Let's RIP OPEN a 1949 Magnatone and Service that Sucka!
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- Опубліковано 1 жов 2024
- This is a SWEET little, vintage, Fender Champ like, 1949 Magnatone Student Model M-199-3-J. In this vid, we'll open it up for perhaps the first time ever and do a complete overhaul service. Then we'll demo it with a PRS Custom 22 10-Top w/ Birds. Let's do this! karate kick
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what solvent do you use?
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The Guitologist Can any triode tube be used as an amplifier?
The Guitologist hmm didn’t know yellow tape was established in 1833 lol
Love your custom morton shirt :p
That amp whinced when you took those wire cutters to it! Felt it all the way to here in the UK! Your so right about Brussels, thats why we are coming out of the EU. Lovely piece of US electronic history. Love it !
I'm from Belgum and want to tell you how to ground this amp PM me lol
haha!
Brad, you need some "Guitologist" shirts to wear in your videos. You could probably sell them, too.
I´m in for a shirt...already have plenty of EEVBlog, ElectroBBOM, AvE....
I'd buy them!!
I knocked the swag thing around in my head and I'm not really sure about it, but I have another idea I might go with.
A lot of UA-cam people use things like Tee Spring so they don't have to hold stock mail it out. Just submit the design and get the royalty payment. Kinda makes sense.
@@TheGuitologist If you decide to do a shirt, shoot me a message.
I will work you up a design in exchange for a shirt.
I've been in design for more than 40 years, so I ain't no rookie.
In 1983, the bigger the better. We would haul cabinets that didn't even work just to make our sound look bigger. Today, I'd rather take a little tube amp like this Magnatone and a mic. So it is in life. Big amps and big hair to small amps and no hair...LOL.
Regulations and legislation out of Brussels, Belgium, European Union. Generally are full of shit as is the organisation itself is. No wonder they're in decline. Bollocks to them. I hear you. Keep up the great work, Brad. :)
I "grew up" as a young engineer for IBM. They were sticklers for equipment grounding, and had a strict rule against using 'functional screws' for grounds. While I understand their thinking there is NO way I would drill a hole in that nice old amp either! If you clean the chassis and use an existing screw you will never have a problem. I would use a star washer. That was another thing I learned at Big Blue.
I agree. I would normally not consider grounding to a component bolt, but in the case of this amp I would make an exception. I would fit a locknut in addition to the star washer.
what is the theory behind not using a "functional bolt/screw" as ground...? ...because it may potentially work loose?
I'm with you on not drilling holes on vintage chassis. You can accomplish the same thing using existing hardware.
this diminutive old amp has some awesome break-up tone
after 70 some years ,has R&D improved what is still so
appealing from small valve amps, ? great work brad,
That amp rocks!!
With regards to the "local cap sourcing", beginning in 1948, there was a post-war 'consumer electronics boom', dealers couldn't keep tabletop radios (which occupied most kitchen tables) in stock, because of "tensions" resulting from the inception of the Cold War. By late 1950, housewives were advised to "keep an ear on the radio throughout the day", because of the recent USSR entry into the atomic era. Television manufacturers were also running "in full-blast" production mode. The consumer electronics boom accompanied the housing boom, and the "Baby Boom". Parts shortages were prevalent, as most component manufacturers were contractually obligated to the "big electronics manufacturers"; it was "source from wherever you can find it, or shut down production".
The parts shortage situation began to resolve in early 1952.
You're right about the post war boom in the US. We weren't hit with the austerity seen in Europe and the rest of the world touched by the War. Our factories were still standing over here, and they wen't wild immediately. You see more vintage radios dated 1946 than any other single year.
Also got to keep in mind that the Chicago area was a major electronics production hub in the U.S. until it all up and went overseas and was gone by the end of the 1980s. Zenith, Motorola, various brands sold by Sears, and who knows what else. Only makes sense that most of the components for making all those TVs, radios, and stereo stuff was made in the area too. And it didn't hurt that that the city was (and still is) a major shipping and transportation hub.
Yes, but you're also talking about a time before the interstate highway system and commercial aviation really took off. So shipping from Chicago to LA was a chore.
Route 66. Also, capacitors weighed a lot less than transformers, so sourcing the heaviest parts locally would have been more important.
The "Chicago School of Electronics", the best, anywhere, and at anytime in history. Motorola - nicest construction; Zenith - best designs, excellent quality; Admiral - honorable mention; E.H. Scott (during his working life) "all of the above, produced the best radios of all time".
To see it now saddens me.
I love it, maybe, you could get a sponsorship from the guy's that make that yellow. tape D'
Someone call them up for me!
uncle Doug brought me here.
