Thoughts on a Magnatone Starlite 421?

fitz

fitz

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Available on my local CL - Magnatone Starlite Model 421:
Worth $200?
Is this a vintage collectable, or an old junk toy?

Magnatone (1).jpg

Magnatone (2).jpg

Magnatone (3).jpg

Magnatone (4).jpg

(gutshot from an image search)

Magnatone (5).jpg

Specs provided:

Year: Approx. 1964-1966
Channels: one
Power: 6HU8
Power Bias: cathode
Phase Inverter: 7025 (1/2)
Preamp: 6AV6
Vibrato: 7025 (1/2) 12AU7, 2 varistors
Speaker: 10" 3.2ohm
Rectifier: solid state
Output Trans: 11K:3.2ohm
Output: 25 watts peak
Weight: 21 lbs.
Dimensions: 19" x 16" x 9"
 
fitz said:
Available on my local CL - Magnatone Starlite Model 421:
Worth $200?
Is this a vintage collectable, or an old junk toy?

View attachment 101982

View attachment 101983

View attachment 101984

View attachment 101985

(gutshot from an image search)

View attachment 101986

Specs provided:

Year: Approx. 1964-1966
Channels: one
Power: 6HU8
Power Bias: cathode
Phase Inverter: 7025 (1/2)
Preamp: 6AV6
Vibrato: 7025 (1/2) 12AU7, 2 varistors
Speaker: 10" 3.2ohm
Rectifier: solid state
Output Trans: 11K:3.2ohm
Output: 25 watts peak
Weight: 21 lbs.
Dimensions: 19" x 16" x 9"
Click to expand...
Point to point. That gut shot you found looks legitimate from that era. Brown carbon comp resisters.
 
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fitz said:
Available on my local CL - Magnatone Starlite Model 421:
Worth $200?
Is this a vintage collectable, or an old junk toy?

View attachment 101982

View attachment 101983

View attachment 101984

View attachment 101985

(gutshot from an image search)

View attachment 101986

Specs provided:

Year: Approx. 1964-1966
Channels: one
Power: 6HU8
Power Bias: cathode
Phase Inverter: 7025 (1/2)
Preamp: 6AV6
Vibrato: 7025 (1/2) 12AU7, 2 varistors
Speaker: 10" 3.2ohm
Rectifier: solid state
Output Trans: 11K:3.2ohm
Output: 25 watts peak
Weight: 21 lbs.
Dimensions: 19" x 16" x 9"
Click to expand...
$200 is a good price they usually sell for $400 or higher, although not that popular. Looks like some parts were replaced already...
not one of Magnatones epic models (with stereo power amps), this is the cheaper student model.
The real power output is approx. 3 - 10 watts.
An interesting collectable, low volume bedroom amp, and clean; don't expect any amazing overdrive distortion. Replacement tubes no longer manufactured.

I guess the really desirable Maganatone has 2 power amps, 2 speakers, stereo output, pretty hard to find one that is still intact.
 
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Magnatone amps are something special, even the old ones. I've encountered them with field coil speakers and there is a flavor associated with them that is truly unique.

I suspect that this is why the current iteration of the 421 Starlight sells for north of a grand.

The vibrato, which is a true pitch shifting vibrato --- as opposed to what Leo called vibrato, which is really just tremolo (guess it stands to reason then, that he'd call the pitch shifting device on his guitars a Tremolo when it's truly a vibrato...but that's Leo) --- is spectacular.

If that had popped up around here, it wouldn't be for sale anymore. I'd ...!

It is well worth the $ to restore...granted that'll likely involve reworking the circuit to accommodate newer iterations of tubes, but the end result will be a very desirable.

I wouldn't hesitate if I were you...
 
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ibmorjamn said:
The 6HU8 is a twin output pentode for use as an audio-frequency output tube
Click to expand...
This is the tube that concerns me the most.
They run around $100 each.

ibmorjamn said:
Slight mods for tubes that can work I would also bet.
Click to expand...
Might be an interesting project to mod for commonly available tubes.
Perhaps a circuit re-do on a turret board and replace anything out of spec.
But at that point, it'd be essentially a scratch build in an old box.
 
Amp Mad Scientist said:
$200 is a good price they usually sell for $400 or higher, although not that popular. Looks like some parts were replaced already...
not one of Magnatones epic models (with stereo power amps), this is the cheaper student model.
The real power output is approx. 3 - 10 watts.
An interesting collectable, low volume bedroom amp, and clean; don't expect any amazing overdrive distortion. Replacement tubes no longer manufactured.
Click to expand...
I was wondering about the 25w claimed output.
The 6HU8 (ELL80) dual pentode tube is supposedly max 8.5w from what I could find on it.
Clean is ok with me - I have no aversion to slamming the front end with pedals.
 
Found a schematic.
What kind of power tubes could be driven with the existing transformer?
The 6HU8 is basically two EL95's in one bottle.
Would a pair EL84's work?
Are 6V6's out of the question?
(I hate EL84 tone)

schematic_Magnatone_421.jpg
 
fitz said:
Found a schematic.
What kind of power tubes could be driven with the existing transformer?
The 6HU8 is basically two EL95's in one bottle.
Would a pair EL84's work?
Are 6V6's out of the question?
(I hate EL84 tone)

View attachment 101991
Click to expand...
That’s a good question , I thought at first it was single ended but that 6HU8 is push pull with a single tube . I doubt it would work with EL84’s but would have to add another tube socket. I bet it’s fine. You can still buy those 6HU8’s on eBay. The 7025 is rare but a 12ax7 is essentially the same tube.
 
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