Sears Silvertone and Harmony Amps

Sears sold guitars and amplifiers through their catalogs throughout the 20th century. Playing through a Silvertone or Harmony amp was often the first time when a budding Bluesman was able to hear himself amplified. The Silvertone and Harmony amps where made by a variety of manufacturers and included nearly identical circuits to the Fenders, Gibsons, Danelectros, Premiers, Supros, Sanos, etc. Because they were made to be less expensive, these amps have been ignored by serious musicians until recently. Now, when I go a blues concert, there is likely to be a Silvertone guitar or amp on the stage.

There is a discussion group at Delphi for Silvertones Guitars and Amps which is very good.

CeeJay has a great Silvertone page (or at least a great start) at http://webster.unh.edu/~cjones/silvertone.html

I have been going around and collecting pictures off of classified ad sites and eBay. Here are a few that I have found.

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Silvertone Amps

1300 series.

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1400 Series

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Harmony Amps

H-100 Series

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H-300 Series

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H-400 and H-500 Series

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Buy the Book!

I cleaned up my tab for Sonny Boy's Help Me and made it into a short book. There's a Kindle version for 99 cents, and if you buy the paperback you get the Kindle free.

Playing "Help-Me" In the Style of Sonny Boy Williamson II: A step by step, note for note analysis of some of Sonny Boy's Signature Riffs