Silvertone SSL3 Session Master Pro

You can find all the specific info on the company website. Samicks make guitars for epiphone, so the quality is pretty good. If you order it online, make sure you can return it. You might not need to, but its ALWAYS a good option to have. This guitar is your basic les paul copy!

The stock picks up are pretty good. They have that Les Paul sound just right. I was REALLY impressed. I bought the guitar and some NICE pick ups thinking that I would switch them out. I tried the Sermour Duncans, but I found the stock pickups suited the guitar 100%. So I put them back. The solid wood definately helps the sustain. If you are looking for les paul sound, this is it.

I changed the set up to fit my needs. I do that on all guitars. So that wasnt unusual. What is diffrent, is that I was able to tweak each and every component to get the perfect feel that I wanted. Usually on these cheap gutiars, you are not able to mess with everything. Something usually is too tight, not installed correctly, etc. limiting your option. I will say this however: THIS GUITAR HAS A REALLY TIGHT TRUSS ROD. It works, but its very hard to turn it. I am always scared that I might break it. So far I have messed with it enough to get it where I want it, but in future it may be a real problem. The fret work is excellent. Finish is good. Nut is cut right.

The guitar is reliable, and dependable.

Never had to deal with either Samick or Silvertone.

I have been playing guitar for 10 years. Mostly play starts, so this was a change for me. This guitar is an excellent find. I bought mine in person, so I was able to check everything before. Make sure you check that the higher frets are all leveled. Make sure the neck is straight, cause it may be the case where you might not be able to adjust the truss rod. I think for the price its a real steal. The finish is great. I usually but guitars used, try them out for a month and then pass them along. I plan to keep this one. Its really a good guitar.

The stickers on my SSL3 guitar say 7/02 & Indonesia. I have the tobacco finish. If the flamed top is fake it's a good job, it looks real to me even with magnification. It is pretty much a Gibson Les Paul clone with a goofy headstock. All the features of the real thing. I don't think anything on the guitar is brand name as far as parts, but they are well made and good copies. The neck is set and rock solid.

It's everything I need in a Les Paul clone. It sounds clean with a 100w head, well behaved. The sound is full and with digital FX it will weep and scream with the best.

The fit and finish is great, the workmanship is amazing for the price. The action was too high from the factory, it's low and fast now. The set neck is great on this guitar, straight and solid. It stays in tune. The plastic around the pickups is a little chezzy compared to a Gibson, but it hasn't cracked or anything. I'm not fond of the bridge height adjusters, but again they haven't been a problem. All the pots are quiet smooth and work right. I planned on changing the pickups and the rest of the electronics when I got the guitar, I figured they were junk, but they're really pretty good, I never saw the need.

I will be playing this guitar live and the only backup I will have is my acoustic. The finish is getting thin in some places, but it's been well used. I'm not worried about it falling apart any time soon.

I haven't had a problem.

I have been playing since 1973. I have mostly played Fender Strats. If this guitar was stolen I would look for another 2002 model from Indonesia or go for the real thing (if I win the lottery too). The build quality on this guitar is almost as good as my Fenders. I can't speak for all of these, but mine is great. I have no idea how the new ones from China compare.

Silvertone Session Master Pro Guitar with the cherry finish.
New guitar purchase

Looks real nice, but in my case looks are deceiving.

It sounds pretty nice, but the volume controls don't seem to work very good. They are pretty much either on, or off.
Tone controls work nice.

The action on the guitar I received was fair, but is not the lowest by far. The action could not be lowered even with new strings and adjusting the neck, and I am not about to fork out the money for a fret job. I beleive the neck is bad. Be aware that the neck is not a one piece neck.

The finish was nice for the price, but the quality of the wood is the quality of the wood could be better.

The guitar I received WILL NOT stay in tune.
I changed the strings, twice, and it still wouldn't stay in tune.
So, I replaced the machine heads with Grover machine heads.
It still won't stay in tune.
To make things worse when I finally got around to setting the intonation it can't be done as the saddles bottom out on a couple of the strings before the correct setting is reached.

