Silvertone Twin Twelve

Bought this off ebay based on online reviews. Dual 6l6 head and 2x12 cab. Two channels, but channel one doesn't work on mine, so I don't know if they differ. Channel 2 has tremolo, kinda fast and choppy but cool. The reverb sucks and thankfully clicks off at the bottom of the dial. Don't ever bother to fix the reverb on these. If I make this my main amp, maybe I'll get it modded, put an effects send and return in where the standy and ground switches are -- the standby is really just a mute, and since mine has a three-prong cord added, the ground is pointless -- and I could use the reverb knob for an effects level.

This is 30 robust watts, but not the loudest thirty watter you'll hear. It has about as much volume as the 22-watt DRRI I had, with an efficient Eminence speaker.

The original cab came with mine, but the speakers are later additions: clones of a C12R and a P12R, by Weber and Mojotone, respectively. The umbilical to the head has been cut and a regular input jack added. The cab has a funny buzz that I think has something to do with the masonite baffle or the grill cloth, which sits off the baffle a bit but is attached to it at one spot by the Silvertone logo. Buzz isn't that audible when the amp is turned up, but kind of annoying when playing at low volumes. The best thing about the cab is the storage for the head in back. Just keeps things neat and protects it a bit. If not for that, I'd pull the speakers and shell out $200 for a better cab. It's also made of particle board, like the head cabinet. Every one of these I've seen, there's a slight inward curve to the top of the head, for that extra cheap look.

Cosmetically, it's kind of retro pawn-shop cool, but the "tolex" tears so easily it's not worth paying extra for a clean one that's been in a closet for 30 years, instead of a garage or basement like most of them. The cabinet of mine is beat to hell, half painted black, rip in the grill cloth, and I think I like it better this way. If you must have shiny things, build a new box for the head -- just four sides and some tolex -- and get an Lopoline cab.

By the way, I'm not going to give number ratings, because I don't find them helpful when I'm reading reviews.

Now for the reason I'm keeping it. It's got a mid-range focus, but also some high end -- enough to become piercing with a turn of the treble control. The overdrive doesn't compress too much or become too smooth. It's like a punchier, crunchier clean. There's a spot about halfway up on the volume where the in-between position on my Epi Paul with P90s is clean and chimey, the bridge position is crunchy and fuzzy, and the neck is thick and bluesy. I've never found a similar spot on another amp where every pickup position sounds different, and each one sounds good. Usually if the bridge is crunchy, the neck is muddy and middle looses its chime. You know what I mean. At that spot, the amp has a very vintage sounding Stones-ish grind. You'll need a pedal to get a sustainy lead tone, but for rhythm it's perfect. Dare I believe it's similar to a tweed twin twelve? I wouldn't know, but these sixties Silvertone circuits are probably loosely copied from Fenders that are 5-10 years older.

The only recorded example I know of of one of these is the Cake album "Fashion Nugget" -- or so I've heard. Not my favorite, but the guitar riff on "The Distance" is similar to what I'm getting. I'd guess he's using humbuckers and maybe an OD pedal. You can also see one in photos of the Velvet Underground playing at the Factory, but I'm not sure what albums they might be used on. They also used the solid state model, and the first record sounds kinds SS to me. The Live 1969 double album could have this amp on it, judging by the sound. I doubt Sterling Morrison or Lou Reed remembers.

Jack White fans: that's a Silvertone 1485, the 6x10, 4-6l6 Silvertone.

It's like an old car. Prepare to have it in the shop periodically.

Shall I make a bad joke about how Sears won't service the amp anymore?

Well, you can still get one of these for about the same money as a used Hot Rod Deluxe -- Fender's modern 6L6 model -- and if you like a slightly more vintage sound and don't need the extra volume, I'd recommend it. Like the HRD, this is a workhorse, working class amp. I've had boutique, but as someone who grew up wearing Toughskins jeans and Christmas shopping from the Sears wishbook, I'd say this feels more natural to me.

One last thing: I'm amazed by the people who review these amps based on what they thought of them when they were teenagers in the sixties and Mom and Dad wouldn't buy them a Fender. For one, no one's memory for sound goes back that far. And two, why would I care what a teenager in 1965 thought of an amp? When I was a teen in the 80s I ran a Tube Screamer into a solid state Peavey and thought it sounded like Bob Mould. (Well, maybe it did, but it's not a sound I'm chasing anymore.)

I started on one these years ago.I love chessy vintage tube amps. Was playing A 100 watt Sovtek, before it quit. Using a Marshall 4 twelve cabinit loaded with "Those nasty jenson's" from Twin twelve cab's. Now I'm playing my Les Paul through A twin twelve head and two twelve cab. Using a Tube screamer 808 on all the time. Guitar volumn for clean tones. Original tubes,speakers, etc. Nasty overdrive. Speaker's bust up very nice. Most people laugh then it's what the ****!!!! My rating--10 10 10 10 10 !!!!

Mine's a 64. I bought it on Ebay a few years ago, before the word got out on these...I had wanted one since the late 70's, when a high school friend had one. I now own 2 (have a 65 as a backup).

I only have the heads, the cab is a custom built closed back birch 2x12 cab loaded with one original spec Celestion Vintage 30, and one current spec Celestion Vintage 30. Makes an AMAZING combination, it just barks and roars with a throaty, commanding presence that is like no other.

A lot of people dis the verb. It's not bad, just back way the hell off on it. The tremelo is great.

For it's day, it has all the features commonly available and then some.

This amp responds very well to whatever I throw at it. I feed signal via a Tube Screamer and a Digitech RP-200 that I've tweaked. Another trick I like to use is to use an acoustic guitar simulator pedal on one channel and my normal effects on the other, with an A/B box. On some songs (like Tom Petty stuff), I'll run both channels, the end result is a real chimey, Rickenbacker-ish sound.

Mine has failed twice, but were fairly cheap fixes, (about $50 each time) The first time was an actual failure of some sort, so at the same time I had the tech put a 3 prong plug on it and a jack on the rear. The second time, probably stupidity, could have fixed myself (blown fuse, 6L6's finally gave out)

It's as reliable as any tube amp...old or new.

Sears. bwahahahaha!

I've been playing about 20 years. My other amps are a 1964 Magnatone M-15A 2x12 "Suitcase" model, and a 93 Fender Blues DeVille. The Silvertone is by far the fave. I've plugged both of the others into the 2x12 cab, and neither have as good of overall sound as the Sears.

Even with todays inflated prices on this model, you're NOT going to find a point to point wired tube amp that sounds better, at ANY price.

I bought my amp from Sears in the summer of 1966, but have no idea on manufacturing date. It had two channels and a foot switch to turn on tremolo. The tremolo could be adjusted for instensity and speed. There were standard tone control and a great reverb. To obtain distortion, I would overdrive the speakers (Jensens). I used it as a gig amp in high school and college dances, playing mainly Ventures music. I have no knowledge of later editions or modern equivalents. I am speaking only of my 1966 amp.

At the time, I was pleased with the sounds because it prior to general use of fuzz boxes and wah-wahs. In 1971, I attached a German echo unit and it sounded awesome. I do not think it sounded as deep on full barred chords as its Fender cousin, not even close.

It never skipped a beat and I played it for 6 years, sold it, and as far as I know at this writing (2004) it is still functional.

I never had a need for customer support. The amp performed perfectly every day I played it. But that was 1966.

I chose the Silvertone because I could not afford, with my high school part time job, the Fender Twin Twelve I wanted. It worked out well, however.

I have no clue when this amp was made... I assume mid-to-late 60's. My amp came with the original Silvertone tubes. The output tubes are blackplates, probly made by GE or RCA. Nothing really spectacular as far as features, its reverb is kinda cheesy, but the tremelo is nice.

I actually use this thing for bass, and run a Peavey 4x12 lead cab with it. It's pretty loud in my living room, haven't tested it in a gig yet. I purchased it off Ebay fully intending to replace the dinky lil output transformer, but it actually does better than I thought. THe only time I've been able to get it to really distort is when I popped a set of Svetlana 6550 tubes in the output section, then I got some break-up at high volume.

