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Silvertone 1483?

slotrod65

slotrod65

Dec 29, 2009
138
5
cheapoguitars.blogspot.com
#1
I recently acquired a very nice Silvertone 1483. It is in great shape, all original, including all of the tubes. As I already have a Danelectro made Airline 8005 Twin Twelve for guitar use, I would like to try to optimize the 1485 for bass. I plan on buying a new Jensen C15N speaker, and a new set of tubes. I realize that this is not the best bass amp design ever, and I know it will need new electrolytics, a three prong cord, as well as a general check up for any strayed components.but is there anything I can do to reduce the tendency to distort and thereby optimize this amp for bass use?

1483July2013101_zpsbbf3db33.jpg



1483July2013107_zps92a27a2d.jpg


1483July2013108_zps7e8f47b5.jpg


Here is a link to the schematic:

http://www.prowessamplifiers.com/schematics/silvertone/Silvertone_1483.html
 
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#2
Higher value caps in the power supply should give you more headroom, and a decent tech should have no problem making the changes. Don't go too nuts trying to get volume out of that cab though -- the silvertone stuff wasn't braced like a fEARless to handle the output of a 3015... I'd skip the "new" Jensen and go for an Eminence replacement like the Delta 15B, but cabinet modeling people will probably have more relevant opinions than I do.

That's a super clean amp!
 
#3
that open back cabinet isn't going to cut it for bass, I'm afraid. You need it sealed.

If it were me I'd look a bass specific cabinet. Keep that one for guitar as that's what it's designed for.

Edit: agreed I'd be looking at a modern speaker but with vintage vibe like an Eminence Beta or Delta 15. The 3015 is an excellent driver, too, just more modern sounding than those.
 
#4
Thanks guys. As for the tubes: They don't last forever, and i would like to keep these original Silvertones for if I ever sell the amp. The same goes for the speaker as I plan on pulling it and saving it. I also plan on using JJ tubes from Eurotubes, as I have had great success with their 12AX7s, 6V6s, and 6L6s in my guitar amps. As for speakers, most new bass speakers are rated 100-500 watts. This amp is only 25 watts, so I want to get a speaker that is as closely matched wattage wise as possible.
 
#5
slotrod65 said:
As for speakers, most new bass speakers are rated 100-500 watts. This amp is only 25 watts, so I want to get a speaker that is as closely matched wattage wise as possible.
Click to expand...

they don't make 'em like that anymore. No reason to, either. You lose nothing with the higher power handling capacity.

If you want that power range, then see if you can find an old CTS square magnet 15" from the 60s.

I think you'll find, though, the tone better with the new "old school" drivers like the Beta and Delta's.
 
#6
Don't go crazy oversizing the power supply capacitors because the 5Y3 rectifier has a limit of around 20uF on the first cap or else it will fry.

As for speaker replacement, I'd either go with an Eminence Beta 15, or with the Weber Bass 15.

Fact is you're only going to get so much volume out of that rig no matter what you do, so just refresh it and enjoy what it can do. I use my 20 Watt Kay 720 which has an open-back 15" speaker to jam with acoustic guitars, and even though it only goes so loud and isn't what would be considered a "correct" bass amp by today's standards, it sounds amazing.

Chris
 
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#7
Even though many were sold in the 60's (including to me) they were never any good as a bass amp. However, my guitarist recently had one 'reconditioned' and it is great as a guitar amp with his pedals. He complains about the weight and I told him 'don't get me started about weight.' And, no, it's not really very good as a bass recording amp, either. I played through one at a guy's practice room a few years back. All you get is fuzz-bass. Still, those pictures do conjure up some positive nostalgia.
 
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#8
That's a ported cabinet with a space for the head, right?

If that's the case I'd look at a vintage CTS 15" bass speaker. The same CTS speaker design found itself in vintage Fender amps, Kustom amps, and Ampeg amps including the legendary B-15. I'm sure it made plenty more appearances but I can say they sound awesome with low powered tube amps. I have a '69 I'd be willing to part with for well under the cost of a new replacement driver if you decide that's a route you'd like to go. Otherwise, I'm a big fan of Eminence Beta 15A. They sound quite like the vintage CTS but don't breakup. The modern Jensens are nothing but guitar speakers and not akin to the originals.

Electronically, there's probably not much you can do. You're going to be limited by your transformers. A checkup with a good tech is first on my list. Upgrading the caps to higher values may give you a bit tighter low end but not more headroom.
 
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#9
Thanks again everyone. I am not as concerned about volume. I know it is only as loud as it is. I just want to do what I can to give me as much distortion free headroom as possible. Would a 5U4 rectifier help with oversized caps?

