Magnatone Amps Buyers Guide

Welcome to Jonathan's Comprehensive Guide to Magnatone Amps! In this in-depth video, join Jonathan as he delves into the rich history, unique features, and unmistakable sound of Magnatone amplifiers. Links to Demo Clips below. From the vintage classics to modern reissues, Jonathan explores the diverse range of models, highlighting their sonic capabilities and explaining what sets these amps apart in the world of music gear. Whether you're a seasoned musician, a vintage gear enthusiast, or just curious about iconic amplifiers, this guide promises to be an insightful journey through the legacy and craftsmanship of Magnatone amps. Get ready to uncover the secrets and nuances behind these legendary amplifiers with Jonathan as your expert guide!
• Magnatone Twilighter Demo - Twilighter Demo
• Magnatone Varsity Reve... - Varsity Reverb Demo
• Magnatone Super Fiftee... - Super 15 Demo
• Magnatone Panoramic St... - Panoramic Stereo
#MagnatoneAmps #VintageSound #GuitarGear #MusicEquipment #AmplifierGuide #GearReview #MusicHistory #VintageAmps #GuitarTone #JonathanGuide

[@jefffletcher2614]

Great stuff! And remember, every time you say "black-panel" a rhettskull gets it's wings.

[@bottomkitchen250]

Burst out laughing when I read that

[@billkallas1762]

I had a Magnatone back in the 60's. 2x12, with vibrato (no reverb) I also had a cherry dual pickup double cut Melody maker. Wish I would have kept them both. I quit the band in 1968, after I got married, and started up again in 2017, as a bedroom player.

[@theuserthatishere]

never too late to gig again if you want to

[@itstravisjames512]

Grabbed a used Twighlighter and it changed the game. Loved it so much I scooped up a Panoramic Stereo too. Best amps out there.

[@1Alfon]

Which one do you prefer Twilighter or Panoramic?

[@itstravisjames512]

The panoramic is the most unique- arguably of all my amps, and many amps for that matter. The fact that’s it’s 2x10 AND driven by 4 EL84s (and it’s clean based) is wild. So it has that low end tightness, zero flub, with almost chimney vibes. And the 10s? Same reason why people love Princetons- all immediacy. I could also go on about the Twilighter but it’s very different. I’ll keep it simple and say- it’s better at being a Fender Deluxe than a Fender Deluxe ever was. Better 12” format doesn’t exist. I’ve ranted and haven’t even mentioned the otherworldly reverb or vibrato. Uh oh…

[@adamgray8009]

Nice overview Jonathan! Definitely thinking of a stereo Twilighter. I currently have the M80 Head and cab and it’s incredible. The head is just about perfect, as far as I’m concerned. Jonathan is right in that the fx loop is great. So is the master volume. Best I’ve heard. I did find the cab a little harsh to my ears so I swapped out to some real British Creamback 65’s and all is good. Happy holidays Casino boys!! Ya’ll are the best.

[@James-l3e]

Drooling over these. Baby M80 is killer!

[@elvistech77]

Im running my starlite through an attenuator using the external speaker option, and I just love how it roars with the volume knob almost all the way up

[@Junterhack]

I love that you can easily use an attenuator with these! It’s like a head and a combo in one.

[@alexwoolridge94aw]

I gig with a Varsity Reverb and a Super 15 stack all the time. Killer amps. I picked up the Super 15 used for $1700 for both the head and matching cab. So dont always have to break the bank. Ive gotta pick up the Starlite and the new Baby M80 in the near future. Good tone at all volume indeed.

[@michaelclarkphoto]

Love my Magnatone amps. Have the Twilighter and the Super 15 and that might be all the ams I ever need. The cleans out of the Twilighter and the Crunch from the Super 15 is a perfect pair.

[@jlbaxe]

Have one on my wish list.

[@danwilson9530]

Thanks for the in-depth breakdown of their amp lines. Maybe one day…

[@gregmelville2051]

Great overview - wish we’d hear you play while describing these. And I want all of these plus the hat.

[@edwardgrassel872]

You forgot the guy that designed these amps - Obeid Khan - he needs appreciated for his work!

[@seancollins3106]

I have a '61 magnatone 410 custom :) I'll probably get a new one someday (they're really sexy!). for now, my vintage magnatone, and 68 Princeton reissue get it done for me.

[@newgunguy4176]

Is there a way to know where in the volume knob the amp starts to clip?

[@el0blaino]

Great overview of the line! I have a Super Fifteen and it sounds awesome even keeping the volume manageable for neighbors on the other side of the wall. Looking to try the headphone option this year, so if anyone has any recommendations about which headphones or what type, I’m all … ears …

[@Frankie_Holt]

Will this video suffice as a Magnatone amplifier window shopper’s guide?

[@MichaelMitchell9969]

I think my first amp was a mid-70s Magnatone. It was black, maybe a 10" or 12" speaker. I had no idea what it was, playing a cheap Japanese electric. Then I got my first Gibson and a 68 Super Reverb.