As soon as it arrived, I hooked it up to a variac, powered it up slowly, then plugged it right in to the wall. Did'nt even wipe the dust off the case, or clean out the cobwebs. Just hooked it up and took it for a test drive. The front panel is badly rusted, as with the transformers, it's missing most of the knobs, and looks like it's been sitting in an outdoor shed for the last 30 years. From the previous owner's comments, that's basically what it's been doing. Considering it's age, and simplistic design, I forsee no immediate problems with it, except for a filter capacitor in the not-so-distant future.

Sears. Not even going to bother asking them about it. Still looking around on the net for schematics, tho I doubt I'll ever need them. Pretty basic amplifier, as far as layout and design are concerned.

This amp seems to do the job, as a bass amp, and does'nt sound too bad. It's loud, and can rattle the windows, but I don't know how it'd do with a bass cabinet. I wish I had the original stock cab, but I doubt it would be any good for my purposes. But it still suprised me. Even after reading all the reviews on here before I got it.

This amp was made in 1964, this is the sweetist sounding amp and cab, i think i have ever heard!!! the cab has the original Jenson Blue Speakers dated '64. It has 2 channels with 2 inputs per channel.
tremolo and reverb. Very Simple to dial in a sound

I am currently using a Hamer Slammer Les Paul knock-off from Indonesia that sounds even better than my Gibson! The pickups are stock and man are they hot! This amplier loves it!!! My amplifier is not very noisy. The cleanest sweetest tones i have ever heard! Dane electro really knew what they were doing when they made this amp, I am a guitarist for over 17 years and I have played through a lot of shit, but this amp has more guts then one would ever suspect. I play everything, and all my pedals from Electro Harmonix and MXR sound awesome. Highest possible recommendation! I use a Hughes and Kettner Warp Factor and it sounds amazing!, ala Three Days Grace! Forget about the reverb though, it sucks!

I just bought it, but it seems to be pretty sturdy, just don't get the cab wet it will disintegrate if you do, i would probably not gig this one It is only for studio. But it could be gigged with a good road case. But as with all tube amps you probably would want to consider having a backup amp.

17 Years.
Lots.
Buy it again.
The tone. The reverb.
Yes. $3000 boutique amps don't sound this good.
Better reverb.
No.

1966 perhaps? tube amp
Clean and crisp vibrancy a lil on the bassy side but turned all the wa down it works like a charm.
Two channels one clean one reverb tremolo speed intensity volume bass and tone controls on each channel i believe. total of four channels actually if you know of a good amp repair man. two plug ins for each side, one could use a y cable through it, or a combined another amplifier to have four seperate individual channels each one controled from the guitar makes for a good ole 60s psycadelic sound, old time blues, or with proper effects anything. Its a versitle amplifier has many possablities seeing it was simpley made. Lets face it, the simplest way to create good clean clear tones is small amp right balance speakers microphoned. So the amp is perfect for any use.

pschedelic sixties, blues, or anything very versitle as is any amplifier there all the same when effects are added to them. But if you like the true harmoney and warming tones of your guitar played clean its a ver good representitor to carry your groovin tones. The bass is a lil bit much, but perhaps using four eight inch speakers instead of two twelve will fix this problem?OR four small tweeters and one ten inch?
In my opinion when you wiegh in cost of vintage amplifiers, compared to possablities with modifications, this ranks at number one. Lets face it is that 60s vox marshell or fender worth a few thousand? Hell no!!! trust me the sound quality isnt that much of a varience to worry about. Remember this, the more speakers the more the amplifier pushes them so the more influence the amplifier has of the over all sound......the less amount of power your amp needs to drive the speakers, the more speaker influence on your sound you will have. So try what you can im sure youll find a wonderful combo. I recomend the brown and gold vintage speacial design jensens : ) Clapton used them to for a opinion better then mine, in fact to this day there the speaker he prefers so do your ebay hunting !!

u mean theres really something that can break on them lol
come on dood were talking about the sixties, hippies had to of worked at sears, i mean its simple and sturdy.