Well, if they would return my attempts to contact them I might be able to rate them. But, being no one responds I will have to give them a zero.

I only had a 30 day return policy where I purchase my guitar, so if Silvertone doesn't make it right I am out $200.00 dollars.

If you buy this guitar, make sure you can return it.
I have tried to contact the Silvertone company and get no responce back from them.
Honestly, I think I would recommend a different guitar from a company like peavey, fender, squire, gibson, epiphone...

Circa 2003-2004, Tobacco Sunburst version made in Indonesia, 22 Fret cream-bound rosewood fretboard, Maple Bent Top, 2 Volume, 2 Tone, 2 Chrome Humbucking Pickups, Tobacco Sunburst finish, Mahogany body, Mahogany neck, Flame Maple top, Les Paul body style, Tune-O-Matic Bridge with stop tailpiece, generic Grover-style smooth tuners.

My search was for a Les Paul copy due to small budget, it's fed into a practice amp, Roland Crate 15 - what a combo! The clean sound that fits most of my playing is present in a great guitar for this price range.

Hehe, this was a real surprise. Carried it in to the local guru in our city. He lowered the strings a hair for my preference and check the neck, overall. He was so impressed after a close look and demo! The guy practically bit his tongue as he stood in front of the store's rack of genuine Gibson guitars, including multiple Les Pauls from that factory, and several Epiphone copies.

Comparing notes with others that have owned better priced electric guitars, it is well-built for the money. As a non-expert, I'll give it a 7, here.

Great warranty, I don't plan on shipping this one off, when I can get work done locally with any brand-name parts of my choosing.

Along with my Alvarez Artist acoustic Black Beauty '5019' - I've gone between the two for different styles, and sold a third guitar.

2004 Silvertone SSL3 Session Master Pro. Emphasis on the Pro, as this is one of the most complete Les Paul designs on the market. 22 Fret cream-bound rosewood fretboard, Maple Bent Top, 2 Volume, 2 Tone, 2 Chrome Humbucking Pickups, Tobacco Sunburst finish, Mahogany body, Mahogany neck, Flame Maple top, Les Paul body style, Tune-O-Matic Bridge with stop tailpiece, generic Grover-style smooth tuners. Easily the nicest inexpensive Les Paul copy around.

I play classic rock and blues, and obviously, this guitar suits my Les Paul tone needs to a tee. I plug directly into my Pignose, drop the mids, crank the volume, and get the sweetest overdriven tones ever for under $500. Strat tones aren't there, but no big surprise. No squealing, quiet pots, professional grade guitar.

Came out of the box almost perfectly set up (knock on wood). Cosmetically unmatched: bookmatched top, cream binding, and neck woods looked unreal for a $200 guitar. REAL Maple top, too! Great stage guitar that is totally playable.

Built like a Les Paul- AKA a tank. Never gig without a backup, but I just ordered another as a backup :-) Heavy guitar, so straplocks aren't a bad idea.

Lifetime Limited Warranty, and with the quality of the hardware and pickups, that should be more than adequate. Built by a huge guitar maker -Samick- so interpersonal sevice may be an issue, but with the quality of the guitar, I'd be surprised to see anything go awry with a design over 50 years old. I'd probably fix it myself, anyway; Les Paul replacement parts are everywhere.

Been playing for a few years. My band plays northwest club-size gigs and select outdoor events. I own a Fender Blues Junior (backup), and a Pignose G40V tube amp. If the Silvertone were stolen, I'd replace it immediately, without hesitation. I love the fact that I can get a classy, gig-worthy, near-perfect Les Paul copy for half the price of an Epiphone.

The pickups have the underside residue of wax potting (thanks!), and with some aluminum cavity shielding, the guitar is a touring musician's dream. The headstock stations the individual strings almost directly over the bridge ends, and avoids many of the stubborn G tuning issues of Gibsons. For those willing to supress the only-buy-American bias, this may be the best designed solid-body Les Paul-style guitar, EVER. FOR $200!!!

