Built by Danelectro for Sears , the model 1305 was the top-of-the-line model made by Danelectro for the Silvertone brand. It is a rarely-seen machine, with a relatively high price for the brand at the time, it didn't sell as well as the one and two pickup models built by Danelectro. Produced for just one year between 1958 and 1959, it's short production lifespan also meant few made it out into the wild.
Based on the Danelectro U3, the 1305 broke new ground for Silvertone as the brand's first three pickup guitar. Couple that with it's distinctive "Silverburst" white and black finish and premium price point and you have a guitar that definitely would have caught the eye.
This three pickup 1959 Silvertone model 1305 is a stunning instrument to play with a neck like a nicely worn-in pair of boots. Beautiful jangle and chime with plenty of fret life and includes its beautiful original tweed hardcase (very rare!)
An American jazz guitarist born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, Barney Kessel was a noted "first call" guitarist for studio, film, and television recording sessions. His musical reputation endures as a member of the famous group of session musicians known as the Wrecking Crew. The number of recordings that bear his name, both as a sideman and a leader, is staggering.
Through the 50s his name appeared on various Kay models, but his stage and studio mainstay was a Gibson ES-350 with a Charlie Christian pickup. At the height of his popularity in 1960 he was approached by Gibson to create the Barney Kessel Model in Standard and Custom variants. While he often indicated a lack of interest at having his own signature model, Gibson's previous pairings with prominent musicians for signature models had proved successful.
The Barney Kessel series ran from 1961 to 1974, and it's unique double cutaway design has proven divisive. Off the collector radar for many years with early examples sporting PAFs falling victim to part salvaging, the model now boasts a following in its own right.
The V-1400 is an excellent vintage Japanese recreation, contemporary to the originals. This model was made by the Japanese brand Ventura in the 1960s and features a very easy to play slim C profile neck with a 1 9/16" (3.97mm) nut width with a full 17" body finished in cherry sunburst. In the case of this example, the original bridge has been swapped out for a more modern and useable tune-o-matic (the original is included in the case), as the original gold machine heads have also been replaced by vintage styled chrome Kluson Deluxe machines.
Included is a period correct (possibly original) hardcase. Overall the guitar is in very good condition, plays beautifully and features a diverse array of excellent tones at your fingertips, from the more jazzy neck pickup to bitey rock tones in the bridge position.
Blessed are we to be in the presence of one of the most iconic instruments of all time - the sunburst 1950's Stratocaster.
Never out of production since it's release in 1954, it's easy to overlook just how incredible the design of the Stratocaster is given how ubiquitous they have been for more than 60 years. Created by Leo in response to requests from players for increased ergonomics, more tonal variety and a tremolo system, the Strat stands tall as one of the great pieces of industrial design of the 20th Century. Say "electric guitar" to someone walking down the street and they will almost inevitably think of a Stratocaster, such is the scope of its influence on music, and it remains the world's most copied guitar.
Nothing quite compares to seeing the real deal from the 1950s though, and to think Leo Fender was walking around the factory when this was made just two years after the models release. Ash bodied Fender guitars from the '50s are really something else, the two tone sunburst lacquer sinks into the timber in a unique way and the weight and tone of them is sublime.
A genuine classic, this 1956 Fender Stratocaster features a two-tone sunburst finish over ash body, maple neck and fretboard (with rosewood 'skunk stripe' down the back), 7.25" fretboard radius, 3 single coil pickups, original 3-way toggle switch, synchronised tremolo, Kluson split tuners, original wiring harness, and original tweed hard case. Two of the 3 pickup cover are original, bridge pickup cover may have been replaced. Neck date is July '56, body date is August '56, pot codes are 304543 which corresponds to 43rd week of 1955. The original ash tray bridge cover is included, as is the original tweed hardcase. Condition is excellent overall with moderate evidence of play to the neck, plenty of fret life, some playwear to the body consistent with age and useage. Included is the original 1956 tweed hard case.
]]>Sears, Roebuck and Co. introduced the Silvertone brand in 1915, with the first solid body guitar appearing in 1954. They were produced by five main production companies; Danelectro, Harmony, National-Dobro (Supro/Valco), Kay, and Teisco and many guitars were a variation on a model already offered by the producers. Intended as more affordable alternatives to the higher-priced Gibson and Fender guitars of the day, many Silvertone models have continued to find favour with players through the ages for their unique style and sound.
Originally offered in 1963, the Silvertone 1478 was an instant favorite. A Harmony-made electric guitar featuring twin DeArmond pickups with independent volume and tone controls, the 1478 was one of the more upmarket solid body guitars from Silvertone. It featured a body with a hard maple veneer and hand-rubbed red sunburst finish and came in vibrato and hardtail variants.
This example is a charming mid-'60s classic, with twin DeArmond 'Gold Foil' pickups, a celluloid pickguard, independent volume and tone controls, a floating rosewood bridge, bound rosewood fretboard with block inlays, and an adjustable neck. Condition is very good overall with minor cosmetic marks consistent with the age of the guitar, playability is excellent and the Gold Foil pickups provide a beautiful chimey clarity. Includes original pasteboard case.
First manufactured by Epiphone under the Gibson brand in 1959, the Coronet was priced at approximately $120, and was seen as a reliable entry level guitar.
Released as a reliable and affordable guitar for the aspiring player after Gibson acquired Epiphone in 1958, the Coronet was originally a slab-bodied guitar, reminiscent of a double cut Telecaster, with a single Epiphone New York mini humbucker in the bridge position.
As the 60's rolled around the Coronet received its trademark contours and P-90 pickup, along with the iconic 'batwing' headstock. The Coronet shares its body shape and headstock with a range of Epiphone solid body models, the Crestwood, Olympic and Wilshire, with the pickup configuration, hardware options and finishing distinguishing them.
'Silver Fox' was a custom-ordered finish option offered from 1963-1967 and pictures can hardly do this finish justice.
Here we have a very rare, very cool 1963 example in sought-after 'Silver Fox' featuring a single P90 pickup, volume and tone controls, mahogany body and neck with Brazilian rosewood fretboard, 6-in-line tuners, and a hard shell case. Condition is very good overall with some play wear and finish marks to the lower bout of the guitar, playability is excellent.
Among the "new" models from the 1968 re-launch of the Les Paul, the Deluxe featured "mini-humbuckers", also known as "New York" humbuckers, which fit into the pre-carved P-90 pickup cavity using an adaptor ring developed by Gibson in order to use a surplus supply of Epiphone mini-humbuckers.
The first incarnation featured a one-piece mahogany body and three-piece mahogany neck. In 1969 Gibson began using a multipiece "pancake" body (a thin layer of maple on top of two layers of Honduran mahogany) and by late 1969 added a reinforcing neck volute like most of their guitars from the era. By 1975, the neck construction had changed from mahogany to maple and the volute increased in size. These specs continued until the early 1980s, when the neck construction was returned to mahogany. The body changed back to solid mahogany from the pancake design in late 1976 or early 1977.
The Deluxe was offered in ebony, cherry sunburst, tobacco sunburst or the more common "Gold Top" reminiscent of the first Les Paul guitars. The first production of the Deluxe was discontinued in 1985, and as with most vintage instruments, the earlier models continue to be the most desired.
This example is a beautifully presented Gibson Les Paul Deluxe from 1971 featuring sought after gold finish, twin mini humbuckers, independent tone and volume controls, tuneomatic/stoptail, 3 way switch, 'pancake' 2 piece mahogany body, 3 piece neck with large headstock and small volute, and retrofitted with Schaller tuners (originals are still with the guitar and included in the sale). Condition is very good overall with minimal playwear aside from some buckle rash on the rear and some minor 'greening' to the edge of the guitar, the previous tuner holes have been filled and there is some glue residue evident on the rear of the headstock. The neck is break/repair free and the guitar is in perfect functional condition.