Silvertone 1448 Amp-in-Case Guitar (Sears)

I acquired this set in March 2009 and it has a market value of $290 in it's current condition. It is an original Silvertone 1448 guitar with amp-in-case. This guitar has a 2-bolt neck attachment, which seems to indicate it is an early 1962 production model. The fretboard is approximately 15.75 inches long and has 18 frets. The guitar is complete, with the exception of a small screw missing from the pickguard and the rosewood bridge. The amp shows chassis number 185-10010 and appears to contain the original tubes. The Outer Case has been poorly repaired, with old tape on two corners and some small nails on one of those corners. One hinge has been replaced with a piece of leather screwed into the body. There are signs of corrosion on the Metal Parts of the case and one plastic foot is missing from the case.

The 1448 is considered by some to be the guitar of guitars. It has a single lipstick tube pickup with masonite/pine body and a swoopy headstock with vinyl sidewalls a metal nut, adjustable bridge, and the amplifier built into sturdy case. The 1448 is the one; the guitar that pretty much sums up the entire Dano/Silvertone philosophy in one package. It's the guitar you certainly see the most of and that's because Sears sold a boatload of them from 1962 until 1966 or so, when they were replaced by the 1451.

This package first appeared in the Sears catalog in the Fall/Winter 1962 edition. The following is straight from the catalog description: Electric Guitar and case with built-in amplifier. Imagine all this plus a 45-rpm how-to-play record at one low price. You get a fine quality single pickup guitar with tone and volume controls. Brazillian rosewood fingerboard. Solid center body. Handsome simulated leather covered hardboard case with its own built-in amplifier and big 5 inch speaker. 2 tubes plus rectifier for good tone plus plenty of volume. $67.95 cash!!!!

It is the preferred guitar of Dexter Romweber, Cat Power and Beck, and the secret weapon for guitarists the world over. Ladies and gentlemen, the elegant awesomeness of the Silvertone 1448. A true master stroke of genius from Nathan Daniel and Joe Fisher.







And here's a video to someone playing a Silvertone 1448.

1960's Sears Silvertone Model 1406 Mosrite Copy

I picked up this guitar in February 2009 and it has a market value of $80.99. This is a Sears Silvertone Electric Guitar Model 1406 from the late 1960's. The sticker on the back of the headstock was there when I found the guitar. Based on the headstock I believe this is actually a late 1960's model. As far as I can tell, this guitar is all original and complete. This guitar does have some nicks and dings in the finish as well as some crazing that is common in a vintage guitar. The pots are a bit scratchy and the knobs have chips/cracks in them but everything seems to work.


This is a late 60's early 70's Silvertone made by Teisco of Japan. This is a similar to the Mosrite or maybe a bit of Stratocaster. It's a small student/child size guitar. Teisco made guitars for lots of department stores and Sears joined up with them in the late 1960's.

The Teisco brand name stands for 'Tokyo Electric Instrument and Sound Company'. Teisco was founded in 1946 by renowned Hawaiian and Spanish guitarist Atswo Kaneko, and electrical engineer Doryu Matsuda. Teisco guitars sold in the United States were badged "Teisco Del Rey" beginning in 1964. Teisco guitars were also imported in the U.S. under several brand names including Silvertone, Jedson, Kent, Kingston, Kimberly, Tulio, Heit Deluxe and World Teisco. While guitars manufactured by Teisco were ubiquitous in their day, they are now very collectable.

Sears Silvertone 1440 Mosrite Copy

I picked this guitar up in late 2008 and it has a market value of $212.50. It's a late 1960's (probably 1968) Silvertone Model 1440 two pickup electric guitar. The body is a great copy of the style of the Mosrite Venture or Univox Hi-Flyer (or Hi-Flier). It was made in Japan, probably by the Teisco Company for Sears. Here's where you can get a copy for a fraction of the cost of the real thing played by the Ramones and Nirvana. This thing looks like it's been in a closet for years without being touched. Great shape and it has plenty of fret life and nice action with adjustable bridge and a straight neck. As far as I can tell, this guitar is all original and complete except for the mis-matched knobs.

Vintage 1970's Sears Harmony Acoustic Guitar Model 1294

I acquired this guitar in the fall of 2008 and it has a market value of $90.00. It's a near Mint 1970-1972 Sears Harmony Acoustic Model 1294. Red toned mahogany shadded top and back with sunburst finish. Frets are in good shape and the neck is straight. As far as I can tell, this guitar is all original and complete. This guitar has almost no scratches and only minor corrosion on the metal parts.







I always wanted to point this out on the later Sears Harmony or Silvertone Guitars. You'll see lots of people refer to these as "spacedot" or "atom" or even "atomic" because of the headstock logo. What I want to show you is it's actually just the letter S for Sears



and the letter R for Roebuck.



So you see, the spacedot or atomic is just a fancy graphic for Sears and Roebuck. This symbol was used on many of the acoustic and electric guitars sold at Sears starting around the early 1970's.