That mystery Marshall stack from Green Day’s Super Bowl set is officially here – meet the 1959BJA Billie Joe Armstrong Artist Signature
Remember that mysterious baby blue Marshall stack Billie Joe Armstrong wheeled out at this year’s Super Bowl? As many suspected, it wasn’t a one-off custom build.
After months of speculation, Marshall has officially unveiled the 1959BJA Billie Joe Armstrong Artist Signature, its first artist signature amplifier since the white snakeskin-clad 1959HW Bernie Marsden in 2019. Built in collaboration with the Green Day frontman, the handwired 100W head promises to bottle the snarling, high-gain plexi tone that helped define Dookie and an entire generation of punk rock guitar.
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Developed with Armstrong, the 1959BJA builds on Marshall’s handwired 1959HW platform, but incorporates a custom “Dookie Mod” inspired by the tone shaped alongside producer Rob Cavallo during the recording of Green Day’s landmark 1994 album.
The result, says Marshall, is a classic plexi with modern performance flexibility, delivering increased gain, tighter lows and the saturated punch that brings Armstrong’s signature sound into a modern stage-ready format.
Handwired in the UK, the 1959BJA runs on three ECC83 preamp valves and four EL34 power tubes, delivering 100 watts through a single channel with controls for Presence, Gain, Master Volume and a three-band EQ. Around the back are dual speaker outputs with switchable 4, 8 and 16-ohm impedance options.
Credit: Marshall
Visually, it’s every bit as eye-catching as it looked on the Super Bowl stage. The head sports a distinctive baby-blue finish inspired by Blue, Armstrong’s legendary first guitar (a Fernandes Stratocaster copy), complete with brass and silver panels, custom branding and the guitarist’s signature on both the front and rear panels. The unit is sold as a head only, allowing players to pair it with the cabinet of their choice.
“I’m so overjoyed to have my own signature Marshall amp,” says Billie Joe. “These amps have been a part of my musical life, from my heroes down to little old me. Turn it the fuck up!”
“Billie Joe’s guitar sound is instantly recognisable,” says Steph Carter, Culture Marketing Director at Marshall. “From the moment you hear those opening chords on Dookie, you know exactly who it is. Working with Billie to create an amp that captures that punch, aggression and clarity was an incredible project for our team.”
The 1959BJA Billie Joe Armstrong Artist Signature is available from 21 July via authorised Marshall retailers and Marshall’s website for $3,999.99/£3,099.99. Availability will vary by region.
Learn more at Marshall.
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Source: www.guitar-bass.net
