Turn your Origin 50 into a Metal Amp!! MOD GUIDE!!

A new Origin 50 has been sent to me to perform my 'Cali' mod. It's the classic pre-tone stack Master with diode clipping. Nothing sounds quite like this circuit! Gnarly tones!!.
Full DIY guide here in 4K!
Parts list will be posted here once ready:
headfirstampli...
[e-mail]
headfirstampli...
/ headfirst.amplification
/ 225949122469679
/ headfirst_amplification
0:00 Play in - FWTBT
1:27 Intro
4:33 Dialing in the amp
10:09 At The Bench - preparing for the mod
16:04 Components in
24:31 Detail on the front Pot PCB mods
27:37 Rest of the main board mods
43:42 Adding the FX Loop
45:44 Voltages
50:54 Play out

[@LeonTodd]

Sounds glorious Jase - plenty of that modded Marshall "thrak" about the tone. That explorer in your hands sounds delightful too.

[@HeadfirstAmps]

Hey Leon, thx brother too kind! I still want to send you the Alta, just waiting on my transformer order from Heyboer!

[@ioncewas]

So here's my amp guy talking to my guitar guy. Chug away, legends!

[@lowcountrythrash2874]

Holy shit that’s so spot on!! Perfect tone for the 80s thrash sound! Awesome bro, just awesome.

[@dominicluzzi]

Can u post the parts list

[@scottanderson6807]

You’re amazing man! And so generous with your knowledge.

[@HeadfirstAmps]

Oh dude, thank you so much! 🙏

[@MetalHippie83]

@@HeadfirstAmps would this get 80s trash metal / kill em all tones?

[@darksl1de]

What a beast!, i’ve tried the origin 20, and it didn’t really suit my tastes, but this one sounds like a completely different amp. You’re a wizard, man. Big respects.

[@HeadfirstAmps]

Thank you Sir!

[@smokestakz]

It is a completely diff amp....now....lol....

[@tyisdead8234]

Absolutely amazing Jase. You are a gun. Legendary status. Kudos to the master!

[@HeadfirstAmps]

Thank you Sir!

[@lechstryzewski9350]

Sounds AWESOME Jason !!!! - Thanks for sharing your expertise with us man. Now you've got me looking for an Origin amp just to tinker with - LOL -

[@HeadfirstAmps]

Great amps to tinker with!

[@danielsaturnino5715]

Man that sounds awesome.

[@glenn3914]

omg, how did you push a origin to that extreme??? sounds fuckin great, you are one of the premiere amp moders by far

[@HeadfirstAmps]

Thanks Glenn!

[@seanmorgan9020]

Ok, I now know what I need next in my life.

[@Skman22]

Killer mate....I best be looking for an origin something or another model so I can fek with it. 👍🏻

[@HeadfirstAmps]

Good fun these amps

[@rokinrandy]

I would never attempt to work on my orgin. I’ll stick to pedals. I can’t even get some of those working. But the tone is none like I’ve ever heard . I’ve owned ada mp1 peavey amps etc. sounds great.

[@sleggarri]

Great pushed amp tone. Sounds like VH WACF to me.

[@P3t3rPizzarelli]

Love your vids, especially the bench footage and explanations. I'm in Sydney and about to start doing electronics at Tafe, any pointers, places to look for an apprenticeship? Where did you get your start??

[@HeadfirstAmps]

I did a Physics degree back at Uni in the late 80's early 90's, digital tech and electronics. So that is my base to build off. From there, it's been a hobby I picked up 10 years ago which turned into an obsession! If you want to get into building and tweaking and it's your first time, I'd recommend a full kit amp from Ceriatone (e.g. 2204) before progressing into building with my PCB's :)

[@edneyhelenedossantos1875]

Do you know what is it about this amp that sounds so clean and nice comparing to the other MArshalls? There's something about the Origin series that is spetacular tone wise, it's a lot cleaner and nicer tonewise...even with the mods...

[@brpadington]

It has kind of a Bogner sound going on. The low-end is massive.

[@zabtej1645]

The 1 to 2 nF anti ice pick cap to ground, do you think it matters if it is located right after the gain input, or rather after the second triode's grid resistor? I've seen in the Ceriatone yeti stuff that it's located after the resistor, right before the grid.

[@deeaa]

I want this too, but needs the parts list...I did the 20 mod and it's glorious too.

[@RDamps]

It's a dirty boy!!! Glorious

[@Ramo_Baramia]

Sounds sick man.....

[@wakjob961]

Seems just like a year or two ago everyone was blowing out these Origins for $300-500 USD when the SV20 came out. I see they are back up to $799 new ;-( Really enjoyed your Tone Talk episode Jason. I could nerd out on this stuff all day!

[@HeadfirstAmps]

Thanks! I appreciate the support.

[@carsandguitars6264]

Holy shit this thing sounds killer idk what to choose this or the hot rodded plexi

[@HeadfirstAmps]

Do both! Lol

[@MetalHippie83]

@@HeadfirstAmps could you stack both?

