it’s called pre amp out” which what it says only the preamp and that usually sounds aweful.
I hesitated to watch this after choosing the origin 20 over dsl. I was originally set on the DSL, but the 0.5/3/20 power scaling of the origin won me over. I think I made the right choice (though 0.5 watt is still wake up the house LOUD for everything on 10 ACDC crunch). DSL sounds great, more gain and versatility but the origin is just a bit closer to that classic marshall voicing up to and including the JCM800 (less some gain). It's a fun starting point for carving monster hi-gain tones out of it with pedals, and the clean/mild break up tones are really sweet. Something charming about the mini plexi look too.
I have not played the small amps like this one yet, but I just bought a used DSL HR 100watt head. This thing is a monster and made most of my pedals obsolete in seconds with the high gain channel. I'm running a 50watt speaker 1x12 from a VOX AD50VT amp with it for now until I get a 2x12 cabinet for it. I can say using my MOOER Radar Cabinet pedal on it really brings it to life. I can say you will not go wrong with the DSL100 watt head.
Everytime you push the button to go to the DSL it falls back into the mix in terms of total harmonic reach. There is much more to work with in the Origin 20. Luv and Peace.
They both are awesome amps. It's just a preference in witch one you like; I do like the sound of the classic DSL 20; and the pick ups have a lot to do with it too, hum bucklers cool, but dig the P90s' more.
DSL 20!! I bought one when they were being advertised . It replaced Marshall Valvestate VS265 combo. I am thinking about getting the DSL40 to replace my Fender Twin Reverb (vintiage 72 model..not a reissue) I was never crazy about Marshall's idea of clean sound till the DSL 40 and 20 appeared on the scene. love them amps!!
Great demo guys , I love the DSL 20HR, sound great and warmy cozy tones, the Origin 20 is definitly vintage and with pedals will do the job. Great video !!!! Thanks guys.
A year late but gotta disagree. Dsl cant/doesn’t do vintage like the origin. If you’re more into 80s rock go for the dsl. Anything else it’s the origin.
I have the 20 watt origin pushing a 2x12 celestion cab,strat and tele Very versatile.We play a wide variety of music so use a lot of deals too. Also use a 40 w DSL combo and pedals again very versatile. Both sound great alone with a splash of delay
I think both sound great, but there are a lot of amps from Blackstar and Peavey among others that cover DSL20 ground tonally with more flexibility. If I was looking for that sound, I would go with the HT20MkII which is the same price and a much more versatile sounding amp. The Origin is more authentic old school Marshall to my ears. I used to own a 1959 and a JCM800 master volume head back when I was gigging regularly. Those older Marshalls had more midrange and less gain but somehow cut through in a band, and gave you sustain for days when cranked up loud. I would love to hear a Les Paul -> tube screamer -> Origin, I think that would be a great blues / classic rock tone for a smaller setup. I can't believe I sold my JCM800 for $200...
I have both the origin 20h, as well as the ht5rh, and I use the blackstar much more. I'm not gigging, so have no real need to play super loud. A 5 watt amp can get quite loud, but also sounds much better at more "apartment friendly" volume. I found that the origin really needs to be cranked to get a good tone, so I bought an attenuator (just a cheap bugera ps1) which serves its purpose. I think the origin is a really great amp, but if I had the chance to replay time, I may have gone with something else, but at the time ebay gave me a discount that I couldn't turn down.
Love the Origin 20 and DSL as well. Almost picked up the Origin but with me just being at home playing it really is very loud even at the lowest output. Not really a bad thing but it really wanted to be loud
I know this is 5 years old. But @15:00 with the HBers, the DSL sounded like crap. FLubby, buzzy, like a BAD fuzz pedal. Needed to dial that back. The secret with going more 'modern' gain, on the Origin is a Tubescreamer or SD-1. That and the TILT pot, as it mixes the plexi bright and regular channel, and acts sort of like a Presence.
I bought the origin20 and matching 2x12 can a few months back. I didn't have an official tune amp before I wanted that classic marshall crunch. Initially I was bummed because it was super clean no matter what I did. After researching the issue I bought an attenuator and was able to max the volume/gain and get that classic crunch I had in mind when I bought the amp. Next on the list is experimenting with the preamp tubes to find my perfect sound, and swap out the stock 70/80s for green backs. Anyways, can't speak for the dsl but I love the origin. It has a lot of potential for getting all sorts of sounds if you're adventurous and in the mood to experiment.
This is an extremely easy decision for me... The Origin by a wide margin. I've got great pedals and I'm a huge fan of Jimi, Jimmy, Robin, and others like Kossoff, Rhoades, and many more. The common denominator? Big box Marshalls that were cranked + pushed with any number of treble boosters, or pre-Tube Screamer types of OD. I recently sold my 100w JVM. I had the 2-channel version and still found too da*n complicated for me, all, basically to seek just ONE sound. I don't miss it one bit. Had great tones in it for sure, but much more than I needed.
I'm not sure if it was the settings but the DSL did not ring as clear for me. It seemed as though the high-end bite was buried underneath all of this low-end. However, the bass, mids, and treble did sound well-isolated! It's gonna be the Origin for me! Also, Electric Factory was the name of one of my favorite venues in Philadelphia. The name is now changed to the Franklin Music Hall. Fun Fact :P
Just found this channel and have to say how much I love how you demo amps. I just may base my decision on your reviews alone, so you're to blame! hahah! Really, great work guys :)
why to buy those amps at he time u can buy prs mt15 with 500 euros lol.those both amps are terrible bad.origin its a bit better but the dsl is totally garbage.its a fizzzy machine
@@oliveranderson7246 the dsl isnt either of those things. In fact, youre crazy for sayung that and ive got expensive amps here to play with. For 30$usd you can mod the origin 20 to a modded jcm800 gain style amp and it absolutely guts just about any other amp tonewise.
@@benharper4942 Hey, sorry. I didn't in the end. Thought it was too boomy and muffled at low volumes. I ended up with a Katana 100 after multiple tests with pedals and other amps. In the end it made much more sense for my living situation. When I get my sound proof garage conversion I might go with a tube amp I can crank.
Thanks guys... I think you've sold me on the Origin 20H; I was going to go the 50C, but the compact 20H, with a Torpedo Captor (which I already own) and a lightweight 1 x 12 box (ditto) makes a lot of sense. I'm hoping my BE-OD Deluxe, incombination gives me a three channel (*Just* Origin 20H, BE-OD1, BE-OD2) *cheapskate* BE50... well; maybe 90% of one, for about 1/5th the price! :-)
I own an Origin_50 and I admit the DSL sounds more upscale. However I own a nice Randall to make up for that. The Origin is more aesthetically pleasing to me over the dsl (imo).
I bought the DSL20 because the Peavey Classic 20 I wanted seemed to be on perpetual back order. For the Origin 20, I can’t justify paying $1299 for a single channel amp. For a little more money I would get a MesaBoogie. I did an outdoor gig with the DSL20 and a Peavey 212c cabinet (Celestiion Vintage 30 & G12T 75 speakers). I don’t use distortion pedals. I use the Classic Gain for rhythm and the Ultragain for lead. The gain on both channels at 3 o’clock. People in the audience couldn’t believe I wasn’t using pedals. I do use a tremolo pedal on one or two of our songs but not for this venue. I run them through the send receive in the back. With no distortion pedal my solos really cut through the mix. The sustain is incredible. I know that I am a pedal heretic and most guitar players like pedals. The DSL20 is a bargain for what you get add the 5 year warranty, you are hard pressed to beat it. It is loud enough for most gigs and of course it can be mic’d.
For vintage tone the origin is better but not by alot . The DSl range with the right speakers and cabs combined with some knob twisting can so a very convincing vintage tone with a little extra punch . I like the DSL more for its versatility and the much nicer cleans . I have DSL 5 cr and the marhsall slash. SL5 and while the SL5 sounded better for vintage medium gain tones I prefer the DSL 5 for everything else and with a vintage 30 loaded cab and some knob turning the DSl 5 could do a responsible facsimile of the SL5. The SL5 is not a high gain amp but yet does not clean up very good the cleanest tones are hairy and slightly driven. Even gibson custombuckers which are low output were pushing the amp into overdrive even with the guitar volume rolled off to 2 but on the bright side that low gain pushed clean sound with custombuckers and guitar volume rolled back sounds killer . The custombuckers sound very much like P90s through the SL5 and the guitar volume set low. Very Pete townsemd like . The DSL 5 has really nice cleans which is one reason why I prefer it but it does not do the low gain pushed clean sound very well
I have them both. I'll probably use the pre-amp section of the DSL and the power-amp section of both for heavy rock situations, then change to the Origin's pre-amp section for classic rock.
