musicman2010

I been looking for a Electric guitar and found what seems to be a really good deal on a Sivertone Guitar amp, bag, everything i plan to check it out Thurs or friday.

I am not expert do not need top line just something play over the winter see if even can still play at all.

mr dave

there's nothing wrong with starting on a Silvertone... THOUGH there are a few things you should be aware of / watch out for first before spending money.

i'm assuming you're buying used since you talk about checking it out later in the week. nothing wrong with that, just make sure the instrument has a straight neck and stays in tune. give it a few ridiculous super bends to see how it handles. also try to plug it in and check the various settings on the guitar to make sure the electronics are cool and there's no major crackling or indication of shorts in the wiring.

Silvertone's were the Sears brand instrument for years, their early models from the 60s are actually very sought after by collector's and people who like quirky guitars with unique tones (Beck and Jack White are known to be big fans). don't expect it to sound like a Les Paul or a Strat though, it's going to have its own sound, even if it is a more recent model.

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musicman2010

well kinda late post ha ha, I picked it up yesterday just now reading this, it came with a tuner and Not 100% sure how to use it, i try finding it online a video but didnt find it but found others i sotra figured it out, it still not 100% however but it sounds alright to me.

It seems to play fine its autally brand new I think she said its a couple months old from when they got it for her god son at a guitar center close by. came with a amp its 10A small but i need nothing big just something to get me back learning its been many years since I played and remember now my fingers got sore playing ha ha.

I am trying to figure out the amp and what all the knobs do, I never autally had my own electric guitar my buddy I play on it and he keep it in tune.

the Amp has 3 knobs

got a overdrive you can cut on or off then it says Clean at top of that knob and level at bottom

then its got the equlization treble and bass knobs

I have played with them all some

the overdrive seems to give it that long really electric sound to it.

the treble and bass well pretty much like on a car stero or anything else for the sound u want.


the guitar has a volume and two tone knobs i turn them some but they do not seen to do much. i mostly been playing with it with headphones on its got a phone jack on the amp along with a jack marked Cd/tape. I guess you could record to a tape if you hade a recorder? i try look online for instructions but have fond Zero

it says on it it is a Smart 2 s

mr dave

it's all good. does the guitar have a model name or number?

tuners usually aren't that complicated, just need to be patient. is the kind you can plug the guitar into or does it just pick up the sound through a small mic? both can work with an electric but you need to be a lot more patient if it's the kind that only uses a microphone (tune up in as quiet an environment as possible).

another thing to keep in mind while tuning up that a lot of people overlook is that you normally need to tune all the strings 2-3 times in a row before the instrument is actually in tune, especially with new strings or a floating bridge (anything with a whammy bar).

as for the amp it sounds like a relatively basic practice amp.

Level is just a different way of saying Volume. the toggle switch is to go between clean and overdrive sounds. overdrive is another way of saying distortion or fuzz, there are technically differences between the terms but at that point you're splitting hairs about how the sound waves are processed (either square wave or saw wave etc.) and other technical mumbo jumbo most people don't need to ever worry about.

you're right about the treble and bass knobs working just like a radio too. there are different ways to set the EQ as well depending on the situation. for simple home use my method of choice is to dial them straight up in the middle at the 12 o'clock position then tweak them until it sounds right. if it's too muddy cut the bass a bit and maybe turn up the treble a little, on the other hand if it's making paint peel cut the treble and boost the bass.

the tone knobs on the guitar are usually quite subtle but they can and do affect your tone. again it kind of varies, it might be a bass / treble situation similar to your amp, or it might be individual tone knobs for each pickup. if that's the case the easiest way to really start noticing the effect of the tone knobs is when you set the guitar to only use a single pickup, play a full chord and let it ring out while twiddling the knob. you should notice some subtle changes in the tone.

as for the cd/tape jack on the amp that's actually normally used for plugging in one of those devices so you can play along to tunes and still hear your instrument coming through.

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musicman2010

Thanks for the info I am pretty sure its a Silvertone SS10 Citation Guitar or maybe a revolver. they look just a liek autally it seems many of them look just alike, I guess it is eaisy for driffrent brands to look like so people really have no clue what there buying.

No clue what Cutation means, but i had looked up from what the person got it from had in there ad I found it on Craigslist. lots and lots in my area on there.


The Amp says Silvertone Smart II S on it.

here are pictures i found online this amp has III on it but mine just has II on it. but they look just a like... I guess again driffrent ones look alike to confuse everyone.

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mr dave

there are probably some minor variances between the models. maybe an extra option or something, nothing too major. Citation is just what they chose to call that model for whatever reason, someone in PR probably decided it sounded cool or something hahaha.

with that type of guitar (3 pickups and a 5 way switch) the tone knobs should function more like bass and treble. you'll find the treble control has a bigger effect on the bridge pickup while the bass control is more noticeable on the neck pickup.

i'm guessing you ended up with this package - Silvertone SS10 Citation Pack at zZounds

it's kind of hard to make out the detail but i'm pretty sure that's the kind of tuner where you have to slide a piece for each string so it knows what pitch you're trying to reach.


also the difference between a Citation and a Revolver is the fretboard, at least that's what it seems like from the images, though the product descriptions both list rosewood fretboards, which doesn't match the product images.

the pic you posted has a maple fretboard, which would normally cost a little more than rosewood, and likely the only real difference between models. it does have a slight effect on your tone and overall feel, but it's more of a personal preference. myself, all of my guitars have dark fretboards, it's not something i consciously choose but when i check out gear the light fretboards just don't pull my attention.


if you have any more questions by all means post them. i usually don't check much on the weekends but if not i'll answer in a few days. until then have fun rocking out

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musicman2010

Thanks sorry forgot all about the tuner yeah that's the tuner in the pic. not a great pick it does plug into the guitar, or should I say the guitar plugs into it, I looked online for the clip on kind they look easier to use.
maybe i am wrong, but the clip on kind is what my gals brother has. they seem to tell you the note on screen.


I take pictures of all my stuff and post on here later. I agree some pics online say one thing and others day something then you find them both showing the same names, very confusion.

musicman2010

well not got chance take pic yet but mine looks just like the one in the pic with the color the wood on the neck is and all..

took over to my gals bros house sat and he tuned it and jamed on it, it sounds good to me someone who know how to play it. I have been trying to learn

Smoke on the water,
sweet dreams,
and enter sandman,

I can sorta play a lil bit of each one.

mr dave

it's all good. if you've got a fretboard like the one in the photo it's maple. not a bad thing at all, gives a 'slightly' brighter tone and snappier feel i find, but it's not like hearing the difference between a Strat and a Les Paul.

nothing wrong with your song choices either, especially if you're cool with just learning little bits and pieces here and there. practice makes perfect after all and there's no substitute for practice.

though i can't help but notice the lack of Hendrix... tsk... disappointing hahaha (Manic Depression / Fire / Hey Joe / The Wind Cries Mary are all quite easy to play).

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musicman2010

ha ha , I like lots different brands but I used to be able to play enter sandman the start at least along with Hotel California. and some others been so long. I used to play a oldies song a guy I knew taught me But I can not for the life think of what it was.

I like Jimmy Hendrix and many many other bands many I would like to learn to play. Ad marty said in email today it takes practice. I fly Radio control airplanes and helicopters and I did not learn over night how to do it, took lots time and practice. Taking the winter off from flying to learn guitar as need something inside to do.