Stereo Amp Trick

[zombywoof]

Well, I may be stupid, but I just learned something about playin a Tele through a stereo amp from the fine folks in the Magnatone/Valco group. They suggested plugging into the stereo jack and then gently pulling the plug out one click (about 1 cm). Then set each channel differently like 1 on bright and 2 on mellow. I had never heard of this and because I play with no effects other than the onboard Magnatone built vibrato, am always thrilled about finding some way to vary the tone.
Anyone here tried this or am I the only one who did not know about it?

[mad dog]

Zombie:

I was in that discussion. Still a bit confused. The stereo input on my maggie does allow for running both channels simultaneously with one mono input. Not sure if you get the same signal strength in each channel as you would through a buffered, dual output pedal or switcher (such as the Framptone switcher.) But it still works great. Same as jumpering, which is a wonderful way to get more out of low-wattage tube amps. I always do it when possible. The big differences with my maggie (don't know how yours is set up) are that I can plug in once to get both, most of all that there are different EQ options per channel. Not many older amps have that EQ flexibility. One that does is the Juke. It's single channel, but offers at least 2 different ways to shape tone other than the stardard treble, bass middle knobs. Not many amps like that. My Gibson GA40 has one tone knob for both channels!

[zombywoof]

Decades ago I used an Ampeg stereo amp but never tried this. When I read those posts I had no idea what they were talkin 'bout. Soon as I understood I went & plugged into the Titano and gave it a try and had a blast playin' with the thing the rest of the night. Since I do not use alot of FX I was pretyy happy to find a new way to shape the tone.

How are you liking the Magnatone/Valco Group? I never would have dreamed Maggies were still so popular. Some of those folks are like the Tele gurus here they can figure just about anything out.

[mad dog]

Zombie: I am totally digging these groups. Tdpri is a regular haunt for me. How could you not be here if you love teles? People on this list have deep appreciation and experience. I learn something every time I come here and hope to return the favor.

Same deal with the magnatone/valco list. Those folks are collectively THE best resource for magnatones and related oddball stuff. Nothing else comes close. As fellow fanatics, you and I are very lucky to have access to it. I would not have the maggie I own now were it not for that list. The next one I get will probably come from someone on that list.

BTW: Don't think your's is actually a stereo amp. Stereo input does not mean stereo output...

[Wally]

I was curious about the Magnatone stereos and did a quick search. Here http://ggjaguar.com/stereo.htm is an interesting article reviewing a couple of gibsons, and Ampeg and a couple of Magnatones....all stereo amps.
I have a Bell GA-78 (read: gibson/Maestro GA-78) which is a great stereo amp. It is the same amp as the GA-79 reviewed in this article albeit without the reverb.
Before I got this amp. my '66 ED-345 was challenged tolive up to its stereo potential. I have two Super Champs that I ran in stereo for it...one amp per pickup.
I have played a bit through the Ampeg Gemini..never owned on. I have never had an opportunity to experience the Magnatones.
Anyway, stereo is cool.

[zombywoof]

Love the old Ampegs. An incredibly underrated valve beast. Relied on them and Maggies through much of the 60s into the 70s. Up to recently you could still pick Ampegs up pretty cheap but as of late the price has been steadily rising. Never owned a Gibson amp although I know a few folks who swear by them.

Yeah, I saw that web page which was interesting. As the article noted, the real key to the Magnatone amps is the patented vibrato. This is the real McCoy not the Fender version which is really just tremelo. Alot of folks, however, do not seem to like the amps because of the high headroom and their complex wiring which makes any kind of mod as well as repairs a pretty daunting task.

By the way, as you may have gathered from Mad Dog & myself, there is a Magnatone/Valco group on Yahoo. They pretty much will discuss just about any oddball amp. Some real knowledgeable folks (unlike me). You might want to give them a looksee.

[mad dog]

I think you could retitle this thread "in appreciation of underrated amps." Ampeg is high on that list. So many players had them and couldn't ditch them fast enough to get fenders, marshalls, or whatever. Meanwhile, the first amp I ever played through -- a beat old Reverborocket --is still one of the best. Same goes for Geminis. Beautiful, distinctive clean sound, maybe the best im-amp reverb circuit ever. Much rarer are the pre-reverb mercury and big M, M-15. The mercury in particular rivals the tweed deluxe for tone, at a fraction of the price.

[zombywoof]

Yeah Mad Dog, but ya gotta admit it would be a great thread. It would be interesting to see what would come out of the woodwork especially among the older folks who played in the days before gain knobs when you just had a master volume and used to overdrive amps with punctured speaker cones.

My first Ampeg was actually a piggyback bass amp (can't recall the model) which I purchased from a bass player (natch) in another band. My second was the r-rocket. Our bass player used one of those Ampeg stacks - the 8 x 10. God I hated moving that thing around.

Another really under-appreciated amp was the Standel. Saw one being used by the Blues Project so had to go get me one.

All in all it is really nice to see people proudly exclaiming their fondness for Kay, Airline, Univox and the rest of what has so long been looked at as the cheap "second tier" equipment.

[Wally]

My only 'oddball' amp that fits into this Magnatone/Valco/Ampeg discussion would be a Gretsch(Valco) suitcase amp...2X6V6, trem, and 2 6X9 speakers. Very cool. IT is an Electromatic...no model number visible. I will check out the forum you mentioned.
RE: Gibson amps I have yet to plug into a Gibson amp from '62 on back that I did not find useful, interesting and worthy. The Gibson trem amps have some serious effect.
Re: Magnatones and true vibrato. There was a thread on the Weber amp page about trem/vibrato circuits. I suppose that there is a debate about whether or not there is any amp which has true pitch-shifting vibrato. I sure would like to have one available for my ears to witness. I suppose the Fender 6G_ type of trem is the wildest trem circuit I have heard. My GA-78 tremolo is magnificent.

[zombywoof]

Hold on to that Gretch Wally. I think they are just gonna continue to rise in price. Those Valco Gretch amps are really starting to be much sought after. Up to a few years ago you could pick them up dirt cheap.

The pathetic part is many of these amps were virtually ignored until someone famous started using them. Case in point are Surpros. As soon as it became known that Page and Hendrix used one, price went through the roof. The amps did not change just the guitar playing public's perception of them.

The deal with the vibrato is supposedly Magnatone ( and others they manufactured under various names) was the only amp to use Don Bonham's patented circuits for a true cyclic pitch vibrato. This stuff must have been pretty expensive because in the 50s and early 60s Magnatones actually cost more than similar Fenders. There is very cool Magnatone website which has some interesting stuff on vibrato. There is also a Vaclo/Magnatone Group on Yahoo. Mad Dog and I are members. If you have not joined it is a dynamite site.

[mad dog]

Wally: The closest I've heard to a magnatone (or re-branded equivalent) vibrato was a Gretsch 6164 I think it was. Their tremelo on a few 60's amps was in the neighborhood. Not sure what the circuit was, but it's different from any other trem I've heard. A really beautiful sound.

Speaking of which, zombie and I are on parallel maggie tracks. I just picked up my second, a Twilighter 260, pre-reverb model with intense, overpowering vibrato. Damn, this thing sounds good!

[zombywoof]

Really a great amp Mad Dog. I think Scotty Moore recorded with a Twilighter 260. I am truly envious. Enjoy!!!!!

[Wally]

Well, fellows, you have me wanting a Magnatone, now. Maybe one will cross my path.

[zombywoof]

Maggies are great but so are many of the Gretch amps.
In all honesty I was looking for a Valco Gretch when I stumbled across both a Titano and a Maggie M-2. My goal was to trade a Fender Deville 212 (found it in pawn shop for $120) straight out.

Again, cannot praise the Magggie/Valco group enough real good folks. I think this is where Mad Dog found his Twilighter.