I wish I had a few more, but time and cash can remedy the situation. Anyone considering an Epiphone, or Gibson Les Paul for that matter, owes it to themselves to check this gem out. If you don't like it, hey, you've got a lifetime warranty. Awesome!

2004 asian made. Fake photo top sunburst. Sloppy neck, the neck is like a piece of spagetti. The neck was unusable on my guitar. The guitar came from the factory with extreme open buzzing on the E and B string. Unusable, and disposible.

Sounds crappy, the E, and B string buzz open. Took it to my guitar guy to get a setup, he couldn't do anything with this guitar, the neck is so crappy, you would have to remove the fret board and true up the crazy "side to side wave" that this neck has. Crappy quailty control. You may get lucky but, beware!!

Horribe, Horrible. The worst guitar I've ever bought. I'm ashamed to have bought it. I'll never buy another guitar over the Internet sight unseen.

Total crap guitar. The worst of over 20 that I have bought. The only guitar that I've ever thrown out in the trash. Waste of money.

Silvertone will not stand behind this guitar. Total crap disposable asian guitar.

I've been playing for a long time, and I've never come across a worst guitar. I like "no name" guitars (like Agile) but this guitar was really horrible. You may get lucky, but the one that I got, the neck was way to thin, totally messed up, and the whole thing sounded like liquid poo. I'm embarrassed to have wasted my money on it.

I've never given anything all ones, but this guitar deserves it!

BEWARE!!!!!!!!!!!!

2003, Asian made (not sure which country, don't care all that much, especially given the apparent lack of quality control coming out of Gibson lately). Standard LP features, smaller headstock than usual, but it adds character to the guitar. Absolutely beautiful finish with a set-neck for $200 U.S.? Thanks Silvertone! I rate my gear against the best, not other equipment of comparable cost. To me, inexpensive does not mean cheap - and - expensive does not automatically mean good (just my opinion). My friends 1)with an original Gibson Ace Frehley LP and 2) with a PRS Tremonti like the action and feel of my Silvertone as much as their own (I like the sound better on the Silvertone, probably due to the Iommi p/u, Digitech floor processor, and my own settings - duh!) - but we must also acknoweledge the Gibson and PRS will hold or increase their value. I can't sell my Silvertone for two cups of tea and a portion of chips...but, I don't want to. For $200 U.S. I can keep this guitar 'til it dies (if it ever does, it's built like a tank).

I play classic hard rock and metal (old and nu). I run my Silvertone through the same amp and effects I run my Ibanez (multiple) and Westone through, a 100 watt Peavey Transtube Supreme with 4x12 Behringer slant stack with a Digitech floor processor (+ a flanger, EQ, and octave box). I also use a Peavey 100w combo as back-up and there is no loss of sound quality in the guitar. The guitar is very quiet with a rich full sound and sustain forEVER! The neck p/u is okay, dark and a little muddy when distorted - but I rarely use that setting. The clean plays well. Love the neck, very smooth and fast. To me, this is a rock/metal guitar - I don't know how well it would translate to creamier blues/jazz sounds.

The guitar was set okay out of the factory, similar to any other guitar (regardless of price) that I've owned (or friends of mine have owned). I re-set the string height (lowered), intonation, replaced the awful strings that came stock, and (only due to my own likings) replaced the bridge p/u with a Gibson Iommi. The stock p/u's are fine. The neck is a little muddy when fully distorted, but sounds quite nice clean. The top and finish are absolutely PERFECT! It's an amazingly beautiful guitar. No loose controls, no unwanted feedback, great 'generic' tuners, direct pots, etc. Outstanding!

This guitar will and HAS withstood live playing. I see no signs of failure in the future (knock on wood). The hardware is relatively standard (non-name brand) and, other than some anticipated fading/chipping over time, I see no reason to believe the metals will just erode. The finish is bullet-proof, no worries there. The strap buttons are large and holds my 3" wide Levi strap without a problem (and I tend to move around and 'gyrate' a lot when I play). I would not use this guitar at a gig without a backup, just like I won't use my primary Ibanez (not an inexpensive guitar) without a back-up, especially when each guitar I use when playing live (I use three) have completely different and distinctive sounds.

