The Silvertone 1300 – A Classic Amp From the 40’s

The Silvertone 1300 guitar amplifier was released in the Spring/Summertime of 1947 and produced until eventually 1950. This was a Sears and Roebuck guitar amplifier that marketed in their catalog for $60-$70 below the portion range 57L01300. It was a very simple amp with 3 inputs, an 8 inch speaker and 12-14 watts of utmost output by means of a 5 tube electrical power device. It was beautifully put with each other in a compact but difficult wooden cabinet that featured a treble clef painted across the entrance speaker material and a leather cope with on the major. The 3 inputs are managed with two separate volume knobs (two of the inputs are tied to a one volume knob) and a master tone swap for all a few inputs that also functioned as the on/off switch for the amp.

The Silvertone 1300 was utilised by a amount of artists for the duration of the 1950’s and can be credited with setting up quite a few of the signature and legendary sounds and music that had been designed for the duration of this period. Most notably, Luther Perkins who made use of the Silvertone 1300 throughout the recording sessions of a amount of Johnny Cash tunes which include the classics “Folsom Prison Blues”, “Cry, Cry, Cry”, and “Hey Porter”. From this early use, the Silvertone 1300 amp has earned some true-estate at the Place Tunes Hall of Fame in Nashville the place it is proudly on show.

I was lucky adequate to acquire a Silvertone a number of years back again and can condition, with authority as a proud proprietor, that the seem from this small wonder is simply awesome. The simplicity of the amp lets you exploit the uncooked qualities and tones of a true vintage tube amp that are just not doable on a present day amplifier. The tone is clear and apparent up till about 8 watts right after which you overdrive the tubes building a thick and tasty crunch that is the quintessential classic audio you would assume from an amp like this. It is virtually indescribable. I engage in my Silvertone usually, but know deep inside that my time with it in its current condition is limited. Though I am fortunate that almost everything on it is unique (even the tubes), the unfortunate fact is that tubes do not last endlessly. These precious amps from the 40’s, 50’s and early 60’s will be dropped forever as they bit by bit tumble prey to the harshness and realities of time. Guaranteed, tubes and transformers can be replaced, but the present day replacements are not the very same and they do not have the same tonal qualities of the tubes, transformers and speakers that have been made back again in the working day when Rock-n-Roll was born.

If you appreciate collecting classic devices and amplifies you could also come across a Silvertone 1300 a single working day to add to your selection. They are complicated to obtain but if you are affected person and persistent, you will uncover a single finally. They are out there but you will have to search.