Marshall Studio SC20H v Origin20H - My Take. Quality assessment and modded tones head to head!

[@Bleats_Sinodai]

What usually happens is that they have the parts made in the same factory but the "made in England" one is simply assembled in England...

[@jamescarpenter4777]

Jason you did a hell of a job. You made that origin a monster! Awesome work and I enjoy all of your videos. Thanks a lot!

[@LeonTodd]

The modded origin tone you pulled is god tier. Takes a decent amp into the stratosphere. bravo!

[@HeadfirstAmps]

Thanks Leon! You really can't beat the 2204 JCM800 circuit as a basis for pulling killer tones right!

[@joeltunnah]

I'm glad I bought the Origin. The difference in price for essentially the same amp is ridiculous.

[@MustangStevie7]

I love that 60s 70s rock sound from Origin, and hot roded is awesome also.

[@strings53notlob50]

I have the Origin50 head. So far I love it!

[@deadinside0586]

Thanks for this comparison. I prefere the Origin when both are originals. And now i also prefere Origin when both are modded.

[@zafira976]

I like the Origin more, I am not sure why but the gain in the Origin after the mod sounds a bit less modern, yet there is enough gain to play all the riffs...it seems to me that it maintains more of a vintage tone with the added gain. The 800 just sounds more modern.

[@bladerunner12]

The modded Origin has that "krang" sound people talk about when it comes to Plexis. It's in the upper mids and the presence with a lot of sag in the lows. it's a lot more in the vein of that brown sound thing, and I think it needs a vintage style pickup to not overwhelm and flub out the bass. Given the (relatively) low cost of an Origin 20 and the low cost of the mods parts list, it's definitely the most affordable gateway into that kind of late 70s/early 80s tone.

[@slimturnpike]

Totally right

[@Tommahawkk]

Both sound amazing! But still, the 800 takes the gold in my books. Not bias or anything cause it's my amp ;) But seriously both sound killer, I just personally think the 800 has a bit more 'oomph'

[@SeQFreQ369]

Lucky guy, very tasty amp, and I agree with you, richer, creamier.

[@strings53notlob50]

Got to compare apples to apples. Something that cost $3500 and 100 watts compared to $650 (Origin 20 W head) or $1750, (Studio classic 20 W head) IT HAD BETTER BE GOLD!!!!!

[@tyisdead8234]

Great rundown. Thanks again Jason.

[@HeadfirstAmps]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@BadCat1990]

Really helpful review. I can’t believe how similar they are build quality wise. I thought for sure the studio pro would be head and shoulders better in that department.

[@GretschJet]

Totally agree. I was sure the Studio would be assembled with better boards, parts, transformers, etc. I also thought that the control knobs and jacks would be chassis mounted, especially given the premium price they’re asking for the Studio series.

[@irishRocker1]

I think i just fell in love with that SC20 cab tolex! Looks so cool!

[@nathansealey6270]

Good review & I think the origin doesn’t get the recognition it deserves as it was designed to be used for a multitude of music styles which was why Marshall first started making amplifiers to fill the gap of the lack of American amplifiers in the UK. I personally remember in the mid to late 1990s guitarists hated the JCM800, & used you could pick them up for not a lot of money, they were called paper thin & un-Marshall sounding. In truth really its all about fashion regardless whether the amp is any good or not, & recently alot the 80s metal are now back in fashion, if it was 70s or 60s bands then we would be looking at the gear they used.

[@davepark1827]

they are both great sounding amps, I own both and they sound very different from each other. I'm going to do the plexi mod you did to the origin, then I'll be set for marshal tones.

[@HeadfirstAmps]

Killer. Feel free to try different bright caps on the treble channel pot. 100pF, 500pF, or the massive 4700pF that I used!

[@azzazelo]

Thanks mate great video

[@Narada65]

Would love to see the Studio Classics modded to true original spec with an actual choke and fixed bias. I think the tone would be even closer to the original 2204 and it would be less loose or wooly in the bottom end when pushed. Killer little amps, but Marshall couldn't done better. Your mods, however, sound amazing. I'd buy one with your mods in a New York minute if you were selling them.

[@pk952]

Both sound awesome Jas!

[@nathansealey6270]

Excellent video, & from what I have been hearing Marshall own their factory in Korea so the only difference between the UK & Korean made amps is geographic location

[@amaurythewarrior]

there's no mention of korea here. the origin is made in vietnam.

