So I did the recommended Class 5 mods to the the Origin 5, and it sounds better.

Before the
mods, the Origin 5 sounded good enough (lots of bass) but I think the mods transformed it into a
better sounding amp. The Origin 5 seems to better control the audio levels through the circuit, so
that the output to the speaker is not overly distorted unless at high, unboosted volume settings or
most of the boosted mode. The section between V1B cathode and V2A grid has a lot more
attenuation in line (I didn't transcribe the whole schematic but I did notice a couple 2.2M
resistors in that section. I only transcribed the base circuit, which is an almost clone of the Class
5).

With the increased attenuation between V1B cathode and V2A grid, the levels at R11/R14 (grid
of V2A) are much weaker than the Class 5. But the subsequent stages more than make up for
this, and I get +12/-12 volt symmetrical, slightly distorted peaks at the speaker connections at
volume 10, unboosted.

My Class 5, with the same mods, puts out a distorted output at the speaker connection at any
levels above 5 on the volume control, +9/-10 peaks that do not increase in amplitude as the
volume is increased, just increase in distortion levels. Also, the Class 5 DC voltages are much
higher for the preamplifiers, and I don't know why (I used the same tubes for the comparison,
changing them from the same socket of one amp to the other). The the V3 EL84 power
amplifiier plate, screen and cathode voltages are an almost clone between it and the Origin 5
power amp. The dropping resistors on the power rail are the same 10K values. Maybe the boost
circuit brings down the voltages, even when un-engaged.

Any suggestions for how to bring down the drive to V2B would be appreciated. The Origin 5
has much lower levels of drive but in the end has higher amplitude, cleaner speaker input levels.
I didn't trace the entire circuit but I did notice that there are 2 EA 2.2M resistors in the circuit just
before V2A grid, which should greatly reduce the drive. I tried to reduce the levels going to
V2A by installing a 470K to ground across the input side of R22 for V2A grid, but I didn't see
any drop in level at R11. I also put a 220K across R11 and that brought the levels down but the
V2B drive is still high.

Below are the DC voltage and oscope signal levels I got from an A/B comparison between the
Class 5 and the Origin 5. Note the "+" and "-", which mean positive and negative peak levels
referenced to zero volts. Hopefully things stay lined up below, but I'm attaching the doc. I
tested at volume levels of 7 and 10. I tested the Origin 5 in both unboosted and boosted modes at
the same 2 volume levels This isn't exactly scientific but will give you an idea of the
voltage/signal differences between the amp circuitry. Although the base audio circuit between
the amps is an almost clone, there's more circuitry between V1B and V2A that considerably
changes the levels. Also, I replaced R18 of the Class 5 back to 1.5K (I put a 2K since I didn't
have a 1.8K). I was hoping this would drop the V1A plate signal levels but they stayed the same.
Voltage and signal level comparison between the Marshall Class 5 and the Origin 5
Class 5 DC voltages:

V1A plate 140 (with 1.5K, was 170 with 2K)

V1A cathode .9 (with 1.5K, was 1.2 with 2K)

V1B plate unk now, was 233 with 2K V1AK

V1B cathode unk now, was 2.7 with 2K V1AK (and 31V before removing R9 that biased V1B)
(The Marshall 1959 and 1987 “plexi” amps had the V2A-P connect to V2B-grid)

V2A plate unk now, was 211 with 2K V1AK

V2A cathode unk now, was 1.8 with 2K V1AK

V2B plate unk now, was 168 with 2K V1AK

V2B cathode unk now, was 1.1 with 2K V1AK

V3 plate around 253, can’t easily access

V3 screen 251
V3 cathode 7.3

B+1 255
B+2 239
B+3 233

Origin 5 DC voltages:
V1A plate 112
V1A cathode .6

V1B plate 151

V1B cathode 1.8

V2A plate 173

V2A cathode 1.6

V2B plate 106

V2B cathode .6

V3 plate 251
V3 screen 249
V3 cathode 7.2

B+1 254
B+2 199
B+3 151
Peak Signal Voltages (picking 3rd string, 12th fret, Strat, neck p/u):
Class 5:
Vol 7 Vol 10
V1AP (C9 out) +4/-4 clean +4/-4 clean

V1BC (R28) +.8 cln +2.5 cln

-.8 cln -1.7 dist

V1BC (R22/R23) +150mv cln +350mv cln

-150mv cln +350mv cln
This voltage did not change after I put a 470K to ground across input side of R22, to try to lower
signal level. The Origin levels are more attenuated prior to R22, to prevent overdriving.

V2AP (R11/R14) +.6 cln +1.5 cln (dropped to 1V after adding 220K across R11)
-.8 cln -2 cln (also dropped after adding the resistor in parallel)
Voltages much higher than Origin, trying to reduce drive to V3, speaker output is distorted.

V2BP (R24/R26) +10 cln +20 cln

-15 cln -22 cln

SPKR +9 dist +9 more dist

-10 dist -10 more dist

Origin 5:
UNBOOSTED: Vol 7 Vol 10 BOOSTED: Vol 7 Vol 10

V1AP (C9 out) +2/-2 clean +2/-2 clean +2/-2 clean +2/-2 clean

V1BC (R28) unk +500mv cln unk +500mv cln

unk -500mv cln unk +500mv cln

V1BC (R22/R23) unk +75mv/-75mv unk +200mv cln

-200mv cln

V2AP (R11/R14) +200mv cln +300mv cln +600mv cln +800mv cln
-200mv cln -400mv cln -600mv cln -1000mv cln

V2BP (R24/R26) +6 cln +8 cln +15 cln +20 cln

-6 cln -8 cln -15 cln -18 sl. Dist

SPKR connections +8 cln +12 sl. dist +10 dist +12 dist
-8 cln -12 sl. dist -10 dist -12 dist

Low power, spkr +3 cln +4 sl. dist unk, only checked unboosted
-3 cln -4 sl. dist unk, only checked unboosted
Low Power mode does not change to B+ levels, signal is attenuated before speaker output port.