Silvertone Twin Twelve Head

Oskar · February 19th, 2006, 07:55 PM

Just wondering if this amp is worth fixing. Pilot light comes on, all tubes are glowing, but no sound comes out.
I know these amps are desirable to some, but I'm wondering if it's worth putting in about a $100 if that's what it needs to get it going. I noticed the pilot light was not on at first, and then it came on when I plugged a cord into the first channel.
Would appreciate any suggestions, comments, or direction on what to do with this amp.
Just wondering what the output is on these things. I've seen both 50 and 30 watts, but not sure what it is. Thanks.

Tim Armstrong · February 19th, 2006, 08:04 PM

Oskar, I had one that I got for $30 once. I'm pretty sure it was a fifty-watter. I spent about $150 fixing it up (including putting in a pair of Eminence 12s from a Music Man) and kept it for a year or so. It had a great, raw, bluesy tone. Note: the reverb sucked, though!

Ultimately, I went with a different amp, but that one was a pretty cool amp.

Yours is probably worth fixing up!

Cheers, Tim

Oskar · February 19th, 2006, 08:12 PM

Well, mine cost me $10 and it's only the head, no cabinet. I've taken it apart to clean it and have to say the inside makes some of today's PCB amps look like high-end boutique amps. It look really, really chintzy and cheap.
I had one when I was in high school, 1965, and I was the laughingstock of all my fellow musicians. Everyone had Fender DRs & TRS. I felt really left out.

It was a pretty bad amp back then. I might give this a shot in fixing it up. Maybe, just maybe I'll have a different opinion.

3StringGuitar · February 19th, 2006, 08:34 PM

I'd say fix it up. They were fetching quite a be on ebay for a while. I've been looking at picking up a 1483 head. It was the bass version of the 2x12, and it's smaller and simplier, no reverb, no trem. I think the head you have is actually a 100watter. I know the 1483 is 50watts, and the 1485 is 100watts(that's the 6x10), and you're the 1484 if I'm not mistaken is exactly the same as the 1485. Either way I'd say fix it up, if you don't like if you can at least get a good $150-$200 on ebay.

Oskar · February 19th, 2006, 09:28 PM

Yes, I was thinking of fixing and then perhaps sellling it at some point. Although, one never knows, I might just like it enough to keep it.
I guess I was surprised and how poorly it was made.

3StringGuitar · February 19th, 2006, 09:43 PM

Yeah, they are pretty poorly made but there are some touring muscians that are still using them today. I know Jack White uses 2 of the 1485's, Brendon Benson I belive has used a 1484. I'm sure there are many other's that I'm not mentioning but you get the idea.

Tim Armstrong · February 19th, 2006, 11:41 PM

Mine was bought by one of the guys in Man or Astro Man, who were playing that night in Fort Collins...

Cheers, Tim

fontaine · February 20th, 2006, 03:58 AM

Hubert Sumlin sounded just fine on his.
More than fine actually. Fix it, keep it.

Oskar · February 20th, 2006, 07:03 AM

That guy always amazes me. He also was using a Rickenbacker when he was with Howlin' Wolf. I guess he's certainly a textbook case of the "it's the musician, not the equipment" argument.
I have decided to at least have my tech check it out, and take it from there. Appreciate the responses.

moparmutt · February 20th, 2006, 04:25 PM

I saw Kim Wilson play a gig in FL. a few years ago. His guitarist was using a Silvertone amp, also a modern danelectro trem pedal.

3StringGuitar · February 20th, 2006, 05:41 PM

All this talk is really making me want to pick up one now. I'll be interested in hearing what your tech says about fixing it up and what not.

Bob Mc · February 20th, 2006, 05:46 PM

Heck yeah, fix it! The one I had just needed caps and tubes but she cleaned up good and put out better!

February 19th, 2006, 07:55 PM	#1 (permalink)
Oskar Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Northampton, MA Posts: 3,191	Silvertone Twin Twelve Head Just wondering if this amp is worth fixing. Pilot light comes on, all tubes are glowing, but no sound comes out. I know these amps are desirable to some, but I'm wondering if it's worth putting in about a $100 if that's what it needs to get it going. I noticed the pilot light was not on at first, and then it came on when I plugged a cord into the first channel. Would appreciate any suggestions, comments, or direction on what to do with this amp. Just wondering what the output is on these things. I've seen both 50 and 30 watts, but not sure what it is. Thanks.

