This trademark has been identified as a House Brand owned and used by Sears and Roebuck between 1941 to 1970. There was no company or factory; Sears owned the name and applied it to various products from such manufacturers as Harmony, Valco, Danelectro, and Kay. Sears and Roebuck acquired Harmony in 1916 to control its respectable ukulele production. Harmony generally sold around 40 percent of its guitar production to Sears. The following is a word of caution: Just because it says Silvertone, do not automatically assume it is a Danelectro! In fact, study the guitar to determine possible origin (Harmony, Valco and Kay were originally built in Illinois, Danelectro in New Jersey; so all were U.S. However, mid-1960s models were built in Japan by Teisco, as well!). Best of all, play it! If it looks good, and sounds okay - it was meant to be played. As most Silvertones were sold either through the catalog or in a store, they will generally be entry level quality instruments.
Certain Silvertone models have garnered some notoriety, such as the Danelectro-produced combination of guitar and amp-in-case. Sears also marketed the Teisco company´s TRG-1 (or TRE-100) electric guitar with amp built in! This guitar has a six-on-a-side "Silvertone" headstock, and a single cutaway pregnant Telecaster body design (the small built-in speaker is in the tummy). Harmony produced a number of electric hollowbody guitars (like the Sovereign) for the Silvertone label; Kay also offered a version of their Thin Twin model as well as arch top models.
The publisher would like to thank Scott Sanders for his contributions to the Silvertone section. Today, Silvertone guitars are being produced by Samick. They have a wide variety of electric models including traditional and original designs. Prices are targeted to those who are entry to mid level guitar players. Paul Stanley of Kiss is an endorser of Silvertone now (c. 2002), and has an entire line of guitars including an acoustic model. For more information, contact Silvertone/Samick directly or visit their website.
See chapter on House Brands. Instruments currently built in Korea. Distributed by the Samick Corporation. Silvertone produced guitars from the 1940s through the 1970s, and was revived by Samick in the 2000s.

SILVERTONE Electric Guitars Models

SILVERTONE 1300 Image

SILVERTONE 1300

- single cutaway, U-series body with 13.25 in. lower bout width, Masonite semi-solid construction, clear or white pickguard, bolt-on neck, 21-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, metal trapezoidal bridge with rosewood stick saddle...

SILVERTONE BLUES MASTER SSLA30 Image

SILVERTONE BLUES MASTER SSLA30

- symmetrical double cutaway semi-hollow body, nato mahogany carved top, nato mahogany back and sides, two f-holes, bolt-on mahogany neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, three-per-side tuners, tune-o-matic bridge, stop tailpie...

SILVERTONE 1373 Image

SILVERTONE 1373

- single cutaway, U-series body with 13.25 in. lower bout, Masonite semi-solid construction, clear or white pickguard, bolt-on neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, trapezoidal bridge with rosewood stick saddle, Coke-bottl...

SILVERTONE 1301 Image

SILVERTONE 1301

- similar to Model 1300 except has 2 single coil lipstick tube pickups, 2 stacked volume/tone controls with 3-position selector switch, available in Copper (Model 1301) or Black (Model 1303) finish, mfg. 1958-59.

SILVERTONE FASTBACK SFB1 Image

SILVERTONE FASTBACK SFB1

- single cutaway body, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret maple fingerboard with dot inlay, three-per-side tuners, vintage tremolo, two humbucker pickups, three knobs, three-way switch, chrome hardware, available in Amber Natural or Trans. Blue fi...

SILVERTONE 1442 Image

SILVERTONE 1442

- offset double cutaway asymmetrical body, solid wood covered with veneer, bolt-on neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, four-on-one-side metal tuners, metal trapezoidal bridge with rosewood stick saddle, white pickguard, singl...

SILVERTONE 1305 Image

SILVERTONE 1305

- similar to Model 1300 except has 3 single coil lipstick tube pickups, 3 stacked volume/tone controls, available in White/Black Sunburst finish, mfg, 1958-59.

SILVERTONE LIBERATOR SSLR1 Image

SILVERTONE LIBERATOR SSLR1

- radical B.C. Rich-style body, bolt-on maple neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with boomerang inlay, six-on-one-side tuners, tune-o-matic bridge, stop tailpiece, two humbucker pickups, two knobs, three-way switch, chrome hardware, availab...

SILVERTONE 1443 Image

SILVERTONE 1443

- offset double cutaway asymmetrical body, solid wood covered with veneer, bolt-on neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, four-on-one-side metal tuners, metal trapezoidal bridge with rosewood stick saddle, tortoiseshell pickguar...

SILVERTONE NASCAR SIGNATURE Image

SILVERTONE NASCAR SIGNATURE

- single cutaway Session-style body, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, three-per-side tuners, tune-o-matic bridge, stop tailpiece, two humbucker pickups, four knobs, three-way switch, chrome hardware, availabl...

SILVERTONE 1444 Image

SILVERTONE 1444

- single cutaway, U-series body with 13.25 in. lower bout, Masonite semi-solid construction, clear or white pickguard, bolt-on neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, trapezoidal bridge with rosewood stick saddle, "dolphin-n...

SILVERTONE 1317 Image

SILVERTONE 1317

- single cutaway with 11.75 in. lower bout width, Masonite semi-solid construction, clear pickguard, bolt-on neck, 21-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, metal trapezoidal bridge with rosewood stick saddle, Coke-bottle shaped peg...

