The Sinvertek MGAT-5 SRAA is a preamp pedal that puts a Soldano SLO-100 style amp circuit in a compact stompbox format. SRAA stands for Sinvertek Real Amp Abstraction, the maker's term for its pedals built as full amp circuits rather than simple distortion boxes. Announced in April 2025 as the fifth generation of Sinvertek's N5/MGAT line, it covers everything from clean tones to intense high-gain distortion12.
The pedal carries the three core Soldano SLO channels, Clean, Crunch and Overdrive, plus three modified channels, giving six in total: Clean, Crunch, Overdrive, Clean Boost, Crunch Top Boost and Super Saturated Distortion3. It is a limited-run piece, hand-made in China by designer Mr Wu and typically shipped from California1.
Where it came from
The MGAT-5 sits at the end of a line that began with the Sinvertek Drive N5 and ran through the Marshall-focused N5 MGAT-1 Hyper Preamp of 2022, a 14-control pedal with three channels and 19 gain tones, and later the MGAT-1 GE and the MGAT-1 EVO Great Era Edition, which aimed its Gold Era filter at three classic Marshall heads, the 1987X, 1959 SLP and 2203 JCM800456. The MGAT-5 turns the same approach on the Soldano SLO-100, and adds one more control than every N5/MGAT predecessor3.
RockBoard's PedalPedia entry describes the circuit as forged by Sinvertek after years of research in the field of tube amp overdrive7. The first 99 units were special editions featuring select vintage transistors from Mr Wu's own collection3.
The 15 controls
The control panel breaks down as seven fully variable knobs and eight three-way toggle switches, including the channel selector3. Guitar Pedal X's reviewer, Stefan Karlsson, listed the controls as Volume, Top End, Low End, Gain, Density/Core EQ, Gain Structure, Gold Era Filter, Presence, Gain Green/Orange/Red, Treble, Mid, Orange and Red Saturation, and Bass5.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume, Gain | Output level and gain amount5 |
| Top End, Low End | High and low frequency shaping5 |
| Treble, Mid, Bass | Core EQ, with ranges set by the A/B/C toggle cluster15 |
| Density / Core EQ | Tone density shaping5 |
| Gain Structure (top left toggle) | Level of saturation and intensity: Low / Normal / High1 |
| Brightness/Edge (top right toggle) | Sets the core brightness and edge for the circuit1 |
| Gold Era Filter | Filter voicing carried over from the MGAT-1 GE5 |
| Presence | High-frequency power-amp style voicing5 |
| Gain Green/Orange/Red | Gain structure selection5 |
| Orange and Red Saturation | Saturation voicing controls5 |
| OD Channel Select | Three-way switch, Clean left, Normal middle, Crunch right1 |
| Super Charger switch | Engages each channel's secondary mode14 |
| Channel 1 and 2 Bright Switch | On/Off bright voicing for the Clean and Crunch channels4 |
The pedal also includes SLO Frequency Range Reference Dots, markers that help you find the frequency ranges the original amp's controls sit in4.
What the Super Charger switch does
The Super Charger switch is the one control new to the MGAT-5, and it engages the secondary mode on each channel1. It works differently depending on which channel is active:
- Overdrive (Channel 3): nudge the switch up and hold to switch the secondary Super Saturated Mode on or off4.
- Crunch (Channel 2): nudge the switch down to switch the secondary Crunch Top Boost Mode on or off4.
So the three core channels each have a Super Charged counterpart: Clean Boost, Crunch Top Boost and Super Saturated Distortion4.
How it differs from the Soldano pedals
Soldano makes its own SLO-based pedals, the SLO Pedal, a high-gain overdrive built with cascading gain stages to replicate the amp's response, and the SLO PLUS, a dual-channel overdrive/preamp pedal with Normal crunch and Overdrive channels that the maker says works well as a preamp into a power amplifier or IR loader89. The MGAT-5 takes a different route: rather than an overdrive circuit with amp-like response, it is a full amp abstraction with six channels and 15 controls, sold in limited hand-made runs rather than through standard retail34.
What reviewers said
Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson, who has owned every major Sinvertek edition since the earliest N5 variant, received serial number #15 and reviewed the pedal in June 20254:
"Mr Wu manages to eke out a little more magic with every sequential release"
He recommended it outright for players chasing the SLO sound:
"If you want the best Marshall Distortion Pedal out there - get the MGAT-1 GE, and if you want the best Soldano SLO one"
Guitar Pedal X's preview of the MGAT-5 SRAA notes that the first 99 units are special editions featuring select vintage transistors from Mr Wu's own collection103, and the site's author expects the pedal to be stratospheric, building on what he calls the already incredible MGAT-1 GE overall sound3.
Buying one and the manual
The MGAT-5 is sold directly by Sinvertek in limited runs. Karlsson ordered his by contacting Sales Manager Tina at officialsales@sinvertek.com, paying $369 plus $20 shipping and $56 in import duties, for a total of $4454. Reported prices have since varied: $369 in November 202510 and $349 in December 20255.
No full manual existed when the first units shipped in mid-20253. RockBoard's PedalPedia entry now links an English-language manual hosted on sinvertek.com7.
Videos
Guitar Tone Pro
Javier Vinas
Questions
What does SRAA stand for on the Sinvertek MGAT-5?
SRAA stands for Sinvertek Real Amp Abstraction. Sinvertek uses the term for its series of preamp pedals that model the behavior of a specific amplifier, in this case the Soldano SLO-100, rather than simply cloning a distortion circuit.
Which amp is the Sinvertek MGAT-5 based on?
The MGAT-5 is a Real Amp Abstraction of the Soldano SLO-100. It carries the amp's three core channels, Clean, Crunch and Overdrive, plus three modified channels, and covers everything from clean tones to intense high-gain distortion.
What does the Super Charger switch do?
The Super Charger switch engages each channel's secondary mode. On the Overdrive channel you nudge the switch up and hold to toggle the Super Saturated Mode, and on the Crunch channel you nudge it down to toggle the Crunch Top Boost mode.
How much does the Sinvertek MGAT-5 cost?
Prices reported by the press vary: $368 plus $20 shipping in May 2025, $369 in November 2025, and $349 in December 2025. The pedals are made in limited runs and sold directly, so the price can move between batches.
Who designed the Sinvertek MGAT-5?
The MGAT-5 was designed by Mr Wu, who hand-makes each Sinvertek pedal in China. The first 99 units were special editions built with select vintage transistors from his own collection.
Is there a manual for the MGAT-5?
Yes. RockBoard's PedalPedia entry for the SRAA N5 MGAT-5 links an English-language manual hosted on sinvertek.com. No full manual existed when the first units shipped in mid-2025.
Sources (10)
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2025-04-21
- SLO PLUS Pedal, soldano.com, 2026-06-01
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2025-05-30
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2025-06-20
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2025-12-05
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2022-08-29
- SRAA N5 MGAT-5 by Sinvertek, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
- SLO Pedal, soldano.com
- SLO PLUS Pedal, soldano.com, 2026-07-30
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2025-11-27