Uncle Doug is like Merlin.
@@johnnyx9892 the www.yzzerdd(dot)com
That sounds hollow , tin-ee and scratchy . Oh wait , that's my speakers . Gggrrrrrrrrr
haha
I have to fight myself from scrolling forward to hear you make her sing. And congratulations on striking a sponsorship deal!
Excellent episode thanks Brad! Damn, that little thing sounds awesome!
+The Guitologist, Brad, what promotional reference code should I use for SchlubHub? They have a 'vibrating toilet seat', which is guaranteed to "firm up my butt" - in 30-days or my money will be cheerfully refunded. I'm also thinking about getting their "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" musical toilet paper dispenser, with digital "sheet odometer", and complimentary 'box of matches' for "emergencies".
heheh...hey man, I just take the cash! I'm not responsible for the services! :D
I'l take 5 boxes of matches and the biggest sheedometer please
They sell great man bibs with a large lower pocket for catching the pieces of buffalo wings that fall.
I remember my father ordering a neon bulb equipped "rear window electronic billboard", from some "distinguished men's catalog, published in Georgia". It sat on the rear deck panel, and scrolled/flashed/ static displayed messages like "dim-it DAMMIT", "TAILGATING JERK", "BLOW THIS".
The balance of that list was really 'rancid'..
Built in shit ticket counter. lol
Thx for showing me the fuse ....out of storage it was somehow misplaced. Nice rebuild!
Love you stuff my friend, have learned a lot thank you. I was wondering how come you never use a bulb limiter ever to test some of these amps?
Man that little amp sounds good! I’ve always been a BF Fender clean/Vox chime/tweed fender blues/Marshall crunch type of guy and would personally take these sears catalog type amps and mod them to fit one of those profiles....but I believe you did the best thing possible for this amp! I need to find me one now to restore!
Love your videos brotha.
Usually it's easy for guitar repairs for me but amps always been more complicated for me.
I've learned to much since I've been watching your videos. 🤘🏿😈
Juicey choice amp. A new $79-99 Weber Alnico speaker in there would be the way I’d go....me no likey most old speakers....but that RCA does do OK
That's exactly what I told him too...get a Weber AlNiCo to get the most out of it.
Great Job indeed. I am basically a novice, yet have repaired a number of vintage amps for my own personal pleasure . Far as using the transformer bolt for a ground ,is what I have always done , with zero problems :)
I really enjoy your channel Brad, that is when I have time to watch it. We're in the same biz but It's hard for me to keep up with my customers and I don't even advertise much less video my repairs. Oh well keep up the great work Dude!
Totally agree with hot glue speaker repair method , I seen it on one of older videos and used it , works perfect as long as one is careful and uses a thin layer
Love the channel , and im always learning new things..love old vintage amps . the insides warm my heart ..cheers
The only thing better than seeing and hearing them is SMELLING them while they're cooking. Love that smell. I should create my own cologne and sell that instead of t-shirts.
You could start up a Stryper tribute band with that outfit!
Hot glue seems to work good! Years ago before hot glue guns, we used tissue paper and finger nail polish...it worked, lol. Btw...gorgeous guitar!
I love this shit. Great video. A+ on the editing efforts, too.
Why didnt you put tape over the Magnatone or Magna Electronics? Oh shit, you better put some tape over the title of this video too.
Would be so nice to have a amp like that. Sounding good, and looks good, specially after you put your "love" into it. Great job, once again Brad. Nice playing by the way, we sometimes forget that you are a good guitarist.
That amp sounds just beautiful. Your playing at the end sent me into daydream land reminiscing about my growing up with music. Thanks for the killer videos.
Amazing how these little vintage practice/student amps can be crunch monsters.
I used to repair sewing machines. I still cringe when I see an old electronics whatever being opened for the first time in forever. Seen my share of dead bugs and neglect.
G n' GF
I'm just learning about sewing machines since I've taken up sewing. I have an old Pfaff 130 that works great but needs a pedal since the one I have smokes and a new Consew 206rb5 that I've had to do a couple minor things to. It came as several boxes of parts and I figured out how it all went together. The stitch length wasn't quite right and reverse didn't match forward but UA-cam videos helped solve that problem and a presser foot difficulty. There are no repairmen where I live. If I can't figure it out it won't get fixed.
Man...I love this kind of video: old gear in average condition, few parts to be replaced and, when complete, a great sound coming from its guts. Greetings from Brazil.
Me too, Leonardo. Love when a plan comes together!
Love the taped up Logos in the intro. "Make dem suckas pay!!!" Great video!