Why are you saying "I'll probably use the pre-amp section of the DSL..."? When you play through the DSL, you are using BOTH its pre-amp AND power amp. When you play through the origin, you are using BOTH the pre-amp AND power amp of the origin. The pre-amp shapes your tone, and the power amp just makes it louder, so I'm confused as to why you are phrasing things the way you have? Btw, you can bypass the pre-amp of either amp by plugging straight into the effects loop "return", but then you may as well just buy a power amp that doesn't shape your tone, and use a pre-amp of your choice.
@@castleanthrax1833 Hi! You actually can use just the pre-amp section of the DSL by running a cable out of its "FX Loop Send" output jack. So this is what I was doing, because I don't always use both sections of my amps. I sometimes use only the pre-amp section of one amp and the power amp section of another, depending on the tone I'm trying to get. So what I was saying previously is, I would probably use the pre-amp section of the DSL20 to shape my tone, and then use only the power amp section of my two Origin amps for powering two 4 x 12 cabs, because I don't really like the tone of the Origin's pre-amp for heavy rock. (It's okay for classic rock though.) But none of this really matters now because I ended up not keeping either of these amps, lol! I went back to my Marshall DSL100 for a while. But even then, I used only the DSL100's "power amp" section. My tone shaping was done through a modeler, then from the modeler I ran into the DSL100's power amp section only. I was, like you said, only using it for a "power amp" - but to my ears it's a "better sounding" power amp than most designated power amps. For tone shaping there's so many great modeling pre-amps and plug-ins out there to choose from, so it just makes sense to do it this way. Lately however, I've been running a floor unit modeling pre-amp into just the "power amp" sections of (2) 100 watt amps (for true stereo sound) and am getting what I believe to be the best tone I've ever gotten before! I should reiterate here - I'm not using the pre-amp sections of either of the two 100 watt heads, just their power amp sections, and I really love it! I hope I explained this well enough. Thanks.
@@guitagious9464 Yes, you have explained yourself quite clearly. 👍 I've never heard of anyone using their amps like you are, but I compliment you on your unconventional use. ✌️
I don't know what you people favoring the DSL are talking about. That was downright cringe-worthy during most of the gain passages, even worse with humbuckers. So happy I went with the Origin.
Not really, you can dial out brightness. Personally I just threw a Mullard tube in there and it sounds great. It was probably the speakers you were using.
The DSL20HR makes the Origin sound like a toy amp by comparison. The key to great tone with the DSL is keep the gain on both channels around noon to take full advantage of the treble caps on the gain control pots. Also, the DSL was intentionally updated this time to have a more modern EQ & voicing. If you want a more Origin style voicing, simply turn the Mids up to 10. There are only a couple easy component changes to the DSL circuit to give it a more classic voicing as well. - this can be made switchable too. You simply can't beat the DSL20HR for the money.
I'm not as concerned with getting a vintage sound as I am with reducing the fizzy quality of the amp. I've heard that a way to do that is to replace one of the stock tubes with a certain Soften tube. I have it written down somewhere, I'll look at it tonight. I was considering getting a sc20 combo but they're expensive and I need the money for other things. I'm thinking dsl20 head and a good UK made cab might be the way to go. I like the origin but I need the gain without having to buy pedals to shape the sound. I never liked pedals.
@@StratsRUs Thank you much. I've now completely abandoned the idea of getting a tube amp, at least until I move into a place where neighbors aren't so close by.
I have the new version of DSL40CR, and it has much more gain and modern voicing compared to my old DSL40C, do you know which mod I could do to have it more vintage/classic? I liked the voicing of DSL40C much more.
Never enjoyed a DSL when I tried them in person, but I've had a lot of fun with the Origin. You have to keep in mind it's meant to get a little saturated, and then throw some distortion or overdrive in front of it. I recommend just getting a good drive sound out of a quality Marshall-like distortion pedal, like an Angry Charlie, Friedman BE-OD or a Plexi Drive. I say go this route, because expecting to crank the gain (even with the boost) and just push it with an overdrive pedal WILL work and sound great, but you have to keep the master way down and that's no fun either. I've also used it with a digital preamp (Eleven Rack JCM800 model) into the power amp, and had a virtual $3000 amp for a fraction of the price, and it gigged great.
Great demo, the humbucker guitar sounds like half step down tuning which pushes much more low end freq's, I think would get better idea of humbucker tone in standard tuning?
may be a good idea to whack a drum and bass track in there for comps, i think your signal chain sounds compressed and those guitars dont do them any favours
To be fair, this is a bit of an apples to oranges comparison. Kind of like "shooting out" a Soldano hot rod 50 and fender 59 bassman reissue. Both great amps, but nothing alike. They are for very different applications. players folks who are looking for a high gain modern amp dont like the plexi type low gain amps and vice versa. If ya want the jcm 900 and beyond sound ya get a dsl, if ya want a sound more in the vein of a jtm45 through the late era jmp amps, it's the origin, no contest.
I think this is a fair review because of price-point comparison. I don't own any Marshalls, have never owned any, but am shopping for a new ~ 20 watt amp < $600, so both these Marshalls are on my list. I've owned Fender amps before, but don't any now. I have a small collection of all-tube low-wattage amps now & am looking to add to it, so this comparison is EXACTLY what I'M looking for, given those criteria. I play stuff on the hard side, musically, mostly, but sometimes play jazzy/funky stuff. I could go to a shop to compare, but then there's the wild-card: do they have both? Do they have both ready to test? Are they available or is one of those guitar-store rats going to in there hogging all the gear? Plus I have to travel and then the wild-card stuff comes up.... That said, I respect your opinion, but I think such a comparison is entirely fair.
I know the dsl is going to be a brighter amp but the origin just doesn’t sound Marshall enough. Feels like it’s almost there just can’t eat over the line for some reason. It sounds like a solid state amp from the 80’s trying to be a tube amp. Lol. Maybe it’s just me.
Origin is disapointing... UNTIL you learn to dial it in and realise it wants to behave like a Plexi. To bring it to life you have to have the master AT LEAST 12' o'clock. I have the Origin 20 combo, and was pretty much Meh! Till I ran it into an attenuator/loadbox (even at the lowest onboard power setting it gets neighbour-pissing-offly-loud if you go near the sweet spot (Master between 12 and 3 o'clock). But when you push it with a set of decent humbuckers or P90's... oh god its great. Not quite a plexi but trys hard.
I have an Origin 20C. If I turn up the master volume to 7 (or higher), there is just enough gain on tap if not more than enough for pretty much any era of punk
I know this is super late to ask questions... But what was the song being played at 15:00 on the PRS?? or the tuning at least? the sound is absolutely BANGIN with the DSL I need to know!!! Thank you :)
Thanks Andrej...the guitar is a Carvin (now called Kiesel) ...the song is a riff I kinda just made up as we were filming the video! Glad you liked it!!
@@richardshank76590.5 is probably bedroom but I completely agree. This is a “bedroom” amp but we’re talking on the weekends, during the day, with ear plugs “bedroom” amp. I guess just depends on your house size lol, apartment? Hell no
@@alexmurphy5289 I have the Origin 20W Combo with a 1x10, if I turn up the master volume at 0.5W it's loud, but not too loud for an unprotected ear to cope with. My house isn't soundproofed yet I still haven't gotten complaints from neighbours to this day (I'm even regularly driving the power tubes), but if you're in an apartment it's likely too loud unless you run a clean amp
DSL 20 by far. I threw a Mullard 12AT7 in the PI slot, and I swear the first tone that came to mind was 'Fruciante'. Seriously, that's how close it sounded.
That flabby dsl tone would be lost in a mix imo. I cans here honestly thinking I’d like it more, but I feel like if I hit the origin with a Od pedal and a distortion while on the edge of breakup It’d be beautiful
well, i have a dsl 20 and just ordered an origin 20 to complement. the DSl is great for higher gain , bu the vintage crunch is not quite there yet, so i hope the origin is filling that gap
@DeafFatalBruno An interesting point is that the DSL40 has the crunch mode which is basically the clean mode boosted so you can get into crunch territory. It's my favorite mode by far and I'm kind of surprised it's not on the 20.
@@BRZguy i think i should have gotten the dsl 40, but i compensated by also getting a VOX AC15 and a evh 5150 50w ;),... too many drunken buys while working from home in covid19 isolation, .... now i am broke, ...