Never have - do my own set-ups.

I've been playing 27 years and own a lot of different guitars. This Silvertone has become one of my very favorites. I love the look on peoples faces when they first see it and then ask, "How much?". Or, for the brand snobs who look at it with distain and then hear it play..suddenly their mouths are wide open with surprise (I don't know if it's envy, how does a Gibson/PRS, etc. owner envy anyone? - they have great guitars as well [excluding the cost, of course]).

Purchased for #179 inc delivery from Badlands Guitars (found on ebay)

2003 Silvertone SSL3 Session Master electric guitar.
Made in China.
22 frets.
Very attractive flamed Maple bookmatched top. Carved top, Les Paul style, with Cherry Sunburst finish.
Standard Les Paul style controls: 2 volume, 2 tone, and a 3 way toggle switch.
2 chrome covered Silvertone humbuckers.
Set Mahogany neck with Rosewood fretboard.
Tune-O-Matic bridge style.
Incredibly smooth, generic Grover style tuners. 24 3/4 scale neck.

I have a Peavey 15w, a Mashall MS4 and access to a Marshall J2000 60w. Through the 60w Marshall is the real test and the warm distortion is great. The clean sound needs some fiddling, but I'm not experienced at that so it took a while!
My Peavey can get a nice tone, but the Marshall 4 watt is a particular joy - warm Marshall stack sound from the Rhythm pickup and some decent sharp distortion from the Treble.

Very nice action, but this was set up by the shop. Am changing the strings to 10's for blues, but the standard ones are fine. No other problems that I've found yet.

N/A

N/A

I am very very happy with this guitar. I was torn between this and an Epiphone Standard second hand. Soundwise this is at least equal to the Epi and is brand new for a lot less than an ebay bargain. The only downer is the unknown brand will make it hard to sell on, but I don't think I'd ever want to!

Lovely guitar, very good price.

2003 Silvertone SSL3 Session Master electric guitar. Made in China. 22 frets. Very attractive flamed Maple bookmatched top. Carved top, Les Paul style, with Cherry Sunburst finish. Standard Les Paul style controls: 2 volume, 2 tone, and a 3 way toggle switch. 2 chrome covered Silvertone humbuckers. Passive electronics. Set Mahogany neck with Rosewood fretboard. Tune-O-Matic bridge style. Incredibly smooth, generic Grover style tuners. 24 3/4 scale neck. Came with an Allen wrench for truss adjustment. Nothing incredibly innovative about the Silvertone, but it has all the features of a Les Paul- love 'em or hate 'em. 7/10 overall.

I play blues and a little classic rock. I play through a 60 watt 1x12 Vintage Club all-tube combo, an old Marshall MG15R practice amp, and a Smokey (Marlboro Light) practice amp. The Silvertone had a bit of microphonic squeal at first, but after some cleaning, the pickups and guitar sound fantastic- plugged or unplugged. No repotting required, so far.

The Silvertone sound is classic Les Paul, to the tee. Chords sound thick, and leads sound creamy. The neck humbucker is amazing, especially for such a cheap guitar. Only OLP's MM1 Axis had, arguably, better sounding stock pickups in the SSL3's price range. I like the sound for blues, and you can even cop some country twang from the bridge pup. Need more tone? Adjust the controls, add coil taps, or drop a couple Bill Lawrence pups in the body. Overall very good Les Paul sound; 8/10 overall.

Fretboard was a little buzzy with stock strings, but a new set of Erine Balls solved the issue. Pickup adjustment was dead on; so was intonation with the Tune-O-Matic. Electronics are solid, smooth, and don't crackle or pop. Tuners are butter-smooth and stable. Top is beautifully bookmatched, and will look fantastic with fading and age. Vibrant Cherry Sunburst with a flamed Maple top... wow! Also of note, the cream binding that extends up the neck is gorgeous. Absolutely amazing attention to detail for such a cheap guitar. 9/10 overall.

