Silvertone SFB1/LT Limited Edition

This is an update on my previous review which could not be deleted.
Short scale.
Dual Humbuckers.
Light weight.
Easy to handle.
Wolfgang style.
Pickups are mounted directly on wood body for increased sustain.
Fits my small stature just fine.

Sounds good as my Les Paul to me. Almost anyway.

The original neck on the thing was really bad. My attempt to fix it failed. I bought another guitar just to get the neck for a replacement. Replacement neck was fine. No other complaints.

No Slamming. Use brain.

Untried

This is an update to my previous review. Cutting the first fret down to install a roller nut was a bad thing! The tremelo upgrade was good. I bought another similar guitar from a seller on ebay to get the neck and fix my butchering job. The neck which came with the parts guitar was much better than the original and needed no fret filing, nut work or anything. My experience with "factory second" was not good. Not sure if the Samick brand (not Silvertone) is shortscale like this Silvertone but they do cost considerably more. I like this guitar.

Made by Samick for Silvertone. I believe these are no longer in production although one can be obtained from a few music stores online and usually at ebay of course. 24 3/4 inch scale. Cheap dual humbuckers. Cheap whammy bar. Pretty smooth cheap tuners.

The sound is not too bad for the price. Pretty bright at the bridge position which I favor. Switching between the two or both pickups gives a distinctly different sounds just like it should.

Set up out of the box was bad. I had a local music store replace the nut which I broke trying to cut the grooves deeper and had them set up the rest of the neck also. Some of the frets had to be filed down to bring them into a playable configuration and the truss rod needed adjustment. Tremolo bridge is junk. You ain't buying a Gibson here.

I have never played live but if I did, I would not expecct any guitar to withstand abuse. This one should be OK live if treated with due respect and not slammed. The metal strap buttons seem sturdy enough.

Never delt with them.

I have been doodling with guitar off and on at home for many years. Being a small person, I need the short scale neck to be able to handle the guitar well. The smaller frets are easier for me to finger also. This is why I wanted this particular guitar. I have a Washburn Strat copy which is a better guitar but it has single coil pickups and I HAD to have a humbucker type guitar also. I did not want to invest a lot of money but I wanted something light and playable. In addition to having the neck setup done, I ordered a replacement Wilkinson tremolo bridge. (2 1/16 inch string spacing) The one which comes on it is garbage. I also managed to attach a roller nut which I ordered off ebay. I had to cut some of the first fret (at the nut area) off to make this work. These upgrades helped muchly and cost little. The upgrades made the tuners work smoother and more efficiently plus it stays in tune. One needs a nut which will allow the strings to smoothly slide in the grooves if not a roller bridge. My last word is that this is made cheaply by Samick for Silvertone. Samick makes a better guitar for more bucks.

This is the SFB1 (same guitar). Has an agathis body. Great guitar for $159. Rivals the more expensive brand names. Bought in 2003 from American Musical Supply (they still carry them). Has shorter scale length - 24 inch.

Nice clean tone. Pickups are mounted directly into the body. Good sustain!

Perfect finish, although the pickup selector switch was broken when I got it. I didn't want to risk sending the guitar back and getting one that didn't play as good, so I replaced the switch myself. It's hard to find all maple neck guitars and at this price range, it's a killer deal. The action can be set very fast! The frets are fine.

Should last a lone time. Recommend a trem nut.

N/A

I've been playing all sorts of guitars for +30 years. I mostly favor rock and this is a great guitar for rock. One of the best guitars I've played at this price range - outstanding!

This is my second review for this guitar, I have bought another from different seller. This is blue quilt Made in 2003 in Indonesia, 22 frets, Maple Neck, Twin Humbuckers. Quilt Laminate Top, Solid Basswood Body, 3 pickup selector, 2 volume 1 tone control, Wolfgang style body, Traditional Style Vibrato, Sealed Tuners. Give it an 8 , but for the $$ the components and the craftsmanship are excellent. Built by the SAMICK Co. OK its made in Indonesia, however for $127.00 shipped this is a real nice deal!