Chu! Dem Suckas ain't gon know what hit 'em.
dem suckas might not even know it was them! ;)
Did you replace the can cap also? I might've missed that. If no, why? Surely it's *very old*.
I replaced the multi-section can with discreet components.
Way to cover everything up so you don’t have any product placement... that was way too funny 😂...
:D
What about the PRS part? Lol
archenemy24 I guess he’s proud of that. I like the crazy laugh at the end of the video... where everything is taped yellow...
Hot glue speaker repair!....I'm gonna go to bed tonight...less stupid....lol...Why didn't I think of that?....
It's #1 on my list of best uses for hot glue.
LOL!!! 13:15 "Beaker Brush " alert!!!
nicey amp!!!! super that uncle doug is back in youtube land- in my younger age im working as car electrics+mechanics-specialy old/youngtimers+ soundsystems. i had a vw-kaefer 1200
6 volts-ichanged the komplete electric to 12volts. this was in 1979 -i was 17/18 jears young
hey brad-the last 2 days in vienna the winter comes back-snow and minus 7 degree-
the best time to heat on a tube amp ! i started to get naked outside- in the middle of the street-
to cry +scream long live the guitologist! -but too cold for this! rockn rolly brad!
Are you being sponsored by Home Depot with the duct tape?
Not yet...deal is in the works. I have my best people on it.
Oh god, that Beetlejuice clip hahaha
My genius for vintage pop culture references from my childhood is limitless. :D
Speaking of biasing output tubes I was just looking at one of David C. Gillespie's Magnavox mods I'm thinking of building, whose 6V6 output tubes are cathode biased in a rather unusual way, taking their bias voltage off of a 100-ohm phantom center tap at the filament transformer.
All of us tech could wright books on the crazy stuff we run in to.
@12:40 - I ALWAYS rock my strippers. That's how I get so many VIP cards.
Lol! I agree that they're full of it! Ground is ground! Why destroy the original face of the chassis? Keepin it lookin original is best in my opinion. Nice job!
Brad you should have used a single coil guitar. The HB hadn't been invented for another decade when this little beast was made. So what would the final output wattage on this be? Thumbs up as usual for the awesome video!!! Bob in Germany!!
Just an FYI: It's pronounced "SANG-uh-moe" from the Sangamon indians of central illinois, hence Sangamon county Illinois where these caps. were made, also Illinois Capacitor, Sangamo Electronics, etc.
Great work Brad I have been watching since last weekend, very interesting tips on how amp's work. Guitar players should be able to look out for this shit that we get from the guitar shops. I have a Hughes & Kettner 20th Anniversary 20 watt amp 2008 kicking arse with tubes.
Thanks for your reply and tips. Big salute from Anth in New South Wales, Australia.
I wish modern amps had this retro look! So cool and classy! Hey, where's the tape over the head stock! lol... !!! That amp tone is simply wonderful!
Thanks for the reminder! Mustn't lose revenue.
Hey Brad! At the risk of sounding like a nit-pickin' troll: Considering that amp's age, I think that there's a strong possibility that the name on the front is a simple old decal (although you had it in your hands...I'm watching a video!). I'm pretty sure that the amp pre-dates widespread screen printing...according to my 92-year-old dad, who was a printer for his entire adult life.
Also, with regard to speaker repair, here's one for you to try some time: Silicone! Not RTV, but the stuff you might use to seal your bathtub! I like to use a squeeze tube of clear and apply it either with an 'acid brush,' or just use my finger to smooth on a thin coat...to both sides of the tear, if I can reach it. As long as you don't go overboard globbing it on, it easily stays at least as pliable as the paper cone, and is especially useful if you have a foam 'spider' with damage. Second best is rubber cement...same application routine.
do you think it makes sense replacing capacitors on a 1989 jcm800? what improvement should I possibly expect?
Hey Brad! I've just uncovered a 200watt musical instrument amp from my father in law's collection. I'm not sure what can be done with it, but ide like to turn it into a stereo amp, driven bytubes, and have no idea of how to do it. How can I get together with you? If you're too busy,all I really need is a direction to go. I'm probably halfway to where you are having graduated DeVry in 2000, where they taught transistorized electronics. Please get back to me. This thing is over my head, and I'm willing to learn. I can't bring myself to throw it away and really wanttoturnit into something special!
For 1949 technology, that little amp sounds killer. Rocking for its time for sure - we take for granted that, at least to my knowledge, the SLP wasn't even a thing in 49. Awesome job! Maybe you could do a tag on video to show how that one stage was grid-leak biased on schematic which is different from cathode bias?
