OGD (Old Guitar Day) My Silvertone Small Jumbo

Mr.Sunburst · #1 06-15-2019, 03:21 PM

The late 50's headstock logo caught my eye at a guitar show long ago. The sunburst is so perfect to me, as I'm a sucker for two tone sunbursts. After a few strums I knew I was going to be reaching into my wallet soon. This has been with me for longer than I can remember. It delivers the best old-time bluesy sound, like a Robert Johnson sound, and I love that sound! It also has the sweetest open G slide tone too. I believe this one is from 1959, so she is turning 60 this year. Happy Birthday my ol' friend !

Earl49 · #2 06-15-2019, 03:24 PM

Cool! My first guitar was a 1968 Silvertone in 000/folk size. I still have it as a wall hanger in my office. It needs a little repair right now but has played well for fifty years.

Jim Owen · #3 06-15-2019, 03:25 PM

You scored. My buddy had one of those, and I enjoyed playing it.

Wade Hampton · #4 06-15-2019, 04:03 PM

My first guitar was a Harmony Triple O copy made of all solid wood, (including a one piece solid mahogany back) of the same vintage. If you can play their large, Louisville Slugger-like necks comfortably, they’re great guitars.

Wade Hampton Miller

beatcomber · #5 06-15-2019, 04:12 PM

Nice! I've never seen a Silvertone acoustic in playable condition.

Conomor · #6 06-15-2019, 04:30 PM

That's absolutely gorgeous and after your description of its sound, I'd love to hear it played.

Kerbie · #7 06-15-2019, 04:32 PM

Awesome. Congratulations!

Shortfinger · #8 06-15-2019, 05:18 PM

Nice!

This has me thinking. I turn 75 next month and am in love with all things parlor, and thought, why not search Reverb for parlor guitars from my birth year.

I found a Harmony, the Gene Autry model, the right year, and this one has been rebuilt by a luthier. Gene and I share the same name, and one built in 1944 would be nice to own.

Mr.Sunburst · #9 06-15-2019, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wade Hampton

My first guitar was a Harmony Triple O copy made of all solid wood, (including a one piece solid mahogany back) of the same vintage. If you can play their large, Louisville Slugger-like necks comfortably, they’re great guitars.

Wade Hampton Miller

This one does have the big V Louisville neck, and I love it ! It sounds better than most Silvertones I've played as it's pretty loud and fairly clear. It has me looking at other, more upscale small jumbo's.

.

zombywoof · #10 06-16-2019, 07:11 AM

The Silvertone "chime" logos really are cool. Harmony-built instruments often have a date stamp inside which will have either an "S" or an "F" prefix meaning it was built in the first or second half of the year. Based on the body shape though the guitar is a 600 Series Grand Concert built before 1957. If it has a V neck it s probably much earlier. This series goes back to the late 1940s. I am just not sure though when Silvertone went with that style logo.

Here is my 1942 Harmony H165 Stella (the all-mahogany version of the H162) for comparison. This one is the only known surviving example.

marty bradbury · #11 06-16-2019, 10:37 AM

Very cool Silvertone and Happy Birthday to it!

Mr.Sunburst · #12 06-16-2019, 01:49 PM

Update.

Thanks to some good leads from forum members, and a little digging on the internet I found the true year of manufacture on this guitar. She is stamped F48 on the inside back. Meaning this one is a Harmony made (I believe) model built in the first half (before July) of 1948 ! So it's 71 years old and will probably out last me, but we will see....