I've been repairing and building since the late 70's. I've got the parts from an old phonograph to build one of these. I'll add a few things to the input jack in order to isolate the player for safety. These widow makers can be a fun ride. Thanks for the video, and great chops bro!
Hi Brad, It never fails to amaze me how you find all the old vintage amps. Nice little amp. You really know how to put them through their paces with the Tele, etc.. Be good, C.
Thanks for watching, as always. This one came to me in a huge lot sold to be by same fellow that sold me a lot of that stuff in my recent estate sale video.
I used to have its bigger brother, a 1955 Magnatone Troubador 113 Deluxe. It had a Jensen P12N in it. It still had the bell on it also. An elderly woman gave it to me for helping her move. It looked just like this little Starlet, but had more controls and inputs on it.
looks like a truly simple circuit that would be easy to make, I might try building this one, I just happen to have a couple of these tubes on hand. .. thanks
Could someone help me out? I’m installing a 3 prong cord on mine. Originally the black went to the switch and the white was on the bottom leg of the pilot light. So I assumed my ground on the new cord went chassis. I’m getting a loud buzz. Should the ground go with the neutral? Any help would be appreciated. Thx.
I have 2 of these amps.. found at different sales. They have different circuits/tube sets.. and sound completely different from one another. Would make a cool video to compare the two.
Just now looking at mine now.... Regarding the terminal strip, is everything tied together at that point? - And, is that terminal strip isolated from the chassis at that point? Thanks again for the great videos!!
Hi I just bought one of these amps and it seems to have excessive hum and buzz with nothing plugged in. Any ideas as to what that could be? Or any mods that could be done to quiet the noise? I took it to a tech and he said there was nothing wrong with the amp, but it just was noisy.
I am no expert by any means as I am just getting into tube electronics but it sounds like capacitors from the research I have been doing, or possibly a bad tube.
I wonder what players thought of this amp in 1955?. As rock was "new" in 1955, and most guitar players were playing Les Paul, Chet Atkins etc style of guitar. As much as this amp appears to break up, I wonder if Magnatone got complaints that the amp had ZERO headroom???
When you pointed out the loose speaker wire I thought for sure you were going to mention the speaker had a hole in it. Or maybe that isn't a hole but a stain? Anyway, if it is a hole, it didn't affect the sound that I could tell, or is it adding to the break-up of the sound at full volume? Easy fix I guess with tiny cut-out of another speaker cone and some hot glue right? Also, it would be great to close(r) mike the amp(s). Maybe a separate recording device for closer up and not use the audio from your camera.
No hole in the speaker, just a stain. I don't like close micing amps really. You don't get a sense of how an amp sounds in a room. In this case though, it might have been better if the camera had been closer.
The Guitologist Getting geared up to. Parts arrive in a few more days... then it starts. I wish there was a 1 stop shop... but I need at least 2 vendors. I made it 3 in this case for cost sake.
Ok, so my chassis is all built and working... a few little tweaks were needed to solve some minor glitches. I'm ready to build it a cabinet now. It's DANG LOUD for 3 watts... Sounds great.
Woah, little firecracker is right! What a sharp little trash factory! Doesnt come across in the vid very well (imo), but how does the bass hold up in person? I understand you have a tiny box and tiny speaker, but...
There isn't a ton of bass with single coils. Hums have more. Either way, slap a mic on it and record through an active board with EQ and it'll sound angry as hell.
Killer tone, great playing. Thanks for the thorough explanation! Loved the video.
glad you dug this one out of the vaults and enjoyed it!
Just picked one of these up-such a wonderful sounding amp.
And I should add-not the one you serviced, but has a 1616 “serial” number, don’t seem to be all that serial.
I've been repairing and building since the late 70's. I've got the parts from an old phonograph to build one of these. I'll add a few things to the input jack in order to isolate the player for safety. These widow makers can be a fun ride. Thanks for the video, and great chops bro!
Hi Brad, It never fails to amaze me how you find all the old vintage amps. Nice little amp. You really know how to put them through their paces with the Tele, etc.. Be good, C.
Thanks for watching, as always. This one came to me in a huge lot sold to be by same fellow that sold me a lot of that stuff in my recent estate sale video.
I used to have its bigger brother, a 1955 Magnatone Troubador 113 Deluxe. It had a Jensen P12N in it. It still had the bell on it also. An elderly woman gave it to me for helping her move. It looked just like this little Starlet, but had more controls and inputs on it.
