rsm
Well-known member
So I've owned my Marshall Origin 50C 1x12 open back combo for a few years, paid around $600 new IIRC. It's a good amp for the price, power scaling works great, and it gets loud. The stock Celestion G12N-60 Midnight speaker is a little generic and lackluster IMO.
A few weeks ago I replaced the speaker with a Celestion G12M-65 creamback, and it made a noticeable, good difference, minus pushing the speaker to distort.
I wanted a 1x12 extension cab, and found a PRS Archon 1x12, closed back with a Celestion V-Type for a good price. It's the same speaker that's stock in the DSL40CR I have, so this cab works with both of my Marshall 1x12 combos.
The Origin 50C with these updates, gets closer to JTM and plexi (I have a JTM 45 reissue and a 1959HW, that I run into a 1960AX/1960BX with greenbacks for comparison) sound and feel, at lower volumes; takes pedals well, At the high 50W setting it doesn't get boxy or flubby in the low end, and with the master at 6+, and gain at 7 it really interacts with the guitar and playing dynamics, gets a good mid 70s hard rock rhythm tone without any boost or drive pedal, unlike my jTM 45 or 1959HW, that have to be pushed even louder, and need a boost to get to the gain levels of the Origin.
Sure it's cheap, built in Vietnam, and probably a nightmare for repairs, but it's a great value IMO. I've seen some used for $400. If Marshall offered these in a deluxe model with a creamback they'd probably sell more.
If you want those early Marshall tones on a budget that can get to lower volumes w/o and attenuator, the Origin 50C is worth a look. It can get from early 60s to mid 70s without a boost (it has a foot-switchable boost too, that works great IMO, and includes the foot switch; which also has on/off for the effects loop). The DSL40CR gets me from late JMP to JCM 2000 tones, about where the Origin leaves off without a boost.
My $0.02 worth
A few weeks ago I replaced the speaker with a Celestion G12M-65 creamback, and it made a noticeable, good difference, minus pushing the speaker to distort.
I wanted a 1x12 extension cab, and found a PRS Archon 1x12, closed back with a Celestion V-Type for a good price. It's the same speaker that's stock in the DSL40CR I have, so this cab works with both of my Marshall 1x12 combos.
The Origin 50C with these updates, gets closer to JTM and plexi (I have a JTM 45 reissue and a 1959HW, that I run into a 1960AX/1960BX with greenbacks for comparison) sound and feel, at lower volumes; takes pedals well, At the high 50W setting it doesn't get boxy or flubby in the low end, and with the master at 6+, and gain at 7 it really interacts with the guitar and playing dynamics, gets a good mid 70s hard rock rhythm tone without any boost or drive pedal, unlike my jTM 45 or 1959HW, that have to be pushed even louder, and need a boost to get to the gain levels of the Origin.
Sure it's cheap, built in Vietnam, and probably a nightmare for repairs, but it's a great value IMO. I've seen some used for $400. If Marshall offered these in a deluxe model with a creamback they'd probably sell more.
If you want those early Marshall tones on a budget that can get to lower volumes w/o and attenuator, the Origin 50C is worth a look. It can get from early 60s to mid 70s without a boost (it has a foot-switchable boost too, that works great IMO, and includes the foot switch; which also has on/off for the effects loop). The DSL40CR gets me from late JMP to JCM 2000 tones, about where the Origin leaves off without a boost.
My $0.02 worth