@DeafFatalBruno When I got mine, I wasn't really out looking for a new amp. I was walking around town and looked in the store and noticed it, and just loved playing it so much. Plus I got a pretty good deal on it. $500 for the amp, and it also came with an upgraded speaker too.
@@BRZguy based on me playing the dsl for while, i think they are a bit underrated. I really like them, decent modern gain with a good marshall feel to it. Def a great amp and at that deal u got, should be zero regret buy!
@DeafFatalBruno Oh yeah for sure! I think people get the misconception that they can't do cleaner tones, but that couldn't be more wrong. It really does everything. Kind of reminds me of a Silver Jubilee except has more gain, but at a fraction of the cost, they are definitely a good buy. And it's definitely a no regret buy considering I went from a Marshall MG solid state practice amp, to this. Hope you've enjoyed your VOX and evh amps!
4 года назад+1
Whattafak... You roll off the master to compensate higher output pickups? I see they have left out the best channel of the original dsl, classic gain crunch. Sounds like it has "classic gain clean" with more gain. Ultra gain is no good.
The dsl is more raging. It would only be fair to give the o20 a boost pedal during the test just to see if it will bite when kicked. Shame neither is made in England. I've been told some new pc boards are unrepairable...or not worth it. Plastic input jack mounted straight to the pc board. One yank and it's back to the factory. Better be a good warranty period. Makes me want to build a kit amp. How about testing some of the solid state ac/dc amps for outdoor travel. Thanks 👍.
I own an origin 50, and eith humbuckers and amp turned up ripping loud, I can bang out an open chord with the gain all the way up and still they come out extremely articulate and snappy... which is a huge factor in why I bought it. I can dial in any tone from ziggy stardust, to you shook me all night long, to luxury from the stones and even some great early gnr and the cult tones. All loud and clear. it's not the amp with the origin, it's his settings or I guess possibly the recording device.
Damn... am I the only person in this whole world who likes to run his amps on full volume? Power tube distortion is the greatest joy of playing guitar and its easier to get when you're playing lower wattage amps like this. I know they got the volume pretty high on that red channel, but I'd like to see a YT video of someone with the DSL 20 with full power amp saturation dialed in. I'm sure it would sound absolutely stunning!
I have owned over 100 amps in my life. I bought both of these to see which I'd like better. The DSL20 absolutely smokes the Origin 20 in every way possible.
Hey Bob, would you recommended the DSL20 for a persons first tube amp? They're $500 new on musician's friend, and certainly look more appealing than a $1000 or $1500 used JCM, which is way out of normal people land price range.. I have a single 12 Fender cab with an Eminence speaker to play it through.
DSL ultra gain is absolute rubbish. Full of disgusting hiss. Worst high gain I’ve ever played and that’s no joke. Classic gain on the other hand I think it does a killer job and the clean is nice too. But ultra gain is rubbish.
I almost bought an Origin 50 after this video, but even with the pull gain all the way up it did not sound as distorted as it did here (I have EMG active pickups which is the most distortion a guitar can naturally give). I wonder if they did some post to make it sound more distorted.
Sebastian Cubillos nope...nothing done in post at all...the guitars went straight into the amps - we used a passive Keeley A/B Switcher to switch between our guitars...the only thing I could think of is the Radial Headbone Switcher...maybe that added some gain?!? It’s meant to be super clean and transparent! Or...are you in the US? Because I know sometimes amps seem to have less gain with 110V...we are in Australia with 220V...that could be it?!?
I used to work for the Australian Carvin (now Kiesel) distributors...we used to supply the amps Steve Vai used when he was touring Australia and I remember him saying that he likes the way his amps sound in Australia and that he thinks it has something to do with the 220V we have here...not sure if it gave him more gain though?!? We also talked about 110V vs 220V with Thomas Blug in our video with him and his BluGuitar Amp 1
There are quite a few variables. Pickups/pots, cab/speakers/mics/mic placement. Voltage could very well be part of that as well. A couple years ago, I got an OCD and would run it at 18v rather than 9. Also, your pick attack comes into play.
I had the DSL40C and, it sounds like the DSL 20 has the same issue with the ultra gain, to me it's unusable, way too muddy and murky. I always used the classic gain channel. As for the Origin, I'm digging that tone. May need to foray back into the Marshall realm
The Origin constantly surprises me...I just got a guitar with pretty hot P90s in it and it gets sounds out of the Origin I never heard before...killer vintage Marshall tones
Try as you may the bespectacled nerds cannot hide their obvious bias against the dsl20. Turn the gain down and use the presence knob...the prs sounded like shit.
Resonance and Presence potentiometers are connected to the Negative Feedback, which controls the overall feel of the amp between the Phase Inverter and one of the tips of the speaker outputs. It's better to know what you're talking about before doing a review. Those are not just two pretty "knobs"!
I ended up buying an Origin 50 Head…love the cleans on it…I prefer that kind of clean over pristine crystal clear cleans…a bit of grit has more character in my opinion
Well for the sound/tone I want, the Origin hits the nail on the head. Everything I read said that the DSL was superior, and could play the same sounds as the Origin, plus affects, reverb and gain.
@@TSFAHTPS Well, to be honest, the last thing I need is another amp. I have a Mesa/Boogie Blue Angel that needs to be repaired, and I might sell it after I get it fixed, since it really isn't worth that much when it isn't working. The upkeep on tube/valve amps is too expensive for me, I think I am going to just probably stick with solid state, modeling amps, and running things on the computer.
@@JDStone20 to be honest that’s what I use 90% of the time!, and it works great! I pretty much only use the amps for videos and some recording sessions. Live I’ve been using modellers for years now…and some of the software stuff is amazing too!! Thanks Jason!!
@@TSFAHTPS Yeah it is. The reason I was looking into a Marshall amp was to help nail down the Jimi Hendrix sound I want, and the Origin sounds more what I am looking for if I do spring for another amp.
It can but only if you turn it up really loud...a lot of the crunch comes from the Power Amp...it's definitely not a modern crunch...more of a vintage sound
I own and it can say it 100% is. Crazy loud for only 20 watts. I have some Megadeth and 80s type demos of it on my channel if you wanna hear some examples!
So... with a bit of gain I think I know which one is gonna help me cut through a band mix... With experience with that, though I don't use the boost(as I think it muddies up by bringing in the lower mids and bass, maybe an attempt to make it sound more like a lower gained DSL?), I was on the medium setting, against 2 60w well reapected, high gain, solid state, modeller amps(those that everyone has been raving about, the higher they went the more the sound in the room of 3 guitars fighting for mushy mush mush, sounded like shit.... If the Origin doesn't have enough gain on tap, your looking for an amp with too much gain, good luck in your pursuit of mushyvana! I'll stick to where I can be heard! Thanks guys, great comparison as usual, :-)
I HATE both modelling & solid state amps. They can't compete with the characteristics of tube amps at all. You could put a 50W solid state against a 5W tube & I think the tube will smoke it every time, sound-wise. & Modelling? I don't know about you, but the one people used to rave about, Line6, I have one & I think it's the worst-sounding thing out there. I know some pros swear by them, but to me they sound exactly wrong. I don't care how many acoustic experts analyze tube sound, I don't think any complex algorith can get it right, and if one does, the processing power needs would delay the signal SO MUCH, and the dynamic headroom required would be so great there would be no point! Just get tube and be done with it.
I fully agree. My co-guitarist has Line6 modeling 80W and I use for small gig just Blackstar 5w valve amp and he has problem to cut trough. The worst soung is high gain on that modeling I always want to kill him 😁. But he recognized himself how shitty sound he has and now saving money for tube one 😉.
@@TheBsavage The only modeling amp I like is the Peavey Vypyr series. I can actually hear a difference in pickups with those and they sound pretty good, at least until you go from playing them to playing a tube amp. That's when you notice what they're lacking. They still sound pretty decent for practice and are heaven for new players though. The longer I play, the more I become a tube snob.