I'm liking the new editing.
i recently bough another epiphone devon tremolo, and i think its a 65, never knew they existed. every part that is dated dates from 25-30th week of 65, has an original CTS speaker. i know you recnetly featured a book on gibson/epiphone amps, and was wondering if you could confirm my suspicion about it being a 65, and if it is, how many are there (like is said never seen a 65)
Hi, when removing the death cap, and adding a 3 prong grounding cord, how do you determine on the power transformer which is neutral and ground if they are both the same color? I’m assuming neutral was connected to death cap to chassis but not sure.
Really enjoy most of your videos, my only comment/request: when at the end of a mod/fix/overhaul of a guitar amp you always seem test at the amps "overdrive-end,"- lots of over drive/distortion or whatever so I'd ask that you start with CLEAN tone and "work it up to the "11" :-) I'm always interested in how the clean tone sounds in these old tube amps, even though I'm mainly a blues player and rocker from the late 50's, so I do USE OD/distortion/fuzz, but have been transitioning to "older" jazz (aka the standards ) so have come to appreciate a "clean" amp tone . No matter what keep doing these!
I'll take that onboard. The only reason I don't bother with these amps is because unless I'm miking it up and doing all that mess, it just sounds like a really quiet amp and you end up getting a lot of string noise through the camera mic.
The name of those old capacitors is pronounced SAN gamoe, not san GAMOE. Emphasis on the first syllable. It's named after a native American tribe that was in central Illinois.
Love the tape over the Logos! Nobody Rides For Free! Haha! That amp sounds killer for a 1949 student model, just goes to show the superior tone of even the simplest of tube circuits! Great speaker repair tip too! Thanks Brad!
Yep, fuck 'em. Let 'em walk.
I gotta have one of those googly-eyed dust brushes Brad! Link please? LOL, 'Mr. Brush' rocks! By the way, thanks for the link to the nylon brush kit, I got 'em on order!
Shit if I'd of known about hot glue In me teens that trick would of been handy i dumped the speaker that amp sounds awesome man nice fix.
IDK, to my ears the OLD speaker, even it the condition it was in sounded better. IDK whether you used a different guitar during the first test or?? Anyway, that little amp growls real nice!
Man, I used those red Panasonic coupling caps are awesome. They were my go to caps and never had one of them fail and I installed at least a thousand of them in high voltage situations. The CE distribution power supply caps may be made in china but they beat the pants off of USA electrolytic capacitors. There failure rate is exponentially lower.
Martin Guitars and Marshall Amps haven't called yet, but the 'Cliff's Notes' people are quite interested...
Nice little amp, where is the best place to get some caps, I need to clean up my Silvertone 1472. Great video, all the others too, the Epiphone, Gibsons & of course the Fenders great videos showing problems & solutions.
So much funk and cobwebs on that it look like the inside of ma's old girl!
I shudder to imagine how you'd know that. :P
Good job! I wonder if - we could add some additional control to adjust the tone, treble bass and gain control. Is it possible? ;-) I'm just asking...
That's a neat little unit. I'd love to hear that with some Sprague and Mullard Mustard Caps. I used to go through the hassle of placing the caps inside the old can. Regardless I like the idea you left the can for looks purposes. Personally I would have been so tempted to hot rod that bad boy but, not wreck the chassis. Let's face it, there are tons of mods one can do and still keep the vintage factory looks. Shhhhh, it's our little secret. Keep it under your hat. LOL
Brad your the man.Love that remark on the Brussel's Bastards in the EU.We got more of em this side of the pond in Britain. Really enjoying your series really really interesting,riveting in fact. Phil. Wirral England.
What's with the Belgium reference? As someone living near Brussels, colour me confused. To be fair, I would've drilled a hole as well. But as long as the ground is secure I don't have a strong opinion about it.
you used the term "Go Ahead" in past tense "Gone Ahead".....and you guys make fun of Canadians for saying "Eh"..... :)
Sorry to sound like a real geek but, when you were playing at the end it sounded really overdriven so I'm guessing installing a trim pot or two to allow bias adjustment to accommodate the Cap replacements would give you the ability to bias adjust the grids to get the clipping characteristics as the client would want. As I don't know the playing style of the client or for that matter any future owners, it would be nice to add bias adjustment to accommodate future cap replacements and allow the amp to be fine tuned in future. Geek out :-)
BTW, love the descendy thing towards the end... Very George Harrisongs...
Are you endorsed by PRS? Might want to put some tape over your guitar if not.
Dammit!!! Missed one!!!