[@clintn6677]

I'm going to have to give up resisting buying one of these

[@smokestakz]

Yeesh thats the thickest origin ive ever heard by a mile....the drive channel on a reg one or with the gain up it sounds like a blues jr w the fat switch in...(obv w the gain up).

[@jarrusjenkins]

Sounds awesome lad, just picked up an Origin 50 for cheap £259gbp and I'm gonna do this mod straight away. I had a look on your website a parts list. You've got them for all the other builds but not this one. Any chance you've got one knocking about? Cheers

[@filipedoria9561]

Hot Rodded Plexi! That's it!

[@SuperSeanXXX]

I have a 100pf on vol1 and 4700pf on vol2 on my 100 watt

[@HeadfirstAmps]

SLP? Modded?

[@SuperSeanXXX]

@@HeadfirstAmps yes, so far I have the first two stages 2.7k .68u cascaded and a standard master...but im going to try the Jose master soon and the diodes

[@HeadfirstAmps]

Cool. That cascade with a regular Master can sound 👍

[@SuperSeanXXX]

@@HeadfirstAmps yeah I'm trying to figure out do I need the Jose master? And the dodes?.....does it change the tone very much...I've heard it kinda scoops the mid a little....but I have a 50k mid pot....

[@liondancedrummer]

does anyone have the exact list of components used on the mod? I only see photos but now an actual list. Plus in the video Jason went inbetween a few parts but never stated what he ended up on. Does anyone know?

[@glenn3914]

you would make a ton of $$$$ in l.a.,...the only thing i m sad about is you re 50,000 miles from l.a.,.....well maybe not that far, closer to 490,000 ,miles from here! you re the best

[@HeadfirstAmps]

Haha, well thank you.

[@jacobbradley1349]

So will the parts list for the cali and jose mods for the Origin 20 work for the Origin 50 as well?

[@amoruzz]

👍👍

[@massimozirilli3282]

Compared to your 1987x seems to me that doesn't sound any worse. I mean, I was looking for a good used head for making a José mod, maybe Origin 50h is perfect! No need to spend much more for a 1987x

[@stephenfrancis303]

I have an origin 50 and im in the usa quick question Im mechanically inclined can i send you the main board and the front pcb to save on shipping, i dont want an fx loop. I want mine like the cali. Just like this one

[@f4solutionsinc.6]

Hi Jason. What’s the song your are playing at the 6.26 minute mark. Sounds like Judas Priest or maybe Accept?

[@f4solutionsinc.6]

Found it. Miracle man from Ozzy on the no rest for the wicked album. 1st album featuring Zakk Wilde on Guitar.

[@HeadfirstAmps]

That’s the one!

[@mass.of.fermenting.craigs]

any update on that parts list?

[@adamBnEII]

Hi Mate I am currently about to perform your Marshall Origin Mod on my 50C.Two of the resistors that was sent to me last week were 120K instead of the 100K.Would there be a difference if I installed the 120K resistors instead of the 100K please??

[@HeadfirstAmps]

Where in the circuit?

[@adamBnEII]

@@HeadfirstAmps R59 100k AND R55 100k

[@morningstar3188]

THAT is the sound of Ride The Lightning. Only difference in sound is because they quad tracked the guitars.

[@morningstar3188]

Sounds like they might have also boosted it a bit more with the tube screamer, but this type of mod is definitely 90% of the tone.

[@Glensully]

sorry - why did you add an effects loop when it already had it? (i missed why)

[@HeadfirstAmps]

V2 in the stock amp drives the fx loop, but the mod repurposes it for gain stages instead.

[@Glensully]

ahh, OK, hence the gain. cheers@@HeadfirstAmps

[@YsAbTones]

Suhr reactive load here ?

[@HeadfirstAmps]

Yes, unless you see me with the 57 on the Marshall cab it will be the Suhr RL

[@dylannightingale6959]

Is the parts list for the 50 the same as the Origin 20 clipping mod? Just asking because I'm going to do this mod very soon.

[@HeadfirstAmps]

This one is a different mod than the original Origin ‘800’ mod, even with the clipping added. I’ll get the parts list done for this one and will post on the website.

[@dylannightingale6959]

@@HeadfirstAmps Alright cool, thanks. Can you make a reply to notify me when you have? Would appreciate it.

[@dylannightingale6959]

@@HeadfirstAmps Hey, hate to be a pest, but I just remembered this and checked the site, didn't notice it on the link you had in the description. If you forgot to update it, it's cool - dying to try this mod out eventually.

[@Brixn94]

@@HeadfirstAmpsany updates?

[@ESPspiderXIII]

@@HeadfirstAmps Bump.

[@jeffreyfreer7592]

All you have to do is put a longplate in the preamp section jj did it why would you spend over 11 hundred for a Jose mod try it people it’s an origin no drill that’s all you need cheap✌️✌️🕊