Who can tell me about some Sears and Montgomery Ward amps?

Scott M · December 18th, 2003, 08:59 PM

I saw these at a local shop. They have actually been there a while.

The Ward amp says "Airline" and has two 6v6's and an assortment of preamp and other mystery tubes.

The Silvertone amps: One has the knobs on the back, so from the top and front it looks like a radio with a 4 or 6" spkr. The other has maybe two 6v6s with the chassis mounted on the bottom and controls on the top.

He also has a Kalmazoo model 2.

These things all look cool in a cheesy sort of way. Wonder what they sound like.

-Scott

TexGoneNW · December 19th, 2003, 04:16 AM

I have a model 1482. It's very cheesy; if there's a solid piece of wood in it, maybe two braces. The cabinet is particle board or press board or something, and the speaker baffle is more of a stout cardboard affair than wood, but...

12" Oxford speaker works with the diamond-shape cutout, and the circuit is kinda neat.

Sounds great for the blues jams I play at. I plug straight in and crank it up and mic it.

You can still get these on the cheap and all I've done is put new tubes in it (saved the old ones with "Silvertone" on it).

Tim Swartz · December 19th, 2003, 11:32 AM

They all deserve a listen. The Silvertones were made by Danelectro. Some Ward's Airline amps were made by Danelectro, some were made by Valco. The Kalamazoo amps were made by Gibson in, you guessed it, Kalamazoo! The Model II is a single EL84 amp w/ 10' alnico speaker and trem...pretty cool amp. They often go for less than $100.

Wally · December 19th, 2003, 01:04 PM

I enjoy chaining a Kalamazoo single EL84 amp with a Fender Champ to get a blend of the two different tubes/circuits Class A sounds. I am often moved to build decent wooden cabs for the 'cheapo' amps such as the Kalamazoo, Airline, and Silvertone.

sticko · December 19th, 2003, 01:31 PM

Man, I regularly gig/record with Silvertone amps. I have a 1483 head that I run thru a Marshall 4x10, and a 1484(Twin Twelve)that sounds great with it's own 2x12 cab. Recently though, I tapped the tranny for an 8 ohm output and I've mostly been using it thru my Marshall 4x10. I love the way it sounds. I've been using it a lot with my MIM 60's Tele, and it's a fantastic rig.

I'm telling you, these are great amps that can totally work in a professional situation.

da dougster · December 19th, 2003, 05:32 PM

There were also some Valco made Silvertone's in the 147X series; the 1472 is similar to the 1482 but is "lefthanded" as far as the control panel goes. All are built with the same state of the art cabinet making design ( heavy sarcasm there).

I still have the memory of my first band with everyone running through my buddy John's 1482; damn we were good :^).

December 18th, 2003, 08:59 PM	#1 (permalink)
Scott M Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Vincennes, IN Posts: 135	Who can tell me about some Sears and Montgomery Ward amps? I saw these at a local shop. They have actually been there a while. The Ward amp says "Airline" and has two 6v6's and an assortment of preamp and other mystery tubes. The Silvertone amps: One has the knobs on the back, so from the top and front it looks like a radio with a 4 or 6" spkr. The other has maybe two 6v6s with the chassis mounted on the bottom and controls on the top. He also has a Kalmazoo model 2. These things all look cool in a cheesy sort of way. Wonder what they sound like. -Scott __________________ Scott M

December 19th, 2003, 04:16 AM	#2 (permalink)
TexGoneNW Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Victoria, TX Posts: 917 4 Photos	Vouching for the Silvertone Brand I have a model 1482. It's very cheesy; if there's a solid piece of wood in it, maybe two braces. The cabinet is particle board or press board or something, and the speaker baffle is more of a stout cardboard affair than wood, but... 12" Oxford speaker works with the diamond-shape cutout, and the circuit is kinda neat. Sounds great for the blues jams I play at. I plug straight in and crank it up and mic it. You can still get these on the cheap and all I've done is put new tubes in it (saved the old ones with "Silvertone" on it).

December 19th, 2003, 05:32 PM	#6 (permalink)
da dougster Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Beautiful downtown Ayuh Posts: 300	There were also some Valco made Silvertone's in the 147X series; the 1472 is similar to the 1482 but is "lefthanded" as far as the control panel goes. All are built with the same state of the art cabinet making design ( heavy sarcasm there). I still have the memory of my first band with everyone running through my buddy John's 1482; damn we were good :^). __________________ "Somebody set up us the bomb!!"

December 19th, 2003, 11:32 AM	#3 (permalink)
Tim Swartz Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Michigan - Tweenst the Great Lakes Posts: 1,904	They all deserve a listen. The Silvertones were made by Danelectro. Some Ward's Airline amps were made by Danelectro, some were made by Valco. The Kalamazoo amps were made by Gibson in, you guessed it, Kalamazoo! The Model II is a single EL84 amp w/ 10' alnico speaker and trem...pretty cool amp. They often go for less than $100.

December 19th, 2003, 01:04 PM	#4 (permalink)
Wally Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Lubbock, TX Posts: 4,225	I enjoy chaining a Kalamazoo single EL84 amp with a Fender Champ to get a blend of the two different tubes/circuits Class A sounds. I am often moved to build decent wooden cabs for the 'cheapo' amps such as the Kalamazoo, Airline, and Silvertone.

December 19th, 2003, 01:31 PM	#5 (permalink)
sticko Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: They don't call it the Bluff City for nothin' Posts: 424	Man, I regularly gig/record with Silvertone amps. I have a 1483 head that I run thru a Marshall 4x10, and a 1484(Twin Twelve)that sounds great with it's own 2x12 cab. Recently though, I tapped the tranny for an 8 ohm output and I've mostly been using it thru my Marshall 4x10. I love the way it sounds. I've been using it a lot with my MIM 60's Tele, and it's a fantastic rig. I'm telling you, these are great amps that can totally work in a professional situation.