silvertones?

[outbreak]

what are peoples opinions on the old silvertones, im considering looking at a 60's single pup one that i think is this model here however without the case

http://www.silvertoneworld.net/electric/1448/1448.html

how much are these things usually worth and how do they sound and stand up after 40+ years

[endzone]

I remember back in the 60's & 70's, I never thought much about them. As far as I was concerned they were cheapo guitars that were not really good players. I couldn't get the tone I wanted out of em. They were very weak sounding. But then, I was trying to make them sound good on 70's hard rock n roll...Zep, Deep Purple, BTO, Trower, Manilow. I really had no concept of tone. Fast forward to now...I still don't think they're very good guitars, but they can sound awsome for the right kind of music. Personally, I think the newer Danelectros and Eastwoods are far superior instruments. I can't see how those old Silvertones are worth what they're bringing...but what is in the vintage guitar world?

[BB]

I pretty much agree with what Endzone says. That said, I LOVE old Danos, new Danos, Dano ( whoda thought! ) copies, etc. Just somethin' about that funky, greasy, juicy vibe they have. For a real treat, throw a set of flatwounds on an old dano......magic! I still want to make a Dano style tele.

[TDPRI]

The single pickup is a 2/3rds sized guitar. The 2 pickup is a full-sized guitar.

I've had a Silvertone two pup for 42 years. They don't sell for much these days. a pristine 2 pup amp-in-case is only about $450. Without the amp-in-case it's about $250. In 1965, the year I got mine, the whole thing cost $99.

They were made by Danelectro in New Jersey. They have a unique sound that can be very nice. Especially with new strings. Lots of twang. They don't stay in tune well and they are murder to intonate.

The new Dano's are pretty nice and they've come out with the old Silvertone style body with a decent bridge. But the pickups on the new ones aren't as good sounding as the old ones.

I have a LOT of nostalgia about Silvertones, because that's all I owned until I grew up. And my old 2 pup guitar is leaning against a chair not 20 feet from me as I write this.

But to be honest... they aren't great. Fun and cheap Yes!

[Arlo]

Unfortunately the decal isn't included.



I have had mine for a long time now. It has been painted but everything else is original and it sounds great.

I recommend getting one.

[Strat62]

I had a single pickup model once. The action wasn't much, but put it in open tuning and it was the hottest little slide guitar I'd ever seen. Mine had a bright, hot tone. Wish I still had that one.

[Daddydex]

Please keep in mind that all Silvertones were not made by Danelectro.

h

The one I have is a Teisco and looks great but plays like poo.

Dan

[skeksis]

I'm a fan of many Silvertones... usually old USA models from Harmony, Danelectro, and sometimes Kay. My #1 electric is a '64 Harmony-built semi-hollow w/bigsby... pickups in these guitars can be fantastic, but it'd be stretching things to give 'em too much credit. I love 'em, but I have no illusions about construction/materials quality in these guitars.

I had the single pickup amp-in-case Dano-built model, and it was unique, that's for sure.

if you're used to modern (Fender) necks, it's gonna feel alien to you.

[tuuur]

I had a Sears Silvertone in exchange for a Squier '51. Didn't like the neck one bit, but did like the sound of that lipstick pickup; it had a lot of presence.

Swapped it again for another Squier '51 and a 1960s Aria Diamond. Guess I did good...

[outbreak]

suppose ill try and check this one out when i get a chance, i've mainly been intersted in its look but if it don't sound right i'm not bothering with it

[tboy]

None more sweet. About 63. Minty cond. OSSC.

[kingnimrod]

I like mine a lot:

67 mint condition H-78




61 Jupiter

[Stuco]

flat duo jets...nuff said

[tomi]

[ye olde fretmonkey]

I had a Harmony Hornet-style guitar with the Silvertone name on it and 2 of those gold-foil pickups. Weird thick neck with a V profile to it. I didnt' hang onto it.

Much as I like the Danelectro Silvertones, the worst thing about em has to be the tuners. The ones that had 6-on-a-side had a one-piece stamped metal tuner assembly that is guaranteed to never stay in tune. Get rid of those tuners and you can have a pretty decent guitar.

And of course I love the way they sound.

My next guitar purchase is gonna be a MIC or MIK Danelectro DC3 or U2.

[Jelly]

Originally Posted by Stuco

flat duo jets...nuff said

Play it Dexter! Thanks for that Stuco. D*mn could he rock. Could you see what kind of amp he was playing through?

[bender-freak]

Originally Posted by kingnimrod

I like mine a lot:

67 mint condition H-78




61 Jupiter

my stepfather bought me an identical one of those in 63 right before i graduated and Uncle Sam "owned me" for the next couple years...i survived, traded it for a Gibson ES125 ...wish i still had either one of them now, but especially the Jupiter.....i have seen a few of the J's down thru the years that had a sorta darkish natural finish, but the vast majority i ran across were the black sparkle...they weren't bad at all, better than many...

[Stuco]

Originally Posted by Jelly

Play it Dexter! Thanks for that Stuco. D*mn could he rock. Could you see what kind of amp he was playing through?

Jelly, I can't really tell from the video but whatever it was, it's not anything fancy or expensive. Yet he sounds fantastic. Gotta love dexter, he's the real deal.

[Jelly]

Originally Posted by Stuco

Gotta love dexter, he's the real deal.

Quite a performer - I saw him play once many years ago in a very small club. My ears had never hurt so much from the volume at a show before.

[doster]

Mine is the same model as Daddydex. My first electric guitar and I'll never sell it again. Bought for $50 used in 1984, sold for $50 in 1987 to a good friend. Bought back in 1988 for $50 because I just had to have it.
It's really pretty awful but it was my first.

[bob barcus]

If you want some time that looks cool plays well and is cheap try a Eastwood guitar They have all kinds and they got in Left hand .Unless your a old guy like me you might want to look hear my 21/2 cents

[Jackson Jackson]

My 1940's 708 model acoustic. I bought this guitar in 1990 for $75, and it's logged a few miles

[tomi]

Jackson Jackson, except for the name on the headstock, that looks VERY much like a Harmony I had once years ago. I wonder if they made those for Sears.

[skeksis]

Originally Posted by tomi

Jackson Jackson, except for the name on the headstock, that looks VERY much like a Harmony I had once years ago. I wonder if they made those for Sears.

yep... Sears didn't actually build Silvertone guitars. They were 'jobbed' out to various builders. Harmony, Danelectro, Kay, Supro/Valco, and others. By around 1970, many were imports from Japan.

Jackson could probably look in the f-holes for a stamp to confirm model number and year, which probably correspond to a Harmony model...


PS tboy could have burgled his guitar from my house - that's exactly what I've got, and it's my favorite. Would have been a very pricey guitar back in the day, best & most expensive you could order in the catalog. I also had the black stratotone jupiter model above for a while, and it was great too.

[woof*]

i just got this silvertone (dano U1). i had one exactly like it for 20 yrs but lost it.. it's great to have one back...these guitars are just killer for slide!

[ye olde fretmonkey]

Originally Posted by Jackson Jackson