I understand this is never going to be a great bass amp, I would simply be happy if it did not distort.
 
#11
slotrod65 said:
I understand this is never going to be a great bass amp, I would simply be happy if it did not distort.
Click to expand...

then your best bet is to use that amp with a proper bass cabinet. That's the same firepower as the venerable B-15, and Silvertone amps were great bluesy guitar amps, no reason you won't get good tone from it for bass. Again, with a bass cabinet. Something like a B-12 or B-15 style cabinet would be a good mate, for example.
 
#12
5U4 can handle 40uF on the first cap, but it draws 3A on the heater. 5Y3 only draws 2A on the heater, so I'd worry about stressing the power transformer that extra bit. If you really want max clean output out of it, and you're going to be replacing the power supply caps, you could go with a plug-in solid-state rectifier tube replacement. That would bump up your power supply a few volts (like 20VDC or more), and free up the 5V heater load on the power transformer which would let it run a little cooler. Something to think about since that transformer wants to see 115VAC and with today's voltages coming out of the wall it's going to see more like 123VAC, which will make it run a little hotter anyway.

Weber makes a plug-in solid-state 5Y3 replacement, and you can spec it to not have any sag if you want max power out of the amp.

Chris
 
#13
slotrod65 said:
Thanks guys. As for the tubes: They don't last forever, and i would like to keep these original Silvertones for if I ever sell the amp. The same goes for the speaker as I plan on pulling it and saving it. I also plan on using JJ tubes from Eurotubes, as I have had great success with their 12AX7s, 6V6s, and 6L6s in my guitar amps. As for speakers, most new bass speakers are rated 100-500 watts. This amp is only 25 watts, so I want to get a speaker that is as closely matched wattage wise as possible.
Click to expand...
Numbers mean nothing. The Heritage B-15 is a 25w or 30w amp with a 450w speaker in it. My 64 B-15N cabs both have Eminence Delta 15a's, which are rated at 400w, I believe, maybe even 500w. Too lazy to look it up.

But despite that, an open back cab is just plain not good for bass decent enough to hang with a band, especially a small one. However, it would make an awesome recording amp, and that's a cherry amp, so I'd try to do something with it. Cant guarantee it won't distort, though. I, too, have a little Dano amp from 62, a 15w amp with a single 112, and it distorts with bass even at its very lowest volumes, and even in a bass cab. The transformers are fine for guitar but not big enough for bass. Hope that's not the case with you but I suspect it is.
 
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#16
Thanks everyone. This is a lot of food for thought. I know that the PTs that Danelectro put in Silvertones were the bare minimum that worked, both to meet a price point and as these were intended for beginners. As for butchering: swapping tubes and a speaker, plus maybe trying a few different caps is about as far as I would go. Yes, these can be used to great effect for guitar, but my Airline 8005 twin fifteen has me all set in that dept. Right now I am just cleaning up the 1483, and trying to determine what I will end up doing with her.
 
#17
This amp brings back some great memories as it was my first amp. I left the cab at home and paired the head with an Earth Sound Research 2x15. It had decent enough volume jamming with my brother, who at that time, had a Sunn Beta Lead. I eventually switched to an Acoustic head for more volume. Wish I would've kept the Silvertone rig. Still have the Acoustic and Earth!
 
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#19
This is pretty much a bassman head. I ran one into a Guild 2x15 as a practice rig in the early 70's. sounded fantastic at low to moderate volume. If I found that rig on my local CL for reasonable, I would snap it up in a heartbeat... Had tone for days. It was plenty fine for bass but with my old Tele and a Guild Starfire III. And the 15's... It was ridiculously cool!

These days I rehearse and record one of my bands with a 50 watt tube amp on a custom 2x15 loaded with 3015's. Guitarist uses a Fender Deluxe Reverb and my Vox ac15, drummer understands dynamics and volume but can hit pretty hard, tenor sax guy is ... Well those things tend to be loud... The amp I'm using has 50 and 100 mode. Only ise the 50 setting ... And I am not a grit guy. It ain't squeaky clean like my GK but there is plenty of clean low end punch on tap... It is suprising how loud 50 watts on an efficient cab really is...
 
#20
As with everybody else, I would save the cab and go with something more bass friendly... My 2x15 is basically a play on the 2x15 that Johnk_10 did last year. Pretty sire he inspired quite a few Tb cab projects. Sure like mine a lot. Even though I'm a Greenboy guy with my gig rig, the 2x15 kicks butt with an Md-421 on 1 driver and Heil PR-40 on the other... Looking forward to the end of festival and outdoor season so we can get back into the recording drill... If that Silvertone were mine... I would totally plop it on top of the 2x15 and roll tape... (Yeah, we're old school...)
 
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