Silvertone 1448

Amp in case came with single-pickup guitar. It has the line-voltage heater arrangement (12AU6,50C5 and 35W4) and is screwed into a corner of the guitar case. It is only a 3 watt amp so it is limited in that way. There is one input and a single volume pot. The tubes are visible through little peek-a-boo cutouts on the amp face. They are labelled so as to prevent mixups. There are no effects here. I use this amp in my home and with a little modification, it might possibly be of use in recording situations.

I am using the amp with the single-lipstick pickup guitar that came with it. The guitar's pickup is located in a middle position so it tends to sound more mellow than a bridge mounted pickup would. The amp is clean with just a hint of overdrive. The resitors in the amp could use some freshening and with a bit of tweaking, I hope to be able to push it harder. As it is, the amp sounds crisp but with pleasing balance (much like a Supro 6606 that I own). It has an alnico speaker with the O.T. mounted on its frame and it does a good job. Distortion is not the forte of this amp. It sounds clean and a bit jazzy with the treble rolled off on the guitar controls.

It has been around since the mid-60's and still has the original Silvertone branded tubes in it. That should speak volumes for its reliability. Carry a few replacement tubes if you are a worry-wart but you'll probably still have them in your pocket when you die. Some nutcase blew the internal-mounted fuse and re-installed it wrapped in aluminum foil. I substituted a 1 amp slow-blow and it works fine. Due to its limited power, I can't see anyone gigging with it. But then again, I grew up in the 60's, near San Francisco, and saw these amps all over the place- wherever they could find a power outlet.

I've never tried to contact Sears/Silvertone. The schematics are readily available online. Tubes are plantiful and inexpensive. Forget the warranty. I opened the amp up and everything is out in the open and easily accessible. If you can read a multi-meter and solder, you are in business. One word of warning though, be careful how you use this amp in a gig situation. There are warnings all over the internet about line-voltage amps and shock hazards when they are intermixed with more modern grounded amps/PA systems. Seriously, read up before you gig.

I have a lot of other amps (even 3-4 other line-voltage amps) and this one compares favorably. If it were stolen or lost, I would seek another. There is a big-brother to this amp/guitar and it is the 1449. The 1449 features a 2-pickup guitar and 6V6 powered amp with tremelo. But is is also highly-sought after and the price is quite a bit higher. I love the tone and the look of this set-up. Danelectro really had an eye for design and a gift for manufacturing inexpensive gear that holds up well and looks cool!

amp in case 12au6 tube, 50c5 tube, 35w4 tube. 117 v.a.c. 25 w. .22 amp. 2 volume controls (guitar,Amp)

(chassis number)-185.10010

clean sound

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