Silvertone (instruments)
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Silvertone was the brand name used by Sears for their line of musical instruments and sound equipment from the 1930s to 1972. Replacing the Supertone brand, Silvertone had already been the brand on Sears' radios and phonographs since 1915. Probably best known for their line of well made and inexpensive guitars, the brand became popular with novice musicians. Chet Atkins, Bob Dylan, James Hetfield, Dave Grohl, Phil Keaggy, Mark Knopfler and countless others had a Silvertone for their first electric or acoustic guitar. Pete Townshend would employ them in live performance with The Who for the purposes of smashing them. Jack White of The White Stripes has been known to use vintage Silvertone amplifiers. Singer-songwriter Beck's main guitar is a Silvertone.
The name was placed on guitars from more than a few different manufacturers over the years, including Danelectro, National, Harmony, Kay, and Teisco. The guitars - especially the 1960s models - are prized by collectors today. One of the more well-known models is the Danelectro Silvertone 1448, made in the early to mid 1960s. The guitar's case had a small built-in amplifier, which proved popular with beginners. In the 1950's there were a lot of leftover lipstick cases, and they were actually put together and used as a single pickup inside of the guitar.
Today, Silvertone is a respected manufacturer of "legitimate" guitars and is endorsed by Paul Stanley of KISS.
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