High-gain American Amp with a British Accent
The Super Fifty-Nine M-80 tube guitar amplifier head blends the best of Magnatone's celebrated Super Fifty-Nine MKI and MKII designs into one formidable tone machine. Built to commemorate Magnatone's 80th anniversary, the M-80 delivers 45 watts of EL34-driven power in a push-pull Class AB configuration, combining vintage character with modern versatility. At its core, the M-80 features the tone stacks and gain stages of both the MKI and MKII, giving you the MKII's dynamic low- to medium-gain response as a foundation. Need more bite? Engage the additional MKI-inspired gain stage via the front-panel switch or the included footswitch—perfect for pushing your solos into high gear. The preamp section is loaded with four 12AX7 tubes, while two EL34 output tubes handle power duties with authority and warmth. An onboard 12DW7 tube-buffered effects loop ensures your time-based pedals and ambient effects retain their clarity and depth. Whether you're chasing vintage crunch, articulate cleans, or saturated lead tones, the Super Fifty-Nine M-80 is built to inspire.
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The best of both worlds
As the M-80 offers the best of Magnatone's Super Fifty-Nine MKI and MKII amps, it's instructive to take a look at the tonal profile of each model. These are both EL34 amps, and they both deliver that classic British high-gain sound. But there are differences. In contrast with its MKI stablemate, the MKII sports slightly lower gain and more preamp headroom — perfect for chunky rhythm parts. When you need extra punch behind your solos, the MKI high-gain circuit offers higher gain and more compression, effectively turning the single-channel M-80 into a footswitchable 2-channel amp.
Rock the big stages with classic EL34 tone
The sound of the Super Fifty-Nine M-80 quite simply takes your breath away. It nails the classic, big-bottle EL34 sound in all its harmonic complexity. And it's got the grunt to rock the big stages. This versatile beast delivers truly impressive tonal dexterity, taking you from shimmery cleans to vintage grit to Brit-voiced high gain, deploying everything from classic rock overdrive to modern tonal Armageddon that'll strip the paint off club walls. Very tasty, indeed. Plug in and hear what the fuss is all about. Whether you're deploying crispy cleans, arena-shaking crunch, or searing shred, the Super Fifty-Nine M-80 delivers the tone you want — at the volume you need.
Perfect for live gigs and studio sessions
With two EL34s in the engine room, the Magnatone Super Fifty-Nine M-80 delivers 45 watts. Now, these are tube watts, which means you've got more than enough juice for any gig — even if you play heavy music with a powerful drummer. You're also not burdened with a 100-watt behemoth in the studio. Even in a high-gain, master-volume-equipped amp like this, the ability to gain stage freely and push the output tubes to taste is vital in nailing the guitar tone you're after. At Sweetwater, we've found that the Super Fifty-Nine M-80 has a comfortable, broad operating range on tap, for a rich sonic palette that lets you ace any musical scenario. Two studio- and stage-friendly features we really appreciate are the speaker-compensated line output, which can be routed directly to the recording console or front of house, and a tube-buffered FX loop that takes pedals like a champ. You'll find it easy to match speaker cabinets with the M-80, thanks to its rear-panel 4/8/16 ohm switch.
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, Slash, and Billy Gibbons, as well as quite a few of the guitarists at Sweetwater.
Magnatone Super Fifty-Nine M-80 Features:
- Combines the tone and gain stages of the MKI and MKII into one flexible, footswitchable amp
- 45W, push-pull, Class AB amp with classic EL34 tone
- Single channel, with 2 bridgeable inputs, master volume, and 4-band tone stack
- Lo/Hi selectable Gain, footswitchable (footswitch included)
- 4 x 12AX7 preamp tubes, 2 x EL34 output tubes, 12DW7 FX loop buffer tube
- Tube-buffered FX loop interfaces seamlessly with your pedalboard
- Speaker-compensated line output (must be used with speaker connected)
- Flexible cabinet matching via rear-panel 4/8/16 ohm switch
- Vintage American styling with illuminated Magnatone logo
- Includes 1-button lighted footswitch with 20-in. cable and premium amp cover
