Honest Reviews : Magnatone Super Fifteen

A tech's (and a player's) perspective.
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[@dustinmcfarland2441]

I don't know much about amps, but this channel is helping me learn some. I won't ever try to repair one myself, but it's nice to know if/when i have problems that i'll have some sort of idea what is wrong. ALso, I enjoy the honest amp reviews. I get tired of all the paid shilling all the time and it's refreshing to see 100% honest unbiased reviews.

[@aleisterjames]

The only thing I don't like about your channel is that there is so much great content and I'm going to have to watch all of it (at least once).

[@richclayton5785]

I find it takes me three viewings of some before I fully understand what I still don’t know.

[@FakeGlasses]

Seriously....I'm down the rabbit hole on this channel.

[@jacobvitthuhn1746]

I have a mid 60's Magnatone that I really enjoy and was considering 1 of these newer ones. After watching this, I'm not so sure...thanks for the great work!

[@endoalley680]

Is that mid 60's a suitcase amp? I have a mid 50's Lyric 115. And an Americana branded late 50's (maybe early 60's) model 413. They are both great amps.

[@IamMusicNerd]

How does the Magnatone build quality compare to Tone King or Amplified Nation amps?

[@rknprs]

I couldn’t agree with you more about Eric Martin. I’ve done business with him for a decade online and he is first class.

[@okaytastic6691]

Looks great! Thanks for the video I like it. I really like the new magnatone line and I’ve only had good experiences with all of the models I’ve owned

[@EpicBeardWell]

Quick question about "handwired." Apologies in advance - I know this is a term and topic that can quickly get frustratingly controversial. Magnatone markets this amp as being handwired in America, but this amp clearly uses PCB components. I guess this is common marketing practice? $2600 seems very steep to me considering the PCB construction. Maybe I am just dead wrong or have been out of the amp-buying market for too long to know better. Thanks so much for all the excellent amp content.

[@PsionicAudio]

Well, it’s right up on the edge of unethical. Yes, there are connections made by hand wiring but the bulk of it is PCB. Quite good PCB but there it is. Note that the only problem this amp had was a bad solder joint done/not done by someone’s hands…

[@finarollerz]

I’m curious what amp you rate an A+?

[@unisonosc1617]

I have watched a lot of your videos and you have convinced me there is not a single production amp i'd spend money on now. What is the lead time on your custom builds? LOL

[@qua7771]

After going through a number of amps I'll have to agree. Every damn one is built to the minimum they can get away with, and they charge as much as anyone will pay for the name. The average player doesn't understand what's inside. There are a few rare.exceptions.

[@mooseymoose]

Check out Frenzel amps.

[@markn4526]

That's why I've had my '72 Super Lead for nearly 30 years with no major issues and I've had it well-maintained when needed.

[@nealixd.3011]

I knew Eric Martin living in Memphis for 12 years (1998-2010) at both his Cordova location and later in midtown Memphis. At first, we didn’t get along too well. But, I prayed about it in Jesus’ name, and one day I walked in and he was very friendly, so it went well from then on. PTL for that. He is a smart, articulate, and talented guy, and does well in his business. I believe he was the number two PRS dealer in the USA after GC, and affable Paul Reed Smith annually visited him for promotions. One sad experience was he had a really nice, long term salesman named Stacey (Hispanic descent?) who passed away suddenly and unexpectedly from a heart condition. That was a big blow to everyone, for sure. Stacey was a very talented bassist who probably could have hung with bigger names in time. Sadly, he passed way too young in his 30 or 40s, don’t recall his age. One of the good guys who left too soon from this mortal plane. I don’t have any pix, but I still remember him. Anyway, I have a lot of Memphis memories, good, bad and indifferent, one of many chapters in my life. Musically, I was fairly active, playing in about five bands.

[@PsionicAudio]

Stacey was a great guy. I think he was only 27. Still hits pretty hard all these years later. Thanks for sharing your love.

[@nealixd.3011]

@@PsionicAudio You're welcome. I hear you, Stacey was the man. It is good that we still carry his memory forward!

[@SpurgeonDunbar]

I have a Magnatone Super FiftyNine M-80.... I would love to see how you biased this one. I see that there is a biased pot, is there a clearly marked bias point to check with a multimeter (like some amps)? Or do you just go to the pin in the tube?

