Xploration • Curation • Recommendation
Sinvertek has announced it's 5th generation of N5 / MGAT Pedals - the SRAA Sinvertek Real Amp Abstraction of the Soldano SLO
These pedals have been really impressive right from the start - with the original 11-controls No.5 Distortion from 2017 beautifully setting the scene for this series. I’ve acquired each of those 6 previous models, and will obviously be getting this MGAT-5 SRAA too - I have of course contacted Tina - to confirm my intentions! The incredible thing here is that Mr Wu consistently finds new ways to evolve this series - where I was sure it had reached its peak about 3 pedals ago - but it continues to get even better with every release. The MGAT-1 GE is already magnificent - I’m not sure what superlatives to apply here any more!
I’m assuming the price will have risen again for the new variant - so I’m expecting these to be at the $400-$450 mark. The previous MGAT-1 GE Model was @ $350. These are meticulously hand-made in China by Mr Wu, but then typically shipped from California - so I’m not sure how that will work within the current Trumpian economy - while we Brits should be overall less impacted by those tariffs! Where I am still expecting to pay significant import and customs charges! That’s what kind of held me away from the recent Sinvertek SHODA Pairing - the additional costs for that pair would have been exorbitant - and entirely unpractical. I just could not justify it within my usual operating parameters!
I’ve long since committed to this particular N5 / MGAT line of pedals - and in fact have acquired all those models featured / listed - besides the MGAT-5 which has yet to go officially up for sale! I don’t think anyone has championed these pedals more than I - where they have consistently been my favourite distortion style pedals throughout those years. I absolutely adore the MGAT-1 GE!
To me the generations here have always seemed to sort of come in pairs - which you can clearly see evolving via the similarities in surface control topologies - the first two look very similar - with 11 controls each - i.e. the No.5, and N5, then we have another seeming pairing for the 12-controls N5+ and N5+ 3D, then the 14-controls MGAT-1 and MGAT-1 GE, and of course the lates MGAT-5 SRAA Edition - with its 15 controls!
So to my mind there look to have been 4 generations at work here - while Sinvertek are billing the SRAA as the 5th-Generation MGAT-5. So there’s obviously a different demarcation at work here - and one of those pairs has a more significant evolution and are therefore assuredly considered to be separate generations!
The 7 featured are :
- 2017 : No.5 Distortion
- 2018 : N5
- 2019 : N5+
- 2021 : N5+ 3D
- 2022 : MGAT-1
- 2023 : MGAT-1 GE (Golden Era)
- 2025 : MGAT-5 SRAA Sinvertek Real Amp Abstraction
The latest of this line have most definitely been fully ’amps’ in their own right - such that one of these later Sinvertek pedals delivers the full authentic Analog / Solid State Amp experience - but very much with that tube-amp style sensitivity and sensibility! In short these are the very finest Distoriton pedals in particular - while they cover the full range of outputs from Clean to Intense High Gain Distortion.
The newest model’s control topology has evolved once again to a very unique take - where Mr Wu always utilises some choice new phrases and neologisms - which need the Manual really to be fully deciphered!
Based on my experience to-date I will attempt a basic interpretation of the control topology - while there will likely be some gaps in my understanding as this is so new now.
These control topologies look a little intimidating to some - but they all have an inherent logic to them which is fairly easily learned. I’ve been on this journey from the start - and while I do concede that these have some layout quirks - the controls are typically rather self-explanatory - particularly once you’ve been able to refer to the manual once or twice!
First Topological Draft Analysis!
So we see the return of the 'Resonance' and 'Presence' controls - which we last saw on the 2021 N5+ 3D Model. I always liked having those - so they're a welcome return for me for sure.
We're back to 7 fully variable controls now - Volume, Gain, Bass, Mid, Treble, Resonance, and Presence.
And then we have one more of the typically 3-way Toggle-switches - which now number 8! And are usually evenly split between core Gain Structure and Character, and EQ ranges.|
Albeit not 100% clear yet - the A | B | C cluster is typically about setting ranges for the Bass, Mid and Treble variable controls. And the top right switch sets the core Brightess / Edge for the circuit.
Then the top left switch is the core Gain Structure / Level of Saturation and Intensity - Low / Normal / High control.
The 3rd 'Super ϟ Charger' switch is entirely new - and presumably allows you to rapidly up the intensity / saturation.
Then we have the switch next to the Bass knob - which is typically the core EQ Character for the circuit TO.DE Type I and II are typically settings for Brighter and Darker Amps - with the SRAA option likely the flat neutral one!
Finally we have the OD Overdrive Channel Select - which is typically a 3-way switch - with Clean option to the left, Normal in the middle, and Crunch to the right.
That combination of controls allows you to adapt the MGAT-5 exactly to your needs, fully granularly shape its output, and give you the ability to ramp things up or down - easily and rapidly.
Mr Wu is a wonderful student of neologism with some choice use of words and phrases. Some reference to the manual is normally required to fully decipher all the controls and control segments - while I feel I've mostly got the gist of it already. These interfaces can look intimidating - while I've always felt that they had a good sense of logic to them. Although the positioning of some of those controls can be a little challenging at times as the switches are not always in the immediate vicinity of those variable controls whose ranges they impact!
I've been so impressed with these over the years - and am very excited to get my hands on the latest variant.
We Europeans have always been a little disadvantaged here compared to our American cousins - where these pedals as mentioned - typically ship from California - while they are hand-made by Mr Wu in China.
The further pricing and final details will be revealed soon - and you will need to contact Tina to register your interest - as these are always limited runs in their nature! Remember Sinvertek Official Sales (Tina) = officialsales@sinvertek.com .
I will probably do a couple more articles on this subject - one covering all the controls when the Manual is out, and one with a hands-on review when it lands.
As of my writing this - all that we've seen so far are social media teasers posts for this pedal - there's nothing up yet on the www.sinvertek.com website. I will share more when that happens!
Note that I really love the new appointments to this enclosure's trade tress - all those cool additional elements - and in this variant including a couple of LED Lens Caps - which look like smartphone camera apertures!
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