The Electra Forums

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A few Silvertone 1482 amps have been orbiting around recently. Low watt 1960's cheap-o often considered the "poor man's tweed Deluxe." Simply awesome sounding amps, at an entirely reasonable volume. Still sometimes sighted at garage sales and thrift stores. World class tone, when they're working right.

http://www.regiscoyne.com/silvertone1482/

I may have to buy or build one of my own. It's obvious I need more amps. Isn't it?

Those 1482s and 1472s are fantastic amps. The 72s have a bit bigger cab and frequently have a jensen c12q as I recall, and the 1482s typically have the alnico Quam speaker. Electronically they are the same thing. Either are not terribly efficient, so that keeps the volume down a bit. Cathode biased as I recall and it does not get much wattage out of the 2x6V6s - probably about 15w or so. Made by Danelectro for Sears. I like them too. You used to get them for nothing, but like electras they have gone up some. Still probably cheaper to buy one than build one.

NEVER put anything heavy on the amp or let it get wet as it is just cheap particle board and it will CRUMBLE. But it is light, sounds great when cranked (and still small enough to do so). The tremolo frequently goes out and almost always as a result of the caps in the trem circuit needing replaced (it happens on all the sears and dano stuff). It has a 6x4 rectifier too - so that is more often used in radios. It is likely part of the reason the amp sounds the way it does. Also, a lot of folks replace the speaker and probably should not. In the 1482 it is rather shallow so if you replace the quam you probably will not be able to get the back cover put back on it again.

Some people mod them for more gain but I think they sound excellent the way they are. These are killer little beasties. I like them a lot. There may be some airline or dano models that are the same amp electronically as well. Some of the Airlines were made by Dano, and some by Valco.

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Thorny

I like to jump the two channels together, crank them both up, and just go at it. Very juicy amps.

I finally found one of the amps I've been lookin for...and in North Carolina. The owner even drove it to my locale for me (he was on the way to the beach anyways). How about that !

1972 PEAVEY Vintage....130 watts of good old all American Peavey stompin with 6 X 10's. This baby will punch a hole in the wall........and it's B I G. I'm a happy happy man.

Pictured with my 2258 for scale.

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JD's Electras

Wow thats a killer amp you have there. Plenty of raw clean power and a great overdriven sound as well. Congrats on the score as I know these are tough to find especially in great condition. I bet it Rocks. Looks great with the Magnum.

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Always give thanks for everyday, It may be your last so Rock On Semper Fi!!

WOW - what a BRUTE! Reminds me of a Fender Super 6 - but don't see those too often either. I bet if you turn it up I can hear it here in Indiana.

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Thorny

Nice! - What kind of speakers is it loaded with?

The speakers are Eminence...code 67-7243. All matching alnicos.

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JD's Electras

Yummy, crunchy and delicious alnico's. I bet they're made in England variety too.
My current amps are:
Music Man 212-65
Fender Blues Jr LTD
(2) Traynor Guitamate YGM-3's
Yorkville Bloc 80 for bass
Ultrasound AG-30 for acoustic
and a tiny little Squier SP10

My amp GAS used to be ridiculously focused on a Fender Vibroverb, but after getting the Music Man, that GAS has mysteriously disappeared.

I have a vintage Silvertone guitar that has the "amp in case". The amp doesn't work well right now, hums and buzzes, but I've wondered if it's possible to re-build it, any advice here? It's a low powered tube amp.

Here's a link to photos of the schematic. It's pretty basic and for a small investment you could replce every cap and resistor.
http://antennageek.multiply.com/photos/ ... 48#photo=2

Those were/are notorious for zapping people. You may want to get a grounded cord.

Thanks Jead!

That amp needs the electrolytic caps replaced. That will cause 90% of hums in an old amp like that. They need to be the same values or slightly larger (depends on what is avail), and always could have tube problem. Most of those amps were "transformerless" amps in that they don't have a power transformer. The grounded plug won't do it with those, to be safe you really should have an isolation transformer - I think they are about $40-50 - but I haven't priced them for a LONG time. That way it would be safer to use. You can tell those type amps by they usually have a 50C or similar 50v power tube, sometimes they have a 35V rectifier, and one or two 12V tubes. The 50V power tube pretty well means you have one. There were lots of them back then. This is different from the shock you get from a poloarity issue.

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Thorny

Thanks for the info guys! I could restore your vintage Porsche, but electronics isn't my bag. I can solder and read a schematic, but beyond that I need guidance.

Does anyone here any experience with those amps? Is it worth the trouble getting an isolation transformer, and replacing the caps? I'd jump through the hoops if I ended up with a nice low wattage amp with a good vintage tube sound.

I figured I would make a different cabinet for the amp, if I go any further with it.