[@learnalickaday7272]

for $ 2,299 .00 one would expect a more solid build

[@modestoney1577]

@Ralph Furley crazy....nice amps but ridiculously overpriced

[@alexwoolridge94aw]

@@modestoney1577 I'd have agreed with you prior to getting ahold of one myself. They're a gig monster. I am only in mine for a head and matching cab for 1700 clams but I shop around and the head had a small issue I fixed. Magnatones are expensive but they're built better than any new Fender,marshall products

[@modestoney1577]

@@alexwoolridge94aw Hm, did you watch the video? Built quality is excatly what`s being criticized for what it actually costs. And I honestly doubt that forementioned quality beats that of a handwired Fender, like the 64 Custom Deluxe Reverb, for example. What I don`t doubt is that they are good sounding amps, they are just overpriced. Of course a good deal on the used market is another story.

[@alexwoolridge94aw]

@@modestoney1577 I bet my left nut they're built better than most vintage Fender amps and 100% better than the new shit Fender is slappin their name on

[@modestoney1577]

​@@alexwoolridge94aw Again, did you watch the video? Bet all you want, that won`t change reality. You must have a strange relationship with your nuts. BTW the handwired 64 Custom Deluxe is a new Fender amp and most vintage Fender amps from the 50s, 60s and 70s are about as much quality as possible. I´m not saying all Fender amps are built well or better than this example of a Magnatone, but some definitely are.

[@ctcards2636]

These are not cheap, i was able to try one out and I did like it a lot. But they are very pricey imho.

[@MrKevburg]

I love my Magnatone Super 59. I wish it had a solo switch like my Rectoverb had. Is that something that can be added to the head?

[@montag4516]

Thanks for sharing your work. What is the phone jack sticking out of the chassis (next to the transformer) for? A line level input perhaps?

[@PsionicAudio]

That's an RCA jack that connects the 6.3V heater supply to the lights that illuminate the logo on the front of the amp.

[@TheSixStringBandit]

Just out of curiosity, I'm looking to emulate those early ZZTop tones but am a little stumped on which amp I should get. I really want to invest in something of quality but there are so many different directions to go (even on just amp-types) and I'd love to hear your take on it! Should I opt for the Magnatone Super 15 (Combo) or the Suhr Hombre? Or any other recommendations? Really wanting a tube amp I can crank up and get that natural overdrive. My current amp is a Fender Twin... Tired of lugging it around to gigs! Really appreciate your time!

[@surfthejapstrat7010]

I would look seriously at a Cutthroat Audio Down Brownie

[@MrKevburg]

I have the Magnatone Super 59 and you can definitely get the Reverend Billy tones for sure!!!

[@oliverchapman51177]

You are one gracious fella, I have a handwired 65 deluxe by George Alessandro from 2016 that I would grade as a b+. His speaker is an A+. Now having it up for sale I’m looking for something with similar tone. The normal channel is modified to a Bassman circuit. Yes please. I only Use vibrato channel for cleans. Left the bright cap. but more reliable, Ken Fisher Trainwreck response amp.and in your opinion what would that be? I would happily pay you in Patreon money to ask you a few questions happily. Your channel has been a joy for me I’ve learned so much and I sincerely trust you. Cheers Oliver I have pics of chassis of Alessandro, I’d love to know why so noisy, and made me hate on board Reverb😔 Todd Sharp makes some killer Amps

[@jb-zr7nw]

Great video. I bought one of these amps and it had a dent in the faceplate near the mid and bass pots. I've noticed there are times where the volume and gain will drop off and the presence pot will not work. Replaced all the tubes, checked all the wiring, but I'm still at a loss.

[@goodun2974]

Sounds like it was damaged when it was hit or dropped. Perhaps one of the pots is broken and intermittent, or there's a small crack in a circuit board, or simply some broken solder joints.

[@frankdou4132]

did not know, the new magnatones are built that bad. street price for the top is around $1800. the combo is around $2000. even if it is a better quality board, tube-sockets soldered directly on a pcb is a no go. you could buy a handwired 2xel84 amp for a few dollars more or even the same price.

