Marshall Origin 20 vs Marshall DSL20C Amplifier Shootout

[@LennySugiono]

This man has the most musical jaw ever ... 2 thumbs up

[@atye04]

Is it insult or compliment 😂

[@LennySugiono]

heavy compliment @@atye04

[@medlocke76]

I didn’t know if I was the only one to notice or not till I seen this 😂 seems like a cool dude

[@tosehoed123]

See B.B. King 😅

[@thajavaguy1552]

That DSL is crystal clear sounding. Beautiful tone.

[@tarekaly7587]

Thanks to the demo, Origine got that Plexi with greenbacks voiced creamy tone to me while DSL has the JCM 800 roar, it's two different types of amps indeed!

[@THUNDERWORX]

They are both great amps. One thing I have noticed is that using a humbucker with the Origin, you have to pull the bass down a bit to keep it from sounding too flubby. It is a close race, but I like the Origin better, and that is saying a lot, because I'm sacrificing the 12" speaker, the reverb, a higher gain ability and a second channel to pick the Origin over the DSL. Love that plexi sound!!!

[@UnchainedEruption]

Both excellent amps. DSL has more power to it, but it sounds just like a standard, vanilla amp. The Origin, on the other hand, now that's got character. That makes me go, "Whoa!" like the sound is right out of the iconic records. I love it!

[@markkosa1]

Put a better speaker in that DSL 20 , like they put in the 40, and it is a thing of beauty...Having the option of a great drive channel is hard to beat also. DSL 20 wins, no contest.

[@ArielsSmartyPants]

Wish you guys had done the head versions into the same speaker box and that Ric wasn't sitting in front of one of the amps.

[@crsantin]

Those are some terrible settings on the Origin. Dial in some presence or move that contour knob, it sounds completely muffled. It has no Marshall kerrang the way you have it dialed in.

[@jasonmcmillan4373]

$8,700 Les Paul "You know, its not too bad". Understatement of the century..................

[@zaccarter3801]

Can confirm they both sound amazing with a pawn shop MiM Fender and a guitar with Gibson pickups (I had an Epiphone with burst buckers and now I have a Gibson 50s standard with t-type pickups, both sound great)

[@thetakenking7061]

I like the Origin. I’m really considering getting one.

[@bodijisattva9333]

I play an 71 LP purchased "new" As soon as I plugged into the Origin 20 . it was like magic. I tried a DLS. I couldn't feel it. I went with the 2 12s angle cabbie vertical design with Celestion Seventy 80 speakers. Sound and Aesthetics right on.

[@rgbplumbinghilton]

I ended up with the Origin 50c and can say it rocks on medium power at loud gig level. The nearest thing to a 60's plexi at an affordable price. I did fancy a 20 watt but wanted a 12" speaker. The 50 sounds loads fatter than the 20 due to speaker size

[@nerijusvilcinskas7851]

Just got myself DSL! My first tube amp and best amp I ever had!

[@shanedeel2]

Dud you get 40 or 20 watt?

[@The_Apothecary]

@@shanedeel2 Same I got the 20watt, I wouldn't truly utilise the 40watt at home. 20watt is fine, when you crank them up past 7 volume they start to shine. If you get the 20watt I'd recommend a volume knob plugged into the effects loop, so you can crank the tubes at lower bedroom levels.

[@jorgetome7089]

@@The_Apothecary Hi, how do you do this ? a volume pedal in the FX loops ? thanks

[@johnlucero3488]

The Apothecary what you mean by a volume knob? I have the dsl also and sounds so disorded when playing low volumes

[@nerijusvilcinskas7851]

I got 20, but honestly even that is a bit too loud for playing in bedroom. Next time I would get something smaller.

[@mrtonysantos]

sounds like there's a pillow in front of the origin's speaker

[@joen3992]

Definitely change the speaker and tubes...and it would roar! Add more colour. It does sound like a pillow in front of it..

[@Ratter2E]

10" speakers are too tight aren't they,. needs a 12'

[@douglaslounsbury8898]

Yup...and sounds better that way!

[@Mcchubz]

Exactly

[@nylonsteel]

Nothing to do with 10 or 12inch speaker,there is something else off.

[@Alfredo78666]

Somebody is overstocked with dsl's

[@RyanAmplification]

I played a dsl20 the other day and found the best tone on the gain channel with the gain about 9 o'clock, the treble and base about 10 o'clock, the mids about 2 o'clock, and the presence around noon. It was very responsive and I could get a semi clean tone by adjusting pick attack. I was playing a Baja tele and it sounded great.

[@lotusmark2]

Origin, more organic, less shrill

[@stratosphere835]

I got the DSL 20 and I'm blown away, awesome Sound..and I'm playing Marshalls since 22 Years. The DSL can be a real Fury. The Origin sounds different, but i'ts not " Bad". ..I Like it too....it's a Matter of Taste

[@cookingnotes]

I am thinking of buying one like you have, how loud are they probably want do a gig?

[@PaulChoate-s4v]

Setting the DSL to the Ultra gain with the gain channel with the gain set to 3 or so makes for a really nice rock & roll / AC/DC tone.

[@cv4wheeler]

FINALLY, somebody demonstrating these amps with music an old guy like me would play/listen to!! Most demos concentrate on the ultragain channel playing some sort of doom/death/snuff metal noise or something else that I don't immediately recognize. I just bought the DSL5, since I mostly play at home, only occasionally get together with the boys to try to jam. The tone is there on the classic gain channel, ultragain is useful when set about 1.5, anything above that is noise. But the truth is that the little amp is only loud enough for the upper end of my needs when pretty much on full volume (5 watts) and gain over 6/10--it is designed to work this way, for practice at or near 10/10. But this means that I can't really use it for much in the way of clean tones (due to the medium hot humbuckers, medium high gain plus amp distortion from being "dimed"). I have another amp for that (40W Peavey Vypyr), but I got to thinking that the DSL20 would be a better choice, since it has a 10 watt channel, which would probably be a match for what I need, at least what I need occasionally. Then the the option of the Origin20 popped up. This demo pretty clearly shows that I want the DSL classic gain sound not the Origin, so I think that is resolved. The DSL provides "that tone" I seek. I would just order the DSL20 from Guitar Center (the same place I ordered the DSL5) and return one of them after the shootout, but they are sold out. So the best I can do is drive out to their store and hope that they have a DSL20 to demo (they do not stock them) and hope I can tell something about tone in the giant warehouse store. Think they will let me crank it up to 20 watts? I'll bring my bespoke homemade frankenguitar (Jaguar neck, Peavey T-15 body) so they can't possibly confuse it with anything in the store!

[@andrewchernysh4821]

DSL20 overdriven sound is not classy compared to the ORIGIN. Trebly doesn;t mean better. They just forgot to add highs on the ORIGIN

[@jimmyg8656]

how do you know that?? are these guys idiots or something?

[@TwansMusic]

@@jimmyg8656 if you look at the settings on the amps... yeah they look like idiots here even though I know they're not.

[@Krashulka]

Spot on, I own both combo amps and the origin sounds way better in person, especially plugged into a 4x12 cab.

[@georgewatkins6086]

The more I watch these kinds of videos, the more I'm convinced that you just have to get out to a shop and actually try amps for yourself. No amount of KZbin videos or reading comments on the interwebz is any substitute for you trying an amp your way playing your music your way using your own ears.

[@dimitris70]

Agree I'm here only for the comments I wanna hear experienced guitarists talk about gear Feel the amp only in person

[@spookybaba]

You didn't mention the DSL having the Tone Shift feature, that cuts all those bright tops. It's an all round great amp that'll sound exactly how you play, add gain, and amplify it. The reverb is a bit useless, and is worth mentioning.

[@alanshadyvally]

I accidentally bought a set of left hand string one time and had to play my guitar upside down until they wore out.

[@jochumhaaijer9191]

Wow that is random but respect for ya m8

[@cosmicbro1973]

im crying😂😂

[@spookybaba]

I'll phone for the doctor.

[@brandonmolina7603]

I’m sorry you had to experience that, my condolences

[@karol9187]

DSL all the way

[@AlphaOmega888]

1:10 presence setting is maxed-out at 10. 1:45 presence is only set to 3.

[@SergeiVlassov]

it seems to be resonance, presence is close to 0 at 1:10

[@mesfigas]

origin has a blanket on it ?

[@roberthoule9693]

no comparison. DSL all the way. that amp is alive!

[@motorrebell]

Has more Bass - Low end , Treble should have been set higher . Otherwise i would use Origin for single coil / p90 and DSL for humbucker guitars .

[@dryocum]

It doesn’t sound like that in front of you... this video has really bad audio..

