Description
This is an early-to-mid 1960’s Magnatone Zephyr, model X-5, electric guitar made by Magnatone of California. It features a solid, double cutaway, poplar body, a yellow finish with gold sparkles, two single coil pickups, a white plastic pickguard on which all of the electronics are mounted, two metal strap pins, an adjustable, unique and well designed bridge and whammy tailpiece mechanism which holds pitch and intonation well, a zero fret and a metal cover over the nut. It also has a “tilt neck” adjustment feature built into the neck plate making it really easy to adjust when necessary. This guitar is 100% original and in good condition. It was designed by Paul Barth who worked with Rickenbacker for many years. With its fast action and terrific tone, this guitar not only looks lovely, it plays and sounds terrific. It comes with the original hardshell case.Description from VintageSilvertones.com
CONDITION:
This guitar is 100% original and it is in good condition; including the bridge cover which is always missing. There are small lines of crazing on the guitar that are barely visible in the right light. There’s various wear patterns on the back of the body and some very minor dings on the headstock & body, as expected from a nearly 60 year old guitar.Description from VintageSilvertones.com
TUNERS:
The six inline one-piece opened-back tuners with white plastic buttons, are in good working condition.Description from VintageSilvertones.com
NECK:
It has a straight, bolted-on, neck with circular inlays on a rosewood fretboard, a metal covered nut, 21 frets including a zero fret, 24″ scale with fast action. There is only one extremely tiny scrape to the finish on the back of the neck. The headstock, featuring a Magnatone Zephyr logo along the curve, has a some finish wear on the top and a few spots of wear around the edges. Description from VintageSilvertones.com
PICKUPS:
There are two single coil pickups. The bridge pickup is strong, clean, bright and trebly. The neck pickup is potent, clean, bright and warm. With the proper usage of the selection switches and the volume and tone knobs, this guitar is very versatile offering the player a myriad of tones suitable for rock, blues, country, rockabilly, soul, funk, jazz and many more styles. This guitar has one volume and one tone knob for both pickups. There is an on/off switch for each pickup. The pots and switches are clean sounding and in fine working order. Description from VintageSilvertones.com
The Dimensions are:
Overall length: 37″Description from VintageSilvertones.com
Body width: 12″
Body thickness: 1″ with neck 1 5/8″Description from VintageSilvertones.com
Scale: 24″ approx.Description from VintageSilvertones.com
Width of the nut: 1 5/8″ (depth 7/8″)
String height at 12th fret: 3/32″Description from VintageSilvertones.com
Here’s the original description from the 1965 Magnatone catalog:
Incomparable MAGNATONE featuresDescription from VintageSilvertones.com
WOOD:Description from VintageSilvertones.com
Appalachian fine grained poplar bodies. Northwest Canadian Maple necks. Imported, hand chosen Rosewood fingerboards.Description from VintageSilvertones.com
METAL PARTS:Description from VintageSilvertones.com
Critical metal parts, including screws are made of fine highly polished stainless steel or aluminum, eliminating possible corrosion, pitting, or rusting.
FINISH:Description from VintageSilvertones.com
Bodies are hand rubbed, 7 coat processed lacquer (Magnatone exclusive), Carefully worked to resist checking due to abrupt temperature changes, Guitar necks are finished with clear coats, except for metallic black and metallic white models.
Incomparable MAGNATONEDescription from VintageSilvertones.com
X-5 ZEPHYRDescription from VintageSilvertones.com
3/4 Size Solid body, double pick-up, Vibrato Guitar with all professional features…at a student’s price.Description from VintageSilvertones.com
This new X-5 Zephyr was expressly created for use by the professional musician who desires a smaller intrument, as well as for student’s use. Possessing many exclusive features found in Magnatone’s X-20 Typhoon, the Zephyr is in a class by itself.
Available in high lustre:Description from VintageSilvertones.com
Sunburst, Blue, Red, Black, WhiteDescription from VintageSilvertones.com
$170 list, Complete with extra 1/2 set of light gauge string, cable, strap, pick, adjusting wrenches.
Guitar, accessories, and Case. ($55.) $225. list, complete.Description from VintageSilvertones.com
