Silvertone / Gibson Connection?

Steve Wilson · From: Morgan Hill, California, USA

I have recently bought a "1950's" Silvertone steel that to me looks like it might have the early Gibson/Kalamazoo metal covered pickups with the raised center ridge and the five or six sided metal control plate - like the Gibson EH 125 I think? I always thought Silvertone got their steels from National/Supro/Valco, and clearly some are - but the ones I am talking about look suspiciously like Gibson/Kalamazoo they even a Kalamazoo headstock shape. The second question would regard the pickup itself - did it sound good in the Gibson steels - or were they perhaps happy to unload them to Sears!

Ed Miller Jr · From: Coldwater,Mi USA

I'm not sure about the steels. It would not suprise me.
In the 50's and 60's CMI (Chicago Musical Instruments) owned both the Gibson and Harmory guitar companys. Gibson made a version of the Mini Humbucker (like they used in Epiphones) with some unusual mounting rings and also had the pole pieces arranged like Fender humbuckers (three up three down instead of in a straight line). It would not suprise me at all if they made pickups for their steels also.

[This message was edited by Ed Miller Jr on 06 June 2003 at 06:02 PM.]

Jason Lollar · From: Seattle area

I dont know about the silvertone model you have but but from what I have seen Gibson did make steels for other brand names but someone else can confirm that that knows more. The thing I can add is having taken the pickups apart on these off brand steels even though they look like the exact same pickup on the Gibsons there is often a different magnet used and construction is slightly different, it appears to me to be for cost cutting.

Steve Wilson · From: Morgan Hill, California, USA

Thanks for the info guys! I had forgotten about the CMI connection. Based on what I see with this Silvertone it appears everything was done to cut costs(ie three piece body, no fingerboard, painted on markers, etc) I bet Jason is right about the pick-up being slightly different, too. Anyway I am going to do what I can with this guitar, thanks again for the info!

Steve

Forum Index > Steel Without Pedals		Next oldest topic :: Next newest topic

All times are GMT - 8 Hours	Jump to: