Magnatone Custom 410 Tube Amplifier (1961)

Magnatone  Custom 410 Tube Amplifier (1961)
Loading
LOADING IMAGES
This item has been sold.
Item # 10547
Prices subject to change without notice.
Magnatone Custom 410 Model Tube Amplifier (1961), made in Fullerton, California, serial # 66-3007, brown fabric covering finish.

The Custom 410, also known as "The Diana" was one of the Magnatone company's lower-powered professional-level amplifiers of the early 1960's, appearing with Magnatone's 400 series in 1961. These were manufactured by Magnatone's then-owner Estey Electronics Inc and offered at a list price of $119.95. This price represented a good deal at the time, the 410 being rather less expensive than the comparable competing Fender amps.

The amp features one input channel with high and low gain inputs, a "tone" control, mellow-bright switch and v-speed and intensity controls for the vibrato, handled by a 12DW7 tube. The single 6V6 Class-A power section feeds one Oxford 12" speaker and one 3-inch tweeter "for the extreme high frequency range" as advertised in the '61 catalog. The amp also features the famous pitch-shifting varistor vibrato Magnatone is known for, their most unique and defining feature! This is a lovely period amp, a fine sounding and unique amp that is still undervalued in relation to Fender designs of the period.
 
Height is 20 in. (50.8 cm.), 16 in. (40.6 cm.) width, and 9 in. (22.9 cm.) deep.

This is a nicely preserved amp overall, showing use but no abuse. The exterior is in excellent condition considering how prone to wear Magnatones from this era are, due to the rather fragile build quality of the cabinets. The fairly thin fabric covering is mostly intact, with the exception of some scuffing around the corners and edges. The rear-mounted control plate has some very minor wear, most of the two-tone graphics are nicely well-preserved, but the speed knob is missing the brass insert. The grillcloth is in very good shape with no tears and the original handle is intact as well.

Electrically, the amp is nicely original. It retains both the original Schumacher power and output transformers, marked 606-110 and 606-035, dating them to the 10th week of 1961 and 35th week of 1960, respectively. The 12" 12EV-9 and 3" T3AM-13 Oxford speakers are original to the amp as well and date to the 22nd and 45th week of 1960, marked 465-022 and 465-045, respectively. The amp has had routine maintenance performed, including replacement of all electrolytic capacitors, the installation of a 3-prong grounded power cord as well as cleaning of all sockets, pots and jacks and biased to spec.

Overall, a fantastic example of one of this great-sounding small combo amps, excellent for both recording and gigging, and that pitch-shifting vibrato can't be beat! Overall Excellent Condition.