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Magnatone Varistors

Posted: 19 Jan 2010, 12:07
by KindaFuzzy
I know these are super rare, but you never know so I thought I'd ask. After seeing Phil x do all those demos on youtube with his 213 or 250 tonemaster amp, I thought It would be cool to build one of those amps. The only info on the varistors in the vibrato circuit I could find was some part numbers, FR1039 and FS308 which were 1MA @ 68v and 1MA @ 110v silicon carbide varistors.

Does anyone have a few of these or know of a work-alike and where to get them? Thanks.

Re: Magnatone Varistors

Posted: 19 Jan 2010, 13:46
by frequencycentral
Can't help with a source for origianls, but I rememeber RG posting somewhere that modern varistors differ so greatly to the old ones that it makes them unusable in a Magnatone vibrato circuit. :(

Re: Magnatone Varistors

Posted: 19 Jan 2010, 13:54
by KindaFuzzy
Yeah, I found that post too, boo-urns for sure.

Re: Magnatone Varistors

Posted: 30 Jan 2010, 21:16
by KindaFuzzy
I can't believe I found some of these guys! Does anyone know what the markings stand for, I'd hate to kill one with too much voltage or something.

Image

Re: Magnatone Varistors

Posted: 01 Feb 2010, 16:28
by gmr1
Huh. IIRC, I think I have a box of those in the basement that I got as part of a huge parts lot from an old radio repair guy a few years back. Figured they were just antiquated resistors or something along those lines. I'll have to dig them out and see what I got.

Re: Magnatone Varistors

Posted: 01 Feb 2010, 18:31
by KindaFuzzy
Yes, and then we'll have a chat. :D

Re: Magnatone Varistors

Posted: 12 Feb 2010, 02:57
by Whoismarykelly
I have a Magnatone TC1 chassis with the vibrato circuit if you want a full set of varistors and some other original parts like transformers, etc...

Re: Magnatone Varistors

Posted: 13 Apr 2010, 20:36
by odgeuk
I'm after a pair of these for a Magnatone clone. Can anyone help :D

Cheers

Re: Magnatone Varistors  [found/sold]

Posted: 16 Aug 2015, 16:05
by tacromx
This thread is quite old now, but i found this pdf which might be of use, in it is a workaround using 3 MOV's and three resistors in order to closely match the V-I curve of one Magnatone varistor.

Also there's this if you have the money.... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Matched-Pair- ... 28059f5d49 seems a bit extortionate though.

PDF @ http://dalmura.com.au/projects/Magnaton ... design.pdf

Re: Magnatone Varistors

Posted: 04 Feb 2021, 03:20
by Zack Engineering
I have NOS Magnatone Varistors for sale. Tested in the Magnatone vintage vibrato circuit, meets or exceeds the original specs.
1/2-watt and 1-watt values

Go to Amazon.com search: Varistor NOS

Thanks, Zack
503-757-6654