[@alanshewitt]

Peep the mic positions at 1:10. They’ve got the Origin miked way near the edge of the speaker, while the DSL’s mic is pointed towards the center. Pretty basic stuff.

[@andrewharacidi]

Why so different tone? You did not say anything about dialed settings on the amps. There are 1000s of variants of sound, which ones did you compare?

[@caseylm100]

Why are the treble setting so different? I doubt one is that much brighter than the other

[@Afroguitarist-ed2zt]

Yeah idk the Audio seems odd. I have an origin 20 and It never sounds like that

[@j_music_8779]

That's the best EQ on the origin 20. This video doesn't do it justice unfortunately.

[@motorrebell]

Seems the Microphone wasnt placed at the center of the speaker .

[@Xyrium]

Man, when you first played through each, I thought you had a blanket over the Origin. Perhaps it's the 10" speaker on the Origin. The DSL is what most folks expect from Marshall, forward midrange sound.

[@j_music_8779]

I don't think this really put the Origin 20C in a good light. It sounds much better than this review in my opinion. Both great amps though 👍.

[@bodijisattva9333]

The origin paired with a LP gave me that crunch. My homies looked at me, I looked at them. Nothing else needed to be said other then loader up , ***SOLD***

[@MindFullCheeseburger]

Is the origin like an upgraded marshall class 5? 🤔

[@baronvonchickenpants6564]

Love the DSL, the origin is darker and you'd need a pedal, great playing on that nice Les Paul

[@toneleudy]

i agree baron

[@miguelmatias7677]

Jvm is darker than dsl also

[@user-qh1gf2gw5t]

Would need a SD1 for the Origin.

[@Ratter2E]

Yep I agree, the 10" is not it, just get the Origin Head and put it with your 12" cab, perfect, or even 2x12" cab for that big sound

[@oldboygarage]

Origin is warm I like that

[@UnchainedEruption]

Would've been nice to see some sampling of how lead tones sound too, not just riffs.

[@tonyr669]

I own both these amps. Frankly the Origin has a better overall tone despite a smaller speaker. But the DSL has the better overdriven sound for like 80’s rock. The Origin is shockingly loud despite you pointing it is “only a 10” speaker”. Botton line is I love both of these Marshall amps. I use an overdrive pedal and a reverb pedal with the Origin, whereas I use a Tube Screamer and a delay on the DSL.

[@lynyrddeville]

The Origin is like the original plexi in that it probably would be greatly improved with a treble booster, or eq in front of it. 10 inch speakers suck too. There is a lot of unrealized potential there.Oh, but wait. That is why the amp modders got popular and spawned companies such as Friedman. But to be fair, in Canada a Friedman Mini Dirty Shirley, the only amp with a 10 that I ever liked (and still sounded miles better through 2x12s) is in the stores for the price of $2200. What is the Origin, 4 or 5 hundred bucks? The coldest truth is, I got lucky and was able to buy a 50 watt Friedman Smallbox combo, which has a great Plexi channel and an unbelievable gain channel, but it set me back 4 large and that, my friends will still buy you a decent used automobile, and I could probably been almost as happy with a DSL 40C, or an origin 50 at pennies compared to dollars. Just my 2 cents.

[@andyhayes7828]

Origin 20 sounded great

[@jeremybanks9007]

It sounds like the dsl came out of the closet and the other one still in there

[@mwrable]

They must have had the TILT on the Origin all the way to the left...which is the bass input side. 😐

[@angus9165]

It sounds like the speaker is face down on carpet. It sounds amazing with the tilt at 12 o’clock. I’d prefer the origin 20H though.

[@Krashulka]

Exactly what I was thinking too. I own both combos and prefer the origin personally.

[@majorwheelock974]

I am looking adding a Marshall, I currently play through a fender blues deluxe. Which one has that glassy marshall clean tone? Origin or DSL. Both have great driven tones. thank for your advice.

[@mattgilbert7347]

No offense, guys, but the Origin was better showcased by Johan Segborn. It likes to be driven hard and *bright* The tilt was probably too far to the left..hard to see. It's generally not that flubby. You gotta open up the master and use it like an old school Marshall. The DSL still sounds thin and pissweak to my ears. The 40 is better

[@AllenPinchloaf]

I dig how Dr Rick's jaw moves when he hits the chords.Ive heard of Rock-N-Roll neck but Rock-n-roll jaw ? Well done Dr Rick

[@jeremybanks9007]

Jimmy paige dribbles

[@graywatkin8510]

Shoulda dug the SG out mates.

