1956 Silvertone archtop vs 1998 Epi Joe Pass

The Challenger: 1956 Silvertone Archtop The Champ: 1998 Epiphone Joe Pass Archtop

Features:

US made

single cutaway

original single coil pickup

3" depth, 16" hollow body

multi-bound top; bound neck/back

original open-back tuners

curly maple top, maple sides/back

stainless steel hardware

rosewood board, 1.75" at the nut

rosewood saddle and bridge

D'Addario Chromes 11's

abalone inlays

Korean made

single cutaway

dual US-made SD PAF '59 humbuckers

2.5" - 2.75" depth, 16" hollow body

multi-bound top; bound neck/body/head/f-holes

Grover Roto-matic tuners

spruce top, maple sides/back

gold-plated hardware

rosewood board, 1.68" at the nut

rosewood saddle and bridge

D'Addario Chromes 11's

plastic inlays

Acoustic tone:

surpisingly loud

rich

flattop-like

loud

tinny

solidbody-like

Amplified tone:

soft

pleasingly fuzzy around the edges

50-ish vibe

dark and round

jazz-oriented

like an amplified acoustic archtop

loud

clean and warm

George Benson-like

dark, bright, anything in-between

very versatile (2 pickups)

like an electric archtop

Modifications:

neck reset

fret level and dress

Repro pickguard

hardshell case

Seymour Duncan '59 PAF in neck

Seymour Duncan '59 PAF in bridge

Grover Rotomatic tuners

hardshell case

Cost: $400 (includes mods + case) $935 (includes mods + case)

Final thoughts: Playing the Silvertone conjured thoughts of what it must have been like to play jazz in the 50's when it was all the rage.
With the wider (1.75" at the nut) fingerboard, the Silvertone is much more conducive to fingerstyle than the Joe Pass. As such, it takes a little getting used to as you must stretch a little further to finger chords. Even so, I quickly adapted and found the bigger, thicker neck of the Silvertone to be quite enjoyable after only a short time of playing.
When you think of all the guitar choices that are available nowadays, it is hard to imagine having only a few models to choose from out of the Sear's catalog, but that is exactly what it was like 40+ years ago.
The Silvertone had a definite 50's vibe in appearance and tone. The tone was thinner than hefty humbuckers afford to modern day guitars. As such, the Silvertone has a much more acoustic flavor to its tone than does the Epi Joe Pass. I find it refreshingingly different.
If you want to get into a US-made archtop for under $500, you might want to check out the vintage Silvertones, Harmonys, and Kays. Most that I have seen, however, are in need of a neck reset - so be aware of that and pay accordingly. In addition to being very easy to play - even with 11's - the Epi Joe Pass model has such a rich and diverse pallet of tonal colors thanks to the replacement Seymour Duncan pickups. With it's two pickups, the JP is capable of most any musical genre and, as a result, is more versatile than the Silvertone.
Though both guitars are almost exactly the same size, the Epi JP has a wider waist with a shorter lower bout and feels very comfortable standing or sitting. The Silvertone has a narrow waist with the bottom bout being a little longer than the Joe Pass.
I have gotten so many positive comments on the look of the Joe Pass: "Man, that is one gorgeous guitar" and "Wow, it's beautiful" that I wonder why I don't think it is as beautiful as everyone else :) Seriously, it is a pretty guitar in natural with gold hardware and such, but I really like the plainer, vintage looks of the Silvertone just as much!
Both guitars sound different enough to make one need both of them and for that reason, they are both keepers.
For jazz, the Joe Pass has that round, poppin' George Benson tone while the Silvertone has a definite 50's tone - round and dark with a touch of acoustic jangle and sparkle.

	The Challenger: 1956 Silvertone Archtop	The Champ: 1998 Epiphone Joe Pass Archtop
Features:	US made single cutaway original single coil pickup 3" depth, 16" hollow body multi-bound top; bound neck/back original open-back tuners curly maple top, maple sides/back stainless steel hardware rosewood board, 1.75" at the nut rosewood saddle and bridge D'Addario Chromes 11's abalone inlays	Korean made single cutaway dual US-made SD PAF '59 humbuckers 2.5" - 2.75" depth, 16" hollow body multi-bound top; bound neck/body/head/f-holes Grover Roto-matic tuners spruce top, maple sides/back gold-plated hardware rosewood board, 1.68" at the nut rosewood saddle and bridge D'Addario Chromes 11's plastic inlays

Acoustic tone:	surpisingly loud rich flattop-like	loud tinny solidbody-like

Amplified tone:	soft pleasingly fuzzy around the edges 50-ish vibe dark and round jazz-oriented like an amplified acoustic archtop	loud clean and warm George Benson-like dark, bright, anything in-between very versatile (2 pickups) like an electric archtop

Modifications:	neck reset fret level and dress Repro pickguard hardshell case	Seymour Duncan '59 PAF in neck Seymour Duncan '59 PAF in bridge Grover Rotomatic tuners hardshell case

Cost:	$400 (includes mods + case)	$935 (includes mods + case)

Final thoughts:	Playing the Silvertone conjured thoughts of what it must have been like to play jazz in the 50's when it was all the rage. With the wider (1.75" at the nut) fingerboard, the Silvertone is much more conducive to fingerstyle than the Joe Pass. As such, it takes a little getting used to as you must stretch a little further to finger chords. Even so, I quickly adapted and found the bigger, thicker neck of the Silvertone to be quite enjoyable after only a short time of playing. When you think of all the guitar choices that are available nowadays, it is hard to imagine having only a few models to choose from out of the Sear's catalog, but that is exactly what it was like 40+ years ago. The Silvertone had a definite 50's vibe in appearance and tone. The tone was thinner than hefty humbuckers afford to modern day guitars. As such, the Silvertone has a much more acoustic flavor to its tone than does the Epi Joe Pass. I find it refreshingingly different. If you want to get into a US-made archtop for under $500, you might want to check out the vintage Silvertones, Harmonys, and Kays. Most that I have seen, however, are in need of a neck reset - so be aware of that and pay accordingly.	In addition to being very easy to play - even with 11's - the Epi Joe Pass model has such a rich and diverse pallet of tonal colors thanks to the replacement Seymour Duncan pickups. With it's two pickups, the JP is capable of most any musical genre and, as a result, is more versatile than the Silvertone. Though both guitars are almost exactly the same size, the Epi JP has a wider waist with a shorter lower bout and feels very comfortable standing or sitting. The Silvertone has a narrow waist with the bottom bout being a little longer than the Joe Pass. I have gotten so many positive comments on the look of the Joe Pass: "Man, that is one gorgeous guitar" and "Wow, it's beautiful" that I wonder why I don't think it is as beautiful as everyone else :) Seriously, it is a pretty guitar in natural with gold hardware and such, but I really like the plainer, vintage looks of the Silvertone just as much! Both guitars sound different enough to make one need both of them and for that reason, they are both keepers. For jazz, the Joe Pass has that round, poppin' George Benson tone while the Silvertone has a definite 50's tone - round and dark with a touch of acoustic jangle and sparkle.