Uploaded March 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
I spent weeks modifying my guitar amp for BETTER tones. It turned this Marshall Origin 20 tube amp in to a monster using the Headfirst Sirius Amps replacement board. Here's exactly how I did it.
00:00 Start
00:13 Intro and Preamble
01:56 The Donor Amp
03:38 The Sirius Board
05:23 Parts and Price
07:17 Assembly what you need
07:59 Starting Out
08:46 Just for You
09:47 Originated Problem
10:05 Help from You
10:41 Start Simple
12:09 Important Point
14:47 Resistors & PCB
15:51 Fitting Capacitors
17:14 Caps Fitted
19:18 Spade Connectors
19:53 De-soldering Tool
20:52 Multi-pin Sockets
22:04 Wait for Parts
24:45 Closeup of PCB
25:18 Problems So Far
29:20 Control Panel
31:15 Nearly Complete PCB
32:16 More Procedures
33:26 No Standby?
34:07 Crazy Mistake
36:54 Unsolder Tool
37:33 Other Problems
38:28 Spade Info
40:51 9 Pin Sockets
41:22 No Power Control
43:47 Help Me!
44:39 Fit the PCB's
45:33 Front Controls
45:53 Knobs
46:24 EL34 Sockets
46:47 Socket Alignment
47:16 Initial Fit
47:42 Anomalies
49:38 Must Variac
52:23 Test Meter
53:38 Ready to Rock?
55:05 Solving Problems
58:40 Does it Work?
59:26 Test with a Dummy?
1:02:07 Problems Revisited
1:16:20 Last Fixes Standby
1:18:21 Lamp
1:19:18 Score
1:20:47 Re-cased
1:24:06 Plugged in
1:27:58 Played
My website: tonymckenzie.com
Headfirst Amps Website: headfirstamps.com
Evolve DIY Amp PCB's etc: evolvediy.com
Sirius Amps: https://siriusamplification.com.au/
Marshall website: marshall.com
My original Marshall Factory Tour: youtu.be/WeerxAO3oRU?si=fRcaJEukPEp1DSEk part 1
My original Marshall Factory Tour: youtu.be/rhe7qXP08qw?si=97YOTSB_UyYNmWBF part 2
The BOM is not necessary as they made a new one!
The Marshall Origin 20 amp is made in Vietnam. Let's say it's not quite one of the most modern amps out there, but in my opinion it is very price conscious and can be bought for around £400 or less in the UK. Its a perfect vehicle for modifying and I guess Head First Amps and Sirius Amps had a great idea.
I saw the Sirius PCB being shown by Headfirst and ordered one as I like messing about with tube amps off and on. I think it would make a great project - and that's how it all turned out. I made various mistakes but the first Bill of Materials (BOM) did not help me. But I blundered on with it all and the BOM did cost me extra money overall.
In this video I show you how I completed the project and ended up with a working modified Marshall Origin 20 amp. The finished version is a real monster for sure and if you play rock its a great amp. There 'might' be some clean in there :)
So if you are wanting to either just watch the video and my antics (it IS educational) and the problems I created and fixed :) through the build then this video is likely for you. And even if you have 'no clue' about tube amps I hopefully take you through this build just as any 'ordinary' guy would, as opposed to those 'techies' approach. And I think that for ordinary guitarists with a little bit of soldering experience the project is not beyond the abilities of many - just heed the safety points I raise - and I AM NOT TELLING YOU THAT YOU CAN DO THIS. But I found it really educational and the result is ultimately that it worked! The finished amp can sound great as my cleaner style in my track shows, and Alan Bruce played heavier stuff.
Sincerely I hope you like the video.
This is a completely un-sponsored video and I bought every last Item myself - what you see could be you! And you could end up with an even better amp. But be warned if you neither have the tools or know how I recommend you don't do it! But I prove it IS possible.
I want to thank the guy at Sirius (Alex) that helped me find the reversed multi-pin connectors I mistakenly fitted the wrong way around.
The audio I played has really brilliant tone quality to that laid back track at 01:28:00 or thereabouts and Alan Bruce shows a more Metal track shows some metal tones at 1:30:20
I really liked the laid back tone - check it out.
I will be posting a few things here later maybe or not.
PLEASE SUBSCRIBE, RING THE BELL, AND THUMBS UP to give my channel a boost and thank you for watching - I hope the video is enjoyable for you and that you see the tings in it that other reviews NEVER show!.
(c) A B McKenzie and tonymckenzie.com 2009-2025
All Rights Reserved. All Trade Marks Acknowledged
Visit tonymckenzie.com for more incredible reviews or my YouTube channel
#marshall #origin20 #guitaramp #guitaramps #guitaramplifier #headfirstamps #siriusamps #tonymckenzie #tubeamplifier #tubeamp #headfirst #guitaramplifier #marshalltubeamp #review #mods
I spent weeks modifying my guitar amp for BETTER tones. It turned this Marshall Origin 20 tube amp in to a monster using the Headfirst Sirius Amps replacement board. Here's exactly how I did it.