[@thorinbane]

In Canada the studio is almost 2000 and the origi. Is 700 ish

[@freddycookjr.2164]

WHEN THE SC20 CAME OUT AT 1200 MADE IN UK I WAS EXPECTING HAND WIRED PCB OK BUT NOT FOR 700 MORE GREAT JOB ON THE MODS THO GOOD SHOW THX

[@HeadfirstAmps]

Thanks!

[@topfloorstudio2684]

Exactly. Now look, they're $1,800 because of 2022 inflation!

[@monstruonegro05]

Too bad you are so far from Europe... good mods and tones!!!!

[@yessitsme6884]

Cab certainly looks much better on the SC! But tone wise... I wouldn't spit on an Origin if a good deal came to me.

[@sugarnap245]

I also have a 1980 JMP 2204. Just snagged an Origin 50h because I want a gigging amp that isn't my JMP. What I would love though is to mod it to sound like a lo input JCM800 and put in KT88's.

[@bertgillmeister3569]

Hi Jason, I own exactly this funny clothed jcm 800 amp. Although if I understood it right, you modded something on the jcm 800 too. But to be honest, I really think, whatever you've done with the origin 20, it sounds like a phantastic mix between a jcm 800 and a plexi. Simply really great!!! I am so blown away by this sound of this amp, now I don't get it out of my head anymore. And now I ask myself the question, how can I get this sound, when I would like to by a stock Origin 20. This thing would have to be modded definitely as you did it. Man, the sound is so great...By the way, what pickups are built-in the Gibson Explorer you played? This guitar sounded phantastic too!

[@rareform6747]

Never Mod : Learned Hard from Experience of Many 💫One can always insert effects front or back !

[@HeadfirstAmps]

But it’s what I do, I’m an amp builder and modder and I hate pedals. Always Mod!

[@zandig666]

Thanks bud I was wondering what models the origin was modeled after. the SC was bloody loud compared to my dsl20h !!🤟🏻🤟🏻🤟🏻🤟🏻 love your playing btw U get a great tone !! Just lately I've been digging into pickup height vs the setting I dial to achieve that pick attack break up !!!!!!

[@rante1318]

Audios nucleares!!🤘

[@RDamps]

With the mods you’ve done Jason, I think the origin nails the early EVH tones better than the studio. Bang for buck the origin wins.

[@HeadfirstAmps]

On a bang for buck basis, I agree!

[@portuguesebeer5069]

Awesome amps and awesome playing. I prefer the 800. I'd really like to see a comparisson with the DSL 20. Cheers from Portugal 🤘🍺🇵🇹

[@Andrew-ry7iw]

I might buy an Origin just to play around with some mods - they are as cheap as chips

[@mikeptacek2190]

Sounds great! The jcm800 sounds more articulated. What strikes me though is how much gain/drive you get from it already stock. Is it because you record with a decent IR... or hot pickups ?

[@HeadfirstAmps]

The jcm800 had been modded too

[@liquormusic]

Any hope you’d take a look at an origin5? It would be amazing if those things could be modded into something special. They are so inexpensive. I’ve been searching and searching for some guidance on it. Perfect amp for a beginning modder.

[@scottpeters4401]

SC 800 for me....the Origin isn’t bad by any means,but the SC just sounds more better....are you running these thru the AxeFXIII?

[@HeadfirstAmps]

Hey Scott, signal chain is, Gibson 2018 Explorer - stock Headfirst modded SC20H & Origin20H Suhr Reactive Load w/ AXE-FX III for IR's and Delay/Reverb UAD Apollo Twin and Logic Pro

[@AlexAnder-or3kq]

I see you are running in and out of the fractal.(2XL) I do the same thing with my origin 20, so take advantage of the gate etc. anyway as you will know you can turn up the fractal level with the knobs on the front (output2 which goes into the amp input) and basically boost it like a gain pedal. So my stock origin (not for long) is cranking.

[@jasonoak4564]

Great video. Interesting to see the premium Marshall charges for having the Studio series of amps assembled in England. As you said in the video you had to increase the volume of the Origin to match the studio. Can you explain why the Studio is louder than the Origin?

[@HeadfirstAmps]

They do have different methods for achieving the power scaling, so that might be it

[@Birchblaze]

Great stuff you've got going on on this channel! Do you have any recommendations for mods to the O20 to improve it, but bring it more towards the JTM45/late 60's/70's territory?

[@HeadfirstAmps]

Thanks. My ‘800’ mod could be adapted to be more plexi/JMP style actually. It’s an idea I might try out on my one O20 test amp.

[@Birchblaze]

@@HeadfirstAmps Cool! In that case I'll wait for that mod. 😎👍

[@stratofig]

Nice that you can still get clean and lower gain Plexi sounds with the modded SC20. So you can’t get those sounds from the modded Origin 20?

