The Guilds of Grot
Enlightened Member
Well of course if it was a modified standard bridge.kakerlak said:
New member; Starfire V questions
- Thread starter leonc
- Start date
leonc
Member
kakerlak said:
Interesting. The bridge on my Starfire has 3 "notches" per saddle as well. I assumed it was done that way to make is so the bridge could be used on either a 6 or 12 string.
Hi Leon and welcome to LTG! I have nothing to add to the discussion but I thought the others might enjoy checking out your Magnatone demo vids linked below:
Magnatone M15
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWZ9ZpEhUMk
Magnatone 213
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkp7SROY ... re=related
Several people here have Maggies and there are others (including me) who lust after their unique tone. Anyway, welcome, back to the thread's regularly scheduled broadcasting .... and 'Give me the beat boys to free my soul....' CJ
Magnatone M15
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWZ9ZpEhUMk
Magnatone 213
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkp7SROY ... re=related
Several people here have Maggies and there are others (including me) who lust after their unique tone. Anyway, welcome, back to the thread's regularly scheduled broadcasting .... and 'Give me the beat boys to free my soul....' CJ
leonc
Member
Hey Thanks capnjuan! Yes, big Magnatone fan here. I've subsequently sold the M15a (mine was too fragile to be of practical use, though it really sounded great). I also recently acquired a 440 and an M10. I have a youtube vid of the 440 and will get around to the M10 eventually, as well. I've also got one of my earlier Guild/Dearmond Starfire Special and another of my old Gibson Falcon amp. Probably some others that I can't remember (heck I can't remember what I had for lunch yesterday, LOL). I think there's a way to see all of a person's vids...anyways I've done a number vids.
Hi Leon; I checked out some of the others too. Came pretty close on a vgc Maggie M10A ... an hour's drive south for $550. I spent quite a bit of time prowling the Maggie/Valco site looking for a spec on the varistors ... even cj (that would be the real cj) never mentioned a PN, mfr, ... nothing. I don't know alot about amps but I know enough to know that those varistors are responsible for that sensational vibrato; without which, well, I'm not sure what the amp might have had to distinguish itself. Anyway, have since settled in with tweed-era Gibsons that are within both my tone and technical ranges. Again, welcome to LTG! CJ
leonc
Member
capnjuan said:
The varistors used in Magnatone's circuit design are no longer made and are generally not available. From what I understand, there have been a few types that show up here and there that can be used in lieu of the originals...but even those are very hard to come by.
There's a fellow in the Magnatone/Valco group who has made some stand-alone reverb/vibrato units that are supposed to be quite nice, but the types of varistors he used are generally not available anywhere on the net. He told me where he got them (this was like maybe 14 - 16 months ago) and I contact the place...they were all gone by the time I reached them. Also, the fellow who makes Juke amps is rumored to have purchased a bunch of them (this was years ago)....but I don't think he's selling any (if he indeed still has any).
Yeah, some of the tweed Gibsons are really outstanding amps. Under-appreciated.
jp
Senior Member
I see, so you're that Leon? I've also seen your vids. I think you should know that after you posted your vid with the Gibson Falcon, I noticed a bit of a price jump in GA-19RVT prices (used to have one). How's that for economic responsibility?leonc said:
leonc
Member
jp said:
Wow! Really?! Mea culpa, LOL!
jp
Senior Member
So Leon,leonc said:
Maybe we can work out a deal for you to do some youtube demos for some items I'm trying to sell? I'll give you some points on each item. Just no Guild demos, okay? :wink:
leonc
Member
Hey I'm just trying to do my little part to get the economy rolling again. :lol:
I gotta do one of this little Magnatone M10. Crazy-cool little amp! Very authentic old-school blues tones galore.
I gotta do one of this little Magnatone M10. Crazy-cool little amp! Very authentic old-school blues tones galore.
leonc
Member
Well the whole thing's moot at this point. Found the correct, old Bigsby bridge (supposedly from '63--is there a way to know for sure?) on eBay and picked it up with a BIN of 25 bucks! This arrived today and seems like it will work out very nicely. Personally, I'm digging the sound with it. Will try to do a vid sometime soon.
Speakin of vids--I picked up an old Magnatone M10 last week too and this little bugger is off the hook! Here's a q&d vid:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4HHh2QdQWk
It's not what I expected (based on my old M15, which is like it's bigger brother). This M10 has very little clean headroom; the dirt comes on early and doesn't sound like anything I've heard. It's also really saggy...to the point where I wonder if there's actually an issue with something, maybe in the power section. Dayum, if there is...I may not want to have it fixed, LOL!
Speakin of vids--I picked up an old Magnatone M10 last week too and this little bugger is off the hook! Here's a q&d vid:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4HHh2QdQWk
It's not what I expected (based on my old M15, which is like it's bigger brother). This M10 has very little clean headroom; the dirt comes on early and doesn't sound like anything I've heard. It's also really saggy...to the point where I wonder if there's actually an issue with something, maybe in the power section. Dayum, if there is...I may not want to have it fixed, LOL!
Pretty cool Leon ... making me wish I hadn't passed on the M10A :evil: 
... looked for a M10 schematic ... MusicParts says they have a hardcopy .... $15 and they copy and mail but I really like that early break up! CJ
... looked for a M10 schematic ... MusicParts says they have a hardcopy .... $15 and they copy and mail but I really like that early break up! CJleonc
Member
15 bucks? The hell with that!capnjuan said:Pretty cool Leon ... making me wish I hadn't passed on the M10A :evil:
Just emailed you a link to a copy of mine.
leonc
Member
Meanwhile, here's a picture of the guit again, now with its new (old) Bigsby bridge. Ahhhh - everything's now right....LOVE this guitar!
hansmoust
Enlightened Member
leonc said:
Cool! Now, is the buzzing noise gone as well?
Sincerely,
Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl
leonc
Member
Yeah; but I actually got rid of the buzz with a truss rod adjustment prior to switching the bridge (had a bit of a back bow). But personally, I like the sound of the aluminum Bigsby just fine. Guitar seems to have a big more sting. Sounds really great to my ears.
Leon, you are at the forefront of tasteful guitar investment. That's such a beautiful instrument! Please do a demo when you get the chance, and good luck with your new guitar.