- Marshall’s 1959BJA Signature amp was first seen at the Super Bowl
- Built on Marshall’s handwired 1959HW platform, with a custom ‘Dookie Mod’
- The color? A nod to Billie Joe Armstrong’s first guitar, Blue (are you even an Idiot?)
When Billie Joe Armstrong et al took to the stage for Green Day’s Super Bowl performance earlier in the year, I’m pretty sure most guitarists stopped listening for the “MAGA agenda” lyric switcheroo that never came and instead simply breathed “That amp though…”
And now, shredders can buy their own striking baby-blue Marshall head, just like the one that was set up behind Billie Joe Armstrong — for a not insignificant sum of $3,999.99 / £3,099.99 (which is around AU$5,779, where sold).
It is Marshall’s first artist signature amp in 14 years, and its full name is the Billie Joe Armstrong 1959BJA Artist Signature. Yes, it’s inspired by one of punk rock’s most recognizable guitar tones, and yes, that means it has a special “Dookie mod”.
Basket Case? No, just the amp please
The amp was developed with Billie Joe Armstrong (it even bears his signature on the front and back) and is built on Marshall’s hand-wired 1959HW platform, refined with a custom “Dookie Mod”. This, says Marshall, is “inspired by the tone shaped alongside producer Rob Cavallo during Green Day’s breakthrough era”.
The promise? A classic plexi but with modern performance flexibility, “increased gain, tighter lows and the saturated punch that brings Billie’s signature sound into a modern stage-ready format.”
The design, of course, is a nod to Billie’s first guitar, Blue (seen in the main image), combining baby-blue with brass and silver panel details, all hand-wired in the UK.
It is released as a head-only unit, so axe men can pair it with the cabinet of their choice — but I’m sure a blue cabinet is possible to purchase as well…
And this isn’t Billie Joe Armstrong’s first rodeo with Marshall. Back in 2024, he actually appeared in the Monitor III ANC headphones campaign. So, the 1959BJA simply marks the natural progression of that relationship? It certainly looks that way.
Armstrong himself is quoted as saying, “I’m so overjoyed to have my own signature Marshall amp”, adding “These amps have been a part of my musical life, from my heroes down to little old me. Turn it the f**k up!!”
You’ll be able to buy the 1959BJA Billie Joe Armstrong Artist Signature from July 21, and again, you’ll need to part with $3,999.99 / £3,099.99 (or around AU$5,779) to get yours when they become available.
Sometimes you don’t find the amp; it finds you. It’s something unpredictable, but in the end, it’s right…
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becky.scarrott@futurenet.com (Becky Scarrott)
