Magnatone Information

John Soshnik · Post by **John Soshnik** » 22 Apr 2013 11:54 am

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 · Post by **Al Terhune** » 24 Apr 2013 10:17 am

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.

Paul DiMaggio · Post by **Paul DiMaggio** » 24 Apr 2013 1:29 pm

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/viewtopi ... b217f6ffdd

Tony Lombardo · Post by **Tony Lombardo** » 24 Apr 2013 1:34 pm

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 · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 24 Apr 2013 2:18 pm

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.

John Soshnik · Post by **John Soshnik** » 25 Apr 2013 1:00 pm

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.

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 25 Apr 2013 1:12 pm

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

Dennis Smith · Post by **Dennis Smith** » 25 Apr 2013 1:58 pm

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 · Post by **John Soshnik** » 25 Apr 2013 8:25 pm

Thanks very much for the information, gentlemen.

Chris Templeton · Post by **Chris Templeton** » 27 Apr 2013 4:37 pm

I don't think of Magnetones as high dollar instruments. Somewhat how the Sears name is/used to be.

Jay Fagerlie · Post by **Jay Fagerlie** » 28 Apr 2013 6:22 am

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

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