SILVERTONE 1319 Image

SILVERTONE 1319

- similar to Model 1317 except has 2 single coil lipstick tube pickups, 2 stacked volume/tone controls, available in Black (Model 1319) and Bronze (Model 1323) finish, mfg. 1957-58.

SILVERTONE REVOLVER SS11 Image

SILVERTONE REVOLVER SS11

- offset double cutaway Strat-style body, bolt-on maple neck, 21-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, six-on-one-side tuners, vintage tremolo, white pickguard, three single coil pickups, three knobs, five-way switch, chrome hardware, a...

SILVERTONE 1357 Image

SILVERTONE 1357

- single cutaway, solid poplar body covered in vinyl, 11.75 in. lower bout width, clear or dark brown pickguard, bolt-on neck, 20-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, metal trapezoidal bridge with rosewood stick saddle, Coke-bottl...

SILVERTONE ROCKIT SRK1 (SSG21) Image

SILVERTONE ROCKIT SRK1 (SSG21)

- symmetrical double cutaway SG-style body, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, three-per-side tuners, tune-o-matic bridge, stop tailpiece, black pickguard, two humbucker pickups, four knobs, three-way switch, c...

SILVERTONE SESSION MASTER SPECIAL SSL1 Image

SILVERTONE SESSION MASTER SPECIAL SSL1

- single cutaway LP-style body, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, three-per-side tuners, tune-o-matic bridge, stop tailpiece, two humbucker pickups, four knobs, three-way switch, chrome hardware, available in...

SILVERTONE 1359 Image

SILVERTONE 1359

- similar to Model 1357 except has 2 single coil lipstick tube pickups, 2 stacked knob volume/tone controls, 3-position selector switch. Available in Tan with Ginger sides finish and the following Custom Colors: Flame Red with Black sides,...

SILVERTONE SESSION MASTER PRO SSL3 Image

SILVERTONE SESSION MASTER PRO SSL3

- single cutaway LP-style body, carved top, set mahogany neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with trapezoid inlay, three-per-side tuners, tune-o-matic bridge, stop tailpiece, raised pickguard, two humbucker pickups, four knobs, three-way swi...

SILVERTONE 1375 Image

SILVERTONE 1375

- single cutaway, solid poplar body covered in vinyl, 11.75 in. lower bout width, white pickguard, bolt-on neck, 20-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, metal trapezoidal bridge with rosewood stick saddle, Coke-bottle shaped peghe...

SILVERTONE 1377 Image

SILVERTONE 1377

- similar to Model 1375 except has 2 covered pickups, 2 volume/tone controls, 3-position selector switch, available in Maroon, mfg. 1954-55.

SILVERTONE SHREDDER SIK1 Image

SILVERTONE SHREDDER SIK1

- offset double cutaway Strat-style body, bolt-on maple neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, six-on-one-side tuners, vintage tremolo, one humbucker and two single coil pickups HS, three knobs, five-way switch, chrome hardware,...

SILVERTONE 1415 Image

SILVERTONE 1415

- identical to Model 1417 except pickguard is cut in a half circle around the lipstick tube pickup instead of flush up against it, available in Bronze (Model 1415) or Black (Model 1416) finish, mfg. 1960 only.

SILVERTONE 1417 Image

SILVERTONE 1417

- single cutaway, U-series body with 13.25 in. lower bout width, Masonite semi-solid construction, clear or white pickguard, bolt-on neck, 21-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, metal trapezoidal bridge with rosewood stick saddle...

SILVERTONE 1448 Image

SILVERTONE 1448

- offset double cutaway asymmetrical body, Masonite semi-solid construction, bolt-on neck, 18-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, six-on-one-side tuners with plastic buttons, metal trapezoidal bridge with rosewood stick saddle, white...

SILVERTONE 1449 Image

SILVERTONE 1449

- similar to Model 1448 except has 21-fret rosewood fingerboard, two single coil lipstick tube pickups, 2 stacked volume/tone controls with 3-position selector switch, available in Black with metallic accents finish, mfg. 1963-64.

SILVERTONE 1450 Image

SILVERTONE 1450

- offset double cutaway asymmetrical body, solid wood covered with veneer, tortoiseshell pickguard, bolt-on neck, 21-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, metal trapezoidal vibrato bridge with rosewood stick saddle, 6-on-a-side metal &q...

SILVERTONE 1451 Image

SILVERTONE 1451

- offset double cutaway asymmetrical body, solid wood covered with veneer, white pickguard, bolt-on neck, 18-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, metal trapezoidal bridge with rosewood stick saddle, 6-on-a-side metal "skate-key&qu...

SILVERTONE 1452 Image

SILVERTONE 1452

- similar to 1451 except 21-fret fingerboard, vibrato bridge, Fender-like peghead shape, 2 single coil lipstick tube pickups with 4 volume/tone controls, available in Red Sunburst finish, mfg. 1967-68.

SILVERTONE 1457 Image

SILVERTONE 1457

- offset double cutaway asymmetrical body, Masonite semi-solid construction, bolt-on neck, 21-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, six-on-one-side tuners with metal "skate-key" tuners, metal trapezoidal bridge with rosewood s...

SILVERTONE 1480 Image

SILVERTONE 1480

- single cutaway, U-series body with 13.25 in. lower bout width, Masonite semi-solid construction, clear or white pickguard, bolt-on neck, 18-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, metal trapezoidal bridge with rosewood stick saddle...

SILVERTONE 1456 Image

SILVERTONE 1456

- identical to Model 1450 except pickguard is cut in a half circle around the lipstick tube pickup instead of flush up against it, mfg. 1960-61.