Silvertone Vintage Bass Guitars
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When you think of vintage bass guitars you probably don’t think of Silvertone. But don’t let the name fool you, there was quality behind many of their guitars.
What’s in a Name?
Silvertone was the brand used by Sears for their phonographs starting in 1915 and was later applied to other electronic equipment like radios. It replaced their previous brand name of Supertone on musical instruments starting in the 1930s.
Their guitars were known for being well made as well as affordable. This combination made them ideal for first time players. Famous artists such as Jerry Garcia, Bob Dylan, Chet Atkins, John Fogerty and many, many others started out using Silvertones as their very first guitar.
How popular were they? Well, “Allan and the Silvertones” used the brand as part of the band’s name… they would later become the Guess Who. Then there is Chris Isaak who named his backup band Silvertone which was also the name of their first album. But Silvertone was just a name, it was not a company and did not make anything.
Silvertone guitars were not made by Sears but by different guitar manufacturers like, Kay, Harmony, Teisco, Valco and Danelectro (Dano for short). In 1954 Dano began making solidbody guitars under the Silvertone label and made the same guitars using the Danelectro name which were sold to other retailers.
By the time 1967 rolled around Dano was selling about 85% of their products through Sears. Danelectro was sold to MCA in 1966 but by 1969 they were out of business. Every bass that was produced under the Silvertone label was made by Danelectro except for model 1490.
The Silvertone Bass Line
One of the first Silvertone vintage bass guitars was model 1373 which appeared in 1958. This was an unusual instrument for its time as most manufacturers were following Fender’s lead in producing 4-string basses, but this was a 6-string. It was a short scale bass with two pickups and would disappear in 1959 being replaced by their first 4-string version.
Silvertone 1373 six-string Bass
That 4-string bass was model 1444 and was the mainstay of their bass line from 1959 through 1965. It had a semi-hollow single-cut U style body with a single “lipstick tube” pickup, rosewood fingerboard and a “dolphin nose” shaped headstock.
Model 1442 would replace the 1444 starting in 1966. Sadly, the 1442 would end production in 1968 and wound up as the last bass ever produced by Dano. Somewhat resembling a Fender Jaguar in body styling, this great sounding bass has a solid-body with a single lipstick tube pickup, 30” scale and rosewood fingerboard.
Also available in 1966 was the 1443 which was Silvertone’s first and only 34” long-scale bass. This beautiful looking bass was similar in style to the 1442 but with two pickups instead of one and 4 tone/volume controls instead of two. It was last produced in 1967.
1965 Silvertone 1444
1967 Silvertone 1442
1967 Silvertone 1443
The final bass under the Sears Silvertone label was the made in Japan model 1490 which came out in 1968. Its styling was along the lines of typical Fender basses with its double-cutaway solid-body.
Collectibility
If you are lucky enough to find Silvertone vintage bass guitars in excellent condition they won’t cost you an arm and a leg. They were beginner level budget instruments and most of them cost less than $100 when new.
The 1373 bass was only around for a little over a year and it was a 6-string making it a rare find especially in top condition. If you can find one expect to pay $1,400 – $1,600 for it.
The 1442 should run anywhere from $500 – $600. It will cost you a little more ($750 – $900) to buy its long scale bother the 1443
The 1444 should be available in the $700 – $800 range.
Today, the Silvertone name is used for a current crop of guitars made by the Korean based company Samick Music Corporation. One of their basses can be had for a little over $100, but it’s doubtful they’ll have the same sound quality or following as the Danelectro vintage bass guitars originally sold under Silvertone.
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For a lot more good information about Danelectro and its innovative founder, Nathan I. Daniel (my father), please see the tribute I wrote at http://www.pen4rent.com/pen4rent/tribute.aspx. It has information available nowhere else on the Web.