[@InGrindWeCrust2010]

I didn't see the tube sockets directly on the PCB. Supro does that but not Magnatone. Yes, there's better value for money, even with the Super 15's features.

[@NoCoverCharge]

I bought a hand wired 1x12 Henry hand built amp for a few dollars more it’s based on a jtm45… it rocks

[@edwardboe4762]

I almost pulled the trigger but considering its $3k for the M80 super 59, decided not to so I have to agree with you at least in part. But just about all musical equipment is way over priced at this point.

[@dknstrkt]

Why I just bought a Bugera BC-30. If the boutiques are being built in the same suspect 'modern' process as Bugera gets crapped on for, why waste the extra dough if its going to be russian roulette in 10 years anyway no matter what you buy for under $1500? I'll put my hard cash toward my old Musicman heads and hand built speaker cabinets. They never let me down. I do love the way the Buugie sounds though for the price. Time will tell..

[@JamesMcCutcheon]

I appreciate your work and the videos. I have most of my tube amplifiers from the '60s that have no PCBs. I feel this is why they have never failed me. The only amps that have failed had PCBs. I have a few of the newer PCB tube builds but I don't trust them, PEAVEY, MARSHALL, FENDER tube amps are decent value made with PCBs but I still don't trust them to perform. If a good USA company would stick to High Volume Turret Wiring and skip the cheap components, then the price would be reasonable and the quality would be astounding. Thanks for your great videos. I live not too far from Memphis i.e. Huntsville, Alabama. For the most part, I think the manufacturer of the New Magnatone amplifiers was intent on capitalizing on the Magnatone historically great amplifiers. I am sorry that the Magnatone was reduced to only a Screw Fastener Cudo.

[@KB_Joys]

I was pleasantly surprised by the sound of that thing. Id imagine some sort of AC15 variant. Kinda makes me wanna see if there's a schematic floating around to see what makes it tic.

[@mikeolson7119]

This video was incredibly helpful! Thank you for posting and sharing your expertise. I'm looking for a British-style amp (preferably EL-84's, but I'm somewhat open minded--just not looking for a blackface/silverface kind of sound), 15 watts or less (preferably in the 8-12 range). Primarily as a pedal platform with a little break up in the clean tone. Are there any makes or models that come to mind? I had been considering this Magnatone and while it's still on the table, I suspect I may be able to get a better value.

[@soberdave09]

You should check out the Laney Lionheart L5

[@maxbialystock254]

If you can find an early 2000s Bad Cat Cub 2 R. Really nice little amps. EL84 15W. Aother less expensive but may be close would be a Mesa Subway 20 watts single channel. Good luck

[@goodun2974]

By the way, Neil Young is another longtime Magnatone fan, who purportedly uses the modern reissue amps. Keith Richards is rumored to have used a Magnatone amp in the studio, way back in the day; I don't know if that's true but I can tell you that a Tele thru a vintage Magnatone 212 will give you a darn good tonal impression of Can't You Hear Me Knockin'!

[@qua7771]

This is not really the same company. I believe Billy Gibbons started building these after finding out the brand had been abandoned decades ago. I don't know the exact details.

[@vincentl.9469]

Buddy Holly used these at some point in the 50s

[@goodun2974]

I've worked on a half-dozen vintage Magnatone amps, and while the interior of those tends to look like an explosion at the spaghetti factory, there's typically plenty of room inside most of them, and issues involving component change and lead dress generally aren't too difficult to resolve. Accessing the underside of the main PCB on this modern amp looks to be a friggin' nightmare. The grainy soldering to the jacks on the rear-panel PCB looks pretty much "standard" for wave-soldered, ROHS compliant (lead-free) soldering. You can pretty much guarantee that the main PCB has similar issues that'll likely show up after the " guarantee" has expired. Here's a question: do USA based boutique amp manufacturers have to use lead-free solder, or is there a legal loophole or a way around that? Perhaps only amps built for export have to use lead-free solder? Regardless, if a USA manufacturer or assembler is having board assembly done overseas (or perhaps even in Mexico?), it appears that the boards *will* be made with lead-free solder, period, no ifs ands or buts about it. Expect to do some QC and resoldering! (A discussion of lead-free solder types and brands, and the attendant issues of acidic fluxes, and necessarily higher soldering temperatures, seems in order; not to mention the shorter tip life that comes with use of leadfree solder).