I've been playing the guitar exclusively at gigs, and I even bought another as a backup/ recording guitar. Hardware is reliable, so far, and the finish is well-done. I never gig without a backup guitar. The Silvertone, like many Les Paul style axes, weighs a ton, so strap locks or a washer are definitely recommended. Set neck construction may seem tougher to replace if broken, but it can be done. Tone has been consistent in recordings, and I've been very plesantly surprised. Built like a tank, solid as a stone, 9/10 overall.

Made by Samick, who makes a ton of support brand guitars. Never dealt with the company, never tried. I do my own setups and upgrade work, so I disregard the warranty. No real opinion about customer support.

I'm 25, been playing for several years, and just started gigging for money. I'm a confessed cheap guitar junkie, and I've owned an upwards of 15 new and used cheap guitars. I've also been a huge Clapton fan for a long time, and I had quite a love affair with Maple-fretboard Strat and Tele copies.

I played the SSL3 at a local music store, testing out a Gibson Les Paul Jr. amp. I left the amp and bought the guitar in a heartbeat. A year has gone by, and the Silvertone SSL3 is now the only electric guitar I play. The back of the neck has a beautiful transparent red finish, the fretboard is a perfect medium width, the cream binding is classy, and the flamed top with chrome humbuckers scream "play me" at every glance. The SSL3 looks classic and edgy at the same time: sorta like a melted Les Paul, or a solid-bodied Guild Bluesbird. The pictures on the website don't do the guitar justice. The Silvertone is a gorgeous stage guitar.

If stolen, I'd buy another in a second. For the price of an Epiphone Les Paul, you could buy 2 SSL3 guitars and matching gig bags. I compared it to several guitars in-store, including Gibson Melody Makers, and Gibson and Epi Les Pauls. I honestly can't recommend another guitar in the $200 price range over the Silvertone for blues or classic rock work. Sure, the Gibson Les Paul Classic is simply amazing, but $1800 more. The Silvertone has classic tones, slightly unusual styling, and a home run price. And hey, if it gets trashed at a gig, another is just a couple hundred bones away. On the downside, it's kinda tough to find a proper-fitting hardshell case with the unusual body style, but the quest will be a fun one. And I wish it came in black. Otherwise, I'm stoked. 9/10 overall. Highly recommended.

made in 2003 typical les paul style guitar 2 volume 2 tone and 3 way selector. binding on body and headstock. flame top looks really nice. cherry sunburst.included a cable. when i took it out of the box i was in shock this thing looks as good as my fathers 1700 dollar les paul classic and this cost less than half of half of that. its almost as heavy to. if youre thinking of buying one of these but dont want to cus you like the heaviness of les pauls you wont be dissapointed by this cus i was really pleased with the weight. i dont see how they can afford to sell this for 200 dollars.

the pickups were great i plugged it in a marshall mg100 and it can get really loud. to me sounds better than pups on my epi les paul. The 10 rating is purely my opinion.

action was great. pups were adjusted right. paint job was excellent as well as the binding. the only problem in this category was some of the higher frets had sharp edges but seein the guitar overall and for what i paid this is a minor detail. time will tell on how long the 3 way holds out but its pretty sturdy at the moment. this gets an 8 for the frets.

this thing is built just as tough as any gibson ive ever seen wighs a ton. seems like a tank to me. it is from indonesia so the hardware may not last forever but the pups and body may very well last forever. i know the body will.

i dont really mess with customer support on less expensive guitar.

been playing since 2000 have a fender american strat, epi lp custom, danelectro 59 dc,epi acoustic,and gibson lp special with p100s, if it were stolen id be upset cus id be afraid i couldnt get another at this price or in this good of condition, i probably would buy it again though. i love the fact that except for minor styling differences it seems just like owning a gibson les paul standard. i chose this one because i wanted a les paul standard without paying a les paul price or even an epiphone price.