Magnatone M-10A

This is a mid '60s suitcase style 2 channel amp with reverb and a shimmering vibrato , a 12" speaker , high / low gain inputs on both channels with a "stereo" input that saves your jumpers but with only one output transformer aboard is somewhat misleading , since they did make true stereo 2 X 12" 'M' series amps . Both channels have a 3 position mellow , normal , tone boost switch ; volume , treble , bass pots , and channel 1 feeds a back mounted reverb tank with a depth control pot , Magnatone vibrato with intensity and speed control pots . Footswitch plugs for reverb / vibrato cancel switches are provided . Mine has had the external speaker jack converted to a standby toggle , with another toggle in the origional off / standby / anti hum 1 and 2 switch .

This amp has a whole lot of different tones , the 3 position tone selecter gets you started , and you can paint that with the bass and treble . The stereo input gives you a 2 channel meld , for even more sound possibilities . The reverb gets deep quickly at any kind of volume , it rides on the back panel and resonates more than a bottom tank . The vibrato you've heard others raving about , so I'll just say they're not kidding !

When will someone make a quality (or any) 7189A output tubes . Then we'll have a lot brighter outlook with a source when these blow . I got this with 2 Sovtek 6BQ5's and a heck of a hum , channel 1 was in/op . Changed tubes with tested good and a pair of vintage 7189A's and it all worked with a whole lot less buzz . I took out a massive Japanese speaker because it could take full output without batting a voice coil and substituted a green back Jensen . It has a lot less magnet and muce more tendency to break in a very good way . I've wanted one of these suitcase amps since I saw Ry Cooder playing a Strat through a bigger one on the second season of SNL .

How about product placsment on a show ten years after your production run was over , on a T.V. classic made 32 years ago , selling someone on the M series sound . It seems to go round and round . On support , buy tubes , just not the ones I'm bidding on ! Ha , Ha .

I won this on ebay , local pickup only in my state . Drove 225 miles round trip and met a guy who customized guitars with inventive pick up options and stereo break out leads . He was a great guy and a guitar wiz , well worth the trip just to meet him and talk shop . So here's a plug for Lattie in Beaver Falls , Ky . Keep on chooglin' .

This is a 1965 M-10A, with the 12" speaker. It has more features than any amp I've ever played. Some (like top-boost), I never use. Being able to play both channels without jumpering is especially nice. It says "stereo," but I don't believe so. With only one speaker and one amp section, how could it be? Whatever. It matters little. Supposedly this amp came with an alnico speaker. Mine sounds more like a ceramic. Haven't checked yet becuase of the unique, closed construction. This looks like a suitcase from outer space. Completely closed back, top is molded piece with vents in back, control panel in front and a large handle on top. You have to unscrew the bottom of the amp to get to the speaker, which is installed along with some sort of folder horn. The lucite 'M' lights up when the amp is plugged in. 50's strange style and lights? what more could you want? Oh, world class reverb and the to-die for vibrato, that's what!

On the power side, I'd agree that it's more in the 22-25 watt zone. Deluxe like in volume, but not in any other way. One big difference is tubes. The Maggie uses 7189A tubes, an expensive (but of course), rugged variant of the EL-84. They are not common, but man, they sound good! Mine are the original set, along with Mullard pre-amp tubes as well. This amp looks almost new, has not been played much.

I use a G&L tele ASAT Classic, a '61 strat and a '58 Supro "60" guitar with lap steel p/u, playing lots of open tuning and slide, standard as well, in the blues, roots zone. As far as sound, I've never heard anything like this amp. It has a completely distinctive character, and that's before you even turn on the much-drooled-over vibrato. The reverb is deep and wet, no boing, no heavy metal pinging, just a warm spaciousness. Reverb is my favorite effect, and this is one of the best ever. The amp is clean and jangly with single coils up to mid-volume. It's a sweet, 60s kind of sound. Hard to explain it, as nothing else sounds quite like this. Turn it up, and you get the most beautiful overdrive. Somewhat Vox like. It saturates at the highest volume, but no mud. Every note rings clear, with it's own little bounce, sustaining pretty much as long as you want, hanging on the edge of feedback but not going over. What a beautiful tone!

I play lots of loud blues jams. Some of the subtle beauty of this sound gets lost in the typical jam sound sludge, but I can be heard. You need to play a little quieter to hear the mid-volume complexity. Then there's the vibrato. Some people don't like it. I'm an instant, hopeless true pitch shift junkie. Once again, it's hard to desribe this, as nothing else really sounds like it. Except Juke amps, which have true pitch shift vibrato AND trem. How cool is that?
The vibrato is so intense I can run this amp along with a tweed type amp (not slaved, through an amp switcher), and it sounds like the vibrato is coming from both amps, even though they're 10 feet apart.

This sound is not for everyone. If you like high-gain and heavier rock sounds, don't bother. I like blackface fender clean, and especially the mid-size tweed amp sound character. This maggie is off by itself somewhere. For me, it's an essential sound. BTW: It has a remarkable voice with the slide. With that Supro, instant David Lindley (minu the talent of course.)

I haven't had it that long. These amps were very well designed and built, so I don't have worries. Also, this one was well cared for and in no way abused that I could tell. That's reassuring. The top does get a little warm when you play (that's why the vents are there), but nothing extreme. If it does need service, it will go to someone very good and very experienced. Maggies are notorious for providing "learning curves" to amp techs who've never seen one before.

Not an issue. They've been out of business for 40 years or so.

