Must be a special treat to still have a guitar you had as a kid. Those 50''s--60's Harmony/Kay/Silvertone archtops are a great value for money item these days. They have the vintage vibe and with age, the "seasoned " wood (albeit laminate) sound great.
Yes. I was pleased to get it back. I think it is probably not often that you get your first guitar back and it was fortunate that it was given to my brother. As you can hear in the video, because of the plywood construction, it does not have much in the way of bass but it is still fun to play. I had a '70s model Framus arch top that I sold last year and I think the acoustic sound of the $25 Sears was as good as the $300 Framus. Neither had much in the way of bass but an old arch top has a kind of cool, funky sound.
When I was stationed in Mass I replaced the Silvertone with a black Harmony arch top which was pretty cool. Sold it to a friend when I was getting ready to leave Vietnam. It got me through my part of the war. lol
Thanks for the video. I bought a Kentucky Blue just this week. Love it. I’d be interested in the pickup if you’re of a mind to sell it. Sounds great by the way.
This is a different user account but I posted the video. I sold the DeArmond on eBay a few years ago. I didn't figure I would ever need it again. Congrats on scoring the Silvertone. Bit of history there. Don
@@TheGuitarman160 Got it. Someone stripped the face of the guitar, but the rest of the paint is in good enough condition that a little cleanup may do it. I'm getting all new hardware, as the bridge was a roughly carved piece of pine someone had taken from whereever, and the tuners weren't in great condition. It'll be a fun project :)
@@jamesbarros950 Shame they stripped the face. That was the unique part of that arch top. Plenty of them out there with natural finish. The only thing I had to replace were the tuners. The plastic was too old and brittle. Never did replace the pick guard. What color is yours and have you been able to play it yet?
@@TheGuitarman160 mine is blue on the parts that have paint remaining. The fact that there's no chance of it being restored to original is probably an emotional benefit for me. This is my first attempt at a restomod, and knowing I have no risk of destroying a historically important guitar is helping me overcome my fear and dive into my first project :)
From what I have seen, those were the higher end Silvertone Archtops. I am pretty sure they were still plywood for strength and were pressed into shape. Those were made by Kay according to this site. silvertoneworld.net/acoustic/640_family/640family.html
I have a nearly identical guitar - Same tailpiece, same fingerboard, different finish with red pinstripe, plastic tuners, same size, same pickguard (although yours doesn't have the pickguard mounted), but it has a replacement bridge, replacement tuners a replacement strap button on the neck, and it was made by Old Kraftsman in 1955, since obtaining it I mounted a Dearmond Rhythm Chief 1000 to the neck and converted it to an electric guitar. Im wondering if anyone would have any information about my guitar model/
Well, these were inexpensive guitars and so it may not be possible, but it sounds like a neck set problem. I don't know if it can be done on these cheap guitars or, if so, whether they are worth what it would cost.
If you have a thousand dollar and up guitar and want to keep it playable, then it's worth it but the sound on these makes them not desirable as a performance instrument. By the way, I am Don Peters. This is a separate account. I love my old Silvertone and won't sell it. But I wouldn't want to over invest in it.
Only Don Peters can make a $25 plywood guitar sound like a top of the line Martin!! Thank you for sharing.
Must be a special treat to still have a guitar you had as a kid. Those 50''s--60's Harmony/Kay/Silvertone archtops are a great value for money item these days. They have the vintage vibe and
with age, the "seasoned " wood (albeit laminate) sound great.
Yes. I was pleased to get it back. I think it is probably not often that you get your first guitar back and it was fortunate that it was given to my brother. As you can hear in the video, because of the plywood construction, it does not have much in the way of bass but it is still fun to play. I had a '70s model Framus arch top that I sold last year and I think the acoustic sound of the $25 Sears was as good as the $300 Framus. Neither had much in the way of bass but an old arch top has a kind of cool, funky sound.
When I was stationed in Mass I replaced the Silvertone with a black Harmony arch top which was pretty cool. Sold it to a friend when I was getting ready to leave Vietnam. It got me through my part of the war. lol
Great history and guitar. Looking to buy one of these soon.
I was playing it yesterday. Started playing Ferry Cross The Mercy, as song I learned on that guitar. Nostalgia.
My first real guitar was a very similar used sunburst Kay brand, 1960
Hey Steve.
Nice!
Thanks for the video. I bought a Kentucky Blue just this week. Love it. I’d be interested in the pickup if you’re of a mind to sell it.
Sounds great by the way.
This is a different user account but I posted the video. I sold the DeArmond on eBay a few years ago. I didn't figure I would ever need it again. Congrats on scoring the Silvertone. Bit of history there. Don
Thank you. I'm going to check one out tonight. Only 5 times original asking price, which makes it about 1/4 of what they're going for on Reverb ;)
Did you decide to get it?
@@TheGuitarman160 Got it. Someone stripped the face of the guitar, but the rest of the paint is in good enough condition that a little cleanup may do it. I'm getting all new hardware, as the bridge was a roughly carved piece of pine someone had taken from whereever, and the tuners weren't in great condition. It'll be a fun project :)
@@jamesbarros950 Shame they stripped the face. That was the unique part of that arch top. Plenty of them out there with natural finish. The only thing I had to replace were the tuners. The plastic was too old and brittle. Never did replace the pick guard. What color is yours and have you been able to play it yet?
@@TheGuitarman160 mine is blue on the parts that have paint remaining. The fact that there's no chance of it being restored to original is probably an emotional benefit for me. This is my first attempt at a restomod, and knowing I have no risk of destroying a historically important guitar is helping me overcome my fear and dive into my first project :)
I purchased a 1958-60 Silvertone Aristocrat Model 644/49 single cutaway recently - what do you know about these guitars?
From what I have seen, those were the higher end Silvertone Archtops. I am pretty sure they were still plywood for strength and were pressed into shape. Those were made by Kay according to this site. silvertoneworld.net/acoustic/640_family/640family.html
I have a nearly identical guitar - Same tailpiece, same fingerboard, different finish with red pinstripe, plastic tuners, same size, same pickguard (although yours doesn't have the pickguard mounted), but it has a replacement bridge, replacement tuners a replacement strap button on the neck, and it was made by Old Kraftsman in 1955, since obtaining it I mounted a Dearmond Rhythm Chief 1000 to the neck and converted it to an electric guitar. Im wondering if anyone would have any information about my guitar model/
You might try this fellow's Silvertone page. I personally don't know anything about it. silvertoneworld.net/
silvertoneworld.net/acoustic/0653/653_Kentucky_Blue.html At the bottom of this add they mention a Tennessee Red color scheme.
David Gilmour putting on an American accent!
+Daniel Guareschi The punk rockers would love to get their hands on some of your old discount electrics. Nice collection.
Thanks Don!
how did you lower the action ? i have a 1949 silvertone and the action is really high but i dont have a trust rod
The bridge is adjustable if your guitar is an arch top.
@@dpedros7182 yes it is i adjusted it all the way down still pretty high
Well, these were inexpensive guitars and so it may not be possible, but it sounds like a neck set problem. I don't know if it can be done on these cheap guitars or, if so, whether they are worth what it would cost.
@@dpedros7182 i’ve had many people tell me that i can do a neck reset but your right it’s not worth the cost
If you have a thousand dollar and up guitar and want to keep it playable, then it's worth it but the sound on these makes them not desirable as a performance instrument. By the way, I am Don Peters. This is a separate account. I love my old Silvertone and won't sell it. But I wouldn't want to over invest in it.