[@philchapman1463]

The speaker in the Origin 20 combo wrecks the sound of the amp. In an Origin 20 Head verses a DSL Head using the same speaker is where one can hear the difference. See the "TheSuperFunAwesomeHappyTimePedalShow" head comparison.

[@greg6162]

Just joined a 3/pc punk/grunge 90’s jam band and I need an amp that’s portable and can still cut through our drummer… any recommendations I’ve been thinking Marshall DSL 20 as I owned one back in like 1996-97 and it’s good for distortion

[@rickhill6277]

Nice Vid guys! I actually like both amps but the Origin is more “What it is” is “What it is”. DSL has more control over the Tone and Distortion Options. Keep up the Good Work Guys, Love your Videos!!

[@nickbrownUK]

Last thing - wouldn't have been better to compare DSL5CR 5W 1x10 with the Origin given they both have 10" speakers? :-)

[@davidmerlin3344]

The DSL by a mile

[@blueshowlar]

For me, It took Lotsa videos and I think the DSL is the amp between these two. My 2 cents...

[@MatchBookNotes]

Most of us will be plugging pedals in them and not using the amps gain too heavily. What do they sound like with pedals? Also watch other videos by the brits they dial them in better

[@weaselpopper]

Did you even try to eq them close? That is the dullest subdued tone I have heard from the Origin.

[@Guitar387]

The DSL 20 sounds exactly like AC DC.

[@dnikhead]

Most useful comparison I’ve seen! Thanks, guys!

[@christiantgolden]

Was the tilt all the way down on the origin? Mine doesnt sound nearly as muffled at noon.

[@toddsteele72]

Great vid guys. DSL is the better one for sure.

[@toddflowers8052]

Really different than the other Marshall video today ! ;-) Thanks guys !

[@J.Burrough]

Big difference in the two, the DSL had a better sound thru my phone.

[@pcorriveau1982]

DSL for me!

[@PaulChoate-s4v]

You had me at, "What Do You Do For Money".

[@Zozo-ko9dk]

Should I go for marshall dsl20c or blackstar ht20r mkii combo I'm really confused plz help me out

[@MustangStevie7]

I have an Origin20 cab, gonna pull out 10inch speaker and put 12inch V30.

[@fender4brad]

Speakers would make a huge difference. I love a plexi, I think the 50 watt would get you closer to the sound. From the demos I’ve watched I think the 20 compresses the sound. Not the power stage distortion sound I’m looking for. That guitar is sick!!!! Very nice.

[@motorrebell]

Weird , i have a Origin 20 Combo and it sounds AWESOME !! After the new speaker had to "break in" it sounds great !

[@sylvainpetit1576]

What's the best 10" for remplace the V Style ? ;)

[@edwinpringle7342]

@@sylvainpetit1576 put a 12" UK made 55hz greenback in it and you will be very pleased.

[@mattgilley72]

So what 12 inch speaker swap would you have in mind for the 10 ?

[@mblazer4004]

Origin much darker, I prefer the dsl

[@ObeseModetoBeastMode]

The DSL is the winner.

[@MustangStevie7]

Love the origin, trying to decide between origin20c and the sv20c

[@gabesguitarstuff9087]

Cool I’m saving for a sv20c to

[@shanedeel2]

I like both. I would probably buy the dsl for reverb and loop.

[@alanst.4417]

Wow really awesome rock playing by dr. Ric! How come you don't have many more views? Like the dsl much better in this vid, but wonder how they'd compare through a greenback loaded 4x12 though... And also how the tilt control and eq is set on the Origin?

[@MetalandHotRods]

DSL is the best amp for the money I have a DSL 100 with a Mesa 412 cab sounds insane

[@cdreyes81]

Origin for me

[@PaulChoate-s4v]

Are you really sitting that close to these 20-watt tube amps at full power with the volume set to 5 or higher? That is crazy loud, no?

[@donjohnson7550]

Origin doesn’t sound as bright as many other people say. DSL sounds brighter

[@garethparry4823]

Origin all the way, warmer tone, more like the old plexi

[@edwinpringle7342]

@Jason j I wouldn't say he's a vintage snob, I would say you need to clean the wax out of your ears 🤔

[@LIHPIT]

@@edwinpringle7342 I think my ears must be full of Wax

[@davidmurphy4844]

Too much gain on the Origin. With the in master on three o'clock on mine I won't have the gain past two o'clock otherwise it's too mushy. Can't see the tilt control but they are bright amps and I don't know how the rest of the controls were set.