[@HeadfirstAmps]

Watch the clip I posted today!

[@spudvader]

I like both amps but the Origin has a high mids thing going on that I don't like, maybe that could be dialed out, I'm not sure but both sound killer.

[@connyblomqvist3648]

Wouid be nice to hear thouse 2 amps with singel coil picups.

[@TavaresProject]

I'm confused... when you first start playing the 800, you have text scrolling saying that they are modded... So that first tone is already altered from stock? Let me just say that mid gain sounded amazing even better than the origin and I love your version of the origin.

[@jonnidalla]

i have a origin 20c combo,but my its made by mdf not plywood

[@SeQFreQ369]

Gr8 work! Got me wondering if the Origin o/p xfmr has a higher primary than the SC? I'm curious how the voltages/amperages compare too...

[@HeadfirstAmps]

Here are the plate voltages. Studio Classic: 292v Origin 20: 276v

[@SeQFreQ369]

@@HeadfirstAmps 👍 lower than I expected then...

[@danielwzoreck]

I'm thinking about purchasing the Origin 20H to be my first tube amp, I want to use it stock without mods. Is it a good amp and well built? I saw some videos of technicians speaking badly about the Origin line. I live in Brazil where everything is 10 times more expensive than in the USA. That's why I think it's important to clear the doubt, it's probably the only tube amp I can buy without breaking the bank.

[@jst601]

Another Channel I believe it's on Mr MacKenzie's Channel he has a jubilee series Studio head and there are components on that model that are prone to heat up and therefore potentially cause trouble to a circuit board and those components are raised higher off of the board showing an obvious consideration for the heat damage potential. do you see this type of attention to detail on the Origin pcb?

[@HeadfirstAmps]

Yes, the b+ dropping resistors in the origin are raised up off the PCB.

[@jammergreg]

The origin sounds a bit fizzy as compared to SC.

[@ryans9029]

Thats not the studio vintage.

[@jammergreg]

@@ryans9029 I fixed it.

[@jamesoconnor5154]

Hey im looking to change my sound i have a supro black magick reverb and im not really happy with it after a few years. I want to get a marshall and for whatever reason the price went way up on them so i dont think i could afford a studio series amp and idk how i feel about the origin series they seem kinda cheap to me. I wanted to get your opinion on them. Im trying to get a tone like the jimmy page sound from the song remains the same 73' live tone fyi

[@tomd3223]

Great stuff!!! You mentioned that the transformers look like the same but have different part numbers. So could be that they are still identical. Have you done any measurements to compare the tranformers basic specs? Would be really interested if the are same...

[@HeadfirstAmps]

They did have different part numbers, but they did look very similar...almost identical.

[@tomd3223]

@@HeadfirstAmps Thanks a lot!

[@nathanward3888]

are you going to be posting documentation for the Jose mod on the Origin?

[@HeadfirstAmps]

Yes, stay tuned

[@J_Braz_]

Cool stuff. I assume the dsl20hr has similar design quality. I have one and like it. It's just hard to get a good low volume tone.

[@irishRocker1]

Yes, it is interesting to see that under the hood the Originan and SC20 are pretty similar, would be great to know if the DSL20 is also similar. Cos the origin, for almost half the price I would be tempted to buy it and mod it to SC20 spec. Would be interesting to know if the dsl20 has similar options

[@J_Braz_]

@@irishRocker1 cool man. If you ever do a video on the dsl20 head I'll definitely watch it. Cheers,

[@andyhayes7828]

Origin sounds more '70's era, the studio 800 sounds more '80's era.

[@FuvestibularBrazil]

I noticed there’s no choke on them, would including One in the Place of the resistor improve the sound? Sim

[@HeadfirstAmps]

A choke help any amp sound better

[@Wooburnmusic]

Some very very nice sounds there, but why for what the extra cost would be don't manufacturers just go the whole way in the first place, it's a bit like the smaller Fender amps, people buy them and the next thing seems to be that the amps are personally modded not to mention this speaker or that speaker, aw gee sus, manufacturers, PLEASE GIVE US AMPS THAT ARE AS GOOD AS THEY CAN GET DAMMIT !!!!!!

[@robertlevasseur8896]

dude, is it hard to understand that not everyone wants a high gain amp?

[@michaeldstern]

Hi, can someone tell me how to do the Mod?

[@jimsoprano711]

Hi Jason, thanks for comments on the transformers. Maybe I missed it, but are the secondairy voltages and preamp voltages approx. the same?