internet surf homie, look up vintage amp repair men, call um ask for tips and tricks thats the best adive i have for u

you can find these all over, but spend the extra money for one that you can hear play and you know works. look at all the pots on it, look for rust on the inside. Dont buy a junk one unless you know someone before hand that ll fix it for u..............oif you like ringing singing clear vibrant but crispy blues tones with a snap this is the amp for you when you calculate cost compared to similar vintage amps producing simlar sounds this is the best value for the dollar without a dought

mine is a '66. all of the original tubes and a non-working reverb
according to the '65 and '67 sears catalogs this amp runs at 60 watts.
2 jensen c12q speakers made during 7th week of 1966,the pots in the head are date coded 47th week of 1965.

clasic 60's rock tones distortion starts about 3 on the volume when using my old '60s silvertone guitar (model 1436)

It works pretty well. but i still need to fix the reverb.

Sear's doesn't remember.
Bart Davis posted the schematics here.
http://pubpages.unh.edu/~cjones/silpics/1484.gif

I have been playing for 16 years.
If this one quit I would try to find another.

60's version, picked it up locally from someone's closet in via an ad in the paper and talked them down to $20 not having any idea what I was getting, if I were that guy I'd be pissed at me! Other descriptions of this amp are accurate. vibrato ticks, reverb a joke, volume and tone are very unique and I love it! It's loud enough to cut through in the informal jam sessions that I participate in, don't play live so can't offer much there. I've run it with a bass or microphone on the second channel and it runs just fine.

Mine sounds very clean and is all original as far as I know except for it was recently overhauled with new tubes and a 3-prong adapter to avoid shocking myself. Pre-service it had pot noise but nothing really horrible. Playing either my Strat plus deluxe or my stock american tele I get some great sounds from it. I'm getting a bridge hotrails for the strat next week and may change my mind then.

never had a problem. This thing just turns heads and amazes everyone. Have had several offers to buy it on site. Only problems are user error/stupidity (see below).

They make good lawnmowers..............

I don't really have anything to add that hasn't already been said here, but funny thing, about 3 different times I was ready to set it curb-side cause I thought it had died and I'm not going to repair it if anything major goes out........it just went all low end mud on me and the tone disappeared. Every time it's cause I was bored and playing with the reverb then forgot to shut the damn thing off! You can get some funky psychadelic sounds too with it, and there is a way to stop the reverb if it gets out of hand, just grab the spring, it's right there in the open back of the head unit!

My silvertone was made in the mid 60's. It's pretty neat how the head fits inside the cabinet. I wouldn't exactly call this thing versatile but certainly unique. There are limited effects, but if you tweak out the reverb and tremolo wierd things will happen. I repainted it and changed the connection for the cabinet to 1/4 inch jack for convenience. I use this amp for jams and I love it. It's a head turner, and I always get questioned about it.

I use a basic strat and a few effects pedals. It took me a little while to find the sweet spots, but now when it's dialed in it pumps out a rough meaty rock n' blues sound. Turn it up past half and it's so growly all the overdrives have to be backed way off. My amp makes nice feedback and has a strong middle suitable for rock n' roll of all kinds(excluding death-metal). To capture that nasty thrashy bass I plug into a marshall 4x10 and then it changes into a goddamned beast. It's a fairly loud amp, but the low end is hard to focus with-out the marshall cabinet.

This thing does the job flawlessly. I haven't had a single problem with mine at all. After coutless jams and hours of recording and farting around it still makes me smile to hear those warm tones. It does look fragile though and the wood seems cheap, so I don't gig with it. The wood in the head's a little more sturdy so I only have to worry about those exposed tubes. Finding replacement tubes was easy, but I still haven't needed to use them!

Sears offers no support for amps they can't remember making.

I've been playing guitar for 10 years. I own a few other things that really aren't worth mentioning compared to the silvertone. Everthing about this amp is unique and it is very attention grabbing. I came across this thing by pure luck and serendipity and wouldn't sell or trade it for any price. I love this amp!