Comments on: Oddball Amps: Univox, Silvertone Amp, Harmony, Danelectro, Magnatone & More

By: Flash Swank

Flash Swank — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 23:17:11 +0000

The Univox U45 and U45B are in the same cabinet, but are very different electronically. The U45 is single ended and U45B is push pull, and they use different tubes.

By: Bruce Jones

Bruce Jones — Thu, 17 Jan 2019 20:07:34 +0000

These oddballs got pretty odd themselves – I’m working on a Harmony H-430 that is supposed to have 12AX7s thruout the initial amp and effect stages. This amp has 6EU7s!

By: donald jensen

donald jensen — Mon, 25 Dec 2017 19:56:19 +0000

i i came across a montgomery airline i think its a 1962 tube amp but there no tubes in itits in really,really good condition i need to no what tubes put in it

By: Matt King

Matt King — Tue, 19 Dec 2017 07:31:19 +0000

Silvertone 1472 amps came with either a ceramic Jensen or an alnico Fisher speaker. I believe the 1482 amps only had the Fisher. The Fisher speakers are dark, lo-fi sounding. I have a 1472 in good shape. The original Fisher speaker sucks to my ears. I have an old Henderson speaker from an organ in it now. It sounds much better after the swap.

By: LARRY D

LARRY D — Tue, 18 Apr 2017 14:15:56 +0000

LOOKING FOR SOME INFO/HISTORY ON “SOUND AMPS”
I BELIEVE THEY WERE MADE IN THE 60’S
HAD A GREY CABINET, ALSO MADE A BASS AMP
THANKS, LARRY

By: Terry

Terry — Sat, 18 Feb 2017 13:43:01 +0000

It’s really difficult to find a Danelectro Challenger, and they’ve gotten pretty expensive. How does the sound of the Danelectro Leader compare?

By: Jeff Jerik

Jeff Jerik — Fri, 20 Jan 2017 21:18:24 +0000

Just picked up a tube head amp, but can’t pinpoint make and model. Looks absolutely identical to a Valco GVC 9085a–except the knobs are situated in a double “v” pattern.Bass is upper left, volume is bottom middle, treble is upper right.This is repeated again as it’s a two channel.Yellow square indicator lights,and flat rocker switches on bottom front.Knobs are brown round,quarter sized.Twin 6l6’s and more than likely 12ax7’s x3 for preamp and phase splitter.Cannot find anything with this look.Any help would be greatly appreciated, seems like the knowledge is here.Please shoot an email.

By: ruk

ruk — Tue, 10 Jan 2017 05:15:10 +0000

I have a 4 x 6L6 Montgomary Wards head. No term or reverb just two inputs with volume, bass and treble. A very cool amp and for extra cool put black lights where the three lights go!!! One amp you could have mentioned is a Simms Watts. They are the poor man’s Hiwatt, only they are built just as well.
I plan on finding me a 4 x 6V6 challenger! That looks like one cool amp!
One last thing, I have a ’62 Ampeg “rocket” (no reverb) and it sounds as good or better than any tweed Deluxe

By: David Miller

David Miller — Thu, 22 Oct 2015 17:18:10 +0000

I am the original owner of a Montgomery 6L6 Guitar Amp Head. I also have the speaker box that was sold with it. Yes! A complete set. I bought it when I was a teenager. I haven’t used it in years (decades), so it has been collecting dust. If my memory serves me correctly, it works, although there may be an issue with the reverb. I just can’t remember. There may be some remnants of ancient parakeet droppings on the head or speaker box (but not a horrible amount), as my bird used to have free reign and liked to perch there occasionally. I believe the metallic logo is gone from the speaker box, and at one time I replaced two of the light bulbs in the head – one red, one blue, for a patriotic look – and I’m not sure if I ever changed them back. If repairs are needed, they would be minor, however it will need a good dusting off.

Anyway, if you can give me some insight as to a reasonable sale price for the set, I would consider making it available to anyone who might be interested.

By: Mike Robinson

Mike Robinson — Mon, 13 Oct 2014 06:46:52 +0000

yes, be sure to include links to this site.

By: dave

dave — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 02:39:23 +0000

I recently acquired a 52′ bell amp and an altec 605 duplex 15″ w/crossover. I love the tone. Acoustic or my jazz box, it all sounds great. I used a 1/4 to phono adaptor.

By: National Recording

National Recording — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 03:13:10 +0000

There are so many cool variants with the Danelectro. The speaker configuration of the Commando is 8 X 8" (!) but otherwise the Challenger is said to be the same. There is also the Montgomery Ward 35 JDR 8421 which resembles the Commando much more in that it has the split chassis with the 15" in the middle. We just pulled the trig on one and are psyched!

By: Dave LaBat "Psychdave"

Dave LaBat "Psychdave" — Mon, 27 Jan 2014 22:44:37 +0000

Montgomery Ward Valco!! My first amp, I kept looking at Silvertones, going.. “that’s not it” Thanks so much! ACtually a really nice sounding amp, I only got rid of it because a friend sold me his 100 watt Super Bass for $175. Those Marshall bass amps won’t work for guitar he claimed. Boy I wish I had BOTH of those amps back!

By: Ben

Ben — Sun, 15 Dec 2013 16:31:44 +0000

Hey, loved the article! I am now fascinated by that Silvertone 1464. How is the reverb and tremolo on that head?

