The Silvertone 1484 Twin Twelve pedal is a pedal recreation of the Silvertone 1484 Twin Twelve amplifier, made by Jackson Audio in partnership with Silvertone. Depending on how the tone controls are set, Guitar World describes it as a pedal that can function as a studio grade preamp, booster, EQ or overdrive, which puts it in territory shared by dedicated preamp pedals and overdrive pedals1.
What it is and what it does
Silvertone partnered with Jackson Audio to replicate its cult classic Twin Twelve amp in pedal form, promising a meticulously replicated tone experience1. The control set is deliberately close to the amp's: knobs for Volume, Bass, Treble and Gain1. With those four controls, the same pedal can be pushed into different roles, from a clean studio preamp or booster to an EQ or a full overdrive, purely by where the tone controls sit1.
Brad Jackson, President and CDO of Jackson Audio, made a strong claim about how faithfully the pedal tracks the original1:
"The 1484 Twin Twelve pedal is available now for $249"
On That Pedal Show, Mick grouped the Jackson Audio Silvertone 1484 Twin Twelve with the other pedals in the episode as gain pedals, saying "As it turns out they're all gain pedals"2. In a later guitar.com review, Eric Dahl described the Silvertone Twin Twelve as "a pedal preamp version of the legendary 1484 amp"3.
The amp behind the pedal
The original is a piece of 1960s American amp history, and its background explains why a pedal version exists at all:
- Produced from 1963 to 1967, the Twin Twelve became Silvertone's flagship amp1
- It was sold through the Sears catalog, and was not regarded in its day as a premier amplifier4
- Delicious Audio's writers describe the 1963 Silvertone 1484 Twin Twelve as "a classic pawnshop amp now rare and coveted"5
- The original was a 60 watt, all-tube head with a separate 2x12 cabinet4
- It carried a classic Baxandall EQ, and the pedal's makers talk about duplicating the original four-6L6 circuit5
- Guitar World notes it was loosely based on Fender combos of the day, but cheaper components and construction gave it a scuzzier character1
Delicious Audio's review also records why the amp stayed a sleeper rather than a mainstream classic: "Because of the poor build quality, and a tinny and temperamental reverb circuit, the amp has classically never been as popular as comparable amps"6. That raw, gritty character when the amp breaks up is the tone the pedal sets out to capture.
Power and price
Guitar World reports that the pedal runs from a standard 9V DC power supply1. The pedal was listed as available now for $249 as of September 20221. guitar.com's coverage of the launch likewise dates the Silvertone and Jackson Audio collaboration to September 20221.
The Silvertone 1484 Twin Twelve pedal is a different product from earlier pedal takes on the same amp, so players searching used listings should check which version they are looking at. The Jackson Audio and Silvertone version was announced as available now for $2491.
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Questions
Who makes the Silvertone 1484 Twin Twelve pedal?
The pedal is made by Jackson Audio in partnership with Silvertone. Guitar World reported the collaboration in September 2022, describing how Silvertone partnered with Jackson Audio to replicate its Twin Twelve amp in pedal form. Brad Jackson, President and CDO of Jackson Audio, is quoted on the pedal's tone fidelity to the original amplifier.
Is the Silvertone Twin Twelve pedal the same as the JHS Twin Twelve?
No. JHS Pedals released its own pedal version of the Silvertone 1484, the Twin Twelve Channel Drive, which debuted at NAMM in January 2015 and was reported by Delicious Audio that year. The Silvertone 1484 Twin Twelve pedal covered here is a later, separate release from 2022, made with Jackson Audio and sold under the Silvertone name.
What power does the Silvertone 1484 Twin Twelve pedal need?
According to Guitar World, the pedal runs from a standard 9V DC power supply. No battery option or current draw figure is given in the published coverage, so a player should plan their board power around a standard 9V DC center-negative supply.
What amp is the Silvertone 1484 pedal based on?
It is based on the Silvertone 1484 Twin Twelve amplifier, a 60 watt all-tube head with a separate 2x12 cabinet, produced from 1963 to 1967 and sold through the Sears catalog. Guitar World describes the original as loosely based on Fender combos of the day, but with cheaper components and construction that gave it a scuzzier character.
Sources (6)
- Silvertone's sought-after Twin Twelve 1484 amp hits the floor with new Jackson Audio pedal collaboration, Guitar World, 2022-09-01
- Always Room For One More Gain Pedal! Silvertone, Tsakalis, Cornerstone, LST Gnome, That Pedal Show, 2023-04-28
- Silvertone Twin Trem review: pretty much the best, guitar.com, 2025-03-03
- Guitar FX Layouts: JHS Twin Twelve V1, tagboardeffects.blogspot.com, 2017-10-25
- JHS Twin Twelve Channel Drive, Delicious Audio, 2015-03-27
- New Pedals: JHS Twin Twelve, Delicious Audio, 2015-02-05
