Thanks for the info on Q1 and how to use the amp. Appreciate it and will replace Q1 first to hear if there's any improvement. 

Thanks, I'll try this.   

Hi all,
Any second opinions on this Silvertone SS amp before I move on to other projects? Thanks.

Thanks for the info on the amp design and link to the schematic. It's helpful. Unfortunately the hiss on the amp is extremely loud and overwhelms the guitar amplification. The amp is useless if I can't lower the hiss to an acceptable level. (Like several others, I bought this amp thinking it was the tube version. That was decades ago and it's been sitting in the basement gathering dust since.)

Seek advice on Sears (Silvertone) SS 40XL Model #257 14222000. I have worked on tube amps but not SS amps. Assuming loud hiss on both channels caused by failing transistors and will need to replace all. I will also need to replace the electrolytic caps including the filter cap can. Besides the hiss, the amp does amplify and I can hear that the reverb & tremolo are functioning. The schematic link on the previous discussion on this amp no longer works and can't find the schematic elsewhere. Any advice appreciated on finding the schematic, where to source correct replacement transistors and if I need to replace all the transistors. Thanks!