One Chevron or Two? The Story Behind Magnatone’s Chevron Design

The chevron has been one of Magnatone’s most recognizable visual details for generations. But what those familiar shapes represent has changed over time.

Originally, one chevron identified a mono amplifier, while two identified a stereo amplifier.

Today, the system is different: one chevron represents one speaker, while two chevrons represent two speakers.

It is a small detail, but one that connects Magnatone’s history with the amplifiers being built today.

From Mono and Stereo to Speaker Count

On vintage Magnatone amplifiers, the chevrons offered a visual clue to what was happening inside the cabinet.

One chevron meant mono. Two meant stereo.

That distinction was especially meaningful on Magnatone’s stereo amplifiers. With separate signal paths and speakers, stereo designs could give the company’s true pitch-shifting vibrato an even greater sense of width, movement and dimension.

The chevrons gave players a simple visual shorthand. Before the amplifier was switched on, part of its design was already telling you something about what was inside.

As Magnatone evolved, so did that convention.

Today, chevron count reflects the number of speakers rather than whether the amplifier itself is mono or stereo. A single-speaker amplifier receives one chevron. A two-speaker amplifier receives two.

The visual language stayed familiar, even as its meaning changed.

The Panoramic Stereo

The Panoramic Stereo brings both sides of that history together particularly well.

Its two independent 12-watt power sections drive a pair of 10-inch speakers, delivering true stereo operation along with Magnatone’s pitch-shifting stereo vibrato.

It wears two chevrons because it has two speakers. In this case, the modern convention also happens to echo the original stereo meaning of the design.

That does not mean every modern two-chevron Magnatone is stereo. The chevrons now tell you how many speakers are in the cabinet, not how the amplifier’s signal path is configured.

A Design Carried Forward

The chevron remains an essential part of Magnatone’s visual identity.

Along with the cabinet covering, grille cloth, control panels, handles and hardware, it contributes to a look that is unmistakably Magnatone from across a room.

Across the Traditional Collection, details including cotton textile covering, embossed saddle leather handles and plated chevrons carry that design language forward.

These details are inspired by Magnatone’s history, but they are part of amplifiers built for players today rather than simple reproductions of the past.

The chevron is a good example of that approach. Its meaning has evolved, but its place in Magnatone design has remained.

Gold, Silver and the Hands Behind Them

Depending on the amplifier and its cosmetics, Magnatone chevrons appear in 14K gold-plated or silver finishes.

Each one is positioned and installed during the finishing process by the craftspeople building the amplifier in St. Louis.

Our recent look at chevron installation on the Kingston offers a closer view of that process and the hands behind a detail most players only see once the amplifier is complete.

It is a small finishing touch, but one that carries a great deal of Magnatone identity.

One Chevron or Two?

The answer depends on when the amplifier was built.

Originally:

One chevron meant mono. Two chevrons meant stereo.

Today:

One chevron means one speaker. Two chevrons mean two speakers.

The meaning changed. The chevron stayed.

It remains one of the most recognizable parts of a Magnatone amplifier and another connection between the company’s history and the amplifiers still being built by hand in St. Louis today.

Explore the Traditional Collection and find an authorized Magnatone dealer to experience Magnatone for yourself.