1961 Magnatone Model 150 Silverburst Super Rare

   Probably the rarest guitar I've ever come across in the 30 years I've been dealing with guitars. This is a 1961 Magnatone Model 150. In all of the scouring the Internet for weeks I can only find one other mostly like this and another that is technically the same model but drastically different, having a different pickguard, pickup, bridge and finish. This is the single pickup model. There was also a Model 200 with two pickups and a Model 100 that was a short scale version of the 150. I have seen one Model 200 and no model 100 anywhere on the internet. All of these models were made in very small numbers and were the last of the Magnatone models designed and built by Paul Barth who was also responsible for several famous Rickenbacker models.

These are all the sources of information I could find on this guitar.

   This guitar is all original with the possible exception of the bridge and one tuning machine. There are so few examples that all appear to have different bridges and there are reports that during this time Paul Barth was fitting these models with different parts based on what they had around and what was available. It may or may not be a factory bridge but it also resembles a vintage Gibson Harmonica style bridge. This guitar plays and sound wonderful, feeling much more modern than one would expect for a 60 year old guitar. The neck adjusts but won't straighten out quite all the way but well within playability standards and is setup in the 5/64th at the 12th fret range. The action is adjusted by either placing a shim in the neck pocket or shimming the bridge. The frets are in great shape and very level. There is a screw on the lower horn that looks out of place but is put there in the factory. This guitar is built rather uniquely and is mostly hollow, think Danelectro but better and has three dowels that pin the top to the back. One near each strap button and one at the end of the lower horn, hence the screw. It has one pickup with adjustable pole pieces, one Volume, one tone and a 2 way switch that puts a tone cap in circuit to give a more muted tone. The switch is actually a common 3 way that is limited in travel inside to render it a two way.

Please let us know if you have any more questions regarding this awesome, super rare guitar.