Chico, CA, United States
About this listing
The Silvertone 1457 amp-in-case set is one of the most iconic objects American consumer culture ever produced for a musician. Sold through the Sears catalog from 1962 into the late 1960s, it put a complete electric guitar rig into the hands of kids might not be able to swing the price of other gear available. Nathan Daniel's Danelectro shop built every piece of it, and the design is characteristically clever: the guitar stores inside the amp case, the whole thing latches shut and ships as one unit, and you're ready to plug in the moment you open the lid. This example dates to 1964, confirmed by pot codes reading 137-6440 — CTS potentiometers from the 40th week of 1964 — and it comes through in genuinely solid original condition across the board.The amp is in great shape - better than most of these I've come across. The case is in decent shape as well. The latches don't work all that great, which is typical. The guitar is similarly nice with one alteration being the nut. Someone flipped the original nut over at some point - don't ask me why - and when they screwed it into the end of the fretboard it damaged the end of the board next to the nut. We flipped it back around and it works, which makes me wonder why the heck someone would do this. The guitar is the red burst sparkle finish version with two pickups, one of the more visually striking colorways Danelectro offered on the 1457. Scale length is 25" with a 1-5/8" aluminum nut and 16" fretboard radius — flatter than a lot of vintage guitars, which helps. Rosewood fretboard is in fair condition with a small chunk out at the nut area; the frets themselves are good with no repairs done. Action is set up well at 3/32" on both the first and sixth strings at the 12th fret. The two Danelectro lipstick single-coil pickups are original and in good shape — chrome covers, good output, that characteristic tone that has found its way onto more records than people realize. Controls are the classic Danelectro stacked concentric setup: two knobs that are actually four — individual volume and tone for each pickup — plus the original pickup selector switch. The tailpiece strap button is missing; a button has been added at the neck heel. Fretboard aside, everything on this guitar presents well.The amp case is where this set really earns its reputation. The grey paperbacked vinyl covering is original and in good shape; the basket weave grille is intact and original. The plywood cabinet is solid. Inside is a 5-watt all-tube circuit running two 12AX7 preamp tubes, a 6V6 power tube, and a 6X4 — wait, the tubes here are listed as 6X6 preamp and 6V6 power, still wearing their original Silvertone branding. There is onboard tremolo. The speaker is a Jensen Special Design 8" with manufacturer code 220 and date code 461, cone code 308X061 — a Jensen from the 46th week of 1961, which is consistent with parts inventory of the era. Both transformers carry Sears/Danelectro part numbers and are original to the unit. Filter caps are original. The power cable has been upgraded to a grounded three-prong — the one sensible safety update. No internal repairs otherwise. The case latches are weak, which is common at this age and worth noting if you plan to travel with it. It smells, as the listing notes, like Christmas morning 1964 — which is exactly right. The whole set weighs in at 17 lbs 14 oz for the amp case.Sixty years on, the 1457 still delivers something that no modern entry-level package can replicate: a real tube amp, real lipstick pickups, and a design that was genuinely considered and built by people who understood guitars. This is a complete, all-original set with honest wear and no significant damage — the kind of example that is increasingly hard to find intact.Mahar's Vintage Guitars is a brick-and-mortar and web-based retailer. We are happy to talk with you before you make a purchase. Please reach out if you feel so inclined! We cross market our items here and on our own site, so items are subject to sale elsewhere at any time (however we will never cancel a sale if it happens here first). See our profile here, our Google reviews as well as our 100% positive Reverb feedback. Also, Reverb limits us to only 25 pictures of our items. There is a good chance we have more. Contact us if you’d like to see them.No sales tax for direct sale customers outside California. Reverb sales are always taxed.SPECIFICATIONSWeight: Guitar - 6lbs 2oz / Amp Case - 17lbs 14ozDate: 1964Where Is Date Noted?: pot codesCase Brand: Danolectro madeCase Original?: yesCase Condition: good, latches are weakCase Smells?: like the pages of a Sears CatalogDimensions: l 39" x w 14-1/4" x d 3-1/2"Watts: 5 WattsCovering Material: paperbacked vinylCovering Color: greyCovering Original?: yesCabinet Material: plywoodCabinet Condition: goodCabinet Original?: yesGrille Style: basket weaveGrille Condition: goodGrille Original?: yesChassis Material: sheet metalChassis Condition: goodChassis Original?: yesChassis Repairs/Changes: noneKnobs Original?: yesHandle Original?: yesSpeaker 1 Brand: Jensen Special DesignSpeaker 1 Size: 8"Speaker 1 Manufacturer Code: 220Speaker 1 Date Code: 461Speaker 1 Cone Code: 308X061Speaker 1 Condition: goodPower Transformer Manufacturer: Sears/Danelectro part number 18-33402Power Transformer Original?: yesOutput Transformer Manufacturer: Sears/Danelectro part number 8M32Output Transformer Original?: yesReverb Onboard: noTremolo Or Vibrato Onboard: TremoloPedal Included?: noPower Tubes: 6V6Power Tube Brand: SilvertonePreamp Tubes: 2 x 12AX7, 6X6Preamp Tube Brand: SilvertonePotentiometers Original?: yesFilter Caps: originalInternal Repairs: nonePower Cable: grounded upgradeDocumentation: noneSmells?: like Xmas morning 1964Color: Red burst SparkleBody Material: Semi-hollow MasoniteBody Condition: goodBody Original?: yesBody Markings: red burst sparkleBody Repairs: noBody Length: 17-1/4"Body Finish Original?: yesBody Finish Condition: goodLower Bout: 13"Waist: 8-5/8"Upper Bout: 10-3/8"Body Depth/Thickness: 1-3/4"Pickguard Color: whitePickguard Original?: yesPickguard Condition: goodPickguard Screws Original?: yesStrap Buttons: missing button at tail endStrap Button Added?: yes / Location: neck heelScale Length: 25"Neck Material: poplarNeck Profile: thin DNeck Thickness At 1st Fret: .797"Neck Thickness At 10th Fret: .865"Action 1st String At 12th Fret: 3/32"Action 6th String At 12th Fret: 3/32"Neck Condition: goodNeck Repairs: noneNeck Finish Original?: yesNeck Markings: white dotNeck Screws Original?: yesFretboard Material: rosewoodFretboard Condition: fair, chunk out at nutFretboard Repairs: noFretboard Radius: 16"Fret Condition: goodFret Repairs: noneFret Count: 21Nut Material: aluminumNut Repairs: yesNut Width: 1-5/8"Bridge Brand: generic reproTremolo Or Fixed Bridge?: fixedBridge Original?: Non Original adjustableSaddle Material: metalSaddles Original?: yesBridge And Saddle Screws Original?: yesString Spacing At Bridge: 2.004"Bridge Condition: goodTuner Brand And Model: Sealed "skate-key" style, 6-on-a-sideTuners Original?: yesChanges To Headstock For Tuners?: noTuner Condition: goodTuner Screws Original?: yesOverall Length: 37"Documentation: nonePickup Brand: Danolectro lipstick single-coilPickup Count: 2Pickup Original?: yesPickup Condition: goodPickup Screws Original?: yesPickup Cover Color: chromePickup Cavity Condition: goodKnob Color: whiteKnob Count: 2 stacked volume/tone (4)Knobs Original?: yesKnob Condition: goodControl Cavity Cover Material: pressboardControl Cavity Cover Original?: yesControl Cavity Condition: goodPotentiometer Count: 2Potentiometer Manufacturer Code: 137Potentiometer Date Code: 6440Potentiometers Original?: yesPotentiometer Condition: goodSolders Original?: goodWiring Original?: yesSwitch Brand: Danolectro madeSwitch Condition: goodSwitch Original?: yesSwitch Tip Color: chromeSwitch Tip Original?: yesOutput Jack Original?: yesSmells?: like groovy Rock n RollAccessories Included: noExcerpts from real online end-user reviews:"The amp is so clean and original that it's still running on Silvertone-branded valves." - Guitar.com"The 1457 is a great guitar — with the full smash of Nathan Daniel features: two lipstick pickups, the elegant Dano-designed bridge, concentric stacked knobs, pickup selector." - Silvertone World"This Silvertone 1457 is a classic amongst the classic vintage guitars." - Guitarz Blog"The amp has been fully checked out." - RetroFretBe sure to check out the other cool guitar related stuff on our site!The largest vintage & used guitar amplifier selection in Northern CaliforniaFender electric guitars - vintage & usedGibson electric guitars - vintage & usedVintage & Used Effects PedalsShipping PolicyBy completing your purchase you are agreeing to this shipping policy. Shipments require signature on delivery, no exceptions. Less than 1% of our shipments are damaged in transit, and we are committed to making sure your item arrives safely. If there is damage, retain all packing materials intact, photograph them immediately, and send the photos to .Amplifiers: We take additional precautions to prevent common shipping damage. Depending on the amp, this may include removing tubes, pulling the chassis from the cabinet if heavy transformers present a drop risk, or removing heavy speakers that could crack baffles in transit. Reassembly is required on delivery — we label everything clearly. These measures add to shipping costs but reflect hard-won experience. Vintage amplifiers (20 years or older) are sold as-is — all amps are tested in our shop upon intake and again before shipping. We cover shipping damage but cannot be responsible for the failure of vintage components in instruments that are 20 to 50-plus years old.
Original PriceC$1,296.01
15% off
New PriceC$1,101.61
+ C$324.02 Shipping