Playing for 30+ years. I would compare this to a Wolfgang EXCEPT for the tremelo. Nice sounding pickups, I originally was going to replace them however, they really crank. And are bright when played clean.I'm sure the electronic components are not of a superior quality, however at this time I can find no defects or problems. When or if the component fails I will replace them with something better. Until then I will just jam out with whats here. Dislike`: the bad publicity overseas guitars get. I would have LOVED to have a guitar of this quality back in 1970 for this pricepoint.

I can compare 2 of the same models since I now have 2.Keeping in mind that this axxe cost $99.00 + shipping. Really nice job with the building, fit, and finish. Pretty Quilt and the Maple neck is unfinished. The fretboard does have clearcoat on it and I'm undecided on that feature. I really do like an unfinished neck. The action was really high , lowered it a bunch. However for the $$ everything was done well ! This unit was purchased used, in nice shape just a few scratches here and there. The tremello is virtually useless, however I think it adds to the "sound" when the bridge is blocked. I did that on all my old fenders and it really increases the sustain.

Reliability Durability is tough to determine. It all LOOKS good, FEELS good, however would be nice to have. Strap Buttons are large and beefy, and should be able to hold real well, I replace mine with straplocks, but these are pretty good. The test will be time itself. I would use this without a backup at a gig, but now that I have 2 I can bring both !

HMMMM $99.00 + $27.00 shipping ? AND a warranty ?! Well, IF something goes wrong i'll repalce the part myself and just consider it an upgrade.

Hey for $127.00 shipped ? this is a real nice guitar at bargain basement pricing. Just think, a guitar at the office for that noontime jam. Or just for a decorative wall hanging. OR better yet 2 for gigs to throw around and not care WHAT happens? I have 11 other guitars, Fender, Dillion, D'agostino, Dean, Ovation, Seagull, and a custom tele style that I built. This was a nice addition for short $$. SO...I bought one more....

Made in 2003 in Indonesia, 22 frets, Maple Neck, Twin Humbuckers. Quilt Laminate Top, Solid Basswood Body, 3 pickup selector, 2 volume 1 tone control, Wolfgang style body, Traditional Style Vibrato, Sealed Tuners. Give it an 8 , but for the $$ the components and the craftsmanship are excellent. Built by the SAMICK Co. OK its made in Indonesia, however for $120.00 shipped this is a real nice deal!

Playing for 30+ years. I would compare this to a Wolfgang EXCEPT for the tremelo. Nice sounding pickups, I originally was going to replace them however, they really crank. And are bright when played clean.I'm sure the electronic components are not of a superior quality, however at this time I can find no defects or problems. When or if the component fails I will replace them with something better. Until then I will just jam out with whats here

Keeping in mind that this axxe cost $99.00 + shipping. Really nice job with the building, fit, and finish. Pretty Quilt and the Maple neck is unfinished. The fretboard does have clearcoat on it and I'm undecided on that feature. I really do like an unfinished neck. The action was a bit high for my liking, lowered it a tad. However for the $$ everything was done well !

Reliability Durability is tough to determine. It all LOOKS good, FEELS good, however the test will be time itself. I would use this without a backup at a gig, but for the $$ 2 would be nice to have. Strap Buttons are large and beefy, and should be able to hold real well, I replace mine with straplocks, but these are pretty good.

Purchased from Rondo guitars, I have purchased 4 from them so far. NICE place to do buisness, I live in Mass and DROVE to Union NJ to make purchases in the past. Any probelms i'm sure that I would be taken care of. 5 Year Limited Warranty, and all for $99.00 !

Hey for $120.00 shipped ? this is a real nice guitar at bargain basement pricing. Just think, a guitar at the office for that noontime jam. Or just for a decorative wall hanging. OR better yet 2 for gigs to throw around and not care WHAT happens? I have 11 other guitars, Fender, Dillion, D'agostino, Dean, Ovation, Seagull, and a custom tele style that I built. This was a nice addition for short $$. I think I'll buy one more....