00:00 Start
00:13 Intro and Preamble
01:56 The Donor Amp
03:38 The Sirius Board
05:23 Parts and Price
07:17 Assembly what you need
07:59 Starting Out
08:46 Just for You
09:47 Originated Problem
10:05 Help from You
10:41 Start Simple
12:09 Important Point
14:47 Resistors & PCB
15:51 Fitting Capacitors
17:14 Caps Fitted
19:18 Spade Connectors
19:53 De-soldering Tool
20:52 Multi-pin Sockets
22:04 Wait for Parts
24:45 Closeup of PCB
25:18 Problems So Far
29:20 Control Panel
31:15 Nearly Complete PCB
32:16 More Procedures
33:26 No Standby?
34:07 Crazy Mistake
36:54 Unsolder Tool
37:33 Other Problems
38:28 Spade Info
40:51 9 Pin Sockets
41:22 No Power Control
43:47 Help Me!
44:39 Fit the PCB's
45:33 Front Controls
45:53 Knobs
46:24 EL34 Sockets
46:47 Socket Alignment
47:16 Initial Fit
47:42 Anomalies
49:38 Must Variac
52:23 Test Meter
53:38 Ready to Rock?
55:05 Solving Problems
58:40 Does it Work?
59:26 Test with a Dummy?
1:02:07 Problems Revisited
1:16:20 Last Fixes Standby
1:18:21 Lamp
1:19:18 Score
1:20:47 Re-cased
1:24:06 Plugged in
1:27:58 Played
My website: tonymckenzie.com
Headfirst Amps Website: headfirstamps.com
Evolve DIY Amp PCB's etc: evolvediy.com
Sirius Amps: https://siriusamplification.com.au/
Marshall website: marshall.com
My original Marshall Factory Tour: youtu.be/WeerxAO3oRU?si=fRcaJEukPEp1DSEk part 1
My original Marshall Factory Tour: youtu.be/rhe7qXP08qw?si=97YOTSB_UyYNmWBF part 2
The BOM is not necessary as they made a new one!
The Marshall Origin 20 amp is made in Vietnam. Let's say it's not quite one of the most modern amps out there, but in my opinion it is very price conscious and can be bought for around £400 or less in the UK. Its a perfect vehicle for modifying and I guess Head First Amps and Sirius Amps had a great idea.
I saw the Sirius PCB being shown by Headfirst and ordered one as I like messing about with tube amps off and on. I think it would make a great project - and that's how it all turned out. I made various mistakes but the first Bill of Materials (BOM) did not help me. But I blundered on with it all and the BOM did cost me extra money overall.
In this video I show you how I completed the project and ended up with a working modified Marshall Origin 20 amp. The finished version is a real monster for sure and if you play rock its a great amp. There 'might' be some clean in there :)
So if you are wanting to either just watch the video and my antics (it IS educational) and the problems I created and fixed :) through the build then this video is likely for you. And even if you have 'no clue' about tube amps I hopefully take you through this build just as any 'ordinary' guy would, as opposed to those 'techies' approach. And I think that for ordinary guitarists with a little bit of soldering experience the project is not beyond the abilities of many - just heed the safety points I raise - and I AM NOT TELLING YOU THAT YOU CAN DO THIS. But I found it really educational and the result is ultimately that it worked! The finished amp can sound great as my cleaner style in my track shows, and Alan Bruce played heavier stuff.
Sincerely I hope you like the video.
This is a completely un-sponsored video and I bought every last Item myself - what you see could be you! And you could end up with an even better amp. But be warned if you neither have the tools or know how I recommend you don't do it! But I prove it IS possible.
I want to thank the guy at Sirius (Alex) that helped me find the reversed multi-pin connectors I mistakenly fitted the wrong way around.
The audio I played has really brilliant tone quality to that laid back track at 01:28:00 or thereabouts and Alan Bruce shows a more Metal track shows some metal tones at 1:30:20
I really liked the laid back tone - check it out.
I will be posting a few things here later maybe or not.
PLEASE SUBSCRIBE, RING THE BELL, AND THUMBS UP to give my channel a boost and thank you for watching - I hope the video is enjoyable for you and that you see the tings in it that other reviews NEVER show!.
(c) A B McKenzie and tonymckenzie.com 2009-2025
All Rights Reserved. All Trade Marks Acknowledged
Visit tonymckenzie.com for more incredible reviews or my YouTube channel
#marshall #origin20 #guitaramp #guitaramps #guitaramplifier #headfirstamps #siriusamps #tonymckenzie #tubeamplifier #tubeamp #headfirst #guitaramplifier #marshalltubeamp #review #mods
