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Post by Leftee on Mar 7, 2022 10:24:01 GMT -5
I"ve been prowling for a birth-year amp and a '61 Ampeg will probably be the one.
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Post by LVF on Mar 9, 2022 10:24:55 GMT -5
I"ve been prowling for a birth-year amp and a '61 Ampeg will probably be the one. Hmmm. What did they offer in 1951?
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Post by Leftee on Mar 9, 2022 10:32:40 GMT -5
I"ve been prowling for a birth-year amp and a '61 Ampeg will probably be the one. Hmmm. What did they offer in 1951? Something with octal preamp tubes. 😎
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Post by LVF on Mar 11, 2022 19:08:35 GMT -5
Hmmm, this box was left at my door. This is what was inside the box. Me =
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Post by Leftee on Apr 14, 2022 8:00:11 GMT -5
Any updates?
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Post by windmill on Apr 14, 2022 18:23:07 GMT -5
that looks good We are waiting for a tone report. I'm heading down the same road after a Carr Mercury bobbed up briefly locally. Since then someone on another site got a matchless that they were very impressed with and so I have started looking at what was available locally, and have realised that a handwired/boutique amp is within reach. as they are about the same price of a guitar I own. I have been working a bit lately so I have some money to reward myself. So, should I also be looking at a magnatone ?
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Post by LVF on Apr 14, 2022 20:02:13 GMT -5
Sorry I haven't been proactive on this of late but, even as a retired person, I get caught up in other things obligated to keep me from falling behind in my domestic duties.
However, I have also been giving this new amp the thrice over in order to learn all about it. First thing is being confident that spending the kind of money for this kind of amp was not an exercise in futility. Nothing could be further from that fact. It was well worth the money. Looking at the amp, it looks like it came directly from the '50's, early '60's. Back then, companies didn't rely a lot in plastics. The knobs are plastic but, that's about it. This is also a, for the most part, totally hand built amp, not to mention, hand wired as well. No production line stuff.
You know, back in the day, it seemed to me that amps were set up to be either beside or in front of the guitar player as I recall. It would also seem that they designed the amp with the controls in the rear for easier access to the player but, I can't say for certain. I believe the controls were in the rear so as not to distract from the overall aesthetics of the amp and also to be less of a distraction. I don't know. Just seems that way.
As far as the tone of this amp. I've played a lot of my guitars through it and they all can be dialed into a great sound. The two channels it has are featured to be specific to the kind of pups you're running as well. Input one is specific to optimizing single coils and channel two intended to handle 'buckers. I suppose if I was playing louder than I do, that effect may come into play. I use channel one when playing any guitar. I really like what the Vibrato does with its 'stereo' effect. The tremolo is great also and the reverb is definitely from the early '60's which is a good thing. I always liked the idea of having two ten inch speakers in a combo amp. They mention it uses two 'Magnatone Custom' speakers with ceramic magnets but, they are Jensen's of the same design. No matter they sound great and very punchy as 10's usually do.
I bought the amp I was looking for with absolutely no regrets. For the idea I had to 'check the box' on getting a expensive, hand wired amp, this one more than covers that idea. Let me just say though that I might have had the same feeling for any expensive hand wired amp because I don't have anything else I can compare the Magnatone to as I've never played any other of this type. Even so, the Magnatone seems to have a uniqueness to it that maybe others do not have with it's features. Is that a disclaimer of sorts? Bottom line is, I'm very happy with this purchase and I dare say you would also be happy with this model as well. Did I mention that it's fairly light (36 lbs) as well?
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Post by Lesterstrat on Apr 14, 2022 20:07:24 GMT -5
If I were in the market, I would probably either get a Dr. Z Rt 66 or a Germino Club 40. Of course, either would be run through a 4x12 straight cab. I've owned both and both sounded incredible. The Dr. Z was solid as a rock. The Germino, unfortunately, not only cloned the look and sound of the JMP 50, it also cloned some of the same reliability issues that all those 60's Marshalls had (that no one likes to remember now days). Actually, I'd probably get the Z and put it in a Marshall box. I love Dr. Zs, but they're hideous looking, IMO. lol
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MoJoe
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Posts: 855
Formerly Known As: quiksilver
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Post by MoJoe on Apr 15, 2022 4:31:31 GMT -5
I'd second a Germino into a vintage 4x12 Marshall cab. Or any other JTM type boutique amp to stereorize my own handwired JTM45 clone. I like the new Magnatones and am glad that you're happy with yours. I've seen Billy Gibbons with a few on stage five or six years ago and he sounded great. (A backstage-passed buddy was pretending that the sound was still coming from a single Marshall that was miked discreetly behind the stage, the old radical equalizing agenda following suit. I think he was just hackling me in my adoration of the backline and BG's sound in general, him being the local Marshall dealer trying to save the business..)😁
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Post by langford on Apr 19, 2022 21:28:25 GMT -5
For me, I think I'd buy a Carr Rambler.
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Post by Leftee on Apr 22, 2022 20:21:26 GMT -5
Years ago I went to a power-pop fest where the stage amp was a Carr Moto half stack. No one that played through that amp sounded anything but great.
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Post by SteveM on Apr 22, 2022 21:11:03 GMT -5
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Post by Taildragger on Apr 22, 2022 22:24:18 GMT -5
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Post by markfromhawaii on Apr 26, 2022 23:02:15 GMT -5
I’m good in the amp department right now. BUT, if I needed one and had the cash, I’m thinking a Carr Mercury, a Koch “The Greg”, a Tungsten Crema Wheat, or a Henry SRT+.
