Halloween 2026 has now been and gone. So what’s going on behind the scenes? If you’re interested, read on for a progress update.
I Have The Equipment I Need
In my opinion, the Marshall Origin 20H is a difficult amp to review on its own, simply because it invokes a lot of questions:
- Is it a budget plexi amp?
- If so, is it more like a JTM 45, or more like a classic JMP?
- Or is it closer in sound to something like the Tweed Bassman, perhaps?
- Is it a true pedal platform amp?
- Or is it something that works better with pedals designed to go into amps that are already cooking?
- Is it a good amp for the money?
- Or would you be happier with a different amp in the same price range?
- Or would you be happier with a different amp in the same price range?
- How do the 20W and 50W versions compare?
I’ve decided to answer those questions by comparing my Marshall Origin 20H side-by-side with a bunch of other gear:
- Marshall JTM Studio and Marshall JMP Synergy module
- Fender Tone Master 59 Bassman
- Blackstar TV-10A
- Orange OR15
- Marshall Origin 50H
That should cover everything that I want to explore.
The Axe-FX 3 Preset Is Almost Done
I’m a home player, which makes it difficult-to-impossible to crank an amp and slap a mic on a real speaker. It’s not fair on the family or the neighbours, for a start. And I just don’t have the space to leave a mic in position for weeks at a time.
So I run a so-called silent recording rig: amp into attenuator into effects processor into audio interface.
My effects processor of choice is my Axe-FX 3. Regular readers have heard me use this for the past four years now. (How that time has flown!)
I mostly use it for virtual speaker cab emulation, along with delay and reverb. I load it up with official Celestion impulse responses, to match my real 1×12 cabs.
I’ve built a new preset just for my Marshall amps, and also tested it with the Orange OR15. I think it’s almost complete. I feel that I still need to tweak my choice of Celestion V-Type IRs a bit more, and then check everything again with all the amps.
The other thing I need to do is decide whether to stick with Firmware 32.06, or upgrade. I’ve been using Firmware 32.06 for several months, so I’m very used to it by now. But the very latest firmware does include a new 4×12 cab that early adopters have been raving about … and that’s tempting to include in the review.
The downside of upgrading is that the new firmware isn’t quite as settled as Firmware 32.06 is. It’s got improved modelling, new cabinets, NAM support, and other new features that (based on prior releases) will get tweaked and tweaked again over the coming months. If I stick with Firmware 32.06, that will give me a more consistent sound across the Marshall Origin 20H blog posts.
I Lost The Summer To Climate Change, Health And Injury
This summer, we’ve had the longest and hottest summer on record here in the UK. It’s been impossible to fire up the amps and play. Our houses are designed to trap heat in; they’re not built for keeping heat out.
And then, once temperatures dropped to something tolerable, I had a cycling accident and haven’t been able to pick up a guitar or play for months. The accident left me with injuries to my left chest, left arm and left wrist.
At the time of writing (early November), I can finally pick up my Les Paul Custom again. Playing is still a struggle; I have good days and bad days. It feels like I’ve still got some ways to go before I’m fully recovered.
Oh yeah – I took up cycling this summer for health reasons. That’s new this year. I’ve been trying to get out on the bike whenever the weather allows. That has definitely eaten into the time I would normally spend playing guitar.
Should I Change My Publishing Plans?
My original plan was to publish all of the review articles at once, so that they would be consistent. The alternative is to publish them as they’re ready, and accept the risk that I might improve the signal chain along the way.
Given the delays in starting any of the articles – and the number of articles that I want to write – it probably makes sense to publish-as-I-go after all.
That also gives me more flexibility.
As I work through the questions I already have, I’m sure that new ones will occur to me. I’m going to come across things I hadn’t thought of, and I’m going to be inspired to explore additional ways to use the Marshall Origin 20H just by using it regularly again.
Final Thoughts
Now that I can finally pick up my Les Paul Custom again, I can pick up the work on the Marshall Origin 20H long-term review again.
And I’m really looking forward to getting back to it.