Robb L
Feb 11, 2009 4:14 AM GMT
I'm looking at a late 50's Silvertone. Anyone have any input?

Fingers Taylor use to have one of those and I played through a few,...saw one recently for 200.00 bucks or so...they sound great!

That's my hope with this one! Thanks

I've got a matched set of old Silvertone 1482s. The first one a friend found in the trash and gave to me years ago (true story!). The other I bought for $50 out of the junk closet at a music store in St. Louis. They're good sounding old amps, with 2 x 6V6 power sections and 12 inch speakers. The wiring is a real rat's nest. Silvertone/Danelectro took the term "point-to-point wiring" literally. The cabinets are made of vinyl-covered fiberboard. I've also got some old Harmony amps with the same sort of construction. Some folks claim that flimsy, lightweight construction is part of why they sound so good. I love the space-age looks--they just scream "Elroy Jetson." I also like the idea of playing through an old amp that was rescued from the trash. Now that's a proper blues amp.

Here's a website about old Silvertone amps. Here's another and another.

hi , theres a 50's silvertone on ebay. item# 220358747472

George "Harmonica" Smith and Rod Piazza have both used them as has Ryan Hartt.
They sound pretty good to me.

Funny - I got an old Silvertone tape recorder my mother bought in 1960 (I am 61) It is a stereo with the preamp in the base and a separate power amp with its own plug. For the hell of it I plugged it in after at least 20 years and it lit up! So I ordered an ART Preamp MP/Studio mic preamp to see what it will do. Should be all I need in between the mic and power amp, but I know nothing about these things. One 6v6GT tube and another tube of some kind. My mom paid like $180 for it in 1960. A fortune. Dad made $100 a week back then. I know Silvertone amps sell well on Ebay and teh prices seem to get bidded up so they are sought after. There is a web site devoted on 1950 - 1960 Silvertones. Google it.

DAn

I have a mid 60's 1481. I have never heard a better sounding small amp. simply amazing the sound that can come out of a box that probably doesn't weigh 5 pounds! I wish I had a dozen of 'em.

pat