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Tequila Rob
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Posts: 683
Formerly Known As: Guitar Fool
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Post by Tequila Rob on Apr 27, 2022 8:51:23 GMT -5
Wow, check this out. In 1959, stereo was a relatively new thing and Gibson was on the case early it seems. I don't know how old this link is. Gary has a AOL address. Is AOL still a thing? It's the first thing I saw when I started this new 'stereo amp' search. I must confess that I have a couple of stereo amps already. A Roland Jazz Chorus 40 and a Roland Mobile brick thing. I think my Cybertwin is stereo optioned as well. But, none of them are hand wired. That Gibby is though. yeah those are way cool.....I love the old Gibson amps...his prices are typically pretty high...I'm guessing he's asking at least 4k for it
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Post by rdr on May 12, 2022 11:31:57 GMT -5
Just watched a video about a Magnatone Super Fifteen by Psionic Audio. He found it to be well built, only one mistake. I imagine yours is the same.
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Post by LVF on May 13, 2022 16:44:00 GMT -5
I watched some videos by PSIONIC as well about a Magnatone. Not sure it was this one but, I was interested in his take on tube bias and how much heat was generated by the EL 84's which could effect their longevity. I took a measurement of the heat generated by mine and found them to be a little hot as well. I think I'd like to change the resistor he refers to so the tubes run cooler. Mine were @ 350 degrees F. I haven't run across a schematic for this amp yet. At some point, I'd like to see about working with the bias but, I don't want to mess with the warranty so, I'll wait.
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Post by Leftee on May 13, 2022 17:18:03 GMT -5
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Post by LVF on May 14, 2022 11:41:02 GMT -5
I like going to the Tube Store when looking for...tubes. I like their 'store tubes'. That's where I got replacements for my Twin 12 that sent me on a new journey with that amp but, I digress. The EL 84's in my Magnatone are far from needing replacement. Just observing that at some point, I may want to change how hot they run for longer life. Not to get off in a different tangent but, I played one of my Mex strats through this amp and it did not sound good. It was tinny...probably because of the pick ups in the strat. It is an '03 model with the originals in it. This means I have a new project to get under way! But, that's enough about that. I'll get that project into the forum that 's appropriate.
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Post by Peegoo 🏁 on May 18, 2022 6:59:20 GMT -5
I believe everyone that plays should have a really high end amp at some point. Have you seen and heard the Boogie Fillmore 50? It's a fairly new offering and it is not very "Boogie" at all. It looks like an older Boogie (cosmetics and real cane grill), but under the hood it's basically a pair of Princetons using 6L6 tubes. Although it's a two-channel amp, both channels are identical, and the reverb is superb. It has a half-power switch that lets you get that sweet saturrated Boogie tone at non-ear-bleeding levels. This is a 1x12 fire-breathing beast that's rated at 50 watts, but it sounds a whole lot louder than that. The clean tones are everything we all know and love about a fine Fender amp: shimmery/glassy highs and clear lows. Put a boost or overdrive in front of one of the channels and it roars. I really like this amp. www.humbuckermusic.com/products/mesa-boogie-fillmore-50-1x12-combo-custom-blue-bronco
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Post by Leftee on May 18, 2022 7:02:52 GMT -5
My cousin’s husband has the Fillmore 25 head and plays it through a MB Theile 1x12. He loves it.
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Post by walshb 🦒 on May 18, 2022 19:01:00 GMT -5
I'd have to get another Soldano SLO, probably the only amp that I regret selling. I was too stubborn to try an attenuator with it, or to cheap, I don't recall which. But that's the main amp that Warren uses to get his great tones.
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jellybones
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Posts: 181
Formerly Known As: Gelee Bon (en francais)
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Post by jellybones on Jan 4, 2023 20:58:43 GMT -5
I'd have to buy a Bogner Shiva combo, the best combo amp I've ever played through.
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Post by cedarchoper58 on Jan 6, 2023 11:10:06 GMT -5
if i had 4K to spend i would get either a Black Face super reverb or a 60'sMarshall plexi head
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leftrightout
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Sometimes I pretend to be normal and then it becomes boring..............
Posts: 206
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Post by leftrightout on Jan 9, 2023 15:48:25 GMT -5
Probably a VOX AC!% Hand wired with ALNICO Blue here in AUS $2500
or a Brown face Deluxe by Lucas Miles
but..............................................................
I don't need another AMP
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Post by Mike the marksman on Jan 12, 2023 8:42:23 GMT -5
Probably a two rock, bludotone, or something ridiculous like that. Maybe a JMJ AC30 or a real-deal vintage JMI.
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RogerD
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Fraternity, Dedication, & Passion
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Formerly Known As: Roger D
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Post by RogerD on Jan 12, 2023 12:55:35 GMT -5
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Post by LVF on Jan 17, 2023 13:34:31 GMT -5
It's been a while but, here is an update on the choice I made which is the theme of this thread. I can truly say that this Magnatone amp was the right choice for me. I have not found a bad tone out of this amp and the loaded EFX are great. It likes my pedals as well. This amp has been a good investment and a great choice for me. I've seen a lot of good choices put up on this thread and if you haven't done this already, no time like the present.
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Davywhizz
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"Still Alive and Well"
Posts: 444
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Post by Davywhizz on Mar 26, 2023 5:20:23 GMT -5
Probably a small Mesa Boogie head, one of the more recent models.
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