[@HeadfirstAmps]

Ah yes, here are the plate voltages. Studio Classic: 292v Origin 20: 276v

[@jimsoprano711]

@@HeadfirstAmps Thanks! quite a difference.

[@ryans9029]

@@jimsoprano711 15 volts?

[@user-tb9rw7dh2t]

👍

[@andrewspade7969]

Your JCM800 2205 mod is better, these two sound a little fizzy on the top end, but that might just be me. But they do sound better than stock.

[@HeadfirstAmps]

That 2205 mod is a lot of work!

[@andrewspade7969]

@@HeadfirstAmps Hi, how much would the 2205 mod cost, as it sounds very much like the sound I have in my head and I have a 2210 that could be modded. Thanks

[@HeadfirstAmps]

Hi Andrew, feel free to email me on [e-mail]

[@faizlefou3805]

Hi Jason can we get the schematic of the sc20 ? Is the power section and PI the same as the origin ? Thank you for you videos.

[@HeadfirstAmps]

Hi, I don't have a SC20 schematic. It is however similar to the 2204. Power section is not the same, the SC implements power scaling via the plate voltage, the Origin via the screen voltage.

[@faizlefou3805]

OK, Thank you brother. If you ever find the time to trace the power section of the sc sv it would be very welcome. Thank you very much for you time.

[@matsoundmixingstudio4319]

I want buy an origin 20. I like EVH sound, how must mod the amp to get a similar guitar tone? Thank you very much!

[@HeadfirstAmps]

Hi, I have other videos that show how to mod the Origin20

[@matsoundmixingstudio4319]

@@HeadfirstAmps ok thanks.

[@zoomzoom3950]

Great info. I have a Marshall Origin 50C and wondered about the differences between Made in Asia vs Made in England Marshalls. Now I wonder about a 1959HW Plexi Head Made in England. I'd like to get 100 W Plex full stack once I sell my Engl dual 100 full stack, but now I wonder if it's worth the Made in England upcharges, going used is always an option but who knows what you're getting until you can look inside. Cheers!

[@amaurythewarrior]

well you can probably find plenty of gutshots online

[@RevMishka]

I like the video…great job! But, for the average owner, I wonder if this is helpful…they don’t own modded amps…so your/their mileage may/will vary! Still, great job!

[@HeadfirstAmps]

Indeed. I was trying to show that when the circuits are made to be the same, it's hard to split these amps (other than retail price!)

[@irishRocker1]

Well I dont own either and have been very tempted by the studio vintage and studio classic but if a few mods could make the Origin20 as good as the SC20 then that makes a big difference. I could do the mods myself easily enough. And the Origin is €450 vs the studio amps at €800. So even for non owners it can make a difference. it is useful. It is good to know that the foundations are similar

[@zeidalhammami1736]

I have both amps (stock), and I noticed that the SC20 takes OD/fuzz pedals at high gain much better. I tried a TS9/SD1 (usual volume max, min drive), a RAT, and a fuzz face. When the pedals are near dimed on level, the SC20 tone just works perfectly, whereas with the Origin 20 I find you start getting mush. It feels like (very layman explanation as I am no tech) that the origin 20 when setup to sound good (very high level + gain) just has no where else to be pushed to, whereas the SC20 still has plenty...Any thoughts on why this is so?

[@geezberry8889]

any Orange mods?

[@MAURIIIII2009]

excellent as always, i would like origin to sound like jcm800.

[@HeadfirstAmps]

The mods make them close!

[@nacuda9]

Is the Origin with the mods you've done still cheaper than the 800? theres a big difference in price to begin with.

[@SeQFreQ369]

diy is pretty cheap, watch the vidz on modding the Origin,, Jason explains everything, with circuit diagrams and all, you can check it out on his website, pdf's of before and after. He also explains that he doesn't offer it as a service personally.

[@HeadfirstAmps]

Zener José clipping mod for the Origin20 coming soon!

[@nacuda9]

@@SeQFreQ369 not sure I could do it on my own. Never done any work like that, although seems fairly easy. In the states here anyways. Wouldn't be worth the cost of shipping if he did the service : )

[@nacuda9]

@@HeadfirstAmps nice! That all fits so to speak ?

[@HeadfirstAmps]

You can hear the clipping setup in yesterday's video. I'll post a vid shortly with details on it

[@vaniabondage1788]

what is the modification in the origin50?

[@HeadfirstAmps]

I have other videos that fully detail the Origin mods

[@Boogieplex]

I just don’t get why Marshall doesn’t make these kind of mods stock. They must know a huge percentage of their customers want THIS tone. Btw-your playing is EPIC.

