OK, I gotta' ask.
When people talk about how MUCH better low end guitars are now, than they were in the 50s and 60s, and probably even the 70s, I am pretty sure the names like Kay and Silvertone are mentioned as examples of these sub par instruments. Why do people still covet them now ?
I don't think they're cited as "sub-par" , those two along with Harmony were actually pretty well-built although the acoustics may have had the so-called "cheese-slicer action".
Silvertone was actually Sears Roebucks' brand name which found its way onto instruments by Danelectro and Kay and Harmony and National (known for their dobros).
Silvertone electrics from the early '60's in particular were Danelectros that have quite a cult following among rock luminaries as diverse as Jimmy Page, George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Chris Isaak, and Beck.
From Wiki:
"Probably best known for their line of well-made yet inexpensive guitars, the brand became popular with novice musicians. Jerry Garcia, Rudy Sarzo, Gary Rossington, Chet Atkins, Bob Dylan, David Lindley, Garry Nutt, John Fogerty, Tom Fogerty, Joan Jett, Jack White, James Hetfield, James Cashman, Dave Grohl, Phil Keaggy, Mark Knopfler, Brad Paisley, Dr. SETI, Joe Walsh,[2] and countless others had a Silvertone for their first electric, bass, or acoustic guitar. The Canadian band Chad Allan and The Silvertones, which would go on to become The Guess Who, took its name from this line of instruments. Pete Townshend used them in live performance with The Who for the purpose of smashing them (after he'd played them.) "
The 12-string on "Stairway to Heaven" is a late '50's ("IIRC" about the vintage) Harmony.
I think the observation about how much better the current crop of acoustics is, is in comparison to the countless "no-name" models available at the time with things like particle board laminated and spray-painted tops and plastic bridges and tuning machines with a lifespan of about an hour.
Another thing was back then I don't think there was much middle-ground between a "toy" and a real instrument, but those names are the ones people remember, maybe because they were just good enough to be a cut above the "toys" but economical enough to be many people's first instrument, and so also have a lot of sentimental value for those folks.
Why do M20's have such a cult following? I think it has far less to do with the tenuous "Nick Drake connection" than the fact that it was created to be the "
Economy M20".
There was a cash fountain of youth created by a baby boom being influenced by the Beatles/the Kingston Trio/ and AM radio in general and everybody in the music business wanted a piece of that action.
But not all those baby boomers' parents were willing to foot the bill for real professional grade instruments
if they were willing to foot a bill at all.... it's why my folks bought me a classical and said "IF you learn how to play this
then we'll consider an electric guitar"