@@NomadRonin Hmm, okay, thanks for the tip! I have a Peavey amp, a little 6505. No modeling. What really turned me off on modeling was Line 6. They were the "next big thing" (a decade & a half ago). I think Line 6 sounds awful. Completely non-musical. I have one of their Pods, & no matter how much I try to psych myself into liking it (so I don't feel like I've wasted my money) I just can't. It sounds all wrong to me. It's really pushed me to go solidly analog all around I have some Digitech stuff actually I have a bunch of modeling devices, and it's the Line 6 that just totally wrecked it for me. I can't even get into pedals any more. They take away frequency response, dynamic range, & immediacy. When I go guitar-->cable-->amp I seem to get my best sound. If I have to cover Pink Floyd or Rush or some other band that uses effects I'll do it, but I prefer to play straight. I'll give the Peavey a listen. I like those folks and I've spent a lot of time talking to them about amplifiers on the phone. They're super open about what their amps do & send schematics of whatever I'm looking for. Most good amp companies will do that, but some won't. Thanks for the tip & ROCK ON!
I just got the origin 50 H, I paired it with the Supro 1799 Black Magick 2x12" cab and the clean tones I’m getting out of this setup are amazing. Super warm, on the edge of breakup. Very touch sensitive, you can control a lot with your guitar volume knob and how light or hard you dig in. It’s definitely not a high gain amp, if you’re looking for that then you’ll likely be disappointed. I got it and needed more gain so I picked up the Friedman BE-OD Deluxe Dual Overdrive Pedal to pair with it and that filled the gap. I’m still exploring this amp but so far what I like is: the clean tones and edge of breakup feel I don’t get with my other amps, you can also get some extremely well rounded tones with this amp. I will say this amp is touchy and takes a bit of toying with to get it right. I’ve played modeling amps that you just plug into, turn up the volume and that’s it, that’s not the Origin. You really have to play around with this one to find the right tones but when you find the sweet spot it’s like the gates open up and this amp sounds way better than any other amp I’ve ever played through. The trick with this amp is to ignore what the knobs say, and read it with your ears. To me it was feeling a bit restricted, like the amp had chains on it to hold it back, but I found a trick …. Here’s the cheat code: turn the gain knob to zero and dime the master volume. From there, use the gain knob as the volume and OMG the amp opens up and breaks the chains. That’s where the tone spectrum begins. Master volume: dimed Gain knob: use as the volume Tilt knob: use as your gain Ignore what the knobs say and try the above and I promise you, if your looking for classic rock tones you’ll be able to tweak it to your liking. Before I did this I was on the fence about sending it back, now I’m loving it and wish I’d had it sooner.
If you’re into late 60’s-70’s rock get the Origin, if you like 80’s-now get the dsl
What about 60's 70's and 80's
@@chriscosgrove1516 false. All you need is pedals!
Or do what im doing and get both! For just under a grand you get the entire spectrum of Marshall tones in a very usuable package with great features
@@adamsakran8708 while i agree with you for the most part not really. Theres a guy in Oz that has the schematic for free on how to turn the origin 20 into a jcm800 preamp with about 25$ worth of parts. Headfirst amplification. Its badass as hell too
wait where can i find this?
I went with the Origin 20 . I had the opportunity to play it. I plugged in my Gibson 72 les Paul Custom. It was a marriage made in heaven. It blew my mind. I'm an older Rocker and there is a sound that feels genuine to me. I also play a 74 Jazzmaster on the Origin wow . I want that sound . I got that Jimmy page sound straight out! "Highly Recommend"
I have the origin 20 and I can say that it is not only for vintage sounds. Leaving the gain between 4 and 5 gives you a dynamic clean tone that works well with distortion or overdrive pedals. I have tried it with maxon, boss, trex and with all of them it responds very well, it is an amplifier that receives the pedals very well
Instead, the DSL20 pigeonholes you for its cleanness into a heavier type of genre. For me the origin 20 is more versatile
I've been playing an origin 20 for a couple of years now and it's by far the best amp I've owned. Plenty clean headroom for pedals but also a sweet overdrive on both the pre and post channels.
I use an Audiostorm power soak so I can drive the power amp and it sounds amazing.
I use a Klon clone and Rat as my pre pedals along with an old pod HD300 for delay and modulation and I've got a hall of fame 2 on the fx loop.
All going into a Harley Benton 2x12 with 2x Celestion G12 Vintages.
Low cost Rig, Great sounding Rig.
Luv and Peace.
The DSL is definitely a bit more versatile on its own, however with a tube screamer Infront the Origin is totally capable of metal. And quite simply, when they played a big chord, the DSL sounded good, but the Origin had some serious balls, such a classic sound that I love
Maybe 80's metal lol
@@golf5555555 ya hard rock Origin is good for that, but i think it's best suited for classic rock and blues. Marshall DSL is definitely better for metal, but you can still use these amps for anything. i tried them both in person, and i like both for different reasons.
No it's not I own the 50 and it's no where near good metal territory lol with a ts
I just bought an Origin 20C (all-in-one, not just a head). It's amazing how much the Origin sounds like an old Plexi. Amazing!!
I definitely prefer the origin for a Marshall tone. I could see the DSL being good for thrash metal or something, it seems pretty scooped. But if you want a straight vintage Marshall sound without spending money for a JCM800 or something, the origin seems like the way to go
Shame its single channel though , I need to be able to switch between clean and dirt channels. Still looking for my solution..
@@Danthehorse pedals. pedals do exactly what you want.
@@bugass81 Doesn't make sense - it means he will buy Origin only to be his 1-channel, clean-channel amp. To use the pedals. And what about the rest of the amp?
what rest of the amp? Sounds from his comment like he would be running the marshall at a volume where it would be clean. so to get a distorted sound he can use pedals to hit the preamp harder and do a little bit of extra compression and mid scooping to get the effect he is looking for.
@@ValleysOfSaturn why amps for years only had one channel, you have a volume level and a gain knob. the volume is used to control the volume, and the gain knob was used to add distortion and overdrive. that's why people learn about tone control, if you want a clean sound don't turn the gain up so high. that's how all the classic bands used them for years, and to get gain that's why pedals existed since the mid 60's. when you engage an overdrive pedal or Tubescreamer into a distortion pedal, that's what you'll hear.
even heavy metal bands use a clean channel for there pedals. whenever an amp has two separate channels, it splits the signal, now there's nothing wrong with that, but i notice alot of people even when i first picked up the guitar in 2000 at age 16 rarely ever switched channels. i usually see people with a pedal or two in front of them, and it's like that even today.
after awhile you get tired of having to go to your amp, in the beginning as a beginner i think having a two channel amp is fine, because your gonna want to experiment with clean and gain channel, but once you get used to playing after awhile that's when you start buying some pedals. from then on you'll get used to it to the point where you won't bother going to your amp as often.
THE DSL20 IS LEGEND! All the forum complainers thinking that the master volume should drive the line-out (which is wrong on SO MANY levels) led to many people second guessing the amp when doing research. You do not want the master volume to control the line out, also the master volume effects the power amp and every fool knows that the line out on this amp is from pre-amp only. Just buy one! It is incredible. Don't listen to 14 year old kids in pajamas on gearpage that have no idea about signal path or pro gear use.
Exactly. Its an absolute monster. And the origin 20 can be modded to modded jcm spec 800 for like 30 bucks. Headfirst amplification in aus has the schematic for free
Actually if the line out is done properly it would be tapped right off the output transformer and captures the complete sound of the whole amp. Like soldano Suhr and others do. If not then it’s called pre amp out” which what it says only the preamp and that usually sounds aweful.
I hesitated to watch this after choosing the origin 20 over dsl. I was originally set on the DSL, but the 0.5/3/20 power scaling of the origin won me over. I think I made the right choice (though 0.5 watt is still wake up the house LOUD for everything on 10 ACDC crunch). DSL sounds great, more gain and versatility but the origin is just a bit closer to that classic marshall voicing up to and including the JCM800 (less some gain). It's a fun starting point for carving monster hi-gain tones out of it with pedals, and the clean/mild break up tones are really sweet. Something charming about the mini plexi look too.
I have not played the small amps like this one yet, but I just bought a used DSL HR 100watt head. This thing is a monster and made most of my pedals obsolete in seconds with the high gain channel. I'm running a 50watt speaker 1x12 from a VOX AD50VT amp with it for now until I get a 2x12 cabinet for it. I can say using my MOOER Radar Cabinet pedal on it really brings it to life. I can say you will not go wrong with the DSL100 watt head.
Everytime you push the button to go to the DSL it falls back into the mix in terms of total harmonic reach. There is much more to work with in the Origin 20.
Luv and Peace.
They both are awesome amps. It's just a preference in witch one you like; I do like the sound of the classic DSL 20; and the pick ups have a lot to do with it too, hum bucklers cool, but dig the P90s' more.
DSL 20!! I bought one when they were being advertised . It replaced Marshall Valvestate VS265 combo. I am thinking about getting the DSL40 to replace my Fender Twin Reverb (vintiage 72 model..not a reissue) I was never crazy about Marshall's idea of clean sound till the DSL 40 and 20 appeared on the scene.
love them amps!!
Great demo guys , I love the DSL 20HR, sound great and warmy cozy tones, the Origin 20 is definitly vintage and with pedals will do the job. Great video !!!! Thanks guys.
Get 'em both. If I had to get only one...it's the DSL. No contest. (The DSL can pretty much do what the Origin can, but not the other way around.)
A year late but gotta disagree. Dsl cant/doesn’t do vintage like the origin. If you’re more into 80s rock go for the dsl. Anything else it’s the origin.
I have the 20 watt origin pushing a 2x12 celestion cab,strat and tele
Very versatile.We play a wide variety of music so use a lot of deals too.
Also use a 40 w DSL combo and pedals again very versatile.
Both sound great alone with a splash of delay
Ended up buying both, very happy :)
I can imagine!!
Im torn between the two, but leaning toward the Origin. I think my Rangemaster would sound better through it.
They should have built them into one amp head.
Same here. Which did you end up going with? I like that the power can drop down to 1w(or is it .5w?) On the origin.
@@RByrne It's .3 watts actually which is very nice
I think both sound great, but there are a lot of amps from Blackstar and Peavey among others that cover DSL20 ground tonally with more flexibility. If I was looking for that sound, I would go with the HT20MkII which is the same price and a much more versatile sounding amp. The Origin is more authentic old school Marshall to my ears. I used to own a 1959 and a JCM800 master volume head back when I was gigging regularly. Those older Marshalls had more midrange and less gain but somehow cut through in a band, and gave you sustain for days when cranked up loud. I would love to hear a Les Paul -> tube screamer -> Origin, I think that would be a great blues / classic rock tone for a smaller setup. I can't believe I sold my JCM800 for $200...
I would love to try out some of the blackstar amps...
I have both the origin 20h, as well as the ht5rh, and I use the blackstar much more. I'm not gigging, so have no real need to play super loud. A 5 watt amp can get quite loud, but also sounds much better at more "apartment friendly" volume. I found that the origin really needs to be cranked to get a good tone, so I bought an attenuator (just a cheap bugera ps1) which serves its purpose. I think the origin is a really great amp, but if I had the chance to replay time, I may have gone with something else, but at the time ebay gave me a discount that I couldn't turn down.
Love the Origin 20 and DSL as well. Almost picked up the Origin but with me just being at home playing it really is very loud even at the lowest output. Not really a bad thing but it really wanted to be loud
Yeah…it’s definitely a loud amp!!
I know this is 5 years old. But @15:00 with the HBers, the DSL sounded like crap. FLubby, buzzy, like a BAD fuzz pedal. Needed to dial that back. The secret with going more 'modern' gain, on the Origin is a Tubescreamer or SD-1. That and the TILT pot, as it mixes the plexi bright and regular channel, and acts sort of like a Presence.
I bought the origin20 and matching 2x12 can a few months back. I didn't have an official tune amp before I wanted that classic marshall crunch.
Initially I was bummed because it was super clean no matter what I did. After researching the issue I bought an attenuator and was able to max the volume/gain and get that classic crunch I had in mind when I bought the amp.
Next on the list is experimenting with the preamp tubes to find my perfect sound, and swap out the stock 70/80s for green backs.
Anyways, can't speak for the dsl but I love the origin. It has a lot of potential for getting all sorts of sounds if you're adventurous and in the mood to experiment.
Yeah you really have to crank the power amp to get any crunch/drive…but it sounds great once you do!!
Ah, Australia’s Dan and Mick. Top show, gentlemen. 👍
This is an extremely easy decision for me...
The Origin by a wide margin. I've got great pedals and I'm a huge fan of Jimi, Jimmy, Robin, and others like Kossoff, Rhoades, and many more. The common denominator? Big box Marshalls that were cranked + pushed with any number of treble boosters, or pre-Tube Screamer types of OD.
I recently sold my 100w JVM. I had the 2-channel version and still found too da*n complicated for me, all, basically to seek just ONE sound. I don't miss it one bit. Had great tones in it for sure, but much more than I needed.
I'm not sure if it was the settings but the DSL did not ring as clear for me. It seemed as though the high-end bite was buried underneath all of this low-end. However, the bass, mids, and treble did sound well-isolated! It's gonna be the Origin for me!
Also, Electric Factory was the name of one of my favorite venues in Philadelphia. The name is now changed to the Franklin Music Hall. Fun Fact :P
I owned the origin and believe me it's way too bitey in a horrible way
Just found this channel and have to say how much I love how you demo amps. I just may base my decision on your reviews alone, so you're to blame! hahah! Really, great work guys :)
Nick B hey Nick thanks for dropping by. Yeah the new Marshall amps are fun, different flavours:)
Im still having trouble deciding but i vould always put a ts in front of the origen. If it had reverb id be sold
Why, just put any reverb you want in the loop. The DSL reverb is very subtle.
why to buy those amps at he time u can buy prs mt15 with 500 euros lol.those both amps are terrible bad.origin its a bit better but the dsl is totally garbage.its a fizzzy machine
@@oliveranderson7246 the dsl isnt either of those things. In fact, youre crazy for sayung that and ive got expensive amps here to play with. For 30$usd you can mod the origin 20 to a modded jcm800 gain style amp and it absolutely guts just about any other amp tonewise.
Good video. I’m going to get the origin 20 combo.
If you change the shutter speed on your camera you’ll get rid of the monitor flicker.
Did you get the origin 20c? I'm considering it and just wondering how you might be finding it?
@@benharper4942 Hey, sorry. I didn't in the end. Thought it was too boomy and muffled at low volumes. I ended up with a Katana 100 after multiple tests with pedals and other amps. In the end it made much more sense for my living situation.
When I get my sound proof garage conversion I might go with a tube amp I can crank.
Both are nice but I prefer the Origin.
Love the p90s with both amps. They have more top end bite.
I like them both! Guess im buying both
That's the right attitude Nick!!
I guess like Nick 5 years ago, I’ll get both.😅🤣🤘🏾
love the DSL 20
Thanks guys... I think you've sold me on the Origin 20H; I was going to go the 50C, but the compact 20H, with a Torpedo Captor (which I already own) and a lightweight 1 x 12 box (ditto) makes a lot of sense. I'm hoping my BE-OD Deluxe, incombination gives me a three channel (*Just* Origin 20H, BE-OD1, BE-OD2) *cheapskate* BE50... well; maybe 90% of one, for about 1/5th the price! :-)
BTW... what IS that blue LP Jr type guitar please? VERY nice :-)
I own an Origin_50 and I admit the DSL sounds more upscale. However I own a nice Randall to make up for that. The Origin is more aesthetically pleasing to me over the dsl (imo).
I bought the DSL20 because the Peavey Classic 20 I wanted seemed to be on perpetual back order. For the Origin 20, I can’t justify paying $1299 for a single channel amp. For a little more money I would get a MesaBoogie. I did an outdoor gig with the DSL20 and a Peavey 212c cabinet (Celestiion Vintage 30 & G12T 75 speakers). I don’t use distortion pedals. I use the Classic Gain for rhythm and the Ultragain for lead. The gain on both channels at 3 o’clock. People in the audience couldn’t believe I wasn’t using pedals. I do use a tremolo pedal on one or two of our songs but not for this venue. I run them through the send receive in the back. With no distortion pedal my solos really cut through the mix. The sustain is incredible. I know that I am a pedal heretic and most guitar players like pedals. The DSL20 is a bargain for what you get add the 5 year warranty, you are hard pressed to beat it. It is loud enough for most gigs and of course it can be mic’d.
Lol.. These 'people in the audience' or 'i get praises on my tone after the gig' comments always get my eyes rolling hard 🙄🙄🙃
In what country do you live? I got a 20h for six hundred in Australia, so where in the world are you paying thirteen hundred?
@@castleanthrax1833 sorry confused it with SV20H
Como que os caras conseguem tirar um som desse jeito de equipamentos tão bons? É inacreditavel, da vontade de desistir da compra!