[@HeadfirstAmps]

Thank you Sir!

[@Boogieplex]

@@HeadfirstAmps I forgot to leave my preference comment . I felt the SC20 sounded a bit better,but maybe because your playing seemed a bit more fluid and aggressive when playing it.So it could just be that…lol. Different amps bring out the inspiration in us guitarists.. Both sounded amazing.

[@ryans9029]

@@Boogieplex playing could have been better because the amp felt better to him... That's the thing with amps that doesn't translate in video

[@kedocom]

Hey Jason, couldn't you mod the origin to accept El34"s? And couldn't both be modded with a switchable cathode/fixed bias? As always, your tones are cutting edge! Thanks :)

[@HeadfirstAmps]

Hi, the Origins already run EL34's. The O20 could be modded for fixed bias I guess, but that is a lot of additional circuitry and would be difficult to retrofit.

[@kedocom]

​@@HeadfirstAmps .... Thanks, my mistake, I was thinking of the DSL15 head .... wondering if there is a difference in heater current amps between the 6v6 and el34 power transformers? .... but I think the fixed bias mod could be one that puts the origin over the top of it's competitors ..... it would just be a resistor from the hv tap to a diode to a cap and another resistor with a pot ..... would give it 5 extra watts, more headroom and more immediate attack making it feel a bit more like the 50 watt JCM ...... just thinking out loud! Thanks for your videos!

[@sannyhbm216]

What does hf mod mean

[@HeadfirstAmps]

Headfirst mod

[@geneparmesan8827]

Are your modded amps for sale ? Thanks Ty

[@HeadfirstAmps]

Where are you based mate?

[@Wolf_K]

Which labour - and thus livelihoods - do you want to contribute to, England or Vietnam? Simple choice for me.

[@HeadfirstAmps]

I'm not here to debate world labour supply, the point of the video is to demonstrate that the components are identical.

[@ryans9029]

Considering it's only assembled in the uk... You are still buying a Viet amp...

[@craigpimlott204]

@@ryans9029and most stuff “made in England “ now is not the “Made in England “ us old farts know ….there’s some right crap being made in England these days …I’ve got a 1976 HH musician 100watt everything still works as good as new ,the lights on the front still have the green glow .I’ve owned it thirty odd years now and I know the original owner from 76 and not one of us have had it repaired it’s all still got HH on all its interior parts pcb’s etc no soldering has been done on it at all ..that’s when “Made in England “meant quality .

[@zacwilson6812]

These amps are not supposed to be the same. Its called origin for a reason. Jcm 800 is nowhere near the origin of marshall amps. As in jtm 45, not jcm800. Different eras and different sounds. Everyone wants to think that the origin is supposed to be for high gain metal tones. It is not. Buncha dummies around here.

[@HeadfirstAmps]

Have you compared the Origin to a JTM45 or 1959 circuit?

[@davidledford6482]

if you british guys would talk slower,an louder,an a little plainer like our english in the states..please...

[@HeadfirstAmps]

British???

[@ericharbauer]

@@HeadfirstAmps 😂

[@alexcatlow]

you don't get out much do ya mate?

[@jimkirkhoff1972]

To paraphrase Twain, best to keep your ignorant gob shut and let people think you are a moron than go yippin' on shit you don't know about and confirm their suspicion.

[@caseylockwood5512]

Goodness man, he's aussie 🤣 Show some damn respect!

[@michaeljensen8211]

I like this you do.... Open up the amps to see the electronic inside and then rock them so i/we can hear what it can do. I've always been a big fan of the Marshall amps. I wish i could electronics.... Bias.... I need more drive "Distortion" and if the head could do it without pedals IT could be killer for the DEATH METAL 😁 Good video 😁👍

[@HeadfirstAmps]

Thanks Michael!

[@davidledford6482]

using a hot pickup gibson is like cheating,even though your playing sounds good, allways need to be using a strat for character etc...i bought a mini silver jubilee,an is rubbish an sounds like a cheap solid state,watered down generic junk,an everyone elses sounded good best i can tell,im out for my nearly 1400.00 back in refund,marshall should be ashamed on whatever is wrong with mine..sounds like tubes or speaker or both, just awful.....an very damn pricy,im givin them hell until i get my mony bavk,any valvestate like we have a vs15,and a vs30 sound way better, huge bass an clean..an there like under 200.00 easily...what could have happened to my mini jubilee somewhere along shipping,or what im very sad,an mad............