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Topic: Magnatone |
Robert Henderson
From:
Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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Posted 13 Jun 2003 6:40 am |
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I need info. on a Magnatone (Ser.16780) 6 string lap steel just rec'd as a gift. It is in need of refurbishing and would appreciate any feedback on it's background, parts sources, etc. Thanks-
Robert Henderson |
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Brad Bechtel
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 13 Jun 2003 8:22 am
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Dickerson steels were the precursors of the Magnatone line. Delbert J. Dickerson began manufacturing guitars in the 1930s. At the height of their manufacturing career they were building 200 guitars a week under 10 different brands, including Varsity, Southern California Music Company, Oahu, Bronson, and Roland Ball (father of Ernie Ball). The patent rights were sold to Gaston Factor in 1944, who later sold the rights to Magna Electronics. Sol Ho'opi'i was an early endorser of the Dickerson line. The cover of the book "The Hawaiian Steel Guitar" is an artist's rendition of Sol holding a National. Inside the book is the real photo, with Sol holding a Dickerson. The Magnatone name was owned at various times by Estey Electronics, Magna Electronics, and the Estey Musical Instrument Corporation. The Unofficial Magnatone Archive has some nice photos of their various fine amplifiers, and may be able to offer more information on the company.
Thanks to Ashley McKnight, formerly of Gruhn Guitars, I have found that Magnatone shipped the following models during the 1950's and 1960's:
Ray Meany Aloha model
Amerloha
G-70
G-65
Varsity
Starlet
Melodier
Troubadour
Lyric (double neck table steel)
Maestro (triple neck table steel)
Quad (four neck table steel)
If anyone has additional information to add, I'd greatly appreciate it.
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Brad's Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars
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Jesse Pearson
From:
San Diego , CA
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Posted 13 Jun 2003 8:40 am
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| Brad, would it be possible to put a picture with the model name? I have been unable to find out any information about the Magnatones 6 stringers I've grown so fond of. I like the different colored MOT models that are out there, bet someone has a huge collection somewhere. |
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Robert Henderson
From:
Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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Posted 13 Jun 2003 9:37 am
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Great info. - Thanks, Brad. Jesse, Mine is MOT Green with white knobs (2) and the fretboard is white (decal) with a gold border/fret lines. I plugged it in and everything seems to work! Now to tune it (oboy). I saw a "pic" on the web that causes me to suspect it's a "Amerloha" model, but I'm not sure??? Again, thanks to you both 
Robert Henderson |
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Brad Bechtel
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 13 Jun 2003 2:20 pm
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Unfortunately, there are quite a few variations in the Magnatone/Estey/Dickerson line, although not enough to be mistaken for a Fender or Gibson .
Vintage Guitar had an article on Magnatone steels a few years back, for what that's worth. Magnatone steels, although numerous, never had the popularity or collectibility of other steel brands.
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Brad's Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars
[This message was edited by Brad Bechtel on 13 June 2003 at 03:21 PM.] |
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Jesse Pearson
From:
San Diego , CA
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Posted 13 Jun 2003 4:37 pm
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| Well, one look on E-bay tells you a lot about the popularity of Magnatone lap steels in good shape, they are always selling and buying them when they come around. There is a certain model that I have seen go for over $300.00 before on E-bay. I have that model for my C6 steel and it plays and sounds great. The fact that Dickerson was making 200 of them a week at one time proves how popular they were and I believe still are. For now, while I am learning and trying to grasp the art of steel playing, these Magnatones are a blessing because of their price and great playability, plus some models sound pretty good. I have been lucky to get a hold of some good ones because I have played some real beat up junk ones in music stores before. The Magnatone's don't have the prestige of the high priced instruments, but for starting out and having a lap steel that's no big deal to take to the beach etc. they excel as a practical steel in that regard. In fact, I am waiting for another good deal to come up so I can have a 6 string tuned to Carl Dixon's A6. |
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