[@davegallagher7428]

Great video Jonathon. I have a Tone King Imperial for my fendery tones but I would love to have one of these as well. I don’t believe I’ve seen anything from your channel recently. I went to check to make sure that I am still subscribed and I am, looking forward to your next video.

[@larrys009]

Nice Job Johnathan

[@PaulMihelic]

I bough a Starlight from Sweetwater. and when needed run it through a 12" extension.

[@sesa2984]

I play a Harmophone Super 130 (rebranded Magnatone 213a) that I got on Ebay for 350 at the turn of the century before people knew what they were and they were reissued. I think though, that the poor things needs to stay home and be a studio/practice amp, so when and if I get the enourmous ammount of money up to get a suitable replacement, I have two questions. Is there one thats a direct analogue of that amp in the new lineup? And, do these new Magnatones ACTUALLY sound like the old ones? I mean, I know they sound good, but are they the ‘right’ sound?

[@grinkashman7884]

Becktone! saw him 2nd row right in front of him ,3months before,.... so sad he was my fave musician. People behind me all confused about the "becktone" amp, ha whispered to my GF what they were.JB !!!!

[@peterelford2695]

Was hoping to hear one at least

[@laranjiinha77]

You forgot to mention about the Single V, also part of the traditional line of Magnatone.

[@stuartkinzel8195]

I love my Panoramic Stereo. Hands down the best clean sounding amp I've ever heard. I don't think it keeps up if you are in a "loud" band. I mostly use it at smaller gigs where we have to watch our volume level. It is stellar. Takes my pedals great. The vibrato is spectacular. I use an expression pedal to control it. The reverb is ridiculously deep. I don't use a lot of reverb and tend to keep this set at maybe 15%. My only real issue is that the knob layout. Looking at it on stage everything is "upside" down. I sometimes wish I had the Twilighter but I didn't want an amp that heavy. Evidently the Magnatone website has an incorrect weight (36 lbs) for it. According to another website it is 70 lbs

[@kevinhines3487]

I have the discontinued Lyric model that is pretty sweet. Don't know why they stopped making it.

[@1Alfon]

Which one takes pedals better, Panoramic stereo or twilighter?

[@homegrownson]

Hope you and the crew made it through the Flooding OK

[@michaelmiranda178]

Would you say these have brownface fender sounds on tap?

[@adamswanson8216]

I use a super 15 and a varsity 15 myself and truly thought I was getting the best for my money sound wise. I did not think I could do any better. I was definitely wrong after watching the sonic audio videos going over the fact that this is a B grade amplifier I went and had the amp rebuilt by an amp tech technician to slightly different specs actually, the same specs that Martin Kidd used on his new deputy and honestly it’s a better amp. It was a great case great grill and I hate that I wasted all that money on them but now I have truly too good amplifiers, but I will never buy another magnet tone because their mass built just like every other amplifier and unfortunately that is going to always leave errors they promise fully hand wired and they’re not their PCB board amplifiers. They lie to the customer and every way possible I think they misrepresent their product and I spent willows almost $5000 on my two amplifiers before I had them modified so I can definitely tell you I did not get a good result and nor does anyone else and as a guitar teacher and owner of a educational program. I will certainly continue to tell that to everyone that will listen because right now you’re lying to the customers like I said, the sound may be good upfront but the issues down the road for somebody really depending on the amp or a problem most people aren’t Billy Givens and most people don’t have an app tech to work on that son of a gun every day and it shouldn’t require it Sloppy Sauter, half assed work David Friedman builds the best stamps in the United States and having him hand build for you is the only way to go. He will build anything you want, and it will be absolutely everything you desired, and it will perform to a T and it will truly be hand wired unless he tells you otherwise, and that would be because you bought a production amplifier like the runt because I think that’s the only full PCB board amp he has and he certainly doesn’t add a lot of extra garbage so that there’s multiple attachment to the PCB board and he also doesn’t use the cheap caps that Mone does either Really sad here Mallory capacitors yeah you may want to see them but it’s not the ones you need to be using at this price point, disappointed, real disappointed, disappointed in the reviews I even got from this channel. Thanks again learning my lessons about who to listen to on KZbin. 3:08

[@tugwinthrop7424]

Love my Panoramic.

[@TamingTheSprue]

I have the Starlight..It’s a cream dream..

[@ltgray2780]

May be a good pedal platform.

[@stringlocker]

The cheapest one would be the one for me

[@susieroberts8175]

I agree - I want the sound, not the volume or the effects. I would prefer the starlight over its bigger sisters.

[@rafaelmartinez1917]

Are those related to the "Evil Robot" the ones that Phill X was playing all the time on frettedamericana ? Those seem a lot similar in design

[@alexwoolridge94aw]

Different builder but yes. Van Halen showed Phil X his crazy vintage Magnatone collection and I believe the rest is history. There's a video on it. I can't remember all the details.

[@wrobinson1702]

“If your drummer is not TOO loud” = Division by 0. There is no such thing.

[@ILuvJazzNJava]

That’s how you tell if a drummer is good … if they can keep time AND control their volume. I’ve played with a few …

[@zeusapollo8688]

Still looking for one that can also play slowly

[@michaelslawrie]

Cute dog!

[@edwinwise6751]

Never felt the need to spend that kind of money on a single 10 combo to sound good . No 10 is going have the full spectrum freq that a 12” will .

[@RByrne]

Beautiful sounding amps, but just far too loud! If all I did was gig, it would be perfect. But even the little one was too much for me. I sold my Stralight for a Benson Vinny R combo

[@essehindeed]

Wait, is that a 2xl

[@Steve.Cutler]

They need to bring the controls back to the front on all amps. This is the first I've seen an amp with controls on the back??

[@jasondorsey7110]

That style was popular in the 40s and 50s, because guitarists were often in big bands and sat on a riser with the amp in front of them, so having the controls on the back was convenient in that scenario

[@jlbaxe]

Slash Magnatone SL100 $8k head and 4x12

[@markseverson3358]

A lawyers amp !

[@CrybabyArtist]

Magictone he says...

[@phillipb9328]

$1500 is way too much for a 5 watt amp. For for that price, you can get a couple reliable tube amp from a company that didn’t go out of the business for 40 years. Snake oil with a speaker

[@jasondorsey7110]

Snake oil might be unfair, but they sure are limiting their market share catering to such an elite clientele, then again the same could be said for Rickenbacker and they still have a waiting list

[@alexwoolridge94aw]

Tell me you've never played through a Starlite without telling me you've never played through a Starlite. Great little amps. I prefer a minimalist amp though. Set it, forget it and rock.

[@stringlocker]

1500 is not way too much. These amps are built like no other amps. Go watch a Harley Benton video if you can't handle this 😂

[@phillipb9328]

@@stringlocker wow funny guy. For the same price, i can get a tone x pedal, boss ir pedal and a fender blues junior have infinite more option then the mangatone and sounds just as good. The audience cant tell the difference. We will see who’s laughing when the economy hits the upcoming recession

[@stringlocker]

@@phillipb9328 in the whole world find me one video where they are gigging with a blues Junior. Those cheap amps are made with cell phone parts

[@drewbobmorgan248]

These amps are for the top 10% of US wealth or those stupid enough to spend beyond their means (like me😂) - how's about some realistic reviews🤠

[@alexwoolridge94aw]

Just because you can't afford them doesn't mean they shouldn't be reviewed. I own 2 new Magnatone amps and they're not unobtanium

[@jasondorsey7110]

​@@alexwoolridge94awI prefer vintage anyway, but they are nice amps if you have the means, most of what's being made today is junk by comparison, but if you want real quality you're gonna pay

[@markseverson3358]

Lawyers amp for sure!

[@renoman_]

Or those who can’t get a decent job

[@alexwoolridge94aw]

@markseverson3358 nah. I'm no lawyer. Blue collar worker that doesn't have TV, streaming services or internet at my house. I don't buy Starbucks and live within my means. I have a cellphone with internet access. That's as tech savvy as I'll get. Not having that other shit saves me a lot of money per month. Life's about choices.

[@douglascrawford4791]

Sorry, man, not to bust your balls. And excuse my language, but I just check the prices on these amplifiers, they've really expect a lot out of those that is up to silk tone pricing, not many people wanna buy these

[@matthewwright7706]

Way too much for what you're getting. They got you because of the looks my brother.

[@CamBaldeon]

40s

[@Atttuner]

20min brochure w no sound yawn

[@jameswhite1450]

amps need to be dressed in tweed! (just saying lol)

[@susieroberts8175]

No. Satin, lace and marabou. Get real! 💋

[@jameswhite1450]

@@susieroberts8175 gasp!

[@jameswhite1450]

@@susieroberts8175 I had to look up marabou 🤦

[@theuserthatishere]

stupid pricey for circuit board amp... just saying

[@nvs6177]

No one is saying it in the comments, so I guess I have to be that guy. You didn't play a single amp. This is a pretty useless video.

[@ericsmith7287]

Looks like you need to dust. :)

[@vintagetubeamplifiers]

It's called patina, lol

[@ericsmith7287]

That's what I try to tell my wife. She ain't having none of it.@@vintagetubeamplifiers

[@aschneider70]

Play it for God's sake! Just a guy talking like a parrot!

[@linkhatchet]

1500 fucking bucks for this? Try again lol

[@kanesword9528]

My baby M80 arrives tomorrow :), guy on reverb was nice enough to drop the price to 1699.

[@thelastnic]

Thanks for this, it is appreciated because i have heard of Magnatone but didn't know much about them