Magnatone Information

John Soshnik · From: St. Paul, Minnesota USA

Can anyone tell me anything about this Magnatone? I have it on loan from a friend, and I enjoy playing it but would love to know a little more about it. The tuners are not original, but everything else seems to be, and it seems to work well.

Thank you!

Al Terhune · From: Newcastle, WA

I'm definitely no expert nor guitar historian, but since no one else is responding, I'll tell you that from my experience of "watching" Magnatones in auctions and owning a number of them (and I still think their consoles were the nicest made back then), that the one pictured is one of the earliest Magnatones and not the typical dime-a-dozen (well, they go for about $250 now) MOTS that you usually see. I don't know if the pick guard is original, but it looks like it - I really like it, anyway, even if it's not. My experience with owning Magnatones is that their pickups are right in the middle of bright and not bright. I am a fan.
_________________
Al

My equipment:

One heck of a Wife
The ghost of a red Doberman
Several pairs of reading glasses strewn about

Paul DiMaggio · From: Fort Nelson, British Columbia, Canada

I have a '52 Lyric and I like it. There isn't a lot on the net about The guitars but quite a bit about the amps. Here is one discussion from the forum. I hope this works, sometimes it doesn't.
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?p=1204698&sid=2dfb94b79bb24da510c191b217f6ffdd

Tony Lombardo · From: Alabama, USA

I've owned three steels in my life. The first of the three was an S-8 Magnatone Troubadour. It was from the 50's I think. I loved it. I sold it to "upgrade" to a expensive instrument that I never liked. My third (and hopefully last) steel is amazing, but I remember really loving the sound of that first Troubadour. It's sound was very warm.

Tony L.

Doug Beaumier · From: Northampton, MA

I agree with Al, that Magnatone looks a little more ornate than most of the 6-string Magnatones I've seen. A very cool looking lap steel.
_________________
My Site / My YouTube Channel
25 Songs C6 Lap Steel / 25 MORE Songs C6 Lap Steel / 16 Songs, C6, A6, B11 / 60 Popular Melodies E9 Pedal Steel

John Soshnik · From: St. Paul, Minnesota USA

Thanks for the replies. I believe that the pickguard/pickup cover is original. Here's another picture, that is just a close-up of the body and maybe shows it a little more clearly. The coloring in the pickup cover is just reflections -- its all silver.

Brad Bechtel · From: San Francisco, CA

Here's a previous discussion with a similar Magnatone lap steel.

_________________
Brad’s Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars

Dennis Smith · From: Covington, Georgia, USA

There are two of these on Guitar Center Vintage. A blue one as in Brads photo but looks like the name on the head stock is missing $249.99. There is a brown one like John posted but without a name on it for $350.(listed as Bakelite?)

John Soshnik · From: St. Paul, Minnesota USA

Thanks very much for the information, gentlemen.

Chris Templeton · From: The Green Mountain State

I don't think of Magnetones as high dollar instruments. Somewhat how the Sears name is/used to be.
_________________
Excel 3/4 Pedal With An 8 String Hawaiian Neck, Sierra Tapper (10 string with a raised fretboard to fret with fingers), Single neck Fessenden 3/5
"The Tapper" : https://christophertempleton.bandcamp.com/album/the-tapper
Soundcloud Playlist: https://soundcloud.com/bluespruce8:

Jay Fagerlie · From: Lotus, California, USA

I'm sure this one cost some $$$ in it's day:

(I snapped these pics during a string change afternoon...)

Forum Index > Steel Without Pedals		Next oldest topic :: Next newest topic

All times are GMT - 8 Hours	Jump to: