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{{short description|Brand of electronics and musical instruments}}
{{Infobox brand
| name = Silvertone
| logo = Silvertone guitar logo.png
| logo_size = 220px
| image =
| image_upright =
| alt =
| caption =
| producttype = {{nowrap|
* [[Consumer electronics]]
* [[Musical instrument]]s <ref name="Sears Archives" />
}}
| currentowner = [[RBIMusic]] (2021–Present)
| producedby =
| country = [[United States]]
| introduced = 1916
| related =
| markets = Worldwide (Distributed by RBI Music)
| previousowners = [[Sears]] (1916–1972) <ref name="Sears Archives" />
| trademarkregistrations = [[United States]] (2013)<ref name=trademarkia>[https://trademark.trademarkia.com/silvertone-86108361.html Silvertone Trademark of Samick – serial #86108361 – ABANDONED - NO STATEMENT OF USE FILED (date 1 April 2016)] on Trademarkia website</ref>
| ambassadors =
| tagline =
| website = [http://silvertoneguitars.com silvertoneguitars.com]
| module = <!-- or: misc -->
| module1 = <!-- or: misc1 -->
}}
'''Silvertone''' is a [[Private label|brand]] created and promoted by [[Sears]] for its line of [[consumer electronics]] and [[musical instrument]]s from 1916 to 1972.<ref name="Sears Archives">{{cite web | title = Silvertone: 1915-1972 | publisher = Sears Brands, LLC | date = October 31, 2006 | url = http://searsarchives.com/brands/silvertone.htm | access-date = April 20, 2011}}</ref>
The rights to the Silvertone brand were purchased by [[South Korea]]n corporation [[Samick|Samick Music]]<ref>[https://www.smcmusic.com/silvertone-guitars/ Silvertone History] on Samick website, 27 Oct 2019</ref> in 2001. Samick made new musical instruments under the Silvertone brand and relaunched some historic models. In 2020, RBI Music was appointed the exclusive worldwide distributor of the Silvertone brand,<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-12-02|title=Could we be seeing new Silvertone guitars soon?|url=https://guitar.com/news/gear-news/silvertone-distribution-deal/|access-date=2021-05-17|website=Guitar.com {{!}} All Things Guitar|language=en-GB}}</ref> and in December 2021, RBI acquired all rights to the brand.<ref name="RBI2021">{{Cite web{2021-12-09|title=RBI Music Acquires Silvertone Brand|url=https://www.musicincmag.com/news/detail/rbi-music-acquires-silvertone-brand|publisher= Music Inc.}}</ref>
Musical instruments under the Silvertone name are [[electric guitar|electric]] and [[steel-string acoustic guitar|acoustic]] guitars, [[bass guitar|basses]], accordions, and [[ukulele]]s.<ref name=reiss/>
== History ==
=== Beginnings ===
[[Sears]] filed for Silvertone as a trademark in late 1915 to be used as a house brand for a line [[Phonograph|phonographs]] and [[Silvertone Records (1916)|records]]. It was approved in early 1916 with their first phonograph models appearing in their Spring 1916 catalog and the records following later that year.<ref name="Sears Archives" /><ref>{{cite web |title=A Century of Silvertone |url=https://silvertoneworld.net/century/index.html#google_vignette |access-date=9 January 2023 |language=en}}<!-- auto-translated by Module:CS1 translator --></ref> Beginning in the 1920s, the brand was expanded to include Silvertone [[radio]]s and again expanded in the 1930s to musical instruments, superseding the previously-used [[Oxford Records|Oxford]] branding.<ref name="Sears Archives" /> [[File:Silvertone1915.jpg|thumb|A Silvertone model 1 and other early Silvertone products.]]
In the early 1920s Sears began selling Silvertone [[vacuum tube|radio tubes]] and batteries, although Silvertone [[radio receiver|radios]] decreased in popularity during late 1930s. During [[World War II]], Sears introduced the Silvertone radio antenna for their radio receivers.<ref name="Sears Archives" />
=== Musical instruments ===
{{multiple image
| align = right
| direction = horizontal
| perrow =
| total_width = 350
| header = Radio receivers
| image1 = Silvertone 1934 Century of Progress Large Table Radio, Farm Set Sold by Sears Roebuck (8479590569).jpg
| image2 = Vintage Silvertone Wood Table Radio With Push Buttons, Model 7036-A, Broadcast & Short Wave Bands, 6 Tubes, Made In USA, Circa 1941 - 1942 (14889111432).jpg
| image3 = Vintage Silvertone Table Radio, Model 7504, Broadcast Band Only (MW), Circa 1947 (14723540387).jpg
| image4 = Vintage Silvertone Table Radio, Model 15, Broadcast Band Only (MW), 6 Tubes, Made In USA, Circa 1950 - 1951 (14721302080).jpg
| footer = From left to right: "Century of Progress" (1934), 7036A (1941–42), 7504 (1947), model 15 (1950)
}}
Silvertone [[guitar]]s became popular with novice [[musician]]s due to their low cost and wide availability in Sears stores and the [[Sears catalog]]. <!-- PROVE EACH: [[Jerry Garcia]], [[Rudy Sarzo]], [[Gary Rossington]], [[Chet Atkins]], [[Bob Dylan]], [[David Lindley (musician)|David Lindley]], [[John Fogerty]], [[Tom Fogerty]], [[Joan Jett]], [[Randy Bachman]], [[Jack White (musician)|Jack White]], [[James Hetfield]], [[Dave Grohl]], [[Phil Keaggy]], [[Mark Knopfler]], [[Brad Paisley]], [[H. Paul Shuch|Dr. SETI]], [[David Marks]], and [[Joe Walsh]] played a Silvertone for their first electric, bass, or acoustic guitar.--> The Canadian band [[Chad Allan (musician)|Chad Allan]] and The Silvertones (later [[The Guess Who]]) and Chris Isaak and Silvertone took their name from this line of instruments. Silvertone guitar model #1446 is now unofficially considered “The Chris Isaak” guitar due to him playing one early in his career. <!-- PROVE EACH: [[Pete Townshend]] used them in live performance with [[The Who]]. [[Jack White (musician)|Jack White]] uses vintage Silvertone [[instrument amplifier|amplifiers.]] [[Singer-songwriter]] [[Beck]]'s main electric guitar is a Silvertone 1448. [[Bon Iver]] used one in making ''[[For Emma, Forever Ago]]''. [[Chris Isaak]] is known to play a Silvertone 1446 archtop hollow-body guitar. His three-piece backing band is named "Silvertone", after which he titled his 1985 [[Silvertone (album)|debut album]].-->
{{multiple image
|perrow =
|total_width = 350
| direction = horizontal
| header =
|image1 = Silvertone 1480 (Harmony H19 Silhouette).jpg
|image2 = Silvertone model 319 electric acoustic guitar (1970-1971) by Harmony Guitar Co. - MIM PHX.jpg
|image3 = Teisco K4L.jpg
|image4 = Paulstanleysovreignownedbytxguitarmassacre.jpg
|footer = From left to right: S1480 (Harmony H19 silhouette), S1219 Buck Owens (by Harmony);<ref>[http://www.silvertoneworld.net/acoustic/1219buckowens/1219_Buck_Owens_American.html Silvertone 1219 Buck Owens] on Silvertoneworld</ref> ET-460 ([[Teisco]] K-4L/ET-460), [[Paul Stanley]] Sovereign Special (by [[Samick]])
}}
Silvertone instruments and amplifiers were manufactured by various companies, including [[Danelectro]], [[Valco]], [[Harmony Company|Harmony]], [[Thomas Organ Company|Thomas]], [[Kay guitar company|Kay]] and [[Teisco]].
The guitars, especially the 1960s models, are frequently prized by collectors today. Two of the best-known Silvertone offerings are the Danelectro-built [[Danelectro Amp-in-case|Silvertone 1448 and 1449]], made in the early to mid-1960s. The 1448 had a single [[lipstick pickup]],<ref>[http://www.silvertoneworld.net/electric/1448/1448.html Silvertone 1448L] on Silvertone World</ref> while the 1449 was equipped with a two-pickup configuration,<ref>[http://www.silvertoneworld.net/electric/1449/1449.html Silvertone 1449] on Silvertone World</ref> and was succeeded in 1964 by the 1457 model.<ref>[http://www.silvertoneworld.net/electric/1457/1457.html Silvertone 1457] on Silvertone World</ref> These guitars' cases had a small built-in amplifier, and the guitars themselves had very short-scale 18-fret necks, which proved popular with beginners.
Similarly the Silvertone 1484 "Twin Twelve" 60-watt [[guitar amplifier]], introduced in 1963 as an affordable beginner's amp, has gained a collectors' following, since artists like Jack White, Beck, [[Coldplay]], and others have been known to use it.<ref>{{cite web | title= Twin Twelve V2 | website= [[JHS Pedals]] | url= https://www.jhspedals.com/products/guitar-pedals/twintwelve/ | access-date= 2018-01-30 | quote= [...] the amp’s gritty and unpolished tone has since made it legendary, hard to find, and coveted by some of the biggest names in music.}}</ref>
Sears also sold a number of non-stringed instruments under the Silvertone name, such as [[electronic organ]]s and [[chord organ]]s manufactured by the [[Thomas Organ Company]], and [[harmonica]]s made by the Wm. Kratt Company.
=== Samick rebrand ===
Rights to the Silvertone brand were purchased by [[Samick|Samick Music Corporation]] in 2001. In 2013 Samick released the Silvertone Classic series, reissues of Silvertone electrics. The first two models released were the 1303/U2 (originally manufactured by Danelectro) and the 1478 (originally manufactured by Harmony), followed by the 1449 (also known as the "Amp-in-Case" model, originally manufactured by Danelectro), and the 1423 Jupiter (originally manufactured by Harmony). <!-- NEED PROOF: Not exact replicas, these were modeled and engineered as close to the originals as possible (using vintage models to compile the actual specifications).--> In January 2014, the Silvertone reissue 1444 bass was debuted at the Winter [[NAMM Show]] in Anaheim.
In early 2015, Samick introduced six reissue Silvertone acoustic guitars including the full-body 955 and single cutaway 955CE, the 600 in either spruce or [[mahogany]], the "Sovereign" 633, and the 604. Some models were also made available with acoustic pickup circuitry for amplified playing. In addition, the model 853 [[ukulele]] was introduced with an amplificable version as well.<ref name=reiss>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150402133459/http://www.silvertoneclassic.com/reissue-guitars/ Reissue guitars - The real deal] on Silvertone Classic website (archived, 2 Apr 2015)</ref>
=== New distribution and owners ===
In late 2020, Samick exclusively partnered with Rhythm Band Instruments (RBI Music) for worldwide distribution, expanding the reach of the Silvertone brand and ensuring better market access for the whole product range.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=2020-12-01|title=RBI Music Appointed Worldwide Silvertone Distributor|url=https://msretailer.com/rbi-music-appointed-worldwide-silvertone-distributor/|access-date=2021-05-17|website=The Music & Sound Retailer|language=en-US}}</ref> Based in Fort Worth, Texas, RBI Music has been developing and distributing musical instruments accessories for over sixty years, including the Vintage, Big Joe, and Fret King lines of instruments and guitar accessories.
RBI Music's president, Brad Kirkpatrick, said of the deal: “Does anyone not know the Silvertone name? We are thrilled to represent this iconic brand on a worldwide basis.” William Park, executive director of Samick Music Corporation, said “RBI Music already distributes a number of high-value brands globally... We believe they will prove an excellent fit for growing the Silvertone brand.”<ref name=":0" />
A year later, RBI bought all rights to the brand from Samick, ending the two decades of Samick’s involvement with Silvertone.<ref name="RBI2021"/>
==See also==
* [[Silvertone Records (1916)]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
{{Commons category|Silvertone}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130616105412/http://www.silvertoneguitar.com/ Official website] (archived, 16 Jun 2013)
* [http://www.silvertoneworld.net/ Silvertone World]
* [http://www.vintagesilvertones.com/ Vintage Silvertones], curated collection of 1950s–80s models
{{Sears Holdings|state=collapsed}}
{{Guitar brands}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Silvertone (Instruments)}}
[[Category:Musical instrument manufacturing companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Sears Holdings brands]]
[[Category:Phonograph manufacturers]]
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