Loving these videos, and your guitar playing. Thank you for all the great info!
Thanks for watching! I appreciate it.
looks like a truly simple circuit that would be easy to make, I might try building this one, I just happen to have a couple of these tubes on hand. .. thanks
Heck, I might build one too. Basically just need an output transformer, a speaker, and a few components.
Thanks again, TG. I'm looking into these amps, having unsuccessfully pursued the similar, smaller Oahus ...
Not much to one of these. You could build one if all else fails. Another watcher to the channel did.
Very cool. Thanks for sharing.
My pleasure. Thanks for watching, Bob.
Could someone help me out? I’m installing a 3 prong cord on mine. Originally the black went to the switch and the white was on the bottom leg of the pilot light. So I assumed my ground on the new cord went chassis. I’m getting a loud buzz. Should the ground go with the neutral? Any help would be appreciated. Thx.
Whats the ohm rating of the speaker? I have one of these, might need a need speaker but not sure yet. Had her serviced and getting some noise.
My stock speaker is 4 ohms
Dude....that is killer sounding! Did I see no power transformer? Thanks man for your videos.
Correct. No PT. It's a series filament amp. Maybe the best one of this type I've ever come across. The Harmony H400 is a close second.
I hope your right I just picked up a Harmony H400 that needs a little TLC, I will see soon! Thanks for the upload!!
I have 2 of these amps.. found at different sales. They have different circuits/tube sets.. and sound completely different from one another. Would make a cool video to compare the two.
Magna Electronics here in Holly Michigan ….Automotive
Hey'a Brad. Can the 50L6 tube be subbed for a 50L6gt? Not much online about this tube.
Yes. The "GT" suffix is just to indicate it's a "glass tube" and not a metal one, which came earlier. The same is true of all GT tubes.
I just discovered your channel, love the vids!
Now that's what I call a demo. Wow!
Just now looking at mine now.... Regarding the terminal strip, is everything tied together at that point? - And, is that terminal strip isolated from the chassis at that point?
Thanks again for the great videos!!
...has Brad left the building?
this is a sweet & sexy little tube amp here Brad !!! Another Great Video my friend Brad
Hi I just bought one of these amps and it seems to have excessive hum and buzz with nothing plugged in. Any ideas as to what that could be? Or any mods that could be done to quiet the noise? I took it to a tech and he said there was nothing wrong with the amp, but it just was noisy.
I am no expert by any means as I am just getting into tube electronics but it sounds like capacitors from the research I have been doing, or possibly a bad tube.
Sweet/Hot little amp! Thanks Man!
I wonder what players thought of this amp in 1955?. As rock was "new" in 1955, and most guitar players were playing Les Paul, Chet Atkins etc style of guitar. As much as this amp appears to break up, I wonder if Magnatone got complaints that the amp had ZERO headroom???
Punk was probably invented in 1957, but no one ever heard it because it was done in garages in secret.
That little amp brought out your inner Rory Gallagher!
When you pointed out the loose speaker wire I thought for sure you were going to mention the speaker had a hole in it. Or maybe that isn't a hole but a stain? Anyway, if it is a hole, it didn't affect the sound that I could tell, or is it adding to the break-up of the sound at full volume? Easy fix I guess with tiny cut-out of another speaker cone and some hot glue right? Also, it would be great to close(r) mike the amp(s). Maybe a separate recording device for closer up and not use the audio from your camera.
No hole in the speaker, just a stain. I don't like close micing amps really. You don't get a sense of how an amp sounds in a room. In this case though, it might have been better if the camera had been closer.
I'm gonna build one of these when my parts come in. Why? Because I can.
You build one yet?
The Guitologist
Getting geared up to. Parts arrive in a few more days... then it starts. I wish there was a 1 stop shop... but I need at least 2 vendors. I made it 3 in this case for cost sake.
Ok, so my chassis is all built and working... a few little tweaks were needed to solve some minor glitches. I'm ready to build it a cabinet now. It's DANG LOUD for 3 watts... Sounds great.
wow that's load for and amp that small. bad ass.
That big blob of solder makes me sad :(
Firecracker? That's an M-80 if ever I heard one!
Woah, little firecracker is right! What a sharp little trash factory! Doesnt come across in the vid very well (imo), but how does the bass hold up in person? I understand you have a tiny box and tiny speaker, but...
There isn't a ton of bass with single coils. Hums have more. Either way, slap a mic on it and record through an active board with EQ and it'll sound angry as hell.
sounds like dog doo doo