Compressor
For vintage tone the origin is better but not by alot . The DSl range with the right speakers and cabs combined with some knob twisting can so a very convincing vintage tone with a little extra punch . I like the DSL more for its versatility and the much nicer cleans . I have DSL 5 cr and the marhsall slash. SL5 and while the SL5 sounded better for vintage medium gain tones I prefer the DSL 5 for everything else and with a vintage 30 loaded cab and some knob turning the DSl 5 could do a responsible facsimile of the SL5. The SL5 is not a high gain amp but yet does not clean up very good the cleanest tones are hairy and slightly driven. Even gibson custombuckers which are low output were pushing the amp into overdrive even with the guitar volume rolled off to 2 but on the bright side that low gain pushed clean sound with custombuckers and guitar volume rolled back sounds killer . The custombuckers sound very much like P90s through the SL5 and the guitar volume set low. Very Pete townsemd like . The DSL 5 has really nice cleans which is one reason why I prefer it but it does not do the low gain pushed clean sound very well
I have them both. I'll probably use the pre-amp section of the DSL and the power-amp section of both for heavy rock situations, then change to the Origin's pre-amp section for classic rock.
Why are you saying "I'll probably use the pre-amp section of the DSL..."?
When you play through the DSL, you are using BOTH its pre-amp AND power amp. When you play through the origin, you are using BOTH the pre-amp AND power amp of the origin.
The pre-amp shapes your tone, and the power amp just makes it louder, so I'm confused as to why you are phrasing things the way you have?
Btw, you can bypass the pre-amp of either amp by plugging straight into the effects loop "return", but then you may as well just buy a power amp that doesn't shape your tone, and use a pre-amp of your choice.
@@castleanthrax1833 Hi! You actually can use just the pre-amp section of the DSL by running a cable out of its "FX Loop Send" output jack. So this is what I was doing, because I don't always use both sections of my amps. I sometimes use only the pre-amp section of one amp and the power amp section of another, depending on the tone I'm trying to get. So what I was saying previously is, I would probably use the pre-amp section of the DSL20 to shape my tone, and then use only the power amp section of my two Origin amps for powering two 4 x 12 cabs, because I don't really like the tone of the Origin's pre-amp for heavy rock. (It's okay for classic rock though.) But none of this really matters now because I ended up not keeping either of these amps, lol! I went back to my Marshall DSL100 for a while. But even then, I used only the DSL100's "power amp" section. My tone shaping was done through a modeler, then from the modeler I ran into the DSL100's power amp section only. I was, like you said, only using it for a "power amp" - but to my ears it's a "better sounding" power amp than most designated power amps. For tone shaping there's so many great modeling pre-amps and plug-ins out there to choose from, so it just makes sense to do it this way. Lately however, I've been running a floor unit modeling pre-amp into just the "power amp" sections of (2) 100 watt amps (for true stereo sound) and am getting what I believe to be the best tone I've ever gotten before! I should reiterate here - I'm not using the pre-amp sections of either of the two 100 watt heads, just their power amp sections, and I really love it! I hope I explained this well enough. Thanks.
@@guitagious9464 Yes, you have explained yourself quite clearly. 👍 I've never heard of anyone using their amps like you are, but I compliment you on your unconventional use. ✌️
@@castleanthrax1833 Thanks my friend! I’m just a real tone geek! Haha! (Always experimenting.)
@@castleanthrax1833 Its called amp chaining, its been done for decades, though not always very well explained, or why.
Origin for sure. Perfect amp for pedals
I don't know what you people favoring the DSL are talking about. That was downright cringe-worthy during most of the gain passages, even worse with humbuckers. So happy I went with the Origin.
Dsl 20 winner for me ! Channel 1 more clean, Great Marshall tones Channel 2!
How much audible hiss do you hear from either amp in the room? My Origin 20 is pretty hissy in my office/studio.
I try a DSL before and it doesn't work well with pedal its just too dam bright to trebly, definitely Ill go with the Origin 20h
Doesnt the origin breakup though when cranked up
Not really, you can dial out brightness. Personally I just threw a Mullard tube in there and it sounds great. It was probably the speakers you were using.
The DSL20HR makes the Origin sound like a toy amp by comparison. The key to great tone with the DSL is keep the gain on both channels around noon to take full advantage of the treble caps on the gain control pots. Also, the DSL was intentionally updated this time to have a more modern EQ & voicing. If you want a more Origin style voicing, simply turn the Mids up to 10. There are only a couple easy component changes to the DSL circuit to give it a more classic voicing as well. - this can be made switchable too.
You simply can't beat the DSL20HR for the money.
I'm not as concerned with getting a vintage sound as I am with reducing the fizzy quality of the amp. I've heard that a way to do that is to replace one of the stock tubes with a certain Soften tube. I have it written down somewhere, I'll look at it tonight.
I was considering getting a sc20 combo but they're expensive and I need the money for other things. I'm thinking dsl20 head and a good UK made cab might be the way to go. I like the origin but I need the gain without having to buy pedals to shape the sound. I never liked pedals.
@@finishin.my.coffee8780 That was in the old DSL15H. The DSL20HR has far more controllable gain and eq.
@@StratsRUs Thank you much. I've now completely abandoned the idea of getting a tube amp, at least until I move into a place where neighbors aren't so close by.
I have the new version of DSL40CR, and it has much more gain and modern voicing compared to my old DSL40C, do you know which mod I could do to have it more vintage/classic? I liked the voicing of DSL40C much more.
Never enjoyed a DSL when I tried them in person, but I've had a lot of fun with the Origin. You have to keep in mind it's meant to get a little saturated, and then throw some distortion or overdrive in front of it. I recommend just getting a good drive sound out of a quality Marshall-like distortion pedal, like an Angry Charlie, Friedman BE-OD or a Plexi Drive.
I say go this route, because expecting to crank the gain (even with the boost) and just push it with an overdrive pedal WILL work and sound great, but you have to keep the master way down and that's no fun either.
I've also used it with a digital preamp (Eleven Rack JCM800 model) into the power amp, and had a virtual $3000 amp for a fraction of the price, and it gigged great.
Great demo, the humbucker guitar sounds like half step down tuning which pushes much more low end freq's, I think would get better idea of humbucker tone in standard tuning?
may be a good idea to whack a drum and bass track in there for comps, i think your signal chain sounds compressed and those guitars dont do them any favours
To be fair, this is a bit of an apples to oranges comparison. Kind of like "shooting out" a Soldano hot rod 50 and fender 59 bassman reissue. Both great amps, but nothing alike. They are for very different applications. players folks who are looking for a high gain modern amp dont like the plexi type low gain amps and vice versa. If ya want the jcm 900 and beyond sound ya get a dsl, if ya want a sound more in the vein of a jtm45 through the late era jmp amps, it's the origin, no contest.
Absolutely...we did it because people asked us to do a comparison between these amps
I think this is a fair review because of price-point comparison. I don't own any Marshalls, have never owned any, but am shopping for a new ~ 20 watt amp < $600, so both these Marshalls are on my list. I've owned Fender amps before, but don't any now. I have a small collection of all-tube low-wattage amps now & am looking to add to it, so this comparison is EXACTLY what I'M looking for, given those criteria. I play stuff on the hard side, musically, mostly, but sometimes play jazzy/funky stuff. I could go to a shop to compare, but then there's the wild-card: do they have both? Do they have both ready to test? Are they available or is one of those guitar-store rats going to in there hogging all the gear? Plus I have to travel and then the wild-card stuff comes up.... That said, I respect your opinion, but I think such a comparison is entirely fair.
While you’re correct. People style agonize ver which one to get. Myself included. I have several purposes for each. But this helped me greatly.
Glad we could help@@dbo4506
The SuperFunAwesomeHappyTime Pedal Show! Legends! Just ordered one from bettermusic. Keen!
Hello,
I got a AC15, but I looked for a Marshall, I played OASIS songs and RHCP Song. Sooo… ORIGIN 20 or DSL20 ?
I know the dsl is going to be a brighter amp but the origin just doesn’t sound Marshall enough. Feels like it’s almost there just can’t eat over the line for some reason. It sounds like a solid state amp from the 80’s trying to be a tube amp. Lol. Maybe it’s just me.
Origin is disapointing... UNTIL you learn to dial it in and realise it wants to behave like a Plexi. To bring it to life you have to have the master AT LEAST 12' o'clock. I have the Origin 20 combo, and was pretty much Meh! Till I ran it into an attenuator/loadbox (even at the lowest onboard power setting it gets neighbour-pissing-offly-loud if you go near the sweet spot (Master between 12 and 3 o'clock). But when you push it with a set of decent humbuckers or P90's... oh god its great. Not quite a plexi but trys hard.