I've been playing for 39 years. Have of late been on a real amp journey. Playing a '67 BFDR, '61 Gibson GA40, and 2003 Clark Tyger (tweed bandmaster type) now. Some very different sounds, but all old school, all low-gain with lots of clean character. The Maggie fits in so well. It's one of those sounds that keeps me coming back to the instrument, a tone that rewards experimentation. Any piece of gear that challenges me this way deserves the highest rating. Aside from the wonderful sound, I love dragging this out to clubs. Eyes pop when the cover comes off. A strange, cool find. Now I have to find some other maggies to keep this one company.

1966 Magnatone M10A. Could be the amp with the most features for it's time ever built.
Two distinctively voiced channel-not switchable however. Unique stereo input that if you put your input cable just halfway in allows you to tap both channel simultaneously-very cool and useful. It's got the "tone boost" select as well as bright and mellow for each channel. Add the vibrato everyone is so crazy about (I don't like it that much) and a deep, watery reverb that you really have to back away from it's so intense-this amp's got it all.
There's also a vibrato footpedal, a reverb footpedal and some serious distortion (the good kind) if you run it full out. Of course there aren't effects loops-which I don't care for anyway-they seem to color the sound. Headphone would have been nice-but hey this is 1966! You wanted to be heard!

Use this amp with any and all instruments you've got at your disposal. Idles very quietly-but after owning it for three years now-I did have to replace the filter caps which were original and the amp hummed loudly until I did-now it's like a new amp. They claim 38 watts output-but I would have to disagree without seeing that on a bench test. I'd say it's more like a Fender Deluxe Reverb at 22 watts. They are completely different to me from that point on. Having owned an original 1965 I bought back then and later the reissue from about 1999 they'll always be special to me. However, as most know first hand, the Deluxe sound clean from 1-3 on the volume, then starts breaking up nicely at 4-5 and after that just turns to mud and unusable farting out unnatural distortion. I'm happy to say, this old Magnatone keeps clean up to 12'oclock and then moderately begins to exude it's fat, thick and rich magna aurally (I can't believe I wrote that). Honestly, it's really pleasing-single coil Strat, Classic 57 humbucker Les Paul, even a Vox archtop really finds it's voice. Each guitar has it's own articulation and personality that supercede the amp itself. Very satisfying. Unfortunately, you won't want to take this on a rock gig because it just doesn't have enough clean headroom to rise above most drummers I have played music with. It's okay for practice-there is an extension speaker out-but just for stereo spread-not for audience coverage. . . . you'll have to go farther for that. I also love an AC-15 I have for Beatles stuff, etc., but unless it's mic'd or go direct-forget getting out there in a moderate venue. If you want brutal distortion (I know I do at times) you'll need something upfront-and it takes to pedals well-no worries there. This is not the only amp you'll ever want to own, but with an original Jensen Alnico 12" in a folded horn style cab that's designed to look like Samonsite luggage-well, it's pretty extraordinary and special.

Hey it's almost 40 years old. I've gigged the country club with it and the honky tonk. Would I use it as primary? No, but if it were the only amp I had-sure I would. When you take the "head" section off to replace or examine the tubes it's kind of an out of body experience. Very funky. The power supply and filter caps are on the bottom of the amp, opposite the preamp and controls. The plastic surround on the head section is starting to crack and act like - well, a suitcase that has been around the world. I haven't even switched the two prong power cord (but I have every other vintage amp I've owned-why not this one?) Having owned several Magnatones (if you haven't got one-what's stopping you) there is a special affinity for this one. Even my guitar students are envious of it.
Why? There's a rare/funky/one-of-a-kind/coolness about it-but I don't care about that stuff-it's just got TONE-that's what it's all about for me.

Well I'd give it a zero except for Vibroworld-Zack-and especially the great, great users group on Yahoo with Tone Dawg, CJ and others who have resuscitated, renewed and re-fired up people about these great amps. They are better customer support than any ANY commercial entity could provide. Man, these guys will help you dig and find the part, piece, nicknak or thang you need. . . . .It's a club worth belonging to

If you want a great amp-try the M10A. . . . It's not the best amp if it's your only amp-it's just a personal and subjective thing anyway. . . . These are only going to appreciate and get scarcer and rare and I know I'm not selling mine until my wife decides after I die.

1960's oddity if you find one of these Hold on and don't let go...EQ Boosting and Dual Channels differ from M-10 to M-10a (the M-10a has many more EQ options).....True Stereo Tremelo And B3 spring Reverb sound magical....Amazing Tube set-up with plenty of stand by power

This AMP is unmatched in sound Quality....THE best sounding amp to record with ever made....Loud enough for most any gig...comparable to Fender deluxe reverb but sound is prettier or uglier depending on what you'd like..

service every 2 years or so depending on how much dust or dirt is in your studio.....

If you are a pro you must own one of these at any price...Greatest combo ever made...

This amp, made in 1965, is quite versatile. The low volume clean sounds are excellent. The mellow/bright/tone boost knob is key. It doesn't have a midrange control due to it's age. Reverb and vibrato work only on channel 1 (by design)

This amp makes a good practice amp due to the closed-back design (lots of bass). When cranked with a hot guitar, it gets quite crunchy sounding. The clean sounds are stellar.

I can't list reliability because I just bought it.

Besides the great sounds, the look is so apart from anything else. The lit M (when the amp is on) is way cool. I you see one of these for cheap, BUY IT!