PANARAMIC 62 CUSTOM (MAGNATONE 260) c1963

This is an excellent example of a very fine amp: a Panaramic 62 Custom, which is actually a rebadged Magnatone 260 amp, dating from around 1963.This amp is in great cosmetic condition and works very well. There’s a hairline crack down one seam of the case, but it seems structurally very sound.

It has been fitted with a three-core earthed mains cable for electrical safety and is in good working order – there’s some hum with my Telecaster, but it’s not excessive. All features work as they should – the pitch-shift vibrato is what Magnatones are known for and it’s easy to understand why: it makes for a unique and evocative sound – once heard, never forgotten. Though rated at 19w these amps aren’t over-loud so would make a good studio or home recording amp.

The bass and treble tone controls are very interactive and can really shape the mids – can take some getting used to.

A great trick is to jumper the channels together and engage the vibrato: by mising the channel levels and adjusting the tone controls you get a great phasing effect that can be almost like an autowah/filter: very, very addictive!

These amps are noted for their unique vibrato and warm break up: used by Neil Young, Dave Gilmour, Lonnie Mack, Buddy Holly, Ry Cooder and Robert Cray amongst others.

Check the YouTube demo of a similar Magnatone below – though this one has reverb (with thanks to the uploader):