Absolutely…I run the Origin 50 very hot in my studio…and it sounds killer!!
what is better to get clean frusciante style warm and not cold glassy sound?
Best one for punk rock???
Depends on what kind of punk rock you are talking about…but probably the DSL
I have an Origin 20C. If I turn up the master volume to 7 (or higher), there is just enough gain on tap if not more than enough for pretty much any era of punk
I know this is super late to ask questions... But what was the song being played at 15:00 on the PRS?? or the tuning at least? the sound is absolutely BANGIN with the DSL I need to know!!! Thank you :)
Thanks Andrej...the guitar is a Carvin (now called Kiesel) ...the song is a riff I kinda just made up as we were filming the video! Glad you liked it!!
I love my origin. Just can’t play at home very often, is too loud, even at 5w
Same, my neighbors probably prefer that though so they don’t have to hear my shitty playing. The origin hides no mistakes lol
@@alexmurphy5289 that’s right, it sounds great and will make a better player out of u
I got a Bugera Ps1 attenuator for my origin 20 combo. That helps to bring the sound level down low enough so the neighbors don’t complain.
Origin 20 can go down to 0.5 right?
@@abhinavlitkar idk I think is about the same 5w
Wich one should i get my two inspirations are slash and jimi hendrix plus is it loud enough for small gigs like pubs
Origin sounds more "Marshall" to me.
The origin doesn’t really shine though till it’s cranked up though. Which for some volume wise can be a problem.
@@richardshank76590.5 is probably bedroom but I completely agree. This is a “bedroom” amp but we’re talking on the weekends, during the day, with ear plugs “bedroom” amp. I guess just depends on your house size lol, apartment? Hell no
@@alexmurphy5289 I have the Origin 20W Combo with a 1x10, if I turn up the master volume at 0.5W it's loud, but not too loud for an unprotected ear to cope with. My house isn't soundproofed yet I still haven't gotten complaints from neighbours to this day (I'm even regularly driving the power tubes), but if you're in an apartment it's likely too loud unless you run a clean amp
I like the MG I like Em all" ...just a bunch of fun amps."
Would either of these be able to play at small gig volumes with a drummer on clean without breaking up?
I think the DSL will but you should probably be micing it anyway.
If you want truly clean tones, why would you even consider a Marshall? I would think you'd be looking for a Fender?
Origin all day long. Sounds like a Marshall should.
What amp of these two is better for Frusciante/ Chili peppers tone?
I’d probably say the Origin...if you really crank it you get that great cranky Marshall clean/dirty sound that he uses
@@TSFAHTPS ok, thank you so much!🤘🏼
DSL 20 by far. I threw a Mullard 12AT7 in the PI slot, and I swear the first tone that came to mind was 'Fruciante'. Seriously, that's how close it sounded.
That flabby dsl tone would be lost in a mix imo. I cans here honestly thinking I’d like it more, but I feel like if I hit the origin with a Od pedal and a distortion while on the edge of breakup It’d be beautiful
I have the DSL 20h i love the sound
Love how dude on the right keeps playing ‘more than words ‘ for gain settings.
Hey...that's me...I'm the dude on the right
well, i have a dsl 20 and just ordered an origin 20 to complement. the DSl is great for higher gain , bu the vintage crunch is not quite there yet, so i hope the origin is filling that gap
@DeafFatalBruno An interesting point is that the DSL40 has the crunch mode which is basically the clean mode boosted so you can get into crunch territory. It's my favorite mode by far and I'm kind of surprised it's not on the 20.
@@BRZguy i think i should have gotten the dsl 40, but i compensated by also getting a VOX AC15 and a evh 5150 50w ;),... too many drunken buys while working from home in covid19 isolation, .... now i am broke, ...
@DeafFatalBruno When I got mine, I wasn't really out looking for a new amp. I was walking around town and looked in the store and noticed it, and just loved playing it so much. Plus I got a pretty good deal on it. $500 for the amp, and it also came with an upgraded speaker too.
@@BRZguy based on me playing the dsl for while, i think they are a bit underrated. I really like them, decent modern gain with a good marshall feel to it. Def a great amp and at that deal u got, should be zero regret buy!
@DeafFatalBruno Oh yeah for sure! I think people get the misconception that they can't do cleaner tones, but that couldn't be more wrong. It really does everything. Kind of reminds me of a Silver Jubilee except has more gain, but at a fraction of the cost, they are definitely a good buy. And it's definitely a no regret buy considering I went from a Marshall MG solid state practice amp, to this. Hope you've enjoyed your VOX and evh amps!
Whattafak... You roll off the master to compensate higher output pickups?
I see they have left out the best channel of the original dsl, classic gain crunch. Sounds like it has "classic gain clean" with more gain.
Ultra gain is no good.
Dsl all the way . You gotta hear the ultra gain impressive for amp when origin needs much more gain
Nice video guys. Very helpful
Thanks Macaroon
The dsl is more raging.
It would only be fair to give the o20 a boost pedal during the test just to see if it will bite when kicked.
Shame neither is made in England.
I've been told some new pc boards are unrepairable...or not worth it.
Plastic input jack mounted straight to the pc board. One yank and it's back to the factory.
Better be a good warranty period.
Makes me want to build a kit amp.
How about testing some of the solid state ac/dc amps for outdoor travel. Thanks 👍.
Origin win!!! Great video.
sg old man no way
Plus one for origin
For the AC\DC sound for sure ! Yes !
I didnt think they were ever gonna dial all the mud out, but they finally and briefly got around to it,
DSL for its versatility.
Put some ambient mic for a more realistic audio. Or maybe its too low in the mix. Great demo otherwise.
You have to PULL the far right Gain Boost on the Origin Amp dial to get that Classic Rock Sound guys'
Muddy and choked is now vintage ?
Seems the DSL20 is more versatle, I might buy it first.
Awesome demo and comparison, love the Marshall sound !
Which one is the best to handle pedals?
I'm late but the origin
The guy on the right with the humbuckers seems to play open chords that sound completely muddy on either amp.
I own an origin 50, and eith humbuckers and amp turned up ripping loud, I can bang out an open chord with the gain all the way up and still they come out extremely articulate and snappy... which is a huge factor in why I bought it. I can dial in any tone from ziggy stardust, to you shook me all night long, to luxury from the stones and even some great early gnr and the cult tones. All loud and clear. it's not the amp with the origin, it's his settings or I guess possibly the recording device.
rowdy johnson thank you!! I’m buying one. I liked something about it but the mud factor was killing me. But I love that vintage fat tone.
Edit- just realized they completely scooped the kids on the origin. Zero mids. The second they turned them up it opened right up.
Origin all the way
Damn... am I the only person in this whole world who likes to run his amps on full volume? Power tube distortion is the greatest joy of playing guitar and its easier to get when you're playing lower wattage amps like this. I know they got the volume pretty high on that red channel, but I'd like to see a YT video of someone with the DSL 20 with full power amp saturation dialed in. I'm sure it would sound absolutely stunning!
We got close...
Hard to tell with the constant adjustments
I have owned over 100 amps in my life. I bought both of these to see which I'd like better. The DSL20 absolutely smokes the Origin 20 in every way possible.
Same here. DSL all the way..
Hey Bob, would you recommended the DSL20 for a persons first tube amp? They're $500 new on musician's friend, and certainly look more appealing than a $1000 or $1500 used JCM, which is way out of normal people land price range.. I have a single 12 Fender cab with an Eminence speaker to play it through.
@@justanotherguitarplayer9767 Absolutely it's a great amp period.
DSL ultra gain is absolute rubbish. Full of disgusting hiss. Worst high gain I’ve ever played and that’s no joke. Classic gain on the other hand I think it does a killer job and the clean is nice too. But ultra gain is rubbish.
100? That's some serious GAS! lol what style of music do you tend to play most? I like the look of the DSL too
I almost bought an Origin 50 after this video, but even with the pull gain all the way up it did not sound as distorted as it did here (I have EMG active pickups which is the most distortion a guitar can naturally give). I wonder if they did some post to make it sound more distorted.
Sebastian Cubillos nope...nothing done in post at all...the guitars went straight into the amps - we used a passive Keeley A/B Switcher to switch between our guitars...the only thing I could think of is the Radial Headbone Switcher...maybe that added some gain?!? It’s meant to be super clean and transparent!
Or...are you in the US? Because I know sometimes amps seem to have less gain with 110V...we are in Australia with 220V...that could be it?!?
@@TSFAHTPS That's an interesting thought. Never thought that could influence the sound. Thanks! I just ordered the DSL 20. We'll see what happens!
