A Classic '60s Magnatone Combo Amp Returns
The Magnatone Starlite revives the '60s Starlite tube combo amplifier in better-than-ever fashion. It packs five watts of power driven by a single 6V6 power tube, but the sound is big and bold despite what the power rating may imply. A custom 8-inch ceramic magnet speaker delivers impressive punch and detail; plus, switchable negative feedback offers an innovative way to shape the tone and feel of the amp. Complete with a unique tone control that channels the vibe of vintage Blackface- and Tweed-era amplifiers, the Magnatone Starlite is a sonic delight both at home and in the studio.
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Explore iconic guitar tones
Some of the most memorable guitar tones ever recorded were created with vintage Blackface- and Tweed-era American amplifiers. While the Magnatone Starlite definitely has its own character, its unique tone control allows you to dial in some of the mojo those classic amps provided. Below 12-o'clock on the tone control, mids are cut for a glassy, expansive voicing. Turning up the tone control emphasizes the amp's rich and detailed midrange response.
Fine-tune tone and feel, with negative feedback
It's not often you find a tube amplifier with switchable negative feedback like the Magnatone Starlite combo. That's a shame, because it gives you two distinct amp voicings to play with. With negative feedback turned off, you'll experience a smoother transition from clean to overdrive, more emphasis on mids, and livelier interaction with the speaker. With negative feedback toggled on, the amp offers a more hi-fi experience, with greater clean tone range, less noise, more speaker damping, and an overall "tighter" playing feel. It's tone shaping that you simply can't achieve with EQ or other methods.
Magnatone: a slice of rock history
Magnatone first began producing electric guitars and amplifiers in the late 1930s. By the '50s and '60s, Magnatone amps had become highly sought-after, largely because of their distinctive pitch-shifting vibrato effect, which was responsible for the "watery" guitar sounds you hear on Buddy Holly and early Bo Diddley recordings. Legendary blues-rock guitarist Lonnie Mack employed Magnatone amplifiers to achieve his signature vibrato-soaked sound. Today, Neil Young is also an admirer and uses a vintage Magnatone in his live rig. In 2013, the company entered into a new phase of its evolution, creating a new and improved line of boutique guitar amplifiers that have been embraced by guitar luminaries such as Jeff Beck and Billy Gibbons, as well as quite a few guitarists at Sweetwater.
Magnatone Starlite Tube Combo Amplifier Features:
- Bold Magnatone sound from a compact combo amp
- 5 watts of power with a single 6V6 power tube
- Unique tone circuit allows you to explore a wide range of classic American amp tones
- Switchable negative feedback offers two distinct amp voicings
- Custom-made 8-inch speaker with ceramic magnet
- Extension speaker output for connecting your speaker cab of choice