[@SlimeyGuitarStrings]

Super late answer, but I think in the US it depends on the state of manufacturing if soldering has to use lead free. I think they have to use lead free solder in California which is where most of the guitar industry lives. In lots of stats there are also lots of other things a manufacturer might have to do in order to use lead solder which might make it so that it is not cost effective.

[@goodun2974]

@@SlimeyGuitarStrings , I forgot to include in my first post the obvious fact that if amplifier manufacturers have any plans to sell their equipment in Europe or elsewhere in the world, they will definitely have to build it with lead free solder.

[@scottadkins328]

how do you adjust/check the bias on these amps?

[@Mpcoluv]

The amp sounds pretty damn good after your repair.

[@xfallofmanx]

hey @psionicaudio what was that gold connector on the exterior in front of the transformer? I can’t find any info.

[@PsionicAudio]

Heater connection for the front panel illumination.

[@xfallofmanx]

@@PsionicAudio ok so your videos are working. The green wires "tube" wires running to the jack on the inside of the chassis told me it might be some kind of power but I didn't know what. Guess I'll keep watching and learning lol thanks for the entertaining information....and the reply.

[@johncrace911]

I sent my Deluxe to Allesandro for hand wire. I am very pleased.

[@DalelCampbell]

Is it a C- with a 2500 price?

[@hkguitar1984]

For the price of those Magnatones I'm not very impressed. I've a 1947 MEC that I'd considered upgrading to a newer Magnatone. After seeing the inside of this Super Fifteen I believe I'll stick with my old faithful Troubadour! Thanks for the look inside, very cool.

[@michaelmarsh4013]

That is some tasty clean tone...

[@alexwoolridge94aw]

Thanks for this video. For the price of these amps id expect them to not be completely pcb. I was torn between a super 15 or a Morgan mvp23 and I'm definitely going with the Morgan

[@PsionicAudio]

I'm sorry to say that Morgans are garbage. The Magnatone is infinitely better. There is nothing inherently wrong with PCB.

[@alexwoolridge94aw]

@@PsionicAudio what makes Morgan amps garbage? I've had nothing but issues with pcb amplifiers.

[@PsionicAudio]

Not built to safety code, filter caps not rated for actual DC voltage, copying circuits they don't understand. fb.watch/4tLJVGT96a/

[@alexwoolridge94aw]

@@PsionicAudio thanks for the info

[@alexwoolridge94aw]

@@PsionicAudio you shed a lot of light on the Morgans indeed with that video. I guess I'll just stick with building my own amps. I'm sure mine are just as shitty but they work great lol

[@megafauna7]

Ok so the price point online is around $2,200. How does that effect your rating?

[@PsionicAudio]

It's a bit disappointing to be honest. But the market seems to be bearing it

[@DrMattWalton]

What are a few boutique brands that you are impressed with?

[@PsionicAudio]

Not sure what "boutique" even means any more. Suhr, Germino, Top Hat, Welagen, Metropoulos, Bartel come to mind. Not a complete list but what occurs to me now.

[@waynetoneseekerandersen2213]

I like white Mallory caps, they are more “Angelic”. JJ

[@rubentrevino6288]

What amps do you recommend as beautiful killer guitar amps

[@PsionicAudio]

Depends on the budget, the playing styles, and how flexible the amp needs to be. The answer could be a Fender '65 Deluxe Reverb reissue, a Suhr PT-100, or a Boss Katana depending on the player's needs and budget.

[@pieve5516]

What do you feel is the best sounding for clean amp for jazz? The quest for clean continues! Thanks. Great content.

[@PsionicAudio]

“Jazz” is too broad a term. Joe Pass? Pat Metheny? Wes? Scofield?