I used to work for the Australian Carvin (now Kiesel) distributors...we used to supply the amps Steve Vai used when he was touring Australia and I remember him saying that he likes the way his amps sound in Australia and that he thinks it has something to do with the 220V we have here...not sure if it gave him more gain though?!? We also talked about 110V vs 220V with Thomas Blug in our video with him and his BluGuitar Amp 1
It could be a factor...not sure though
There are quite a few variables. Pickups/pots, cab/speakers/mics/mic placement. Voltage could very well be part of that as well. A couple years ago, I got an OCD and would run it at 18v rather than 9. Also, your pick attack comes into play.
I had the DSL40C and, it sounds like the DSL 20 has the same issue with the ultra gain, to me it's unusable, way too muddy and murky. I always used the classic gain channel. As for the Origin, I'm digging that tone. May need to foray back into the Marshall realm
The Origin constantly surprises me...I just got a guitar with pretty hot P90s in it and it gets sounds out of the Origin I never heard before...killer vintage Marshall tones
Try as you may the bespectacled nerds cannot hide their obvious bias against the dsl20. Turn the gain down and use the presence knob...the prs sounded like shit.
Resonance and Presence potentiometers are connected to the Negative Feedback, which controls the overall feel of the amp between the Phase Inverter and one of the tips of the speaker outputs. It's better to know what you're talking about before doing a review. Those are not just two pretty "knobs"!
Origin 20h, jazzmaster, les paul p90
🚫@03:30_ sell the organ20, keep DSL. Poor organ20 sounds unhealthy.
I ended up buying an Origin 50 Head…love the cleans on it…I prefer that kind of clean over pristine crystal clear cleans…a bit of grit has more character in my opinion
Well for the sound/tone I want, the Origin hits the nail on the head. Everything I read said that the DSL was superior, and could play the same sounds as the Origin, plus affects, reverb and gain.
I really like my Origin…it takes Drive pedals really well too!! Great for that vintage Marshall tone
@@TSFAHTPS Well, to be honest, the last thing I need is another amp. I have a Mesa/Boogie Blue Angel that needs to be repaired, and I might sell it after I get it fixed, since it really isn't worth that much when it isn't working. The upkeep on tube/valve amps is too expensive for me, I think I am going to just probably stick with solid state, modeling amps, and running things on the computer.
@@JDStone20 to be honest that’s what I use 90% of the time!, and it works great! I pretty much only use the amps for videos and some recording sessions. Live I’ve been using modellers for years now…and some of the software stuff is amazing too!! Thanks Jason!!
@@TSFAHTPS Yeah it is. The reason I was looking into a Marshall amp was to help nail down the Jimi Hendrix sound I want, and the Origin sounds more what I am looking for if I do spring for another amp.
Origin takes the dsl big time
I watched this and I don't get it --- can Origin 20 produce decent crunch or not??
It can but only if you turn it up really loud...a lot of the crunch comes from the Power Amp...it's definitely not a modern crunch...more of a vintage sound
If you want crunch from the Origin, use pedals. It's a perfect pedal platform.
Will the dsl 20 be loud enough for a Megadeth type band with a drummer? 20 watts is that enough?
I own and it can say it 100% is. Crazy loud for only 20 watts. I have some Megadeth and 80s type demos of it on my channel if you wanna hear some examples!
"Gravitate towards." The "to" is superfluous. I'm not sure how I'd feel about having some other bloke fiddle with my knob while I'm playing with it.
It all depends on what knob he's fiddling with
@@TSFAHTPS Yeah but if he's fiddling with your knob, who's fiddling with his?
DSL20 for sure. You can probably half bullshit the origin sound with the DSL, but you cant do the other way around. Plus reverb.
So... with a bit of gain I think I know which one is gonna help me cut through a band mix...
With experience with that, though I don't use the boost(as I think it muddies up by bringing in the lower mids and bass, maybe an attempt to make it sound more like a lower gained DSL?), I was on the medium setting, against 2 60w well reapected, high gain, solid state, modeller amps(those that everyone has been raving about, the higher they went the more the sound in the room of 3 guitars fighting for mushy mush mush, sounded like shit....
If the Origin doesn't have enough gain on tap, your looking for an amp with too much gain, good luck in your pursuit of mushyvana! I'll stick to where I can be heard!
Thanks guys, great comparison as usual, :-)
I HATE both modelling & solid state amps. They can't compete with the characteristics of tube amps at all. You could put a 50W solid state against a 5W tube & I think the tube will smoke it every time, sound-wise. & Modelling? I don't know about you, but the one people used to rave about, Line6, I have one & I think it's the worst-sounding thing out there. I know some pros swear by them, but to me they sound exactly wrong. I don't care how many acoustic experts analyze tube sound, I don't think any complex algorith can get it right, and if one does, the processing power needs would delay the signal SO MUCH, and the dynamic headroom required would be so great there would be no point! Just get tube and be done with it.
I fully agree. My co-guitarist has Line6 modeling 80W and I use for small gig just Blackstar 5w valve amp and he has problem to cut trough. The worst soung is high gain on that modeling I always want to kill him 😁. But he recognized himself how shitty sound he has and now saving money for tube one 😉.
@@TheBsavage The only modeling amp I like is the Peavey Vypyr series. I can actually hear a difference in pickups with those and they sound pretty good, at least until you go from playing them to playing a tube amp. That's when you notice what they're lacking. They still sound pretty decent for practice and are heaven for new players though. The longer I play, the more I become a tube snob.
@@NomadRonin Hmm, okay, thanks for the tip! I have a Peavey amp, a little 6505. No modeling. What really turned me off on modeling was Line 6. They were the "next big thing" (a decade & a half ago). I think Line 6 sounds awful. Completely non-musical. I have one of their Pods, & no matter how much I try to psych myself into liking it (so I don't feel like I've wasted my money) I just can't. It sounds all wrong to me. It's really pushed me to go solidly analog all around I have some Digitech stuff actually I have a bunch of modeling devices, and it's the Line 6 that just totally wrecked it for me. I can't even get into pedals any more. They take away frequency response, dynamic range, & immediacy. When I go guitar-->cable-->amp I seem to get my best sound. If I have to cover Pink Floyd or Rush or some other band that uses effects I'll do it, but I prefer to play straight. I'll give the Peavey a listen. I like those folks and I've spent a lot of time talking to them about amplifiers on the phone. They're super open about what their amps do & send schematics of whatever I'm looking for. Most good amp companies will do that, but some won't. Thanks for the tip & ROCK ON!
@@TheBsavage No problem! I completely agree with you about Line 6. I never understood what the hype was about with those amps.
4:26 Premier Guitar plug!
Origin by far!!
DSL kills it.
just set both amps dials to midnight to hear the diff, sheesh
it's frustrating isn't it?!
They’re actually the same amp. The Origin just drinks whiskey and has a pack of Camels in the front pocket of its flannel.
Haha…
I just got the origin 50 H, I paired it with the Supro 1799 Black Magick 2x12" cab and the clean tones I’m getting out of this setup are amazing. Super warm, on the edge of breakup. Very touch sensitive, you can control a lot with your guitar volume knob and how light or hard you dig in. It’s definitely not a high gain amp, if you’re looking for that then you’ll likely be disappointed. I got it and needed more gain so I picked up the Friedman BE-OD Deluxe Dual Overdrive Pedal to pair with it and that filled the gap. I’m still exploring this amp but so far what I like is: the clean tones and edge of breakup feel I don’t get with my other amps, you can also get some extremely well rounded tones with this amp. I will say this amp is touchy and takes a bit of toying with to get it right. I’ve played modeling amps that you just plug into, turn up the volume and that’s it, that’s not the Origin. You really have to play around with this one to find the right tones but when you find the sweet spot it’s like the gates open up and this amp sounds way better than any other amp I’ve ever played through. The trick with this amp is to ignore what the knobs say, and read it with your ears. To me it was feeling a bit restricted, like the amp had chains on it to hold it back, but I found a trick …. Here’s the cheat code: turn the gain knob to zero and dime the master volume. From there, use the gain knob as the volume and OMG the amp opens up and breaks the chains. That’s where the tone spectrum begins.
Master volume: dimed
Gain knob: use as the volume
Tilt knob: use as your gain
Ignore what the knobs say and try the above and I promise you, if your looking for classic rock tones you’ll be able to tweak it to your liking. Before I did this I was on the fence about sending it back, now I’m loving it and wish I’d had it sooner.