Marshall Origin 20 - a rocky road, but happy finish!

Make it loud here.
Post Reply
User avatar
JVG
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 1401
Joined: Thu Aug 06, 2015 9:54 pm
Location: Sydney, Straya

Marshall Origin 20 - a rocky road, but happy finish!

Post by JVG » Wed Nov 21, 2018 4:33 pm

I've just received a Marshall Origin C20 - bought new from the Internet. Yes I know it's risky not trying an amp first, but the price was too hard to resist :)

It's abeautiful looking amp - I love the vintage styling, it's minimalist and very classy. Reminds me of my old Super Lead.

BUT there's a problem, in the form of a buzzing, distorted signal that underlies the notes played. Even on completely clean settings, it's there in the background, sitting underneath the clean sound. The other symptom is that a clean note left to ring out will slowly decay (as it should) until it reaches a point where it blends in with the background fuzz then suddenly cuts out, like a noise gate.

The noise is only there while playing - the moment I stop, the buzz stops, even with the volume up. The other interesting thing is that this buzz doesn't seem to get much louder at high amp volumes. I've fiddled with all the knob and switches to see if any setting will eradicate it, with no luck.

The amps is under warranty, but I'm hoping someone here might be able to advise me as to what the problem might be, and whether it's an easy fix. I'm not very electronically-minded, I just know the basics.

Thanks!
J.
Last edited by JVG on Sun Apr 07, 2019 10:48 pm, edited 4 times in total.

User avatar
wproffitt
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 1263
Joined: Wed Feb 24, 2010 8:48 pm
Location: Ellicott City, MD, USA

Re: NAD - Marshall Origin (yay) but there's a problem (boo)

Post by wproffitt » Thu Nov 22, 2018 7:37 am

I’m sure that someone who actually has a clue will be along in a few minutes to help you diagnose this, but my first guess would be that this is tube-related. I don’t feel like tube amps (or rather, their tubes) do too well with getting jostled around by the good people of the USPS, UPS, or FedEx. Maybe you have a tube that has come a bit loose in transit or one that has going microphonic due to being banged around. Something similar recently happened to my Tremolux after it fell onto its back in the car ride on the way home. :fp: Paging Drs. Sookwinder, Brad, Racing, or Oid! We have a Thanksgiving amp emergency!

User avatar
JVG
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 1401
Joined: Thu Aug 06, 2015 9:54 pm
Location: Sydney, Straya

Re: NAD - Marshall Origin (yay) but there's a problem (boo)

Post by JVG » Thu Nov 22, 2018 1:55 pm

Thanks for the suggestion - it sounds a likely scenario given its shipping journey. In a way that would be the ideal outcome, as it should be quite easily fixed.

Other ideas also welcome :)

Cheers!
J

User avatar
wproffitt
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 1263
Joined: Wed Feb 24, 2010 8:48 pm
Location: Ellicott City, MD, USA

Re: NAD - Marshall Origin (yay) but there's a problem (boo)

Post by wproffitt » Sat Nov 24, 2018 7:13 am

Any luck fiddling around with the tubes? What’s in this amp, anyway?

User avatar
JVG
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 1401
Joined: Thu Aug 06, 2015 9:54 pm
Location: Sydney, Straya

Re: NAD - Marshall Origin (yay) but there's a problem (boo)

Post by JVG » Sat Nov 24, 2018 10:28 pm

Have been away for work last few days, so I haven't got any further with this. I'm guessing the tubes are probably Asian, since the amp is Vietnamese, but I don't know for sure. Maybe someone else here knows more?

Cheers
j

User avatar
JVG
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 1401
Joined: Thu Aug 06, 2015 9:54 pm
Location: Sydney, Straya

Re: Problems with Marshall Origin - help appreciated

Post by JVG » Tue Jan 22, 2019 6:07 pm

The saga continues.....

After a painfully drawn-out return process (due to the shop being unresponsive, and Christmas etc getting in the way) I finally got a replacement Origin 20C.

However I might have another lemon! This time the problem is very different - the amp works, but the gain knob does almost nothing except make the volume a bit louder. Even on maximum gain, with the "pull boost" engaged, I'm barely getting any breakup out of the amp.

I understand these are not super high-gain amps, but there should definitely be a decent amount of gain there. The online demos clearly show this, even with low output pickups. However the sound stays almost completely clean on mine.

Before I return to the shop, is there anything I should be checking? I've checked the power cable and supply, it's fine. Any idea what could be the problem?

(For those wondering why I didn't try before buying - I got a really cheap deal from a shop interstate, although now I'm wondering if it was worth it at all...)

Cheers!
J.

User avatar
Larsongs
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 2414
Joined: Mon Aug 18, 2014 9:39 pm

Re: Problems with Marshall Origin

Post by Larsongs » Fri Feb 01, 2019 5:46 am

You might want to contact Marshall direct. Set up a Warranty claim & take it to their recommended Warranty Repair Center. If you really like the Amp.

Otherwise, you might want a different Amp..

User avatar
JVG
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 1401
Joined: Thu Aug 06, 2015 9:54 pm
Location: Sydney, Straya

Re: Problems with Marshall Origin

Post by JVG » Sun Apr 07, 2019 10:47 pm

I should update this, since things have changed. While the first amp clearly had issues, it turns out my problems with the replacement amp were to do with my system (mainly the power), not the actual amp :fp:

Having sorted that out, and having had time to get to know the amp, I can conclusively say that I LOVE IT.

My favourite sound is on the lower gain setting, with the volume between 3/4 and full, and the master adjusted as needed. This gets into that classic (some might say cliched?) bluesy breakup area, but is not overly distorted. It's definitely a vintage voiced amp, and unashamedly so. Any concerns I had about the 10" speaker not sounding big enough have been left way behind. It sounds plenty big.

It took me some time to adapt, as I had been so accustomed to my Vox, and all my gear was dialled in to work with the Vox sound. Now, I'm thoroughly past the honeymoon period with the Origin 20, and my love affair with it is strong - and growing!

It's a shame the road to get here was a bit rocky, but I'm glad i took the trip!

Cheers,
J.
Last edited by JVG on Tue Apr 09, 2019 3:11 am, edited 1 time in total.

User avatar
dph
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 107
Joined: Tue Jul 27, 2010 9:47 am

Re: Marshall Origin 20 - a rocky road, but happy finish!

Post by dph » Mon Apr 08, 2019 1:27 pm

+1 on the Origin 20. I picked mine up a couple of weeks ago and love it, especially through my Casino. I set it just to the point of breakup (gain near noon with single-coils, 9:00 with HBs), and use a couple of pedals for gain. The only thing I don't like is that this amp doesn't get on with my JM Jaguar at all.

User avatar
JagTango
PAT PEND
PAT PEND
Posts: 7
Joined: Wed Apr 17, 2019 7:00 pm

Re: Marshall Origin 20 - a rocky road, but happy finish!

Post by JagTango » Sat Apr 20, 2019 11:21 am

Happy Origin 20C owner here.
I love the sound of this amp **cranked** !!

Glad everything turned out ok with your amp.

Post Reply