[@pieve5516]

@@PsionicAudio Good point. I am an electrical engineer so the notion of "best" with respect to audio would generally mean the precise amplification of the audio source which can be considered the pickups. That means the amp is including all of the "content" where one can modify through equalization or transfer functions in pedals BUT in English it means that a Suhr Bella will produce a richer, tighter voicing than an amp designed for gain/metal. Amps that I have heard the best clean tones include my Suhr, Princeton and even the Mesa Boogie Fillmore. I heard the Magnatone in a store but with so much noise it was hard to tell. At this point I am looking to buy a "lifetime" amp and pay the money to get the amp that has the clean tone. I know the everyone hears differently but I personally cannot tell the actual voicing on a KZbin video nor in a noisy guitar store. So your opinion who has a great ear and broad experience with high end amps would be really important in my quest. Thanks

[@PsionicAudio]

If you already have the Suhr Bella you already have a great one. A Princeton Reverb with a decreased Mids resistor and a speaker upgrade will do a fantastic job too. Really depends on your desired stage volume. The SL Amps Custom Clean (Dumble SSS clone) from a few months back had one of the best cleans I've ever played but it was too loud for most stages even with the master lowish. At the other end of the volume spectrum, Tim Lerch sounds fantastic with his Tales and his Princeton.

[@johnsimms3957]

I think using power tools is what causes wood screws to strip out the wood.

[@philfortunato]

What are you thoughts on Suhr Hedgehog?

[@PsionicAudio]

Haven't had one come in but Suhrs are some of the best built amps out there

[@Boosty_Boost]

good video!

[@raivkka4313]

Pretty sure that's just about a $2500.00 amp, not $1500. Pretty disappointed in the quality for that price. That's why channels like this are so important.

[@Barabyk]

3:04 triggers Siri on my Iphone. We must have similar voice profiles.

[@adamswanson8216]

Well, if you give it an a grade at a $1500 price I bought mine used for 1799 so I guess that’s probably a B and that sucks because it’s a $2400 amp and it certainly shouldn’t be a B it should be an all the way across the board I gig with this amp and have bone tubes myself with it more than I would like to say and no one has been able to pinpoint the problem with it. Although guitar center is now going to replace it because of some things that I have mentioned to them so I will actually be getting a brand new one but the problem is is that if this one is a B then they all are bees across-the-board they’re not going to just mess up on one I would say that overall the quality stands to be questioned, and they are also again one of the higher end most expensive amps on the market And their other models, especially their digital amps you know the amplifiers iPhone, and a box and a speaker and a quarter jack lol either way thank you again first time well actually second time I’m watching your channel I own a couple of Friedmans but you gave them a pretty good review I surely thought this would be positive to shop a lot before I bought this amp. I tell you watching your channel gives me some hint of what are the good amps but it’s a damn shame that anybody’s got to question it when it gets to the $2000 $3000 mark people should not have to be worried about whether they are getting what they’re paying for. Is it just that the manufacturer can’t not rip people off I mean they just have to rip people off I don’t know if you seen the inside of those new supra amplifiers and I may be spelling it wrong because I don’t care for them but for $3500. You can definitely get a B or C graded amp there either way thanks again. 3:58

[@joaquincuervo6943]

Really makes me wonder how my Panoramic Stereo is put together. I have the modern one.

[@benlogan430]

That’s a $2600 amp head now?

[@blakjack3053]

Damn now I have to search KZbin for a demo of it lol

[@Topsy_Krett]

Could you please comment about the tube bias in these? I would like to change the tubes in mine but I have no idea if the bias is fixed or adjustable... and if adjustable, what the right bias setting is and where to set it. Now I miss my Vox, hehe.

[@PsionicAudio]

Hey, first let's clear up a common misconception. There are two common method of amp bias: fixed bias and cathode bias. Of fixed bias amps, most are adjustable within a preset range. Others, like the Blues Jr or '60s Princetons, have no adjustability. So fixed bias amps are usually adjustable. Cathode bias amps are very rarely adjustable. Fixed bias means there is a fixed negative voltage reference for the grids while the output cathode is at ground. This fixed voltage can be adjusted, but does not vary from that point once set. This Magnatone has an adjustable fixed bias circuit. I checked it when the one output tube lost vacuum, just in case it was the circuit that made the tube die (it wasn't - it was a mechanical failure). I didn't save the bias information, so I can't tell you how to set it other than I set it at 60% idle. I bias amps by measuring across the OT primaries, which is very accurate but dangerous if you don't have the right tools and experience (so I will not give that out on KZbin). If you are measuring using an external bias meter, see if the Magnatone owner's manual has a suggested mA setting.

