MGL100 "Jimmy Burkard" LIMITED RUN

Many months and hours of component tweaking, voicing and listening in collaboration with Jimmy Burkard, have gone into our flagship amp, the “Jimmy Burkard” inspired MGL100 Limited Run amp head. The MGL100 is a two channel 100w master volume amp that combines tones & feel from the 3 great Marshall 100w eras, Plexi, ‘70’s metal panel and JMP-JCM 2203. And that along with our circuit and voicing ideas results in a very versatile amp that's super user friendly from home volume just louder than your talking voice to all out arena volume. From late '60's & ‘70’s classic rock with the Vintage Dirty voicing, to ‘80’s modded Marshall tones and right up to newer low & drop tunings in the higher gain voicing. 

All of our amps now incorporate an exclusive silent switching circuit designed by Evan Cantor, MGL engineer & builder. So, no noisy pops when switching channels. This switching circuit has zero effect on tone. Many new amp switching circuits have solid state components that do effect the tone of the amp.

Channel 1: Is the Dirty channel that offers 2 different voicings & gain levels on a mini switch next to the channel 1 Gain control. With the switch in the up MOD position, you get our higher gain voicing and with the switch in the down VIN position, you get our new Vintage Dirty voicing with less gain that covers late Plexi & early metal panel non-master tones. And like an old non-master this voicing cleans up great by just rolling your guitar volume back.

Channel 2: You have the choice between a clean channel or a 2nd Dirty channel with the higher gain voicing.

Both channels are Marshall DNA throughout. Nothing is more authentic for that classic voice than real NOS mustard caps used in strategic positions in the circuit in each amp.

NOTE: Since each amp is built to order, you can choose to configure your amp's channel selection at the time of your build deposit. The effects loop can also be assigned to only one of the channels if preferred.

There is also a Saturation (diode clipping) circuit that works on both channels and is engaged with a mini switch on the back panel.

NOTE: This is a limited run due to the use of real mustard caps in each build. So, our current stash of caps and the possibility of sourcing more will determine the length of the run.

PRICE $3,500.00

BUILD SPECS:

• All amps are hand wired turret board construction
• Custom .090" aluminum chassis w/ welded corners, gloss black powder coating and screened with metallic silver ink for the text
• 8-10 NOS real mustard caps used in each amp, SoZo caps are used in the other positions
• Heyboer MGL spec paper layer wound Plexi power & output transformers
• Dagnall MGL spec filter choke
• Black Phenolic power tube sockets
• Belton preamp tube sockets w/  gloss black shields
• 18 AWG mil spec Teflon insulated wire 
• 1 watt carbon film resistors
• Real UK Cliff jacks
• Brass shaft CTS pots
• NOS military grade dimmable indicator lamp
• ARS filter caps
• Metropoulos “Zero Loss” effects loop w/ true bypass switch
• EH matched quad of EL34 power tubes, Optional NOS RFT Siemens EL34's at a $350.00 up-charge 
• 3 NOS square foil getter Chinese 12AX7 preamp tubes 
• Swanson Cabinets Baltic Birch plywood head cab, available in many tolex color choices at no extra charge. 

  Mini Switches, Front Panel 

There are 5 mini switches along the lower part of the front panel. The first 3 & 5th from left to right are all labeled MOD/ VIN (modern/vintage), and here's what they do: The 1st switch chooses between 2 different types of caps for the Treble circuit voicing. In the VIN position it's an NOS Lemco red "Dogbone" cap used in many of the late Plexi and '70's metal panel amps, the treble with this cap is smooth, open and transparent. In MOD position it's a ceramic disc cap that produces treble that is more aggressive w/ more sizzle & "hair" as in the JMP - JCM800 amps. The 2nd switch from the left chooses between 2 different tone caps for the first position in the circuit. In the VIN position it's an NOS mustard cap and in the MOD position it's a SoZo. Mustard cap keeps with the traditional Marshall voice, the SoZo has a little more gain and is a little more hollow in the mids for a more modern flavor. 3rd switch from the left chooses between 2 different preamp tube bias settings for the first gain stage. In the VIN position it's a hotter Plexi value with a little more gain and smooth feel and in the MOD position it's a colder metal panel-JCM value that's a little tighter and focused w/ a slight bump in the mids. The 4th switch from the left labeled 1 & 2 will switch between channels when no foot switch is being used. The last switch between the Gain controls selects the voicing for channel 1, in the up MOD position you get the higher gain voicing and in the down VIN position you get the Vintage Dirty voicing.

  Mini Switches, Back Panel

There are 3 mini switches on the back panel. The first switch from left to right is the ON/OFF true bypass switch for the FX loop. The 2nd switch labeled "SAT" engages the Saturation circuit when in the up "ON" position, in the down "OFF" position the Saturation is completely out of the circuit. The 3rd switch labeled "Voicing" has to do with the amount of negative feedback in the circuit. In the down "Vintage" setting you get more negative feedback for a more Plexi tone and feel that's warmer and has a smoother feel.  In the up "Modern" setting you get less negative feedback for a more metal panel-JCM feel that's tighter, brighter and more aggressive. 

Customer Amp Build Info

  By choice, we keep our amp production numbers low, so each customer gets a custom build. We spend as much time needed in detailed phone conversations and or emails to get you into the right model amp and the choice of aesthetic looks & appointments we offer. By building a lower number of amps, each build gets more detailed attention and we have the luxury of incorporating better components, including NOS parts & tubes in each build. The foundation, tonally for all our amp models is authentic Marshall voicings. And nothing has more Marshall DNA than real NOS mustard caps! All amps other than the 2204 model include 5-10 real mustard caps throughout the circuit. Larger production amp builders really can’t include these build appointments due to the difficulty locating and buying larger quantities of NOS parts. I’m constantly searching the world for NOS parts & tubes.