Here is the one I found in dark, blood red. It's got the exact pickguard as the above example. But notice...no higher end mother of pearl.
I realize I need to get closer and sharper pics of the red than what I have...which is fine, as I found a blue bass Magnum just the other day. More pics on the way! Ay-yi-yi!
Black seems to be the more popular color of the ones I've been able to locate online for examples. The one I found was dark red like blood minus the mother-of-pearl inlays. It had silver pickups that looked pretty fragile (I'll be willing to bet owners of these guitars replaced these as quick as possible). Since I live in southeastern lower Michigan, I quickly discovered that the "Magnum" badge was sold locally at Royal Oak Music in Royal Oak, Michigan. The music store has long since disappeared into history. It looks like "Magnum" was sold in Chicago as well so maybe it was only distributed in the midwest in America. There's a lot of reference to Magnums being widely sold in Australia, so they must have been manufactured in good quantities as a 'starter' copy guitar and distributed there as well. It's so interesting where all these badged guitars end up!
Now what makes it far more difficult in pegging who made the Magnum badge is the fact that there was ANOTHER company in Vietnam who made "Magnum" badged guitars! However, those Magnums are described as cheap laminated guitars that have a horrible sound with an approximate manufacturing date somewhere in the 1980's. The Magnum I'm looking at is definitely from the 1970 period and solid. There are also the famous Eastwood Magnum basses and acoustic Magnum Opus guitars which are made domestically both in the United States and Canada.
It's clear the Magnum I found was the lower-end model because of the lack of mother-of-pearl inlays and the cheap pickups.
But I still can't determine if this guitar IS Japanese. Some argue that it is based on styling...it's rather similar to a Daion Les Paul from that period but god, you could say that about a lot of other Les Pauls from the golden 1970's Japanese copy era! Others insist it's a Chinese product. It's such a mystery. I'm going to go back and see if I can find a serial number on the one spotted. In the meantime, check back...I should have those photos up soon so you can see it. The guitar IS for sale, so if anyone is interested, let me know and I'll pass along the information on the seller.
If you have any information or want to share your Magnum, add it to the blog!
Hey! I bought a Magnum Les Paul copy from Royal Oak music for $208 bucks in 1980! It was beige. It sucked! The pickups were single coil under humbucker covers. Sounded terrible and never stayed in tune. Traded it for an early '60s SG which could be had for not much more money back then...
ReplyDeleteMy very first guitar was a black magnum Las Paul.my parents bought it for me at the twelve oaks mall in novi sometime around 1980.
Deletefrom what I read with Japanese copies unlike the rest of Asian copies they are of higher quality .
DeleteI have a black Magnum LP copy that says Galaxy I on it....has pearl block inlay on a rosewood fretboard. I picked it up a few weeks back, when I saw it hanging on the wall I could not pass it up. It feels great, has a nice weight and I really like the tone. I need to replace the output plate as the previous owner or owners damaged the centre hole and I cannot find one even close to it. I've been trying to find info on them since I got it and just tonight stumbled upon your old post. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI have a Magnum Les Paul copy purchased in Detroit around 1978. It is the maple color guitar pictured from Harmony Central. This guitar has the original paper label on the back of the neck MADE IN KOREA. Hope this helps
ReplyDeleteI picked up a Magnum LP in tobacco-burst for $80. The electronics are noisy and one of the pots doesn't fully function, maybe re-flowing some solder might help. Tuners are low quality. Pickups are flabby, I think P90s would work well on this axe. So with new tuners, pickups, electronics and some fret-work, it should be an interesting player.
ReplyDeletePicked up a magnum les paul special copy in ebony. Its plywood but its solid as a rock is a good solid weight and sounds great when plugged in after I adjusted pups and a restring. Neck is good no sharp frets or string buzz. I measured the pups they are hot same specs as 650r 700t. Its identical to the epiphone but has a better looking headstock.
ReplyDeleteI found a blood red magnum LP with the mother of pearl inlays at a garage sale in southwest Iowa it plays good for being a cheap guitar and it sound great with a fender tube amp
ReplyDeleteWell im the proud new owner of a cherryburst Magnum LP. Its at the shop getting a setup. Looks great! My wife is pissed! Update on sound to follow...
