Shop Keyboard Deals, Financing, and More

Sorry, all demos of this item have been sold.

Since demo items are such a great deal, they often sell within hours of showing up on our web site. Order a new one below, or browse every currently available demo item here.

Magnatone Varsity 12 Reverb 1x12" 15-watt Tube Combo Amp

15-watt 1-channel All-tube 1x12" Guitar Combo Amplifier with 2-band EQ, Negative Feedback Switch, Spring Reverb, and 2 Inputs
6 Write review Item ID: VarsityCRev
$2,499.00

Earn $125 back in Bonus Bucks† OR pay $105/month with 24 month financing*

Free
Shipping
Tech Support

Free Sweetwater
Support

Free 2-year
Warranty
In Stock!

Only 2 left in stock! More on the way.
Add to Cart
Notify me about deals

Ask An Expert

Our expertly trained Sales Engineers are ready to help!

(800) 222-4700
What is a Sales Engineer?
Sweetwater Gear Exchange

Have one to sell?
Check out Sweetwater's Gear Exchange!
Learn More

Most Popular Accessories & Related Items

Magnatone Varsity 12 Reverb 1x12" 15-watt Tube Combo Amp
In Stock!
$2,499.00
Add to Cart
Add to list
Back to navigation

Written By

Our Product Research Team

Get to know them!

Vintage-style Tube Tone with Reverb

The Magnatone Varsity 12 Reverb 15-watt, 1 x 12" all-tube electric guitar combo is a top-quality amplifier that is a great option for players who want vintage-style performance and a true spring reverb. Its simple-to-use control layout consists of a non-master volume and 2-band EQ. As you turn up the amp volume, you'll enjoy added harmonically rich tube overdrive. And by utilizing the high- or low-sensitivity inputs and flipping the top-mounted negative feedback (NFB) switch, the Magnatone Varsity 12 Reverb can be a thick-sounding overdrive machine or a more neutral pedalboard platform.

Related Videos: Varsity 12 Reverb 1x12" 15-watt Tube Combo Amp

Old-school tube tone

The natural voice of the Magnatone Varsity 12 Reverb 15-watt, 1 x 12" all-tube electric guitar combo exudes plenty of high-end snap and throaty midrange, while its carefully designed cabinet enhances the amp's low end. When you dial up the volume, you'll love how much the Varsity 12 Reverb cops a vintage tweed-style grunt. And it reacts with the addictive sag of many legendary circuits. The addition of a 4-spring, long-pan reverb adds even more ambient flexibility. Sweetwater is proud to offer you an amplifier of such distinction.

Deceptively versatile

Though the Varsity 12 Reverb's control layout is as straightforward as they come, the amp is capable of a wide range of useable tones that will deliver in just about any musical situation. At 15 watts, the Varsity 12 Reverb is voiced to hit its sweet spot, whether onstage or in the studio. Winding up the volume from there adds in thick tube breakup. Back off a touch, and you'll enjoy a cleaner tone that works well with pedalboards of all types. Whether you're driving the amp at a recording session or backing it off for a cocktail lounge jazz session, the Varsity 12 Reverb will get you there in style.

Easy to dial in your tone

Unlike some amplifiers with a world of switches, buttons, and knobs, the Magnatone Varsity 12 Reverb 15-watt combo amp can dial up your personal tone in seconds. The signal path starts with high- and low-sensitivity inputs that determine how hard your guitar hits the preamp. From there you shape your tone with a volume control, bass, and treble. Need to shape your gain staging a bit more? Just flip the NFB (negative feedback) switch, plug into your chosen input, turn a couple of knobs, hit a single switch, and you're ready for the downbeat.

Magnatone Varsity 12 Reverb Combo Amplifier Features:

  • Single-channel tube combo amplifier with a vintage flavor
  • 4-spring, long-pan reverb tank with single reverb control
  • Custom Magnatone 12" ceramic speaker
  • Simple-to-use controls with a 2-band EQ
  • High- and low-sensitivity inputs expand your tonal capabilities
  • External speaker output allows for use of an extension cabinet
  • 15 watts is perfect for studio and performance use
  • Negative feedback switch offers 2 separate gain voicings and feel
  • Chiming EL84 power tubes

Additional Media

Guitar Amp Buying Guide

Warranty Info

Sweetwater's FREE 2-Year Total Confidence Coverage Warranty

Extra peace of mind at no extra cost.

  • Save money with FREE parts and labor
  • Get back to making music with the industry's fastest turnaround time
  • Fix it the first time with our award-winning, factory-certified Service Department
Learn More about Total Confidence Coverage
2 Year Total Confidence Coverage
$249.00
FREE!

Free 2-year Warranty

Sweetwater's 2-year Total Confidence Coverage™ Warranty gives you extra peace of mind at no extra cost.

Learn More about Total Confidence Coverage
Tools Icon

Save money with free parts & labor!

