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.

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SPECIFICATIONS

• Weight: Guitar - 6lbs 2oz / Amp Case - 17lbs 14oz
• Date: 1964
• Where Is Date Noted?: pot codes
• Case Brand: Danolectro made
• Case Original?: yes
• Case Condition: good, latches are weak
• Case Smells?: like the pages of a Sears Catalog
• Dimensions: l 39" x w 14-1/4" x d 3-1/2"
• Watts: 5 Watts
• Covering Material: paperbacked vinyl
• Covering Color: grey
• Covering Original?: yes
• Cabinet Material: plywood
• Cabinet Condition: good
• Cabinet Original?: yes
• Grille Style: basket weave
• Grille Condition: good
• Grille Original?: yes
• Chassis Material: sheet metal
• Chassis Condition: good
• Chassis Original?: yes
• Chassis Repairs/Changes: none
• Knobs Original?: yes
• Handle Original?: yes
• Speaker 1 Brand: Jensen Special Design
• Speaker 1 Size: 8"
• Speaker 1 Manufacturer Code: 220
• Speaker 1 Date Code: 461
• Speaker 1 Cone Code: 308X061
• Speaker 1 Condition: good
• Power Transformer Manufacturer: Sears/Danelectro part number 18-33402
• Power Transformer Original?: yes
• Output Transformer Manufacturer: Sears/Danelectro part number 8M32
• Output Transformer Original?: yes
• Reverb Onboard: no
• Tremolo Or Vibrato Onboard: Tremolo
• Pedal Included?: no
• Power Tubes: 6V6
• Power Tube Brand: Silvertone
• Preamp Tubes: 2 x 12AX7, 6X6
• Preamp Tube Brand: Silvertone
• Potentiometers Original?: yes
• Filter Caps: original
• Internal Repairs: none
• Power Cable: grounded upgrade
• Documentation: none
• Smells?: like Xmas morning 1964
• Color: Red burst Sparkle
• Body Material: Semi-hollow Masonite
• Body Condition: good
• Body Original?: yes
• Body Markings: red burst sparkle
• Body Repairs: no
• Body Length: 17-1/4"
• Body Finish Original?: yes
• Body Finish Condition: good
• Lower Bout: 13"
• Waist: 8-5/8"
• Upper Bout: 10-3/8"
• Body Depth/Thickness: 1-3/4"
• Pickguard Color: white
• Pickguard Original?: yes
• Pickguard Condition: good
• Pickguard Screws Original?: yes
• Strap Buttons: missing button at tail end
• Strap Button Added?: yes / Location: neck heel
• Scale Length: 25"
• Neck Material: poplar
• Neck Profile: thin D
• Neck 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: good
• Neck Repairs: none
• Neck Finish Original?: yes
• Neck Markings: white dot
• Neck Screws Original?: yes
• Fretboard Material: rosewood
• Fretboard Condition: fair, chunk out at nut
• Fretboard Repairs: no
• Fretboard Radius: 16"
• Fret Condition: good
• Fret Repairs: none
• Fret Count: 21
• Nut Material: aluminum
• Nut Repairs: yes
• Nut Width: 1-5/8"
• Bridge Brand: generic repro
• Tremolo Or Fixed Bridge?: fixed
• Bridge Original?: Non Original adjustable
• Saddle Material: metal
• Saddles Original?: yes
• Bridge And Saddle Screws Original?: yes
• String Spacing At Bridge: 2.004"
• Bridge Condition: good
• Tuner Brand And Model: Sealed "skate-key" style, 6-on-a-side
• Tuners Original?: yes
• Changes To Headstock For Tuners?: no
• Tuner Condition: good
• Tuner Screws Original?: yes
• Overall Length: 37"
• Documentation: none
• Pickup Brand: Danolectro lipstick single-coil
• Pickup Count: 2
• Pickup Original?: yes
• Pickup Condition: good
• Pickup Screws Original?: yes
• Pickup Cover Color: chrome
• Pickup Cavity Condition: good
• Knob Color: white
• Knob Count: 2 stacked volume/tone (4)
• Knobs Original?: yes
• Knob Condition: good
• Control Cavity Cover Material: pressboard
• Control Cavity Cover Original?: yes
• Control Cavity Condition: good
• Potentiometer Count: 2
• Potentiometer Manufacturer Code: 137
• Potentiometer Date Code: 6440
• Potentiometers Original?: yes
• Potentiometer Condition: good
• Solders Original?: good
• Wiring Original?: yes
• Switch Brand: Danolectro made
• Switch Condition: good
• Switch Original?: yes
• Switch Tip Color: chrome
• Switch Tip Original?: yes
• Output Jack Original?: yes
• Smells?: like groovy Rock n Roll
• Accessories Included: no

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