Magnatone

Dave Bader · Post by **Dave Bader** » 5 Dec 2007 5:13 pm

There are two listings for multi neck Magnatones on ebay if anyone is interested.

Auction on eBay.

Auction on eBay.

Both seem to be all original and in ok shape.

George Keoki Lake · Post by **George Keoki Lake** » 5 Dec 2007 10:30 pm

I once owned a 4 neck MAGNATONE with 4 legs. My guitar had a tone and volume control on each of the 4 necks...I'm wondering if my old guitar was an earlier model than those pictured ? One thing for sure, (and which caused me to sell the beast), it weighed a ton, especially in the case ! But gee, I wish I had it today if only as a treasure.

Bill Creller · Post by **Bill Creller** » 6 Dec 2007 6:45 am

A quad Magnatone would be nice if set up at home and not lugged around. Even the T-8 is really heavy.
I haven't ever played one, but I would like to sometime.

George Keoki Lake · Post by **George Keoki Lake** » 6 Dec 2007 12:18 pm

My Quad had two p/u's on each neck (plus, as mentioned, each neck had it's own vol and tone control). Many have critized the tone of the Magnatone, but my experience was just the opposite. It had a sweet mellow tone for Hawaiian and could really cut it on w/s. Were it not for the weight fctor, I'm certain I would still have that old beast with me today. Actually, I should have had more "smarts" at the time and kept it ! Live and learn.

Dave Bader · Post by **Dave Bader** » 6 Dec 2007 1:33 pm

I have a single neck 8 string Troubadour that sounds real nice and looks cool too. I love the see-through tuner and control knobs.

Ron Whitfield · Post by **Ron Whitfield** » 6 Dec 2007 1:55 pm

I have long had one of those too, Dave, with a real hot PU. It's been my #1 lately, and has everything you could want from a steel, physically and sonicly.
JB hated it because his chubby fingers didn't mesh well with the tuners, and his constant urging for me to grind them down is the only thing I ever ignored from him.
His and many other local greats sigs are all over this guitar, and helps keep me at it when the going get's tuff, which is less and less these day's.

Magnatone made a lot of killer stuff over the years, and has never gotten from under the shadow of the big boys, which has helped get me many awesome pieces for cheap.

Those big consoles like Keoki's need a really good pair of hands to get the most out of them, and I wish now that I hadn't given up on my dbl. 8. The sound of Waikiki is built into them.

Don Kona Woods · Post by **Don Kona Woods** » 6 Dec 2007 4:25 pm

I have a D8 Lyric Magnatone. Of all the instruments that I have (D-8 Fender Stringmaster,D-8 Excel, S-8 Excel frypan, S-8 Sierra, S-6 Rickenbacker frypan, etc.) it is my favorite because of the tone for Hawaiian music.

Aloha,

Don

Ron Whitfield · Post by **Ron Whitfield** » 6 Dec 2007 5:08 pm

Dave, does your's say Troubadour on the fretboard, with stars for markers?
I've seen some that do, mine doesn't.

Dave Bader · Post by **Dave Bader** » 6 Dec 2007 7:20 pm

Hey Ron

Yes mine looks like that and it doesn't say Magnatone on the head stock but I've seen some that do. It doesn't look as though it was there at some time but I wonder if it was. Other then that it's pretty mint. I love the shape and the hand rest. Does anyone know what type of wood it is?

Dave Bader · Post by **Dave Bader** » 6 Dec 2007 7:33 pm

Haven't done this with a picture before so here goes.

Roman Sonnleitner · Post by **Roman Sonnleitner** » 7 Dec 2007 5:36 am

The wood looks like mahogany.

Gerald Ross · Post by **Gerald Ross** » 7 Dec 2007 6:52 am

I love my Magnatone. It's my travel steel. It weighs next to nothing, fits into my suitcase when I fly and has a more-than-decent tone. The tone is not as big, fat and complex as my Bakelite Ricks but it's good enough.

David Yannuzzi · Post by **David Yannuzzi** » 7 Dec 2007 7:30 am

I am selling My Troubadour here http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=122550

sorry for the shameless plug . This a great guitar but I need the money but this thread has definatly made me think twice . hurry before I change my mind

-Dave

George Keoki Lake · Post by **George Keoki Lake** » 7 Dec 2007 8:43 am

I'm presuming MAGNATONE gained it's widest acceptance via "HAWAI'I CALLS" during the last 20 or so years of the program's existance. The steel guitarists on that show were, (undoubtably), given the guitars (D-8 models) in exchange for the world-wide 'plug' the company received each week from Webley Edwards when he announced (i.e) "Alvin Kalanikau and his Magnatone Steel Guitar....(etc,)" Great publicity ! I know with absolute certainty, I had very little knowledge of the Magnatone steel guitar prior to "HAWAI'I CALLS".

Mark Lynott · Post by **Mark Lynott** » 7 Dec 2007 1:19 pm

Gerald, happen to know if the Fender-style jack cup on your MOTS Maggie is stock or a modification?

Gerald Ross · Post by **Gerald Ross** » 7 Dec 2007 1:33 pm

Don't know - it came that way. I bought the Magnatone on Ebay.

Dave Bader · Post by **Dave Bader** » 7 Dec 2007 6:31 pm

David - That thing is awsome

. Is it original or refinished? Either way it's realy cool. I know i'd have a tuff time parting with it.

Dave

Ron Whitfield · Post by **Ron Whitfield** » 7 Dec 2007 7:46 pm

Wow, I'd like to know the story on that one!
If it's all original, I'll bet it was a showpiece for the NAMM shows.
Someone is going to be a happy steeler if they catch that combo deal.
Curious how it sounds with the string retainer at the tail instead of thru-body, like my Troub and all others I've seen.
Mine also doesn't have a hand rest, and my 'rearranged' right wrist is thankful for that. Plus it has the controls top loaded with a chromed cover, and the Mag decal on the headstock.
Those quarter round metal bridges are some of the best as well, for string thru anyways.

Craig Stenseth · Post by **Craig Stenseth** » 8 Dec 2007 5:07 am

Gerald Ross wrote:Don't know - it came that way. I bought the Magnatone on Ebay.

My Magnatone (Varsity) has the same style jack for what it's worth.

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