Super rare original 1957 Magnatone 260 for sale - not the reissue!!!

This amp sounds just exquisite, with that ridiculous cool Magnatone pitch shifting "super vibrato" tone. 

Built in Inglewood, California in 1957, this Maggie is in good shape. It has just been fully serviced and recapped, and given a modern power cord. Otherwise, she is 100% original, including the original sylvania 6L6 power tubes, 1957 week 40 Schumacher transformers, PT, OT, electronics- original 1957 week 42 Oxford 465-742 12inch speakers with great break up and creamy, full throated, well rounded, saturated tone. This amp sounds exquisite, with that ridiculous magna tone pitch shifting "super vibrato" tone. It also has a copy of the original 1957 Magnatone operating instructions booklet and warranty and service card.

Get ready for a "swim"!

The History of Tremolo and The beginnings of Vibrato

Simply put, Tremolo is a cyclic change in volume. Tremolo, a.k.a. amplitude modulation, is a very pleasing effect and probably the first built into an amp, starting in the late 1940's with Danelectro, Gibson, and Premier. In 1955 Fender introduced the Tremolux (model 5E9). This was Fender's first amp with Tremolo. Meanwhile, in nearby Inglewood, Magna Electronics known for student lap-steel/amp combos was manufacturing real professional amps that incorporated unique designs and revolutionary new features such as Stereo Vibrato.

So in 1956 Fender introduced the Vibrolux. The Vibrolux supposedly had Vibrato (pitch modulation), but in reality this was just another variation on the Tremolo already found in the Tremolux. In fact, NO Fender amp has EVER had true pitch-bending vibrato, regardless of catalog hype to the contrary

- Try this Experiment at Home

Plug your guitar into your amp and power it up. Now strum a chord and turn the volume control up and down rhythmically and repeatedly. You will hear Tremolo. This is what Fender and many others called Vibrato.

 - Now try this

Fret one of your guitar strings and rhythmically rock your finger back and forth in a sideways motion stretching the string slightly. Notice the pitch is changing: this is Real Vibrato.

Learn something every day... ;-)