February 19th, 2006, 08:04 PM	#2 (permalink)
Tim Armstrong Moderator Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Berlin, Maryland, USA Age: 49 Posts: 10,261	Oskar, I had one that I got for $30 once. I'm pretty sure it was a fifty-watter. I spent about $150 fixing it up (including putting in a pair of Eminence 12s from a Music Man) and kept it for a year or so. It had a great, raw, bluesy tone. Note: the reverb sucked, though! Ultimately, I went with a different amp, but that one was a pretty cool amp. Yours is probably worth fixing up! Cheers, Tim __________________ http://www.moodswingers.org

February 19th, 2006, 09:28 PM	#5 (permalink)
Oskar Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Northampton, MA Posts: 3,191	Mine's the 1484. Yes, I was thinking of fixing and then perhaps sellling it at some point. Although, one never knows, I might just like it enough to keep it. I guess I was surprised and how poorly it was made.

February 19th, 2006, 11:41 PM	#7 (permalink)
Tim Armstrong Moderator Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Berlin, Maryland, USA Age: 49 Posts: 10,261	Mine was bought by one of the guys in Man or Astro Man, who were playing that night in Fort Collins... Cheers, Tim __________________ http://www.moodswingers.org

February 20th, 2006, 07:03 AM	#9 (permalink)
Oskar Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Northampton, MA Posts: 3,191	Hmmm, Hubert Sumlin That guy always amazes me. He also was using a Rickenbacker when he was with Howlin' Wolf. I guess he's certainly a textbook case of the "it's the musician, not the equipment" argument. I have decided to at least have my tech check it out, and take it from there. Appreciate the responses.

February 19th, 2006, 08:12 PM	#3 (permalink)
Oskar Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Northampton, MA Posts: 3,191	Well, mine cost me $10 and it's only the head, no cabinet. I've taken it apart to clean it and have to say the inside makes some of today's PCB amps look like high-end boutique amps. It look really, really chintzy and cheap. I had one when I was in high school, 1965, and I was the laughingstock of all my fellow musicians. Everyone had Fender DRs & TRS. I felt really left out. It was a pretty bad amp back then. I might give this a shot in fixing it up. Maybe, just maybe I'll have a different opinion.

February 19th, 2006, 08:34 PM	#4 (permalink)
3StringGuitar Tele-Holic Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 623	I'd say fix it up. They were fetching quite a be on ebay for a while. I've been looking at picking up a 1483 head. It was the bass version of the 2x12, and it's smaller and simplier, no reverb, no trem. I think the head you have is actually a 100watter. I know the 1483 is 50watts, and the 1485 is 100watts(that's the 6x10), and you're the 1484 if I'm not mistaken is exactly the same as the 1485. Either way I'd say fix it up, if you don't like if you can at least get a good $150-$200 on ebay.

February 19th, 2006, 09:43 PM	#6 (permalink)
3StringGuitar Tele-Holic Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 623	Yeah, they are pretty poorly made but there are some touring muscians that are still using them today. I know Jack White uses 2 of the 1485's, Brendon Benson I belive has used a 1484. I'm sure there are many other's that I'm not mentioning but you get the idea.

February 20th, 2006, 03:58 AM	#8 (permalink)
fontaine Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 338	Hubert Sumlin sounded just fine on his. More than fine actually. Fix it, keep it.

February 20th, 2006, 04:25 PM	#10 (permalink)
moparmutt Tele-Holic Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: honolulu Posts: 593	I saw Kim Wilson play a gig in FL. a few years ago. His guitarist was using a Silvertone amp, also a modern danelectro trem pedal.

February 20th, 2006, 05:41 PM	#11 (permalink)
3StringGuitar Tele-Holic Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 623	All this talk is really making me want to pick up one now. I'll be interested in hearing what your tech says about fixing it up and what not.

February 20th, 2006, 05:46 PM	#12 (permalink)
Bob Mc Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Mo'town NJ Posts: 1,641	ex-1484 owner Heck yeah, fix it! The one I had just needed caps and tubes but she cleaned up good and put out better! __________________ All of us contain Music & Truth, but most of us can't get it out. Mark Twain