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DeleteI've wondered about these guitars for years! My cousin gave me his Magnum LP copy about 25 years ago. I had a part-time job and saved up enough to get a Seymour Duncan Distortion in the bridge and never looked back! Played quite a few shows with that thing and people from bands we played with constantly asked me if it was a Gibson custom! ;-)
ReplyDeleteI've wondered about these guitars for years! My cousin gave me his Magnum LP copy about 25 years ago. I had a part-time job and saved up enough to get a Seymour Duncan Distortion in the bridge and never looked back! Played quite a few shows with that thing and people from bands we played with constantly asked me if it was a Gibson custom! ;-)
ReplyDeleteI worked for Magnum for around 10 years. The Magnum guitar brand was owned and distributed by the Tilben Company of Madison Heights, Michigan the early Magnum from the 70's until the early 80's were made by Ibanez. The late 80's through though the mid 90's were built by Sammick and the Makers of Cort Guitars.
ReplyDeleteThe Red LP above was from the Cort plant in Korea and sold thru the late 80's
ReplyDeleteJohn, like mentioned below do you know anything about the Flying V?
Deletethe Flying V was available as a bolt on neck and a set neck also. We also have several variations of the Randy Rhodes style guitars.
DeleteHi John,My uncle purchased a black magnum les paul double cut special in the late seventies from a music store in Sandusky MI.It has mother of pearl block inlays on the fret board and what looks to be a torch inlay on the headstock.There is no serial # or sticker on the headstock.Do you have any info on what model it might be? There is no info on these guitars anywhere that i can find any help would be greatly appreciated,thank you.
DeleteHi John I have a rhoades jackson copy and on the head stock it is either SKY OR SKU OR SK4 any info on it ???
DeleteMy cherry-burst Magnum Custom LP guitar was given a setup, Gibson klucson tuners, and some minor connection fixes. Its beautiful and plays well. Sounds good but could definitely use hotter pickups and a wider bridge for perfect intonation. I'm a little infatuated with this guitar, I'd love to share some pictures if anyone knows how to do that here to help determine if this is a 70's or 80's version.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone here know about the flying V made by Magnum? thank you.
ReplyDeleteI just found one with the Korea sticker.Your comments have inspired me to go for it .Needs a lot but the basics look solid.
ReplyDeleteI just found one with the Korea sticker.Your comments have inspired me to go for it .Needs a lot but the basics look solid.
ReplyDeleteI'm a Detroit native so now I understand how my brother and I got Magnum guitars as kids. We couldn't afford authentic Gibson and Fender guitars so we bought a couple Magnums at a guitar show at the light guard armory on 8 Mile. I got an Explorer copy and my brother got a Jazz bass copy. I actually still have the Jazz bass and I'm trying to refurbish it, but just found out that a genuine Fender neck is too big for the body. I think this Jazz bass is actually a 3/4 scale model. Looking at just the body, you can't tell the difference between this copy and a genuine Fender other than the size. The bridge and pickups are virtually identical to a real Fender. The tone controls give it away, but I've replaced them anyway.
ReplyDeleteholy shit, i live in detroit just bought a magnum explorer copy from a record store in dearborn. it might be yours
DeleteI'm originally from Ypsilanti. I for a Magnum guitar at a flea market around 1984ish. I wanted to learn back then but want able to get it. Maybe because I'm left handed and had a hard time.
DeleteI still have it but don't know much about it. It's made in Korea and the model number is 200-N.
I see a lot of people from Michigan that talk about these guitars. Was it a Michigan thing?
Wow, this thread is crazy. I've been considering buying a Magnum Explorer located in Troy MI for a while now. Maybe it belonged to someone on here a while ago? It is a shiny blue like a darker pelham blue with white flowery art on the horn of the body. The S/N is WO 20682. I haven't found anything on serial numbers for these guitars but maybe it is a D.O.M., 20 June 1982. It has a white pickguard, is string-thru, with what look to be PAF style pups. If anyone has any information whatsoever on these explorer copies or any serial number information I would be eternally grateful!!!
