My Sinvertek N5 MGAT-1 Golden Era DS99 Hyper Preamp has landed!
Wow - what can I say! The original N5 MGAT-1 was already my favourite distortion of all time - so I initially thought that this was going to be a sort of sideways step from that with more specificity to reach certain key classic era Marshall tones more easily and more precisely - and it certainly does that. While Mr Wu has kind of blown me away again - as this is incredibly a further improvement over the already exceptional MGAT-1.
The MGAT-1 Golden Era seems a little bit more poised and even livelier - some extra subtle timbre / texture in its harmonics and breakup, seemingly even better guitar volume cleanup too. It’s early days and I’ve been comparing my MGAT-1 and MGAT-1-GE side by side for a few days now - and while there is a very obvious overlap - the Golden Era edition does seem to deliver a little more, and deliver it’s output a touch differently and more intricately.
The most obvious change on the new version is the bottom left former Mid Range toggle switch changing to a very precise ’Golden Era Filter’, while I also sense some changes in the Gain and Gain Structure too (right hand switches). The original MGAT-1 was / is a magical pedal for me - and this one is even more so. For a Pedal Platform guy this pedal is just perfection really - as it really does bring on that proper big tube amp feel in every sense pretty much.
Mr Wu has meticulously re-calibrated all the controls seemingly - to serve those Classic Vintage Marshall Amp variants - where I will of course tend to fine-tune things on a little further for my own preferences - and to better suit my own rig - while his exacting instructions in the supplied PDF manual are superb starting points for each of those amp varieties and may even be perfectly spot-on for some of you.
The range and output incredibly seems to have been increased and improved, and there is something just a little bit more special about the new variant - I guess it more exactingly meets my own sonic preferences - which may not be the case for all. These are supposed to be peak vintage Marshall tones - and for me this is another triumph in the N5 Series saga.
I’ve kind of lost track of where we are in that cycle - I think this is the 6th major iteration overall. I’ve been part of this journey from the very beginning and I’m amazed how Mr Wu is still able to eke out such still evident improvements.
I've yet to fully determine what % this is better than its predecessor (5%? 10%?) - while in the room it is noticeably different for me - but then my ears are very finely tuned - and my rig configured to reveal the most intricate of details and differences - in particular for harmonic content. I often talk about certain preamp or distortion pedals having a 'percolating' quality (sort of oscillating in their sustain) which adds even more of a lively dimensions and dynamic to your playing - so that everything about how this pedal feels and sounds is right up there at the top of the tree - this surely has to be another milestone and high-water-mark for gain pedal innovation - right up there with the work Kernom have been doing of late.
I wasn't expecting this one to be that audibly different over its phenomenal predecessor - but somehow it is.
For those of you where even 3 knobs can be too much on occasion - I say try this one before you knock it - this is a next level pedal - I don't lightly proclaim something my favourite ever - without very significant cause. It's been such a delight to be on this journey - while my wallet hasn't always thanked me for my participation.
I also seem to have dropped somewhat down the priority list and slightly out of favour as I had pedal #2 for the original MGAT-1, while my new Golden Era edition is a less impressive #24. Perhaps I've done something to upset Tina - I do get accused of over-eagerness on occasion - surely you can't penalise enthusiasm for a new release!
I really like the lighter look of this particular edition - while the kind of beige enclosure colour is a little odd - It's quite handsome in the flesh though - with a subtly sparkly finish - and the new shiny knobs look fantastic. I really liked the knobs on the last one - but I think I like these even more.
I would have loved to have shown you the pedal interior - but unlike the SHXC Super Overdrive - this is a reverse board build - so you would need to screw everything apart to see the interior components - which is just too much of a fiddly palaver for me - I would imagine a circuitboard equally stuffed with primo components in any case.
Like I said at the start - I didn't expect this one to be as much improved as this - I really though there was nowhere to go after the MGAT-1 - but Mr Wu has found a way to improve it still further - which is why I will always get in line for his next release!
These are getting increasingly pricey - and this latest iteration is definitely up there at $350 - where I paid an additional $20 for delivery, and then a circa further £80 for customs / import fees - which is near enough another $100. So this is for sure a pricey proposition at a total of $470. For what it does I still kind of think it's worth it - for me the next natural step here is to add some sort of digital control layer - so we can have presets / MIDI - as there are so many wonderful sweet spots on this pedal - its range is simply next level - with all the fire-power it has onboard it can shape it's output in the most expansive manner - and once you get a handle on it - the dial-in is actually super easy too!
Controls - Volume, Top End : Modern / X / Vintage, Low End : Full / Tight / Medium, Gain, Destity / Core EQ : Dark / Poweramp / Bright, Gain Structure : Low / Medium / High, Gold Era Filter : 1987X / 1959SLP + High Gain / 2203 JCM800, Presence, Gain : Green / Orange / Red, Treble, Mid, Orange Saturation : ++ / 0 / +, Red Saturation : ++ / 0 / +, Bass.
Many will balk at all the controls here - while you can easily start off with everything in the middle - bar the top 2 toggle switches - which are really best in the up position.
In early discussions with N5 / MGAT-1 fans - I advocated that many wouldn't necessarily sense such a big change in the new variant, and that still largely remains true now too. It's a lot to invest in a new pedal - especially for any of us outside the USA (Sinvertek ships free for mainland USA from California).
As with any pedal - I think the mileage will vary for each individual player and for those who already own the MGAT-1 and already love it - then that is still a most incredible gain machine. While as I mention - and somewhat incredibly - the newer one is impossibly even better!
There are 2 current editions of this pedal per the below visual - both priced at $349 - the DS99 edition is the rarer one - and I prefer its look and overall clarity.
It just remains for me to congratulate Mr Wu for another masterpiece - and to ask Tina what I need to do - to get back up the leaderboard!
I know lots of you are Sinvertek fans like me - who else has one of these?
I've been waiting for new demos - and there aren't any out there yet - so I will just bookmark this with the two best demos for the original MGAT-1 - that should be enough to blow your socks off anyway - and somehow this Golden Era edition is even more impressive - you have to wonder how much further we can go with this format!
If you want one - you need to send off an email to Sales Manager Tina - officialsales@sinvertek.com.
There is a superb manual which owners get sent - which doesn't seem to be up on the Sinvertek site just yet!
Demos
