Magnatone 440 Demo by LeonC featuring Les Paul Custom

[Duroduro666]

Can wehave some overdrive ??????

[leonc1234]

@Duroduro666 - not from me...I sold the amp a few years ago. It did not overdrive nearly as nicely as my Magnatone 213 or PANaramic 1220 or Titano Custom 314 (these are variants of the 213).

[GuitarSlimJunior]

Hey Leon,

So you have an M10, a 213, a 440, an M15 and an M13 plus the Juke... which one do you like the best?

I have a Laub Unique 26R which I love but I find unless I dime it its not loud enough for most gigs and then its too dirty (but the dirt is amazing all the same)

I want to get something that has true pitch shifting Vibrato that's gigable

...and verb would be nice too.

Thoughts?

[leonc1234]

@GuitarSlimJunior - Don't own the Juke; was loaned to me to review for the Gear Page. I've sold off the M15, 440 and PANormaic 1220, Titano 314 Custom that I had (never did a video of that one) and regular M10. I still have my M13 Imperial, M10A and 213A. Those are my favorite Maggies. The old 213A is really my favorite. Most versatile of the bunch. The 213A is gig-able for me, but only because I built it a cab into which I can fit a more efficient speaker. Try more efficient spkrs in your Laub.

[GuitarSlimJunior]

@leonc1234

Thanks man.... that is a really good idea... I wonder why I never thought of it?

[leonc1234]

@GuitarSlimJunior - if you can, look into the Eminence Cannabis Rex and Swamp Thangs. Really great sounding speakers; very efficient and sound great in most Magnatones.

[jacobtheguitarfreak]

I really loved that jazz tone at the beginning. Does it get loud enough to play with groups? I'm looking for a jazz combo for college and I found a Magnatone High Fidelity 115 a few hours away from me

[leonc1234]

@jacobtheguitarfreak - Thanks for listening. I think this amp is right no the border line between being just not loud enough and barely loud enough. If it had a more efficient speaker, it might be okay. But it's not nearly as robust as it's cousin, the Magnatone 213 Troubadour. Personally, I find the Troubadour much more useful.

[jacobtheguitarfreak]

@leonc1234 I actually just went out and bought it on a whim. 5 hour round trip. But I traded two Vintage 30s and $200 cash for it, so I wasn't about to pass that deal up. It has a little rattle at high volumes, and the breakup isn't as smooth and furry as I was hoping, but since it's apparently a bass amp, i can get warm jazz tones at some pretty workable volumes. I still need to try it out with a small combo to make sure, but i'll tell you this- i can't stop playing it.

[guitarcapo]

Best sounding overdriven Maggie is the 260. Something about the power tubes.

[rmaz1441]

This amp sounds great clean... how does it sound when its overdriven?... some magnatones sound great when overdriven...

[leonc1234]

IMO, there are better sounding overdriven Maggies than the 413. It doesn't have much grind in it and what's there is not nearly as harmonically pleasing as something like the 213 or 260.

[leonc1234]

@rmaz1441 - Everyone's got an opinion. I have a number of other Maggies including a 260 (PANaramic) and a 213 Troubadour and others. Personally...I'll take the 213. Still my all-time favorite Maggie.

[dancingrizz]

Outstanding playing but I hate these crotch shot videos so I won't watch again. 1*

[leonc1234]

hahah! Well, thanks for watching it the first time.

[bluescountryfolk]

That was cool, you really caught the moment there. Bloody impressive, cheers.

[leonc1234]

I bought my 440 in the fall 2008, IIRC and paid about 420 USD. I subsequently sold it, in June 2009--it went for 485. This amp was relatively beat, physically and was missing the rear panel. But it was in *perfect* operating condition and needed no repairs. That was the last 440 that I've seen sold. I'd think that if it was in *excellent* condition, it's go for about 600-700, but relatively beat, absolutely no more than 500, if that much.

[RickenVoxster]

@leonc1234 After Phil X it's hard now to touch a Maggie 200 or 400 series for much under $1000! I have a Magnatone 111 that went for $250 and a 118 for $500. I am afraid the secret is out now...same with Jack White and the Silvertone amps...

[leonc1234]

@RickenVoxster - if you keep your eyes peeled, you can still find some 200 series Maggies (sometimes under other brand names) for well under a grand. But on eBay? Not that often. It's a drag indeed.

[TheSAJ11]

Hi there , help me out please , there is an amp like this one for sale at my local store , it is a bit beat cosmatically speaking , but it sounds great , how much should i pay ? also do you know any amp tech that works on these things to give it a good check up if i ended buying it ? let me know please , thank you for your time and great demos.

[leonc1234]

Thanks Neil - yes, that is indeed pitch-modulating vibrato as opposed to tremolo (amplitude modulation). Vibrato is what Magnatones were really known for; they were one of the few companies that produce amps that used true vibrato (Ampeg did have a couple models that I'm aware of --the GV15 and GV22-- that did pitch modulating vibrato AND tremolo).

[neiloler]

Very cool stuff Leon, I like the vibrato (I'm guessing it's vibrato, not trem?).

Some day I'm going to visit you and take a Jazz lesson or two. ;)

[leonc1234]

As for jazz lessons...well, I'm hardly the guy to be giving jazz lessons; yes I can play a little jazz, but I don't consider myself a jazz guitarist per se. But if you're ever over this way, by all means give me a shout!

[leonc1234]

Hey thanks Brian!

[chasyboy1]

You are DA MAN, Leon!  Please keep 'em comin'

Brian