Now shipping, the Mack Amps Gem 2nd Generation (2G) boutique guitar amplifier features enhanced overdrive and distortion voicing, more clean headroom, and two gain stages selectable via foot switch.

About the new Gem 2G, Mack Amps founder Don Mackrill said, "The big news is the new preamp design and the foot switch feature that effectively makes the 2G a two channel amp. The re-voiced preamp has more clean headroom and still produces gorgeous crunch in the Hot setting, and the Melt setting has even sweeter distortion than the original Gem."

The Gem 2G includes Mack's power switching feature that lowers the unit's output from 4W to 0.4W without changing tone. According to Mack, the 2G's lush tones come from an EL84 power tube, unlike many low power amps that use a preamp tube in the power stage.

The amp is also quite quiet, Mackrill continues. "A sign of a well designed amp is how quiet it is. The original Gem was already quiet for a single-ended amp, but we continued to innovate and the 2G's hum is almost inaudible."

Mackrill notes that "compared to a $200 to $300 amp made overseas that needs an upgrade kit for another $100 to even $300 and a bunch of your time to make it sound good, the Gem 2G sounds fantastic right out of the box, has way more flexibility, and is hand made in Toronto for about the same price or even less."

Mack Gem 2G features:

• 4W switchable to 0.4W
• 1 x EL84 cathode biased, Class-A
• 1 x NOS 6AC10 triple triode preamp tube
• Switchable preamp gain stages / channels - front panel and footswitch
• Volume, gain, tone controls
• Anodized aluminum, red cabinet
• 8" (W) x 5 1/2" (H) x 4" (D)
• 4 lbs.
• 117 / 120 VAC, 60 Hz

The new Gem 2nd Generation (2G) boutique guitar amp is now available from Mack Amps, direct for $449. For more information, please visit mackamps.com.