1960s Silvertone 1441 Vintage Electric Guitar by Teisco w/ Mosrite German Carve 1445

Up for sale, a Silvertone 1441 (also branded in previous years as the 1445), one of the rarest Silvertone instruments made by Teisco in the late 1960s and early 70s, and the top of the line instrument offered by the company! Featuring top of the line components and craftsmanship (for a vintage Japanese guitar created for a department store), this guitar is head and shoulders above the vast majority of imported vintage instruments. With a maple top with the distinctive body shape and German-carve top found on the Ventures model Mosrite instruments of the same era, this Silvertone definitely captures not only the visual appeal of Mosrite instruments, but also the playability and feel in many ways. The super slim taper neck, midrange-rich "hound dog" single coil pickups and vibrato unit faithfully designed after the famed Vibramute, this guitar is the perfect blend of vintage Teisco charm and quality craftsmanship.

The maple neck features the aforementioned super slim C profile, "barely-there" original Teisco fretwire and original sealed tuning machines. The guitar has been professionally setup with 10-46 strings and the frets still have lots of height and life left, especially given how low they were when they originally shipped from the factory! The tuners hold pitch as well as any vintage Japanese instrument, which is to say that they still do their job well without slipping, but they ain't Grovers. The original reflective "SR" (Sears & Roebuck) Silvertone logo is intact on the headstock as well.

Electronically the guitar functions as it should with three on/off pickup switches plus a tone boost switch, with individual volume controls for each pickup and a master tone knob. Plenty of tweakability and a huge range of useable tones! Cosmetically, the guitar is very clean and the original sunburst finish is stunning and unfaded. The guitar is structurally 100% as well with no cracks or breaks. There is some moderate wear to the thin chrome plating on the pickup surrounds, and some light finish scratches and tiny nicks from honest playwear, but overall this guitar has been very well cared for and is completely original. The original tone knob is also missing, but the pot shaft turns smoothly and works well.

The 1441 represents the pinnacle of Teisco's contribution to the Sears Silvertone line. All high quality materials and workmanship. It has the following specifications and features:

Body: Morite-style, celluloid bound, fully contoured, Maple over basswood with German carve; sunburst (yellow-red-mahogany) nitrocellulose lacquer finish; tortoise shell celluloid pickguard.

Neck: Bolt-on solid Maple neck with Rosewood fretboard, Pearloid block inlays and triple bound celluloid edge (w/b/w); 25-1/2"; 22 frets with zero fret; 1-5/8"at nut.

Pickups: Three Teisco single coil "Hound Dog" pups wired in series (loud, louder, loudest); 3 slide switches plus tone boost switch for 7 pup combinations; 3 volumes and 1 master tone control.

Headstock: Solid Maple; black nitro-lacquer finish.

Tuners: Open Back; made in Japan.

Vibrato: Teisco tremolo bar.

Bridge: Original with roller saddles

Dimensions: Length 41-1/2"; Body 19"; Upper Bout 12-1/2"; Lower Bout 14-1/2"; Thickness 2" at base of neck

A non-original gigbag is included.