DeleteThe serial# ticker on the back of my Magum Les Paul neck seems to read "WO.20779". Anybody know what that means or where it was made? If anybody wants to see a picture of my updated guitar let me know!
ReplyDeleteI bought a Magnum Goldtop LP from a local used music store for $250. I refinished the head stock with a Gibson logo (wanted an obvious replica). Replaced the junk tuners with Grovers (required drilling the holes in the headstock bigger), Replaced the pickups with Zakk Wylde EMGs, all new gold top hat knobs. It has perfect intonation with the stock bridge and holds tune like a champ. This is hands down my favorite guitar Ive ever owned. Rock solid, Sings like an angel and shreds like a tazmanian devil.
ReplyDeleteI have my original Black Korean Magnum LesPaul. I got it for like $175 at The Music Box in Shelby Township back in 1978. I started to do some restoration on it but stopped. I am willing to sell it if anyone is interested.
ReplyDeletehttps://youtu.be/DNorp2HYoQc
ReplyDeleteI just bought 1980s Black lesspaul magnum with EMG pick ups it blows doors feels better than Gibson less Paul 😊
ReplyDeleteI am interested in magnum for sale call 4349412798
ReplyDeletehello i have a set neck magnum tobacco burst les paul copy im amazed it had paf tim shaw pickups does anyone know where it was made and value
ReplyDeleteare you still interested
Deletehello i have a set neck magnum tobacco burst les paul copy im amazed it had paf tim shaw pickups does anyone know where it was made and value
ReplyDeleteI have a magnum strat copy that is identical to fender except the headstock looks like ibanez. There's no serial # or any other writing. Anyone have any info? Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI'm buying a Magnum guitar that's shaped like a Dean ML. Any info on these? I paid $100 for everything in the picture.
ReplyDeletehttps://drive.google.com/file/d/1ID7WThreFPefD1r4-0tLIutoDnPVwasu/view?usp=drivesdk
Just purchased a Red MX Magnum strat copy with matching headstock...the logo is in gold letters...looks like a Samick MIK...can't find any info...I'll send pics soon...
ReplyDeleteAs you will discover some of the major chords have quite a bright sound to them, whilst the minor ones will often make a much darker one. Guitar chords
ReplyDeleteSaw this Explorer recently. Says Made in Korea and WO 20667 on the little stickers on the back of the headstock. The build quality looks good. Its a set neck and solid body. The pickups look a little dorky though. The bridge and TP look like Gibson. I have a Magnum LP that has a plywood body.
ReplyDeleteHow do you do pics on here?
ReplyDeleteEarly Magnums would be Fujigen, Ibanez has never been a manufacturer, it is a brand only and Japanese Ibanez were Fujigen as the prime contractor. Fujigen often used Matsumoku as a sub-contractor for bodies and/or necks. Post Japanese Magnums are Korean but would be Samick or Cor-Tek (Cort), as the prime contractor, not both unless the contract changed hands at some point.
ReplyDeleteActually, as it turns out, Tiesco probably had the original Magnum contract (thank Kurt Cobain for that info). That would explain why the neck plates on the Japanese builds do not include a 'Made in Japan' engraving (Fujigen Gakki standard for the time period). The 1970's Magnum LP's do look like Fujigen (or Matsumoku), builds but it is known that Tiesco used Fujigen as a sub contractor and Fujigen used Matsumoku as a sub contractor for bodies and necks. It wouldn't be unlikely that Tiesco would also sub out body and neck manufacture to Matsumoku.
ReplyDeleteKorean made Magnums are probably fairly easy to distinguish from the internals, if not the exterior of the instrument.
The most important thing to remember when researching vintage instruments online is that a lot of the information out there is incorrect, including blog posts and brand fan sites like a certain Ibanez one I was on today where at least some members seem to think Ibanez was a manufacturer. This is even more prevalent when you are looking at ads for instruments that include cliches like 'lawsuit era' or 'Matsumoku', or claims that an instrument was manufactured by Ibanez, a distributor's brand that wasn't a manufacturer at all until they opened their custom shops which only do limited run and special order, one off instruments and haven't been around that long.
I am from St Clair Shores, Michigan and my first guitar was a Magnum sunburst Stratocaster copy. I'm not sure where I got it from.
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