Supro Bermuda 1962 Cherry Red. Fiberglass. Rare. VG, d. Super Cool. Great tone

SUPRO

“Bermuda”

Model 1540

1962

Fiberglass

 Electric Guitar.

Built by the VALCO Corporation.

Amp not included in this sale. 

The Short Story.

VALCO was one the most important guitar and amplifier corporations in the history of musical instrument production in the USA.

In the 1930s, Valco was formed by three business partners and former owners of theNational Dobro Company; Victor Smith, Al Frost, and Louis Dopyera. The company name was a combination of the three partner's first initials (V. A. L.) plus the common abbreviation for company (Co.)

Valco manufactured Spanish acoustic guitars, metal-bodied resonator guitars, electric lap steel guitars, and vacuum tube amplifiers under a variety of brand names including Supro,Airline, Oahu, and National. They also made amplifiers under contract for several other companies such as Gretsch, Harmony, and Kay. In the 1960s they began producing solid body electric guitars.

Valco merged with Kay Musical Instrument Company in 1967, however the merged company quickly went out of business in 1968[1] because of financial difficulties.[  From WIKIPEDIA ONLINE. }

“Catalog Guitars” in my collection.

The postman delivered my first electric guitar in the summer of 1965. It was brought to me, after being bought by me from the Sears and Roebuck catalog. It was a Danelectro bass but had a “Silvertone” logo.  It was a “catalog guitar”.  Catalogs were the foundation of the development of music throughout the entire USA simply because they made access to musical instruments easy and inexpensive.  Building those guitars, amps, drums, et al, were some of the most innovative America companies. And VALCO was perhaps the most innovative. They were the guys with the National “Steel” guitar, and aluminum guitar, and perhaps the most intriguing, the Fiberglass guitar.  During the late 1950’s into early 1960’s when you heard “fiberglass”, you thought of a “Glasspar motorboat”.  Then the car guys got into it with the Corvette and the coolest car of all time-the Studebaker Avanti (1963-1964).

And then VALCO, with its line of SUPRO guitars, introduced the FIBERGLASS GUITAR.  This is one of them. It was built in 1962 and named the “Bermuda” and I think it is one of the coolest guitars ever built along with its other family members from Airline, National, etc.

THE “BERMUDA”

Model 1540

As described in their 1962 catalog ad:

“Fine New Twin Unit Value”

“Attractive body is styled in durable glass fiber-finished in brilliant polyester cherry-Two tone ranges-Selector switch-Tone & Volume controls.”

“Units are fully adjustable for perfect string balance.  Neck is of super ‘KORD-KING’ design with arched Rosewood fingerboard.  Scale is popular 24 ¼”.”

“The special reinforced hollow body construction provides a soft but full resonate tone response-clear-clean-sustaining.”

Body measures 15 ¼” wide x 19” long, x 13/4” deep.

Chrome hardware with Rosewood bridge.

Comes with case.  Not sure if it is original to this guitar. 

Amp not included.

Condition:

1.         Overall condition is:  VERY GOOD.

2.       Electronics:  All electronics work correctly.

3.       Finish:  There are the usual dings, dents, scratches, cracks, et al that come from age and playing.  On the rear of the guitar, there are several areas that have surface cracks and scratches that have turned brown.  Please see photos for these spots.  Also, there are brown stains on the edge around the back.  None of these affect the integrity of this guitar.

4.       Frets are fretboard are in Good condition.

The guarantee (applicable to sales only-not trades).

1.          The guitar is in VERY GOOD cosmetic condition and is as described in this ad. 

2.         The guitar is in fully operational condition.

3.         Buyer has 48 hrs. to inspect the guitar or have it inspected.  Any defects, damage, misrepresentations or other problems must be reported within that time period in writing to the Seller.

4.         If problems are discovered, Seller will either arrange for repair etc. at a location near the Buyer or request that the Buyer return the guitar to the Seller (Seller will reimburse Buyer for cost of shipment of guitar back to Seller).

5.         Seller will correct indicated problems and ship the guitar back to the Buyer within 7 days of receiving it.

6.         In the event that the guitar cannot be repaired or replaced with a similar item from Seller’s inventory, the Seller will give the Buyer a full refund.

7.         In the case of damage during shipment, Buyer shall immediately inform seller of such damage and will maintain all original packing materials and box for inspection by the transportation company.

8.         No refunds or returns for Buyer Remorse or Buyer Mind Changing. 

9.         If there are any undisclosed physical attributes of this guitar that will prevent buyer from playing it successfully, e.g., neck to wide to be played with arthritic hands, guitar too heavy to be played due to back, shoulder, etc. problems, then we will, upon return of the guitar, issue a Credit Memo to Buyer in the amount paid for the guitar plus the cost of shipment paid by the Buyer against the future purchase of a guitar from us.