Fast Icon

Get back to making music with the industry's fastest turnaround time.

Award Icon

Fix it the first time with our award-winning, factory-certified Service Department.

Back to navigation

Tech Specs

  • Type: Tube
  • Number of Channels: 1
  • Total Power: 15W Class A
  • Speaker Size: 1 x 12" Ceramic speaker
  • Preamp Tubes: 2 x 12AX7, 1 x 12DW7
  • Power Tubes: 2 x EL84 (power), GZ34 (rectifier)
  • Reverb: Tube driven, Long spring tank
  • EQ: Treble, Bass
  • Inputs: 2 x 1/4"
  • Outputs: 1 x 1/4" (extension speaker), 1 x 1/4" (line out)
  • Bias Type: Cathode Biased
  • Power Source: Fixed AC cable
  • Height: 18"
  • Width: 21"
  • Depth: 9"
  • Weight: 34 lbs.
  • Manufacturer Part Number: 280

What Makes Our Sales Engineers Great?

Sweetwater Sales Engineers are a world-class team of experts dedicated to you. Hand selected from across the globe, each brings a wealth of experience and expertise in the world of music gear to provide you with unparalleled service completely free of charge. Friendly relationships, real trust, and the right gear are only a call or a click away!

(800) 222-4700
Contact Your Sales Engineer
Back to navigation

Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5

Customer Added Media

Write your review

Yeah, it freakin’ slaps.

I pulled the trigger on this thing without ever having heard it and was kind of nervous. There isn't a ton of videos of these online, and being a mainly humbucker player, I couldn't really get a feel for how it'd sound. However, it sounds incredible and I couldn't be happier. It truly feels and sounds like the highest quality. The tone controls are SUPER responsive and the feedback switch is so useful for going from edge of breakup to a little raunch. It sounds like John Fogerty and Neil Young's guitar tones banged and had a baby. The cleans are so good and it's not overly bright. It has plenty of headroom and takes pedals like a champ too. Can't wait to gig this thing. Yes, it's a loud 15 watts, but it is totally usable and would give plenty of stage volume without going into full rage mode. Thanks to my sweet water reps for being God tier as well. Sold a Mesa Boogie Cali Tweed for this and I will never look back.
by Evan Sparks from TALKING ROCK, GA on

Tone for days. Less is more. Just outstanding.

I've had this a couple of months now, and got it based on the videos I'd seen online. Sadly, the first one I ordered got some water damage during shipping, (I live in a rural area). My engineer John Tonello got a replacement shipped right away. I have owned Fender '59 reissue, 65 amps Red Line, Mesa Boogie 5/25. This matches the tone in my head more than any amp. I play a Jeff Beck sig and a Music Man BFR Cutlass through the Magnatone and they just sing. I usually AB the Magnatone with a Dr Z Jetta to get a nice wet/dry mix. The VARSITY also sounds great using an 8 Ohm extension cab with a Celestion G12 H30. Everything you hear on the videos is true. The touch sensitivity, the chime, the bass response are all there in spades. The reverb is like liquid Jesus. I can only imagine what the Stereo Panorama sounds like, but I certainly intend to find out. There are so many amps out there but at the $... mark for this handcrafted wonder, I doubt there's better value. The amp feels like complete quality without breaking your back and its a LOUD 15 watts. If you're in the market I highly recommend.
by Matthew Leonard from Wolcott, NY on
Music background: Blues, Jazz for 45 years. Former guitar teacher. Enjoying playing now more than I ever have.

Killer Amp Indeed

Mine IS point to point… no pc board here! I've got a LOT of amps and this is definitely one of my favorites!
by Andy Powell on

Killer amp

I was not expecting to love this amp as much as I do but it's amazing. I've owned a Magnatone Super 15 for quite a while now and adore it but this VarsityVerb is definitely gonna get about the same amount of attention. Don't let it not having the pitch shifting vibrato fool you. It's built like a tank and sounds just as amazing as Magnatones other much more expensive amps. The Reverb is more subtle than crazy but I actually prefer that. These aren't point to point wired like Magnatone likes to claim on videos but they're still built very well using very high quality pcb
by Sweetwater Customer on

Great Amp

I've had this amp for a year and I still love the way it sounds. The cleans are great and it breaks up nicely when cranked. I run a Tone King Ironman II Mini attenuator with it so I can get those overdriven tones without being too loud. While this amp is 15 watts, it's a loud 15 watts. The reverb is very nice. It's not as "wet" sounding as Fender reverb, but can still get some good surf reverb tones. The cover is nice and heavy and will do a good job protecting the amp when transporting it.
by Sweetwater Customer on
See also: Combo Amps, Magnatone, Magnatone Guitar Combo Amps
Close Close $2,000 Pick Your PRS Giveaway -- input your email address below to enter or click here to learn more.

See giveaway details & rules or check out our past winners!

Enter Now

Success!

Your email, has been entered to win this giveaway. Good Luck!