Regarding the ground/earth connection of the power cord, modern product standards require that a fastener dedicated to securing ONLY the ground connection be used. This is to prevent the ground wire from accidentally being removed while servicing the equipment.
In this particular case, I understanding not wanting to drill a new hole in a vintage chassis, but if you're going to use an existing fastener, I would have picked one where it's easy to see whether or not the ground is secure.
Without stating the obvious, they just don't make shit like that anymore. Love your vids...even though I haven't a clue what you're doing ! therapeutic !
Sweet amp!... thanks for sharing :-)
Brad, forgive the stupid question but - why is everyone so quick to replace the old vintage caps? Doesn’t it change the resale value and the sound?
A Weber Speaker would really open up this amp. They make a Champ replacement that is close to the output transformer and once broken it the champ becomes an amazing Amplifier. Thanks for the restoration.
Hey man! I just don't know how I endup here, but your videos are too satisfying! Good job!
Hey, love your video’s. if you want some secondary business off your work, why not create Kemper profiles from those wonderfully obscure vintage amps that find their way to you. We don’t have those here in yurop, and i would happily pay for the privilege of having a taste. Some folks like Michael Britt seem to do ok selling them, and i’m sure you’d too find a yearning customer base. Probably you can find a local Kemper owner to team up with to spare the investment.
It's not a bad idea. Maybe one day...
Wow, that'a really great idea. Hope he considers that, but somehow I can't see Brad spending that much time with the digial stuff. I may be wrong..but I'm betting he's ""all in"" on Tubes.
Good idea!
Hey I ain't bitchin'. Code is code. But if you want to use existing screws then double nut them, it will faster all rust away then unscrew on its own. It's one liability less when you are the last documented person inside the amp.
But as always great restoration.
Its a bit hard too tell on my dodgy monitor and tired eyes, but is that the same blue as the covering/tolex on the supro version of the valco lapsteel amp? Maybe not..looks a bit more 'fancy' and that magnatome transfer logo on the front has held up so well.
That is a pretty crunchy sounding amp for that time period. I agree with you that grounding is grounding. Drilling a hole in the amp makes no sense. Electricity doesn't care what path it takes to ground
Don't like the power inlet grommet with cable ties as the power cable can still rotate and wires move inside the amp therefore would still be considered as potentially unsafe.
I would suggest that if you want to stick to using grommets you use a sleeved grommet with rubber sleeves on the cable as well so that with the aid of light oil you can force the cable into the grommet then cable tie the grommet inside the amp but between the metal chassis and the grommet's outer ring. When the oil dries out in a couple of hours the cable will be locked.
You can also add a spot of contact adhesive around the inner grommet ring just to make sure the cable can't rotate or even better use a proper cable entry gland that you can screw up tight so the cable will never move and stay locked in place.
Still enjoy the video's though Brad so keep them coming.
In addition to being an awesome video I appreciate your little tips like the stripping wire trick at 12:38 :)
I had an old grill cloth that I re-purposed onto another amp. I actually did a gentle hand wash in woolite and it cleaned up nice and looked almost brand new.
You can take out old yellowed Fender grills and hose them down on the driveway and get a lot of that gak out of them.
HA I'VE done that before too. A guy gave me one he had still on a baffle board. It was from an early 70s Fender amp and I took the hose to it and it turned out nice.
Great video as always!
Another fine repair/refurbish. I too shit on those stupid regulations that make us electricians do stupid shit for no good reason. What is worse is the boneheaded people who regurgitate those regs like they're the Gospel.
Uncle Doug would love that cabinet and covering. Great rebuild😁
Doug has impeccable taste.
sound's just like the fender champ clone's i make, nice and simple wiring and only a few component's, which is how i like it as i'm not that savvy with anything more complicated, lol,
nice work as alway's brad,
Thanks, Paul. You can really get a lot of juicy vintage tone out of one of these old SE Class-A type amps.
All those old leatherette,crocodile, alligator combos are BAD ASS, all day long.....
A great big FU to the EU!!
Conquering nations without a war. What a concept.
Make some shirts..I'll buy one....love your work...
I'd do the same on that ground too. Wow that's a practice Amp.......in the early 70s most practice amps were solid state and you couldn't get that tone out of that no matter how you tried!!!
Yep. Solid state breakup is a different animal. Has its place, but way different feel and character.
Cool little amp. Did you get in trouble for wearing your Martin T-shirt?
Great video, no free ads for tshirt or hat company, but maryland usa based prs gets a free plug. I like it
Is that the company later known as AC Delco that GM gets electronic parts from?
Lol what a beast its amazing how things were built to last...maybe it was the threat of the bomb, gotta play guitar if u survive apocolypse