By: Leif Williams

Leif Williams — Thu, 23 May 2013 20:08:35 +0000

Hmmm … the “nuggets”/garage stuff was probably as tube-based as were other genre’s of the era, albeit ‘transistorized’ when a fuzzbox got stomped. At any rate, great info. in this article …. perhaps an update (given the price changes & new amp choices available since 7 years ago) is in order? Kudos, either way.

By: Brent Evans

Brent Evans — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 23:01:08 +0000

Love the site. Thanks the info.
I have a Montgomery Ward Pa Head that looks like the Montgomery Ward 6L6 Guitar Amp Head you so eloquently spoke of, but it doesn’t have tremolo or reverb. I have 2 tower speakers that go with it.
Can you tell me where I can get some info on these items? Thanks, Brent in Indiana

By: John Vere

John Vere — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 01:09:11 +0000

1964? I owned the Silvertone Bass amp that was grey and had (I think) a 15″ speaker. It wasn’t loud enough so I ended up ( pour me) with a new Fender Bassman ( 1965 ) the one with 2×12″ tilt back cab. I remember being mad that the Silvertone was all distorted! I also had a small practice amp that I swear said it was made by Tapco? This would not be possible unless there was another company back then. There’s a picture of me with it and you can see the logo which was a V with 2 balls at the top. Anybody? I also owned a National back then. It was more or less a Fender Twin. Had big chrome Knobs.

By: Packet

Packet — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 07:05:08 +0000

I came across this site looking for info on a 14 watt Silvertone Amp that came in an all metal case thats obviously quite old. I saved some pics of it from the ebay site. You might be interested in posting them. Its estimated about 1947.

By: Paul

Paul — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 15:27:40 +0000

I recently got my hands on the Dano C Series you mention above.
I bought it sight unseen with your description above factoring in on my decision to get it.
Seems someone attempted to remove the brown colour which has left it looking a dingy white but the tarnished gold band remains and the top is littered with cigarette burn marks. Super cool piece but i’m dying for more information, resources, and stories so anything you’d be willing to share would be much appreciated.
A recent aquisition, i’m still toying around with the controls despite your comment that this amp is a “set it and forget it” type.
Question – Is the “amplification” knob basically a gain-type setting on this amp?
Thanks!
Paul

By: TMK

TMK — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 17:18:38 +0000

speaking of great amps, my Lectrolab 600 is so great sounding that for a couple years I left the Two-Rock at home! Mine is two EL 84s, two 12AX7s and a 6AU6, w/ the rectifier having been changed to FREDs. Sitting on another 12′ cab, w/ or w/out pedals, a very pretty, gutsy, gig-able amp weighing very little. Fat Dog at Subway Guitars in Berkeley CA had one w/ two 6V6s that was gorgeous sounding. What’s the skinny on them, anyway? WHO is Lectrolab, and when, please? Love your site. Terry Keady

By: jack jones

jack jones — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 17:03:15 +0000

I have a harmony 550 reverb head that cool trying to sell it

By: shannon

shannon — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 03:44:46 +0000

Actually Sterling from the velvets played a guyatone and a kent through a silvertone 1484 twin twelve in the early velvets.

http://midnightmacciato.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/the-velvet-underground-2.jpg?w=519&h=321

I’m currently trying to get my hands on one for a decent price as we speak

By: Dale V, Schuster

Dale V, Schuster — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 13:59:26 +0000

Got a large vertical racing stripe 212 oxfords I believe and the matching Harmony 545 head that is supposed to be solid state in accordance to info on the last site I had found and lost. Looking for comments on Harmony 545 212 vertical racing stripe, unit approx.55 inches high and that is guess. Reply to: guitarslinger54@yahoo.com

By: edwin b

edwin b — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 22:17:20 +0000

I have the 4-6L6 montgomery ward amp, and the tremolo for this is a 12ax7 (as indicated on the tube layout sheet) and not the 12au7. Perhaps the 2-6L6 uses the 12au7? There are a lot of variations in these amps. I also have a 4-6L6 without tremolo or reverb, there is a 2-channel “PA” model with 2-6L6 and reverb. There is also a 1-channel 2-6L6 no reverb/tremolo version. I would also note that the two channels on the 2-6L6 amp described in this article have “tone” controls rather than separate bass and treble (as evident in the picture).

Another oddity about the 4-6L6 amps is that they are sort of “dual mono” — that is, instead of being an 80-ish watt amp, it is two 40-ish watt amps (I think there are some Gretsch amps that have this configuration).

Very nice article on rare, beautiful-sounding amps for which there is little information available.

By: joe stephens

joe stephens — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 04:44:44 +0000

looking for circa 60″s silvertone twin twelve speaker cab, with or without speakers.

By: keith miracle

keith miracle — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 01:43:38 +0000

love this site. i think i have the kay or something very similar. red oldschool plywood with picture frame tongue n groove casing type of trim. 12 inch jenson from 50s, the 5YE, 2-6V6GT, 12AX7, 12AX7. metal part of amp has ultralinear handwritten on it. had yellowish tolex i kept for new box. white chicken head knobs. a killer harp amp. not so much for the guitar though

By: rob roberge

rob roberge — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 03:00:35 +0000

Also–the Kays are not made by Valco (they were made, oddly, by Kay)…and the Magnatone M10 is cathode-biased AND fixed bias. I THINK that’s all the errors I needed to fix here 🙂

By: rob roberge

rob roberge — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 02:08:44 +0000

The Harmony 306 amp I mention in this piece (and the H210) and NOT made by VALCO–but by Lectrolab. Sorry for the error.