MAGNETO U-ONE ERIC GALES RD3 £849
WHAT IS IT? Eric Gales has been playing Magneto guitars for over a decade – here’s his pretty affordable new signature model
Magneto guitars first appeared back in late 2008, the brainchild of Christian Hatstatt, a guitar designer and maker who has worked with various European brands, most notably Gary Levinson’s Blade Guitars. Christian’s initial designs centred on two models: the Sonnet and T-Wave inspired by Fender’s Strat and Tele. Later in 2012, the Velvet was added, a more Les Paul-inspired style. Yet unlike many modern makers who might simply change a headstock outline, Magneto subtly reevaluates those originals. Initially, they were only made in Japan via a collaboration with Kei Yatsuzuka, but more recently the Chinese-made U-One range, introduced into Europe in 2019, provides Magneto style at a much lower price point.
Eric Gales joined the party in 2011. “We were introduced to Eric