[@SirLoinMagroin]

Like the sound. However, not worth the 2.1k price imho. A Supro Delta King 1x12 combo is a comparable amp sound wise. You can buy three of them for the same price. They get great reviews and sound good. Would love you to review one for your expert opinion. I watched your supro 10watt vid that had a bad 12ax7. The insides seemed typical of newer amps. It sounded good but the 15watter uses a single 6l6 instead of a 6v6.

[@PsionicAudio]

I did a month or two back.

[@SirLoinMagroin]

@@PsionicAudio Thanks. Saw it. It was the 10watter.

[@mrKhuYam]

schematic?

[@jensk4140]

Sounds better then it looks inside lol

[@kenzuercher7497]

The amp sound OK and the components are OK. I looked up the price and for a PCB amp, it's pretty overpriced. I build amps too and that looks like a $1000 amp to me.

[@PsionicAudio]

How do you reckon $1000? They have employees, utilities, taxes, paperwork, shipping costs, branded boxes, then dealers take a chunk. There is a lot more to the fair market price than just the parts cost. I think this amp is a little overpriced (not your $1400 overpriced) but they have the demand, so there's that.

[@jaysorensenIBEW]

Well, the labor is just about free, so there's that lol

[@edwardboe4762]

​@@jaysorensenIBEW Right lol, it depends on if the ground level employees are getting a living wage for the area.

[@petermcateer1354]

On the other hand... despite it's flaws, this is about the same price as a Mesa Mark V 25, and is built better.

[@ChristopherAndrewsX24gtrman]

Did you see the 10 #47 lightbulbs that are required to illuminate the logo in that amplifier? Have to pull the chassis to access them and replace.

[@PsionicAudio]

Yup.

[@davidhoward8951]

Didn't he run Strings & things at one time I'm from Clarksdale Mississippi and I used to go there and buy equipment when I was in a band he gave me some real good deal give me a phone number Eric was his name I believe

[@PsionicAudio]

I don’t think he was at Strings n Things. Eric was at Colie Stoltz for a good while before opening Martin Music.

[@mestresplinter9774]

Achei a placa bagunçada para um amp dessa categoria.

[@mcsniper77]

If everything where to switch to radial. There would be absolutely no reason to build axial parts anymore. An intelligent chap like yourself should embrace that.

[@fc7896]

No thank you at that price point. Can get point to point for similar or a little more.

[@danielpirone8028]

I think those amps are about $2.5k USD

[@PsionicAudio]

That's disappointing.

[@Topsy_Krett]

Not so. They typically sell for $1999. In 2019 they were on sale for $1599 and I got mine then (a demo) for $1439. Love it!

[@goodun2974]

@@Topsy_Krett , That's still a lot of money for an amplifier that not only doesn't have the famous Magnatone *true vibrato* but doesn't have reverb either.

[@75YBA]

@@Topsy_Krett That’s pathetic. Most YBA’s go for $400-800.

[@TheStimpy60]

Jesus Just Left Chicago !

[@tconnell1121]

Does/has any amp EVER gotten an "A" from you? Every amp I've ever watched you review, you end up bashing.

[@PsionicAudio]

Yes, believe it or not. But this amp was not “bashed.”

[@JR-to8sn]

Under $1500...I WISH! haha Try $2600 new!

[@davidisenberg125]

the good news is gibbons is not gonna sue you for stealing his licks .... i did'nt know thats what you were playing till you told us !!!!

[@JohnSoldano]

You convinced me not to get one.

[@sfopete]

Wow, atrocious soldering. Looks like all done by hand, and poorly. Too cheap to set up a wave soldering I guess which is surprising.

[@bobs2809]

Maybe look up what the amp actually sells for before doing an "honest evaluation". Just saying

[@clemguitar63]

2023 Pricing... Magnatone Super Fifteen - 15-watt Tube Head...$2,459.00 USD Magnatone Super Fifteen 1x12" 15-watt Tube Combo Amp...$2,599.00 USD

[@BenState]

That is poo.