[@motorrebell]

Seems the microphone wasnt placed at the center of the speaker either .

[@ctld5266]

the les paul looks very nice

[@rubentrevino6288]

Dsl wins hands down

[@tonymacchio8307]

The origin isn't mic'ed right

[@elithegreat113]

0:37 if we just had a ‘58 Les Paul lying around we’d be playing plexies and silver jubilees

[@arissp4950]

I wonder if a 12” will fit the origin combo

[@edwinpringle7342]

Yep

[@MM-wj4lv]

it will (just barely). There are numerous posts about it.

[@edwinpringle7342]

I put a 12" celestion 55 hz UK made greenback in mine and that really woke it up. I tried the 75hz greenback and the creamback and they were a little too trebly for me. The 55 hz brought out the bass in that small open back cabinet and it made all the difference in the world, along with mullard el34's and a tungsol 12ax7 in the v1 preamp position and it sounds unreal. It was well worth the extra bucks. Totally different beast.

[@leozimtub]

why tests are always les paul and hi gain? Cant we want play fender and clean?

[@lunarslingshot1442]

dang. this is a horrible comparison. I noticed the same as another person commenting, why did you put the presence of the origin at 3 and the presence of the dsl almost maxed out? Makes the origin seem like it is so much darker than it actually is. My origin sounds nothing like the one in the video.

[@robertcarey3383]

Have some bad news for you......The presence on the DSL was at 2 (Almost turned completely off) the Resonance which is low end on the DSL was what was almost maxed out

[@tonepilot]

Not a fan of either amp but if I had to choose, I’d take the Origin 20.

[@RiffLair]

Sounds warm. I like it too. Tho in Marshall territory i find not many ppl like them.

[@joen3992]

Change the EL 34s in both amps to quality matching tubes...and they'd open up. Especially the Origin amp...it would scream!!

[@TSCRockingPartyBand]

Hi Joe, which tubes would you go for? I wanna change mine out of DSL 20 . Greetings from Manchester UK . THANKS John.

[@junter2003]

Are you using any pedal?

[@billhannum4117]

Dsl sounds better but I think it's the speaker choice in these two amps the speaker in the origin sounds like its muffled

[@vicpnut1]

Well I’m probably like you in that I don’t know how often I’d use the ultra gain channel.... that being said the dsl was at least as good if not better sounding ( though on a few it was just a different great tone than the origins more brittle great tone) on all riffs . The speaker size difference is more than likely the reason for the more brittle tones of the origin ... so for me it is dsl all day with it’s more 3D tone start to finish , maybe that’ll make it get lost in a band situation to some extent . But I had a dsl 40 w years back ,and if I wanted I could adjust to a similar more brittle tone if I was so inclined . . That and the fact that I still have the ultra gain channel if ever needed and how my old dsl did a good bit better than expected clean tones has pushed the dsl well over the finish line for me.... I don’t think I’d be complete disappointed with either tbh..the wider tonal range starting from good cleans all the way to screaming leads ..... leaves no room for Choosing the lessor tonal pallets in my book .... did I say dsl is for me yet ? Lol 😉

[@markdakel9253]

Gotta go w/ the DSL

[@edwinwise6751]

The origin seemed to be missing some top end … overdriven , a Philco would sound good

[@bborange7889]

Origin👍🏻

[@diegoboari1]

The music store has Marshall amps, Gibson guitars but doesn't AB/box pedals!

[@GaryGBrown]

Easy choice between those two. DSL

[@zbaby82]

DSL20C sounds the best here.

[@edwinpringle7342]

My origin 20c has a 12" speaker in it and there isn't a dsl 20 on the planet that will make a pimple on it's ass. 🤔

[@johnsmith-zf1fd]

was it hard to change the speaker? had to drill new holes?

[@martinlahaie6012]

Look at the face of this guy...!!@ Rock and Roll still alive @👍

[@peterfritzsche220]

it`s very difficult to com to a result - both amps are good as can be in this class..... I prefer the Origin ....mmmh ..for me it`s got a little bit more power!

[@caseylm100]

i own the origin. its a bright amp and this is not accurate . turn the treble or

[@robertcarey3383]

The origin sounds exactly like the DSL except somebody put a sleeping bag over the speaker of the Origin.

[@mbgoode10]

Every origin I’ve heard has a dark uninspiring sound quality.

[@5150show]

Origin